I kinda liked the music, a good mix of some top 40 but also a lot of the fun pop songs of the last 15 years. Drinks are a little expensive but I think I'm just not used to SF prices yet. On an interesting note, Juvenille's "back that thang up" has more staying power than any song from my childhood. That shit came out in 1999 when I was like 12 and I still hear that everywhere. Unbeknownst to most, Lil Wayne when he truly was lil was on the track too. read more

I've been here a few times and always enjoyed the selection of booze, the friendly bartenders, and the atmosphere. We threw a company party for work here and had an amazing time. We were permitted to have a band and catered food! The only reason I take off a star is for them double booking the club and lying about it. I found out a rival company was having their party on the same day, just a bit earlier, so they would easily be able to mooch off our open bar and eat our food. They assured me I was wrong. But in fact, I was not, and there was some mooching, though they did their best to smooth it over. Gotta give them credit tho, when one drunk ad agency kicks out the Christmas party of the earlier drunk ad agency, there's gonna be a rumble, and they handled it well. read more

UPDATE: 1/14/07 Ugh. Swig lets in about 150 too many people; when I went, the place was so ridiculously packed, there was no space for people to walk around and the bar line was 3-4 people deep all around the bar. They play pretty decent music...though it definitely doesn't make up for the huge crowd and difficulty in getting drinks. I was between 1 and 2 stars, but Swig just BARELY got 2 stars. But I do feel confident that if I returned to Swig, it would go down to 1 star. ------------------------------------------------ So, my friend had her wedding after party here the other night... It definitely wasn't a bad place to have a little party - there are private rooms upstairs and downstairs which is nice for a large party. But without any bar service in the rooms, we still had to go out and wait at the bar. The wait wasn't terrible, but it definitely wasn't short. It seemed really crowded in there, and I'm not sure it's really a great place to just grab a drink; I definitely think you need to be with a big group of friends to enjoy the experience. read more

In the early afternoon, on the way to Bourbon and Branch, I walked by Swig. Pretty empty, had an inviting atmosphere, and an impressive liquor wall. There weren't too many people inside, and I figured, good place for a nightcap. I don't mind the Tenderloin. It is skid row, and if you know that, you aren't shocked by what you find there- Bums urinating on the sidewalk while still asking you for a smoke. People picking the chunks out of their vomit and eating it. You know, the usual destitute inner city train wreck. Complaining about the area is just lame. If you can't handle poverty and a gaggle of lifetime drug addicted and broken souls, don't come down here. Stay in Mill Valley where you feel good about yourself for driving a Volvo. Now, I thought that with a wall of liquor nothing could go wrong. If the music is bad and the booze is quality, I'll deal with the roots/hip hop/house/ pop dreck that is forced down our throats in 92% of the bars nationwide. So when I returned later that night, the bar was packed (hey good for them). The patrons were mostly the kind that you'd find waiting in the long lines at the Palms in Vegas to get into Rain, or the Ghost Bar. Same haircut, shell necklace, a by the numbers wrinkly long sleeved button up shirt (3 buttons undone of course) and jeans. Hey good for them. I ponied up to the bar, and ordered an Eagle Rare Single Barrel 10 year old Bourbon with a couple of rocks. I'm not a snob, I wouldn't order something I didn't see, and I did see it. Bartender poured it, and then asked for $15. Look, I like good quality Bourbon and so should you, but $15 is outrageous. It's the house Bourbon at Bourbon and Branch, and they only charge $11 for it. Yeah, I know what you're thinking, "what's 4 dollars?" And you're quite right, Bourbon and Branch is on the high end too, but the experience makes it worth it. You can draw your own conclusions on the pricing of other beverages. I laugh because for $15 you better do some shaking and shimmying. 4 dollars more at Swig is nothing more than a one and done, have a good night. I'll not return, but plenty of others will. It was bloody packed. read more

Swig really is a hit or miss. Some nights, I have had a blast dancing with friends & watching strangers get all kinds of jiggy to their own beat of the drum. Then there are nights, such as last Friday, when there is barely anyone there & we are the only group even busting a move...no energy whatsoever! The DJ, Booker, is an awesome guy & will try his best to play a request, but the overall music selections aren't really my cup of tea. You can expect top 40s or 90's gangster rap. I guess that is just what the crowds around here want to hear. The bouncers are also nice & will remember you & let you re-enter after catching some air or having a smoke. read more

Live music, open late, in great proximity to the hotel we stayed at. Had some great drinks, laughed and danced. We didn't know about this place, except that we heard the music as we walked by and decided to stop in. Was very much worth it! Will have to go back again when we are back in town! read more

BEWARE!!! My son attended a social gathering on 6/22/19 there. His only memory is waking up in the Emergency Room 5 hours later. His iPhone and wallet were stolen. Now he is dealing with someone who keeps changing his SIM card so he cannot use his new phone. He notified his Credit Card Company of fraud and the robber has the fraud alert reversed and resumes using his credit card. DO NOT BRING YOUR IPHONE TO THIS BAR!!! read more

Very nice trendy bar in Downtown. Love the vibes in this place. Solely given this place 5-stars for its casual ambiance and drinks. Don't think they serve food. read more

The staff is so great, the spirit selection is amazing. The crowd is so so. Weekend nights you get a random random mix of non locals. A little of that so called bridge and tunnel crowd. Most weekend nights it's great though. Good place to have a first date or happy hour with friends. read more

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**Note** was here on a Wed night. Wasn't the typical weekend crazy & was pleasantly surprised. Music was great (live jazz band played), lights were dimmed, not full of people but just enough. Bartender was great, took the time and helped us pick out some fantastic whiskeys. Dreamy. Essentially pretty fantastic!! read more

What makes the hive mind undervalue something so great and so difficult to find? This is a lounge, a mellow, relaxed, comfortable spot with top-flight booze and a rotating menu of situations, some of them oriented toward live music, some toward dance club, and perhaps best, toward chill happy hour relaxation, whether at the start of a serious rager or as a quick interlude on your way to dinner or back home. The alcohol set list offers an attractive array of tried-and-true--probably one too many IPAs, for the easy example--among a bunch of solid, inspired and mildly quirky choices. Swig has distinguished itself as the ideal Fort Point Westfalia Red delivery device. Folks in search a drinkable bargain can wind up with Pacifico, or the Champagne of Beers. And if you want to start strong, the Honorable Judge (scotchy scotch scotch with honey and absinthe) or the Oaxacan (agave and a kick) will set you up right. The vibe is variable and always pitched at the right mix of swanky and comfortable. Not divey at all. But folks can get a little sloshy here and enjoy a fine time, in interludes or as the main event. One of the most versatile and attractive spaces in the neighborhood, it deserves your attention and will serve you well. read more

Swig - St. Paddy's Day. Quiet and comfortable at HH, and still a fine time! - Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Fun music and fun crowd but a lot of people get diverted from Bourbon and Branch and it's a scam. The drinks are expensive and their service is terrible. Rude staff frustrated with their job and they take it out on customers. We ended at this place by accident and I would not recommend it. There's plenty of other fun places in city, do not end up and waste your money here. read more

Been going to Swig for awhile now and frequent whenever I'm in the neighborhood. I came in on a Thursday when the very seeet Meg? Megan? Was working. She was slammed but still managed to get me a drink in a timely manner. Later I noticed it was all female bartenders later on in the night which i thought was great to see. Check this spot out, it's a little gem in the TL/DTSF area. read more

Would put 0 stars if I could. Had a physical altercation with 7 security guards my brother was also in the fight and we had to go to the emergency room. They were kicking out my brother and I said I would take him out and leave together, next thing I knew I was elbowed twice in the face and my brother was being swung at. Got hit about 13 times in the head while this being unnecessary and fighting for about 10 minutes. After when we were outside SWIG called the cops on us and told them we had guns which we didnt. The squad pulled up and immediately pointed shotguns at us. Then the cops were questioning them and SWIG lied their asses off about the whole thing and said the elbowing was accidental and failed to mention there were two different elbows and didnt really say why they beat us up. Me and my brother were too messed up to stay and get them arrested and we went to the ER read more

Swig - You can see red marks on my forehead and cheek - Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Fun bar for dancing and great drinks! I walked in and didnt love it due to the crowds and smokiness in there until we sat down at the bar. The bartender...Savonn(sp?)...was awesome. He really seemed to love his job. Loved his vibe and he made me the best drink. Kentucky Derby is delish! Had a blast thanks to him!=) read more

Swig - Great bar and bartender! - Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

ambience, ambience, ambience This place is great! There was live music and the drinks were terrific. Had the Sugar + Cane, El Aguila, and the Mule. Probably best mule I have had in a while. I like how spacious it is- I think it used to be a restaurant maybe. There is a small upstairs with a photo booth. This would be great for a date bar read more

I walked into SWIG and was met with immediate hospitality. The bartender was very kind, Took my drink order and served me immediately. I walked to SWIG after walking down Geary hoping to have a drink while I waited for my seat at Elephant Sushi. I walked in to a fairly empty REDFORD around 8:30pm on Friday 2/14. Before my ass could hit the seat at the REDFORD bar a bartender of no-color asked me if I was with a food delivery service (can't remember which) and proceeded to tell me why delivery was slow. Black people can work for delivery service AND want to have a drink too. I immediately walked out of REDFORD to avoid quick onset cringe. read more

I've been here to try some whiskeys. It goes from quiet to noisy in about an hour as workers get off and start coming in. Conversations with other patrons consisted of a lot of shouting. The bartender were all very nice and helpful, and did a fair amount of climbing to get my selections; but almost impossible to hear when noisy. Pricey but takes cards. read more

I came to Swig on a Friday, we arrived at about 11:30 so I guess it was fair that there was a line... still not happy about it. It's December and it's cold outside. We waited about 20 minutes to get in...but hey no cover! Love this. I read in another review that they have an occupancy limit of 100 people which makes sense since they were holding the line because once we got in there was definitely a lot of room in the back for more people. I can respect this since it stops overcrowding which would create a much less enjoyable experience. Bar was still packed pretty well and had a good looking and diverse crowd. Music was great, top 40, so fun to sing and dance too. I can't speak much to the drinks since I was doing shots, but they were giving decent pours. The ambiance of this place is great, brick walls, dim lighting, and you can actually find a place to sit if you want. The only negative about this place is that it closes early, the lights turned on a little after 1 and it closes at 1:30. Overall, great experience here. Will be back. read more

I have never given a one star review before tonight, because I've never felt a one star review was necessary...until I went to Swig. Our friends had just gotten engaged and after a celebratory dinner we went to Swig to keep the celebration going and to have a couple of drinks. There were about 16 of us who ordered several cocktails at the bar and ended up in the upstairs area that was a perfect fit for our group. We had been up there for about an hour (and everyone had ordered several drinks at that point....my husband and I had about a fifty dollar bar tab) when we were rudely approached by a bouncer who said we had to leave because a coors light beer can was found upstairs. The bouncer claimed his supervisor told us we had to leave because we brought in outside alcohol. We tried to explain that the can was there before we arrived but the staff of Swig did not care to listen and told us we had to leave. We did, but we will never come back. They roped off the area after we left, which we assume means they had a reservation for the upstairs area and rather then tell us about the reservation, they manufactured a reason to kick us out. This is the worst experience I've ever had at a bar in San Francisco in the ten years I've lived here and I'll never be back. read more

We dropped by because we were too early for our reservation at Bourbon and Branch which is just down the street. The music was being dj'ed and seemed like there was a good vibe there. I ended up getting the punch. It was delicious. Pineapple, rum and deliciousness! Pro tip: punch! read more

Love the atmosphere, drinks, and music! As a San Fran visitor, I would def come again! read more

Swig - Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

I feel like I'm dating the ugly kid in school by going here. I going along, enjoying my evening...until I discover that nobody really cares for this place. It's the ugly kid. Well...the dolled up ugly kid. I'm not a loungey, craft cocktail type of gal, but Swig does the trick for me. Sure, could be that it's walking distance to Hotel Monaco, could be that I was here with a great crowd, could be that I was here mostly mid-week so it wasn't very crowded. Whatever it was, it worked for me. Even the $9 cocktails worked for me. Generally I'll scoff at a $9 cocktail joint, but the way cocktail places go in SF they could easily charge $14 for these cocktails. And they've got some tasty cocktails too, including ones with elderflower liquer...my new fave. read more

It's a shame that the reviews below me claimed folks had a good time, because I sure didn't! Perhaps it's a bit unjustified for me to write a review without even stepping foot into the establishment, but the service I received just from the bouncer was abominable. But hear me out, Yelpers! My friends and I were at another bar down the street when we wanted to come and check Swig out since it looked poppin'. It was before 1 am on a Saturday night, and considering bars/clubs usually closed at 2 am, we thought we had a good hour left. Sidenote: I am not one to victimize myself based on my racial background, but this was such blatant discrimination I was extremely appalled. We approach the Russell Brand-looking bouncer, who tells us we have to wait in line because the place was full. So as we are on the way to the line (5 feet away from Russell), another group of people (non-minorities) approach him. AND HE LETS THEM IN RIGHT AWAY. Then to make matters worse, he then turns to our group of friends and says the place was now full and closed for the night... And THEN, to FURTHER rub salt into our wounds, it turns out he let our one Caucasian friend out of the group into the place. While refusing to let the rest of us, whom are all Asian, in. When we pointed out the group of people before us were let in without being forced to wait in line like we did, he did an extremely good job of pretending that he was deaf. He also suddenly became very interested in the wall. Yeah...not ever coming back until Swig fires this guy. If I ever see him on the streets as a homeless person -- since he looks the part -- I will laugh and spit on him. read more

Last time I was there a couple of just outta work Financial District douche bags were obnoxiously making out on the love seat in the corner. Like full on gropage. Hands touching inappropriate places in public. Smeared lip gloss. Messy hair. Totally uncool. This was at 5:30. I mean, really. Who does that? Get a fucking room... Or at least ask me to join you. God. I'm SO jealous. read more

I had a free Sunday night in the city on an appointment and had my harps with me, so I searched for any Sunday Blues Jams. I was pleasantly surpised to find Ed's Sunday Blues Jam! Great Bar! Killer Jam! I suggest you try their Desert Rose Chipotle Tequila Cocktail! read more

Nah. Uh uh. First of all, sorry ladies, but you are terrible bartenders - though the young one did have an excellent behind (well done). I know this because that was my view as I tried to order, to pay, to close my friends tab - are cash registers that monumentally difficult? Could you spend a few minutes familiarizing yourself with the stock pre-shift so you don't have to read each label with such agonizing slowness that it made me want to claw your eyes out and pour my own shot? Were you hired because you just stepped off a space ship? The clientele is irredeemably corny, ugh - it's the kind of bar that makes me despise the entire "heterosexual template" school of mating. read more

Swig = Nice dive bar w/ an occasional sticky floor. No Cover No Dress Code I l o v e S w i g ! ! read more

"Experience is not what happens to you but what you do with what happens to you"..Aldous Huxley I have gone to Swig quite a few times and today morning I am grappling with the moral dilemma of whether my experiences merit giving 5 stars to this establishment. Finally, I adopt Pascal's maxim "The heart has its reasons which reason know not of" and award 5 stars to Swig on the basis of the following points which I feel make this place unique: 1. No cover: The dance experience at Swig is similar in intensity to most clubs except that you don't have to pay a cover. 2. Cougar infested Happy Hour: Swig attracts a Cougar laden clientele looking to douse their (work?) frustrations by hunting for fresh meat. 3. Cosmopolitan environment: Next door, Hotel Monaco gives you an European flavor, you experience LA round the corner at Clift Hotel/Redwood room, and a slice of New York at the theatre district after the Clift. 4. Seduction through Bar hopping: Start with Happy Hour at Ambassador, follow up with some heavy petting with your date at Rye's cocktail lounge and then have a booty shaking make out session at Swig and she/he is all set to go home with you. read more

Smack dab in the heart of the TenderNob, Swig is a decent stop, but isn't a gem. We arrived for a friend's birthday Saturday night, and had the pleasure of mingling and celebrating in the private area upstairs. The space isn't large, but it held about 25 of us comfortably, and the private bar upstairs is a fantastic retreat from the rodeo downstairs. Nothing too fanciful on the cocktail menu, and the service was attentive and warm, but nothing truly stood out. Wasn't a particular fan of the music, and the crowd seemed a bit uneven, but I did have a good time. I prefer Rye and Ambassador in this area much more. read more

Swig is a fun club-type atmosphere that seems to cater to the bridge and tunnel folk mostly. if you're in the mood to be starred at and questioned as to why you're there then this is the spot for you. Put on your fancy dress and high-heels and get yourself downtown to Swig. the contemporary decor seems to keep up to date and thrives as being a sophisticated bar. I think it's lacking in the classy aspect of the word sophistication. Although the drinks are good and music is fine, there seems to be nothing special or deserving of a 4th star. When there's a good DJ or live music then it's a better night. be sure to check it out for your own experience. read more

I like this place. I do. But I'm always disappointed that it's not more crowded when I come. I've stumbled in here with friends on at least a handful of occasions now only to be greeted by sounds of crickets. Okay, maybe it's not that quiet but it's definitely not full. One thing I will say, unlike some places ::cough Ambassador:: the DJ here is awesome. He played great hip hop and top 40 that made all of us want to shake our asses, even when there was NOBODY on the dance floor. Yup, lone dancers. read more

Yeah, this place is definitely a wanna be Rye, which is dangerous considering Rye is just a few blocks up the street. If you've never been to Rye, go there instead. We came here because we passed by it on our way to Rye and thought "why not?" and it was relatively empty so our large group could spread out. And yes, also because we're Yelp CMs and are forever on a hunt to find new places to review. It's just how our brains work. Typically my gut tells me to order off-menu at cocktail bars and let the usually skilled bartender come up with something delicious. However, the minute I walked in here my gut told me that the bartender probably wasn't quite up to snuff, and I should stick to what's listed. I was really really pleased I did that, as my gin gin mules were delicious, unlike some of the drinks of my cohorts. +1 star for the DJ: I really enjoyed what he was doing, pairing some of my favorite motown tunes with more current stuff, but not in a cheesy sample-y way. read more

Great hh place from 5-8pm! The wine was great and cocktail was yummy. It was good place to chill for the group. Definitely go back there soon. read more

My review is for last Saturday late afternoon/early evening. Our Uber driver recommended this place and dropped us off for a pre dinner drink. There were three of us and we spotted a table for two by the window, and went and ASKED if we could move a barstool over to the table. Rather than a polite simple no, we were given a ton of attitude "Absolutely not! We don't allow that here" ummm, ok. We slink over to some chairs away from the bar, careful not to move any of them, and sit down to look over drink menu. Better half walks over to bar to order and is blatantly ignored by Mr. absolutely not for well over five minutes. No eye contact, no "hang on" or "be with you in a second". Getting glases of water and taking orders of people who walked in after better half approached the bar were of infinite importance. After five minutes in a bar with less than 15 customers, it became very apparent that our chances of getting served were absolutely zero. Seriously, I could see if we had committed some drunken outrageous party foul, all we did was ASK, politely, if a stool could be moved, most people wouldn't have even done that. I am unsure why this was so unsettling to this bartender, but we happily crossed the street and generouly tipped the waitstaff at the cash only "Jones". read more

First time here! Are you trying to imply that I need to take swigs of your alcohol bottles?!?!?! I enjoyed it minus the few stars for what happened to my boyfriend. No Cover No Dress Code enforced Nice bar with a nicely decored placed. Full of couches and places to sit. 2 stories for those that want to feel VIP Bathrooms in the back for sexy individuals VERY nice and understanding staff workers there. Definitely nice environment that I would come back to!!!!! MY boyfriend had his wallet pick pocketed unfortunately after paying a few shots for our friends. Putting it into his pocket, he reached for it again a few minutes later and had lost it already. We searched the whole entire premises with no luck at all. This was towards the end of the night also. The staff members were nice enough to turn on the lights for us to look around and gave us a mini flash light also. I am thankful for Swig's staff members for all their help. It was just unfortunate to have such thing happen.. BUZZ KILLLLL!!!!!!!!! read more

I came up to the city to meet up with a few old friends and this was the destination of choice. The pros: - No cover - Friendly bartenders - Good mixed crowd - There's an upstairs if you want to host a private party The cons: - This could be a pro for some people but I felt like I was at a frat party for business professionals who wanted to dance their stress out. - It's a bit small so when it gets crowded (and it will) it gets so hot and sweaty, like a high school locker room - The upstairs is usually sectioned off for the private parties, leaving the bottom completely crowded - I don't drink but the Sprite that I ordered tasted a little weird. How can you get Sprite wrong? Don't know if I would come back again on my own but I wouldn't be against it if someone wanted to go here. read more

I love lost nights in chilly San Francisco where you can walk down the street in very little clothing knowing that once you're inside the door it will be toasty warm and you'll get your sweat on. It allows you to not have to carry that big thick heavy coat around with you as your anti-fog protection device. Equipped with a small evening purse, a skirt that could double as a kleenex and knee high boots, I walked into Swig to meet one of my best friends for a late night drink. The line was marginally long, but due to the fact that I knew one of the bouncers from the Red Room back in the day and the other one had a huge crush on me, I waltzed right in the door, leaving all the suckas outside to freeze. Parking was a bitch that night, as usual in that neighborhood, but I was lucky enough to grab one right across the street. A long bar on the right, high ceilings, and a pretty good sound system immediately enveloped me and I attempted to find him in the crowd of half yuppies, have working kids such as myself still in their corporate suits. Let's just say I walked in the door and people were, well, a little taken aback. But what's new, my best girl always says that I love the whole "shock factor" thing. I guess she's right to some aspect. She knows me a little too well.....but in the best way. After getting an incredible strong drink poured from the beautiful Columbian bartender that was a friend of one of my boys, I found a spot in the middle of the floor with them and began to get down. Not really a dancing scene, only half the attendees were rockin' out but that night I was really in the mood to wear down my heels and get my sweat on. Dropping a few good beats, along with the help of many, many, many, strong Belvedere and cranberry beverages, we danced the night away til closing, and then some. Drinks were reasonable, the crowd was conservative but workable, and the location was great for a post fab dinner spot to grab some beverages and hang with the SF crew. I like the decor, and the bathroom was clean all night which was impressive considering the amount of people packed into the space. All I can say is I ended up on one of the barrels by the front of the bar dancing the night away, with the crew right below me, having a great time. The only problem was that my hangover at work the next day didn't do me too good of a service.....but I've had worse. read more

Me: Can I get a long island please? Bartender: We don't make long islands Me: Oh, why?! Bartender: Because too many people got wasted off of them Me: Ok, well what can you make for me then? (assuming that he would be able to recommend another strong drink) Bartender (looking pissed off): I'm not gonna stand here for an hour and list every single drink i can make in the bar Me: (thinking, "wtf" with the attitude) ummm... Bartender: What else do you drink then? Me: (giving up at this point) Uhh..just a gin and tonic please Bartender: That will be $7 Me: (takes the gin & tonic - watered down btw - along with all of my change) NO TIP. I gave en extra star only bc the bouncer was really nice to us after we explained our terrible service from our menopausal male bartender. Also the bar had good music, but it was filled with rich folk who don't know how to dance. We bounced shortly after I finished my drink (pretty much water and ice) and bought a flask and handled it ourselves. Advice for my bartender: 1) Either drop the attitude or quit your job at swigs and apply for the next open bartender position in the Castro. You're more of a queen than any other gay man I know. 2) Don't forget that you're supposed to change your tampon every 6-8 hours. read more

Little did I know that Swig could top my previous visits - my date took me there for live Jazz on a Sunday evening! What a fantastic surprise! We got the 'caipirinhas' first, which were just average, but my dirty martini made up for it! It was fabulous! The live music was great and it seemed like they also had open mic time, where regulars ventured on and off stage and everyone got really excited to sing - and dance - to their tunes! I don't know if it was the seats next to the fireplace, songs like 'Let's stay together', the fabulous drink, the cozy atmosphere, the warm brick wall, or my date's beautiful smile and sweet long kisses, but the only word I can use to describe that evening at Swig is MAGICAL!!! read more