We stumbled upon this place after Portola Festival and this was such an amazing bar!! Sergio and the other bartender were so skillful and patient with the crazy crowd rushing in. This place is truly a craft cocktail lounge and they did a great job with everything they made. We were in awe watching them run that bar so well. I'm a bartender in Las Vegas and this was the best bar experience and best cocktails I've ever had read more

Third Rail - Sergio!! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

We came here for quick drinks on a weekday. It was pretty busy, which is understandable cause it has a nice ambiance and the concept or jerky + drinks seem fun. We got two cocktails, which were great, and two rail shots. The drinks were good, but the jerky portions are pretty small. It was two small squares, which felt like a bit of a rip off. They do taste good, so it was fun to experience, but probably wouldn't come back again specifically to this bar. read more

I don't get to Dogpatch much, but when I do, Third Rail is a terrific place to stop in. There are so many good things about Third Rail. A relaxed, intimate ambience, hot bartenders, curious cured meat products, creative cocktails. The thing I like best, besides the creative cocktails of course, is the names they give them. I am a whiskey girl, so my favorite (to drink and to call by name) is Nighthawks at the Diner. It features bourbon, applejack, oloroso sherry, pepper, maple, smoky scotch, and it's served on a big cube. I particularly love the big cube. The slow melt makes the drink even more sip worthy and keeps it at just the right temperature. Yum! Now, I also appreciate a pretty drink. At other times in other walks of life, I am a tiki girl. Think strong drinks that LOOK froufrou. If that's your pleasure, then go for the kill switch. It's gorgeous. A deep purple layer swimming on top of a milky layer. The bartender also decorated it with edible flowers and mint. The drink is made from rum, falernum, white guava, cream, pineapple, and lime served on crushed ice. Not only is it pretty, it happens to be pretty delicious. Customer service is great. You can tell they craft the cocktails with care, but they aren't as slow as molasses. And if you are wondering about the jerky, yes, it is indeed good. I found everything in my sampler to be a bit spicy (good) and had a wonderful texture (not too chewy, not too wimpy). Definitely recommended. read more

See all

Great ambiance and good drinks. They serve beer, cocktails, and jerky. There's not too much seating, but it doesn't get too crowded. Convenient stop if you're coming in for an event in the Chase Center. I enjoyed the Dewdrop ($13). read more

Dogpatch during the day is bustling, but at night is dead. So dead there aren't even crickets chirping in the background. I'm so glad my friend found this place, since it's close to home! Hidden right behind Dogpatch Cafe lies Third Rail, a 1920's themed bar that serves innovative cocktails, similar to Alchemist or Local Edition, but smaller in size. My first order consisted of the Rail Shot for $10, in which you get to choose a beer, a shot, and a jerky. A great deal if you ask me. However, do note that the beers are smaller than your average glass of 16-20 ounces. The beer was for the bf and the shot for me. I got a shot of the Mezcal in which I enjoyed before gulping it down to the hoorahs of a birthday celebration. It has a strong similarity to tequila with a smokiness to it. I would definitely order this shot again. I got the Mighty Jerky which was very tasty. They sell their jerky separately too. For my second order, I ordered the Jigglypuff consisting of gin, sherry, orgeat, lemon, egg white, and nutmeg. How could I resist a drink named after a Pokemon? So befitting of me. The drink was delicious, more on the sweet side. The only thing I could complain about was that the egg white foam was a bit too much. Service was great. It didn't take long for a bartender to notice me then shortly after took my order. They take credit cards too, for those who never carry cash such as I. There's plenty of street parking. The only downside to this bar is that the noise level is quite high. I could barely hold a conversation without sticking my ear in my friends' faces just to hear what they were saying. read more

See all

This is one of my favorite spots in SF for catching up with friends. The drinks are consistently tasty, the bartenders are chill and there is just enough space. It's usually pretty busy on the weekends, but on weekdays you're pretty much guaranteed to find a seat. My go-to drinks are the Third Rail (lemon-y and refreshing), the Diplomat (which to me tastes like a classy old chesterfield couch and success), and the Mt Tam with which makes me feel like I'm on a hike while getting drunk (awesome!). I tried the Jigglypuff and 12 Angry Men this weekend because.. well, I liked the names. Both were good but not enough to replace my usual favorites. read more

Third Rail - Jigglypuff on the left, 12 Angry Men on the right - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Third Rail is a really cool bar in the Dogpatch area. I went here to gather with a brunch of friends to meet up for after-dinner drinks. We went during the middle of the week so it wasn't too busy and parking was relatively easy around the area during that time. It's not a huge bar but there's plenty of standing room and tables along the walls to place your drinks as well as few chairs near the front entrance. My drink of choice for the night was the Sloe Ride -- (http://bit.ly/1HKfocZ) with sloe gin, lemon, cappelletti bitter, pineapple, prosecco (served on the rocks ). It was listed under one of their Lighter Side drinks so it wasn't too strong but more on the fruity side. It's a refreshing drink and was good with to wash down their selection of Jerky and 4505 Chicharones, which if you haven't had before, I highly recommend you try. Overall, nice bar to go to for some well crafted drinks if you're in the Dogpatch. read more

Third Rail - Sloe Ride --  Sloe gin, lemon, cappelletti bitter, pineapple, prosecco - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

A little bit out in the middle of nowhere land, which is slowly filling up with some great spots. Third Rail happens to be one of these great finds! after filling up on meat and booze at Smokestack, we came to Third Rail for what? MORE MEAT AND BOOZE! The cocktail selection covers a great variety. I feel like there's a little bit of something for everyone. Third Rail's shtick is jerky. While their jerky is their popular gimmick, I actually didn't care much for it (and we had a decent variety, believe me). I did however, LOVE the meat sticks. Yo, artisan Slim Jims and crafty cocktails? DUHH. The meat styx are so good. Skinny Rizo - Pork, Red Wine, Bay Leaf a bit sweet, but this made for a delicious morning breakfast on MUNI whilst reading "Attempting Normal" by Marc Maron Yea, I wake up with sticks of meat in my purse sometimes, ok? Salami Styx - Pork, Garlic, Fennel Seed LOVED THIS ONE. Savory, salty, garlicky mmmmmm plus the fennel seed wasn't overwhelming. Salami in a stick. Perfect handheld meat. All cocktails are $10. best bang for your buck is the happy hour "Rail Shot" for $8 you get 8oz of beer (choice of Scrimshaw, Racer 5, Old Brick or Red Barn), a shot (tequila, bourbon, rum , or fernet) and 1/2 oz of jerky (choice of the mighty meat, red eye, jerk jerky or veg) My kinda place. read more

Third Rail - Salami Styx. So good! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

I really liked this place when we found it in SF. It was lowkey, and in a very quiet part of town, but drinks were good and vibes were positive. It had an intimate feel and the other patrons all seemed to know the bartender. Their jerky was good too. read more

Delicious cocktails. Beer was good and some local ones. I only had rail shots all night. Great deal of getting some beer, a shot, and jerky. Favorite was the smoked one by far. The sriracha was also tasty. Tried the mighty meat as well but seemed almost too dry. The candy was a perfect amount of sweetness in the jerky. Service was probably average for any bar in the city. Atmosphere was nice and recommend stopping in! read more

Third Rail - If you get rail shots they always mark what you get! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Cute space, really nice folks behind the bar, and did I mention really tasty beef jerky and bourbon? BEEF JERKY and BOURBON - together at last! Happy hour is until 6pm and for $8, you get to select one each from the list of beers, shots, and beef jerky tastings (see my picture). Just lovely. I haven't tried any of the mixed cocktails yet, but will revise my review once I do! read more

Third Rail - Happy hour menu - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

The best craft cocktails in the neighborhood and probably the city! I highly recommend going off menu. Andi is a mezcal wizard, Emilio has one of the most creative minds, Joseph is one the nerdiest and most passionate cocktail maker I've ever met. read more

I'm a fan of meat Meat is sweet and oh, so neat Booze and meat complete Reminds me of that School House Rock song "Beans n' Rice... is nice". Booze somewhat fulfilled my friend, and the sweet meat candy made me giddy. How cool is it, that this bar has a nice selection of jerky? And, they even have some vegetarian jerky for those heathens who waste perfectly good animal bits. I had some fancy-schmancy cola (I think it turned me into a hipster - so good), and about 5 of their meaty treats. I'm in love with the Spicy Beef Candy, Cowboy, and the Landjager. As much of a fan as I am of coffee, the Red Eye was probably my least favorite... I still ate most of it, though. I'm not a Heathen. read more

See all

There is something to be said about the Dogpatch neighborhood, but I almost don't want to say it because I want to keep the Dogpatch the way it is, low key and not too crowded. There are some real gems out here, and Third Rail is one of them. Hidden a bit off 3rd street, you could almost miss it if you didn't know the address, but once you walk in you are greeted by very clean, yet rustic looking bar. The big draw for me was the Whiskey and Jerkey pairings. Why hasn't this been done before!?! Genius!!! I love Eagle Rare bourbon and it is one of the parking options. At $11 for a pour and an oz of Jerkey, Sweet Meat, I felt it was a great deal! My friend got the Mosswood and Red Eye pairing. Really with the whiskey and jerky there is no wrong pairing! They also have Jerky by the ounce and you can load up. The Salami stick is delicious, tasting like dry Chinese sausage, you really can't go wrong! They had drink/shot/jerkey convo for about $10 as well. Didn't try it but it sounds like a great deal. They also have Happy Hour Specials. I hear it can be crowded but it being the weekend of the Burning Man Exodus, the bar was fairly empty! LOVED IT! So far can't find anything wrong with it to not give it 5 stars! Oh yeah, they also have menus from some of the surrounding eateries and you could order food to eat there! read more

Third Rail - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

A little bar in the dogpatch that isn't the trendiest but does the job well. There are quite a few seats for you to hang out at, and if you are hungry they also have jerky pairings. I only got a few cocktails here, and they were average (nothing special, decent balance) , probably worth 3 stars. However, the price is very reasonable, so it's a good place to linger and have more than a few. read more

Good to see that Dogpatch is starting to grow and places like Third Rail can pop up. Off the quiet segment of 20th, it's a small space but with lots of great spirits. Hit up the bar one late night and had a chat with the team. Amaro, Bourbon and Orange liquers make for a tasty libation. What's this meat and whiskey = delicious? I like that they have jerky pairings. Too bad I just ate. Next time it's a must do... read more

See all

Beer + Liquor + Jerky = Boomtime. Met some friends here to catch up over drinks, and we were pleasantly surprised to discover the Rail Shot - "A little beer, a little shot, and a little jerky." All for $10, $8 during happy hour. Yes please, sign us up! You have 4 choices of each to mix and match to your heart's content. I went with a glass of Red Barn, a shot of Tequila, and the Red Eye jerky. There were 4 of us altogether, so we just ended up ordering each type of jerky and shared. For a couple rounds. Haha. Very cool and hip ambiance. We came here on a Monday night, and there weren't too many people, as to be expected. We found seats towards the back easily. The lighting was dim, as reflected in my photo, but it added a nice intimate feeling. Bar keeps were friendly and helpful. All in all, a cool place to grab drinks and hang out with friends, and nom on some tasty jerky. I would definitely come back! Protip: They only serve jerky here as far as food, so I eventually asked one of bartenders if it was ok to bring in our own, to which he replied yes! We went to Long Bridge Pizza Company, about a block away, got 2 large 'zas, shared some slices with the good folks at Third Rail, and feasted with our drinks. Sweet! Protip #2: Staying for a while? Really thirsty? Order a double Rail Shot, aka a Stinky Hobo, for $19! read more

Third Rail - The Rail Shot. $10. Done and done (and done). Extra thirsty? Try a double Rail Shot, aka a Stinky Hobo, for $19! Kaboom. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Last month a gal pal suggested "Let's try something new!" so I turned to Yelp and decided we ought to head over to Dogpatch for drinks and dinner. When I hopped out on 20th and made my way into the Third Rail I was pleasantly surprised. First, there was a chair waiting for me. Second, the bartenders were kind. Finally, the other patrons were neighborly. And what's more, my cocktail - the fireside sour (mezcal, blood orange, lemon, agave, egg white, orange bitters) - was quite quaffable. We didn't sample anything from the jerky menu (and instead headed for dinner at nearby Serpentine) but I'm pretty curious about the skinny rizo and the cowboy jerky. Third Rail is the kind of bar at which I'd like to be a regular. read more

Perhaps I'm a bit biased, having lived in semi-barren Dogpatch long enough now to feel the rare downside of not being able to stumble home after a few quality cocktails. So, color me excited when my buddy Jean Y told me about this new addition to the neighborhood! We showed up a week ago, where I ordered one of their Ol' 55s, and an Envy. And, well, the bartenders know their stuff, as far as naming and suggestions go, at least. As the "spiritous" category would suggest, the Ol' 55 was indeed a much stronger cocktail, with some slight medicinal notes. When asking for something a little more refreshing for my second, my bartender's suggestion of the Envy was spot on. Now, while they're not quite at the level of favorites such as Martuni's, Rickhouse, or Zero Zero, I did like their cocktails more than say, Bar Agricole or Azucar. And at $10 a pop, and within walking distance of my home, you can be certain I'll be dropping by here more in the future, simply for the balance of quality, value, and convenience. ***Accessibility Info*** Venue - While the space isn't huge, they're new enough that there isn't such a crowd as to make the place feel cramped and hard to navigate through. In fact, the day we went, there were less than 10 other customers inside with us. The bar counter, however, is the usual bar counter height (a.k.a. too high for us in chairs). However, with the limited patrons, it wasn't hard at all getting the bartender's attention. Bathroom - Didn't check it out. read more

Honestly the best drinks in maybe all of SF -- Sergio is an amazing bartender, and so are Preston, Andy, Sophia and the rest of the team. They care a lot about their work and you can feel it in everything they make, from the specialty cocktails to the beef jerky. The vibe here on non-game/concert days (Chase Center) is low key but always kind of poppin--our favorite spot in the neighborhood to wind down. On Chase days it is POPPIN' but in a good way. So glad to have this gem in our neighborhood! read more

You know, I used to dig Retox quite a bit, so I was a little apprehensive when I heard this space was getting renovated. Usually that means that it's going to get a lot more expensive and will look too modern/neo-loungy on the inside. I'm glad to say that this upgrade works, as it's not too cold and unfriendly, but is still quite stylish. That, and the cocktail menu is well chosen. I recommend the namesake Third Rail, it's pretty tasty. Speaking of tasty, the jerky menu is a nice touch, too. Always good to have a munchie option. One thing I would like to see (for selfish reasons), is some happy hour specials or something, like a buck or two off for a beer and a piece of jerky together. That'd make me come back, for sure. UPDATE: looks like they do have jerky happy hour specials! I stand corrected. read more

Third Rail - fly mid-century style furniture. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

This is my favorite bar in the Dogpatch. Very intimate with delicious, creative cocktails. Every cocktail is worth trying and the menu changes frequently, so you have to go often to keep up. ;) And it's topped by selling jerky and salami that are fresh and delicious! Many different flavors - also very creative and providing some base for all the cocktails. So if you are looking to grab a good drink and some lovely atmosphere - this is your place. read more

(08/27/16) We were on our way to Triple Voodoo when we noticed this spot, so we decided to check it out after for a proper cocktail. The place is modern, small, and a had a nice lively crowd when we arrived. Ordering was easy despite it being pretty crowded. I ordered 2 Whiskey Sours with Bulleit Bourbon and hold the egg whites ($11 each). I didn't bother to ask what their well whiskey was. The whiskey sour here was awesome! The sour mix was near perfect. I would have preferred it just a bit more sour but I'm in no way complaining. Maybe it's just the city bc I get good ones in the valley, but not as good as out here. A friend of ours ordered a sample platter of their beef jerky. The candy jerky and smoked jerky were killer. I could have ate those the whole night. This place was a nice find and I will definitely have it added to my places for a legit whiskey sour. The Burritt Room + Tavern so far has my favorite whiskey sour. I'll definitely make it back here. read more

See all

This place is always bumpin'. Quirky cocktail menu that really packs a punch...definitely worth trying! Nice addition to the Dogpatch nightlife scene. Super dark with a laid back ambiance -- go for the couch area in the front for some seclusion from the bar. read more

Third Rail - Thyme in my cocktail! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Came here to ring in my birthday this year, and Phil and Jeff were awesome at helping me set up! The environment is chill, which is awesome because you can bring the party! My group was about 15-20 people deep at any given time, and we were about 1/3 of the place. Because I made a reservation, they saved the front area (couches and stools) for my party. And I was able to tell oblivious people (seriously signs saying "reserved" were like confetti, and dudes still walked over to sit?!). that it was reserved. BOOM! They have a full bar, and hella jerky. The carrot jerky became a point of amusement for me. Get it if you're vegetarian. Otherwise. It's odd. Sweet from the carrot and super spiced. But you have to just try it once! Get a piece with your other jerky. Drinks-wise, everything is pretty solid. There's a few specialty stuff, but they can clearly make regular stuff too. My friends kept getting me this strawberry thing that was good...but super sweet. I'd get that for other people who don't like booze as much. Me...that made my tooth hurt after the 3rd one... If you want to watch the game (any game) they have a TV here. But they also have this awesome barn door to slide over the TV to make it less pub-feel at night. And..probably protect the TV. read more

Jerky & whiskey? Heck yeah. Best combination ever! Very intimate, quiet, bar that offers jerky. Medium sampler: Sbc: 4 Mighty:5 Jerk:4 Smoke:5 Red eye:4 Service:4 Our drinks were extremely refreshing and perfect amount in each one. Glad we stopped by. Must try, this place is rather quiet so be respectful on neighbors and get your jerky on. read more

Third Rail - Perf - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Amazing beers, well crafted mixed drinks and beef jerky that will blow your mind! The people who work here are super friendly and know their stuff. This is a bar that is really trying to make you happy. I'd recommend the rail shot: choose a beer, choose a shot and choose your jerky for $10 ($8 during happy hour). Can't go wrong. read more

Third Rail - 8 oz Racer 5 IPA, shot of bourbon and the Mighty Meat beef jerky. Winning. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Just starting to explore cocktail bars in SF, but this place may be my go-to! Came here on a friday night around 11pm and it was pretty full and loud, but still some seating available. Didn't take much time to get a seat at the bar and the attention of our bartender. Well-made drinks and a good selection. Loved that they split the menu into tastes/flavor. I zoomed in on the citrus and chose the Tally Ho. Nice and crisp with a smooth sweetness, that wasn't syrupy. Crowd started to thin out around 12 as people started giddily running out, when their lyfts arrived. Or when they had lost their voices from yelling and could no longer communicate. We didn't get to try the jerky this time, but will definitely be back to try more of the drinks and jerky! read more

Third Rail - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

As good as it gets. Not pretentious, not trying too hard, not a dive bar, but a little bit of everything. Simple decor, yet it has it's own character. Love their variety of cocktails and the jerky was a nice touch to the menu. I was a fan of the Rail Shot special where you get to choose your beer, shot, and jerky. It's perfect for me who has a low tolerance. For sure coming back when I'm in the neighborhood. read more

Third Rail - Rail Shot special. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Such a great neighborhood bar. The bartenders are fantastic - super friendly, will answer any questions about drinks and make suggestions. It can get crowded on the weekends especially if there's a game, but the usual vibe is very low key. The cocktails are really well balanced and unique. Hidden gem! read more

Great bartending. A bit loud, wish it was a bit more quieter to be able to talk. Great drinks! Good jerky!

Great cocktails and awesome.ambience to have a drink with a friend. Bartender was courteous to explain all his drinks to us and recommended drinks based on our likings. One of the best picks in dogpatch. read more

Third Rail - Awesome drinks. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Get the Third Rail cocktail with Sergio.. fun place and good vibe. and they had charanda!

This place is great. Best cocktails around, and a great dog-friendly and 21+ environment to boot. The beef jerky is unexpected, but actually really outstanding. Who would think. I love coming over to Third Rail on a weekend and hanging out. The hard part is stopping after 1-2 cocktails! read more

i love this bar! it's too overly trendy to where you constantly need to roll your eyes and the people (both patrons and staff) are friendly and respectful! I've been here twice -- once randomly on their 2 year anniversary party which was lit and last weekend just to grab a drink. The first time they had a love DJ and drink specials all night for the momentous occasion, it gave me a great first impression of the bar which lead me to return during a business as usual evening. The music was still great sans the live DJ. This time instead of getting cocktails i opted for the beer, shot and jerky combo -- for a whomping $10 this is a steal! This is a great bar for a date, to solo treat yourself and for a close group of friends! read more

Third Rail - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

I went to this place on a Tuesday right around 3:00 with some coworkers. It was a quick drink and didn't spend too much time here. However, the 30 mins or so I spent here gave me a good vibe of the place. It has a nice interior with with lots of seating at the bar. You also have some tables to sit with group of friends. My Coworker had 2 rounds of a beer, shot & beef jerky I think he paid around $24(not 10% sure). I ordered a sculpin IPA and I paid $6. The bartender was friendly when we got there and served as quick as we were almost the only people there. I will come back a bit later during the day to see what type of crowd goes here. read more

Stopped by on a Friday night for a drink before going home and we were stoked to check this place out, especially since it's right down the road. We grabbed a seat by the door and my bf got the drinks. The wait took a little bit and he ordered his beer and got me a dirty martini, I also noticed that they also served beef jerky which I convinced him to get some. When he came back he seemed pretty peeved. He said that the bartender was very short and rude with him. Wasn't friendly at all, which was a disappointment. I did observe the bar a bit and notice that the same guy that served my bf didn't look very friendly this other couple at be bar. This place looks really cool so I'll be back to give it another try. Beef jerky was alright, a bit expensive for the three pieces you get though. read more

We walked in based on reviews from yelp and we were NOT disappointed. Our bartender Andy knew her stuff! We only planned on grabbing one drink but loved chatting and learning about tequila and mescal. Thank you so much ( also the Jerry was awesome Definitely try some) read more

Great cocktails. Will def be coming back as this place is great. Such a great neighborhood spot!

The best jerky and Chichurron. :) Came here for the BF's uncles' birthday and got to try all the jerky's through one of the specials. The mighty meat was my favorite. The price wasn't bad either. Will go back to try more of the jerky's. Haha I know this is a bar but I don't know much about beer.. They all taste the same to me. Maybe one days I'll try the different beer with the corresponding jerky. read more

Third Rail - Rail Shot. :) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all