How can you begrudge a bar called Zam Zam? It sounds like the strum of my hand on an out-of-tune zither. Regardless, it's definitely the watering hole I didn't know I needed until I finally entered their portal. It's dark in here but not in a bad way. With its fanciful back wall mural (Photo 4), it felt a bit like a sultan's harem that seemingly doubles as an Ottoman coffeehouse. I came in around 4PM on a weekday. This proved to be an ideal time because you can tell this compact bar gets packed quickly. I had heard they were famous for their renditions of classic cocktails, in particular, martinis straight up. What an intentional coincidence as I was in the mood for an Espresso Martini. I'm hardly ever not in the mood, so it was a good thing the bartender was seasoned enough to make a silky smooth one (Photo 7). It was more than reasonably priced at $14. While I didn't catch her name, the bartender was cordial and just chatty enough to mitigate my introverted social sensibilities. More customers started to trickle in, an older profile than the other popular Haight bars. I can say that because that's my geriatric DNA. I like The Alembic and The Mad Dog in the Fog, but this one may have just taken the edge. COCKTAILS - 5 stars...genuinely smooth espresso martini AMBIANCE - 4.5 stars...a bit dark, a bit exotic, wish it was a bit bigger SERVICE - 5 stars...excellent bartender TOTAL - 5 stars...getting into a zam zam jam RELATED - Exploring the Haight? Here's a collection of places l've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/_ACvheyVVi read more

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Zam zam is a cool chill bar in Haight Ashbury which a beautiful space, lots of seating and looked like chill pups were allowed. This bar is CASH ONLY y'all. They have an ATM, but it think it's important to have cash ready! We got a couple cocktails, the prices are good and the drinks were strong. It's a great place to sit and catch up with friends. It was very lively on a Friday night. The space was so nice, bathroom was clean. I would come back with friends to have a good night! read more

Zam Zam - Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Zam Zam continue to retains its eclectic charm amidst a gentrifying SF and its individuality vs. sameness is what makes it an exotic and charming watering hole. As showcased by the late Anthony Bourdain, that should give you an idea of the no nonsense vibe. Just classic drinks, served straight up. Nothing trendy; nothing extraneous. But the fact that the space has barely changed over the decades makes it a unique spot with its Persian art decor style. A legacy business and a spot worth stopping by on any Haight St. bar crawl. read more

Zam Zam - Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

I am a simple drinker. Double bourbon with a rock. Ambiance is great. Service was quick and attentive. Plus I got my ghost photo through the red window. That energy ball was not there when I took the photo. Enjoy. read more

Zam Zam - Energy ball on the weather vane across the street - Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

If you're into bars with character and tons of personality, Zam Zam is a great bar to visit. With its Persian-themed decor it has a reputation as one of SF's most famous dive bars. They've been open since 1941 and thankfully haven't spent much beautifying the bar. While they're known for their martinis, I had a happy hour beer there for $4. The bartender was friendly and the patrons of the bar were too. History, character, cheap beers in a storied San Francisco neighborhood. It's definitely worth a stop and I'm glad I did. read more

Zam Zam - Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Wonderful neighborhood bar with a great history. We always enjoy a visit here for happy hour, alone or with friends. The crowd is always chill and reflects the wonderful diversity of the neighborhood. Good times. read more

Cool and divey cash-only cocktail bar in the Haight. Had kind of an old school vibe and was really dark inside. Plenty of bar seating and some tables available too. Dog friendly, at least it was when we were in on a weekday afternoon. Pretty large liquor selection available. I ordered an espresso martini, which came filled to the rim, and enjoyed every sip of it! Bartender was nice and funny. Good place to stop for a drink in the area! read more

Zam Zam - Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Mural - I was actually much more impressed than expected from the comments I read here. Bartender had v chill demeanor and gave us a brief bar background which triggered my sudden change in order from a Gin & Soda to Gin Martini w/ a twist read more

Bartender was courteous throughout the night. Made sure we were good on drinks while she went out and smoked. Asked a bit about the history of the bar, and she was like "I dunno, only been here 3 weeks". Um, that's enough time to know something. But the thing that pissed me off was when it was time to go, she repeatedly told us how much our bill was and suggested how much she would like to be tipped followed up by "Just sayin'..." Rude beyond belief. read more

As I'm here in San Francisco since 80s, of course I visited Zam Zam's many times during the era of Bruno (the late, great famously grouchy owner who passed in 2000). But I haven't been in years since the plandemic. Visited Zam Zam's twice in the past week. both bartenders made a great Stoil martini. The doorman was playing my favorite music on the jukebox. i'm sensitive to funky vibes and there are none there. It's an excellent, classic San Francisco bar. There were lots of friendly tourists and local couples on dates. read more

We had the best time in here last night during our Haight bar crawl Thank you Katie for being such an awesome host to us.

Bartender was very rude to my friends and I. We came for a drink for my birthday and was greeted with really gruff commentary from the bartender. We're pretty thick-skinned, but this was very unwarranted. My friend asked how much a drink was, as it cash only and she wanted to know how much to pull out. The answer was incredibly rude and she treated her like she was a child. She continued that treatment throughout the night. Again, we generally don't care but it was for sure a bad experience read more

Look, you need to understand what you are walking into here before you step foot in the place. I used to drink here inow and again in the late 90s and will forever speak reverently of this establishment and the complete lack of tolerance for the bougie SF IPA f**kwads that began to exist back then. Bruno ran the place with an iron fist, which has apparently been passed down. Always dressed in black slacks with a crisp white shirt on. He was a consummate professional. Opened when he wanted to, there were no set hours regardless of what it might have said on the door. The juke box only had 50's - 60's crooners available. Even back then it was a blast to the past. Place had a Rat Pack vibe to it. YOU WILL be 86'd for the slightest of transgressions. He took no prisoners. Order beer in a can? "I'm sorry sir, we don't serve beer in a can here. Perhaps you'd be more comfortable down the street at a different establishment?" and you'd be gone. Have your hat on backwards? "I'm sorry sir, we don't serve clientele who wear backwards hats here, perhaps you'd be more comfortable down the street at an establishment that serves people wearing backwards hats". 86'd And zero tolerance, zero, null, for a vodka martini. You had one chance to order it right, and he made it how he wanted to. Dirty martini? GTFO, but you'd be firmly 86'd, with class. The best course of action back then? You'd fix your act before walking in the door if you found the place open. "I love your place, may I get a drink?" and you'd be happy with what you got. Normally a nice gin martini, 1 onion. Then enjoy the sights of people being graciously kicked out left and right around you. But, if you laughed at them, you were gone too. You put cash on the bar to cover your drink, and more. And you tipped well from the first drink. Else good luck getting a 2nd drink poured. You played the right songs, you were not stupid drunk and too loud running your mouth Looks like the apple hasn't fallen too far from the tree in the years that have followed. It isn't that hard, know your environment read more

I come into this bar regularly, paid cash, always tipped more than 25% regularly. I had a rough week due to the holidays and yes, I did end up crying at the bar. Not sobbing or causing a scene but having a brief moment to myself (trying my best to make it unnoticeable) and the bar tender has the audacity to tell me to stop crying despite the fact I paid cash for drinks for the people around me and the request that I wanted water when I knew I had too much to drink. She said I needed to order more drinks in order to stay at the bar regardless of how courteous and cognizant I was of my own capacity. She basically said I needed to order more alcohol in order to stay, instead of suggesting non-alcohol alternatives and just letting me have my moment to myself. Whatever her intent was, it was beyond compassion and understanding when a customer is clearly paying for the service and just asking to be left alone. A bar tender should never pressure a customer to order more alcohol when they clearly have not finished their drink to begin with that is sitting right in front of them. I would not recommend going to this bar unless you're okay with dealing with the most disrespectful service. read more

Keanu Reeves unattractive cousin was working bar when we rolled in. He was extremely rude from the moment we walked in. Negged us and told us not to stay there if we weren't going to buy more and faster, shushed the bar, and played the same shitty jazz music on repeat. Don't support shitty customer service. read more

Woman working at the bar yelled at me for using the bathroom, I walked out to grab my partner to come inside so I can buy a drink. She thought I was leaving and told me I was b**********g her. Super rude. Don't care about the bar's reputation. Doesn't give her the right to yell just to yell. Posting this as many times as possible so people can be aware. If you see an old cranky lady at the bar, go to another bar. Drinks aren't worth staying for. Plus it's cash only.. read more

Great crowd, knowledgeable Bartender. They told me were to eat in San Francisco. I'll be back for their legendary martinis. I even bought a shirt. read more

Amazing history. Very cool vibe. Incredible jukebox. Super friendly bartender. I could have just sat here all day and drank.

Best Espresso Martini in SF! Best Dirty Martini in SF! Best bartender in SF!! This place is a total vibe and the drinks are made to perfection. read more

I popped in for a cocktail in Zam Zam a couple of times in 2021 and 2022 while biking around the city and most recently while walking around with a friend visiting from NYC. They seem to specialize in making classic cocktails. They don't have any rotating cocktail menus or anything like that. Basically it isn't a fancy "craft cocktail" bar--and that's perfectly okay with me! However, if you have a recipe in mind, you can let your bartender know. I asked them to make me a New York Sour, which is basically a small layer of red wine floating on top of a whisky sour. The bartender didn't have any problems accommodating my request. However, in my opinion, the drinks--even though they are pretty good--are not what makes this place stand out: it's the ambience and the quirky neighborhood folks who frequent the place. The bar is very small and intimate, so it's hard not to bump into a stranger--hopefully a friendly one haha. As for the drinks, I'd recommend to just get a classic cocktail, a neat pour of your favorite spirit or a beer and enjoy the vibes. read more

Zam Zam - New York Sour. - Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Zam zam is a uniquely SF bar, a place that is worth a stop as a tourist and regular stops as a local. From the decor, to the no-frill drinks, to the people you meet and interact with here, it's an experience. The first thing you notice when walking in is the "middle eastern"-style decor. I imagine this looked pretty fresh and fancy when they opened many years ago, but now the luster comes from that worn-in "this bar has seen everything" feeling. A little dingy, sure, but only enough to scare away those weak of heart. As for the drinks, they are known for their martinis but pretty much any drink here will get you feeling nice and toasty. In my experience, the bartenders and service was perfectly acceptable but that may vary depending on the night (and whatever bs they have to put up with.) Bonus: an actual jukebox (not those new digital kinds) with lots of old tunes. Bring lots of cash and change for this bar and you'll be set all night. read more

If I could leave less than one star I would. The bartender was so incredibly mean, to my veteran friend. To greet customers with such curtness and insensitivity, to a veteran (POST-PANDEMIC) is so wrong. We are in the haight ashbury, you should be nothing but kind. Never say "fuck you" to a military woman. so wrong. read more

Zam Zam - This woman working was so mean. - Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Great vibes at Zam Zam. I was looking for a great martini bar and have found it! We came here twice in one weekend because of how incredible their vodka martinis are (the best I've had - olives on point). Prices were reasonable (~$10). Cash only - they have an ATM inside. Very dark and moody lighting. Bartenders are fun and knowledgable. Not great for groups bigger than ~3, but perfect for date night. My boyfriend had a manhattan and said it was okay 3/5. He ordered a martini for his second drink after trying mine. We will be back! read more

Zam Zam - vodka martini - Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Husband and I stopped by on a Saturday night for a few drinks. Everyone was ordering martinis so we had to give it a try. I'm not a big martini at all, but the gin martini with olives that I had was good and my husband liked his as well. The vibe is super laid back and a lot of people came by after a sports game. The energy picked up later in the night but it seems like a good place for a chill night if you come in earlier. Our bartender was awesome and crushed the drinks all night. read more

Zam Zam - Gin Martini - Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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A ran down bar with great potential in a historic neighborhood, that needs a renovation bad. The one time I came to grab a drink with friends an older (in her 50s) slow moving female bartender was more occupied giving free drinks to her group of friends and drinking a quick shot with them, then serving me and my 2 friends. She also messed up my order. I wanted vodka tonic. Not vodka soda. Fixing my order was nearly impossible since there were other people whose drinks she had to make and were also annoyed for not being served in a timely manner. By the time she would have gotten to us - it would have been 20 minutes. :/ Drinks are on the pricier side too. I like the half circle shape bar and the mural. I can see the charm in the vibe but the bartender, the speed, and the not so clean everything was a turn off. read more

Zam Zam - Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

To those who have posted low scores: Anyone who understands the history of this place with Bruno Mooshei would understand that the proprietors have maintained a long-honored tradition of old-school (yes, cantankerous) barkeeping. Bruno was the infamous Soup Nazi of bartenders who crafted awesome martinis. This is an historical place with historical values. read more

Loved the ambiance of this place and I will say, the bartender knows how to make a cocktail. Didn't catch his name or I'd gladly include it in this review. Unfortunately his expertise at his craft did not make up for the lack of service he gave my friend and me. We walked in just as the bar opened. We could tell he was still doing his opening duties, so we gave him a second and took a seat at a table. 5 minutes goes by without a word from him, and finally (in an annoyed tone) goes, "Are you guys going to order something? If not you have to leave." My friend and I looked at each other uncomfortable and proceeded to the bar. We asked for a drink menu but was told there isn't one. My friend ordered a Negroni and I just said make it two to make things easier. As he makes the Negroni, in what felt like a million years but was really 3 minutes of complete silence, he abruptly asked if my friend and I are "okay" and that we were "being weird." We took our drinks, paid the tab, and took a seat at the table. Not another word was issued to us. Hopefully it was just a bad night and not always so off putting. Overall, would not go back! read more

Great martinis , old fashion bar. It has been there on Haight since 1941. But if you want food to nibble with your martini you won't find it here. You can grab something elesegwhere on the street and being in. read more

Great place, cool vibe and the best bartender in SF. My new go too. Y'all need to get here now.

I have had a couple lovely times here until my friends and I encountered one of the bartenders who was outright aggressive and mean. This one experience has unfortunately ruined the whole bar for me because the fear of running into the same bartender again outweighs the previous good times I had at the bar. read more

Worst experience I've ever had at a bar period. I've never had a bartender berate me or friends over tipping. Ordered two drinks at $10 each. Paid for mine with a $20 bill and decided to cover my friend's since it was the same drink. Immediately after doing so, the bartender started going off about having to tip her saying things such as "do you know what a tip is?" "You don't have to stay" and "I need you guys to tip, Christmas is coming up and this place is expensive." While I understand that aspect of owning a bar, the entitlement was ridiculous and absolutely disrespectful. However, she came at us as if we were the ones disrespecting her. Mind you, I hadn't even taken one sip of my drink and neither had my friend. All I did was ask to use that $20 to cover my friend's drink. That has never been a problem anywhere else and she honestly didn't even give me a chance to consider tipping her. Upset, my friend started going back and forth with the woman but we all decided to simply get up and leave. read more

Bartender was extremely rude to my friends and I. Threw us out of the bar (immediately after we ordered and paid for a drink of course) because my friend laughed. From the moment we sat down she targeted us and was nothing short of cruel. I have never been treated with such disrespect and unprompted aggression read more

I've been coming to this place since I moved to SF back in 2022. It's my favorite, go-to bar. Super cozy, really cool staff, and bomb cocktails. read more

If you don't mind large dogs wrestling with each other with their owners impishly encouraging them to show better manners, almost knocking drinks out of the hands of annoyed customers trying to avoid a spill-- this is the place for you! Word nest have gotten out that ZamZam's is dog friendly. If ZamZam wasn't an otherwise gorgeous deco bar with delicious fairly priced drinks, we would have left but probably won't be so eager to return. read more

This place it's kind of a "dive" but it's a cocktail bar but, "only for the classics" Said the bartender on duty, (who had to look up an old fashioned) at the place Bruno built.... (Customer said it was a great drink, ((they were from "Minnesota"))) Honestly this guy bartends like I date. He's too honest. He's too up front. More mystery , MR! We both could learn a thing or two about what a woman / customer wants! read more

Kunden is the best!! We had so much fun!! Mid afternoon on a Monday. Five people in the bar. All drinking martinis. And we all just became best friends. read more

Lovely place. Great decor, history, and drinks. Classic cocktails only, no cocktail menu. This bar has been around since 1941. You'll hear great stories about the past owner who refused to serve hippies during the 60s (it's wild to think about that) and a character named Bad Dave who is no longer allowed at the bar. Definitely recommend this place, especially if you are a fan of gin martinis. read more

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Still a five star bar in my humble opinion. However, do take note of the poor reviews. They are all true. So maybe this isn't the place for you. Or maybe you are into a random conversation with a local, or maybe you are into history. You can feel the stories. Be prepared for lively banter. Or perhaps, someplace else is more your style. More importantly, they're finally open. I don't drink so much anymore. But when I do, I go there. read more

good drinks, great vibe and conversation with the group at the semi-circular bar - with thankfully no tv or music to interfere

Peter is king. Best espresso martini in the city. Absolute vibes. I need 85 characters to post, so this is filler; I said what I said.