This is definitely my type of place. My wife and I came to San Francisco for our anniversary trip and had already been in town for a few days when we stumbled across this unsuspecting gem on an early Friday afternoon. While I fancy myself a food and drink connoisseur, alas it was my wife's brilliant idea to stop and have a seat in this place. My lesson for the day, never judge a book by its cover. When we finally stopped debating and walked inside we were more than impressed by "our" discovery. 83 Proof is something to behold from the onset. Though the place was empty when we walked in it was immediately apparent that we had done something right. One look at the bar's selection immediately put even my discriminating taste in spirits at ease. Standard bar selections were available but it was evident that this place put an emphasis on the art of building a better cocktail. The mixers were fresh and not the mass produced high fructose corn syrup tasting stuff that you would expect from a college frat party. And for me the kicker was their selection of small batch spirits from local and regional distillers. Our bartender Veronica had a vast knowledge of their expansive selection and made us instantly feel like we’d found our home away from home. As time passed the place eventually began to fill up with locals getting off of work, the crowd ranged from blue collar to trendy twenty-something's meeting up for a few after work cocktails, very eclectic but oddly still unpretentious. Everyone seemed to greet the bartender as if they were just there the day before and that really is the difference maker in 83 Proof. The next time I'm in the city, this place will definitely be on my list of must-stop establishments..

This is a really cool place to just hang out and chill. The atmosphere is really laid back, and it's usually not that crowded as long as you avoid the after work people. They should be out by around 9pm. Upon entering, I've had little trouble finding a spot a the bar or grabbing a table. The bartenders here are absolutely fantastic. I remember the first time I came here and asked for a drink menu, one of the bartenders pointed to his head and replied, "It's right here." I described to him the kind of drinks I like, and then he worked his magic and served me something really tasty. I appreciate that they put in the extra effort to make drinks based your preferences, as everyone has a different palate. I also enjoy their vast selection of whiskey. I always make it a point to try a different whiskey whenever I come, and I love how they always have a recommendation based on other whiskeys I like. The bartenders are very knowledgeable so don't hesitate to ask about anything they have on the shelves. If you're not feeling adventurous, they'll likely have your favorite whiskey in stock so take a seat and enjoy a glass.

I came here with a couple of friends after work on a Friday. I was reading some of these reviews and noticed that one of the main concern was finding this place. Honestly, we just guessed when we saw a bar with a lot of people inside and assumed it was 83 Proof. The place was rather small with an upstairs space to hang around. Unfortunately, there was an event going on so we couldn't go upstairs. I got a mint mojito and I would say that it was decent. Our bartenders were fine during the first 30 minutes but when we were closing the tab, it took them a while to get my friend's card back and almost thought they lost it. Would I come back here again? Maybe...

Terrible bar with terrible bartenders. Avoid if you can! A group of friends and I came here on a Friday night and the bartender serving us (a larger female) took 10 minutes to make 2 small drinks in an empty bar. She also tried to give our drinks to the only other party in the bar. Not sure how she forgot who she was serving. She was also talking to the drinks as she was making them which made our group believe she wasn’t even close to sober while working. She also chose to pass an insult in hopes of cracking a funny joke. Not sure what that was about but the service is not worth coming to this bar at all.

I've had this place bookmarked because of the infamous "Basil Gimlet." Now I know you're thinking "basil in a cocktail?" Yes! Think of it as a light gin inspired cocktail with a basil leaf to naturally sweeten the drink. I ordered one and was completely satisfied because it didn't leave that heavy feeling taste but rather a clean refreshing essence because of the fresh basil leaf. Would I order it again? Definitely! My friend's Bourbon was smooth as ice. The wall of liquor bottles was impressive and showed that only the best was served here.

Our favorite bar in SF downtown. Usually crowded after work, and after late dinners, r prefer coming around 9 or after 11 at night. Bartenders make the best cocktails and the drinks are very affordable as well. My favorites are there old fashioned ( stood and generous pour of the bourbon), gin dominatrix, mule and the basil gimlet. My friends tried the Russian and the Collins and recommended it. Recently they went can only, so get some cash before your get here. This is one of ours favorite bars in Soma.

I've been here twice on the last couple weeks (hilariously on the same night), and I would have visited a third time had it not been closed for a private event. There are only two bartenders, and the one I got both times was friendly and mixed up two really good drinks after giving him some preferences. I can't recall the names, but the second was a whiskey with some lemon juice, bitters, and an orange peel. The place wasn't packed either time, so I was able to find seating at the bar both times.

One of the bartenders (I regret not asking for his name now) makes an original cocktail that really brings the noise. It's a variation of another original cocktail he makes, and he didn't even have a name for it yet. This review is getting more useless as I write. Either way, great atmosphere, amazing selection of Scotch, Bourbon, and Tequila from what I could see. Plus, they had a taco truck set up right outside, poaching the post-happy hour appetites of the FiDi yuppies.

I believe the bartender’s name was Kyle, he made my experience awesome. He gave us recommendations of SF, customized drinks, over amazing. I wish we had bartenders at my local spot like him. Reason for the 4 star was the bartender with the unique voice, he interjected into conversations and all he did was bash us, other patrons, and Kyle for the topic of fantasy football. If that guy was my bartender I would have left after my first drink, but Kyle saved the place.

We had singled out a cute little bartender that looked a lot like Adam Brody (*not* Adrian Brody). Drinks were very well-made, ambience was loud and brassy like any other hoppin' bar... there's a nice upstairs area for sitting and private gatherings. The best part was that our faux-Adam Brody obliged our impetuous request of "a special drink invented at this very moment." He made a juniper, lemon, raspberry SOMETHING that tickled our fancies quite a bit. A+

Went to a sponsored event at 83 Proof and came away really impressed! Our group got to take over the upstairs lounge that overlooks the rest of the bar, and while it got kind of stuffy up there, the added AC unit helped a lot. The interior here is really dark but comfortable- peep the huge bottle selection on the wall and be amazed. I wouldn't say it's a non-casual place, but I was in the minority of the crowd by not wearing typical office attire.

Do you wanna really get to know your date, or someone? If you do, go here, this place is a very good first stop on a long night of fun. I recommend getting a seats on the side of the bar across from the window. Why I never heard of this place till now, well no clue, but now I recommend it for an alternative to overcrowded mission bars or the " I'm stuck in hayes valley and no where else to go " scenario :)

Good place to grab a drink after work. Used to come in here more often. It’s been a little bit way over due since I last patronized and found the whiskey snap last night was extremely refreshing- good for a hot night in the city. Oh do check out the loft section as well. Good to grab it for your small group gathering if you are able to come in a little bit earlier to secure the place.

I really enjoyed this place as that the bartender helped to customize cocktails and tailored it to what flavors that I was looking for and it's profile. This helped me to build an understanding of drinks that I was looking for. For what I was looking for and the value of the education, these are very reasonably priced drinks. (it's priced on the components of the drinks)

Fantastic bar, knowledgeable and friendly bartenders. Every beer on draft was special and had a story. Not very busy, don't understand why. The game was on, patrons were getting to know each other and sharing drink recommendations. Great whiskey selection, we came in for one round, just kept finding reasons to stay. What more can you ask for?

Salesforce bros crowd the place and all high 5 each other and swig booze in what was once a beloved local spot. Bastards. Takes 30min to order a simple drink. The barkeeps have become as dickish as the crowd they serve; alcoholic's version of Stockholm syndrome. If you don't know what that is or how it fits here...get your IQ tested.

Quaint bar with a rustic feel located in the the financial district. Bartenders are awesome and the cocktails well-made. The only real downside is the lack of space makes for a crowded and noisy venue come 5pm. So come early if you're hoping to hold a conversation with more than one person at anything lower than shouting level.

This place used to be a commuter bar, where people commuting from the suburbs will come after work and have a drink. After change of ownership and revamped a few years back, this is a popular spot for professionals to hang out during happy hour. Place usually gets cleared by 7:30 since they don't serve food.

Wonderful bar in an unexpected area. I love having this place so close to work. It's a treat every time. It can be a little too crowded between 4-7p. It's only really an issue since they put so much effort into drinks and the bar is so small. Come at any other time and it's near perfect.

Great whisky selection. Attentive, knowledgeable, and amiable bartender who takes good care of customers. A nice alternative to some of the busier spots and sports a big window that opens to the street for fresh air on a nice day.
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Go-to cocktail bar for after work drinks. Knowledgeable and efficient bartenders who do a great job managing a very packed after work scene. Whether you want beer or a craft cocktail, this will meet your needs. Better suited for small groups as the space is narrow.

I like this hidden gem. It attracts a lot of working people since it is right in the middle of major workplaces. Pretty small but a good size to have a small to medium size group happy hour. Prices are fair. $10 for wine/champagne and ~$5 for beer. Recommend it!

Casual go-to bar where you can go with your colleagues or friends and enjoy few drinks. Crowd is usually young, place has limited seating and there is no food available for munching. Nice place to quickly grab your drink after work without wasting much time…

Only have time for one drink, try the basil gimlet.. bartender will create unique cocktails based on what you like.. there is no menu for cocktails as such.. give it a shot.. you may find a new favorite drink :) Good selection of wine n beer too.. njoiiii

Friendly, exceptionally knowledgable bartenders who will hand select a whiskey for you based on your preferences. The best in the business as far as SF is concerned, and well worth the walk out to 1st street. Plus the decor is lovely and understated.

I had a few very nice old fashioneds in here, but there's also nice beer, wine, prosecco, etc. Not overly expensive, but definitely crowded after work. Struggled to find a seat, and the seating all along the bar makes it hard to get served at times.

Such an amazing bar. The drinks are strong and delicious, and the bartenders were so incredibly nice. They were fun to talk to and had great recommendations. The atmosphere is homie and the prices are reasonable. Overall an amazing experience :).

Really great, lively and welcoming atmosphere at this place. It's cozy and well lit, and the drink selection is on point. Seating is limited so it can get crowded at certain times of the day, but there is a quieter area upstairs. Would return.

A whole in the wall that you likely would not notice if you walk by, thanks to the plain door and no windows, but walk inside and experience an old school speak easy vibe and cocktails the way they should be. Great place for a drink or two.

Great cocktails, but sadly no menu, so requires a bit of work on your part to think of what you want. Great whisky selection. Relatively small space, very crowded on weekends. Has a nice upstairs area, but also packed and far from the bar.

Drinks were amazing, staff was friendly, even though they got super busy they still make time to connect with you. The selection of whiskey was insane, if you want to try something, they probably have it. I am definitely coming back here.

Great cocktail and spirits bar right outside the Salesforce tower. Would recommend heading over between 7-9 PM to get a place, the bar gets pretty busy right after.
Price per person
$20–30
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

A lot of great whiskey options, but the two bartenders seemed focus on serving the existing patrons at the bar as opposed to newly seated customers. Took a while to get their attention, but drinks were worth the wait after that.

Gross. Showed up at 10 with a group of people and the bar was a mess. The music was off and weird and there was vomit all over one of the bathrooms. We left without even ordering. Skip this place. Many other options in the city.

Small bar, but never felt cramped while we were there. Very good selection of both beer and spirits. The service wasn't the friendliest, but not rude or pushy. Overall, this is a very chill little bar in downtown San Francisco.

I've been going here since I moved to the Bay years ago. Still the best bartenders in the city and I still bring everyone I can to experience the genius these guys have to offer. Definitely the best bar experience out there.

Get there early for happy hour because it gets really crowded. Try to grab the bench by the window if it's open. Although this bar gets crowded, a seat by the window will make it feel like you have a little more space.

We hosted a company happy hour here. The cocktails were delicious, and Nika was a pleasure to work with! They also allow outside catering food, and even helped me set up the table! Would definitely come back again:)

My concern with 83 Proof is that of lack of signage! It took me 20 minutes- Judy perambulating and circumventing the whole area just to find the space. At the end of the day, I couldn’t even get a drink no more .

A stellar place to relax after work or enjoy sipping on their wide selection of unique spirits and beers. Bar tenders know their stuff and are A+. We enjoyed the drinks and learning about the different spirits.

nice place you would never know it exists if you did not know where to go. good atmosphere and great selection of alcohol. staff is really nice and its a good place to hide and have a drink away from your boss.

Hidden speakeasy, can easily walk by and not notice it. Great service, and good selection of drinks, Enrique and Jackson do a great job.
Price per person
$20–30
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

San Francisco stable, great place to have a proper cocktails, beers on any day of the week. Super friendly bartenders and very good at crafting cocktails. They also have a good unique selection of whiskeys

I was here with my friends on a Saturday night around 9 pm. Place wasn't as crowded as we had expected. Great ambience, friendly and knowledgeable bartenders. Would definitely go again next time I'm in SF.

This place used to be the go to happy hour spot when I worked in the area. The drinks are great and the bartenders know their stuff. Definitely a decent spot. Go when there is a piano player. Good times.

Fix your front door, dude! Great drinks and wonderful bartenders (can we call them that again?) in an exciting surrounding. This is a great spot that all the FiDi bridge and tunnels go to after work.

What can't I say about this place. Bartenders know their stuff, and there's a massive selection of whiskey, bourbon, and a great selection of beer. Will always prefer this as my go to spot in SF.

Amazing piano player and great drink selection completely drowned out by careless clientele that treat others in the space like they are in the way of their post-work networking opportunities.

They know their quality mixed drinks well. Great place to stop for a whiskey after work. There's a little balcony in the back that can sit a private party/happy hour for ~10 people

The price isn't bad, just right for the location. Usually packed after work. Good quality from the drinks. Has upstairs seating but gets full fast. Bathroom is really clean.

It’s that time of year - pumpkin spice sour was on special tonight. So tasty. Very talented bartenders ask for Zach he can make delicious beverages for everyone’s palate.

Good beers on tap, close to work (when in the office), decent prices, nothing unique about the place, but I have never had a bad time when I need something super casual.

No food, but the best bar spot in town. It gets busy for a reason. If the place is not super busy ask the bartender to get creative with the cocktail. Love this place!

Once you manage to find this place you'll be in for a treat with hand crafted cocktails, craft beers, and wine. A cool speakeasy gives this place it's cozy character.

These guys are super nice. Made us custom cocktails based on what we liked and they were incredible! Super helpful when we came back to get a forgotten receipt too

Excelent music we were in new years party and was awesome!!! That's all to me
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Good for some drinks after work or meeting with friends. However, too noisy to watch the game over a beer and not fancy enough to spend the entire evening there.

Really good recommendations by the bartender. If you have an idea of what you like especially when it comes to whiskey, they can come up with a great suggestion.

The place is pretty good. A bartender who has been there forever, is incredibly nice. Not much of an ambiance, but a good place to get a quick drink after work.

Good place for a Friday cocktail. Small and crowded bar, but there is some seating and a secret seating area upstairs. Good cocktails and decent wine for a bar.

When I realized there's a few extra seats on a second level, I started liking this place more. The drinks are fine, but it's usually to busy to stay very long.

Love this place! Amazing drinks and Zack the bartender makes the smoothest cocktails ever. Love coming here and highly recommend. Plus they're open till late!

Jane is amazing. She knows how to make cocktails almost religiously. Everyone here knows what they are doing but if you want an amazing cocktail talk to Jane.

Good place to grab a drink. Gets really crowded with people in the area getting happy hour after work. If you're cool with that, this place won't disappoint!

Extremely unsafe. My backpack was stolen and the bar tender was extremely rude when I asked for help.
Food: 1
Service: 1
Atmosphere: 1

A good place for a drink after work. Given the general lack of options in this direct area, 83 proof does the job. Small space and gets kind of crowded.

Not good for groups or talking and always super crowded for with post work happy hour but drinks are strong and well mixed and location is convenient.

I liked it, fairly chill and bartender was nice. Wish there was more females there but I'm sure there is in other nights. Will be back here again :~}

Great brews, great whiskey, this place is a top favorite, totally stumbled onto it by accident and always stop through when on a quick day run to SF

Swanky, cool intimate loft seating upstairs. Kind bar staff. No obvious signage on street level - initially we weren't sure if it was still there.

Nice cocktail bar. Do a great old fashioned. After work on a Thursday or Friday this place gets slammed and is basically standing room only.

One of the best bart in San Francisco to go and chill with some drinks after a long day at work.. bartenders marck, enrique they're so nice

Very extensive bourbon selection. Nick was a particularly great bartender. I very much liked all of the old whiskey ads and atmosphere.

Can't beat the selection of fine whiskeys. And be sure to request a song from the piano man. He has a wicked indie and rock repertoire.

Wandered in here for an afternoon beverage and wasn't disappointed. Good beer selection, great cocktails, friendly attentive staff.

Great bourbon and whiskey selection. Good bunch of guys behind the bar too.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Small and crowded, but bartenders care about crafting you a quality drink, whatever you fancy - no crafty menu, just good drinks.

Pint glasses aren't beer clean. Bartenders are usually pretty slow during happy hour. Beers don't rotate often enough. It's okay.

It wasn’t very busy on a Friday night which was nice, the drinks are very whiskey heavy and the bar itself has an open air vibe!

Great whisky selection. Kyle’s scotch knowledge and great attitude was exceptional. Will return on my next visit to the city.

Low key, occasionally a piano man playing off-beat tunes (cover of a Pixies tune, etc). Solid happy hour, but pretty mobbed.

Seems like this place would be cool, but they have so many people there are peak hours that it's impossible to get a drink.

Friendly staff, good vibe, made me an excellent cocktail with minimal instructions! Will definitely check them out again !

busy, loud, vibrant, lots of yuppies (lol - young urban professionals), great bartending, fast (trying), good drinks. Fun!

Pretty nice place with a decent happy hour and good drinks. There's lots of space to stand, so it's great for big groups.

Grabbed a quick drink. Popped in on a Wednesday and found a decent selection of house wine and a good number of beers.

Though it was crowded, we were able to get seats. The prices are good and the bar staff is knowledgeable and friendly.

Great after-work bar with awesome happy hour prices and a generous poor. Taking away one star for terrible acoustics.

Love this place. Great service and fun times. My go-to place!
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

It's a great and easy after work bar. Decent cocktails, a small but fine beer selection, and a lively atmosphere.

Packed for happy hour. Great loft hideout. Good liquor selection. More artistry than bartending. Worth the wait.

Always a fun spot with great whiskey and cocktails. My biggest problem with this place is it gets super load.

Very good food. Loved the atmosphere and drinks were definitely very well made. Highly recommend this place!

our favorite bar to go to on Friday after work. huge all of spirits and great vibe. drinks are on point

Very welcoming spot. Great drinks and a friendly staff, I felt like it was easy to make myself at home.

Amazing BAR... Beautiful.. no menu.. ask for a drink.(your taste).. the Bartender will make it for you

Drinks are a bit overpriced and it is always packed. Bartenders are nice. Nothing special here.

Little cocktail bar with a small upstairs lounge area. Stopped by Happy Hour and it was packed.

Happy hour here is excellent. And they have a nice little selection of craft beers on draft.

I come here every so often. The bar tenders are very kind. Great variety and great location.