Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Beat a hasty retreat to red vinyl booths where Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac debated
the meaning of life alongside a bemused golden Buddha. Enter the 1937 faux-grotto door-
way and dodge red lanterns to order beer or a sweet, sneaky-strong Chinese mai tai made
with
baiju
(rice liquor). Bathrooms and random DJ appearances are in the basement.
Downtown & SoMa
Bar Agricole
BAR
415-355-9400;
www.baragricole.com
; 355 11th St;
6-10pm Tue-Thu &
Sun, 5:30-11pm Fri & Sat; 9, 12, 27, 47)
Drink your way to a history degree with well-researched cocktails: Bellamy Scotch Sour
with egg whites passes the test, but Tequila Fix with lime, pineapple gum and hellfire bit-
ters earns honors. Don't miss the eco-design deck and sea-urchin deviled eggs.
Blue Bottle Coffee Company
CAFE
(
www.bluebottlecoffee.net
; 66 Mint St; 7am-7pm Mon-Fri, 8am-6pm Sat & Sun)
The mad-scientist $20,000 coffee siphon yields superior fair-trade, organic drip coffee,
rivaled only by bittersweet mochas and an off-menu invention called the Gibraltar (extra-
foamy short cappuccino in a glass).
Local Edition
BAR
415-795-1375;
www.localeditionsf.com
;
691 Market St;
5pm-2am Mon-Fri,
from 7pm Sat)
Get the scoop on SF's cocktail scene at this new speakeasy in the historic Hearst newspa-
per building's basement. Lights are so dim you might bump into typewriters, but all is for-
given when you get the Pulitzer - a scotch-sherry cocktail that goes straight to your head.
DNA Lounge
CLUB
9pm-3am Fri & Sat,
other nights vary;
12, 27, 47)
