83 Proof
83 1st St
(between Elim St & Mission St)
San Francisco, CA 94105 (415) 296-8383
- Hours:
Mon-Tue 2:00 p.m.-12:00 a.m.
Wed-Fri 2:00 p.m.-2:00 a.m.
Sat 8:00 p.m.-2:00 a.m. - Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Best Nights: Tue, Wed, Thu
- Happy Hour: Yes
- Alcohol: Full Bar
- Smoking: No
- Coat Check: No
255 reviews
Neighborhood: SOMA
"I reserved the "South Parlor" here for my birthday party and was treated like pure royalty. Making the reservation was very easy and the…" read more »
181 Reviews for 83 Proof
Aspiring mixologists (and those who just like to imbibe creative cocktails) will appreciate 83 Proof. I happened to pop in last night during WhiskyWeek and there were a number of enticing whisky-filled options on a special menu.
Expect the bar downstairs to be mobbed in the after work hours. Come early to snag a couch upstairs but be prepared to yell across the table (or snuggle up and whisper in your companion's ear) as the acoustics on the second floor are not super conducive to conversation.
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1 Previous Review: Show all »
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05/20/2008
Were you to walk past 83 Proof after dark you might miss the place completely if you didn't keep an… Read more »
3.5 stars, but it fluctuates on when you come. In the peak of happy hour, I'd give 2 stars based on the level of noise and the length of time to get a drink. Once the crowd dies down you now longer have to scream at your companions or wait 20 minutes for a drink, you get a four star experience. The drinks are wonderful and the vibe is very cool. I'll be back, but not between 5-7:30.
I like this place just fine, and it seems to be a favorite among my colleagues. It has a cool atmosphere, especially with the big open window facing out to 1st Street, that makes it seem upscale - or at least not grungy - but retains a certain something of authenticity. That's a difficult line to walk but they do it well. Unfortunately the layout of the space means that when it gets crowded, as it does at all of those times you really want to be in a bar, it becomes very difficult to move around or sit down.
but the layout means you spend a lot of time feeling crowded when
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I don't have unusually high standards to have a good time at a bar, yet why did it seem so much better at 83 Proof?
Of course your experience will mostly depend on your company - and there was good company. The drinks were delicious and not overpriced. The music was present but hardly too loud, so I could still hear everyone I was talking to.
My bartender was exceedingly nice, meaning prompt and efficient. He was also accommodating - I had only ordered one drink and he closed the tab on my credit card even though it was below the minimum. All without a fuss, nice.
Yep, nothing to complain about at all.
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Bartenders and music are two key things that can make or break a bar.
A warm smile from the person that will quickly serve you a killer drink, while bumpin tunes echo around you, is what separates the good bars from the great bars.
83 Proof's staff, and constantly diverse music - propel it into a solid five star standing.
I like to stick to their adapted Gin Fizz (meaning no egg whites) with lots of lime. It provides a sharp buzz, without the strong bite of most drinks, while still being refreshing. This drink, coupled with their beautiful interior, crafted from soft homey and elegant woods, and their blindingly well stocked bar, is the perfect backdrop for hanging out with some close friends, or co-workers on an electric San Francisco night.
Though the bar can get crowded and the space is slightly narrow, as are most San Francisco bars, try to sneak in early, so you take advantage of the chic overlooking balcony area above.
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I work in SOMA and must've walked by this place several times without even noticing it... but finally went here last nite for a b-day party and we all had a great time, especially after scoring the balcony around 8PM.
Drinks are reasonably priced and the bartenders really surprised me! For the first time in a LONG LONG time I actually liked the mojito I sampled...
It can get pretty crowded in there cuz the space is narrow (set up is similar to Dada's) but overall it's a good time and I'll go back when I'm in the mood for more cocktails.
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What's up with not putting your name of business on your place of business these days? Oh well.
Props to this place for letting us drink right up until 2 a.m.; props for serving cans of Hamm's for $3 (or maybe $2, I forget); pouring big healthy Fernet shots, and doing the special something that magically makes all the FiDi fucks fuck off by the time the news crew rolls in.
Hard place to put a bar -- there's not much spirit, ambiance or community provided by the Transbay Terminal and the Millennium fucking Tower -- but it works.
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I like 83 Proof. The last time I was in here, it was a Friday, and it was crowded and busy, and it was hard to get the bartenders' attention to buy a drink, and I think that gave me a false first impression. The decor is nice. The bartenders are super friendly and attentive. The seating is comfortable (the older I get, the more I care . . .). The drinks are well made. Best of all, it's one block from my office.
It was a 5-star experience drinking and chatting with some of my favorite yelpers on a Monday night, but I'm dinging them one star for not offering Trumer, which is the ultimate beer of choice on my Think Globally Drink Locally program . . .
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This is a bar.
They serve alcohol.
It is crowded.
That's it.
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*Added to the Grown & Sexy List*
This spot is "schmoove"
Great for a date or a classy after work cocktail(or two, or three)
Nicole G organized a wonderful happy hour here Monday evening. This is a great location with close proximity to Bart and bus routes. I fell in l.o.v.e. with Jessica T's Gin Fizz and the bartender was kind enough to make the rummy version for me with Oronoco Rum. Yummy!
It's been soooo long since I've been out to a HH, this was a great way to catch up with old friends. . . .
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Maybe I just came on a wrong day, it was 80F when my friends and I walked in. The place looks busy but not too crowded. We left right away because the place smells like sweaty dudes. Like I say, maybe it was just a bad day. This place is close to my office, so it will be cool if it is a good HH spot. :)
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Umm, go early or you won't be able to move, much less approach the bar.
Bartender Chris is awesome.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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05/25/2008
So walking from bart to work one very early morning I see this open door that I've never noticed… Read more »
So I wandered in here yesterday, thinking I was going to see people I sorta kinda know somewhat but I blew it (it helps to pay attention to dates sometimes, heh)...it's alright though, I brought a newspaper with me and kept myself occupied while sipping on a gimlet.
Anyway, my original rating was probably a little inflated, but I'm glad to say it's still deserving of 5 stars. The bartenders are really friendly and make excellent drinks, and it was relatively quiet with plenty of seating. Not a bad place to spend a Monday happy hour.
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1 Previous Review: Show all »
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04/29/2008
Finally went to a DYL - I lingered outside for probably about 10-20 minutes before I went in,… Read more »
Went back for HH with friends last night and had a good time - it's crowded and we had to wait a while for drinks but the bartenders were super nice the entire time and the bathroom lines were relatively short. too bad they don't serve food.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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02/29/2008
It's kinda like John Collins w/o the surf videos. Drinks are good and the bartenders are friendly.… Read more »
List of Alcohols by Proof:
1. Everclear Grain Alcohol = 190 proof
2. Barcardi 151 = 151 proof
3. Absinthe = 110 - 140 proof
4. Wild Turkey = 101 proof
5. Russells' Reserve 10 year old bourbon = 90 proof
6. Table Wine = 14 - 28 proof
7. Beer = 10 proof (approximately)
So since I was drinking beer and not the high proof alcohol straight I presume that means:
A. My trachea is still intact
B. My stomach can still digest things
C. I'm not suffering from hallucinations or a two day hangover
D. My kidney isn't shot
E. My rectum isn't suffering from 2nd degree burns
I was in fact drinking $2 Heineken's during happy hour here. And very happy I was. The place has a good vibe, attentive bartenders with not so attentive patrons and a decent beat. The music is loud which means you have to pump up the volume in your voice when speaking to someone. But a small price to pay for a nice place to grab a cold one and reminisce those days in college when Everclear was a necessary addition to the cheapest fruit juice in the store.
It's a little hard to find this place. I went here on Saturday night for someone's birthday. Half of the bar were people who were there for the birthday party. Since it wasn't too busy, it was a little easier to move around. The drinks are priced pretty low at this place which is a definite plus. Bartenders were okay, a little slow. And this place needs to have a DJ to spin some tunes, because you could barely hear the music that was playing. Other than that, this is a decent place.
Well, bring a GPS...or three. Because of the location, it's super isolated on a Saturday night. That, coupled with no signage, makes it kind of tough to locate. However, if you get there around 9pm, you can get some prem-o parking right in front of the bar without having to pay. Score!
The bar itself is quite long and narrow, which could be problematic when it gets crowded and you're trying to get a drink at the bar. Speaking of which, the bartenders are nice but they definitely need more than two on a Saturday night. The décor has a Havana feel to it and there is a swanky little sitting area upstairs.
Overall, I'd come back if I was in the area...especially since the drinks are pretty cheap too!
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There are two reasons why 83 Proof is a great place to be...
They have both Sheep's Dip and Pig's Nose out of the reach of commoners. It is only accessible to those who are worthy enough to know its power.
AND they don't have a front window. Well at least when i was there last night there wasn't a front window which instantly let me know that this is this the coolest place in the world.
Although i do take one star away for serving me a Manhattan the girly way, i.e. in a martini glass. I expected it to come the way my boyfriends did. In a rocks glass and delicious. Don't get me wrong it was an amazing Manhattan but dammit I wanted it the manly way!
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Best bar near the FiDi. Hands down. Not that it has much competition or anything but still. Classy and clean without being snooty. Especially good if you get off work in the afternoon since they open at 2pm and it doesn't really start to get crowded till after 5. The bartenders are nice and the prices are reasonable. I wouldn't consider going all the way downtown just to come here for the evening but for after work drinks, it's perfect
Came here to meet some old friends for happy hour. They have a piano player, which is fun, but the acoustics in there are not good. It was sooo loud! Anyway, you must order the basil cocktail, it's herby and citrusy, so good! We had a great time, particularly when it started to empty out around 8pm (on a Tuesday). Fun bar, good drinks, friendly bartenders, what more do you need for happy hour?
My favorite part of coming to this bar is that I parked right in front of it. Sure, we got here around 8:45 on a Saturday night, but you can't beat that in this city.
The bar was completely average in all respects. The decor was nothing to write home about, the drinks were fair-priced and tasted fine, the people were neither hot and sexy nor crazy and cool. There's nothing wrong with this place by any means... but there's nothing that makes me want to come back.
One plus: I tried an Alameda mandarin-flavored vodka that was really scrumptious.
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I used to hang here back when it was a dive bar during the dot-com days. I remember a gun being pulled at one point and someone unfortunately died. I never returned. Flash forward... Wow, what a difference a few years can make in SOMA. Entirely different bar for an entirely different hood. The row of bitters bottles in the front corner of the bar is a promising sign. The drinks are cheap and the crowds are full. Great bar, nothing stands out in the exceptional, and it was way too crowded. I will re-star as I return and get a better feel for the new place and the drinks.
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Stopped in here on a friend's recommendation the other night... and found a fairly standard after work crown in a pretty generic box. Nice looking bar, but nothing out of the ordinary. My Manhattan was WAY too sweet - I should have sent it back, but, well, I had already consumed half of it. Plenty of other places that are more my speed anyhow, so no big loss.
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Two words: Basil Gimlet
The last time I was here, I foolishly wasted my time on other drinks like a total newb, but thanks to D. Peezy I was enlightened. We tried the Cucumber Gimlet as well, which was pretty refreshing, but the obvious winner was still the basil. Be prepared for a slight wait though, because everyone and their mommas is ordering these labor intensive bad boys. I guess everyone got the memo because this place was packed on a Wed, and it's not hard to see why.
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If you have seen my previous reviews, you know that I have a love/hate relationship with tequila. I love it, I really do, but it makes me a little cranky and frankly really stupid. I tend to make some of my most heinous decisions while basking in the warm cushy glow of tequila, like hanging up on people for no good reason, crying to strangers, and trying to jump on the back of moving cars. Seriously.
Last night, when I was waiting FOREVER for Nicole to show up for her office hours (just kidding, I was early), I got a margarita, because it's what sounded good. It's like a brazilian wax, you forget how much it hurts until you do it over again- such is my relationship with tequila. Okay, that bartender clearly didn't know that when it comes to my margaritas, anything more than a 1 oz pour will probably be too much for me. So he poured...and poured...and poured. I really do respect the fine craftsmanship of my drink (half a glass of tequila, triple sec, 2 lime squeezes and agave nectar, with a float of Grand Marnier), but man that sucker was STRONG. And it was only $8. Which may seem expensive to some (cheap asses), but for the amount that went in and the location of the bar, it was extremely reasonable. Suffice it to say that I switched to some rum lime rickey/fizz thing later, because I wanted to avoid any major embarassment (although I was a champ at the minor).
I love love love the decor of this place, and their booze selection wows even me (when you work at a casino, you see more booze than you ever thought possible). There were also some really hot guys there who somehow failed to notice my super hot red shoes. How, I don't know, but when I'm in the mood for some banker love, I'm coming here.
Next time I'm taking over the upstairs, though. Don't want to leave the poor Angelo all by himself again!
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Good vibe, really cool / nice bartenders, and right around the corner from my work = great HH spot. I actually was able to have a semi-business meeting here as well - at about 5 pm on a Tuesday night it was empty and quiet enough that we could actually have a conversation! I always order my standard Goose n' Soda, but after reading some of these reviews I will definitely be trying the flavored gimlets next time (Love the basil one at Rye).....
Girlfriend and I may have found our new Tuesday GNO spot! Lovely bartenders, good happy hour prices, nice mixed crowd, and it's across from the Tranny Bay! What more could a gal ask for?
It's not super huge but definitely worth going to happy hour. This place makes me wish I work downtown again. Decor is nice, not pretentious. It's one long bar and tables on the right. It has a good amount of people and it's definitely lively but yet I don't have to scream to hear my friends talk. They also have a comfy looking loft area to lounge if you go early enough to snatch it up. The drinks are delicious and strong. Not too sweet. I went for the highly recommended basil gimlet by fellow yelpers and also the cucumber gimlet too. I like both! Two was all it took for the perfect buzz for the rest of the night. Also I like that their happy hour prices are good 'til 7pm.
Awesome find, cant believe we did not try this place out earlier since we live a block away. This place is awesome, subtle, unpretentious and great bartenders. I cant really say much more about this place besides it has a great vibe and is a neighborhood gem for drinks both on busy and off nights.
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Last time I was here was probably 5 years ago when it was "Attitudes"...wow has it changed. I've passed by a few times, thought about what it was like b4 and skipped to Harlot. Came here a couple weeks ago and I like it! Great happy hr spot to hang out and chat. House white was very decent. Parking was okay also.
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83 Proof is a great happy hour place. The bartenders are friendly and service is very efficient; they make pretty good cocktails and somehow always keep track of who to serve next, despite the lack of queues (I know it's a straight bar). It can get crowded on weeknights, but that's never stopped me from going there. This place is ridiculously inconspicuous, mainly because there's no signage - just look for the number 83! I'm definitely a fan!
Being in extraordinary close proximity to work, 83 Proof gets to be a regular haunt on the HH circuit. It's got friendly barternders, a nice atmosphere, and has decent drink prices. On busier nights, this place gets packed and due to the layout of the interior, the decibels reverberate and it gets tough to have conversations . . . the only detriment which prevents 83 Proof from getting 5 stars.
This place was surprisingly fun and cool despite its SOMA location. Definitely not your typical bar in that area. Cool atmosphere and great drink prices (during happy hour at least). Like many others, I recommend the basil gimlet!
This place just got so much better. I recently discovered the Basil Gimlet drink. I usually drink Belvedere Gimlets on the rocks. But a coworker ordered this pretty green drink from 83 Proof and I thought it was an appletini. No no, it's fresh basil leaves mashed with a pestle, shaken with all the toxicities, and poured into a martini glass. Refreshing, full basil taste, and mind-blowing! This is a must for basil lovers!
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1 Previous Review: Show all »
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05/21/2008
I have nothing bad to say about the bar that is closest in distance from my workplace. It's 0.07… Read more »
My happy hour bar of choice for close to work. They always get packed right at 5pm, but I love the place. It's not a dive bar like Beale Street, but it's not a "scene" either like Harlot (both of which serve their purposes)... just a good, easy place to grab an honest drink with a bunch of people happy to be out amongst friends.
This place has a great ambience with lots of seating - the upstairs area is definitely cool. It's pretty small, but when we went on a Saturday night it was fairly quiet...not that I minded. Will definitely need to come back again - it looks like this is one of the places to be for HH.
This place is definitely a little hard to find - just look for the number #83, because it doesn't have a sign. It's on the same side of the street as Walgreens.
There isn't much to say about this spot-- it is pretty nondescript.... drinks were fine, they had a nice selection of liquor but, as my friend put it, not a "destination spot".
very cool bar. its always a good thing when u get more change than u were expecting. $2 heinekens? cant really beat that. really cool spot for a happy hour get together. bathrooms were clean too, which is a rarity nowadays! i was intrigued with the balcony too, maybe next time!
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I love love LOVE this place! It's an unmarked spot with no sign - just the street address number 83.
It's on my way to the transit terminal so I stop by once in a while for a glass of chardonnay or beer.
Always packed and crackin'! The crowd's usually your early 30's/40 fidi crowd needing to unwind after a long day's work. Also I never had a problem with getting the bartender's attention for a drink, even when crowded.
I think I had an unlucky night here as it took FOREVER to get a drink. There was what appeared to be a birthday party in progress that kept getting dozens of shots, which made my getting drinks damn near impossible. Once I got a drink, I enjoyed the atmosphere which was lively at first but quieted down fast. Definitely a good after work place. I'll definitely give it another shot.
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