The Lush

The tradition of Mo Hodges and Brian Felley (Benjamin Cooper, Big) opening bars in old hotels runs deep, and here’s their third project to follow that path: THE DOUGLAS ROOM. It’s opening in the former Fish & Farm/Mark Twain Hotel in Union Square, which has been transformed/…

We keep hearing so many stories of our treasured old-school SF dives being bought, sold, gutted, razed, made over, and basically having any scrap of their former soul sucked out of them. But fortunately, SF’s oldest bar, the OLD SHIP SALOON, which is being sold by longtime owner Bill…

Over in Polk Gulch, the fomer Sudachi is now the RUSTED MULE, a project from Kristian Cosentino (Dirty Water), Richard Vila (Poquito), Christina Mae Henderson, and Chris Mansury. It’s a huge space, with room for 140 people, and has three lounges plus a mezzanine for private groups. Hoodline reports…

As if SF Beer Week isn’t enough, there are two new places serving locally made brews. Open in the Outer Sunset is Woods Beer Co.’s fifth location, OUTBOUND, a 750-square-foot space they’re calling the club car (with an outdoor patio that will open in the spring). On…

Last month, I mentioned the crew at ~ABV~ (Todd Smith, Ryan Fitzgerald, and Erik Reichborn-Kjennerud) were launching their one-year pop-up series, Over Proof, on their upstairs mezzanine. They started this quarterly pop-up with Flip-Flop, a deep dive into rum and the food culture in the different regions of the world…

Some quick updates for you, starting with the news that barman, Campo de Encanto pisco co-founder, and author Duggan McDonnell has been hired as director of beverage for CHINA LIVE, opening February 23rd. He is working on everything from the cocktails to the wine list (look for some exciting pairings,…

Last fall, I mentioned a new bar was taking over the former Castle Club in the Tenderloin, RUM & SUGAR, and Hoodline reports it’s now open. Look for a wide selection of rums, rum-based cocktails, and local beer and wine. It’s meant to have a neighborhood vibe (dogs…

The crew at ~ABV~ (Todd Smith, Ryan Fitzgerald, and Erik Reichborn-Kjennerud) are opening their own one-year pop-up, Over Proof, on their upstairs mezzanine. The idea is to create a different tasting menu experience each quarter, with cocktails from a single spirit category and food to match. The décor will change…

This Wednesday December 21st is the shortest (and darkest) day of the year, and EL TECHO is hosting a Winter Solstice party on its (covered and heated) roof from 4pm-close (10:30 pm). There will be three $5 cocktails from El Techo/Lolinda bar manager Alvaro Rojas, including the Agua…

The Hotel Des Arts has a new bar that is opening this weekend, BAR FLUXUS. It’s a spacious one, with capacity for 176, and it’s going to feature cocktails, plus music (spanning all genres) and live entertainment, including literary readings, bands, and performance art. There’s even a…