Our Take on Comstock Saloon
The Comstock Saloon opened in 1907, and the team behind its modern iteration has done everything right. The space is a meticulously restored Victorian saloon on Columbus Avenue in North Beach. The long mahogany bar is original. The tin ceiling is original. The elaborate back bar is original. It is one of the most beautiful rooms in San Francisco for a drink.
The cocktail program is built around pre-Prohibition recipes and their direct descendants. The Pisco Punch, originally invented in San Francisco in the 1870s, is made here with more care than anywhere else in the city. The menu also covers classic American cocktails from the 1880s through 1930s, made with period-appropriate techniques and garnishes.
This is the right bar for a date night in San Francisco. The room is dimly lit, the music is jazz-adjacent, and the conversation is quiet enough to hear. It also operates as one of the hidden gems in San Francisco in the sense that it attracts far fewer tourists than its North Beach neighbors, despite being objectively better than most of them.
What to Order
01
The Pisco Punch
San Francisco's most famous historic cocktail, invented at the Bank Exchange saloon in 1853. The Comstock's version uses Peruvian pisco, pineapple gum syrup, and lime. Order this first.
02
The Martini Martinez
The drink that arguably gave birth to the Martini. Sweet vermouth, Old Tom gin, maraschino, and bitters. Much rounder and more interesting than the dry Martini it eventually became.
03
The Tom Collins
One of the great summer drinks in the canon. Made here with fresh lemon and house-carbonated soda. Deceptively refreshing in a way that will get you into trouble if you are not careful.
04
The Bartender's Whim
Tell them what era of cocktail history interests you. The team here knows their history cold. You will get something specific, considered, and probably better than anything you might have chosen.
Best Time to Visit
Tuesday through Thursday evenings are quietest. Friday and Saturday are busier but never overwhelming. The bar opens at 5pm and the early hours are ideal for a conversation over a cocktail before moving on to dinner in North Beach. The San Francisco cocktail bar guide has more options if you want to build an evening around multiple stops.
