15 Romolo
Cocktail bar · North Beach ·
Cocktails, bar bites, jukebox, and a sultry speakeasy vibe
Cocktails, bar bites, jukebox, and a sultry speakeasy vibe
"This place has been making incredible cocktails since 1998, which is one reason to plan a trip here. The other is that the speakeasy/gastropub situated off a quiet alley in North Beach sets the bar high for all other cocktail spots in the city. It’s also cozy, dimly lit, and minimalist—there are seats at the bar and along the wall and not much else, so you can focus on moving past the small talk stage if you’re with a date, or talking about culturally relevant things with friends." - lani conway, julia chen 1, ricky rodriguez
"This place has been making incredible cocktails since 1998, which is only one reason to plan a date here. The other is that the gastropub situated off a quiet alley in North Beach sets the bar high for all other cocktail spots in the city. It’s dimly lit, has a speakeasy feel, and is pretty minimalist—there are seats at the bar and along the wall and not much else, so you can focus on your date or moving past the small-talk stage." - taylor abrams, lani conway
"It took two weeks, but you finally convinced your whole group to meet up and go out so that you’d all have something to talk about aside from what’s new on Netflix. But because a few of them really drag their feet at the beginning of the night, you should start out at 15 Romolo. Grab a table with whoever actually shows up on time, order a few Pimm’s Cup pitchers, and let the time go by while everyone else trickles in. While Alex is perpetually five minutes away, you’ll be busy eating one of their burgers or a charcuterie board." - will kamensky
"This century-old, back alley building has housed speakeasies, brothels, and most famously, The Basque Hotel—the hotel that inspired 15 Romolo’s candlelit aesthetic; it's local dining hall meets old-fashioned bar. It's made a name for itself among cocktail aficionados by balancing riffs on classics, like the Pimm’s Cup, alongside new standards such as the Sleepy Jean, a chamomile-infused bourbon mixture of nectarine compote, lemon juice, and Peychaud’s Bitters. For less cocktail-inclined patrons, wine, beer, and cider selections round out the menu. Bar fare like prosciutto-wrapped dates and lobster spaghettini come with suggested sherry pairings, while gourmet burgers like the grass-fed short rib Burger Royal (with white cheddar, garlic, romesco, pickled shallots, and fries) are certain to sponge up a bellyful of booze." - Jenna Scatena
"This place has been making incredible cocktails since 1998, which is only one reason to plan a date here. The other is that the speakeasy/gastropub situated off a quiet alley in North Beach sets the bar high for all other cocktail spots in the city. It’s also cozy, dimly-lit, and minimalist - there are seats at the bar and along the wall and not much else, so you can focus on your date or moving past the small talk stage." - Lani Conway