Bar 888 & Bistro 888

Food is very mediocre, not bad but certainly not worth the price. $32 burger was fine but if you want a burger just as good for less than half the price I'd recommend just crossing the street to Tempest

Overall a good standard hotel bar. It's tucked between the primary restaurant floor and reception. The cocktail and drink menu was packed with interesting choices. Pictured is a pour of Blanton's (first time I've found it within my budget for it).

Drinks are good! We got the Japanese Sidecar and Rumchata. It is noisy though, it's next to the hotel lobby so that was expected

A charming spot for a meal. Prices are super reasonable for a hotel lobby restaurant ($20-30 per person). Coffee is nice and smooth, service was very fast

Actually pretty good.

The food has gone downhill significantly from when this was a Michelin-starred restaurant named Luce. I had the special short rib poutine; one of my favorite cuts, but cooked in a way that rendered it flavorless. The fries and cheese were fine, hard to mess that up, but the whole thing didn't mesh. We also got asparagus with a spring onion sauce, and the asparagus was cooked acceptably, but the sauce was sad and bland and not the happy energy that had drawn me in the name on the menu. I did appreciate that there was a hot chocolate dispenser in the lobby (though it tasted like Swiss Miss). We waited maybe twenty minutes before the first server came to check up on us, and it didn't seem that busy. The server was consistently neglectful. We had an acceptable skillet of molten Brie with crostini, and they kept trying to take it away instead of bringing more crostini. It's a bad sign when the waiters assume you don't want to eat the food.

Absolutely one of the top burgers I've ever tasted...and I have tried a lot! My wife and I were just coming back to the hotel after a long day out and about in SF and decided to just grab a bite at the bar to go. I didn't have high expectations but I was pleasantly surprised. My wife had the organic grain bowl and said it was awesome also. Service was also excellent!

During my three day stay in the ICSF, I’ve had the chance to visit Bar 888 twice and try some of their cocktails. Both times I’ve been served by Ken and very happy about the service (he handled a very crowded bar very efficiently) and the drinks, my favorite being El Capo, a cocktail based on Mezcal and Vermouth.

Stopped by here to pick up dinner since I was staying at the hotel. Went up the bartender and asked for a menu. I ordered the Caesar salad with Salmon and also the beer battered fries. Total came out to be $45 before tip, it's San Francisco and a hotel restaurant so expect prices like this. My dinner came out fairly quick and I took it upstairs to enjoy. Salad was good, salmon was tasty, although I wish it was cooked through some more, it was half cooked/half raw but I think that's how a lot of places make salmon. Fries were good, had a nice crunch and batter. If you're staying at the hotel this is definitely convenient and will hit the spot for dinner. They also have breakfast and lunch during the weekdays and brunch on weekends. I didn't get a chance to try their cocktails but there were plenty of people at the bar enjoying them.

I only had their drinks but the drinks were fabulous...I'm going to have to try the actual food next time! I'm lightweight so I might not know what I'm speaking about though =P Great bartenders and they were super friendly and also gave us some pointers on local food faire.

Breakfast was included during our stay at Intercontinental and we were pleasantly surprised with the breakfast options. Solid breakfast menu, good portions and quality preparation.

Review after evening drinks and morning breakfast buffet during our recent stay at the Intercontinental SF. Liked both our cocktails. Also like the fact that the cocktail menu was new compared to our last visit (pictures attached). Breakfast buffet was nice but was quite pricey (for $39 + 18% Service charge). Breakfast seating is in the lovely decor of "Luce". Finally nothing beats the convenience of drinks and buffet right in the hotel.

Bar 888 is truly a hidden gem, they have amazing food and drinks, beginning with their breakfast, pastries, and coffee and ending with their incredible dinner menu. Antonio was our waiter and he was ABSOLUTELY delightful. He had amazing recommendations, brought our orders out timely, and was constantly checking on us to make sure we had everything we needed. Thank you Bar 888 and Antonio for making our experience memorable.

Nice bartenders and so experienced in the craft of good cocktail's. The bar is nice and inviting. Comfy seats at the bar and cozy tables around.

I've visited this bar one evening during my stay at the IHG. They had a decent selection of drinks, but the service was pretty lackluster. It's difficult to say if this is the norm or if they were just having an off-night.

Food took forever + was cold and didn't even make it right total waste of time not even the lemonade was good

Hotel bar and restaurant at the Intercontinental hotel. It was a lifesaver in the morning when I didn't want to go through the hassle of walking to the parking structure and moving the car out which would have taken 20 minutes. At the bar hours you can get a drink, snacks, and do food orders. During breakfast, the nice thing is the division of things you can order. For those in a hurry you can do grab and go items like cereal, yogurt, croissants, coffee, and drinks. For those with more time you can order hot, fresh made items to eat at the bar or take to your room. I got the breakfast sandwich. Bacon, egg, and cheese in brioche with a salad. The quality was very good and the staff made the wait nice with their friendly attitude and positivity. Even the side salad was great quality!

I had the avocado toast. It was excellent but ask for a steak knife. Also had the French toast which was also yummy. Service is excellent.

Bread pudding. So out of this world good I had to go back the next day. Food is good enough to want to stay at the hotel and not leave. We had the spaghetti bolognese and cheeseburger with a mixed salad. Impeccable service.

Great service, well prepared food and dining room seating. Nice decor and clean environment inside of the Intercontinental Hotel. The Cheeseburger and salad tasted great and fresh. The Diet Coke costed $5 a can. The Spaghetti Bolognese was tasty and comes in a half and full serving. The bread pudding is really good also.

Located in the Intercontinental, Bar 888 is a solid hotel bar. I stayed at the hotel for a week for a work conference, and this was such a convenient pit stop to meet up with coworkers to grab a drink. Cocktails are around $15 and glasses of wine start at around $12. I give Bar 888 four stars because of solid service and convinience. Shout out to Sergio who was always friendly, and able to split the bill for even the largest groups. It's also super nice to not have to leave the hotel if you want to enjoy a drink and conversation with coworkers. Cheers to Bar 888.

Bar 888 is probably one of my most favorite hotel bars that I've visited. Shout out to Sergio for taking care of myself and the rest of my colleagues during our recent work trip to San Francisco. During our 4-night stay at the Intercontinental, plenty of us found ourselves starting and finishing our evening at Bar 888 after our work conference had ended for the day. And for how busy we made it for the Bar 888 staff, service was never once an issue. Hotel bars tend to be a bit more on the pricier side, Bar 888 is no exception. Drinks were around $12-$16/USD each, and for this Canadian, that was a bit on the $$$ side for me for one drink. But I mean, when in San Francisco, I guess. Great spot to meet for a quick drink or if you don't want to leave the hotel. Cheers to Sergio and the rest of the wonderful staff! Thank you again.

This bar is definitely a hidden gem for the locals who know about this. There's good food, nice ambiance, stiff old fashioned's, & an even better staff. Patty is truly amazing! We'll be back for more. Thank you all!

We stayed at the InterContinental hotel and passed this bar every night, it's located by the elevators in the hotel. It gets a nice little crowd at night. We finally stopped by to knock back a few beers and watch the GSW play in the conference finals. They have televisions and a descent selection of local beers, we had a good time. You can also order food, which we did not do. I found it to be a nice hotel bar with a helpful/friendly staff. CHEERS.

I have been a San Francisco resident for half my life. I finally stumbled upon a bar at the intercontinental, and was blessed to meet one of the most amazing bartenders I have ever met. Please let billy know, that his heart is kind, and his service is impeccable. Thank you sir, you are the only reason why i will Come back, and I will never plan on staying anywhere else as long as Billy runs the bar. Amazing service, nothing but love. Thank you.

Came for drinks before going to 1015 Folsom on a Saturday night in December 2016! Atmosphere: jazz and instrumental music played in the background, brightly lit table area, seemed like a mostly 30s and up crowd Service: a little slow. We sat at the bar top originally and was greeted with a drink menu after a few minutes. We ordered with the bartender and were moved to a bar table for a more enjoyable experience. Drinks: Old fashioneds are the bomb here!!! Smooth and definitely something to savor Recommend going after dinner around 8-830pm, bar gets busy around 9-10pm Overall, would for sure come back! Very classy place to unwind PS. Their alcohol display is just wow. Kudos bar 888!

Each time I stopped in a had the LES HALLES [$13 Hanger One Buddha's Hand Lemon Vodka and Saint Germain Elderflower Liqueur with muddled cucumber & fresh lime juice, served up] clearly I enjoyed it to have 3 nights in a row!!! Cute bar gets a nice pre-crowd that clams down as the evening comes to a close.

Pretty good food and good service but the food was way overpriced. It is convenient thought, if you are staying at the hotel.

Located inside the beautiful Intercontinental Hotel. The lighting, seating, and menus are all very classy. As for drinks, I only tried the Midori sour, and I loved it. Great presentation and taste. A good place to chill and lounge with great service. The crowd is definitely older.

GIVE ME AN EIGHT! GIVE ME ANOTHER EIGHT! GIVE ME ANOTHER EIGHT! WHAT DOES IT SPELL?!....ummm, huh? So where does a Yelper go for his 888th review? Hmmm ...perhaps Bar 888. Nobu actually gave me the brilliant idea of coming here on the occasion of this arguable milestone. I seem to be moving up in class...500 Club for my 500th review...800 Larkin for my 800th...and now Bar 888 for #888. It's all in the numbers, y'know. I kinda knew what to expect since by coincidence, I dined at Luce - also in the spanking new InterContinental Hotel - earlier this month. I didn't realize I walked right by Bar 888 then because the open space goes from lobby to bar to restaurant in a seamless fashion. Normally I like an open floor plan, but I have to say Bar 888 reminds me of an airport lounge. I kept trying to look for a sign to see if my flight had been delayed. The bar still has that tinge of retro-70's about it like Luce, though they seem to have gone to a fire sale at West Elm since everything wooden was chocolate brown. Cocktails were priced for the hotel guests...that's for sure. A fancy selection with plenty of fru-fru. I had a $11 Pimms Spritz 'cause I was going for something refreshing. It was. I didn't realize I was supposed to order one of their vintage grappas, but I wasn't in a particularly high-octane mood for a weeknight. Speaking of which, Jamie W. had a virgin mojito for $6, which had an especially puckery- minty flavor without the rum. We shared a $4 plate of their sweet pickles which tasted like they came right out of a Vlassic jar. Actually my favorite eats were the freebies, especially those wasabi-flavored crunch nuts. Tasty. The seats in the lounge area have the same shiny faux-leather as the restaurant, and you certainly have room to spread out since the more hardcore drinkers were at the bar itself. I just wish it felt cozier and the service less brisk. Especially for my 888th review...where was the cake?...where were the streamers?...could someone blow me a kazoo? COCKTAILS - 3.5 stars...the drink was almost as brisk as the service...pass me the wasabi nuts AMBIANCE - 3 stars...Flight 782 is ready for boarding...passengers with disabilities and small children will be seated first...and thank you for flying InterContinental Airlines SERVICE - 3 stars...brrrr... TOTAL - 3 stars...I think a dive will do me next time

Small bar adjacent to Luce with a square U-shaped bar area with a towering display of bottles on the fourth side and a few lounge tables. Hip retro decor. It wasn't too loud, but the bartender had a hard time understanding our orders. I felt like a silly tourist in a foreign country shouting in slow motion when the other person obviously doesn't understand English ("MAYY-KERS MARRKK MANN-HAA-TTAN!!"). Even pointing at the sommelier's choice wine in the menu didn't have better results ("GRRAAA-NNAASHH"). Once we got our drinks it was a nice place to hang for half an hour before getting seated at Luce for dinner. Complimentary almonds were provided. WARNING: The beautiful black granite bar top is beveled slightly downwards the last ~5 inches. One of our party found out the hard way as her drink started slipping and spilled a bit on her lap. In the 1/2 hr we were there we saw this happen to another person except their drink fell completely on the floor. Cool look, bad design.

update: they've had time to get the rhythm down, which they have succeeded in doing. Only the rhythm sucks. Sure sign of a place to avoid: employees chatting with employees, away from the customers, while customers are asking for service. They have the 5-star prices, 5-star attitude, 3-star selection and 1-star service. This place did more for the community when it was a parking lot. I work next door and the hotel sits on what used to be our parking lot. Sitting in 888 with a hefty pour of Macallan we decided that it beat sitting in the parking lot. Just weird knowing that my car used to sit right where this establishment lies. It does seem they're in shakeout mode but it's nice to know I now have a quality bar a minute away from the lobby. No more having to cross the street to get to the Chieftain.

It was my first time here for a meal after a recommendation from a friend and I really enjoyed it! I had their Burger, which was great - juicy and full of flavor...one of the best! It arrived with Garlic French Fries, which were also very good - garlicy with some nice saltiness from the nice addition of Parmesan cheese. Along with this fantastic burger I had a Gingery-Doo - a nice Vodka cocktail with great ginger flavor. Overall, this is a great spot for cocktails and bar food. The burger is fantastic and I definitely recommend it.

Good food, requested extra crispy bacon and received exactly what I like....EXTRA CRISPY BACON! BUT, with two managers standing directly in front of me...service is very slow!! Polite servers, simply slow.

Serves a mean Basil Gimlet. Honestly a beautiful serene way to start off the night. Caution: the bar counter slopes slightly, watch for the dip or you'll have a wet lap. SITTING room only: the tvs are angled so that you have to sit down to see what's on.

Grappa, anyone? Anyone? Um, no. I will have a Goose and soda, please. I am of Italian heritage and I would not touch the stuff with a 10 foot pole. That said, this bar inside the Intercontinental is fantastic. It may be a hotel lobby bar, and yes, it may focus on Grappa, which is weird, IMO, but I liked the place. The service was excellent, the drinks were good, the bar was packed for a random Thursday night, the crowd was upscale, in short it was all good. I doubt many San Franciscans will come here as a Friday night destination, but if you are in town for business and either staying at an area hotel or the Intercontinental itself, this is a great place to unwind for a few drinks.

The Intercontinental is open for business and Bar888 is already packed to the gills. Lots of well dressed patrons, suits and whatnot, with a few laid back guests smattered throughout. The space is very chic and not too large, a few booths a squarish bar counter, and very modern apointments in design and furniture. Since they just got their liquor license the bar isn't quite fully stocked yet but they do have a handful of their signature grappa collection. I told the waitress to surprise me and I ended up with a cocktail that had two different grappas (one blueberry infused, the other honey), lime juice and blueberrys afloat. The other drink was a solid French 75. Very good start for opening day and I expect the place only to get better as they move towards their soft opening to full scale operations.

The service was about average. The bartender recommended Burger. The burger and fries was four stars. I would eat here again.

It's hard to get a full gauge on how Bar 888 will settle into itself but as dedicated follower of hotel bars, I had to go opening night. The Hotel Intercontinental, itself just opened, was already alive right at five. The bar is situated between the main lobby and Luce, the hotel's restaurant, allowing an easy flow between them both. There's some plush seating -- good for groups of four or five -- and the bar has seating all around it. It's top shelf liquor displayed impeccably, but the main attraction, at least for now, is the extensive grappa menu. If you're used to thinking of grappa as tasting like rocket fuel, you're still somewhat correct but they also do stock a wider range of more accessible (read: flavored) grappas. We didn't really get a chance to try the higher-end "firewater" (that said, our grappas were still $10 a piece), but if you're interested in acquiring a taste for the stuff, this is the place to do it. The crowd promises to be a mix of suits and well-heeled travelers, so take it or leave it for what it is, or just add more grappa.

*sigh* Ho hum. Another Monday night hanging with the guys. A friend of mine was visiting from out of town and wanted to meet up since I have not seen his navy blue suited arse in about half a year. Not to mention, I rarely hit up bars in hotels unless it is for the following: 1. Conference (the conference is so bad one is compelled to seek refuge elsewhere) 2. Date (the date is so bad one is compelled to seek refuge elsewhere) 3. Corporate event (the party is so bad one is compelled to seek refuge elsewhere) It was only upon my meek acceptance of this that he hit me with a double whammy at the entrance after giving me one of his awesome hugs. "My coworkers are joining us." After I was seated his coworkers came down from their rooms and lo and behold, consisted of four other men, in suits. Was he trying to kill me? I kicked him on the shin under the table. Good thing I was somewhat appropriately dressed for this occasion in my standard black shift dress and patent black slingbacks. His supervisor and three other associates. I ordered my usual, Grey Goose on the rocks while Alex proceeded to do a round of Glenlivet for the boys. Ah, the consequences of a well meaning friend ;o) Bar 888 has a very sleek and sophisticated modern interior. I think it would have been a bit more grounding to have darker espresso colored furniture, because the white contrast gave it a little space agey interior. But I'm not complaining. The staff person assigned to our little table was consistent and kept coming back at intervals to insure we were always full or at the very least, topped off. I personally adore the Intercontinental Hotel Group. When I was in Boston for work, I stayed at one and fell in love, immediately. Everything was to my liking and specifications. No King Bed? They fixed me up with a Queen promptly. The men here held the doors open for me. I had one of the best views along the waterfront. So, I confess to being a bit biased. In addition to our drinks the guys decided to order a little something as a prep prior to going out for dinner. Bar 888 hosts a decent Bar Bites menu. Not too fancy. Just perfect. The charcuterie plate was typical, a decent amount of cured meats, cheeses to slow down the absorption of alcohol. The dishes here are of decent pricing and not too expensive. I personally wanted to try the hamburger but since I got conned into going to dinner with them, thought I'd hold back my meaty inclinations. Our conversation went somewhere along the lines of the men bantering about the current proposals all the way up to what their next stop was this week. Then it came upon the subject of golf, which basically ate up the rest of the evening. The GG was getting to me and I could already feel the blush creeping slowly across my cheeks. Decent drinks, lovely bar, good location. I may be back just to see my friends and try their Grappa, their signature drink.

If you love grappa like I love grappa this is your slice of heaven. Or if you're burnt out from the usual and looking for a new habit that tastes like fermented cardboard there are 100 or more on their list, each with a half page description, which is TMDI even if you're sober so you just ask your bartender for advice. San Francisco is to bars what the Dominican Republic is to baseball and Kenya is to distant running, and the coach here is a guy named Francesco Lafranconi, a guy so famous he isn't just in the museum, he is the museum. Plus a serious bar setup - you know what I say, a bar with plastic squirt bottles on the counter means good drinking ahead. Here there's a dozen of them, full of homemade bitters and presses, syrups and exotic juices. Grapefruit is a jug squeezed in the kitchen, not a foil top mini-can. Garnishes and muddling herbs aren't a tray, they're like Aisle 6 at Whole Foods. The ultra-serious dedication to alcohol and the 50s airport hotel gone wild decor (but in a hip upscale way) are a retro modern take on what would happen if Frank Sinatra and the brat pack were internationally famous jet setting convention hotel lounge lizards instead of jazz singers. In a rough industrial neighborhood across the street from a chill Irish bar it is intimidating enough to scare away the locals...plus the way the building is designed with seven or eight fake locked doors on a sheer glass front it's impossible to find the real entrance if you arrive on foot, another homage to mid-century airport hotels. So most of the crowd are business travelers who flat lucked out that their bar is so sexy. I will lay serious cash to bet that more office affairs will start at this counter than any other bar in America. If that new girl from finance is coming along for the convention TAKE HER HERE!!!!! Free bar snacks are first rate - trail mix, wasabi peanuts and rice crackers. The bar menu is inventive and luxe (foie gras, salumi, cheese plates) and reasonable. $11-12 a (large, strong, hand-made with top shelf alcohol and all fresh ingredients) cocktail is 1/3 lower than equivalent drinks at the other top hotels like Saint Francis or Saint Regis. I hope that lasts. Sadly, they serve Aperol. But nobody's perfect.

We had time to kill before our reservation at Luce so we decided to grab cocktails from Bar 888. Bar 888 is known for their Grappa cocktails. I tried two of them. The Chamomile Crush, which featured their chamomile grappa with orange blossom water, lemon juice, and agave, tasted strong at first but had a good tart tangy flavor to it. I also tried the Moscone Pear which was really delicious!! It was a grappa with fresh pear puree in it along with fresh lemon and lime juice. Refreshing and flavorful. I would definitely come back to try other grappa cocktails. The bar is small and dark in the front of Luce. There is also seating on the side too.

Last night I went to Bar 888 at the brand new InterContinental Hotel with Nish, Stephy and some other Yelp peeps. I have to say, we felt very chic when we were greeted with free champagne and mimosas at the door. We were there for -- the Grappa! We couldn't wait to take a taste of Bar 888's trendy new cocktails. Unfortunately, there wasn't much Grappa being served (yet), but we did try the blueberry "cozmo" and the mojito. Both were good, and I would say the mojito was great! The verdict? Grappa still tastes like lighter fluid. If they can manage to disguise it in interesting enough ways, I suppose they may start a trend.

Classy, upmarket, great choice of drinks, comfortable padded bar stools. Popular with hotel guest that are mainly corporate travellers. So-so prices. Great service. No complaints. And yes I would go back again.

Hmmm, well, what to say about this place other than, it's just not really my scene. It's the kind of place that made me feel like I was a high class escort going to meet a "client." Very upscale and "chi chi" or however you spell that. But I dunno, definitely not my thing. I went with "Hotel Bar Lover Extraordinaire," Nish N, to try the new Grappa offerings, but was bummed to learn that on opening night, they only had....2 kinds available? That seemed odd to me, I mean, this is your big night guys, let's roll out the menu and show this town what you're made of! As for the Grappa, wow, that is, um, well, that is some interesting stuff. The words, gasoline, lighter fluid, and burning come to mind, but if that's what you are into, they you are in luck because 888 has 'em. As for pluses, I did like the fact that as soon as you walked into the hotel they gave you champagne, but I think this was an opening night kinda dealio. Not too sure. Also the decor is nice, but the word cozy definitely doesn't come to mind. Sterile is the word i would use. All in all, I could see coming here for maybe a meeting with a fancy pants client, but as far as a bar that would make me crave mandatory repeat attendance, this definitely wasn't it.

*********************** REVIEW 438 ************************ Located inside the New InterContinental Hotel, adjacent to the lobby lounge and Luce resto, nice open space, but not cozy, a good place to have a cocktail, if you are waiting for someone staying here; but they are well-known for their Grappa. My parents tried it for the first time, and it was explained tot hem that most Grappa is made by distilling pomace, grape residue (mainly the skins, but also stems and seeds), left over from winemaking after pressing. It was originally made to prevent waste by using leferover at the end of wine season; and so the alchohol is high between 38-80%. My parents tried out the Blueberry Grappa serving in the cute little flute about 1.5 OZ for $14, my dad turned red in 2 minutes, haha! My mon finished her glass, they went up to the room and passed out 15 minutes later! In the mean time, I was down here with my friend Priscilla & a few others, we had a few drinks: - Cosmopolitan -smooth, - Raspberry lemondrop with Chamobord - good, - Eau de Vin - nice, but too sweet for me, although my other GF loves it! - Smash-up fresh strawberry with Italian Soda & Lemonade, off the menu - pretty good! All cocktail are between $12-$14, service was slow at the lounge. So you are better off if seat by the bar, only 12 seats bar!

This is a really nice bar that has lots of creative and inventive drinks on their menu, most of them containing grappa. I would have never thought of that in a million! I had a delicious drink (think it was called Muscato Marollo), which had grappa, muddled berries, and agave nectar. Man it packed a punch! They also offer little snacks to munch on while having a drink. When I was there they had wasabi covered peanuts, dried fruits, and Japanese spicy rice crackers. It's a hotel bar so it's visible from almost the moment you step in the hotel lobby. It's pretty nice though. It's modern, and sophisticated, yet subtle and simple and has clean lines throughout. The bar itself is roomy because it's in an open space, but the bar area itself doesn't have too much seating. Maybe 4-5 chairs on 3 sides of the square that the bar sits at. But there is more room adjacent to the bar, which is separated by a wall (though it's not a solid one, there are cut outs). In this area, there are booths, small sofas for 1, 2, and even 3. There are also some booths near the restaurant where you can sit and wait for the friendly waitresses (dressed in black skirts, tights, and white blouses), to come out to help you make your drink decisions and take your orders. Drinks are on the expensive side, don't expect to get anything for under $10 at the very least, but they are well made. The also have a fairly decent wine selection from which to choose. Definitely a nice way to start the night.

I was impressed immediately when we entered the hotel; then it all went downhill once we approached the bar. The bartender didn't even acknowledge us- a group of five women in suits. We sat ourselves and waited for a server to come around. Our server was nice but definitely took her time in getting our drinks. We had some wine so it wasn't rocket science-

I ordered a Blood and Sand at happy hour and the bartender looked at me like I was insane. It may not mean much to you, but it's a well-known classic, and any bartender worth his or her salt will know how to make it. I explained the recipe and he spent 5 minutes hunting for Cherry Heering before deciding they don't have any, which seems like a staple for an upscale hotel bar that prides themselves on their beverage program. I gave up and ordered a Manhattan, and it arrived shaken, rather than stirred, and entirely mediocre. Next time I'll just order a beer.

Recently had a chance to check out this new place and I was definitely impressed by the beautiful bar backed by large glass windows. There was also plenty of really comfortable seating and the staff were super friendly. I do have one problem though. The bar selection is heavily based around grappa -- the least palatable liquor imaginable. The premium grappa they sell is about $10 for a shot and tastes roughly the equivalent of hobo vodka. I don't understand it. It's a hip concept but I think they'll be revamping their selection before long.

My husband and I had our first getaway yesterday after having our baby 2 months ago. We decided to have lunch and a drink in SF. The search was on for a worthwhile "New American" restaurant. However, my search turned very challenging as most highly restaurants in the city are only open for dinner. So, in a rush I chose Luce and we were on our way. By the time we arrived, the restaurant was closed. However, luckily Luce is in the Intercontinental hotel, so we could order from the full lunch menu from the adjacent bar. We had a seat and got right to ordering. The service was incredible. The bartender treated us very well, despite our very non-fancy-shmancy appearance. The service was really top notch. The lunch special was really great. For $20.09, you get an appetizer, entree, and dessert. I started with the lentil soup with goat cheese, it was very good and tasty, but not something overly fantastic. I followed it with the butternut squash risotto. That was truly amazing. The creamy, squash-y risotto was topped with delicious chanterelle mushrooms and some tasty hard cheese. Oh my goodness, if I could have it everyday.... Anyway, I finished with the Nutella pot de creme. I don't know where the Nutella was in the pot, but it was still tasty. It was nothing special, though. My husband had the arctic char (misspelled as "artic" on their menu-- sorry, I'm a teacher). It was pretty tasty. It had two thick chunks on top of a sweet nut and onion chutney. He shared my soup and dessert. Now, on to the drinks (as this is a bar): My husband had the Stone Sour cocktail. It's a bourbon cocktail that he found to be very refreshing and lightly sweet. He enjoyed that the most. I enjoyed a nice, refreshing, and summery Pyramid Hef. No complaints there! Overall, we really enjoyed the classiness of the bar and the fact that we could order off the entire Luce menu. Most of all, we really liked the service and the quality of ingredients. I can't say we'd go out of our way to come here again, but we would certainly recommend it to friends.

Whose bright idea was it to install fluorescent lights at the bar?

I lucked out that a friend of a friend was staying at the hotel that the bar is in. I was starving and tired after the NIKE Women's Marathon and I hobbled over there after the concierge of the Intercontinental said to take a look at the menu since I mentioned that I was craving meat and a glass of red wine (at 11:00am! LUSH!-hey, it felt like midnight to my tired body!) The young man behind the bare was quick and friendly. There were several other gals who had obviously ran the marathon too (faster than me since they were already 1/2 way through their beers and bloody marys...thank goodness I'm not the only early-morning-post-run-lush). He was helpful and noticed that I was about to eat my friend's arm when he said that he would lok to see if the kictchen was ready with some bread. I had: Chateau Pesquié, Côtes du Ventoux, Terrasses 1$0 Rouge, Côtes du Rhône, France 2005 and Short Rib Pappardelle and Wild Mushrooms $14 Perfect wine to go with a perfectly huge and satisfying meal. PERFECT wine, PERFECT food. Comfortable seats. A quick note: Ed U. said something in his review that I never would have thought of because I only had eyes for my glass of wine, pasta, and my friend Ron, but Ed said: "I have to say Bar 888 reminds me of an airport lounge. I kept trying to look for a sign to see if my flight had been delayed." In hind sight, that pretty much sums up the bar part, but I was sitting in the comfy-est couch-y thing that felt so good to my tired legs and heiney. Check it out. It was great. I'm a sucker for great service. Keep in mins it was 11:00am on a Sunday. Who knows what the nights are like.

Being in an upscale hotel, the bar isn't cheap, but their happy hour is decent. BTW. If you're craving a burger, their Luce is out this world. Angus beef cooked to perfection on a toasted bun. The bar keeper lays out all the condiments. The crowd is dependent on the convention next door.

Great place to unwind & relax ( middle of busyness ) Serene & hip place to be ....

Grappa has ALWAYS gotten me into TROUBLE... but I like it, like it, yes, I do... Yep! I have a few friends who make it and it always seemed more like a hallucinogen than a cocktail :) I was recently at a Where Magazine party to introduce Luce and Bar 888 to the Concierge of this pretty city. The appetizers that were going around- TASTY!!! However, it was the Grappa Mojito that still has me jonesin' for another...hmmm... just what I needed a new addiction. i gave 4 stars only because I was there for an "industry" party and didn't get a true vibe for what its "really" like on a normal eve. Don't worry, I'll be back... gotta get that fix...

Came here for a quick bite to eat after landing and checking into the hotel. Had a glass of Malbec and tried a few of the bar bites (Aquerello Rice Risotto Croquettes with Fior di Latte and Tomato Marmalade, and Cured Sonoma Foie Gras w/Brioche, Medjool Dates). The rice risotto croquettes were just okay -- didn't like the lemon-y taste or the tomato marmalade. The foie gras was also just OK, it was a bit too rich with the brioche. Despite not loving the bar bites I ordered, the menu has a lot of variety. The service is friendly. The bar ambience is great, very low-key, with 2 TVs as well.

Excellent grappa selection, but since I'm not quite as into grappa as my fiance, that fact was lost on me. To me, this was an over-priced and badly lit hotel bar. The patrons seemed to reflect that too, as there were quite a few sad-looking 30-yr-olds who seemed to be waiting for someone to take them home. I had a very good cocktail, the Bangkok something or other, made with Kaffir-infused grappa and other yummy stuff, and a rather dull one, which I already forgot. Cocktails are $12 and grappa is pricey. The grappa glasses are cool-looking but strange to drink out of. This was a good spot to try some new grappa, but I'll just stick to what we have in our own collection.