Bar Darling

Absolutely incredible new bar and light bite Oasis on Chestnut street. Come here for the libations and stay for the incredible vibe. This is what the Marina has been missing! I am thrilled about this new upscale casual bar to have a curated cocktail with food to match. We enjoyed everything from start to finish and highly recommend it all!

The food and drinks earn this place 5 stars alone, but the service was phenomenal. Even on a packed Saturday, someone immediately helped us get sat at a table while we were always checked on through out our stay. Definitely a spot I’m coming back to!

Seriously delightful appetizers, bites, and drinks! Love the spot, and love its proximity to several other sweet treat spots and venues! My photos don’t do it justice, but the vibes are so cute and open concept in here

Definitely a busy bar (since it’s recently opened) so expect a line. Bartenders are kind and attentive and the drinks are creative! As for food, you can’t go wrong with the sliders. The lamb sliders were aaaaamazing.

Popped in here for a Sunday night drink and was pleasantly surprised. Bartenders were super friendly and I was greeted immediately even though the bar seating was full. Tasty cocktails and light bites. I still miss Squat & Gobble but this is a fun new addition to the Marina bar scene from the owners of Harper & Rye and the now closed Tipsy Pig.

Amazing food drinks and atmosphere- excellent service! Tuna crispy rice is bomb

I guess this is what AI thinks a bar is supposed to be like: an aggressively dystopian booze cafeteria for robots. The wall of bottles seemed painted on like wallpaper. There was no sound at all: no conversation. No bar noise. No music. Patrons see themselves to silent tables, no greeting, what are you supposed to, order online? We were mystified for 90 seconds, felt inhuman, left and went to the Mauna Loa which wasn't great but at least there were humans there.

Service was terrible! From the start our server was irritable and impatient. Drinks that are supposed to be their signature had too much syrup and we just left them there couldn’t drink anymore. After telling our server about our drinks, he was not helpful and dismissed our concerns. Wish this place was like peacekeeper. Won’t be coming back. Wish I could give 0 stars.

Bar Darling is absolutely stunning and a welcomed new girlie pop bar in the Marina! I had their Sparky cold brew espresso martini and really enjoyed it! My friend and I shared the whipped feta dip with crudite, Parmesan tots, and Brie bites. I'd say it was a good combination of flavors and textures but the Parmesan tots were the star of the show! So good that every time a friend asked about Bar Darling I mentioned that they have to get the tots! My only thing is that the Brie bites fell short, and the small pieces reminded us of a similar appetizer from TJs which cost way less than $10 for about 12 pieces. Nevertheless, the vibes are great and I would 100% come back to try other items on the menu!

A Bright & Beautiful Surprise in the Marina I first heard about Bar Darling while on a lunch date, when my date mentioned a new bar opening just down the street. Even though it was 2pm on a Tuesday, we decided to check it out -- and I'm SO GLAD we did. First Impressions Matter -- and They Nailed It We walked in and were greeted by unexpected applause... turns out we were their very first customers! The space was bright (a rare find in the Marina), with natural light pouring in through a skylight. The décor was clean, open, and incredibly inviting. Cocktails, Vibes, and That Back Patio We ordered a couple of cocktails from the menu and made our way to the back patio, which is spacious, open, and absolutely perfect on a sunny day. We grabbed seats at the round bar back there, clinked glasses, and took our first sips -- the drinks were delicious, well-balanced, and felt unique compared to the typical Marina cocktail lineup. The staff was warm, friendly, and clearly excited to be part of something special. The Energy Here Is Just Different As someone who spent over 12 years working in restaurants, I really appreciate how well the team works together. The owners and managers are hands-on, the staff genuinely enjoy being there, and the energy is just infectious. Bar Darling has a similar aesthetic and layout to its sister bar, Peacekeeper -- and they've carried over all the best parts. It's now become my second home (take my money!) and I can't recommend it enough. Final Thoughts If you're looking for a beautifully designed, welcoming space to enjoy quality cocktails and connect with genuinely kind people -- this is your spot. Make friends with the staff -- they're all GEMS. I'm so grateful to have Bar Darling (and the people behind it) in my neighborhood.

i'd say the only reason it's getting an extra star is because the vibes are immaculate here. didn't love the cocktails. the food is definitely not worth it. the breadsticks are not actual like breadsticks.. it's the cracker breadsticks. my favorite drink was a mocktail that i had. there are tons of seating options and the outdoor patio is really nice. i will continue coming here because again, the vibes are great. but based on drinks and food.. 3/5.

Good location and cute vibes inside and outside. I've been here twice, both times on the outside patio. The outside patio is really cute with nice green plants. It's half covered (but the covered side is slats so if it was raining hard, you would get wet). And they have heat lamps all over to keep you warm on cloudy days/nights. Service is always quick and friendly even when sitting outside. I can't comment on the cocktails unfortunately because I don't drink alcohol, but my friends who I came with seem to like the drinks here. The food is all bite size so don't expect to leave full, like after having a meal, unless you want to spend a lot. The food is good, it's just a little expensive for the amount you get in my opinion. The crispy rice with fish on top is my fave bite here. I would skip the chicken skewers because it only has two small bite size pieces of chicken on a stick with two crouton pieces in between. The chicken was dry to me and kind of bland. The truffle tots are really good here though. Great vibes for a happy hour.

New bar alert So happy I was able to get into Bar Darling. Been a few times already so this review is very late. Food, service, vibes = spectacular!! Started with the oh darling drink, super good & refreshing. Not too sweet which is nice. Had the wontons, rice cakes, and lamb sliders for apps.. let's just say the lamb sliders were the winners. The rice cakes came to a close second. The wontons were okay, average nothing amazing. Can't wait to come back!

This place is so stylish and spacious - from the indoor to the patio; it's super inviting. Our server was great and welcoming - we only had a couple of cocktails (N.A. for me) - very fresh and well priced. Next time we'll try the food and add more insight but honestly what a great find! I wish I lived closer I would visit more often!

New bar in the marina - great inside but also amazing expansive but protected outdoor patio. Perfect for pups and their humans. We tried the Oh Darling (on the sweeter side), Jaji (boozy side), Emerald Carpet (N/A, refreshingly). Also intrigued by Tam Tam and Mama J. Good sign when we wanna try everything on the menu. $14 cocktails, seems like a steal nowadays. $10 N/A options. Great service, both at the bar and at the tables outside. Street parking on a Sunday evening took a minute but doable. There was constantly a line for the restroom outside but folks - there are more inside too!

I'll have to come back and try some more cocktails. The food was a skip. Wontons - all crunch, felt like there was nothing inside. Skewers - like 2 pieces of chicken on each skewer (came with 3 skewers) with some onion and veggies. Tried the mocktails. Emerald carpet - I enjoyed this. Felt like I was drinking a refreshing cucumber cocktail. Maiden hare - not as good as the emerald carpet. I didn't like the kick to it (probs the turmeric), and the mango flavor wasn't as pronounced as I would like. Cute place, can get pretty loud. I came on a Tuesday and it was packed inside but the outside patio was empty.

While The Marina is one the city's most beautiful neighborhoods, I'm going to real...I always feel like an alien with several heads because I don't fit the aesthetics. BUT the best thing about it? With Manic Mondays at Matrix and Eastside West long gone, I never run into anyone I know. Avoiding awkward convos for the win! I'm a big fan of Peacekeeper (Lower Nob Hill) and April Jean (North Beach), and looking forward to their reopening of Beauty Bar (The Mission). So I wanted to hit up their new bar after visiting my dog's fav shop: Mishka. Opening last Tuesday, Bar Darling took over Squat & Gobble (same block as Campus). Dog-friendly outdoor seating. Along with their seasonal craft cocktails, they have bar bites with an AZN bent like wontons, rice cakes, karaage chicken nuggets, etc. Kitchen opens at 5 pm. We didn't get to try the food since we were headed to an R&B event at Chase Center afterwards. D R I N K S * Mijo Mijo: Vodka w/ tomato, basil, bell pepper, citrus ($14) Their take on a caprese salad, I like that it wasn't sweet. Not sure how I feel about it tho. I've had a similar cocktail elsewhere and liked it. Maybe this rendition is one of those things that eventually grow on you? Their herb stash was past its prime and wilted. * Fortaleza Blanco ($14) My go to at their other bars and a great deal. The Tulum vibe and decor totally reminds me of Peacekeeper with the color scheme of April Jean. There's nature inspired murals, fireplace, skylights (no retracting roof), and a pool table in back. The back patio is where it's going to be at! Overall, solid new bar in The Marina (if there's a next time, I'm sticking with the basics). Big plus....they open at 2 pm on weekdays!

New bar on the block alert. From the same creators of Harper and Rye, Peacekeeper, and Bar April Jean. Let me tell you, the vibes inside represent those three bars well. You can tell they are from the same owner. However, I think the drink menu is lagging. The menu isn't the most creative cocktails compared to the other three bars. I ordered the Sparky and Nona's Own and got to try other drinks and wasn't impressed. Also, maybe it's because they are new and still finding their groundings, but the bartender that was serving me seemed a mess. She spilled my drink and served it to me with the drink spilling everywhere. Usually this stuff doesn't bother me, but dang to hand me a cup that's wet is crazy. The only thing this place has going for itself right now is the vibes. Inside is similar to Peacekeeper, the open windows are like Bar April Jean, and the outdoor space is gorgeous. Good spot to come hang but def not the spot if you're looking for cocktails.

Love April Jean so decided to check out bar darling for some drinks and light bites on an early Friday night. At 7pm it was packed with a line to get in. Despite how crowded it was, we were able to get a drink at the bar pretty quickly and a table soon after. The drinks are gorgeous--super vibrant and colorful. We got the Tam Tam, Oh Darling and Kiki Coco (and a few aperol spritzes!). Great drink menu. We ordered the wontons, dip and Brie bites. Skip the Brie, but the dip and wontons were pretty good. Nothing to write home about, but it was nice that they had food options with table service. I'd come back earlier in the night for a more chill vibe--it gets loud and crowded fast--and I'd probably just stick to drinks unless I was starving. All around though, good vibes and great addition to the neighborhood.

I could not be more excited about this new bar on chestnut!!! Came here opening night - the place was full of ppl and rightfully so! Very open with a large back patio and a pool table. We tried the oh darling, mama J and the jaji cocktails. The mama j was our groups favorite however I did see a lot of ppl with the oh darling in hand. Already looking forward to going back!

Lucy was incredible! She brought such a fun vibe to the whole night and made our experience way better than we even expected. Even with how packed the place was, she never missed a beat. Super friendly, on top of everything, and just genuinely fun to be around. We are definitely hoping to have her again next time we come in!

We had such a great experience thanks to Lucy. The bar was super busy, but she handled everything with ease and made us feel really taken care of. She was friendly, attentive, and gave great recommendations

Great addition to the Marina. There's a developed cocktail menu: I ordered the Tam Tam (carrot + gin) and Kiki & Koko (coconut) and loved both. For food, we ordered the tater tots, spinach tarts, chicken skewers, chicken nugget sliders, pineapple teriyaki burgers, lettuce cups (w chicken salad), and red velvet cake pops. Everything was quite tasty but standout items were the sliders and burgers and lettuce cups (a salad served in a lettuce boat). Also a great spot for people watching: counted at least 7 couples here. Will definitely come back for the drinks and food!

Great new bar on chestnut! It has a similar vibe to Harper & rye, peacekeeper, and april Jean (same owners), very open/airy and aesthetically pleasing. We went on opening night and had 3 different cocktails: oh darling, jaji, and mama j. The oh darling was a little too sweet for my liking but the other two were very tasty. The bar has ample seating and a pool table in the back. There is also an amazing back patio which is great for day drinking, a date at night or a private event. Very excited that this opened and will be back very soon!

Great vibes. Bartender was cool, recommended some good drinks. Came mid day and enjoyed the patio. We came back late a night and it was a vibe. Bar / party vibes. Great looking people. Bouncers were welcoming and doing their Job. This place is dope !! I'll be back

Awesome new spot. Spacious, with both indoor and outdoor seating available. They offer unique drink options (the Mama J was my personal favorite - give it a try if you like tequila-based cocktails). The prices are also killer for what you're getting, very reasonable for SF. Can't forget the staff, they were all very kind and attentive as well. Would recommend.

This place has delicious drinks and a super cool vibe inside and outside. Chestnut Street really needed a place like this. It's really warm and welcoming particularly spectacular on a nice warm day. The owner came and said hello and our server was very friendly. This place is a true triple threat - the drinks, the ambience and the decor.

Not local but I went bar hopping in the area and had this place recommended to me. The venue itself is so chic! Shout out to jimmy for helping us out and bringing good vibes and ease to the bar! Their patio is beautiful and while we didn't eat the kitchen smells AMAZING! Happy opening darling!

This will be a regular spot for me. Incredible patio, ambiance, decor, and FOOD! It was packed on a Friday night. Tyler and Colton were the best bartenders! I am hoping it isn't always that packed and hoping for cute merch in the future!

This bar was cute. I don't recall there being food but the cocktails were decent. The service was okay too but it was definitely busy and the line to get in was so unnecessary. but overall it was cute; your average marina district cocktail bar.

Beautiful and spacious bar with natural lighting. the back patio is super cute and would be a nice spot to hang on warm summer days. Cocktails and service were ok, but it was a bit difficult getting drinks. My main complaint was when we closed our tab (this was at the bar, not sure if it's different with table service) you aren't shown the individual items you are charged for. The bartender basically transfers over the charges from their computer system to the handheld device and then you swipe your card on the device. Again, no visibility as to what you are paying for, just a total charge. My partner and I had 4 cocktails (most are around $14 unless you get a custom drink) and the total on the screen was about $100~. We were able to get the charges corrected, but will definitely question the charges if we are to return to ensure that we are being billed correctly.

This place is incredible. Another hit by Nate and Jamal in the marina. Classic drinks but the bites are absolutely killer. Loved them all! Don't be shy to taste a few but especially the lamb burger sliders and the crispy rice one that absolutely melted in my mouth! Can't wait to come back team and see you thriving for years to come.

Checked this place out yesterday with a friend. Great bar area and a really nice outdoor area with a tv to watch a game. The beverages are very alcohol forward. The food was okay. I really liked the outdoor area. The service was good as well.

Amazing ambiance and service. I had the Sparky and the Oh Darling. The Sparky was a great twist on a classic espresso martini, the salted espresso tied in extremely well with the coffee liquer, perfect drink for end of work pickup. The Oh Darling was also perfectly balanced, the yellow chartreuse gave the drink a great herbaceous note which complimented the berry shrub. Sonia was amazing, she was super friendly and the drinks came out extremely quick! Definitely my new favorite spot in the marina by far!