Bar Darling

Such a beautiful bar in the Marina! Came on a Saturday afternoon for cocktails and light bites. We were 9 and had a private area just for us. The ambience was very nice, very clean and modern. The service was pretty good; our server was lovely. The food all came out at a reasonable time. We didn’t like the espresso martinis, but the other cocktails were good.

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

TLdR: started out great but the bartenders later in the night got mad for just wanting to close out a tab I like the newly renovated space with good drinks and friendly staff with Adrian and Jimmy. Fast forward two hours and the bartenders there after that were so unfriendly. I just asked for my tab and after spending $200, I did not expect nor deserve the attitude. All I wanted to do was pay the bill and when I went, she asked me “what do you want” and I said to pay my bill and she rolled her eyes and then when she gave me the bill, she tossed the machine at me to pay.

Bar Darling is the newest offering from the group that brought us greats such as Harper & Rye, Peacekeeper and April Jean. I love this place, it's beautifully designed with great interior and outdoor spaces. Even the large unisex single bathrooms are terrific (and something of a party spot by themselves). The staff and the managers here are top notch. Definitely something of a single-y pickup-y scene with a hip music vibe. Gets pretty crazy on the weekends. But there is generally a bit more of a cool, mixed crowd than you'll find at the other Marina joints. There are a lot of regulars, if you live in the area you might just become one. Shout out to the GM who is an old friend of mine. Won't post his name here but ask for him and give him praise. Tell'em Pete sent ya =;->

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!

A mid-century modern watering hole with a patio out front, the bar on the left, a fireplace on the right, a pool table in the back, and a courtyard at the rear that works well for kids.

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.

Fun bar with good drinks in the Marina! Stopped in on a Saturday afternoon and the place was packed. It was a diverse crowd with all age groups present, which was nice to see now that I'm not one of the youths. They had around 10 cocktails and some NA options. They hit all of the popular liquors, and had multiple of most. They also had a small food menu with sliders, tots, and some other snacks. We got the tots and they were a hit. I ended up getting two of the sparky, their version of an espresso martini, which was really good! Also tasted the Asher, their regular martini, and it was nice and boozy. We had great service from Jasmine, who got us all of our drinks out pretty quickly and was great at checking in to see if we needed more, even though the place was packed. The indoor area is pretty big, with some open/bartop space up front, a nice bigger group sitting area, and then some smaller tables parallel to the long bar. It's self seating, so might be hard to get a space if you have a larger group, but plenty of tables opened up for people to move around while we were in. They have pool tables towards the back, and even have a back patio!

Walked in here after perusing Books Inc and before dinner. Stumbled in because it was new! It was pretty busy before dinner time on a Wednesday evening. Weather was good and the outdoor seating was divine! They have heaters and the back outdoor area is a vibe. Drinks were strong and service was good. Will be back!

Went to meet a friend visiting from out of town for drinks on a midweek night. Don't usually head to the Marina often anymore and was initially going to L'il OJs as he had dinner resys at A16. A little too crowded at the bar but heard about Bar darling from my 20 something child and a buddy who owns a nearby bar. We went in and there was a big after work crowd as well as Thursday night football was showing. Immediately was shown a seat next to the fireplace and was told to try the MamaJ which was great. Place was pretty busy although by the time we left at 8:30 half the bar stools were available. The front of the place is pretty open and it can get cold in there (my friend is from Miami and was freezing) i had a tee shirt and was perfectly fine. Drinks in the $14 range

Chic, cute, and modern. Loved the design, the cocktails, and the whole atmosphere. Definitely a new favorite. The cocktails is so delicious and beautifully made. Busy marina location with meter street parkings.

Such a cute spot! We sat outside, which was super cozy and well decorated. We both got the Oh Darling cocktail, which was tasty and strong. Tried the rice cakes and smoked salmon crudo. Both were delicious, especially the rice cakes. Great vibes overall. Would definitely come back!

Huge new spot in the Marina with fresh cocktails and unique delicious bites to pair. Sat outside on their expansive patio area and received great service on a relatively quiet Monday evening. We tried the Oh Darling and Tam Tam cocktails. Both were prepared very well. Fresh, juicy, ice cold and balanced. The colors on these are also very vibrant and eye catching. I had read that they partnered with Mamanoko nearby to develop the food menu so I was excited to try some of their bites as that's one of the best spots in this area. Wontons were a great snack but what really set this place apart for me were the Rice Cakes. Delicious, great textures and flavors and a fresh fish made this my favorite bite easily. I'd come back just for those and order 2 rounds of them! We were intrigued by the burger dog so we gave that a try. It was just okay, wouldn't recommend or order again. Tots were good! Recommend trying some drinks and the rice cakes! They also have a pool table inside.

Bar Darling is a beautiful and spacious bar that is dog friendly. I really loved seeing all the dogs there. The first drink I got called the Oh Darling was just okay but I loved the Kiki & CoCo -- the rum and coconut together were perfection. The slider 1, which is a chicken nugget slider with slaw, was fine. I think I would've just preferred the nugget on its own. The cake pops (red velvet) served with an abundance of sprinkles were delicious. I'll be back, so I can make my way through the menu.

Came here on a whim as we were already on Chestnut Street, it was a livelier bar compared to the other places, we ordered espresso martinis and found a place to sit in the room. The inside was cute and well decorated and overall a good place for a drinks!

Wonderful experience here on a Friday early evening. Such a vibe on the inside. Music too. The service was great, and around 6:30 it was jumppin the tots were delicious, I've heard good things ab the chicke. Sandwich, defo need to come back.

Bar Darling is a very cute spot in the Marina. There's a good amount of space with a large interior and a backyard area, but it does get especially crowded on weekends. We went with a group to celebrate my friends' engagement which was a bit tough with a large group of people on a Saturday Night. It was a bit tough to navigate the bar at first, but after an hour or so we were able to find seating for everyone and the bartenders even came up and took orders from our seats which was very convenient. The drinks themselves were very delicious, beautiful, and balanced. I would love to come another time when it's less busy to be able to enjoy the drinks more, but definitely a cute spot for a Saturday night.

Food 5/5 (but small), drinks delicious! Came to Bar Darling for a happy hour around 6 pm on Friday - twas packed and busy, but they've got a large indoor and outdoor space to accommodate everyone following the buzz of its opening. Me and my friend hovered at the right time to get a table inside! We ordered the Jaji and Mama J's for drinks + tater tots, spinach tarts, and Brie bites for snacks. Both drinks were delicious - Jaji for something smokey and not too sweet, and the Mama J's for something spicy / balance of savory and sweet. The food was delicious (tho portions are small - most apps have 4 small bites to a plate), the spinach tart so salty and cheesy and the Brie bites tangy from the jam. The tater tots came dusted with some fluffy Parmesan, so delicious. Since we were seated, staff came to our table to take our order, and they were super attentive without rushing anyone! It was a super fun, high energy bar that's great for casual catch up's and the start to a fun night!

Such a lovely bar in the Marina District! Cool vibes and atmosphere - kind of a Tulum-ish setting. Ordered the carrot gin drink and that was really good - light and refreshing and most importantly, strong lol! Loved it! Would order again. My second drink was a tequila drink that was like an old fashion but made with tequila. Bartender told me it was really good and her favorite, it was ok to me. I do like old fashions but this didn't quite make the cut. I wish it did. My only gripes about this spot was the bartender wasn't very friendly. It was like she just wanted to serve us quickly and be done. Had to get her attention many times to order a second drink. Not the greatest service. My other issue was, although it is a cute spot, something in the air was just not smelling very pleasant. It smelt like food, but like too much. It was like food odor or cooking oil that was days old or not cleaned. Hard to describe without making it sound disgusting lol! But imagine someone who ate a lot of garlic or whatever and they just burped and it basically smelt like that. And that just really killed the vibe for me. I would like to give this place four stars, but because of that I will have to give it three because it really bothered me the whole time.

Came here on a Saturday afternoon for a birthday party and was impressed by the place! They cordoned off the area in the front, right next to the entrance, for our party and had a dedicated server for us to order food and drinks, so it made it easy to get our orders in and kept our tables clean as the server would take the empty glasses away. It was also nice because they provided us with extra chairs. I didn't get to explore the rest of the bar, but there is a pool table further in by the bathrooms and a backyard area. I got the Mama J drink and it came with a beet slice, which made it visually striking. It was very delicious. I didn't really try the food, although it appears to be mostly shareable plates. Since this is in the Marina, you will need to find street parking if you're driving. Would come back here again to try their other drinks and the food.

Such a beautiful bar in the Marina! Came on a Saturday afternoon for cocktails and light bites. We were 9 and had a private area just for us. The ambience was very nice, very clean and modern. The service was pretty good; our server was lovely. The food all came out at a reasonable time. We didn't like the espresso martinis, but the other cocktails were good.

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!

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!

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!

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 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.

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.

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!

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'd give it five stars if babies and toddlers were on the patio outside rather than at the bar inside. It's got bar in its name not duper. Just an opinion. Great vibe and happy they've landed in the Marina.

Found this spot on Yelp- pictures looked great- inviting bar, marina location. I used to live in the area and was visiting town- just wanted a spot to meet a friend before we moved on to dinner. My friend arrived before me. She had a drink by the time I joined her. No one -- I mean no one- ever came to get my order. 2x flagged down a bar-back and asked for someone I could place an order with. They nodded and did nothing. Finally I noticed the bar tender saying hello to a fellow employee who was just coming on shift. They seemed to have a lot to laugh about. Then he just casually looked to the door and encouraged 3 young ladies to sit down.. what can he get them? I had been there 10 min at this point. My friends drink was done and I still had not been acknowledged, let alone served. When I saw him engaging people who hadn't even committed to staying I half stood up and started waving my arms over my head like an airport worker directing a plane. It was obnoxious and silly for me to have to go to those lengths. He had no choice but to approach me "yes. WHAT can I do for you " No apologies for keeping me waiting. No addressing my friends empty drink. Just reluctant placating. How sweet. I was still thirsty so I did order the Sparky (espresso martini) - it was OK. Not worth the treatment (or lack thereof). Oh. And then came time to close the tab. The one my friend originally started. By this point the guy who had ignored us was completely missing. A new inattentive bar tender had started to ignore us. I flagged her 2 times? Maybe 3? Can we please get our check?? I mean. Didn't they want us gone?! Felt that way?! We of course left absolutely 0 for a tip (which I haven't done in over 10 years.) So. Don't go there!! There are literally better options on either side of this place - and I'm sure in 5 years when I'm back visiting in the area, it will be gone. And that will be appropriate. This isn't a SF mainstay. It's crap.

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.

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!

Good vibe, nice staff, reasonably priced drinks, nice outdoor patio. Look forward to rotating bar darling into my cocktail outing locations.

this is the newest Marina hotspot with Balboa Cafe vibes the longest lines with at least 50+ last Saturday, takes a long time to get a cocktail (both ordering and making), a lot of people close together, and there was a ceiling leak right at the bar (corner) the door team understands how to keep everything flowing and did a great job! (i used to be a door guy myself) basically, get here early to get your cocktails. the place never really quite picked up in terms of energy, but this is your typical Marina vibey spot we have a group of 50+ for our friend's birthday for context

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

Great spot for groups, outdoors space is large and very well done. Recommend for daytime and nighttime.

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.

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.

Came here on a date, had a great time, beautiful bar. Don't sleep on the food, it's fire.

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.

Okay, came here for some apps and drinks.... Drinks were great, apps... I was surprised at the portion sizes especially for the price. Definitely don't come here if you're looking to fill up. Otherwise though, super fun bar. Super cute inside and back patio. Will be back.

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!

Ambiance was really nice and the service was good but drinks were just okay, nothing really to write home about

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!

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

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.

Came here on a packed night and their bartenders were working OVERTIME! Gotta give a special shoutout to Adrian for being so clutch and accommodating us! Def gonna be back for the vibes! Thanks, Adrian!

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!