Harlan Records

Good vibes. I got the green room, which tasted like cream soda with a hint of pandas. I appreciated the asian twist. The inside was nice. There’s a mini band in the back. When there’s a session going on, you can’t really talk as it gets really loud. Otherwise it’s a good setup for some drinks.

I love the vinyl vibes. I want to just walk around and look at all the attention to detail and decor. The old speckled hen is foamy and delicious. Totally miss drinking non IPAs. The mixed drink we got was meh because the rum was pretty sweet (thought it'd be a dark and stormy). Seems to host a bunch of parties and has a great outdoor crowd.

Lovely little hole-in-the-wall bar tucked in a back alleyway in Chinatown! It can be a smidge hard to find the main entrance to this spot in the back alleys, but it's 100% worth the treasure hunt. The space is super cozy and intimate, with phenomenal music (especially if you manage to catch them on a night with live music). It can get pretty crowded, but they also have a wonderful outdoor space outfitted with a cute wooden awning, plenty of tables and chairs, and a cute string light set-up. The outdoor space is a perfect extension of the indoor vibes, but definitely a little bit quieter if you prefer a calmer atmosphere that's easier for chatting. The bartenders are all super friendly; they helped us select our drinks and loaned us a phone charger (saving us from potential disaster). They, unfortunately, slightly over-pivoted on my request to make a sweeter cocktail and recommended The Green Room; it was tasty but definitely too sweet for me. The vibes were phenomenal and the other cocktails looked lovely, though, so I'm sure I'll be back to try out some of their other options.

Really delicious cocktails and nice service. However we were looking for a fun vibe for random daytime cocktails and it was pretty empty here at 2pm. Again, this was a random time to get cocktails and they were very well made but if you are looking for a lively weekday drinking vibe, this may not be it. We will return during normal hours though because drinks were delicious and definitely feel like it could be great!!

vibey & cute spot! espresso martini was yummy, and $15 flat for cocktails is great price. can get a little noisy /loud depending on the DJ

On Saturday, May24,2015. My family and I made our way into the Harlen Records as they opened the doors at 4pm. We had drinks, sat and enjoyed the music. After an hour or so I asked to close the tab and the bartender handed me a bill and said thanks , come again. I said is this my copy or yours, where do I sign. Well, I guess this bartender was hoping I would leave the tab open so that he could apply a hefty tip at the end of his shift. Patrons beware, this is so shady. See the picture of the bartender.

🍸 🍺 🕺 Fun, lively cocktail bar with good music. It’s a big space with bar seating, tables, and room to dance! They have lots of interesting cocktails as well as other options.

12 days on vacation in Vegas, Tahoe, and SF. Dozens of restaurants, bars, clubs, hotels, etc. I received poor service only twice (10/3 & 10/4), and both times were at Harlan Records - from the same bartender. In fact, this guy appeared to be a manager or maybe even the owner. Made me feel like I was inconveniencing him whenever I ordered a drink. The other staff were great, but this guy's vibe was the low point of my entire trip. Do better.

This place....!!!! This place is absolutely AMAZING. A must stop for some good music and cocktails. Perla the bartender was phenomenal. Excellent service, delicious cocktails, great conversation, and super attentive. She made me feel special celebrating my birthday while visiting SF. My late father has a record collection so being surrounded by records was so nostalgic for me. This place is a vibe!!! We came early Friday when they opened and it was perfect. Perla did tell us they have a DJ on some nights and live music on others--sounds like a blast!

Lovely little hole-in-the-wall bar tucked in a back alleyway in Chinatown! It can be a smidge hard to find the main entrance to this spot in the back alleys, but it's 100% worth the treasure hunt. The space is super cozy and intimate, with phenomenal music (especially if you manage to catch them on a night with live music). It can get pretty crowded, but they also have a wonderful outdoor space outfitted with a cute wooden awning, plenty of tables and chairs, and a cute string light set-up. The outdoor space is a perfect extension of the indoor vibes, but definitely a little bit quieter if you prefer a calmer atmosphere that's easier for chatting. The bartenders are all super friendly; they helped us select our drinks and loaned us a phone charger (saving us from potential disaster). They, unfortunately, slightly over-pivoted on my request to make a sweeter cocktail and recommended The Green Room; it was tasty but definitely too sweet for me. The vibes were phenomenal and the other cocktails looked lovely, though, so I'm sure I'll be back to try out some of their other options.

Such a cute hidden bar! Visited after work and the cocktails are unique and well crafted. The ambience is super cute and they play live music. I got the El Mariachi and it's interestingly savory because of the chili sauce! I was surprised lol I think it's good if you like savory. Their lemon drops are solid though - would come back again to try their other drinks

Amazing spot! Popped in for a quick drink and this place is really special. Super cool, sort of cozy vibe with dim lighting and great music. The drinks are delicious- the bartenders really know what they're doing!

Good vibes. I got the green room, which tasted like cream soda with a hint of pandas. I appreciated the asian twist. The inside was nice. There's a mini band in the back. When there's a session going on, you can't really talk as it gets really loud. Service was all right. Otherwise it's a good setup for some drinks.

This place is tucked away in an alley and I'm so glad I was able to stumble across it! Thursday night this place was packed. There was also a live Vinyl DJ! There's a good amount of tables inside and some patio seating available as well. Great lounge style bar for dates or relaxing with cocktails.

Great drinks, great people who care about vinyl, supporting live music and their community! Cool hidden spot down the alleyway. Check out The Irish Bank next door as well for old world charm and good eats.

I got drinks with my friend here and they were delicious (and pretty strong). Showed up on a Tuesday around 6 pm after work - still lots of available seating. Space is pretty big, has restrooms, and you order at the bar. Vibe here is great - they play vinyls all day and the space is decorated with lots of record store esque vibes. Drinks were all very creative and yummy! I wish I could sample all of them haha. I'd definitely come back for another post work hangout or even a date.

A place in SF that values actual vinyl records other than record shops and serves cocktails and an assortment of other types of booze? oh my. I'm not a cocktail person but I didn't plan on making an excursion up to the City just to imbibe on an IPA and skip out on their specialty. situated down the street from the southern Chinatown gate and in an alley right next door to an Irish tavern is Harlan Records, a bar adorned in all sorts of music paraphernalia and vinyl album covers bringing life to what would otherwise be just another plain ol' watering hole. I happened to show up on a day they spun Grateful Dead tracks all nite, which sort of coincided with a weekend festival celebrating the local legendary jam-rock band. my drink (the $15 Brass Monkey) consisted of a mix of a Japanese and American whiskey, allspice and some fancy French sounding banana flavored liqueur (?) and topped with a dehydrated lemon slice to visually spruce it up. sounds bougey for a drink named after a classic 80s Beastie Boys rap track (pre-Me Too Movement, mind you) but it was subtly stout yet sweet and I opted to get another for posterity. the bar itself is dark wood paneled and low lit with enough musical eye candy (turntables and an old school stereo system located near the front entrance) to distract anyone enough to get em off their phones and laptops and even possibly strike up a conversation with strangers. you know, how bars used to be back in the day. bartenders are attentive and even social and one seemed to know his music, which should be the case given that the place is seeped in it. there ought to be more places like this since vinyl has definitely made one helluva comeback and most folks seem to finally understand its importance to music. parking can be problematic due to its proximity to Union Square/Chinatown but its only a few blocks away from the Montgomery BART station and about a 10-15 minute jaunt.

Great bar! A little hidden but in the middle of Union Square area. The bar tender was fast and friendly. My drink, Ole 45, was fantastic. The vibe and music was great, mellow and with full album vinyl playing overhead. I'll definitely be back.

I'm not sure if I saw this on social media or read about it and one of the logs. We were looking for a cool, offbeat place to hang out for a drink before dinner. We always like record bars around the world so this was a great treat.We got a menu from the bartender and then went back to the bar to place the order. The drinks were unique and delicious. The vibes were excellent. Service was very friendly. Music selection was also fun. Keep in mind that we did come around 6:30 PM. I believe on a Friday so I'm sure it's popping off as the night goes on. Tucked down around in an alley so keep looking forward if Google messes you up.

Visited on a Sunday around 6:30pm with a group of friends, the bar had several other guest visiting but still plenty of open tables and bar seats availible. The back seating area was reserved but all other spaces were open. Drinks: Gin & Juice - very good, light and refreshing, with a bit of sweetness, reminded me of a gimlet with a twist Savage Garden - a bit more boozy, gin forward with a hint of cucumber/aloe, and a touch of bitterness Service was okay, order at the bar and wait for cocktails to be prepared. Wasn't too busy but there were only three bartenders so it did take a bit of time for cocktails to be prepared when there were other guest ordering drinks as well. Overall enjoyed visiting Harlan Records, very cozy and comfortable bar with great selection of vinyl records. If you are looking for a spot to relax and grab a cocktail in union square a solid option.

Service was a little slow but there was plenty to take in while we waited for our drinks to be made. There's lots to look at - beautiful bar, cool wall decorations, live music. Drinks were pretty good too!

The Mai Tea cocktails here straight up tasted like juice. They weren't super strong, as I didn't feel anything after drinking mine, so it's possible they were mostly juice. Still, they tasted quite good. They have a live DJ, which is great for setting the vibe, but it's really loud, and there are tables scattered all over the floor, so this place isn't exactly conducive to chatting or dancing. I think it's the perfect lounge to stop by for about 30 minutes during a bar hop, just enough time to absorb the positive high energy from the mixed sounds.

Super cool vintage chill vibey bar!!! The bartenders are super nice and very knowledgeable. For my sober curious / AF (alcohol free) family, on the bottom right of the cocktail menu "Liar's Dice" - will create a personalized mocktails based on patron's taste preferences. They nailed it and it looks like a cocktail so feels very inclusive and tasty (not too sweet). The music was SOOOO good. They had a mix of men and women DJs - all swanky music. It does get loud so may be hard to hear conversations in a bigger group. Definitely will come back!!! If you're hungry, go around the corner at ChickenG for non greasy, crispy and flavorful fried chicken sandwich/fries!!

Ok I've been here 3 times in the last month for work happy hour and I love it. It's a chill/hipster vibe and such a cool space. Wide variety on the menu and decently priced. Cute outside patio to sip and kick it. Great spot.

Fun, great cocktails. Bartenders know their craft. Groovy atmosphere too. Tucked away from Main Street.

They have more than one great sound system and play a selection of eclectic vinyl. Also a DJ spins live. I enjoyed the fact that the volume was sufficient to hear and enjoy the music yet didn't blast your eardrums making it impossible to enjoy conversation. They have an innovation selection of cocktails and can make you pretty much anything you want, and do it well!

Would definitely recommend! We were visiting from out of town and ended up coming here twice because we loved it so much! First of all, the ambience is unmatched! The whole thing is a vibe and I'm here for it! I loved the records they were spinning and it was totally seamless. I love the different seating areas as well. The drinks were fantastic! Everyone in my party was raving about theirs. I got the CREAM and loved it! The service was fast and kind. Whenever I'm in San Francisco, I'll be coming back here for a relaxing, but fun time.

I organized a post-work happy hour here. I left a voicemail to make sure there wasn't a private even that night, but didn't get a call back after a week. On the day of the event, I stopped by during the day, and the bartender was really nice and let me reserve the tables on their stage (online you can't make reservations for groups smaller than 10, but they aren't strict about that in person). * The Dylan - 5 stars This was refreshing and perfectly balanced. There was a thick layer of egg white, my favorite. The bartender let me taste the pre-mixed base and I found it a little strong, so he made it a little lighter for me.

Harlan Records is a small-mid sized bar in Downtown SF. It could be a little hard to find, but I enjoyed that it was tucked away from the main street and sidewalk. Once you stepped in, you immediately feel the "coolness" of the space, with the bar sprawled out on your left and rows of cozy seating on your right. I loved the wooden interior decor from the chairs and tables to the wall paneling holding vinyl records on the shelves. My friend and I visited Harlan Records early in November, and they had a live performer for Día de Muertos, which was super cool. The bartender was also very nice and accommodating - he took orders at our table even brought the drinks over to us! I ordered their espresso martini, which was pretty strong, but I quite enjoyed it.

Cute divey bar. Got service really quick and everyone in my party was happy w their cocktail. Really cool aesthetic. Thank you!

Cute bar that has a dj and decorations of records, we made the mistake of coming in from the hotel entrance and not through the other side entrance, both from alley ways. The hotel security was kind enough to let us in as we made the mistake twice. Open seating and such a vibe, they have a wide arrangement of different cocktails and a full bar. You can order at the bar and get the drinks delivered to where you're sitting (I think that's what happened with us), they also have some snacks. The cocktails are really good - I got their espresso martini because I needed a little pick me up and my friends got cocktails with tequila. The music wasn't too loud and it wasn't too busy on a Friday night around 7-8pm. They also have an outdoor area up front with tables and a place to hang out too.

My friends and I came here around 10:30pm on a Saturday night and it was crowded (in a good way). We were able to get the last high bar circle table! It was very intimate but also super fun! There were couples, groups of friends, etc. My friends & I got the Mai Tai, Brass Monkey, and Gin&Juice. I really like the Gin&Juice the most. We also got 3 Jameson shots and those shots were big! For the waters, it's self served. I would come back here again!

Just the spot we were not looking for. Literally stumbled upon this lowkey cocktail bar on the way to the Irish bank. Had no idea it was here but glad we found it. Enjoyed some delicious craft cocktails and a live vinyl DJ! Very cool vibes

Terrific alley bar in downtown San Francisco featuring an eclectic Art Deco interior with a great collection of vinyl stored along the back walls and a nice old-fashioned stereo system playing classics while you enjoy friends and some great drinks. This is a very enjoyable saloon with a nice cocktail counter and responsive bartender, ample standing around area, booths of various sizes and chairs and tables. They also have some live music nights and other goings-on, so check their website. They are located on Harlan Place, which is basically an alley off of Grant Avenue between Sutter and Bush. Go there for some nice vibes and drinkage.

The vibe is wonderfully chill with music at just the right volume - you can actually have a conversation without shouting. Love the thoughtful decor and the knowledgeable bartenders who mix up great drinks. Perfect for a nice evening out.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Chill and welcoming- mixologist in the house - 10 - peace Cool back alley chill pub bar no Food but great music

Yes the entrance is actually in an alleyway, but it's right next to the (back exit?) to The Irish Bank. Dropped by early on the way to our dinner resi, it was super chill, there was another group in the back also pregaming before going to dinner, and a sprinkle of a few couples at the bar and tables. Only saw one bartender running this place (remember it's still early) but he kept things going. Got our drinks quickly as well as getting the check settled without waiting too long. I didn't notice the back of the menu until it was pointed out, they also offered snacks. Great spot to meet up or hang out.

Unfortunately Harlan doesn't currently sell records, but I absolutely love the vibe in here. The location is near the Chinatown Gate near the Financial District and the entrance had a speakeasy vibe located in an alley. It seems like this is a great hangout spot for locals, but very fun to visit as a tourist!

Seems like there are more Japanese record bars opening in SF and I am not complaining about it! Their drinks are very reasonably priced at $14. Was hoping for a more interesting menu with Japanese inspired flavors but nothing was super creative to me. We ended up trying the Toke My Banana and the Gambler. Our bartender seemed relatively new but he was nice. Not sure if our drink was an outlier but the Toke My Banana was SO strong - honestly the whiskey flavor was a bit strong for my liking. I like the Gambler and it fit the flavor profile I asked for. Anyway, fun vibes and just okay drinks. Would be down to come again.

Loved the vibes and the cute record decors, it was a large, intimate space. Perfect for a large crowd, music also isn't super loud making conversation really easily. Cocktails are $14 which is super reasonable by SF standards. They have a wide selection of fun cocktail options, I really like how they had some options where you can ask the bartender to customize a drink for you based on your preferences. I got the Gambler -- asked the bartender to make a sweet, tart drink that had a gin base. It was super refreshing and not too strong!

I stopped by with a friend before the Lines Ballet performance on Yerba Buena. It was late afternoon and the bar has just opened. The bartender was very friendly and made us both some creative and tasty gin cocktails. Really enjoyed the mix of tasteful ambiance + the vibe of a local dive.

Amazing. Truly creative cocktails in a great room with a funky relaxed vibe. We came here our first night in town, and kept coming back. Great service, too!

Stopped by around 5:30-6:30pm on a Friday and it was relaxed vibes. The bartenders were very helpful in assisting us choose a beverage based on our preferences. I got the savage garden and it was so smooth and refreshing.

Stopped by mid-week pretty late and it was empty. They didn't have any table service, order at the bar. Excellent vibe at this place, comfy seating, great sound system. Tupelo honey - the drink was okay, the ingredients didn't blend together at all Will come back and try some other drinks since the vibe was good.

This place is inspired by Japanese record lounges (why not?) which shows in the chill interior. Lots of dark wood, smooth drinks, and...well...records. The place is on a side street and was full, but not loud and overwhelming. The cocktail selection was interesting and the bartenders did a nice job. My Raconteur was good though a tad sweeter than I expected. I'd have it again though. This would be a cool place to chat on a date.

It's near Union Square in SF and offers a cozy, mid-century vibe with vinyl records lining the walls. Try their EL MARIACHI cocktail--a mix of tequila, chili sauce, charred grapefruit tonic, pineapple juice, and agave nectar. While it's strong, the intriguing combo and good vibes make it worth a visit.

With the so-called demise of downtown financial district SF, there is a new nighttime jazz and cocktail renaissance emerging in its wake, and it's definitely worth checking out. Harlan Records is part of that phenomenon. It reminds us of jazz kizza's we visited on a recent trip to Japan, featuring hi fi sound, vintage music, and fascinating 50s cocktails. Located down an alley near the Trident Hotel, Harlan Records riffs off the fun audiophile bars of Kanazawa and Tokyo, bringing a vintage jazz hi-fi bar ethos to SF. We enjoyed a good NA cocktail called Liars Dice and a classic sidecar from a busy, but friendly bartender. Harlan Records feels like a speak-easy with old radios, dark woods, a beautiful bar with an array of liquor bottles climbing the walls, large sound speakers and plenty of seating. Our main dings are for a somewhat limited cocktail menu, and for their sound system. The music sounded a-okay, but at times tinny. Good definitely , but not at the highest quality you'd find in a true audiophile bar, where a wall of giant speakers emit perfect tone & a long lost jazz musician comes back to life on vinyl.

We stopped by here, was supposedly surprised by the new decor, the reasonable, but delicious cocktails. The music and Lofi hip-hop also hit the mood perfectly. We will come back for sure.

Oh, I liked this place. Like a lot. And I'm nowhere near cool or hip or or dope or whatever the kids say nowadays. Jamie and I were going to see Bryan Adams at Chase Center and had a couple of hours before we needed to get there. We were just ambling through North Beach and Chinatown when Jamie remembered a fervent recommendation from a friend about this bar. I knew this back alley from my early millennial FiDi days when colleagues dragged me to the Irish Bank to hoist a few pints. That place is still there, and this new spot is just around the corner. As you might have surmised from the name, this is a listening bar with over 2,000 vinyl albums ready to be played over their sophisticated stereo system. No surprise to us that this type of bar is extremely popular in Japan. The owners have managed to create a very chill environment with dark woods and low level lighting. The music wafting through the space didn't sound like a karaoke pop factory. It was more jazz and blues. The cocktail menu was cheekily called the Set List. Jamie ordered the $14 Espresso Martini, a refined creation made with Tito's Handmade Vodka. Bofghetti espresso liqueur and cold brew coffee completed the cocktail with a mellow jolt (photo: https://yelp.to/lAFo0RkJK8). I went for the same price Toke My Banana, the name of which just spoke to me. It was a highball of sorts with Toki Japanese Whiskey, Gifford Creme de Banana, Barrow's Ginger Liqueur, and a spritz of seltzer (photo: https://yelp.to/qLKjLo1ys8). Pure delight as Miles Davis was seducing me with his horn. COCKTAILS - 5 stars...top-flight ingredients and creative curation make a huge difference here AMBIANCE - 5 stars...nice and mellow with the music melting into the relaxing vibe SERVICE - 5 stars...cordial crew, no attitude TOTAL - 5 stars...the combo of smooth cocktails and smooth music is what makes this place intoxicating RELATED - Exploring the FiDi? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2F02OZN

Have had this bookmarked for a while, finally got a chance to try some drinks at Harlan Records this past Friday night. Definitely met, if not exceeded, my expectations! My partner and I both got the Gamblers first, asking the bartender to make a strong but tart drink using vodka. She delivered with a super refreshing, delicious drink that was a lot stronger than it tasted. My friend and I got their version of a (extra) dirty martini next; it was so savory but not overly vodka-forward, probably one of the best vodka martinis I've had. We came on a Friday around 6pm; I was worried there'd be a large Friday crowd, but we were able to easily grab a seat. The staff was super friendly, and the music (as expected) was great. We'll be back!

A hidden gem! Located behind an alley in the city, this place is a great spot for a night out with a small group. I love the record theme of this place, their menu is also creative with names and descriptions of drinks that make it sound like a record list! Music and DJ also fits the vibe! Tequila shots are huge! I personally didn't care for the cocktail menu bc it was geared more towards whiskey/rum, but there is one on there where the bartender can make you a drink based on your drink of choice, and it was good! (4 stars for this place only bc I wish I liked the drinks more!) If you get there early enough on a Friday night around 9:30pm, you can get the back seating which is a little closed off and room for a bigger group.

Cool new cocktail spot in union square just outside the Chinatown gates. 3.5 stars Drinks: 3 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 5 Cost to worth it rating: 3 (cocktails $14) Return worthiness: maybe Highlights: - Atmosphere: Nice space filled with vinyl records - Music: playing different recites for a cool vibe - Well brands are solid eg Old Forrester for bourbon - Lots of bourbon options for different price ranges - Seating: combination of bar and tables - Opens at 2pm: a lot of nicer cocktail bars don't open until the evening - Staff was nice and helpful - Themed drink menu Midlights: - Cocktails we're just ok. - CREAM: homemade cream soda and Jack was a bit sweet and a bit of spice - Ol 45: like an old fashioned with brown sugar - Espresso martini: standard Lowlights: - Feel like they should lean into their spirit collection a bit more. With Hard Water no longer (sadness), maybe offer whiskey/bourbon flights with their selection Liked the vibe of the place but wish they had more stellar cocktail offerings.

My roommate and I wanted to grab drinks after work and decided to go here! I've been to Harlan Records a few times before with other coworkers, and it's the perfect after work spot. It's very l crowded and gets pretty loud between 5-9pm, so it might be difficult to grab a table. The vibe is super cool. They have a DJ most days, and you can request songs or find records to play. I ordered an Espresso Martini (not pictured) and The Gambler - both were amazing! The Gambler is the dealer's choice. You let them know if you want something sweet, tart, savory, or bitter and then your choice of alcohol. I got a sweet, rum-based drink and it was 10/10!

Love the concept, was underwhelmed by the execution. The decorations look great in the pictures, but it was too dark inside to appreciate it. The music was nice from what we could hear, but the acoustics weren't great inside and the music choice didn't see to fit the concept and people just talked over it. All things considered, it didn't seem much different from any other bar that has mood lighting and plays music. This place has gotten attention from Eater and other foodie outlets, but it seems to be because of the concept, not because of the bar itself or the drinks, which were good but not outstanding and very limited in options.

Drinks are nice and strong. Ambience is amazing. Espresso martini was really nice. Not a big fan of C.R.E.A.M

Harlan Records is now spinning tunes and stirring cocktails at the old home of Bar Fluxus, at 18 Harlan Place. The new bar, with record-lined shelves, has a classy midcentury vibe and a custom sound system to deliver the funk grooves throughout the bar. It does remind me of the swanky La Fantastique in Hayes Valley, recently crown as one of the best new restaurant. Drinks are awesome and friendly service, we will be back!.

This place is actually in an alley - a clean alley, but an alley nonetheless. That said it was a great spot to relax and listen to some music while people watching. This place plays vinyl records for the background music. My son and I enjoyed a very good Bourbon Old Fashioned followed by a classic Sazerac Cocktail (never had one before but sometimes you children can actually teach you something). My wife had a nice glass of Cabernet. They are so new (less than a week, I think) that they do not have a real menu yet. The bartender will make whatever you want. When we arrived, there was only one bartender and he was getting backed up. Two additional bartenders came on duty before we left. I expect that this place is quickly going to become very popular.