Hobson's Choice

Cool bar with delicious rum drinks. Had a weird encounter with the bartender, but maybe it was a misunderstanding. Anyway, the dark and stormy on a Saturday is a must.

Came for “Bloody Mary Sundays” Stayed for the punch(es) of the day. RUM punch lovers dream come true. Delicious Victorian and House.

Nice, chill place on Haight. Good deal on the punch bowls 🥣 Good flavor and strength. Friendly bartender and regulars

Local hangout, and wandering in tourists with camera capturing vintage momentum, enjoyed the Tuesday Mojito (bartender Ben’s favorite) light refreshing and not too sweet. House punch (signature blend strongest among punches, made of silver rum, mango, orange & pineapple juices). Locals shared their drinks of 1-3-1 (1 Jamieson, 3 coffee and 1 bailey) definitely recommend this Rum DEPOT. Recommend premium rum flight including my cavities Zaya aged rum

Nice place to drink with cool atmosphere and nice open windows to people watch. The punchbowl drink is big enough to share (with 4 people, in our case). Night dimmed lighting and scenery.

Bahama Mama, House punch bowl. Lovely Haight St dive. Great place to celebrate a 49ers win or lament a heartbreaking loss. Excellent service; the bartenders are usually the life of the party here. Great rum selection; love this place, A+++

A small place. Initially I felt the bartenders were not paying any attention to us and only to the football watching patrons. However the bartender who served me was polite and got me water also. I had the premium rum flight and my wife had the Bahama Mamas. For $11 and $8,50 it was worth every penny. The Ron Barcelo Gran Reserva from the Dominican Republic hit the spot for me. Great football watching spot. Update Feb 2023: The rum flights are gone and it has become an ordinary bar. Still friendly.

Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum. Top flight rum 🍹 booze bowls made daily from scratch. Been around for a long time. The bartender was super friendly and made us great drinks. I love the music there and the old school chalk board if rum offerings is always fun to read. Check it out maties

Nestled in the vibrant heart of Haight Street, Hobson's Choice is a sanctuary of memories and merry-making. As someone who cherishes both nostalgia and community spirit, I found my evening there to be nothing short of magical.With its eclectic mix of locals and tourists, the atmosphere buzzes with a unique vibrancy.The staff, particularly the owner Chris, bring warmth and friendliness that enriches the experience. Whether sipping their signature rum punch by the big glass windows or engaging in lively conversations, Hobson's feels like coming home.It's a place not just to visit, but to belong.

Oh man, I didn't know... I just read an Eater article from May 7 stating that owner Chris Dickerson plans to close this rum bar imminently after over a quarter-century in business. I was just here earlier today because I just happened to be in the mood for rum punch. I had been here six months prior but had not come back because I just don't hang out in the Haight much. I guess that's the problem Chris was facing with his customers. It was rather quiet in here with just 4-5 regulars at the end of the bar. There was an occasional foreign tourist. Actually the concept of a rum bar was foreign to me as well, but I liked the idea. I just wasn't expecting the rum punch to be served from large crystal punch bowls. There are three of them each holding a different punch. Over two visits, I've tried all three, and they were refreshing with just enough kick. My favorite was the $8 Victorian Punch with silver, coconut, and pineapple rums mixed with cranberry and pineapple juices (photo: https://yelp.to/ChuKfyTOXT). It must be my penchant for Pina Coladas, but I liked the coconut accent to the drink. The lighter $8 Gogo Punch was a raspberry ginger lemonade with raspberry, citrus and silver rums mixed with lemonade and "a splash of ginger" (photo: https://yelp.to/1jGPtz8zS4). The $7 House Punch was like a lighter Brass Monkey with silver rum mixed with mango, orange and pineapple juices (photo: https://yelp.to/Qi-A3FHK2Z). I'm really sorry to see this rum bar go because there isn't another one like it. DRINKS - 4 stars...smooth rum punch for a good price AMBIANCE - 4 stars...very chill, vintage Victorian SERVICE - 4.5 stars...Chris is still very present TOTAL - 4 stars...a shame there will be one less rum bar in this city RELATED - Exploring the Haight? Here's my collection of the places I've patronized and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2YK1e99

Hobson's Choice has always felt right. I have spent many nights here at one of their front tables, looking out onto Haight Street - catching up with local or visiting friends. Hobson's Choice is special. From their big punch bowls, to their laid back vibe, to their big glass windows that invite you in for a mellow night. It's the kind of bar that you could wander into - by yourself (which I used to do regularly when I first moved back to SF,) - and never feel out of place. It's the kind of bar - where I've always felt safe. The staff have always been personable and fun (the owner Chris is fantastic), and the crowd is a great mixture of neighborhood regulars and interesting tourists. I'm a firm believer that you need to support and visit the businesses that you enjoy visiting. A couple of weeks ago - I was walking down Haight Street and I meant to stop into Hobson's Choice. I don't really drink - and I had an armful of groceries - so I decided not to in the end. I wish I had now. There are recent rumors that Hobson's Choice may be closing. I sincerely hope that is not the case. It's too special of a place, and it carries too many memories for so many. If you have not yet had a chance to step into this low key spot - please do. Grab a friend, loved one, or co-worker and make your way over to Haight Street. Trust.

This is a cute little bar that has a very welcoming, local hang out kinda feel. The drinks are also good and moderately priced. Took my dad here when he was visiting from out of town and he loved chilling here with a beer.

Came for "Bloody Mary Sundays" Stayed for the punch(es) of the day. RUM punch lovers dream come true. Delicious Victorian and House. Excellent for a chill, no hassle drinking establishment. Rum for days.

Damn. Never Forget Hobson's Choice! When I'm strolling Haight, I always stopped by Hobson's Choice. Owned and operated by a great dude.

Great spot to chill and have some drinks. Was walking and we decided to come in to have a drink. Lots on their menu including all sorts of rum. The bartender was solid and was the only one tending to about 6 at the bar and then a couple other tables. They also had a few rum punch. Reminded me of jungle juice. Was a bit hesitant since it was sitting out. I'm sure it was still good though.

Hobson's Choice seems like a friendly neighborhood pub, two levels to accommodate visitors, and a bar full of awesome drink options, especially since they are known for their rum and punch. I don't think they sell food here, but it looks like they allow you to bring outside food, because I saw people eating takeout food at the bar while enjoying their drinks. We arrived parched on a warm, sunny day, and opted to try their Gogo Punch and House Punch. Both were sooo refreshing and delicious, the latter the better of the two. Alcohol content was not strong, but flavorwise, these were exactly what we needed, served ice cold. The bartender was friendly and provided satisfactory service.  We enjoyed our beverages upstairs, which was empty, so we had the whole space to ourselves. There's a TV up there (it was not turned on), and a few wooden tables and chairs. One thing we noticed was that the surfaces of all of the tables were sticky. Not too big of a deal for our short stay, but still worth noting. Besides the sticky tables, I think Hobson's Choice is a great spot overall. There are a couple of TV's for enjoying sports or other entertainment, they have a jukebox to select your favorite tunes, service was great, and the drinks were satisfying.

This bar is wonderful, the people here are great and it is an all around good vibe! In my opinion the best drink I had was the gogo punch, it has a great berry taste! Lost a little bit of aura for using chicken wire to hold the toilet paper but I'll look past that.

When you think of The Haight district a few things come to mind...actually I am kidding, weed comes to mind. But after that Hobson's choice is a close second. This free spirited Haight mainstay has warmed plenty of bellies since 1962. The Greatfull Dead played here back in the day and rumor has it Jerry Garcias ghost walks the halls every other Tuesday. Again I kid, but let's be honest, i am posting a review of a bar on yelp while drinking beer so feeling need to add some spice. This place does rock, I lived on Hayes street back during the dot com bust in 2003. Tech dudes drinking away their severances was entertaining yet sad. Overall, I come back here when in the city and have a beer, talk some football, and watch the weed dealers (who are now Molly dealers since weed is legal) harassing people on the street. You need to come here..oh, and buy a T-shirt ya knuckleheads!

Hobson's is the best bar on Haight! Chris (I believe the owner) could not be nicer! My fiancé and I were visiting from out of town and we felt right at home here!

A nice pub in the area. I am a sucker for any drink that is meant to resemble fruit punch so I tend to order the punch or some variation of a martini. The vibes here are nice and so are the bartenders, I haven't had a bad experience here.

Wow, we are loving SF and living close to Haight Street, this funky little place is cozy and wasn't that busy on a breezy weeknight. The selection of rums was crazy, we just asked the bartender if he would mind just mixing us a couple of his favorite cocktails and he was more than happy to do so. Love the ornate carvings in the interior, it has the feel of a 1930's cocktail lounge. We really like this place, especially the fact that it wasn't too crowded on a weeknight. We'll be back for the Sunday Bloody Mary's we heard about!

It was extremely loud and vibe didn't feel so inviting. People at the bar kept interrupting me. There were rum punch bowls out, which didn't seem very appetizing. I did like how bartender made me a classic drink I asked for. Very sticky floors and tables.

Nice little bar to hang out in. However the smell was tough to handle. Smelled like wet wood or something. Drinks were priced good and the bartenders were nice. Atmosphere was relaxing and people were nice also

Fuck this place has gone down hill. The bartender couldn't even make one of the house drinks, dude looked totally lost. The Victorian Punch had zero alcohol in it and tasted like crap. Place is a dump now!

Having lived up the street a bit, this was one of my favorite bars to chill in. The place has a vintage look to it and has a "Cheers" type of vibe. There were several punches to choose from and they're all so tasty. I had the house punch and it was easy and refreshing to drink. The furniture could use some cleaning and refurnishing but otherwise it's a place for good times.

I took myself on a tour of San Fran while visiting a couple weeks ago. I asked a random person where I could find an eclectic neighborhood and possibly have a midday drink with locals. They pointed me to the Haight neighborhood and I stumbled across this bar and copped a squat at the bar. It has a divey yet welcoming vibe so it was comfortable. I'm not usually a rum drinker but I'm sucker for bars with old charm who also serve drinks from antique punch bowls. I can definitely see this being a fun place for a group of friends. I was served immediately, mostly because there were 6 of us there, including the bartender. However, he was friendly so it's probably the case all the time. I tried the House Punch which has an orange/mango base and the Victorian Punch which has a cranberry/coconut base. Both were tasty and had kick but I preferred the Victorian as I found it less thick than the House version. Regardless, they paired well with the random conversation I had with the bartender and a patron...which is precisely what I was seeking. If back in that area, I'd definitely go back to see what it's like on a busier day/night.

Cozy, lived-in bar. Been here forever. I love the Victorian chandeliers. The furniture is comfortably shabby. There's a lovely upstairs balcony area, somewhat reminiscent of Vesuvius. Lots of interesting decorative details. Nice big picture windows with great Haight Street people watching. And bowls of punch!

Stumbled upon this locals dive-ish place looking for a bar with NFL ticket in the hood. Mad Dog was a no. Anyhoo, great bartender Chris (apparently there are two Chris' as we were informed by a friendly regular) made some killer Mai Tai's (bar soecializes in rums) and watched Packer and Niner wins. Our great mood was harshed by the replacement bartender (who knows, maybe he owns the place) wearing an InfoWars T Shirt that said "Arrest Fauci". I'm open to a world that allows all political views but prefer not to have them shoved in my face when I spending my money.

This may be my new favorite SF bar. Holy shit! Three quality Bloody Marys and a rum punch for 26 bucks? It's like Des Moines pricing here in the Haight. Cool vibe, great selection of everything. We'll be back.

A note to anyone who wants to bring their dog here. It's a dog friendly bar, but it depends on who is bartending. I've been come here periodically for years with my dog and I've even seen the bartender bring they dog. Even my neighborhood acquaintances bring their dogs and I've walked by and seen plenty of dogs. But last night the bartender told us that dogs are never allowed in Hobdon's Choice, which is obviously a lie, and when I asked if their policy changed he just repeated "dogs aren't allowed here" shaking his head and acting very annoyed. I told him "we will of course leave but I just wanted to understand if the policy is dependent on who is commanding the bar"...*shakes head even more annoyed* "dogs aren't allowed". I'm fine with yielding to the rules of the individual bartender. But the fact that as a regular patron I was treated like some annoying tourist and underserved of a real answer means that whenever I see the bartender I will certainly not go to this bar.

Was killing some time after lunch and was looking for a place also showing the game. This was the perfect place to sit, watch the game, and enjoy a drink. This place specializes in rum. Really good rum! They have punch drinks available for a great price. I had the Victorian punch and it was amazingly good. Great coconut and cranberry flavor and could taste that kick of rum. Would definitely be back to try the others. On a side note, would have given 5 stars but there was a really bad piss smell at the bar. I moved towards the other side of the bar and I could still smell it. Despite that, I really enjoyed the place and would come back!

Hobson's Choice is a Haight Street establishment and it feels really old and people still go to Hobson's whether they are local or not. I decided to visit on a Sunday when they have a Bloody Mary bar and the Bloody Mary bar is do-it-yourself. I basically had to poor the Bloody Mary drink that they created. It had horseradish and tabasco. They had a bottle of Worcestershire sauce. The bloody mary was fun to try, but it was a bit too strong in taste with the spices and horseradish(I don't really like horseradish). The glass they used was fun. The atmosphere is fun. You can hang out for a bit. They have enough seating. The virgin bloody mary was $3.50 and I ran over to the ATM and got a $20, but you know they have fees these "ATMs." I enjoyed the festive Bloody Mary party day on a Sunday on Haight Street. It's fun! They had a jar of pickles as well and I took a few of the pickles. They had several things to put into the bloody mary and I couldn't settle on anything else. I did not have a dish for pickles. I did not want the alcohol in the Bloody Mary. Is that bloody mary or Bloody Mary. Do you know Bloody Denise?

If you're looking for day drinking spot with good people watching then Hobson's Choice is a good pick. Order a few rounds of punch bowls to share.. these things are deceptive, it's sweet so you keep drinking without realizing you're getting tipsy. Wish the ladles worked better and didn't spill all over as you tried to pour the drinks. If you get a chance, sit by one of the tables with the large windows facing Haight Street and you can people watch too. Every now and then you'll see a SF Sightseeing tourist bus pass by. Hobson's Choice is one of those places where you can spend hours and have a great time. Hungry? Head next door to Street Tacos and bring back some al Pastor nachos or a burrito. The bar is pretty nice about letting you bring outside food since they don't have a food menu. Just be a good customer and keep ordering those punches.

Wooohoo . This bar is as good as it gets! The only problem was that I was not very fond of the punch bowls because I did not realize I was getting tipsy until after my boyfriend told me I was because these things are so deceptive. Also I really liked the bartender that worked there. He was a hottie and a great , great bartender. XOXO , Mimi Kuo

I've lived in the Haight district for 4 years and I'm now just finding out about their Bloody Mary bar on Sundays! I come here every Sunday now just for it. There are tons of bars on this street so it's hard to find anything appealing about this spot (that's why it's not 5 stars) but drinks are cheap here. Bartenders are all friendly and they usually have lots of specials/happy hours going on. I'll be a regular here every Sunday fasho.

Come here for some awesome rum punch bowls! There are 3 flavors in 2 sizes- my favorite being the Victorian Punch made with silver, coconut, and pineapple rums. A small bowl is good for 2-4 people. The large bowl is good for 4-6. I like going upstairs when it's available... you have almost an entire wing of the house to yourself with a large table and a flat screen TV. Fits a group of about 6-10 friends for happy hour (good deals!) Now, I would also like to acknowledge the recent 1 star reviews about what happens at the end of the night.... It's true. I've seen it and I've experienced it. So I would avoid this place about 30 minutes before closing time since the staff suddenly flips- becoming excessively aggressive and rude in telling people to finish their drinks and get out. They act like they're talking to a bunch of drunk teenagers raiding a liquor cabinet instead of addressing their paying customers with respect, especially women. I seriously hope they work on this bit.

This used to be the best bar. Hobsons I love you but please bring back the old mai tai recipe where you use the macadamia nut liquor. I went here for my mai tai yesterday and it was horrible, the guy put coconut cream in the mai tai like it was a piña colada?!? First drink in my entire life that I couldn't finish a drink. I was disgusting and Way to sweet. And I like sweet drinks. Please bring back the old mai thai recipe, it was the best in the city. Also bring back the sunshine beer that you served in the mugs with the orange slice. That was super fun and delicious.

Worst bar I've ever been to. Bartender was a jerk and rude and it wasn't even busy so not sure what his problem was. Don't even waste your time coming here.

Slightly divey bar with two floors known for their massive punch bowls. The first floor has lots of space to chill with friends. You can hang out in the large booths and grab drinks and chill. There is also a small area near the bottom of the stairs to sit with friends. They make different flavors of punch that they scoop in to a large punch bowl for you. Prices are pretty reasonable for the quantity. But the taste is just okay. So so sweet. You'll definitely get a hangover. It's unavoidable. Overall, fun time for a punchbowl and a good time.

Bad energy. I needed to use the restroom and the guy stopped me on the way, turning all the way around to stop me. I told him it was an emergency and he didn't care. I would find somewhere else to go instead of giving business to such uncaring people in a place with bad vibes.

Nice little bar in the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood. It caught our eye as we walked by because of the sign outside that said over 100 rums ... that's my liquor of choice. Unfortunately, they did not have any of my favorite brand, Cruzan. Specifically, I was looking for Cruzan 151, a dark rum. They didn't even have Bacardi 151 so I tried something new to me, Plantation. I do prefer runs that are sugar-based and not molasses-based so didn't care for Plantation. Ambiance of the bar was cool though. Only rating a three star because of the limited dark rum options.

Stopped here with my husband after work. Enjoyed this lovely drink pictured. Bartender man who greeted us and served us was nice. Drink was yummy. Will stop by here again.

Cool bar in the Haight. Very relaxed and casual atmosphere with great deals on good beer. History and old style heritage fill the climate and vibe. The architecture and design of 1900s building is on full display. A nice place to watch a Giants game. All in all my favorite bar to visit, and somewhere I look forward to going to again.

What a cool, fun yet mellow place on Haight! Came across this place after searching for: day drinking...and I'm glad we found it! The "go" for me was that they offer three different kinds of punches! Punch? How awesome! The bartender saw that my friend and I were having difficulty deciding which to go with...so he gave us samples. Boom - decision made. The vibe was super cool in the place and the windows make for great people watching too. No frills, but awesome people watching and yummy punch at 2pm in the afternoon. Winning! Who knew that options were limited for drinking during the day? Now I know... Hobsons is the place to be! I'll definitely be back to try their other drink specials. Such a cool place to land and explore the scene on Haight.

It was 1:40 am. We had a lot of our "bowl" left in the glasses. "Bitch who are you?" - your employees said to my wife when she was justifying finishing her drink. Believe me we weren't alone or drunk. Just hanging out at a local bar. We will never spend our money at a place like that.

Been coming here on and off over the years for as long as I can remember. Megan behind the bar here has always been my favorite...she totally rocks and makes a good place even better. She has a sweet personality and a wonderful rapport with all her patrons...regardless of whether you are a first-timer or a crusty old regular, she always makes everyone feel welcome and comfortable. Naturally, there is a full bar, but in addition, there are also three kinds of house punch here...House, Go Go, and Victorian. Surprisingly, all three are good and way better than you might expect for any pre-made punch. Victorian is my favorite with House a close second, followed by the Go Go. Way stronger than you might expect and if you come during happy hour, only $3.50...what a deal! A corner bar with plenty of glass area for people watching, Hobson's Choice has always retained a fun, lively vibe. An ecelectic crowd hangs in this haunt...a little of everything in here with locals rubbing elbows with tourists and everything else in-between. A nice cross-section of humanity with whom to interact and imbibe. I was going to make this review a four, but because of Megan and the outstanding service from all the staff, reasonable Happy Hour pricing, plus all the fun times I always seem to have in here, I'll bump it up a star. Definitely in the top three of my favorite bars to drink at in the upper Haight. Enjoying a rum punch and engaging in lively banter is a decades old tradition here at Hobson's in the Haight...long may it last so that future generations can enjoy it for decades to come!

Stopped in to get a drink and check it out. It's right in the hub of Haight street and corner of Clayton. If you get there early enough you can get a seat by the windows and enjoy all the colorful people watching! There is plenty to go around! They are known for their punches, but beware they are premade and are super sugary! I can only handle one because I don't want a massive headache from the sugar crash later. HAPPY HOUR is 5-7pm They have a different special every day and feature weekly drinks also. Also**tip, you can sit wherever you want but order at the bar...they will not come to you ;)

I've been to Hobson's choice several times, but never did I go on Bloody Mary Sunday. They set up a Bloody Mary bar with all the fixings and you can make your own. I am a huge fan of Bloody Mary's and luckily so was my date. Bonus! He and I hung out at the bar, enjoyed watching multiple football games while chatting and drinking our Bloody Mary's. I noticed that they delivered food to the bar, so we ordered an order of Nachos which they delivered from Askew next door. They were pretty interesting with a BBQ kind of sauce on them, not bad - just different.

Looking for a cool, 21 + place to drink in the Haight? Look no further, this place is awesome! They have great drinks, great drink prices, and a very cool vintage/westerner vibe. I loved how spacious it was, and think it is a great spot for groups. They had lots of outlets to charge up your devices (which I know is a godsend when you are on vacation in the city and constantly checking into places and taking photos and using all the juice in your phone). The staff were funny and friendly and I definitely will be back! Also, their drinks that utilize punch are cool because they have huge punch bowls made fresh daily with yummy juices! YUM!

Drinks: this place does not disappoint! Their mixed drinks are strong and does the job! Don't be fooled by the cute names for their punches, one too many and you'll be walking out stumbling on your feet and landed on your face! Services: the bartenders are all nice, fast, and attentive. The times I've been here, dead or busy, I never had to wait more than a minute for my drinks. Atmosphere: it's a bit funky, especially the bathroom lol but it adds a cool flavor to the place. Crowds: you get a mix of everything, young/old/pot head sometimes. Overall, one of my fave places to hit up when I'm in the Haight ;D

Came during an ultra fast three bar hop in the Haight at about 12:00AM I must say given the amount of people who arrived with me, the single bartender was awesome in providing pricing as well as drinks. He was definitely nice enough to ask IDs in addition to orders simultaneously. As for the decor, many of the bars in haight are as un-pretentious as they come. Much of the specials are posted on the wall above the bar. Not the most upscale place, but definitely a down to earth place to grab a quick drink. The value here is great. Most shots under 10 and beers hover around 5. I recommend this spot after a walk through the Haight or Golden Gate Park. A definite must if you come with a bunch of out of towners who want a quick drink/barhop at 12AM

This is such a tough place to review. They claim to have the best rum selection in the country. I do not believe that is true, but it is pretty decent. The bartenders and staff are pretty friendly, and you can assemble a tasting flight to your specifications pretty easily. As a big rum afficionado, I really love this aspect of the place. And then, as i am sitting drinking rum with my fellow pirates, They start blasting hip hop way too lound. Now, I love hip hop. I even like loud hip hop. But why would i want to do a rum tasting flight with my friends if I can't hear them speaking? Totally ridiculous Hobson's Choice. If you want to do rum tastings, lose the overloud music. You totally lost yourselves a star here,

This was the second bar i vistied as a 21 year old, and WOW! what fun. I went in the middle of the day and it was so chill. I stuck to the punches and that's enough reason to go back! Make sure you try every single one! Get a "floater" (an extra shot of rum on top!). Gets you fucked up and you can't even tell. I could probably down 4 in an hour they're so tasty! The bartender was really sweet, she hooked it up since it was my 21st birthday. Overall vibe of the bar was plenty enjoyable! Cant wait to go back!!!

A chill saloon style bar in the Haight. They are pretty slow until 11pm at night when the crowd starts pouring in. They have a bunch of sofas, stools and even some space upstairs. I feel like I'm in the south when I go here, and there's a southern hospitality minus when you get that semi mean bartender girl who walks away when you take more than 15 seconds to decide what you want. If you want a chill night hanging out, playing drinking games and talking to your friends it's a good place to be.

Went here with friends one night and the experience was OK. The drinks are a little pricey and the "tropical" ones didnt taste like alcohol. The place has a nice mellow look to it but the bathroom is horrendous. Smells horribly and is dirty reminds me of a club bathroom. The bartender was nice however he/she would take a while to get over to you cause he/she would be focused on talking to a customer or be outside smoking and leave the bar empty.

Such an awesome bar to sit and enjoy a drink in. An all glass shop front offers prime people watching at the 43 bus stop. This is definitely a place for rum-aholics. Nice bartenders, good prices, and an awesome happy hour. It also seems immune to the San Francisco bar funk smell. I would definitely bring people back here. As of 02/2014 if you download the ScoutMob app you can receive 50% off of your first visit's bill.

I don't live in the Bay. I've got a lot of family who does, but I never got rich enough for it. I usually drink at Zam Zam's in this neck of the woods, but...this is the laid-back place to do some proper afternoon drinking, and there is the whole issue of the punch. Usually bars with a gimmick suck, or the gimmick is overpriced. Every damn daiquiris in slushy machines with 900 flavors joint? The drinks are trash and overpriced. Well, sit down, kittens: Hobson's punch is nicely priced and gets you drunk. But the thing is...the punch is fun, and great to sip, but Hobson's has a pretty sweet set of taps. And a good place to sit around with your friends, shoot the breeze, and most importantly for the City and especially the Haight: CLEAN BATHROOMS. Yes, all the time. Also, they finally figured out what made the left side of the bar smell weirdly funky when it's hot out. They have AC, and they don't overuse it. If you're a whiskey snob like me, try a few of the more premium sipping rums; they'll be honest with you about taste and price and if you know what whiskey you like, they'll have three rums to suggest. No food, but passable pizza nearby, good but spendy banh mi up the street and a really good taco joint adjacent, and you can bring your food in. Just ask for the menu book if you're perplexed. Come during Happy Hour and it's a little cheaper, especially for the special of the day and pints of whatever macro tap they have at the moment.