Jason F.
Yelp
Stookey's Club Moderne is the very epitome of a hidden gem, as it is an old school speakeasy with a modern flair, thanks to the classic old school cocktails mixed with their throwback yet modern interior inspired by the classic pharmacies and drug stores that dotted every corner of the city, including the spot they took over many years ago. Located on the corner of Bush and Taylor Streets, Stookey's Club Moderne has been open since 2015 and their goal was to create an atmosphere of what it was like for customers to experience a sophisticated post-prohibition cocktail lounge the city. A chance to step back in time was enhanced thanks to their interior design featuring a neon lit interior complete with the soda fountain counter ambience, along with heavily researched cocktail recipes created by mixologists in white coats to give off that speakeasy vibe, classic barware, lively music piped in from above and even classic black and white movies playing on their back wall. I came to Stookey's Club Moderne when a friend wanted to hang out in the Union Square neighborhood during the holiday season taking the sights, having a quick bite and maybe after dinner libation. As we walked up the mighty hilly streets that make up the neighborhood, she remarked about knowing that Stookey's Club Moderne was on the corner of the street and had always wanted to go and I was game. Luckily we came early enough in the evening that there plenty of stools available to sit at their bar area, in addition to lower top tables, chairs and banquet seating as well. Since we came to enjoy ourselves, we decided to sit there. Also, since we are living in the times, we are currently living in, their bartenders do not come to your table, you must order at the bar and leave your credit card with them in order to open a tab, in addition to verifying your vaccination status along with your identity.
The menu, which many of which are located throughout the bar area, are massive as it looks and feels as heavy as a book. Featuring categories as varied as their Favorite Cocktails, to specific cocktails with Bourbon, Brandy, Gin, Rum, Rye, Scotch and Irish Whiskey, Tequila and Mezcal, Vodka, and spirits that they couldn't put into any slot so they call it their Beyond Category. They also have a Beer menu, Wine list, Mocktails and Soft Drinks as well as traditional Hot Drinks with alcohol and Fernet Flights, so the more drinks the merrier! Since it was around the holidays when we went, they also had Holiday Drinks section of their menu which featured four drink selections on it, and their Egg Nog which featured cooked egg, cream sugar, spices and the option of one spirit: rum, bourbon, rye or brandy that was calling my friends name, with of course rum. And their Hot Buttered Rum, which featured Jamaica rum, butter, brown sugar, and spices was calling my name, of course when I ordered, I didn't realize this drink was on their regular Hot Drinks section of their menu, making it a little less special as it wasn't really a special Holiday drink, but I'm always a sucker for rum and when you add in butter and brown sugar makes it even more intriguing to me to see how theirs tastes versus others that I have tried.
After getting a close up view of their mixologists craft our cocktails, we sat back at our table with them and sipped the night away. Served in a traditional Irish Coffee glass, I loved the overall sweet flavor of my hot buttered rum which packed a subtle, without being too heavy, punch with every sip. Although my friend liked her egg nog, she didn't understand why they put the drink in short glass filled with ice cubes, as no doubt the drink would get watered down if she didn't sip quickly. Luckily we both sipped our cocktails judiciously as the atmosphere managed to get a little lively inside not too long after we arrived as there were no more places to sit or order a drink. With that we thought it was time to go and after two festive cocktails, and 24 dollars later, before tip, our evening was over, not before looking through their menu one last time as we considered our options upon a return visit to Stookey's Club Moderne and some of their Sour Cocktails especially their New York Sour in addition to something called their French 75 was certainly calling my name. If their goal at Stookey's Club Moderne was to make you feel as if you were stepping back in time, then I can happily announce that they have succeeded with an memorable interior and extensive variety of handcrafted cocktails where you can't go wrong with any selection, Stookey's Club Moderne is where it's at if you are ever walking around in San Francisco's trendy Union Square, as well as the nearby Tendernob neighborhood.