The Alembic

"Alembic was one of the first San Francisco bars to really showcase the craft cocktail when it opened in 2006. Ten years later, nothing has changed — except the space, which expanded in 2015 to accommodate patrons who are just as interested in the inventive food menu as they are the serious drinks." - Paolo Bicchieri

"The Alembic is one of our favorite bars in the Haight—it’s got the cozy feel of an old-school, neighborhood spot, and has consistently great drinks. Boozy ice cream floats and bar snacks like potato leek fritters are there for you as you field questions like "Reading anything good right now?" or "So...do you have siblings?" - julia chen 1, lani conway

"The Alembic is one of our favorite bars in the Haight - it’s got the cozy feel of an old-school, neighborhood spot, and has consistently great drinks. Grab a booth on their covered parklet with whoever you’re catching up with, and field questions like “So... how was your quarantine?” over potato leek fritters, grilled artichoke, or a boozy ice cream float." - julia chen 1

"The Alembic looks like an alchemist’s lair with dark leather seats, and shelves stocked with books and glass beakers. But the magical thing about one of our favorite bars in the Haight is that they consistently make great cocktails and food to go along with them. This bar is also dark and rustic, and is ultimately an ideal backdrop for a first date you’ll maybe one day tell your kids about." - lani conway, ricky rodriguez, julia chen 1

"The Alembic opened in 2006 on the wave of the city’s craft cocktail movement. While most bars in town have long since figured out how to make a damn good Manhattan, we still love the Alembic. It’s a fantastic bar with fantastic drinks and a mainstay for casual hangouts and dates in the Haight. It looks like an apothecary crossed with a scholar’s den, with floral wallpaper, dark wood, and shelves stocked with books. As much as you might want to read about medicinal plant healing, the drinks are the most important aspect here. There are classic negronis, herbaceous gin drinks, and cocktails that change seasonally. And like any great bar, there’s a substantive food menu that includes everything from light bites to a full-on meal. " - lani conway, julia chen 1, ricky rodriguez