The House Of Shields

Not very crowded even during events and with professional barmen. The choice of author cocktails is just classic remakes.

Their Chandelier, the drink, not the light fixture, is amazing. I saw a liqueur i was unfamiliar with, Cynar, and the bartender told me all about it. Sebastian introduced me to two incredible cocktails made with it. It's rare to find a bartender that is so willing to share their love of their craft with an ignorant beer guy like me without being snobby. I can't wait to go here next time I'm in SF.

One of the oldest bars in SF, very interesting drinks and good vibes. Much smaller than I expected.

Great place to grab a drink after work or after a visit to SFMOMA. Classic San Francisco vibe that takes you back to post 1906 earthquake San Francisco when the city was rebuilding. You wouldn’t be surprised to see Sam Spade and a bunch of guys in fedoras nursing their drinks here.

Ver cool old-school bar. It was very quiet at 3pm on a Thursday. I had a Manhattan, which was delicious. Recommended!

This bar lives up to its reputation. The cocktails are modern twists on classics. My biggest beef nowadays with so many cocktail lounges is a poorly balanced cocktails. This staple of SF maintains a reputation for quality and craftsmanship. The cocktails were well balanced and flavorful. Great walk back in time with this gem.

Best bar in town for real cocktails. It's difficult to get a good Penicillin. Here you get it. And try the cocktails on the menu. You will skip all the other fancy bars in the future.

Read good things about this place and they are all true! We stopped here for happy hour today. Our drinks were thoughtfully crafted and well balanced. Not only was our bartender great at what he does, he was also knowledgeable about the city and made some great recommendations.

We had a great experience at HOS. James the bartender was amazing because he saw a woman in distress and left the bar to go help her. He is the gentleman this world needs. Also the cocktails were amazing:) Thanks James

Great local bar across from the Marriott. At the time of our visit, it was somewhat hidden behind a construction wall, but we managed to find the front door (also successfully found it on our way out -- after a few cocktails). Shanty (sp?) is an excellent bartender who knows how to make a proper Negroni and a decent (Rye) Manhattan; he was also very adept at keeping up with the numerous customers, and knowing their beverage of choice. The place can get pretty busy, depending on the day and time you arrive, but it's a favorite go-to for my brother and I when we're in town for a music festival or whatever. On a prior stay at the Marriott, the House was closed for a private party (regrettably, we weren't invited), so if you have a special occasion, you could do worse. Trivia note: the place got its name from the clientele that used to hang out there (and maybe they still do -- just not in uniform).

Anyone that knows me knows I'm all about speakeasy type bars. Reason being that speakeasys generally have more of the hard to find liquors and creative bartenders. On Thursday a buddy of mine were in town for a concert and had some time to kill before doors opened. I googled speakeasys and came across this place. We Uber'd over and the place was relatively empty, (only about 3 or 4 other people). The place has a very classic feel with all dark woods and no televisions. They really want to lean into the old timey feel with this establishment and I appreciated it. We bellied up to the bar and were quickly greeted by Lenny. I decided to start off with an Industry Sour. This is a cocktail that is equal parts Green Chartreuse, Frenet Branca, Lime Juice and Simple Syrup. Normally when I make this at home or order them at a bar I tend to swap out the Frenet for another Amaro as Frenet is a bit minty for my taste. I asked Lenny if he thought the drink would be good with Averna and he said it would be too sweet. He let me taste the Averna and I agreed with him. So I decided to just go with the drink as spec'd. Lenny made it. I took a sip and I gotta say it was probably the best Industry Sour I've ever had. When I asked him about it, Lenny noted that he put a bit of saline solution in the drink. This made all the difference in the world and illustrates what I love about speakeasy's. Lenny knew just what the drink needed to take it to the next level. So for the rest of the night I just left it in Lenny's hands and every drink he made was great. I asked him what he would make with Smith and Cross Rum and he said a Last Word. Sounded crazy to me, but it was another great drink. Next time I'm in town and looking for some tasty cocktails, House of Shields will definitely be high on my list.

this place is beautiful and I think I liked it more because I got taken here recently for birthday drinks so there's a sentimental value but honestly this place could use some oomph. I mean the cocktails were actually pretty good, I had the red dress (gentle reminder HOS that you need to update your menu on your site cuz the menu I saw 2 weeks ago WAS NOT on your site) anyway, and this other bourbon almost julep like drink but spicier and I believe it had amaro nonnino omg it was so yummy. I forget the name but it was very good. My issue I think was the atmosphere, although it is studded with old sculptures and ornate architecture, it was way too bright, dim that b!!! maybe add candles? make it a date or like sophisticated bar as intended, it just seems like a sad bright sports bar without the tvs now (they were playing dad rock all night) idk love it but the vibe needs help.

Great ambiance and service. A no nonsense bar where you can get a great cocktail and good conversation with friends.

Great bar with a nice ambiance! The cocktails here aren't too different from what you'd find elsewhere, but taste great!

This bar is old-school classic, in a good way. It is all wood, leather, brass, and tile. The old-world charm is appreciated by those looking for a low-key place to enjoy a tipple. The bartenders here are generally dressed in relatively classy attire matching the ambiance of the bar. They are friendly, knowledgeable, and mix a mean drink. Sometimes, you can find some rare bottles of booze here that you won't often see in the wild. Rumor has it President Warren G. Harding may have died here and then been secreted back across the street to the Palace Hotel via underground tunnel. This bar is perfect for folks who would like to have a drink in a luxuriously old-school and well maintained bar where you can forget time (there are no clocks inside, nor TVs, also no Wi-Fi.)

All places are crowded on the last Thursday of the month. For this month, we were lucky enough to find some seats at the bar. The bartender made amazing recs! I got amaretto sour as they didn't have midori sour. I asked for extra sweet, and the amount was just perfect for my girlie tastebuds. The bar has all dark wood interior and vintage / "old-fashioned" kinda vibe. Really liked the place and learned about a new drink! My coworker got this smokey flavor + moscato + passion fruit + jalapeño (no idea what it's called), but it's quite good. Coming from someone who doesn't like strong drink, I think the unique thing about this drink is that I can taste all the flavors (listed above) in a small sip.

They charge a 2.5% fee if you use a credit card. They do not mention this hidden fee anywhere on the menu, and it's not cool. I had the Irish Hill drink, with Irish Whiskey, lime, yellow chartreuse, pineapple syrup: It was OK. I think it would have tasted better if there were no 2.5% rip-off credit card fee.

Great place to grab a drink,nice old bar feel like roaring 20s lots of beverage options,the doorman is very friendly and helpful and the bartender makes a mean margarita I definitely recommend this place

Stumbled upon this bar across the street from the Palace Hotel in SFO. It's 100 years old and very cool inside. Drinks were served up easy and delicious. Bartender was a nice mix of chatty and chill. Sadly it was a Sunday night and there were 3 people in the whole place (maybe in downtown SFO that night). I had one drink and bailed. Looks like a fun place to hang before heading out for dinner.

I haven't the head for wine or much else but here we go! First, this is a super easy place to get too. The decor is amazing! I'll buy that this place has been here for a century. Gorgeous and lively. The service is lovely! Such a nice, patient bartender. That is invaluable to someone like me who doesn't often imbibe. I see offerings that will not render me awakening at noon to my husband regaling me of the previous nights tales. Check it out.

This was one of the only bars in Soma where I could make a reservation for a group of 17 without any food and beverage minimums which I was very grateful for! I also made the reservation just 3 days prior which honestly surprised me. The space reserved for us was the space upstairs. There were a few tables and chairs and benches for people to sit down and I liked that the space was separate from everyone else so it was more intimate! The reason I took off 2 stars was due to the fact that there was only one person bartending for the entire establishment and as expected, it took an extremely long time for everyone to get just one drink. We also received incorrect drinks for our first round - we had asked for whiskey sours and we all received old fashions that were far too strong for our taste preferences. When we brought up that we received the wrong drink, the bartender responded stressfully that he had 20 other drinks to make and could not manage it right now. We didn't blame him for feeling this way as it was very obvious how busy he was, but it still impacted our overall experience negatively. Eventually about an hour or so later we were finally able to get the drinks we actually wanted and those tasted great!

Went to House of Shields on a cold night. Very impressive and historic bar area with so many drinks choices. My mom and I had a few hot drinks to warm up and had a great time talking to each other and bartender. I can't wait to go back to San Francisco so I can stop by again.

drink very tasty Restroom was disgusting Service was ok ish Not too loud which was good

This is a pretty cool bar that has its own unique decor to it. I really enjoy the crowd and atmosphere and is also great for after work drinking spot.

Holy wow! This place has the bartenders EVER! They are gentleman, honest, very cute-- but the best of all is James. James knows his craft, is easy on the eyes, and will accommodate any guest. The menu is thorough and generous. I'm a big fan, and you should be too! This is a true hidden gem in a challenging neighborhood. I'm a big fan!

Craving old school vibes but want to be surrounded by tourists and techies in their embarassing pataguccis? House of Shields has a solid classic cocktail menu, moody lighting, leather booth charm- it's not their fault who their clientele is.

Really generic. Beer was okay. Not much of a crowd to speak of and no music or anything while we were in there. I think there are better bars in the area.

The dude and I came to the House of Shields for Valentines Day weekend 2020 as we were in town for a show and needed to buy some time. We entered and there was fairly a hand full of people inside. We were greeted by the bartender who was friendly. Inside I felt like in the middle of San Francisco's very own Mid Evil Times as that was the theme here like Warriors (not the basket ball team). This bar you can tell has been around for a while. They had a drink menu but didn't carry a plethora of drinks I liked so I settled on a Sunrise Tequila. It is very spacious inside and you can tell this place is poppin in the evenings. It was a great atmosphere and my drink was good but strong. It was very clean and in order to go to the bathroom you have to walk down a flight of stairs which I think is a liability. Overall, this was a interesting bar to go to. My dude and I enjoyed ourselves here as we hung out here for an hour or so! I highly recommend this bar if you want a chill place before an event or a nice vintage old school bar! You won't be disappointed at all!

Love the history vibe here. Ask the bartender about the Wilson President portrait on the wall. After ordering a cocktail of course.

Today I was hanging out at the Montgomery corridor to get some fresh air. I was at Crunch, Sushirrito, and popped into Flatiron..eventually I ended my tour of Montgomery at House of Shields. I have never actually gotten at drink at House of Shields so today was the first time for that. I asked the somewhat grumpy, stern bartender what I could get for like $3-4. Tom the bartender told me about the Miller High Life(yeah no). Eventually, I asked him for something non-alcoholic and he ran off a list of things that ended with "Virgin Moscow Mule," which you know I have had and it is just ginger beer in a mule cup. I spent some time at this bar. It is 111 years old since 1908. It's an Irish bar I guess and there is no food. It's a basic, but classy drink list and old-fashioned atmosphere for downtown businesspeople and wannabes like me.

Super basic, where are the interesting international beers. I was expecting something more interesting than Guniness. I guess they pride themselves on cocktails and their history.

Great drink selections, but the bartender did not want to be bothered. Seems like if your a regularly you treated like royalty. So for those just visiting, don't expect a warm welcome. Especially if you have certain allergies.

House of Shields is a pretty cool old establishment in Downtown SF. Very sturdy old architecture and it's dark and gloomy and miserable like the rest of San Francisco. For a Saturday night, I played tourist to the city I grew up in. A couple of friends and myself walk about SF bar hopping. As a tourist, bar hopping in San Francisco is quite fun. I hate the city because parking, traffic and the people suck. But on weekends, if you do not have to worry about driving, walking about downtown, chinatown, North Beach and even Aquatic Park can be fun. We started by watching a 1pm Giants vs Dodgers Game, then, checked into our hotel on the South of Market, went to at least 7 or 8 bars and finished here where we mellowed out with a perfect gin and tonic. The darkness inside here is true San Francisco. Bar hop and make this your last check in. It's like walking into a morgue.

Water pressure on the water jug was absolutely amazing. Crazy that it was a speakeasy and brothel back in the day.

I came here for my birthday and had a blast! The bartenders were super nice. I had a lot of fun. Can't wait to come back! Thank you staff for taking care of me and my friends!!

I've been popping by House of Shields on and off since 2011, and every time I venture back, it's like slipping on an old, leathery glove. as a former industry person, this is the only bar in the business district I'll go to because let's be real, a lot of the new places in the area of just the worst. I was pleased as punch to see that local bartending legend, James, is still running the plank, while legend in the making, Lenny, is still there, even after the Covid terror. I ordered an old favorite, the basil gimlet, and James, a true master at his craft, delivered the beverage with the style and class of a man much older than his age. He's a master of memories. For a classic time and a solid drink, come on down to House of Shields!

Have never encountered such a sexist, possibly ageist bartender. After I quietly spoke up about having been there first after the bartender starting to help another (male) customer who came in after I did, the bartender ended each sentence to me with "queen," as in "What would you like, queen?" I wish I would've walked right out the first time he said it, but was I stuck in freeze mode. Even after that, he proceeded to make my drinks after me made the newcomer customer's drinks.

I came here on a date and the bar was pretty cool. I had the Yerba Buena Cove and it was pretty good. The upstairs area was cozy and inviting. I'd consider coming back again.

This is a great, old bar in downtown San Francisco. It has retained its very traditional decor from the early 20th century, with art nouveau touches. When we have been there, we have had excellent cocktails made very well by unusually skilled bartenders. They have great old traditionals, including ones which one doesn't see all that often like the Martinez (more common now than 10 or 15 years ago, but still uncommon) but our favourite here is the Warren G, named apparently for President Warren G Harding, a picture of whom hangs on one wall.

I had an incredibly disappointing experience at this establishment. I was refused service without any clear explanation, and things quickly escalated when I was physically assaulted by the staff. Their behavior was completely unacceptable, and I was left with bruises on my face, neck, and ribs. It's shocking that a business would treat their customers this way. I strongly advise others to steer clear of this establishment, as their actions were inexcusable

Amazing service and cool ambiance. Excellent old fashioneds and a attentive knowledgeable staff. A 1906 building with charming feel

Get the Bees drink! House of Shields is a classy looking place with a few booths downstairs and lounge tables upstairs. It's located near BART so it's easily accessible, but that also means that there can be crowds and not enough seating for bigger groups. We ended up coming on a Friday, but due to the poor air quality it wasn't as crowded as it normally is. This time around there were about 2 bartenders so we got our drinks fairly quickly, but we did have to scope out seating upstairs. Drinks are usual SF prices at ~12+ per cocktail. They have a decent cocktail menu and beer on tap, but be sure to ask for their full drink menu at the bar.

A nice antique bar which can be good depending on the day. When it's good, it's pretty good. But when it's Sunday, the woman whose name Michelle will ignore you if you're a woman of a certain age as in older than her (who is 30ish I'd guess), it's not a good place to be. The woman bartender is obviously trolling after men. If you're in the neighborhood, give yourself a break and cross the street to The Pied Piper where the staff is uber professional and has no hidden agenda, or to one of several other places close by, my favorite being Pie Punks who are convivial.

I love this place for the bartenders and how delicious they make a sazerac. It is also located really close to bart which is nice. The people who frequent this place usually tend to give off a pretty rude vibe. It just always feels a little awkward in here especially when there isn't much seating.

There's no place like home... And I don't even live here. I walked in, cased the place, instantly felt comfortable and picked a seat at the empty bar. All the booths behind me were full of peeps chatting their chat. Bluesy rock. Lots of wood. Like I said: feels like home. So much so that I was I inspired to write my very first Yelp all up in this bar. Now the bar's full. I tried three other bars based on Yelpers. This one is the best if you like some old school goodness. Feels like you can shoot a movie here. Funny people come in here. They play Bruce Springstein. 'nuff said. Come here to drink because it's not contrived.

If you're looking for history and ambiance, it hard to beat the House of Shields. Great craft cocktail selections expertly mixed by an attentive and friendly bartender. Be sure to hear the Warren Harding story!

Fun Fun historic bar! Walking in feels like walking into a little bit of history with the lighting, even the floor, great spot for a few friends and nothing wild, the bartender was super nice and friendly. Classic cocktails, Beers, Whisk(e)y, Pliny?!?! PAPPY?!?! Definitely coming back!

I love this place. Also, I can't figure out for the life of me why I don't frequent it more often. It's a gem, an institution and embodies everything I love about the old San Francisco. The interior is traditional late 1900s and the bar is just as impressive. For me, it's all about classic drinks when in an establishment like this one. The martini, the Gibson, Manhattan, etc. it just makes sense. The bartenders are also super nice and will get ya all set up. If you're in the area it's a great after work option but, if you're in from out of town try to hit this place on a weekend night when it's not so busy. You'll find yourself tucked away in a cool historic booth enjoying the nostalgia with a good group of patrons.

Had such a good fun time at this bar! Went straight after work and it wasn't too busy at all. We were able to grab a drink and find a spot to sit easily. The bartenders were extremely friendly and knew how to whip up a quick drink. I really can't believe I hadn't visited this place sooner. Lore has it this place was open during prohibition and patrons in the hotel across the street would take secret tunnels to walk under and into the bar unnoticed. True or not it added another point of intrigue to this old timey bar with great music, chill crowds and good drinks. I'll be back soon enough!

This is my fav bar in SF. I love meeting a friend or two here or just people watching. Cocktails are great and the bartenders are very nice. The decor is old and beautiful. It looks grand and we'll preserved. I love that this bar hasn't changed much in over 100 years.

Old school since 1908. I couldn't pass up a historic bar like this one that was across the street from my hotel The Palace. I went on a Tuesday night and it was slow with only a few patrons. The place screams yesteryear with its amazing original interior. They offer beer on tap which is a big plus for me.

Okay I've been wanting to come here for a while it definitely it has its charm. No TV's just drinks. It was pretty packed on a Friday even though there was no real happy hour. The crowd is a little more mature then the surrounding bars and for me thats a big plus +2 stars just for that. The bartenders seemed really helpful and cool. And we were able to find a booth seat another plus. The old school decor and cool dark ambiance was also very different. I'm sure my company would love to go again its different enough to make it a unique place in SOMA for us.

So glad this place is still around! Great cocktails, incredible ambiance/old building. A great place to have a date where you can actually hear the other person.

This place is my absolute fave. Fair enough, if you're not a regular maybe you wouldn't get why it's a 5-star spot to me. But when you show your face enough and get to know the awesome staff, it starts to feel like home. Shonty is a gem, as are the rest of the lads, whose names I don't yet know. I became a regular for the convenient location, but it's the staff that keep me coming back. Drinks are always well made and generous pours if you're a good human. Love the booths. It does get busy during the week, being so close to so many offices, so if you need a seat head over as early as you can. The building has an interest history too, so definitely ask for the story.

I've been coming to this Old School San Francisco bar for years and it's always been a favorite of mine to meet up with friends for drinks. I needed a little pick me up on Friday after a long rough week, we found ourselves at the House of Shields. The door man greeted me and told me that I looked beautiful. It put a smile on my face ten miles wide. We were able to find seats at the bar immediately and had no problem getting good service from the Bartenders. They mix some great drinks, but don't even think of asking for some froofy flavored vodka drinks, they don't carry those. We ordered Manhattans with Makers, Bulliet Bourbon and Rye, Trumer Pilsners and should have ordered more water - Oh my. I think I may have over indulged a bit.

Ah, this place takes me back to a galaxy far, far away when I was a puppyish ad agency worker bee hanging out with the rest of the hive downing happy hour beers at the one big booth on the ground floor. I didn't know chef Denis Leary was the one who masterminded the much-needed refurbishment of this legendary watering hole. He's responsible for Canteen and more recently, makes his signature sandwiches down the block at his other eatery, the Sentinel. Rumor has it that he opened the Sentinel in order to get dibs on the lease for House of Shields. The effort was well worth it. The place looks much improved as if it belongs at the Palace across the street. Dark woods, antique chandeliers and Greek-style sculptures that complement the light fixtures - all the touches brings an old-world veneer that doesn't feel old-fashioned (see photos). The clientele is mostly low-key thirty-somethings from what I could tell. Gratefully, there are no big-screen TVs and no pub grub menu to distract from the unadorned cocktails they serve here. My standard Maker's Mark & Ginger was $7.50 in case you're wondering. Jamie W. and I enjoyed hanging out on a late Sunday afternoon in one of their mini-booths for two. DRINKS - 4 stars...potent potables at downtown prices, no food which turns out to be a blessing AMBIANCE - 4.5 stars...nice job on the remodel, really highlights the grand architecture of the Sharon building SERVICE - 4 stars...they pour 'em up just fine TOTAL - 4 stars...a genuine comeback for a place where you now want to socialize

Was early for an event so we ducked into the House of Shields, have to say this is a nice looking bar, its manly feeling, rich wood work and just manly. I learned that back in the day this was a gentleman's club, no women allowed, (it's not anymore) and it sort of gives the feeling that's is a man's bar, so felt like I was breaking some rules just being there . After checking out the menu I knew what I wanted so I ordered up a Moscow mule, love that drink! It's just so fresh and refreshing and this one was just as great too! Loved the chill of copper cup. House of Shields has 2 floors but I never made it to the 2nd floor to check it out. Also this bar does not have a tv nor did I see any clocks but it was a fun time for sure! Glad I had the chance to stop in and check out and I know if I am in the area again I will be back.