The Pawn Shop
Tapas bar · South of Market ·
Cocktail & tapas bar with a hidden entrance behind a pawn shop
Cocktail & tapas bar with a hidden entrance behind a pawn shop
"The Pawn Shop’s one-of-a-kind San Francisco tapas adventure sees people enter through a quirky, unsuspectingly experiential pawn shop storefront into a lively dining room. The tapas, like a generous Spanish cheese platter, buttery gambas al ajillo, and tasty marinated pinchos de cerdo (grilled pork skewers), are built to complement the mostly Spanish and European wine list. But like its entrance suggests, there’s still more to discover behind the walls of the Pawn Shop, you just need to find your way inside once you’re there." - Adrian Spinelli
"Tucked behind the giant "Money Loaned" sign on Mission St. in SoMa, there’s a speakeasy serving up tapas like jamón serrano, gambas, and patatas bravas, alongside an extensive list of wines. But a secret password with vague connections to a payday loan isn’t needed to get in. Instead, be ready to part with a prized (or not-so-prized) possession. Hand it over to the pawnbroker for their ever-growing collection, and you'll be ushered through a hidden door into a windowless room with a glowing bar, stained glass windows, and a crowd of folks fresh off from work. Skip the missable tapas and go straight for the drink menu full of wine cocktails, pilsners, and imported pinot noir. Settle in and sing along to the Top 40 hits from the early 2010s roaring through the speakers." - julia chen 1, lani conway, patrick wong, ricky rodriguez
"Tucked behind the giant "Money Loaned" sign on Mission St. in SoMa, there’s a speakeasy serving up tapas like jamón serrano, gambas, and patatas bravas alongside glasses of red sangria. But a secret password with vague connections to a payday loan isn’t needed for entry. Instead, be ready to part with a prized (or not-so-prized) possession. Hand it over to the pawnbroker for their ever-growing collection, and you'll be ushered through a hidden door into a windowless room with a glowing bar, stained glass windows, and a crowd of folks fresh off from work. While the tapas aren’t great—the gambas are bland and are four for $19—getting one and splitting a glass of cabernet is still a good way to inject some fun into your post-work plans." - Ricky Rodriguez
"Pawn Shop requires proof of vaccination for entry." - Lauren Saria
"At his SoMa tapas restaurant The Pawn Shop, chef Nick Ronan is still offering takeout and delivery while also streaming a cooking show on Facebook Live — he cooks gambas al ajillo on camera, douses a pan of shrimp with Cognac and lights it on fire, briefly howls like a wolf to convey the joy of sopping up the sauce, and does it all while wearing a face mask and plastic gloves." - Eater Staff