The Pawn Shop

Located in the shady part of the Mission neighborhood, this trendy speakeasy looks like a real pawn shop from the outside! Complete with big security guard at the entrance. It is recommended to have a reservation, the security guard will be able to verify with his iPad, but we saw a person add his name to the waitlist. We waited for about 10 minutes, then lead into the small entrance, which was filled with pawned items from previous guests. We were greeted by the host Velvetta, who was both intimidating and humorous. She rejected my box (empty box offered as a pawn), but accepted our offer to tell jokes. My son shared about 6 different jokes, which slowly increased our chances of entry. Finally, she relented and pressed a few secret latches and opened hidden door into the speakeasy! Once inside, we were seated to our table and offered drink and tapas menus. Great assortment of cocktails, beers, and wines, but I selected the Fintiman’s ginger beer, which was so delicious that I had three bottles! The most surprising thing about this place was the exceptional quality of the Spanish Tapas! Pulpo A la Plancha- octopus with vegetables. Soft like chicken, served with vegetables. The Carne, hanger steak was perfectly cooked and one of the best steak dishes at a bar! The cauliflower was another great surprise! Final note: there is a hidden door within the restaurant that leads to the nightclub next door! They do no allow videos or pictures, but maybe worth another trip there!

This was an interesting experience. Pros: random conga line that formed somewhere. Real fun. -Pawn shop attendant was very on character. Really enjoyed our interaction with her. -The food was good, but not great. I would say Spanish inspired but not at all authentic Spanish tapas. Cons: terrible neighborhood. It wouldn’t be such a problem if they didn’t make you wait outside. -server was not friendly at all. Gave such an attitude when we asked for a coke and was just overall rude. -the real menu looks very different from what shows on google. If you don’t eat seafood you will have only a couple of options. Overall not a bad experience but would not be coming back. Interesting experience though.

This place is a good spot, but I strongly recommend getting transportation to and from there since the surrounding area is sketchy, especially at night. Great atmosphere and the pawn master was very funny. I didn't know you should bring something to pawn when I made the reservation, but they won't turn you away if you have nothing. It doesn't have a full bar, but the food was delicious, especially the octopus. I felt the service could have been a bit more attentive. It almost seemed like no one stopped at the table asking how we were doing or if we would like to order anything else.

What a great spot to hit up on a Saturday night, staff were super friendly and made the night enjoyable! There was a live DJ which made the ambience amazing. Can’t go wrong with anything you order, we really loved the octopus and steak!! (Steak was so tender and melts in your melt) You should also try their cocktails, uno and quatro… they were very good! ** PS don’t forget to bring something to trade in !

Absolutely delighted to have visited and spent the evening here. Great atmosphere, great food and super friendly staff! Especially enjoyed the intrigue of getting a reservation and accessing the secrete code to get in to the club. Not to mention the whole three of a pawn shop as cover and bringing something to pawn as part of the experience was a delight. Very enjoyable! The food was great, and the right portions for us to order a bit of everything so we had lots of variety. The Lemonade was also a stand out for drinks!

Delicious food and drinks in a very cool atmosphere. We loved the cheese plate, octopus and steak and were impressed with the portion sizes for a tapas bar.

Be ready to exchange an item of your choice, a joke, or a story to gain access. Once inside, the atmosphere is relaxed and the food is great. The portions are small, so order a few different things. Ramiro is the best at the bar and hands down who you should look for. The fun doesn't stop after there though, the exit itself is also another fun little trip!

What a fun time. Where did you find this wonderful host? It’s like this man was born for this job. Great experience from start to finish. Nice atmosphere, nothing we ordered was short of excellent quality and presentation. Surprise hits were the pickles and corn ribs!!! Wish the cocktail menu would have been a bit more diverse and creative… it’s a speakeasy! Come on! (But, that said, our drinks were great!). Excellent table service also. Thank you for the fun night out!

The tapas are amazing!! Try the brussel sprouts appetizer - it's more like a salad than its usual cooked style. A good balance of sweetness, bitterness, and nuttiness (from the pistachios). The drinks we've tried were also great- the cinco was recommended as the most sweet. Do bring a little trinket for the trade :) The security woman and the woman who brought us into the shop itself for the trade were both awesome!

Charming little speakeasy with a cool entrance. You can exchange anything as a way to get in through the entrance. I did bandaids. Service is great. Cocktails are more than decent. Not in the best part of town so beware of your surroundings

Located in a not-so-favorite part of the City is a speakeasy experience that a buddy found through a yelp search on the morning of. A reservation was made through the same made life easy. A little sleuthing let me know to bring a tchotchke. Because to gain access, you need to pawn or trade something to enter. Luckily I had just the thing sitting in my office. After negotiating with Star, the pawn master, in a fun interaction that included using my phone to translate some Japanese, a secret entrance hidden as a shelf was opened and we walked into a gorgeous deco room. I started with a sangria and we enjoyed: * Tortilla Espanola - Spanish omelet, creme fraiche, smoked trout roe, potato chip dust * Ensalada de Bruselas - Brussel sprouts, Page mandarin, pistachios, pear dressing * Pulpo a la Plancha - Spanish octopus, bintje potatoes, Romanesco broccoli, Tokyo turnips, yogurt, Aleppo chile * Carne a la Plancha - seared hanger steak, broccoli di Ciccio, kohl rabi, preserved lemon, bagna cauda aioli * Raspberry Clafoutis - raspberry, almond flour, whipped cream * Delice de Bourgogne con Cerezas - triple cream cheese, tart cherry conserva, honeycomb And what did I trade with Star to get through that secret entrance? An extra little Santa duckie I had that you can see on top of the stereo between a rock and Gudetama. And what did I get in exchange? A cutie little pink duckie for my collection. My buddy didn't realize she needed something but we both had Asian candy in our purses and those were accepted.

The Pawn Shop had been on my list forever, so I was thrilled to finally get to go. We snagged a same-day reservation about an hour in advance, which was surprising for a Saturday. We still had to wait outside for a bit when we arrived, because the entry process takes a little while. The lady at the front was a character, in a super fun way! We hadn't planned ahead, so we didn't have anything to "pawn". So instead, she took us through her spiel and had us dance with her. After the dance, she opened the hidden door and let us into the speakeasy. The restaurant area was dimly lit with cool decor, including fun wallpaper, exposed brick, fake windows, and an elegant bar. We were seated at a communal high-top table, and another small party was later seated with us. For drinks, they surprisingly had a lot more wine than cocktails, so we got a pitcher of Sangria to share between the 3 of us. Honestly, it wasn't the best Sangria of my life, and we ended up not being able to finish the pitcher. I'd probably just go with wine next time. For food, we started with the Pan con Tomate to share. We added on the manchego cheese, since our server had recommended it, but were a little surprised that it just came in a separate little bowl. This item was tasty overall, but I'm not sure it was worth the price tag. We also got the Ensalada de Bruselas, which was tasty and came as a generous portion size. My sister and I shared the Pulpo a La Plancha (very good, not chewy at all), and my friend ordered the Carne a la Plancha. Her seared hanger steak was cooked perfectly and cut into thin slices. Service was friendly and reasonably fast. Overall, I liked the concept and overall experience of The Pawn Shop more than any particular item. Would return for the novelty of this establishment!

Another one of those spots I wanted to visit for years before finally making it in. It seems that often when you want to go somewhere for a long time it can fall short once you finally do, luckily that was not the case for The Pawn Shop. This place lived up to the hype, and ultimately exceeded my expectations with their delicious libations. It wasn't until the day we were going that I realized they were a tapas spot/wine bar. I was so blinded by the front as a pawn shop I never actually looked at the menu. I saw they had some wine cocktails and wasn't expecting anything all that special, but let me tell you, those drinks blew me away - so much so that I kept the picture of the menu so I can try to recreate them at home. I ended up ordering two different cocktails and loved them both. My boyfriend got a glass of wine and a cocktail and also enjoyed them. We weren't planning on ordering food, but of course gave in when we smelled the deliciousness that was coming from the kitchen. We started with the pulpo (octopus) then got an order of the gambas (shrimp) after. Octopus was cooked perfectly, shrimp was a little overdone, but I think that had to do with the hot cast iron they were served on and not the kitchen. The dishes were both good, but didn't steal the show like the cocktails did for me. We each brought something to pawn, which I thought was our ticket in, but they actually traded us for our pawns! We were very obviously on our way to a Giant's game, so they traded us a Giant's nacho hat - perfect for the occasion. Service was wonderful, everyone from the security, to the pawnmaster, to the bartender was extremely friendly. They do take reservations, which we didn't have, but we came close to opening and they already had quite a few people in there, so it's absolutely worth making a reservation.

The Pawn Shop was such a unique experience as the premise is that the restaurant is hidden and in order to enter you need to trade something. This is important to keep in mind since you need to bring something to trade or trade something currently on you to get inside. When I went we traded 2 Trader Joe's bags and got a pair of socks and a deck of cards in return (both of which were brand new). Once the trade is made you are guided to the restaurant which is quite dark and ambient but definitely on the incredibly loud side, so while the vibes were romantic it was extremely loud to talk and hear one another. It got to the point where I needed to pull out my concert earplugs from my keychain and put them in. That being said, the dishes we got were delicious and quite large portions. We got the Patatas Bravas, the Pulpo a la Plancha, and the Higado de Pato (Duck Liver Mousse). The Patatas Bravas was crispy had a lovely cream and tomato base sauce, while the Pulpo was tender and perfectly charred. The Duck Liver was also lovely as it was very flavorful and paried perfectly with the fig jam it came with. Overall, the Pawn Shop is worth checking out for the experience/food but if you are looking for somewhere to simply hear one another look elsewhere!

The Pawn Shop was a restaurant we had heard about for a while, especially since it had a unique set-up where you trade something in order to gain entry to the restaurant. In our case we traded in a Trader Joe's bag and received a deck of cards from them. After that, they lead you to the restaurant/bar which actually is quite large inside with two floors. The vibes here are nice since they have club music playing throughout, although it can be a bit loud at times (especially if you are sitting on the ground floor) For our dishes we decided to get the Patatas Bravas, the Pulpo a la Plancha, and the Higado de Pato (Duck Liver Mousse). The food here is excellent, and I can see why people hyped this place up a lot. The Patatas Bravas was crispy and well-cooked, while the Pulpo had a lot of great flavor to it. The Duck Liver Mousse also was a great choice, as it went well with the gelee and sauces that it came with. This restaurant is definitely up there in terms of tapas style places that I've been to in the city. Overall, the Pawn Shop has a pretty unique atmosphere and great food so it's worth checking out!

This has been on my SF bucket list for a while and I'm glad I finally got a chance to check it out. We had a good time, but there was enough that didn't go quite right that I probably won't be back again for a while. We arrived just before 8pm on a Friday night. Our Uber dropped us off across the street because I said we could just hop out and cross. This was a bad idea. The other side of the street has gotten very crowded with homeless individuals; it is worse than I've ever seen it and I work in Civic Center nearby. People do not look well. I am really concerned with this issue everywhere in SF and want people to get the help they need, but this corner in particular felt really awful and uncomfortable to walk near. Once we crossed the street we waited in line and put our name on a list. The door person was very chill and kind to everyone who walked up, even if they weren't there to get in. She then suggested we could wait next door in the sister bar but they were charging a $20 cover. Spoiler, you can go to the sister bar next door after and not pay the cover after you eat/drink at the pawn shop, so I'm not sure why it was suggested or we would pay a cover to drink there beforehand. The lady who accepted our trades was awesome. 10/10. Loved every second of it. And we got little trinkets back! Very cool. Based on the speakeasy vibes of this place, I was surprised it's a wine and beer bar only, no liquor. Not a huge problem, just seems like a missed opportunity. Food was great, we had the patatas bravas and churros. I didn't realize this place was more for eating so our bad for coming after dinner. Some tables are community style so while we had our own space for the first half, we were joined by a group celebrating a birthday and that was fun. Servers were great and everything went really smoothly until the end. It felt like we were just left there for 30 minutes. We had finished our drinks and food, we had talked the night away, we had been checked on and then all of the sudden we were stuck and couldn't find our server to come get us the check and let us leave. We finally did signal to a different server and get the check but I was surprised. It was the end of the night, don't they want to wrap it up and get us to leave? Or see if we wanted another drink? I don't know. Overall the vibe and concept is great. There are some things that didn't seem to flow well for our experience, but I still think this is a worthwhile place to come at least once. Bring something to trade and don't eat beforehand!

Such a cool place! Just getting into the restaurant was an experience lol once inside the food, drinks and atmosphere were all amazing.

Definitely super unique experience coming in here and the food and wine were great :) do not forget something to give away eh

Was attending a SOMA merchants meeting down the street and walked by realizing I had read an article about this restaurant/bar/nightclub. After the meeting my wife and I popped in to grab a quick bite and drink before heading home. We were greeted by a wonderful woman running the front of the store in the "pawn shop" neither my wife or I had a trinket to give or exchanged so we opted to tell a joke. I used my best dad joke and completely slayed it. Nah who am I kidding my joke was terrible but it did get us in. We ordered drinks, the octopus, steak and more drinks! The place doesn't disappoint. While eating my wife saw someone who was just at the meeting with us. Turns out "Tad" is one the owners and gives us a tour of the space after we finished eating, what a magical space. We were entering and exiting through hidden doors and sliding walls into other parts of the building! Not going to sugar coat it. 6th & mission is rough but businesses like this are what makes San Francisco such a wonderful place to be! Book an event here, come party in the lower club, eat and drink upstairs, come and spend money here so places like this can continue to exist. Don't be like me though, bring a trinket to exchange

Fun "speakeasy", be sure to bring a trinket of sorts to trade with the fun & sassy clerk behind the counter. It wasn't busy when we visited, maybe because it was to kill time before our dinner reservation so it was pretty early. I imagine weekends would definitely need to rsvp ahead of time, but you can make them directly on Yelp. Maybe I was drinking sangria on an empty stomach but I only had one and I really felt it. We shared the tortilla espanola, and the pulpo (octopus leg) and it was amazing. If you come Thursday through Sunday, be sure to ask about the secret entrance into Monarch.

Was here with friends for a networking event but ended it up having dinner three years ago. It is a little hidden and took us some time to find it. The front is a pawn shop. You need to tell a joke to have the door opened. The dining space was awesome... hidden doors in a few places to have waiters connect with the back kitchen. There is a bar in the space with a small networking open space. We ordered a number of dishes. They were all pretty decent with good texture. You could see very well out into the pawnshop. It is an interesting place. Service was good. I would like to come back again.

I visited The Pawn Shop for a fun girls' night, and it was such a blast! I absolutely love the concept of exchanging items (if you see sonny angels, that's ours!) and hidden entrances - it adds an exciting twist to the night. The staff were incredibly friendly and made us feel right at home. Now, let's talk about the drinks: they were amazing! We decided to go try all of their cocktails. The ones that stood out to me were Uno and Cuatro. Overall, if you're looking for a unique and fun night out with friends, The Pawn Shop is the place to be.

The Pawn Shop in San Francisco is a mysterious spot. The allure of a speakeasy is spicy and it's with a tapas-style restaurant, my favorite. Upon arrival, you might think you've wandered into an old pawn shop, but once the door opens, you're transported into a vibrant and eclectic space. The tapas menu is a standout. We started with the Patatas Bravas, a classic dish done to perfection with crispy potatoes and a spicy, tangy sauce. The Gambas al Ajillo were another highlight, with shrimp cooked in garlic and oil. Lastly, the Stracciatella cheese with peas was a refreshing and creamy dish. I loved everything. The ambiance is unmatched. The decor is quirky and unique. And don't miss out on the extra experience at the end.

It was a great experience and the food was just good but nothing exceptional. The potatoes were my favorite! The service was amazing, we had quite a group (9 people) and the server was super attentive to everyone. Really cool spot with great vibes.

What a unique and fun time! We came by with our team after work for dinner. Upon arrival we were rather confused where the restaurant was until we saw an actual pawn shop. They even had a guard outside the restaurant. When we got into the restaurant, either had to hand over something to the pawn master, or share a joke that made him laugh. Our group did a mixture of both before we were told where the lever was for us to enter the restaurant. When we were seated, a variety of dishes were brought out to us as a pre-fixed menu was made for our team. Each dish was plated beautifully and had tons of flavor. The serving staff was super attentive and fun they were. For dessert we had a fun dance experience with the full restaurant. Overall, we had an incredible team dinner and this was one of the most memorable experiences we had in SF. Highly recommend!

The Pawn Shop goes down as one of the most unique and fun dinners I've had the pleasure of attending. When our group was dropped off by our Uber we initially looked around confused, like where is this place? Then we noticed a nondescript pawn shop and realized that they leaned into the ambiance even more than we had expected. Which, was incredible. We didn't realize that every person in the group had to bartar to get in, but we quickly figured it out, and had a fun time playing along with our host. You eventually enter through a hidden door, and the restaurant itself is just as much of a gem as the game of getting inside. The ambiance is dark, moody, and sort of emits speakeasy vibes. Our group had called ahead for a special team dinner and we had a fixed menu that gave us a good sampling of what they had to offer. I have to say that just about everything that came out was pretty great. I was especially surprised as I would have not on my own ordered the octopus but I have to say it was full of great flavor and I really enjoyed it. I wasn't able to drink on this visit, but the cocktails looked divine and if I ever get a chance to return I'm sure I'll be partaking in some of what their bar has to offer. At the end of the night we had dessert and their team came out and sang - it was really fun and charming. TL;DR: The Pawn Shop is one of the most unique restaurants I've ever been to, and lives up to the hype. The food is good - but what you come here for is really the experience.

I think this is a great trendy bar! The prices were average to other SF bars and the service was great! The speakeasy pawn shop idea is very unique! The churros were average - but they gave us an extra one for free! The only thing I wish they had was more cocktails on their menu. The menu was very beer and wine heavy with only 4 choices of cocktails. When we finished we went through another speakeasy entrance to the bar next door! We somehow found an edm concert in the basement! Overall I would come to check it out - but might not be a place I come to every month.

The Pawn Shop was one of my most favorite dining experiences in recent memory. While in SF for work, we had a team dinner here and it was simply a blast. From the outside, it's totally unassuming -- you would have no clue there is a restaurant hiding behind the 'Money Loaned' hanging up above. Upon entering, we were greeted by colorful trinkets and random knick knacks. The person working started asking for items for us to pawn off, and we came prepared! For folks who didn't have anything, he also accepted hairflips and jokes ;) Seriously, he set the tone for the entire night and got our team so excited! Once entering the actual restaurant space, it was so vibeyyyy. I ordered the Uno cocktail to sip on, made with elderflower liquor, cava, grapefruit, bitters, and lime. I love any drink with bubbles, so this was perfect! We had a pre-crafted menu which made it really nice to just enjoy the food as it came without having to think about what to order. Some favorites were the roasted patatas bravas topped with a tomato sauce and garlic aioli, the perfectly cooked hanger steak, and chicken skewers. We ended the evening with churros and a song/dance break from the staff. The Pawn Shop is vibrant, eclectic, and one of a kind --- it embodies SF in that way! Amazing time.

Loved the vibe here, the fun energy, and the food. TL;DR, I thought it was pretty perfect for a night out in SF! I booked a team dinner here and they were very communicative, helped show the pricing up front and let me customize the menu the way I saw fit. It was almost too easy to book once they sent me the Yelp review, and I was months ahead of the rez that it made me a bit nervous that they would remember, but they were totally on it. From the second we walked in, they had us pawning things off, telling jokes, and genuinely just having fun with the whole theme of this place. When we finally made it in, it had the cozy, cool vibes I was hoping for. It was perfect for a group, not too loud, and not too crowded based on overall capacity. We each had a cocktail, I got the Uno (Elderflower Liquor, Cava, Grapefruit, Bitters, Lime) which was fantastic. They brought out our tapas in waves, so we could talk and have the experience linger which was nice. I did think the portions were occasionally a bit smaller than matched our full table at times, but overall everything was good. We had eight dishes throughout the evening, with some standouts to me being: - Pulpo a la Plancha (seared octopus); definitely a bit adventurous for some, but when people tried it we almost all enjoyed it. Very tender and well-flavored! -Carne a la Plancha (steak); what more needs to be said, delicious steak and veggies. -Churros; perfect way to cap it off. Staff was wonderful and came and danced around our table and brought all the energy our way. Also loved how accommodating they were with a few food allergies. Would definitely recommend this spot!

I loved everything about this experience! Make sure you bring something to pawn and make a reservation. We got the shrimp, potatoes, and broccoli. The broccoli and shrimp were absolutely delicious, I would pass on the potatoes. They only have wine/beer beverages - tried getting a sherry wine cocktail but the sherry flavor just isn't my personal favorite. The inside is amazing. There is amazing vibes, music, upstairs/downstairs dining. The service is immaculate! Must eat place in the city

I've always wanted to come to this speakeasy and finally got a chance to! Finding the bar might be hard; the front is an actual pawn shop. I walked in with a friend without a reservation around 6 pm with a friend and was able to get in. Upon entering, you are greeted by someone and asked to pawn something. If they like what you give them, they will let you in. I've also heard that you can tell them a joke, and if they laugh, they will also let you in. We gave them something to pawn and then got to see the secret door. We were seated in a cozy area upstairs, which had a nice view of the bar. I saw reviews that the food wasn't too great, so we stuck to cocktails. Their cocktail selection is quite small; there are only 5. They all seem to be wine based, so don't expect them to be strong. I tried the following: - Uno (5/5): The uno has elderflower and cava. It is strong on the grapefruit taste but in a good way. The cava adds a nice bubbly texture to it. - Tres (3/5): The tres contained porto branco, which is a white dessert wine. It actually wasn't as sweet as I expected, which was a bit disappointing. My friend also got the Cuatro and the Cinco. The cuatro is supposed to be a tinto de verano, which is red wine and lemonade. The drink did not feel very mixed; the lemonade was all at the bottom. The red wine was dry. Ambiance here seems great for birthdays. They come singing with tambourines and cake, livening up the whole experience. Service was good. Upon leaving, you get to exist via a secret door, which leads to a different bar called Monarch. It seems like this bar is not a speakeasy and has more cocktail options, though I did not try. Overall, it was a fun experience at The Pawn Shop. They seem to focus mainly on wine for drinks. I was a bit disappointed with their selection of cocktails just because I did not know that it was quite limited in options but overall, still had a good time.

What a spot! Such a memorable dining experience at The Pawn Shop. Visited recently with some colleagues (we're out of towners), and all had a blast. You'd never be able to tell from the outside what you're about to enter. From the entrance it looks truly like a pawn shop, which I suppose it is because you're meant to bring an item to "pawn" in order to get inside the restaurant/bar area secretly hidden behind the secret door. We all brought something silly to trade. Loved the staff, super friendly. They completely add to the experience! Once we were seated, we were quickly greeted again for drinks. Everyone ordered something off the cocktail menu. I was a fan of the "uno" which had cava, grapefruit, bitters, and elderflower liquor. It's tapas/small-plate style here, which I also enjoy because you get to try a little bit of a lot. The hanger steak was probably my fave, but there wasn't a dish I didn't like. Tons of flavor all around. The overall atmosphere is great. Lower lit, giving that speakeasy type of vibe. Would definitely recommend this spot for locals and travelers alike.

Such a fun spot. Gets quite crowded so I recommend making a reservation in advance. Bring a fun knickknack to trade for entry to the pawn shop and you'll be let into a lovely bumping multi-level restaurant/bar playing music you want to get up and dance to. The drinks are tasty and the food looks even better.

The concept of this place is pretty unique, where upon entry it's required to bring in a little trinket to trade or pawn in before going inside. As you enter, it's a hidden restaurant and bar, the menu here being majority of spanish tapas. The flavor of the food was actually underwhelming, with the hangar steak being salty, the octopus being under seasoned/dry. The rest of our food was pretty decent, with the potatoes being the star of being well crispy. Service was a bit slow too, kind of disappointed that they weren't clearing out our plates and checking in on our table. It wasn't a busy night either on a Tuesday evening. Enjoyed the entertaining entrance but overall the food here wasn't as what I was hoping for.

From entry to exit, this place is insane. One of the coolest interactive dining experience ever. From joke telling to celebrations, this is unlike anything you've ever experienced. The front is a pawn shop, and with either bartering or telling a joke you gain access to the restaurant. I will say I made the bouncer (IDK if thats his official title, he was dressed more like jim carreys the masks mariachi costume) and we all got sat with our prefix menu. Everything was incredible The drinks were very intentional and delicious. We had a blast. I would highly recommend if you want to impress your friends with this cool spot

What a night to remember! Do not be fooled by the anti-hype, this is a dining experience you do not want to miss. The experience all starts with the Pawn Master after you clear security (IDs required). Depending on what you bring, exchanges will vary based on your kindness, uniqueness, and willingness to part with your treasured objects. Sure, sometimes people will bring a joke ... if entry is all you're after. However, if something more is what you desire, plan ahead and be clever. We brought a custom, embroidered hat, another very special secret treasure, and a sand dollar! Sand dollars are accepted forms of currency there ;) We ended up leaving with a MOST EPIC Bob Ross POP! (Not to mention the very cool entry and experience). We would be remiss if we did not mention the PawnMaster of allllll PawnMasters ... Whitney. We will always love you too, girlfriend. You made our night all the more enjoyable. Let's talk about the dining experience inside. Some of the tables are set up share-style, where you may be a two-top on the end of a six-seater, with another couple on the other side. We ended up "sharing" a table with another two gentlemen, but with the seats in between us, we barely noticed them. Ideally you want to shoot for the upstairs seating if you can. It looked really neat up there and the vibes were giving. We ordered a huge variety from the menu. The octopus is a CANNOT MISS dish, along with the Broccoli Ciccio. Other great accompaniments were in the Tortilla Espanola (Salmon Roe Spanish Omelette) and the Coliflor con Romesco (Cauliflower with Romesco). Our server was really nice and attentive, as well as extremely knowledgable about the menu. We told him we were Pescatarian and he noted that throughout the evening, recommending only appropriate dishes to our dietary needs. The wine selection was pretty decent, but just a heads up, if you're a "cocktail person," all of the drinks are wine-based liquors. This means the alcohol percentage in an Old Fashioned at the bar is much different than their version here. Not a huge issue, just a heads up for those spirit-lovers up in hurrrr. For those with back issues, it seemed like most of the seating was denoted to high-top stools. There may have been a few actual seats that we didn't see, but it seems like that was the main option. We were slightly uncomfortable and sat upright for the entire 1.5 hour dinner. If we had back issues, I could see how that might be cumbersome. Parking might be difficult (?!?), but we were lucky enough to snag a free spot literally right across the street. After 6-PM you can actually park across the street along the curb! Keep your eyes out for people pulling out and channel a little lady luck ;)

I was visiting some friends in town and we were not sure what to do! We knew we wanted to go to a speakeasy and made some reservations in advance. We came a little early and were a little confused on where the speakeasy entrance was but we ended up finding it. It is the "store" that says "Money Loaned" by the way! There was a little bit of a wait so we had to wait in line outside until it was our turn. We were greeted by an eccentric worker who noted our reservation and waited with us outside. Anyway, once we got in, we were greeted by another eccentric worker who was asking us what we brought! We decided to pawn a couple of books and got some trinkets back. BTW, I loved how the workers dedicated themselves to be in character! Definitely memorable!! After that, we were led through the speakeasy and were seated. We ordered a lot of dishes and I would say the Pulpo a la Plancha was my personal favorite! I loved how the octopus was tender but not rubbery. It kind of reminded me of steak but it's not haha. Also churros were divine!! The chocolate sauce was a little thick but I really liked it in general! After we finished our meal, we can exit to the Monarch bar (another speakeasy). You just have to show your ID to ensure you are of age to be at the bar, otherwise exit.

Pawn shop is a such an awesome experience from the entrance admission to the food, drinks, and lively ambiance. Great vibes through and through and we had such a good time. I enjoyed the variety of tapas and drinks we ordered. Staff was super friendly, and energetic and really made the whole experience. Highly recommend coming!

The idea of the pawnshop is cool. Overall it was okay. Loved the person that played the pawnshop owner, but once inside to me it didn't feel like a speakeasy. Food was decent. Drinks were too sweet. Ordered the vegan chicharron, the pork skewers (no picture), and churros. The churros were the best out of the 3. I ordered the dos and tres (no pic for tres). There was something extra that I found pretty cool that made the night a lot more fun, but I believe that can be depending on the night you go as well. Felt like we were lucky to have gone on that Friday. I won't ruin the surprise if you decide to go.

The coolest little speakeasy bar in the city ever! I have always heard or seen videos about this place. Not gonna lie, it felt a little intimidating at first to go to because I thought it was a legit pawn shop that needed an actual secret to go to. However, the person in the front was sooo nice. We had to tell crazy life stories to get access to the bar. Food is tapas style, drinks are pretty chill for the most part. They don't serve hard liquor so they get creative and fancy with their drinks. I recommend the steak, octopus, and potatoes for the most part. Also my cocktail the Uno was really good! Go here for a fun time and to experience the entry!

tldr; one of the most memorable cocktail bar experiences you'll find in sf, especially for birthdays price: ~$30/person tips: bring a trinket to pawn, and consider making a reservation during busier hours My friends and I each brought trinkets to The Pawn Shop to trade for entry, and we were super surprised to have also received trinkets in exchange. (s/o to whoever donated the wooden Pikachu keychain!) The person running the pawn shop storefront was so fun, and we absolutely loved his energy. Cocktails were surprisingly reasonably priced at $14. The Cuatro was excellent, reminiscent of sangria. The Uno is great if you're looking for something sweet and fruity. Food was also amazing. The patatas bravas are filling and shareable. The pulpo was on the pricier side but highly worth trying at least once -- the smoky octopus pairs so well with crisp and fresh veggies. We were shocked and pleased to also have been present during a birthday celebration. It really felt like we were background characters in a movie as the whole bar erupted into song and dance. If you're looking for a memorable birthday out, this is 100% the spot!

RESERVATION is a must. Even with a reservation, you will need time to find parking as it is San Francisco in a busy area. I had to park a couple blocks away and walk. Then you'll likely need to wait outside so make sure you dress warm during the winter. They let people in a few at a time to talk to the host/hostess. PAWN The special part of this restaurant is to bring something to "pawn". Something you don't care to have in your possession anymore. I brought a mug that said "GIRL BOSS" on it. My friend brought a pair of dangling earrings. I won't spoil the surprise of what comes next. FOOD We did a pre-fixe menu that was $50 per person and included appetizer and different entrees that we shared among our group for a friend's birthday. Overall the food was great. INSIDE Was a speakeasy modernesque type feel. What I didn't like was the live music downstairs was loud, and we were sitting upstairs, and the sound really carried. I don't like having yelling conversations over dinner even though I do have an appreciation for live music. When leaving the restaurant, you will need someone to assist you to the exit. GENERAL I think coming here at least once is recommended to have the experience of the pawn shop and eating at a speakeasy spot.

Super cute little speakeasy. You go through a real pawn shop where you give the pawn owner an item and then she lets you through into the bar. The menus really small and the cocktail choices are all mixed work wine, so if you're not a wine person this might be the place for you. There are some beer choices and small bites.

This place is super cool, unique, and fun. I made a reservation online via Yelp and it was very easy.. The day of our reservation finally came around and there was a party of 4 ahead of us when we walked in. The Pawn Shop area is pretty small and it quickly became crammed as another group came in after us. There was so much to look at and there were so many unique and interesting items that had been previously pawned. Our turn finally came and we went up to the counter. I was super nervous lol... The host was very friendly, outgoing, funny, and he asked us what we had brought in to pawn. I quickly handed him my Corgi pin and his face lit up, happily. He looked at it and quickly said he was going to keep it for himself as it reminded him of his dog. He then let us in through the magical door (after he touched a few items and said his magical wording) and we were transported to a cool restaurant / bar area. We were seated at the corner of a table where another party was already seated. The server came over right away and he was also very friendly. Menus and water was quickly dropped off and we looked over the menu. We ordered: Food: Patatas Bravas - $14 Pinchos de Cerdo - $16 Broccoli di Ciccio - $14 Drinks: Cuatro - Tinto de Verano, Housemade Lemonade, Red Wine Float, Seasonal Fruit = $14 1 IPA - Standard Deviant, San Francisco $9 The drinks came out quickly and our food came out right after. The potatoes were delicious. They were crispy and the sauce that was on top had great flavor. The pork skewers were delicious. They were well seasoned. My only complaint was that they were small. Our favorite dish was the broccoli. This is a must if you are wanting a delicious vegetable. They were hot, crispy, juicy, and flavorful. My cocktail was another hit. It was really good. My sister really enjoyed her IPA as well. The inside was lit and they were playing all the hits. We witnessed several birthday celebrations and the whole building went crazy. Its pretty interesting to witness. Overall we had a great night!

I LOVE THIS PLACE! I've always wanted to stop by here and it was worth the wait! Reservations are a must and don't forget to bring a trinket to get in! The more strange the trinket, the better it is! I brought various trinkets with us just in case. We were greeted by a beautiful man sitting at the register. He was also hilarious! I wish I didn't eat dinner at the other restaurant because they had some delicious food out there. At the bar, they only served wine cocktails which were okay. At the end of the night, they send you through some hidden doors and you make your way to another bar, where there was a room behind the bar, and there was another bar, and dancing downstairs (it's connected to Monarch). We had so much fun going around, I can't wait to come back again! Note: there are some areas there where you can't take pictures so please be kind and follow the rules. It's all about having fun and enjoying the vibes.

Such a fun concept! My friends and I made a reservation for this speakeasy after the Lunar New Year parade in SF. It definitely is hidden if you're not looking for it (or if there isn't a line/group outside LOL). The storefront is so cool- so many little trinkets- and the staff in front are awesome. We ordered a variety of tapas, including pinchos de credo (pork skewers), tortilla espanola, and their cheese plate. The staff were very accommodating with allergies and provided alternatives, which I thought was incredibly sweet. There were also a number of celebrations happening that night, so the place was bustling and had a really great, upbeat vibe. We totaled around $75 including tax and tip, which was reasonable for the amount of food and for the experience. Would definitely come back! Make sure to make a reservation and bring a trinket!

Fun space in the South of Market! Pawn Shop front...restaurant in back. Was greeted by the "Pawn Shop" owner and chatted a bit. Gave her our exchange item and then she let us into the restaurant. Sat us at the bar since most of the tables are for groups. Bartender was very nice and helpful with the menu since I can't eat gluten and dairy. Liked that the menu indicates what is Vegan, Gluten Free and Vegetarian. We ordered four small plates to share and drinks. Even food for two of us. The food was very good. The only issue I had with the restaurant is that it's very dark inside. My friend pulled out his phone and used the flashlight to see the menu. Warning that the area is bad so be careful parking and walking. Best to get an Uber or Lyft and have them pick you up at the front door. And as a San Francisco resident, don't think that all of San Francisco is like that area because it's not. There's many, many great places to eat/drink in the city that are safe!! They lock the front door so the restaurant is safe!!

This place is real cute, nicely decorated and great for a nice get together or a date. The food is good but not necessarily that memorable though. Owner and all the service staff are lovely so recommend if looking to go somewhere for a nice night out.

Did a walk in Thursday night for drinks and had to wait ~10 mins. The host was super friendly and let us pawn a joke since we didn't have anything on us to actually pawn. The inside is really spacious, dimly lit, and has 2 floors. We only got drinks here, but you can also order tapas for dinner which all looked pretty good! Oh note I think they only have a wine and beer license so they don't serve any hard alcohol, but the cocktails were still very tasty. Overall good, fun experience and really liked the pawn shop part of it! Would definitely come back again!

Such an amazing experience! I have so many photos I want to share but i feel going in blind was so fun. The shop keeper and bartenders acted beautifully and had so much charisma! Overall such fun and memorable vibes- would recommend going to the pawn shop for the experience and then walking to montescaro pinsaria for the food afterwards!

Finally tried this place and can cross it off my list. I enjoyed the octopus and small bites. Outside ambiance is a pawn shop and inside feels like a speakeasy / diner. The host is dressed impeccably and very positive (he loved my joke lol) and accommodating. Service is attentive.

Super fun atmosphere, great staff and delicious food. Very welcoming and fun. Good for many occasions.

Very small unique place on market street When you walk in you gotta either tell a joke or trade in a trinket to get into the actual restaurant. We went in on a Tuesday night and it wasn't to busy but still very lively place. Loved the atmosphere of the place and the decor is very cool! So this place is more of a bar and small bites kinda place. I wouldn't really call it a restaurant but the food is really good. Just remember you gonna have to keep ordering a lot of food to actually be full is all im saying. Everything was amazing the tapas to the service to the music and the drinks! Definitely coming back again with more friends to show them this cool little spot

I'd consider the atmosphere, service, and experience to be the highlight of this place! It is unique for a bar/tapas place. The food wasn't a standout, a bit expensive for the portions but that is expected; drinks were standard. We were seated quickly and well served!

Though Alice in Wonderland is a fictional book, the Pawn Shop's establishment offers a close resemblance to the wacky, maze-like landscape the novel describes. Upon entry, you're solicited to pawn something, and I found myself parting ways with an old NYC metro card, a small price to pay for the adventure that awaited inside. Led through a back door behind the counter, you're immediately greeted by blaring Spanish music and a Spanish-Caribbean style bar. There's a loft (which is where we sat) which exuded a more restaurant-style vibe with its traditional dining chair and table setting. Opting to share a variety of dishes, my friend and I ordered the higado de pato, calabacin frito, patatas bravas, and the pulpo a la plancha. There were highs and lows, but overall the dishes were just decent. The pulpo stole the show with its perfectly chewy texture and light char. The tangy sauce that came underneath it was mildly tangy (maybe a yogurt sauce?) but very good. The patatas bravas is among the best I've had, but it's hard to mess up fried potatoes. Everything else was fine. The higado de pato, while it boasted all the qualities expected of a duck liver pate, wasn't my cup of tea with its aromatic richness and gamey decadence. My friend and I also ordered two dos's which is the Pawn Shop's spin on an Aperol Spritz. Very delicious. Not very boozy (since it seems like they only make wine-based cocktails). At the end of our meal, the waiter cryptically offered us to go down a secret tunnel. Intrigued, we were led through an elusive door and followed him down a corridor. We found out that the Pawn Shop, riddled with tricks up their sleeve, has a sister bar nestled right next to the restaurant. Unfortunately too fool and tired after the meal, we decided to end our visit here, but perhaps I'll be back to explore the Pawn Shop's remaining quirks. Overall, 3/5 for the food but bumping one star for the incredibly creative environment.

This place is more than a dinner, it's a whole experience that starts right when you enter the door. It appears to be an eclectic pawnshop filled with trinkets until you meet the host and you are greeted and hopefully welcomed in for dinner. Just make sure to bring some sort of small treasure (using that term loosely) to part with and pawn in exchange to enter this Spanish tapas style restaurant. The host and waiters are very theatrical and even the entrance is a show you won't want to miss. There are also musical performances throughout the night. Two levels make for a bigger and more relaxed dining space. We got 5 dishes which was plenty of food for 3 people. Started with the cheeseboard which came with an array of hard & soft cheeses including Manchego and Cana de Cabra as well as grapes and nuts. Had to get patatas bravas as this is one of the most classic Spanish tapas. Gambas al ajillo - shrimps in garlic sauce - were well cooked and came with crispy bread for dipping. The broccoli was a nice veg and we finished with the pulpo - octopus - which was meaty and nicely seasoned. It was a really fun experience especially for my first visit to SF and I would definitely come back here with a group of friends for another one-of-a-kind dining experience.

This. Was. So. Cool. I have never had an experience like this and it was so fun/ special experiencing it with my group! We had heard it was super neat through the grapevine but it definitely blew my expectations out of the water. Upon entrance, it looks like a small pawn shop full of trinkets, gadgets, and some antique items. They adorn the walls, counter, shelves. You won't get bored of where you look. The staff member accepted our items we brought to pawn (don't forget one!) and had us explain what we brought. He was very entertaining and engaging. He lead us through the door to the restaurant and it was vibey!!! Such an atmosphere with some mood lighting and elevated details. Cocktail menu items were insane, craft cocktails made with lots of love and care. Some of them were super unique! We split lots of small plates throughout the evening. I even tried octopus, which I had never had before. I think my favorite was the salad. I'm not sure exactly what it was called but it had the equivalent of pepitas (if not pepitas) on it- it was delicious! We ended the evening with churros which were cooked to perfection. Highlyyyyy recommend a visit here!