The Summer Place

Our bartender was Rachel, she was very nice, the espresso martini was excellent, and the overall experience was great thanks to the attentive service and the wonderful atmosphere.

Rachel the bartender is awesome! There’s no menu, even the draft beer is by type not brand. Ordered the cucumber gimlet: Amazing, more tart than sweet. Also the whiskey pours are super generous. Great for pre-shows at SF Masonic.

Lovely bar with a very friendly and fun bartender. Delicious cocktails 🍹 Great and fun atmosphere. Open until 2 am. Check it out!

I’ve been to The Summer Place a few times after work to catch up with friends, and it never disappoints. It’s a chill bar with a relaxed vibe—super cute, very clean, and thoughtfully designed. It feels like the kind of spot made for both genuine conversation and social media photos. The drinks are always good, the bartenders are friendly, and prices are reasonable for San Francisco. Perfect for an easy meetup with friends—great vibe, great drinks, definitely worth checking out.

I used to go to the old Summer. I now come to the new. The news owners are terrific. They gutted the place and gave it a total refresh. All the bar tenders are rock stars (and friends of mine). Everyone has a great time. Lotta regulars. The music is great because everyone who works here has taste.

This bar is so cute! I loved the ambiance, the music 🎶 and the service. Top notch! And the drinks were amazing! So yummy and worth every penny. If I would have had one more Christmas morning I’d probably still be there, dancing in front of their Christmas tree. I know you will #enjoy your time and make memories. You only have one life ❤️😌🙌🏼.

Great potential, loved the decor but with no creative drink menu it is lacking what could be a great concept. They do have an extensive liquor selection from all types and high end varieties. The bartender was knowledgeable and friendly but a little condescending when I asked for a suggestion. I didn’t let on about my bar knowledge and was letting him talk. I do think he was trying to be informative but it came off as a little rude. Great concept with a lot of potential.

The Summer Place is a hidden gem in San Francisco, offering a cozy, dimly lit atmosphere that perfectly blends a neighborhood feel with refined elegance. The warm glow of the bar and rich wood tones create an inviting space to unwind, whether you’re a local or just passing through. But what truly sets this spot apart is Dan, the owner and bartender, whose deep knowledge of Japanese whisky transforms every visit into an experience. His passion for whisky history and craftsmanship shines through as he guides guests through an impressive selection, from well-known names like Yamazaki to rare, hard-to-find bottles. Whether you’re savoring a neat pour of something exceptional or enjoying a perfectly crafted highball, every drink at The Summer Place feels intentional and curated with care. Dan doesn’t just serve whisky—he shares stories, making the experience as rich as the spirits themselves. For whisky lovers and those who simply appreciate a welcoming bar with character, The Summer Place is an absolute must-visit in San Francisco.

If you're a befuddled tourist who managed to get lost somewhere between Chinatown and Union Square, this appears to be the casual watering hole for you. That's because the young bartender here loves to chat and share everything he knows about the local attractions to needy visitors. That leaves befuddled locals like me waiting patiently for the young pup to take my much needed drink order. Smacking my lips wasn't getting me any attention. During the summer, I managed to get the bartender to put some mileage on their eternally grinding slushie machine and ordered the $15 Hibiscus Margarita Slushie (photo: https://yelp.to/OSjYyordzl). It was quite a refreshing refreshment even if the margarita aspect was somewhat diluted. When I returned several months later, there was no evidence of the slushie machine. That was understandable given the chill in the air. This time it was more fitting to have a $15 Espresso Martini. It was a pleasantly lush cocktail which you may have figured out is in my regular rotation. They place specialty designs on the foamy topping, and for some reason, I got the Cheers TV series logo (photo: https://yelp.to/VYgmit57G_). Probably because I look like someone who would remember who Shelley Long was. DRINKS - 3 stars...impactful enough but honestly middling AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars..tourist-friendly spot SERVICE - 3 stars...well, I just wanted to order a drink TOTAL - 3 stars...casual Tendernob spot serves its purpose RELATED - Exploring Nob Hill? Here's my collection of places I've patronized and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2IfTVOB

Such a fun vibe! I don't know why anyone would give this place a sub-par review (looking at ya'll below). Staff is phenomenal, drinks are great, and sometimes a whole bar sing-a-long breaks out. Absolute magic. Everyone who gave 1-star is most likely a problem and a hater. Pro tip: order food from Jasmin's next door - you can eat in the bar

What a disappointing experience. We went to the bar because their signage said they served "spooky drinks" for the Halloween season. The venue had no AC and was filled with cheap inflatable yard blow-up decorations for a sweltering Party City vibe. When we entered no one greeted us, and we sat at a table for a while before going up to the bar to order since we eventually figured out no one would serve us without being at the counter. The bartender said they didn't have spooky drinks despite their advertisements, so we asked what the house cocktails were. She said she didn't have those either. I asked for a Blue Hawaiian, but they don't have curaçao either. At that point I asked her to make me something sweet and tropical so she'd have more leeway in being able to make something, since there seemed to only be roadblocks with trying to get a drink made. Despite asking for something sweet, the drink was both bitter and tart, since she had oddly added bitters to it. Each member of our three-person party had a drink that was made either wrong (for two of them - a dark and story, then a Moscow mule), or tasted bad (all three). When it came time to close the tabs the bartender gave one of my companions the wrong card. She didn't seem to care about the patron's experiences or be concerned they were advertising things they didn't have. All three of us agreed we wouldn't return.

Imma start and say this is one of my absolutely favorite bars I stumbled upon while visiting San Fran. The bartender so sweet and funny, forgot her name but she has a scorpion tattoo on her neck. My favorite game is to tell the bartender to surprise me, and dang did she. She made me the best drink I had on the entire trip(and I drank a lot lol). I known it's listed as a dive bar but definitely has a more lounge vibe and I loved it. The people and energy was perfect San Fran. Absolutely fantastic bar to stop in. Affordable prices for what is delivered, oh and no menu which is fun!

Only bar I have been to into the city. Not sure I need to go to another. Great jams, awesome bartender. Good drinks. Good people. If you are looking for a small close knight bar this is the spot. Thanks for having us for drinks:

What a fun spot, especially during the holidays! Came here on a Friday night and was instantly hit with the Christmas vibe. There were a ton of cool decorations, with Christmas movies playing in the background. Every time someone ordered a special shot, the staff would release a flurry of snowflakes to rain down across the entire bar. The drinks were good and very Christmas-themed. The hot-chocolate one came with a giant torched marshmallow which was really fun. There was no line, which made it a great alternative to the ever-crowded PCH, but you do have to walk up a pretty big hill so I'd recommend driving if you can! Highly recommend :)

We stopped by for holiday-themed drinks after catching a show downtown. It wasn't too crowded at 4 pm on a Sunday, which was nice -- there are only a few tables, and we had a party of six. Their holiday menu was cute, and moderately priced ($17/cocktail.) We tried the Christmas Eggnog, Espresso Martini, Santa's Grog (mulled wine), and spiked hot chocolate. The eggnog and martini were solid choices, but we didn't love the mulled wine/grog and the hot chocolate. The spices in the mulled wine were really overpowering, and the hot chocolate could've been a bit sweeter!

Visited on a Saturday night, it was hot like summer in there! A cozy space, but we found a table and seating right away when we arrived around 11pm, as we relaxed and cooled down. Random music playing, like Dancing Queen, In the End by Linkin Park, and Panic! At The Disco's I Write Sins Not Tragedies. The bartenders and crowd were really into it, everyone singing out loud... my kind of crowd. The drinks were of decent quality, not the best I've ever had, but better than many other places, plus they added "latte art" to the cocktail to make it look like summer. The place wasn't exactly unique in any way, it never got too crowded, people were just in and out, and everyone was friendly and respectful. It certainly had a welcoming atmosphere, and I can't really put my finger on it, but something about the vibe we got just makes me wanna return.

What a cute hidden bar! I went during the holiday time during the Santa Con. The place was packed but they serve you right away. They had a cute holiday menu. I ordered the egg nog cocktail and I could taste the alcohol. I loved that every 10 minutes fake snow would fall. If you are looking for a cool bar with holiday theme and drinks check out this place. I plan to return soon.

I came to this establishment late night last year with my fellow OCA Morris B., Philly (see his review from 12/10/22). We were on the hunt for a neighborhood hangout where we could have a few cocktails and meet the locals, and this bar came to mind. The last time I was in the bar was about 20 years ago. This is not the same bar I remembered with a jukebox and smoke filled air. Instead, it is now reminiscent of a new take on a classic bar motif. The service at first was a bit "off," in that the bartender wasn't welcoming. However, as the bartender began to interact with us, he seemed to be more personable. The drink consistency could use some work as the first drink's ratios were off ( I guess that was in line with the attitude of the bartender..see what I did there). Whether bar goers are interested in a cold bottle of beer or top-shelf spirits, they would be able to find it here. This windowless dive bar is definitely not what you would call summery, but it is a place where you can get a drink.

The place has a nice vibe, and apparently the old fashioned are excellent. But I wouldn't know because I sat for 15 minutes at the bar and watched the bartenders serve shots to their friends while ignoring people at the bar. Maybe better time next visit.

Great bar! I went before Punk in the Park, where there were great drinks and tunes and a lovely bartender.

This place was recommended by a friend and we all had a great time! Shout out to the amazing bartender Rachel who took great care of us. She was super friendly and asked what we would like, and made custom drinks for us! Honestly don't remember what she made for us first, but I asked for a fruity vodka cocktail and it did not disappoint! I also asked for a Green Tea Shot, which she promptly whipped up in no time! The Amaretto Sour she made for my friend had a cute little design on the top as well. Overall, I'd 100% come back for the vibes, the great service and tasty drinks :)

First, the service was good. The bar tender was great. But I have to dock three stars bc how could you be out of coke, napkins, and soap in the bathroom?

I loved the vibes! The Summer Place is a smaller bar with somewhat limited seating but luckily it wasn't too crowded when we went on a Tuesday night. Everyone inside was just chatting over a drink and I felt welcomed as soon as I walked in. As for the drinks, we weren't sure what to get so we requested a fruity drink and the bartender was able to mix something up that exceeded our expectations! She also told us she makes the best Amaretto sours and she was not joking! I tried my friend's and it was so good and nicely presented with a bumblebee on top! She was super friendly and catered to our requests for what we were looking for in a drink and it honestly was a huge part in what made the whole experience very enjoyable for us. Would 10/10 come back again!

We walked by The Summer Place and it looked fun from the outside so we decided to grab a drink. It's super cute - a great place for an intimate date or a group. Dan was behind the bar and so attentive and friendly! They don't have a menu but I told him what I liked and he knocked it out of the park with a delicious drink. The bar got crowded the later it got, but he was on top of it. I highly recommend stopping by and staying for awhile!

We stopped in The Summer Place on our way back to bart after a long day of walking around San Francisco. It had been mentioned to us from a few people at another bar. The atmosphere was cool and the bartender helpful and friendly. Also we found the rest of people at the bar were all super friendly. Can't wait to go back soon.

Love the ambiance and decor of this spot! Check out the pic! Gorgeous bar, delish cocktails (I had a Golden State Cider and my bf had a IPA,) But the couple next to us had cocktails and they looked yummy! Bar service only.

Amazing holiday decorated Nightmare Before Christmas theme bar a few blocks north of Union square! Great vibes and lighting. The drinks were great as well for the nightmare before Christmas cocktails. The service was fast. Definitely come here for Halloween!

A great bar for chill vibes! When I walked through the door, I liked the friendly atmosphere and how cute the interior of the bar was. It isn't a big place, but I honestly liked that so it wasn't as crowded or noisy. I tried my friend's amaretto sour which came with a beautiful and intricate design of a butterfly on top! It was also probably one of my favorite amaretto sours because it tasted amazing and did not have an overwhelming alcohol taste. My friends thought their drinks were also really good, and thought the service was even better with the really nice bartender. So it looks like I will have to come back again in the future!

What a fun place! It's a divey bar on the corner, and my friends and I stumbled across this place after dinner one night. The staff was friendly, and the drinks were good. Casual vibes and would def come back. I recall the Christmas specials had spiked hot chocolate, egg nog, and a Christmas-style spritz.

It's the cutest little spot with an amazing drink! IT WAS FIRE!! The service we received was so amazing and we will be back again. They made us feel welcomed and gave us an amazing experience. Check this place for drinks with your photo! Love it!

Summer Place is the perfect spot to relax, grab a cold drink and blow off some steam after work. It's about 3 blocks from Union Square so if you need to escape the crowds and get yourself a craft cocktail or cold beer, this is your place. I have a real hard time remembering to charge my phone and this place is a life saver with power outlets with USB ports by every chair at the bar. Also comes in handy anytime I need to get some work done but need an espresso martini in hand while doing so. The bar staff are all very nice and will make you feel like a regular on your first visit. The regulars are mostly people from the neighborhood who are super friendly and happy to suggest a good bite to eat near by. Bar itself is comfy, with comfy seats and a couple of tvs perfectly placed so you can watch any game from any seat in the joint. The cocktails are craft style but amazingly don't take too long to come out. You can even take a picture and have it printed on the top of some of the cocktails/beers. They also have an amazing selection of liquors, beer and a few wines. Everything came out cold and refreshing. Place even had three types of ice (sonic style, cubed and giant cubes) so it's perfect for drinks on the rocks. Overall highly recommend making a visit here. Nice people, great drinks and overall a good time.

Atmosphere is really nice. Drinks taste great and bartender is so friendly. Plus restroom is super clean and look so gorgeous with all the tiles and automatic dispensers, faucet and hand dryer

Tried this bar with some friends last night and the Bartender was great. It was fairly busy but no one had to wait long, he was able to remember a lot of craft cocktail orders without forgetting anything.... And they have no cocktail menu. We just told him our favorite drinks and poof they were ready! Laidback vibe and recently redone interior. We will be back again with friends... they have two larger tables / booths that could each sit atleast 8 people so this is good for groups as well. Smaller tables for couples / groups of 2-3 as well.

This isn't the Summer Place of old, where you could smoke, play songs on a jukebox that was stuck in the 70's and 80's all under a low ceiling, the bar seen in Ant Man and Shang-Chi. This is a snappy looking little bar with a wall decorated for Instagram. The atmosphere is fair though the tv that plays "caught on camera" scenes is a bit odd. The bartender is ver personable and works quickly though I don't think trying to stump them would be a challenge. I enjoy the several times I've been now and I will be back.

Tall older bartender was extremely rude to my friend when she simply asked for olive juice, since our drink order came out wrong. He then pointed his index finger at her and screamed NO NO NO ! Very aggressive. We instantly felt uncomfortable & decided to leave.

Stopped here for a quick drink while waiting for nearby Del Popolo to open for dinner. Beautiful bar, nice ambiance, yummy drinks and good beer selection. Friendly bartender, too! Looking forward to stopping by this gem again soon!

Cool little corner bar. Small seating area with 1 TV. Big selection of liquor. A bit pricey and definitely not a dive. Friendly staff.

My neighborhood bar! All the bartenders are great. This is my go to spot. I always recommend it for those looking for a good cocktail. Think elevated dive bar.

Service started a bit shaky but it was a busy weekend night so its all good. We had a great time in a dim but vibrant bar full of cool people. The first few drinks were a bit overwhelming in bitters, but got better towards the end of the night.

I had my first day at a new job in SF and looking for a nice lil cocktail after my shift. Ended up here and it was absolutely amazing! Daniel was super nice and created two different concoctions for me that turned out delicious. He also is very knowledgeable about his bar and the liquors that are sold. Great atmosphere and staff!

Super cute atmosphere, perfect spot for the holidays! Definitely would recommend the holiday shots, they're tasty and come with a special snow surprise :)

Sick time last night! The playlist was awesome. Can you share it? Thanks!!!! Great service, awesome drinks, good spot.

Great Atmosphere and a nice place to hang out with friends. But don't be a rush best to order lots of drinks at one time.

Love this place! I wish I could remember our bartenders' names because they were both fantastic. It's a locals' bar, and the locals were so kind to us, even though we were tourists. I highly recommend the summer place -- it's super fun.

Had an unpleasant experience here after buying a large round of shots. They were extremely rude despite us providing them a lot of business. They did not even provide basic things like water.

We stopped by randomly and were immediately impressed by the vibe and the atmosphere. Brett (the owner and bartender) gave us some specialty drinks which were so good! It was such a welcoming and upbeat environment. Apparently this place is still new (opened in March of 2022). Highly recommend. P.S. we named those drinks.

Get your jacket, walk around, do a little shopping, and when you wanna sip on a great cocktail or hazy IPA in a clean, cozy neighborhood bar, look no further! This place is all that and a bag of chips! Highly recommend...

(Short hair male fairly thin) the judgement and disrespect on this man is quit amusing. I work In fine dining and have generous clientele . So I enjoy getting to know my clientele taking them to comfortable places or in summers place a dive bar. They had music when we came for 1 last round and our group had a couple who was dancing, wasn't aggressive wasn't loud simply damcing. Well the bartender or owner got mad and started to say disrespectful word to the lady. Then looked at us and stared meanly after we order drinks. Our last friend came 10 seconds after the incident and asked for a henny and coke . After having to climb the ladder to get the bottle witch he should be happy anyone orders a higher end cognac (if it was regularly asked it would be in reaching distance) ha gave him a fake smile and complement then walked to the end of the bar and started to talk crap about us. Genuinely go to peacekeeper 1 block left ,matador 1 block down or the lounge next to matador better drinks actual cocktails and bartenders humbled that you walk into there establishments. This is a dive bar with a make over. Won't find nothing but arrogant men who hate what they do and how they live so having to drink and complain amongst men for validation is a common thing. Bad vibe bad drinks bad customer service . Won't bring clientele here again.

My usual go to after work! Tasty drinks, really friendly bartenders and the vibes are great!

Amazing and chill bar! The new owners are super friendly and very knowledgeable. I didn't know what to order and he quickly asked a few questions and prepared me a few different and delicious cocktails. They were all mezcal-based, and completely new to me. I even learned a lot about the differences between tequila and mezcal. My boyfriend enjoyed his martini and Guinnesses. Definitely recommend this place! Good crowd and ambiance too.

Small local bar with great drinks and company. Very friendly staff. Will go back anytime.

love this bar!! it has a very cute aesthetic without being too bougie and the bartenders are always nice. when i ordered a whiskey sour they put a picture of my cats on it!! i also just love it when it's a holiday and they deck out the place.

Here to give a 5 star review to offset the negative low star ones from entitled yelpers who don't know a thing about community and respect. Can't wait to have a drink here especially after a pandemic where lots of bars and hidden gems didn't survive. Cheers!

its small, intimate, unassuming, divey. what more could you ask for if looking for a laid back place. Fancy it is not. Eclectic it sure is.

I brought some clients to the amazing neighborhood bar and we had a wonderful time! The bartender was attentive and knowledgeable. I can't recommend this place enough!

A great neighborhood bar that welcomes everyone! Brett shared the story of the Summer Place and it has become our go to spot for a cocktail, glass of bubbles or bourbon... Perfect!

Awesome bar! Bartender Brett was very welcoming. Beers were excellent. Vibes immaculate!! Playlist 10/10.