The Residence

11/16/2015

Firmly established as my favorite happy hour bar in SF. Peter is a legend and has recently dubbed my group of regular drinkers "alcoholics". This points to the frequency of our visits driven by the great drinks (try the Belgian beer and "basic bitch" cocktail), low prices and best of all the fun and friendly service. Don't want to recommend too much for fear of attracting crowds to this cracking little neighborhood spot!

1/9/2016

If you are within quick Muni or walking distance from this bar, have a wad of cash in your pocket and feel thirsty for a tasty adult beverage, head to The Residence.  It's a solid, unpretentious bar that only takes cash.  

When you walk into the bar, you'll notice that it's basically a dark, dilapidated Victorian living room.  There are sometimes small dogs joining the patrons, which I think is fantastic (but if you hate dogs, it ain't).  The drinks are strong and reasonably priced.  You'll feel right at home and it's a great place to hang out if you just missed the 37 bus.

8/23/2015

Was next door at Churchill and decided to stop by for a couple rounds of drinks. It was Friday, August 14th around 9:30pm.

*Black manhattan: whipper snapper, averna alessio rosso, bitters ($10)
*Basic bitch: g vodka, st elder, soda, grapefruit ($10)

I got the black manhattan. Definitely my type of drink. I like them dark and boozy. The vibe is very laid back and chill. Like an old world residence with their Victorian couches, etc.

Stiff cocktails and a comfy atmosphere. And around $10 each?! Definitely my kind of bar.

I didn't pay for any drinks, but I believe this bar is cash only.

• 

  Basic bitch: g vodka, st elder, soda, grapefruit ($10) & Beer

  Basic bitch: g vodka, st elder, soda, grapefruit ($10) & Beer
• 

  Black manhattan: whipper snapper, averna alessio rosso, bitters ($10)

  Black manhattan: whipper snapper, averna alessio rosso, bitters ($10)

4/16/2015

So I walk into this place and I'm immediately greeted by two chubby pit bulls with smiles on their faces and wags on their butts. Then I'm immediately jealous that my dog doesn't have the manners for me to do this with him in a bar! So, dog friendly = super cool!

The bartender here was super friendly, Peter I believe. Happy hour is M-Th, goes till 8pm and it's $1 off drafts (that means their cider was only $3!!) and $3 well drinks. SOLD!

Cool place. Cool vibe. Cool dogs. I'll be back.

• 

  Ze bar.

  Ze bar.

7/27/2015

Sad but true, we get pretty pumped about $10 cocktails in San Francisco. And yes, The Residence has them for you... assuming you've got cash for them in exchange.

Am glad to have discovered yet another unsuspecting bar off of Castro/Market. I say "bar" because unless you count the couches, there's nothing really lounge about it. They serve drinks - which you have to order at the bar. There's no ambient house music. Nor is there any sign of short skirts, high heels or heavy cologne. This is all a compliment to The Residence, btw.

As many have mentioned, cocktails are stiff and reasonably priced. The bummer? Cash only. Very few of these places exist in a city full of Square and other various POS systems for even the smallest of vendors. If someone at a Farmers Market stall can accept cards, why can't a bar do so too?

Other than the cash-only situation, The Residence is a dark, chill choice just a little off the beaten path.

5/16/2015

This unpretentious bar right next to Churchill might not be on your list of night life destinations - but you should reconsider. What I like about it is the relaxed vibe, good drinks, reasonable prices, and friendly crowd. They also have trivia nights every once in a while.

Comfy sofas, a well-equipped bar, and bartenders that know what they do. Good stuff.

4/15/2015

Cute neighborhood bar.  They have some cozy nooks to congregate with groups and small tables for close conversations.  Great atmosphere with low lighting and old movies playing.

They have a reasonably priced cocktail menu (about $10 for each).  And a solid beer selection.  The bartenders were all very helpful and they work quickly so there is little wait time.  

It is cash only, so come prepared.  If you want food, I'd suggest grabbing something from El Castillito and bringing it in.

3/6/2015

This is a super belated review, BUT I was thinking about all the bars we'd been to in SF and I had to come back to review The Residence because of the great experience we had!

We came here towards the end of the happy hour as our first stop for a friend's 21st birthday bar crawl. It was just the most charming place ever, where it wasn't pretentious, but just incredibly lovely. Now, I know we don't usually call bars charming or lovely. But this little joint was exactly that. If you don't feel like sitting at the bar, there are cute little lounge areas with the most adorable lounge areas.

Peter, the bartender, was very friendly and knowledgable and really made our experience here.

Would definitely recommend checking It out!

9/6/2014

So I was going to keep this a secret all to myself for fear of a huge long line of people outside The Residence, but it's too good not to share. Are you ready for this?

I don't know how to say this, so I'll just spit it out.

Every Tuesday night, they have a fried chicken pop-up called Uncle Brother's Chicken. Check their Facebook page to see the weekly offerings (it changes weekly!) facebook.com/unclebrothe…

If you're a fan of fried chicken like me, then this will be way better than Taco Tuesdays. At the end of the day, this is still a lounge, so full bar is still provided. A cocktail or beer with fried chicken...don't know what gets better than that. Tip: get there before 6:30pm to snag the seats. And be prepared to wait a bit for the food (but at least you can hang out with a drink in hand)

So far, I've tried:
:: Korean Fried Chicken with kimchi and bacon fried rice: a tad on the salty side, but still hit the spot
:: Nashville Hot Chicken: they weren't lying when they said hot! This was so spicy I was glad I shared it with someone :)

What's next? Who knows. Honestly, that's probably the best part.

9/23/2015

I love this bar! Their mixed drinks are great, especially the Sazerac. They also have delicious glasses of wine to take the edge off of the week. The bartenders are always friendly, and the atmosphere is cozy. There are a lot of comfy places to sit and chat with your friends.

9/3/2014

Really chill neighborhood bar & lounge, right around the Church & Market corner from a really popular bar. You can actually hold a conversation here.

Came on an Wednesday night & the bar was quiet besides a few people, so plenty of seating in their plush seats that resemble a really nice living room. The whole bar reminds me of what I'd imagine an old, hidden, local underground bar in Western Europe might look like. It's lightly lit & it oozes plenty of atmosphere. A balance between the more chic, hipster bars in the Mission and hints of a former dive.

A full bar is available with a knowledgeable bartender, along with a solid craft beer draft selection. I was happy to find Ninkasi Tricerahops on tap the night I was there. I'm not sure if popup food is still offered on specific nights but we were able to bring in burritos from El Castillito nearby to feed our munchies.

Cash only.

2/19/2015

When I started coming here, I fell in love with the charm. It's not pretentious, but it's classy. Sexy, even. Lounge couches, cozy atmosphere. The old movies on the TVs, craft cocktails, and interesting beer list all set it apart from having a case of the 'tries to hard' that I feel like so many cocktail bars have. This is a spot for chill folks, you can have a conversation, and you aren't going to be squished. It's also super fun to watch all the first dates happen! Yeah, you Tinder folks, I see you. And I love it.

Since then, I've become friends with some of the staff and the owners and I can still say that my review stands true. They stick to their values on being environmentally responsible which is huge in an industry that can be so wasteful.

As for the 'cash only' comments... This is SF. I'm more surprised when I see a place that takes card than I am to see a cash only spot. But that is good to know before you go.

1/17/2015

It's never too loud and I can always find a sofa for relaxing. The drinks are good, too.

Best of all - you might find a nice dog or two hanging out by the bar. A real dog, that is, not some metaphor for an ugly person.

5/30/2014

I like this spot. I also feel the need to give a small shoutout to the Churchill on the corner for attracting many (often obnoxious) customers and leaving the Residence charmingly calm.

As the name suggests, The Residence carries a living-room ambiance, but the beautifully decorated ceiling and hard floor can make things a bit echo-y and hard to hear your friends if it's crowded.

It's also great that they have a decent menu of specialty cocktails, but at ~$10 each it's a bit annoying that the place is cash only if you plan to stay for more than one round.

9/11/2015

Great place, nice and chill.  Sort of hidden off Market St. which was nice so it wasn't packed.  The drinks were great and had spots to sit and relax.  Nice atmosphere.  Cash only.  I would definitely come back

2/8/2015

I am super impressed with The Residence. It's cozy and loungey, but on the quirky/non-pretentious side. They have lighting fixtures made of old globes, for instance, and fun textured upholstery. They also have a lovely menu of pretty and creative cocktails, as well as a range of beers.  It's a good location for anything ranging from a first date to a drink with a friend to a birthday gathering.

One of the things that makes The Residence ideal, especially for group outings, is the central location. Pretty much anyone within the city limits can get here quickly and easily by public transit, so it's an excellent compromise. Much better than, say, North Beach, which will leave your Haight or Bernal-dwelling friends wanting to kill you (or stick you with their Lyft bill).

All in all, I don't have anything negative to say about this business. I recommend! An enthusiastic five stars for The Residence.

4/17/2014

Yet another defector from Churchill. Don't get me wrong; we'll always have my scorpion poison drink (read the review, son) but there are times when you just don't want to be jostled or fight with a crowd or scream to your neighbor for hours on end. Sometimes you just want to sit with friends, enjoy a drink and laugh at people like civilized folks. You can do that at The Residence.

Now, recognize that the vibe at The Residence is dive chic. Not being much for the dive scene, I will admit to looking for non-fabric seating (take a moment and think about it) but after finding some suitable seating, all was well. The energy is very accommodating and comfortable. The bartenders are nice, affable people who make you feel welcome. The draft menu is respectable and the craft cocktail program is quite nice. Since I was vacillating between feeling fancy and itching a little, I started with an English Breakfast went to the old standby of a Moscow Mule and ended with a Scottish Garden. Hmm, I guess I had a type that night.

The Residence isn't typical of the sort of bar I gravitate toward but I, nevertheless, can appreciate it. That says something. Try it out.

10/20/2014

Great laid back bar with friendly owners, bartenders and good drinks.  What more can you ask for?  Also a ton of tvs for catching all the latest games.

11/3/2014

This is indisputably my favorite bar in SF. Every time I  make the trek out to some other spot, I inevitably get to thinking "why didn't I just go the Residence?", and when I'm sitting at the bar or one of the comfy couches through the Residence, sipping my whiskey ginger, or heroine IPA, or one of their signature cocktails, I'm immediately thinking "why do I ever go anywhere else?".

In a town of over crowded bars that make weekend more of a chore than an a release, the Residence is a refugee for good bar conversation, great ambiance, and enough room and seating to always be able to take a load off.

I've been in the SF for a few years now, but this is the only bar the feels like "home".

which is good, because my old favorite SF restaurant 'Home' - right around the corner - closed about two after I moved to the residence, but I digress.

Come for the drinks, stay for the friendly staff. And check out some of their pop-up food options through out the week. And never forget that if you're out on the town on the weekend, this is always a greats top if you need to get out the thick of the typical bar crowds.

4/4/2015

this spot was really intimate and cute, and had a nice ambiance, but i was a bit confused as to what the theme was? the baseball game was on, there were groups of friends lounging around the place, randoms at the bar, etc. and the place is cash only - which ionoooo.. i got a negroni, which tasted like it was a bit campari-heavy, and my friend got bulleit, then the corpse reviver #2, which was the bartender's fave drink to make. totalllly respect that. anyhoooo - i probably still prefer churchill and blackbird, but this is not a bad alternative!