Bourbon & Branch

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Bourbon & Branch conjures the feel of a Prohibition-era speakeasy. It's located in an inconspicuous, windowless building beneath a decoy sign reading "Anti-Saloon League." Ringing the buzzer and knowing the password (as of this writing, it's "books") will lead you to the library. A reservation and a "secret" password assigned at the time of your reservation will lead you to a bi-level space overlooking the bar when it gets crowded. It's easy to get overwhelmed by its 40-page menu, which features champagne cocktails, absinthe elixirs (Death in the Afternoon, for example), and Oaxacan Old Fashions. In the background, saloon fiddle, sleepy jazz, or dolorous blues play from softly from the sound system. There are a few house rules one must follow: be patient, don't lurk, no cell phones, no cameras, and exit quietly.

Hours: Daily 6pm-2am
Features: Coat Check
Reservations: Accepted

2011 | Best Places to Learn to Mix Your Own

By Lou Bustamante If shaking a couple of mixing tins looks like fun or you simply want to learn to properly impress at your home bar, here are five places to discover the craft of making a perfect cocktail. Bourbon & Branch Bartending... More >
2007 | Best Speakeasy

Bourbon & Branch, the newish Tenderloin watering hole, is a speakeasy that's high on class and low on browbeating its demographic, despite its semi-private concept. The dark wood paneling and jazzy soundtrack make for a cool 1920s aesthetic... More >

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User Reviews

5 User reviews

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lorrainemacdonald.email

| Fri, March 11, 2011

What's not to love about this downtown Speakeasy bar, I love their great selection of cocktails but don't go thirsty as like anything that tastes good it takes a while. You will have to reserve a table and get a speakeasy password to gain entrance. But once inside its a dark hideaway from the modern world full of opulence and decadence. Oh and don't forget the all important house rules No Cell Phones No Standing at the Bar Never Order a Cosmo Smokers Outside Leave Quietly

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Melissa735

| Wed, May 26, 2010

old world class and well made drinks

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Fairchild

| Wed, September 23, 2009

back door at the anti salon league in the TL is always a good stop.

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Kristan5

| Mon, November 17, 2008

This place is a sorta speakeasy, at least that's what it tries to be. If you have the password of the night, you get to sit in the main bar and enjoy a great selection of whiskey's and specialty cocktails. You can get it from their website after you make a reservation, so it's not that top secret. If you don't have a reservation, they lead you to a trick bookshelf that opens up into another standing bar. Either way this is definitely one bar everyone should at least check out and if you like dirty martinis try their, the olives are delish.

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jRuv

| Sat, May 31, 2008

Great drinks, great textured wallpaper, great library in the back.

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Looking for another city?

501 Jones (at O'Farrell)
San Francisco, CA 94102

415-673-1921 | Website

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2011 | Best Places to Learn to Mix Your Own