Martuni's Bar

I've been going to Martuni's for the last 16 years. When it comes to piano bars in San Francisco, there isn't a better one. If you're out for a last call/night cap and in a bit of a hurry, I recommend going straight to the bar and ordering your drinks. The place can be very crowded up until 11pm and the cocktail servers can't spin magic to get you drinks really quickly. It's just a tip and not a dig at the servers. They're working their butts off. The piano area is where most people like to be and it's this smaller sequestered section in the rear. If you're just outside this room, you can still hear the piano and whoever is singing quite well. Any further towards the entrance of the bar and you can't hear much over the cacophony of talking at all the tables. You should plan to get a table in the piano area BEFORE the piano player even starts playing or good luck finding a table. They fill up in the blink of an eye and it's always this pattern of rear seating goes first and the last remaining open tables in the bar are near the entrance where it can get quite cold depending on the weather. The singers change every night, so if you aren't a fan of someone's particular style, wait 5 minutes or try another night. Typically there are multiple singers per night and most, if not all, are professionally trained. This isn't corny karaoke. The only negative thing I can say about Martuni's is they stopped making the key lime pie martini years ago. I wax nostalgic about this drink with my sister and friends whenever Martuni's comes up in conversation. WHY CAN'T WE HAVE THIS BACK?! I have so many memory associations imbibing it here. It had a graham cracker crumb rim with the key lime-flavored spirits holding a positively ghoulish green color. I don't even like key lime pie but this drink was awesome. Now they took it from me and I am sad.

Great atmosphere with fun music! Great bar with so many amazing cocktails! If you are going there late night during weekend, be ready for a large crowd! It may take a while to find a table there and you should look for it yourself, but while standing you can enjoy a drink and listen to the live music. Go there if you haven’t!

Can a cocktail change your life? Oh yes, yes it can… I’ve never had anything in a glass to compare with the artistry and ethereal delight of Martuni’s rightly-named “World Famous” Lemon Drop, its French martini, its classic martini, or anything else on the drinks menu. Add an old San Francisco ambiance with a modern twist and a back lounge for poetry readings, piano bar, or open mic, and you know you’re in Heaven.