Redwood Room

Vibe: Art Deco Landmark | Old-World Glamour | See-and-Be-Seen Hotel Bar

The Redwood Room is one of San Francisco’s great historic bars, tucked inside the Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel near Union Square. Opened the day after Prohibition was repealed in 1933, it has aged into something rare: a genuinely atmospheric room that earns its prestige rather than coasting on it. The combination of history, craft cocktails, and a room that makes any Tuesday feel slightly cinematic keeps it on the short list of essential San Francisco bars.

The interior is the main event. Walls paneled in redwood said to have been carved from a single tree, an enormous bar made from 800-year-old redwood, chevron sconces, elaborate chandeliers, and restored Gustav Klimt artwork create a room that feels as much like a museum of San Francisco glamour as a place to get a drink. The Art Deco bones were preserved and restored in the early 2000s, adding modern elegance without erasing the original drama.

Cocktails run toward the artisanal and well-considered, with some menu items incorporating honey from the hotel’s rooftop bee sanctuary, which tells you the kitchen is paying attention to the details. Small plates are elevated and designed to hold you for a long stay rather than rush you out.

Thursday evenings bring the Patrick Wolff Quartet from 8:30 to 11:30 PM, with classic cocktails at a set price during the live music run. Friday nights lean toward DJ sets. The room has also hosted major NYE events and holiday programming, filling out as a full nightlife destination on occasion without losing its lounge-first identity.

• Opened in 1933 on the first day after Prohibition ended — the history is not decorative, it’s structural.

• One of the last surviving Art Deco bar interiors in San Francisco.

• The scale surprises first-timers: intimate enough to feel personal, expansive enough to get lost in for a few hours.

• Open Tuesday through Saturday, 5 PM to midnight; kitchen closes at 10 PM.

• Reliably cited as one of the best bars in San Francisco for atmosphere, service, and cocktail quality.