Tour 4 of San Francisco’s Most Stylish Bars

This article was originally published on NousDecor's blog called The Accent,

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With the NousDecor headquarters located within the Bay Area, we sought four of the most trendy bars in the city of San Francisco. Not only are these spaces perfect for hosting happy hour, but each one has loads of decor inspiration that you could incorporate into your own home. Scroll down for a virtual tour of each establishment, but if you ever find yourself in San Francisco, don’t hesitate to venture into these bars to see all these spaces for yourself.

1. Natoma Cabana

Located in the quaint street of Natoma in the SoMa district, Natoma Cabana’s exterior is covered with a striking black and white mural by artist Ian Ross. As you enter the bar, you’re welcomed by string lights hanging from the ceiling, lively plants all around, and clean patio decor that makes you feel like you just stepped into an awesome backyard party!

Neon lights that spell “liquor” draw your attention to the bar, shining brightly atop the space’s red brick walls. Aside from the bricks, bits of red all around contribute to the warm feeling throughout the entire space.

The cabana vibe continues upstairs in the intimate loft. A large skylight lets natural light in, as if you were truly lounging around outdoors. The vision of the space was brought together by designer Mara Passetti in collaboration with her brother, and Natoma Cabana's owner: Eric Passetti. Regardless of the time of year, or the weather outside, this place emulates pure good vibes on a warm summer night!

Natoma Cabana must-try beverages:

#1: Whiskey Vic

• White Whiskey

• Curacao

• Orgeat

• Lime

#2: Old Manhattan

• Bourbon

• Italian Vermouth

• Curacao

• Absinthe

2. Novela

Just a five-minute walk from Natoma Cabana, Novela lies on the corner of Mission and Annie Street. The space embodies the concept of a contemporary-styled library, with a glamorous modern bar twist. The Spanish word “novela” directly translates to “novel” or “story,” genuinely capturing the main theme of the bar.

Catch a glimpse of that gorgeous caged chandelier! This interior was put together so elegantly, and would work as a great location for your next happy hour. One of the most notable aspects of Novela’s interior are the walls lined with beautifully arranged color coordinated books. The bar’s design wouldn’t have been possible without the help of Los Angeles architect Jacek Ostoya and Art.com designer Steven Irving.

Novela Bar must-try beverages:

#1: Jay Gatsby

• Bourbon

• Calisaya

• Nocino Amaretto

• Islay Scotch

#2: Tom Ripley

• Amaro Nonino

• Lime

• Pineapple

• Grapefruit

• Peychaud’s Bitters

In addition to the cocktails above, the skilled mixologists at Novela produce various flavors of house-made punch that are all worth giving a try. Can't decide which punch you want to try? Not to worry! Novela conveniently offers flights so you can get a taste of the entire selection.

3. SPiN

The brand new ping-pong bar, SPiN, also inhabits San Francisco’s SoMa neighborhood and photos don’t do this place justice! With no specific demographic, its' eclectic urban style blends city life with expression through art. The creative team behind SPiN’s interior collaborated with several artists to bring you an extremely fun and unique social space!

Across the full bar is an open seating area decorated with custom wall art by Shepard Fairey, commonly known for his collaborations with OBEY clothing, and creating President Barack Obama’s iconic “HOPE” poster during the 2008 Presidential Election.

The back wall of the space is lined with artwork by Stikki Peaches, featuring legends such as Elvis Presley, James Dean, David Bowie, and also displays a tribute to the late and great Prince.

Also contributing to the urban artwork throughout the bar is Rpes & Pemex of 1AM SF, who drew up this graffiti-like mural in the private party room, representing the San Francisco Bay Area.

No matter who you are or where you’re from, SPiN is a place to put all your troubles aside and have a great time with a friendly round of ping pong amongst your friends, family, or colleagues. The three masterpieces above don’t even cover half of the marvelous interior in this space, so you’ll just have to go check it out in person to get the full experience.

SPiN’s must-try beverages:

#1: Salt Lick Susan

• Montelobos Mezcal

• Costa Nostra Shrub

• Pineapple

• Lime Juice

• Hawaiian Black Sea Salt

#2: Industry Standard

• Fernet Branca

• Green Chartreuse

• Lemon

• Lime juice

• Egg white

• Garnished with edible flowers

4. Smokestack at Magnolia Brewery

Occupying a warehouse in the Dogpatch, Smokestack at Magnolia Brewery hosts the perfect combination of beer, booze, and mouthwatering barbecue with spacious cafeteria style seating. As you walk in, you’ll have to decide which to hit first: the bar or the BBQ. Either way, it’s a win-win.

Magnolia brewmaster Dave McLean partnered up with Kevin Landwehr of Nothing Something, along with a small design team, to bring this rustic fantasy to life. This venue gives off an industrial vibe that honors the history of San Francisco’s Dogpatch neighborhood, infused with a hint of Southern style, and a little German beer hall charm.

The bar itself has a wide selection of whiskeys and liquor, all accessible by a handy rolling library ladder. Serving as the headquarters for Magnolia Brewery, Smokestack’s absolute must-try beverages are any of Magnolia’s house-brewed beers! If you don’t know where to start, try out Magnolia’s best-seller: the Kalifornia Kolsch German Golden Ale or the ESB Blue Bell Bitter.

Each of these four bars have their own personalities expressed through their space’s decor, tasty cocktails, and welcoming atmospheres. They can also serve as inspiration for your own personal home bar set-up! Feeling up to a decor challenge? Contact us at NousDecor to help you get started on your next design project.

Photo Credits:

Natoma Cabana photos by Jessica Stout

Novela Bar photos by Kelly Puleio

SPiN photos by Tanuja Patnaik

Smokestack at Magnolia Brewery photos by Eric Wolfinger