Natoma Cabana

4.5 STARSThis space holds a special place in my heart because I had my very first HH with coworkers with my very first big girl paycheck. And, then it turned into one of the weekend party spots where I didn't have to act proper. Lol!Pass forward 10+ years, the old John Colins space is now Natoma Cabana and I returned for the first time last year.While it's a different name and different owner, the vibe is still vibing esp if you're looking for a HH with a more professional crowd. Except on First Thursdays (huge block party) when it's a totally different vibe and crowd. If you wanna go wild, spill onto 2nd street, and dance to headliners....the first Thursdays of the month is the time to visit. I didn't realize how popular First Thursdays was, so it was overkill for this geriatric millennial. Will def avoid the first thursday of the month going forward so I can romance the bottle in a little more peace!O T H E R I N F O:* Natoma Cabana is next to the Salesforce Tower.* No HH specials.* Good selection of alkie - yay for having Fortaleza on deck!* Friendly bartenders.* Chill vibe (not on First Thursdays) with exposed brick walls, wooden beams, and plants. Quiet loft area to escape the crowd downstairs. * 90s Rap and Hip Hop. DJs on certain nights. * Dog-friendly.* Do not recommend driving here on a weekday. Easier street parking on the weekends.

I never understood why a cavernous lounge with echo-reverberating acoustics needs to play cacophonous urban music really loud in the middle of the afternoon. Is that the old geezer in me waiting for Enya to come over the speakers? Perhaps but I do remember an earlier iteration of this bar (John Colins) feeling more mellow and chill than when I visited recently with Jamie W. It's certainly a convenient spot at the western end of the Salesforce Rooftop Garden and now in the midst of Downtown First Thursdays.We came during a mildly bustling time when the only seating left were the stumps and wooden banquettes up on the mezzanine level. Their signature cocktails were $14. Jamie had the Mr Brown, a puckery sour libation with navy rum, lime, grapefruit, honey, and absinthe, while I went with the Tropical Bayou, more of a tiki drink derivative with mezcal, pineapple, lime, cane salt, and spices (photo: https://yelp.to/ws91XEX8oQ). They were OK but frankly not quite enough to offset, dare I say it, the noise.COCKTAILS - 3.5 stars...pretty good semi-tropical drinksAMBIANCE - 2.5 stars...just too loud for my tasteSERVICE - 3.5 stars...efficientTOTAL - 3 stars...where the hipsters pump it up...get off my lawn!RELATED - Exploring eastern SoMa? Here's my collection of places l've patronized and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2VNINP6

Natoma Cabana is a great venue for meeting up with friends for drinks or for hosting events. There's plenty of seating between the cushioned seats under the plants near the entrance, the bar seating, or the loft area in the back, and the bartenders are always friendly and pour great cocktails. I've been here a few times for events and because of the different sections of the bar, despite not being very big, it makes for a great and versatile space.

A friend invited me to his monthly Thirsty Thursday event here, and I absolutely loved the atmosphere. The professional tech vibes are on point, and the open layout makes it easy to mingle and chat with others. My favorite drink is the Penicillin--definitely a must-try!

We both got mezcal drinks... i had an Estrella beer w shot ($12) and my wife had a mezcal negroni which was perfect - an extra 1/2 oz of mezcal made it liquor-forward. They have food offerings after 5. We will be back.

So I came here to pick up my partner and ended up staying for a bit. Pretty cool place & it's next to the amazing Pie Punks (around the corner). The drinks were good, service was prompt, & the vibe was good. Definitely recommend this place if in the area.

Great spot for after work! I will say it gets pretty busy by 5/5:30, so try to go early to grab a seat or section. The espresso martini was great and the bartenders are super nice.

Recently came here for a friend's birthday where they rented out the entire venue. The drinks here are solid and the staff is super friendly. The vibe is somewhat small inside but still a great time. The location is a bit hidden and parking is not the greatest, so I'd definitely recommend ride-sharing. Definitely recommend if you are looking to host an intimate birthday party or just want a spot to grab a drink if you are in the area!

Celebrated one of friend's birthdays. Love the atmosphere and decor of plants surrounding the bar. The bar was quite small but it was enjoyable. The location was hard to find because it was hidden in an alley but the parking was easy to locate. As for parking, I had to pay $30 for 10 hrs. In which, it wasn't too bad, especially in SF. The food, I didn't really try because my friend had a different vendor to cater her party. The service was hard because there were only 3 bartenders for a party of 80 people. This place it's so horrible but not a good idea for a big party because the space is limited.

Good bar to go to right around the corner fr Lao Table. I didn't try the food, but the rose was good. Service was just as good. Ladies were attentive. Ambiance was so cute!! Def check it out, and I'll def be back when I'm in the area.