The Cordial

One of my preferred cocktail spots to catch up with friends bc of music/sound control, ambiance, natural/warm dim light depending on time of day, and classic cocktails.

This place has been such a mystery in the neighborhood with hours of operation, so some friends and I post-work went in to check it out. SO happy we did, great cocktails, a good variety of liquors and liqueurs, and great lighting/music that many other bars lack. Alex had a ton of knowledge on drinks and offered a few suggestions that were solid. Can't wait to go back.

Nice to see the Cordial still open. Discreet little haunt of a cocktail bar, perfect for a quiet conversation and some moody music. Gin gimlet is on point.

A few of us decided to meet up at The Cordial for happy hour on Friday, October 5th. One in our party arrived first and found a seat at the bar. I arrived a little later around 5pm and joined him. It was busy, so no more seats, but we ended up finding a table by the window shortly after we got our drinks. Perfect for our eventual party of four.My friend texted me a pic of the menu beforehand. They didn't have a huge selection of cocktails, so I picked the Friar Buck: whiskey, frangelico, ginger, lemon, mint ($11). I wanted something light, so this fit the bill. Easy to sip on. I believe our other drink was a Rye Old Fashioned. My friend said it was okay.This spot is actually a really cool space. Big open windows, so you kinda feeling like you're sitting outside. Not sure if they were understaffed that day, but getting a drink took forever! I think there was one person behind the bar making cocktails and another pouring beer and wine. The two friends who joined us didn't want to wait for a drink, so we decided to head to another bar. Unfortunately, paying our tab took forever as well.Nice space, but it takes forever to get a drink on a busy night. Don't come here thirsty. You'll have to wait a while to quench it.

[Pre-Covid Review...I had a lot of drafts before everything shut down. Hoping many of these businesses will be back open again soon!] I found this spot walking down Annie St from Market to Mission to get to Novela to meet a friend for a drink. After a drink at Novela, we wanted to move to another place that was quieter so we can actually hear each other's conversations. I mentioned that I noticed this bar around the corner on the way here.We walked in and enjoyed how it was much quieter and open. Stools lined the bar, but a few tables against the windows made it the perfect place to catch up with a friend.This place heavily features cocktails featuring aperitifs, bitters, and spritz. I ordered a whiskey-based cocktail that I have now forgotten the name and ingredients, but I really enjoyed the taste which featured a fresh rosemary sprig and orange.Not sure how crowded it gets on weekends, but if you're looking for a quaint bar with a relaxed environment and a good cocktail list, check this place out!

Great drink selection. The bartenders worked fast even tough most drinks were hand crafted beverages. My friends and I went on a Tuesday. Not too crowded. A good mix of male to female ration. Professional down town SF crowd from all ages 20s to 50s. The venue is a bit hard to find, but didn't mind as it gave me a bit of a speak easy feel. Ladies, wear comfy shoes - they have very limited seats available. This is an upscale bar where it's all about standing. Parking: finding a street spot is extremely difficult. You are better off taking an Uber / Taxi or park in a garage. And this is coming from a person who doesn't mind looking for parking for 30 min. Will come back!

What a wonderful place! It's non-descript in the heart of FiDi at the intersection of Jessie and Annie. I met a friend here after work, and while they don't have happy hour specials, they don't need to. I appreciate their focused menu, and it seems like they create their menu seasonally. The space is industrial but still intimate. It is mainly candlelit, and there is seating for about 25 people total. I had a red and white wine my first time here, but I loved the vibe of the place and employees so much that I want to return for their cocktails. This is definitely a safe first-date place where if your date isn't going great, you'll still be a in great space and drinking good drinks without breaking the bank. It gets somewhat crowded and very loud around happy hour, but the crowd breaks up around dinner time.

I went to this bar for a happy hour on a Friday evening. I noticed something off when I placed my order. The bartenders were heavily multitasking, but didn't seem to be doing a great job at it. They were simultaneously working on multiple orders, and checking ids while mixing drinks. The result was a sloppy bar top and a 20 minute wait for a round of drinks. Then we noticed that one of the bartenders was pouring shots for the other two - we watched the three of them do at least 3 shots while we were there. Not necessarily the biggest deal for me if the service had been good, but then there was the pièce de résistance. I asked to close my tab - After a long wait to get their attention, the guy who was pouring the shots swiped my card and gave me the iPad to sign, and he had PRE-ADDED $18.75 as a tip. I tried to return the iPad for them to reset the transaction, and they asked me to just do it myself and re-swipe my card. On their iPad! Ridiculous! So I did, and needless to say I didn't leave a tip after that. Unprofessional service and drunk bartenders. Do not recommend and will not return.

Just amazing! I know they have been here about a year and I've been meaning to stop by for a while. The first thing I saw was a familiar face which is a Bartender I've known for a while. Jessica, thank you for the hospitality, the generous pours, the amazing atmosphere, and for introducing me to the rest of the amazing bartenders. Josh also made me delicious zen-like drinks... I think it was called the Jeffrey. This place is definitely for the adventurous types that enjoy good authentic and delicious drinks. Apparently you can book this for private parties and guess what? I might just wanna book it for my birthday. So far I've had the Jeffrey, 3 types of Rosé, and smiles from all the staff. Thank you guys for making my time here amazing.

Hidden gem for after-work cocktails. If you are looking for a trendy spot, that you can actually find a place to sit - this is your spot! Went Friday after work around 4pm, got a table right away. The bar has amazing natural light from the floor to ceiling windows. Tons of tables and bar space. They don't have an extensive food menu, just tiny bites. So don't come here starving. Opted for the dirty martini and was not disappointed. Can't wait to go back!