Press Club — Restaurant in San Francisco

I recently visited Press Club, drawn in by its sleek atmosphere and promising cocktail menu. While the ambiance was stylish, my experience left me with mixed feelings, particularly regarding the service.

Upon arrival, the staff seemed more preoccupied than welcoming, which created a rather uninviting atmosphere. As a person of color, I couldn’t help but notice a subtle discomfort that permeated the interactions. It felt as if the attentiveness extended to some guests did not quite reach others, which was disheartening.

Good service is ultimately about genuinely attending to the needs of patrons, not elevating oneself to a position of authority that can come off as dismissive. The best experiences occur when staff focus on creating a welcoming environment rather than soothing their own insecurities through an inflated sense of importance. This approach can leave guests feeling undervalued, and unfortunately, that was the case here.

Adding to the discomfort, I encountered a bartender who asked several inappropriate questions that felt invasive rather than engaging. This type of interaction not only detracted from the experience but also created an atmosphere where I felt hesitant to open up or enjoy the evening fully. It’s crucial for bartenders to strike a balance between being friendly and respecting personal boundaries.

As for the cocktails, they were decent but not memorable. Given the reputation of the venue, I had expected a bit more creativity and flair. What stood out was the lack of personalized recommendations, which might have elevated the experience significantly.

Overall, Press Club has potential, but the service fell flat, perhaps reflecting deeper issues of inclusivity as remarked by previous reviews. I hope future visits will show improvement, as a vibrant space like this deserves a more welcoming approach...

I would have never known about this awesome spot if I hadn't had a friend ask me to meet her here for drinks. This is a wine bar, but they do have beer. It's not a giant selection of beer so keep that in mind. If you love wine though...this is your new favorite spot! The decor is classy and inviting. You can get cozy on some couches with friends or at a high table near the bar. The have three different bars you can sit at and a bunch of little hidden areas to assemble a group of friends. They serve food here and the portion sizes are not small but not huge either. They have wines on tap and a bunch of bottles to choose from. You can buy wine by the glass, half carafe and full carafe as well as the whole bottle. This is a really nice date spot but be ready to spend some money here. The prices are a little on the high side but if you can get here for happy hour it's a little bit of a price break with $3 off a glass of wine. My only negative comment for this place is that you don't really get any cell phone service...which to some may be...

Though this is an underground lounge, it doesn't have basement prices. But outside of that, the place is really great. The amazing beer menu should satisfy even the loftiest beer snobs, the generous pours of wine flights keeps me happy, and the most memorable cheeseplate I've ever had. Yup, the cheese plate. Loved loved loved the cheese plate. The other food items on the menu are tasty but very San Francisco-portion sized. But seriously, the cheese plate. I wondered at first why it cost so much more than my fair-sized charcuterie plate. Then it arrived and I tasted the food pairings with each cheese... divine!

Oh, but the atmosphere is very chic and cool, full of financial district downtowners enjoying happy hour after work or couples on a date. There are several different bars that help distribute the weight of patrons around the space. The servers are very attentive and helpful with food or drink choices.

Did I mention the...