The House Of Shields — Restaurant in San Francisco

The House of Shields is a rare kind of bar.

It is a classy and elegant place with an incredible selection of beers. It is intimate and cultured. It is often overflowing with people that some may consider your typical downtown yuppie or d-bag types, and yet, because of the staff, the general vibe still has that air of humility and character you find in really great bars. I worried that they would become too popular, and overrun by the moneyed and self-involved types, who rob a good place of its soul. Well the House of Shields cannot be robbed of its soul, because it is just that awesome. Head over there when you feel like slowly sipping a good beer, have a good conversation with a friend or stranger, and let the dim lighting relax...

It is a very tiny space so when it's full it can be quite claustrophobic. Being an after work cocktail sort of bar in a heavily hipster dominated side of town you might feel like a jerk if you order a beer instead of a moscow mule or a manhattan or some other trendy beverage. Not a bad spot for a quick couple drinks with coworkers but I never stay too long when it gets crowded. There is some neat San Francisco (and USA) history tied to that place as it was a speak easy during Prohibition and they entertained some high profile folks. Worth going at least once just for the...

Stopped here on a Friday evening with a friend visiting from out of town. The place was packed and I ran into quite a few people I knew - must be a common watering hole! I ordered a Moscow Mule which was served in one of those great copper cups. We were able to grab a booth after not too long and sit down with our drinks. It was fairly loud so this place isn't ideal for conversation and the cocktails can run on the pricey side. Regardless, it had a great downtown atmosphere and seemed to be a...