A bar for a very happy hour.
The Tunnel Top bar on Bush street, atop the Stockton tunnel (hence the dark mystery of the bar's name is shockingly solved) is one of the finest watering holes in San Francisco. It is a funky, cozy space with a small, downstairs and a mezzanine and a narrow balcony that overlooks the ruckus below, offering a fine people-watching vantage.
The barstools are primitive wood affairs, but more comfy than you might think, rough wooden floors are scarred and stained by years of spilled whiskey and high-heels. An unlit chandelier of empty wine bottles hangs like a sword of Damoclese over the crowd, and the flickering candles fill the place with sultry, romantic light when the sun goes down.
The long bar is covered in red formica, one of the few warm spots of color in the place, and is graced by an excellent selection of spirits and beers, as well as bartenders who are both attractive and friendly, which is quite a rarity in this town, unfortunately.
The early evening music is usually a whimsical mix of whatever the bartender wants to hear, but is replaced later in the night by one of a stable of DJs, spinning anything from reggae to hip-hop to to hits of the eighties to punk to rock and roll, depending on the day of the week. It is when it gets dark, the volume and the energy of the place gets definitively cranked up. But in the earlier hours, the happy hours, it is usually a mellow vibe perfect for luxuriating over a cocktail or a glass of bubbly beer. It is an equally excellent spot for groups and couples, and I can attest to it being a comfortable place for a solo libation—a pleasant refuge from the rest of the day, or a point of readiness preceding the remainder of the night.
Tunnel Top
601 Bush Street @ Stockton
San Francisco, CA 94108
415-986-8900
Monday - Saturday 5PM - 2AM
