Benjamin Cooper

Worst bartending service I’ve ever experienced! Actually waiting 30 – 40 minutes to order a drink! Need 2 – 3 more bartenders.

This is a great place that is conspicuous in the heart of downtown SF. The cocktails are fantastic and the atmosphere is very warm and welcoming. The staff are great. Highly recommend

I was in town for two weeks and I think I went here about 4 or 5 nights. Look. If they have the hot curry cocktail, do yourself a favor and try it. They have a limited quantity on hand. I was devastated when they ran out one night. It was times like that where I think «maybe I’m in the matrix because this can’t be real life».
Also, a fun game is to have the bar tenders make off menu drinks just by giving them ingredients. Say hi to Moe for me.

What to write to give the proper due respect to Mo, Brian and everyone else that serves up fantastic cocktails without making it too crowded. Ah well. To heck with it. I cannot do a disservice to the people here. This. Place. Rocks. My favorite way to order a drink here is make me xxxxxx-​ish. They will take the original drink and make it better with ingredients behind the bar. If you are coming for «Jack and Coke», please do not come in. You will be crushed as they only have top shelf alcohol. The only «problem» with the place is the drinks are too delicious and are all alcohol so getting hammered fast is really easy. I limit myself to a 2 – 3 drink maximum during the week in order to be functional he next day. Bottom line — if you like to experiment with good cocktails, this has to be your go to spot.

I’ll always miss Big, but Benjamin Cooper is definitely one of the five best cocktail bars in town.
Excellent staff, frequently changing and innovative cocktail menu, and fresh oysters, all in a comfortable and absurdly central location.

My wife heard about this place from some friends, and it lived up to it’s awesome advance billing. There’s no sign, just a random doorway with some steps going up. But at the top is an awesome little bar tucked away just for you. And 50 – 100 other people, but still, it seems like it’s just for you.
The staff is fantastic. The waitress saw we were trapped behind a two-​deep wall of patrons at the bar and helped us get a primo seating spot, then helped us out on some of the cocktails, which are fairly random-​seeming combinations. She came by at seemingly perfect intervals. The cocktails we had were all tasty and potent. We also got pairs of three kinds of oysters, which were amazingly good.
Can’t tell you where this place is exactly, but I can tell you not to miss it if you luck into it.
Music is largely hip-​hop, the crowd is randomly hip but not trying too hard, and the vibe is happy. Great nightspot.

My favorite new find this holiday season! We were grabbing drinks over at Mikkeller Bar and when that closed the bartender recommended Benjamin Cooper. The entrance is hard to find unless you know what you’re looking for and can be easily overlooked by the people lining up for the club next door. We walked right in and sat at the bar to grab some drinks. The bartenders were awesome, they clearly love what they do! The drinks were amazing and made with love, aww. Drinks are about $ 12 each and change often. Ambiance is trendy, they play great music, just awesome vibe overall!

Great hidden bar and a perfect stop for pre-​dinner drinks. It’s certainly lively here even in the middle of the week, so be aware that it’ll be on the noisier side more likely than not. Our bartender was awesome and whipped up an excellent spirit-​forward, bourbon-​based drink based just on my preferences. There’s a small selection of signature cocktails as well for those who know exactly what they’re looking for. Prices are very reasonable for SF and I can definitely vouch for the venue’s date night viability.

Benjamin Cooper… Where did that name come from? Well this new spot is owned by two bartenders. They decided to name their bar with the maiden names of their mothers… Or was it grandmother’s? I can’t quite remember but that’s probably because I had too much fun enjoying their fun cocktails.
It’s a trendy bar that’s fun even on a Monday night when we stopped in! There’s a decent amount of people on a week night.
We walked in and sat right at the bar so we could talk to the bartenders. They were informative and creative. Although the drinks off the menu were great (and I mean great!), we also wanted to try something new. We told them the flavors and kinds of alcohol we liked and voilà! We got some tasty drinks that we thoroughly enjoyed. They don’t have all of your classic alcohols but if you like a certain drink, let them know & I’m sure they can whip something similar up. They even made us some aloe cocktail! What?! Yes, fancy.
Drinks are about $ 12 each.
Oh! And the entrance is on the side of the building. Enter through Mason St and walk up the stairs. You’ll find it. It’s right up from the corner.
Enjoy!

Great little hidden bar right next to Ruby. Kind of don’t want to spread the word since its such a gem within the busy Union Square area but it’s been around for a few months and it’s getting super packed.
Moe who used to run Big before it closed down now runs this bar with his business partner. The menu changes weekly and you can expect fresh, inspired, and tasty cocktails for all different types of palettes. If you like whiskey based cocktails, plenty of those on the menu each time I’ve been, or rum and absinthe based drinks if that’s your preference.
The environment is intimate and the bartenders extra warm to their patrons. They managed to carve out a brand new bar in a space that wasn’t anything before. If the bar is crowded, the small side tables make a great conversation area.
Don’t miss this stop if you’re nearby, but do come on a less busy weekday night if you’re a local.

Bring your earplugs from the Avicii concert folks! The music was so loud we couldn’t hear each other sitting right next to each other. Granted I also have a voice that doesn’t carry very well, so that didn’t help either. After I left, I definitely had cotton ears. I guess this place is also right next to two clubs, so maybe they are expecting that level of loudness.
The drinks were creative, but also much too strong. I had to force myself to finish the Spicy Devil (or something like that), which sounded unique and intriguing on the menu, but tasted like medicine on my tongue. Good thing they change the menu periodically though, because it can definitely be hit or miss.

I love this cute little cocktail bar — the waiters are friendly (a rarity in the high end cocktail bars in SF), and the drinks are delicious. It’s a bit of a small space with some bar and table seating, but at around 6:30PM there was no line (yet) and I had no problem snagging a seat for two.
The entrance is on the corner of Geary and Mason (on Mason actually), and you go up a flight of stairs. I think there is another entrance through the Hotel.

Hotel restaurant. Hidden bar secluded inside. Dimly lit setting and low key, cozy lounge.
Finely made cocktail drinks.
Good spot tucked away.

I’ve been here twice now. I like the chill vibe and like how it’s not super easy to find especially when it’s right in Union Square.
Wasn’t impressed with their drinks selection, but they didn’t have any gin options and that’s really all I drink.
Bathroom are on point though! I’d come back just for that lol

I wasn’t incredibly impressed. It was one of those cocktail hopping nights and we ended the evening here at Benjamin Cooper. The seating inside is simple and straightforward, with one bar in the middle and ample tables around which I liked.
Bartenders were nice, but the drinks were all too sugary. I’m sure it’s a personal preference thing but I’m not a big fan of overly sugar-​ed cocktails.
The best thing were those freaking dirty dogs outside. Gah.

When my friend said Benjamin Cooper was a hidden gem, I didn’t know it was literally impossible to find. The bar is right on the corner of Mason and Geary. Walk in from the entrance next to 398 Brasserie on Geary St. and take the elevator to Floor 1. You’ll find a door with tiny texts congratulating you for finding the entrance to Benjamin Cooper!
This is a small but cozy bar, and the cocktails are delicious. I tried the Zuzu Petal (there was sorbet mixed into it!) and it was one of the most unique drinks I’ve had in San Francisco. I recommend BC if you’re looking for a chill night out!

What a hidden gem of a bar located right smack in Union Square. If you’re looking for a «locals» spot deep in tourist central, you should definitely look for the nondescript entrance to Benjamin Cooper.
Walk too far up Geary St. to Ruby Skye and you’ve passed it. Backpedal to the door before that with only the understated menu and a chalk-​drawn image as the signs that you’re in the right place. Very simple menu — they do craft cocktails, some beer and wine, plus fresh shucked oysters for snacks. We split a bottle of bubbly the night we were there and met the owner/​bartender who was absolutely lovely and a wonderfully hospitable host.
They’ve made extremely smart choices with the space. A deliberate frosted glass effect on the only window hides the fact that you’re right in the hustle of Union Square plus the menu is deliberately culled for the size of the space. It’s an intimate space with not much room for groups but could be a great date spot. Yes it’s yet another craft cocktail bar in the crowded SF bar scene but at the same time, Benjamin Cooper is also a hidden gem totally worth checking out.

Thank goodness for Unilocal or else I may not have found Benjamin Cooper. Walking along Geary, I spotted the restaurant 398 Brasserie, but finding BC was a little harder. I knew it was around the corner, so we turned right onto Mason and saw a single open door before Ruby Skye. Wasn’t sure if that was BC, but we got closer and spotted their cocktail menu taped to the door. Yay, we found it!
Tuesday, May 26^th around 5:45pm
*Glorieta: scotch, bitter almond, floral amaro ($ 12)
*Four roses bourbon cocktail ($ 12)
I ordered the Glorieta. It was a lot lighter and sweeter than I expected, but it was a nice drink to start off the night. My girlfriend wasn’t sure what she wanted, so our bartender made her a special drink with four roses bourbon. I had a sip and it was light and refreshing.
The space is very cozy. It’s a rather small bar so it feels exclusive being here. I like that it has the spirit of a speakeasy, but has windows, so it’s still light inside.
When we got there, there were only about 6 – 8 other people there. We only stayed for one drink, but more people filtered in as the night progressed. It was the Tuesday night after a three day weekend, so our bartender said it was kind of slow.
Great find near work. I’d love to come back and try more of their cocktails.

Hands down one of the top craft cocktail bars in SF. I actually like Benjamin Cooper better than Big because instead of improvising on the spot the bartenders focus their creativity into 8 – 10 spectacular drinks.
The Truth or Consequences and the Swarthy Gentleman have made it to my list of top 10 cocktails I’ve ever had. The Truth or Consequences is not for the faint of heart — served down, it is rich, smokey, and has this rounded mouthfeel. The Swarthy Gentleman is chocolatey sweet initially but finishes with a bitter coffee flavor. It’s served on the rocks but quickly gets diluted so I’d prefer it stirred and served up or on a large rock.
The Petate, lightly smoky, lightly sweet, and citrusy, has a strong vanilla nose but finishes with a surprising kick of black peppercorn. It’s also garnished with a beautiful edible flower — quite the appropriate drink for my 6’2″ 200lb male friend. The Thieve’s Ration (served on the rocks) starts with the jalapeño and grapefruit, then finishes with some funkiness from the genepy. The Bees in Alaska is a gloried well-​balanced Martini/​Gibson, and I loved that it was garnished with a pickled cocktail onion, green olive, and briny sea bean.
In summary, every single cocktail was delicious and complex, the flavors developing on your palate with each sip. Drinks are $ 12 apiece (+$ 1 tax), and this place was jam packed, warm, and very loud on both Friday and Saturday nights (yes I went 2 nights in a row). The noise level was my only complaint. Lastly, regarding the rotating menu: The upside is that there is always something new to try. The downside is that once you fall in love with a drink you have a short window to return and enjoy it again.

Cute hidden bar. Enter the Hotel G and head up one flight of stairs. Turn left, go straight and then enter the non-​descriptive door on the right.
Order at the bar; friendly bartenders. The drinks each shine with mixology complexities. The underground drink for example comes with cubes of beet simple sugar.