Elixir

Good, quiet and attentive service. This is a neighborhood bar, with 450+ whiskey selections. I could hang out here with a newspaper and just enjoy a nice cocktail.

We were really looking forward to having a drink here because of the location’s history and because we had read great reviews… although it was not very busy my husband sat at the bar waiting to be served for over 20 minutes. We ended up leaving empty-​handed and got a great drink at the bar across the street called San Pancho.

Good vibes here and friendly bartenders. Definitely a good place to catch up with friends or watch the Warriors play.

I always have a good time at Elixir. Unilocal labels it as a dive bar, but it really isn’t. Elixir kind of reminds me of the bar from Cheers. A lot of wood, and a classic feel. It is woody, but no Woody. Lol.

I consider this a nicer dive bar. Finding all the reviews that reference it differently pretty funny. San Francisco standards, I guess.
Moving on from the above general judgment, great prices and solid drinks, best whiskey selection according to my whiskey-​drinking friends, friendly and fast service even on weekend nights and is just the right amount of crowded (not empty, not neck and neck with a million other people) for a place in the Mission.

Had much higher expectation… I have ordered a Martini and it has been served to me in a glass
Which was already half empty and I ended up paying 22 $ for that and a beer! The martini was not great at all and I would not recommend it at well!

We wondered into this place after bar hopping all day and I’m glad we did. The atmosphere was awesome, our bartender was amazing, and the drinks were good!

We came out here after the movie and since I saw a sign that said the Elixir was established like in 1854, I had to have a look. It’s a nice corner neighborhood bar on 16^th street, This place has a nice selection of beers as well as mixed drinks. The bartender was very helpful and apologized when he could not fulfill my order for beer requests but made great recommendations for replacements. He also hunted down the last diet coke they had in the bar for my non drinking friend as well. Very hipster though cuz it got crowded with a lot of young people in a hurry. They have TV screens and a juke box so it can get loud especially when it is situated on a busy large street.
Enjoyed this bar as well, love the experience of being with old friends trying new places to enjoy a beer or two.

The elitist hipster scene is alive and well here. This rather small bar has plenty of cozy seating at the bar or at intimate tables.
We didn’t see a cocktail server so we ordered our trendy cocktails from the bartenders. The highlight of the visit for me was the throwback cans of Hamm’s. Man, I haven’t seen those since I lived in the upper Midwest years ago.
The bouncer and bartenders were friendly. The hipster scene really isn’t my «thing» but I bookmarked Elixir nonetheless and will likely pay it another visit next time I’m in the ‘hood.

Not all Martinis are created equal. Great job Elixir! A picture is worth a thousand words!

This place has excellent drinks. The bartenders know what they are doing. We stopped in on Monday for drinks and were pleasantly surprised by bingo. I recommend the whiskey sour.
Why only four stars? Watch your wallet. When we first arrived our bartender was Nick. Bad attitude, and worse, he overcharged us. We ordered two drinks…$ 28. We ordered three of the same afterwards and our female bartender charged is $ 31. Hmmmm. The $ 31 sounds about right.

Came here bar-​hopping for my 23^rd birthday — first stop of the night, and it set the mood right. An old school bar with dim lighting and well-​dressed bartenders, the ambiance was cheerful and quiet, good for my aging hearing (haha). No loud music was being played, the crowd wasn’t too rambunctious, and I found it a great place to grab a few classy drinks before heading out to louder crowds.
It’s not a very big bar — so I can imagine that on a more poppin’ night, it can get very crowded. The bathrooms are in this tiny corner of Elixir near the bar counter which makes waiting in line for the bathroom kinda cramped. Bathrooms were clean, but could be cleaner.
Will be coming here again!

The perfect old school bar. No deafening music, no one screaming at the person right next to them just to have a conversation, no asshole «I’ve got better things to do than take your worthless order» bartenders. Oh, and the entire bar is lit by more than just a few candles, so you can actually see whats around you.
Just a classically decorated, laid back bar with excellent service, finely crafted cocktails, and a welcoming atmosphere. Places like there are a dying breed.

If you are looking for a trendy bar without a cover charge in the heart of the mission, please find yourself at Elixir. The crowd is full of people from their mid 20s-​40s, all engaged in what looks like some good conversation! They literally have a full bar equipped with unique selections of liquor and your traditional beers. All bartenders were quick in getting in your order. I also found their recommendations very helpful. My friend and I enjoyed a couple of drinks here before we were ready to bar hop, although I wish we stayed at Elixir.
No overpriced cocktails here! Cheers.

Sometimes, things get labeled as dive bars when they don’t fit into any other category. But this is not a dive bar. This is not a sticky floored, dark, you’re not sure when or if it’s ever been cleaned, loud rock and roll on the old fashioned juke, no. This is a cocktail bar.
And a good one.
Yes, it’s dark, but that doesn’t stop you from seeing the bartenders in action, who know their trade. And yes, it’s made to look like it doesn’t care and isn’t trying too hard and is just a casual spot to grab a drink, which it is. And you can drink bad beer if you’d like. But why, when the drinks are cheap and good.
Come here for what you want, just do come here. Fan or dive bar or not, you’ll enjoy it.

Don’t judge a book by it’s cover, that’s all I’ve got to say… Okay, no it’s not, but that’s because I love the sound of my own voice (or view of my own words).
Seriously though from the outside looking in, you may question your choice of bar for a Friday night drink with friends as it looks like a bar from an old John Wayne movie (not necessarily a bad thing), however ask me how it felt from the inside looking out…
Well Unilocal friend, funny you ask, as my view of Elixir completely changed after setting up shop on the old oak. The place is old fashioned yes, but in a classy, retro way and it’s cosy enough to be somewhere you’d spend the entire evening.
I had a couple of great Craft Ales, all reasonably priced around the $ 6 mark however they had an incredible extensive Whiskey list, so if your a Scotch lad or a Bourbon lassy definitely have a gander at that!
The two chaps behind the bar were fantastic, they were knowledgable, full of banter and only added to the atmosphere.

Located on a Mission street with many other bars, Elixir is a saloon that makes it easy to chat with friends and have a casual hang out. The home-​like cozy wooden theme and furnishings make it feel comfortable and relaxing, although saloons are not my top bar choices.
The nice thing about this bar is that it accommodates groups well as we had a group of 8 people. We were able to occupy a side corner of stools and circle around each other without being in anyone else’s way. Ordering drinks was easy and not crowded. The drink menu was larger than many other bars, and the place had really good cocktails. I ordered one with bourbon, lemon, st. Germain, and some other ingredients that I don’t quite remember. Some other people got piña coladas, which were amazing. I usually think those are mediocre, but Elixir made them the perfect balance of sweet, smooth, and alcohol. It was strong, but still tasted good.
I enjoyed my first time here, but unless someone wants to come here, I wouldn’t come back since I’m not about the dive bar or saloon scene.

3.5 Stars
All the drinks on the cocktail menu were $ 10 +1
Cool Saloon vibe (similar to Comstock Saloon but less polished) +1
Friendly bartenders +1
Drink I had, can’t recall name, was super bitter and unbalanced (reminded me of a sidecar) –1
Seating is a little challenging for large groups but its manageable
A slight struggle to get to Men’s restroom and odd that the urinal starts on the floor
Overall Thoughts
While not a love, it makes for a decent place off the Mission stroll

Ok first and foremost San Francisco, this is not a dive bar. When I think «dive bar» I think: sticky floors and a bathroom that i’m scared to go in. This place has neither. It may not be winning beauty contests any time soon, but it’s just a bar. Period.
And that’s perfectly wonderful.
I feel like sometimes bars get slapped with the «dive» title to boost how impressed you’ll be when they actually make a good cocktail. Like there’s an unspoken rule that if the floors are sticky but they make a drink with an absinthe wash, it’s an automatic happy place. The truth of the matter is: it doesn’t matter how gross or sparkling your floor is, if you don’t know what you’re doing with that absinthe, you’re screwed.
Elixir knows what they’re doing.
They don’t need a gimmick — they just make a damn fine sazerac. From the ooos and ahhs of my drinking companions, i’d wager to say, they make a damn fine pretty much anything.
So no, this isn’t a dive bar. But is a bar with a comfortable vibe, acceptably clean floors and badass cocktails… and really, isn’t that all you need?

LOVED this place. It may have the look of a dive bar, but it’s first class service all the way. I’d actually go so far as to say it’s my favourite bar in San Fran. It’s a cosy little spot out in the Mission — dark and worn around the edges, but with some cool décor and a lovely wooden bar that’s perfect for perching on and getting through their beer and cocktail menu. There’s a massive choice of both, though I was exclusively on the cocktail buzz this time round. Excellently made & presented — each one was better than the last.
The two barmen who were in that night were the highlight though — friendly, courteous, genuine, knowledgeable, the lot. All round stand up guys really.
Can’t wait to go back.

Elixir is a proper bar — so what do I mean by a ‘proper bar’? In my opinion a proper bar is somewhere you can grab a quality drink, chat with friends and have an expert on the other side of the oak you can ask for drinks recommendations.
Décor wise Elixir is pretty basic — the main decorations are old bar signs, bottles and chalk boards detailing what drinks they sell. No pomp and ceremony in here but that’s just the way it should be.
The hipster bar staff are great — laid back, casual and cool. Oh and they know their cocktails — I didn’t get one as I had craft beer but I did taste one of my colleagues and it was out of this world.
It was relatively quiet when we visited with plenty of stools available but I can imagine that it can get pretty crowded.
One note of advice — they are strict on ID so make sure you bring some proof you’re over 21!

I was so excited to come to this bar for pre-​dinner drinks as I actually came here last year and forgot to review it. It’s a proper neighbourhood bar where people all seem to know each other — that doesn’t mean they aren’t friendly though!
We had time before dinner for a couple of drinks — they’re all around the $ 10 mark and there’s a sweet range. I liked the pisco punch the best — refreshing and punchy. Yum! While I can’t say I would go out of my way to go to this bar, I would definitely go if I was in the area.
Pro tips: they have a sweet half price happy hour. Bring ID.

I wish I could drink whiskey! But I’m too much of a San Diegan and our craft beers with breweries popping up here and there… I’ll stick to my beers.
This place is for the whiskey lovers!
Bathrooms were tiny and kinda dirty… but it’s a good bar to go to have drinks and not club. They have interesting quotes and pictures on the wall. Also a variety and mixed crowd.

Elixir is one of my new favorite discoveries! I came in mid-​December and I was lucky to sit at the bar next to the bookkeeper, who was telling me the history of the place. At first, I didn’t know what to order and she had asked the bartender what was in the pot that she was currently stirring. Turns out, they had some hot apple cider. I asked the bartender what she makes with it and she told me brandy. So, I had to go with it. It was really good and hit the spot. The bartender was awesome as well and really sweet.
I’m really looking forward to coming here again especially during one of their many events.

You know that weird spot in your neighborhood where businesses go to die? Maybe it’s something about the location, or the shape of the lot, or the way the sunlight does or doesn’t hit the place in the afternoon — whatever the reason — there is a lot in every locality that steamrolls every optimistic entrepreneur with a bank loan.
And then there is Elixir. The fact that this tavern has been continuously pouring potent potables since 1858 (albeit under different names and ownership) implies a foundation of hallowed, not cursed, ground. Clearly this land was destined to bear the weight of barstools, barrels, and tipsy patrons.
The proprietor, H, is devoted to cocktails and this is obvious once you order one. He also teaches classes on the subject of mixology at the Boothby Center, if you needed further convincing. Personally, the best evidence is found in the experience of one of their classic cocktails. Want to be really scientific about it? Order a tasting flight of bourbon — from their OWN barrel of Four Roses — or build-​your-​own-​bloody-​mary on a Sunday. Or just sit on one of their barstools on any day that ends with Y.
And yes, this establishment gets crowded. There’s a reason for that. They’re making history.
Obligatory Title Pun: It’s not the size of the bar, it’s the motion in their POTION.
Menu Readability: Most bars have terrible websites, but theirs is surprisingly informative.
Need to mention: Tuesday night trivia is a must. You’ll want to get on the mailing list to get clues about that night’s questions.
What this place teaches me about myself: All I need is a bar stool.

They have Fin du Monde. Fin du story.