G Bar

It’s cool and chill. Though it’s on the corner, people tend to miss the entrance, the squiggle ‘g’ sign is pretty low key and definitely subtle. Just remember it’s kitty corner to the big glass building.
Happy Hour — one dollah off drinks. Different nights of the week they have happy hours for students, healthcare professionals, and bankers!
They usually have chips, salsa, cheese and crackers to nibble on while you get your drink on.
Not bad…

Alright, I’ll admit it… I’m biased. I know the manager. He’s friendly and awesome.
I’ll be honest… the drinks are a bit on the pricey side, but it’s to be expected from a nice cozy lounge type bar. It’s a great place if you’re not in the mood for loud, pumping music and so many people you feel cramped.

The company for sure makes this place as it could go either way. Went there last night, and points for having a cheese plate w/​jalapeño jack, I won’t lie it made me a happy girl! There is a fire place which i love as how many places in Sf actually have fire places? I am always on the hunt aren’t you? Good drinks, friendly and attentive bartender. Yet if you are looking for a scene, this is not the place.
Oh, ps– as a side note, I believe that if you have artwork you can display it on the walls for a month and sell it if you find a buyer.

Been to this place two times, once for a Unilocal event and a second time on a girl’s night out. Both times I had a lot of fun. I met a lot of regulars from the area and a couple people who were there for the first time. Seemed that on the regular night the men outnumbered the women, which works for us girls, so no complaining here.
The décor is red and a little dark, but it adds to the cozy atmosphere. I think it is great that they display local art. Makes the trip more worthwhile. They also have strategically placed seating areas in every corner, maximizing the small space. The bar is also small and can be hard to get a drink when they are crowded. Once things slowed down, it was a little easier to get a drink and the bartenders seemed to become a little friendlier.
Overall I think this is a great place to relax and have a drink with old friends, special friends, or new friends. Cool vibe.

As local bars go, this one isn’t that bad. When I don’t feel like going far and someone wants to meet up, I always say G Bar, because usually there are no complaints from first timers.
After subsequent visits, though, it loses some of its shine.
For one thing, for a place that’s rarely crowded, it can take forever to get a drink.
Also, the music is so soft sometimes it can seem like a memorial service in there.

The service was excellent last weekend when I was there for a friend’s bday party… especially after I told them that the owner named the bar after ME!!! Bwah ha ha ha!
Good spot for a birthday party (reserve the red back room if you have 15 or fewer), a cozy class of wine in front of the fireplace, or a girls/​boys night out.

I would rather not give this place a single fucking star! I can’t believe people are actually rating this place well… I guess that just goes to show you how many brainwashed yuppie dipshit Marina retards there are these days.
OK so here’s how our visit went:
We walk in. The only people that are in there are a few wannabe trendy looking people who look like they just bought all their clothes from Macy’s, trying to look cool and sipping trendy looking drinks and lounging in the ultra modern lounge area that looks like it was all bought at Macy’s as well. They all turn and look at us and completely stop what they are doing, including the bartender, who looks like a typical ex frat boy Marina preppy thug.
We walk casually and non-​threateningly up to the bar and the first thing the bartender says to us is «Are you going to respect the bar?» Now, first of all, I think it’s retarded for anyone to base how they treat someone on how they look, especially in the city if San Francisco. But we were not dressed like gangsters or anything of the sort. We were dressed mostly in normal street clothes, not super trendy, maybe leaning towards the metal or hipster type crowds and some of us even a bit preppy. Anyway that shouldn’t matter whatsoever at a small bar with no dress code anyway.
So we begin to order drinks and the bartender says «stop, I’m going to need to see IDs» So we start pulling out IDs and then he says «actually nevermind, just her» pointing to my friend who is 26. «she kindof giggles as she pulls out her ID for him, as all of us are looking at each other kindof going what the fuck… this somehow sets the guy off and he says loudly «Hey, I don’t like your attitudes!!» Most of us are now laughing at this guy. Then he gets up and almost looks like he’s going to climb over the bar and stares down one of my friends and says «Hey buddy don’t puff up at me!!!» At this point we are really getting weirded out and some of us just start to leave.
We simply couldn’t believe the bartender was starting a fight with one of us and actually acting like the prick that he looks like. Then he turns to me as about half of us have left and asks me what I’ll have. I simply walked out.
It turns out that guy was the owner of this bar. I tried to figure out how this place is still in business and I figured it out. It is basically built into the bottom of a Hotel and therefore I’m sure they receive a constant flow of one time customers from the hotel. This is unfortunate because it not only makes it so that they get business, but it makes it so that most of the customers they get will never be back again regardless of how they treat them.
I am absolutely surprised and appalled at the reviews of this place from people that call it a good local place to get drinks. You have to be completely brainwashed to like this place. Please do not support a place that is only there because of the fact that it is in the bottom of a Hotel and there are no other bars anywhere near it even if you live in the Presidio or Presidio Heights area and this is really the only bar you can walk to.

Laurel Heights really doesn’t have much in the way of night life. I didn’t even know where the hell we were when we arrived here for a birthday party last night. Tuesday nights are not known to be rocking. Especially not at a place as remotely located as G Bar is. However, we rocked the house as no one but we can. By «rock the house» I mean the prerequisite drinking, smoking, carousing and «possible» illicit drug use. Everyone knows that «possible» is merely a euphemism for «probable». Probable equates with «yes» in the Jillictionary. You make the necessary conclusions from there. My Maker’s and Diets were nice and strong and not overly iced. D-Dog’s Maker’s and Gingers were not strong enough for him but I can’t complain and if he wants to then he can write his own review and get off of mine. The bartender was super friendly and it turns out that we all know the owner because he also owns a few other establishments that some of us work at. By «us» I don’t mean me. I don’t work in the food industry. I would weigh 300lbs if I did and my experience with guys indicates that the chubby chasers are not attractive to me.
That digression aside, I liked the red room and it reminded me of the bar next door to me, The Red Room. Since that bar happens to be closing soon I will be happy to patronize G Bar if only for the nostalgia. Big kudos for having heating lamps on the smoking deck and the interior is warm and cozy like a ski lodge. I didn’t like the signs on the restroom doors though and would recommend something more mainstream as I had a moment of confusion where I wasn’t sure if I entered the right restroom (am I the little circle with the arrow and the plus sign?!)…eh…there’s only one toilet per room so it’s not that big of a deal.
Not a place I’ll seek out but definitely a place I’ll be happy to find myself at.

I can base my G bar experience on one visit probably a year or two ago. We walked to the G bar from my friend’s place in the Presidio, the location was fairly convenient, there was no need to worry about about cabs or dui-​ing.
This was my first time sampling the SF bar scene from which I heard accolades about from my friends that just moved there. The inside was nice, with large sofas and a fireplace, when we headed up to the bar. This is where things started to go horribly wrong, one of the bartenders seemed pretty chill, but there was another guy who identified himself as the manager who we had some problems with.
He barged in on our conversation while we were talking to the chill bartender and just yell out, «I’m going to need to see IDs from you 3» (3 youngest looking ones in the group). No big deal, If you check my profile picture, I look young, I still get carded all the time.
He started scrutinizing one of the girls’s IDs, holding it up to the light… looking at it at angles. Telling the other bartender he thought it was a «fake». At first I thought he was just a douchebag trying to hit on the girl who’s ID he was checking. That ended up not being the case.
One of my friends just started laughing at him because we thought he was joking around. That apparently made him mad because he started telling us how he was the manager and if we didn’t like his policies the door was right behind us.
My friend that laughed at him tried to pass the olive branch and said he thought the guy was joking, and we were a chill group just wanting to have some drinks, he even extended his hand and introduced himself as a conciliatory gesture. The manager had none of it.
At this point the guy started acting like a total drama queen and started saying things like «Don’t be puffin up on me!!» throwing his arms up and trying to act like a thug. Picture if you will a drunk balding 35 year old saying that while trying to throw up what appear to be gang signs. Pretty ass.
We got our stuff and walked to Solstice. G Bar might be better now. It came so weak my first visit I doubt I’ll be back.
Edit: 9−24−07 — the clown in question was the manager not the owner :]

(PREFACE: I like my friends. I really, really do…)
I got together with some old friends from college.
A married couple in town from Detroit, and another married couple that drove up from San Carlos.
We went to dinner on Fillmore.
They talked and talked about shit. Shit. Talked and talked…
Their recent weddings. Floral faux pas. Dos and don’ts of choosing bridesmaid dresses. Which of their sorority sisters was next to walk down the aisle…
WAIT! Okay, I know them from college, but I was NOT IN A SORORITY; I know them from the dorm. SWEAR…
Eventually they moved on to fashion… Their favorite bargain buys at Banana, and whether Marc by Marc Jacobs was even worth wearing…
Finally, dinner was over. They wanted to hit a bar for a drink. Kristin suggested Harry’s. Which was packed.
THANK GOD.
With nothing else around that immediately sparked their interest, we paused to think…
Hmm… (imagine you’re inside my head now) I would really like to go to the Boom Boom Room and see who’s playing tonight… I could even hop the 22 down to Haight. Or walk up to Divis and head over to Waziema. The night is young, and I have the energy of a San Franciscan…
But instead, I held my tongue. I suggested we walk up to G Bar.
I hated it. THEY LOVED IT.
That should tell you everything you need to know.

As a letter, G falls somewhere in the middle of the spectrum for me.
G-​string: not my favorite kind of panties
G-​Unit: most definitely not even close to being my favorite type of music
G-​thang: aint nothing but one
G-​spot: well, that’s another story… how can you deny that is my favorite spot.
G Bar: falls somewhere in between awesomeness and mediocrity. I didn’t love it. I didn’t hate it. What I did love was G’s photo’s lining the walls, because G (abriel) is one of my favorite local Unilocaly photographers, and his opening at G Bar last night was great.
The bar is quaint, and difficult to find if you aren’t looking for it. Adorned with just a ‘g’ on the side of the wall, you have to double take and question if it’s even a bar. Maybe they went with the letter G because in its lower case form it has a cool little dangly thing and… eh, I don’t know. I don’t get establishments picking one letter for their name, so I’m not going to try and figure G bars methodology out. Still unsure of Q, and the W… so i ant gonna over analyze.
They have dollar off their drinks till 8, and there is a rumor of a cozy love den in the back where you can play X-​box and snuggle on couches. The red walls do give off a classy vibe, and the staff was all very nice and accommodating. They looked like they put on private (ish) events too, because coinciding with Gabe’s art opening, was Laura’s 40^th birthday! Happy birthday Laura! (We don’t know her). They could do with a larger patio area, but if you do feel the need to smoke, the heat lamps in a small space are sure to keep you warm. Heat lamps!
If this bar were in my neighborhood I might come back, but I don’t foresee coming back in the near future… unless there is another friend I have to support. BTW… go see his stuff… its there till at least September. It’s good.

Sad, sad champagne selection: a whopping choice of three. Obviously, not worth celebrating.

I don’t know what part of the 1950s had LCD TVs and current Kung Fu features (they were playing Fearless, so Wushu features to be fair,) but I like it.
The array of couches and slender rectangular outlay make for a comfortable intimate space, with the fireplace adding additional warmth and comfort to the area. The back lounge, almost hidden beside the bar and behind the curtain makes itself an excellent place to relax and view the film if so inclined, or merely enjoy the company of others.
Delightfully designed, though not a place I would enjoy while crowded, G Bar is best taken to relax and enjoy an intimate evening with friends or loved ones.

G Bar was awesome… very small, but that added to the intimacy. Loved the fireplace, location, bar, and bartenders… very nice. Oh, and the bathrooms were nice too.
I’ll be in the area… plan to be back to check out what goes on on that table at the entrance when there isn’t food on it. The TVs are a nice addition, something to look at when you’re bored with whatever conversation you’re having with whoever is trying to pick you up.

I woke up in a foul mood today. Not hungover, per se, but I definitely drank just enough Merlot to alter my serotonin levels and put me on the veritable wrong side of the bed.
I don’t really blame G Bar (ok, I do) because I had a great time there (even though I had to leave early because of stupid work – damn work always interferes with my fun), and I really like the bar. The set up is perfect – the décor is hip, inviting and comfortable; the fact that they have dj’s regularly always earns at least 1 star with mama; and who can scoff at free flowing libations and seasoned meats? (Although I do prefer my seasoned meats whilst in a Vermont hot TUHHHHB and I really think that someone should have recognized that the proscuitto-​lined martini glasses was way too «Silence of the Lambs,» even for a cool crowd like us Elite Unilocalers).
G Bar is the type of place that, if I lived in the neighborhood, I would go there either to pre-​game before a big night out or end up there for last call and get my «regular.» Or maybe I would take a chill date there to snuggle by the fireplace and play Uno.
But let’s face it. If I lived in the neighborhood, I would either be asleep by 9 or, while perhaps still up at last call, I would probably be breast feeding. Ah, stroller crowd, you don’t know what you’re missin’ up at the G Bar.
I guess I just shoulda known better than to drink free Merlot – it’s too full-​bodied for me, especially for a Wednesday night. (red wine is the only thing that I don’t prefer full-​bodied!)
So, not wanting to be cursed with a scowl for the rest of my day, I decided to go through my foul mood cures, and just nip that fucker in the bud:
1) go back to sleep (never works);
2) make some green tea and write in my journal (didn’t work);
3) do some yoga or meditate (yoga didn’t work and that fact worsened my mood);
4) call… nope, placing that call wasn’t a good idea either, so I didn’t even go there;
5) listen to Biggie or Nelly (kinda worked)
…nothing worked well enough to get my perspective right.
Time to pull out the big dogs:
6) go for a 7 mile run while listening to Biggie AND Nelly’s «Nasty Girl» on repeat!!!
By the time I got home and realized that I had spent the last 2.5 miles casting and choreographing a routine to «Nasty Girl,» I knew I was back to my positive, albeit crazy, self.
Here’s a sketch of my vision for «Nasty Girl:»
The lovely divas Shanna and Pookie would sing the parts of Biggie and Diddy. (they can pick which part they want)
I would sing the chorus and Nelly’s part – OW!!! I definitely bite my necklace when I think about his fine, thug-​ass. (I realize that I gave myself two parts, but it’s my fantasy!)
Joshua would be shakin’ his ass as a back-​up dancer (I defer to his own moves).
Cyn would be doin the worm as a back-​up dancer (again, I defer to her own moves, but require that there is some worm action).
Most of my choreography is in the narrative and requires some sexy girls who would be openin’ up their blouse or pullin’ their g-​string down south. These parts are still open, so …
«Ladies if you feel me, grab them things for Biggie!»

Besides the fact that there was a Unilocal party there which filled the place with beautiful and interesting people, this place really was a good find. It’s cozy and stylish with plenty of seating space and just enough real estate for small groups of people to mingle.
It doesn’t look like the kind of place where you have to worry about things getting out of hand. You would probably never see an illegal there making salami nipples or anything. Or a purple shirted whitey bent over and getting a thorough bump and grind from some hot guy. Or have some other guy force frenet shots upon unsuspecting non-​san franciscans. That kind of thing would never happen here.

If I were a James Bond villain, I would hire the same interior decorator as G Bar.
The place feels very modern and elegant and simultaneously inviting. This place has what my friend Andy would call a serious LA vibe to the establishment. You’ll find some upscale touches like cheese boards as their version of bar food.
I really appreciate the sense of style that permeates all the way into the choice of movies they play, which include such classics as Valley of the Giants (which by the way stars Beau Bridges… not Jeff).

It used to be the crowds and rude patrons that kept me away.
Now it’s the rude general manager/​bartender, «G Bar Dude».
Two times seeing his idiocy and attitude was enough for me stop giving this place another chance. Thank God for 415 across the street.
The crowds are gone, though. I guess it took a new, rude attitude to finally make the $ 12 martinis, too-​warm atmosphere, and crappy DJs finally seem not worth it.
And the private room? Don’t even try to reserve the «private» room without G Bar Dude reading you the long list of no-​nos (don’t sit there, don’t touch the equipment, don’t close the curtain…) and being rude to you and your party.
Maybe it’s his schtick?
Is he trying to make this place the Zam Zam of Laurel Heights?
Well, I’ve been to Zam Zam when it was Zam Zam, and G Bar Dude is no Bruno Mooshei. G Bar Dude is not intimidating. G Bar Dude does not earn your respect. G Bar Dude does not make a good martini. G Bar Dude does not respect the women. G Bar Dude does not respect the cocktail.
Avoid this place until G Bar Dude takes his schtick elsewhere.

G-​Spot?
No no. G-​Bar!
Oh, okay. So why am I going here again?
First exchange of communication when a group of us decided to walk down to this local spot for some socializing and to spend a Saturday evening relaxing.
Hip, but not too trendy is the reason why I like this place. Cozy, retro feel accented with modern fixtures and stainless steel. The bar was packed, but my mojito was perfect… sharp yet smooth accented with fresh mint. Plus the bartender kept the drinks coming.
Separate seating area (if you can find room) serves as a lounge for parties that want to get close and share hushed conversations.

I have to say this is one of the cooler bar spaces I’ve seen in San Francisco, whether populated with people or not. It’s a sleek and welcoming, with plenty of comfortable seating, and a fireplace to boot.
I prefer it when it’s not too busy, filled with Striped and Untucked Shirt Guys and Girls who flirt with them, but then again that’s half the fun of Getting Your Marina On.
At happy hour, they have some popcorn, cheese and crackers, and chips to snack on, and that to me is a good start to any happy hour.
Bartenders are cool too (ask for Aura or Dave!), I’m not sure how often I’d end up here but it’s just down the street from Garibaldi’s, and also just a few blocks from Solistice, so not all in all that out of the way.