Natoma Cabana

This place is really cute, I just wish that I could have a party there to enjoy it all to myself! We had to stand because even at 5:30 it was packed, and there was a private party on the second level so we couldn’t even go up there.
I had one drink and for $ 12 it wasn’t bad but wasn’t great either. The service was really fast, they obviously know what they are doing!
I think that the theme is my favorite part, I may just have to come back to try and get a cabana.

Stopped in here with my team from work on a Friday at 6PM, along with everybody else in the city apparently. It was pretty packed, but to the bartenders’ credit nobody from my group waited more than 5 minutes or so to be served. Solid whiskey sour game.
The crowd thinned out a bit by 7 or 7:30, and it was more comfortable to hang out. Next time I come with a group, I will probably try to reserve the upstairs.

Awesome bar & lounge in SOMA /​Financial District perfect for drinks after work. Brought a group of coworkers here last Friday and the place had a great vibe going at 5pm (early! & just got better from there). Attracts a good crowd, had a live DJ playing upbeat music and the bartenders were super attentive. Great cocktail menu and really fun décor — we were up in the lofted area where it’s roomy and cozy at the same time, lots of couches and chairs for sitting and still space to dance. One of the owner’s, Eric, is super friendly to work with if booking a larger event (their café Terminus is a great spot too for lunch!).

Really enjoyed this bar! I was surprised how tucked away it was, you probably wouldn’t notice it if you were just walking by. This made it even better. It was pretty packed last night (Thursday) when I went around 8:30 pm and only got busier as the night went on.
The bar itself is really cool, with little huts, couches, lanterns, etc. The music was good but the volume seemed to fluctuate a lot… so it would be on the quieter side then suddenly would get really loud.
My cocktail was one of the better ones I’ve had in SF –The Verde Club (gin, curacao, aperol, amaro & lime). If you like gin with a (not too) sweet and floraly taste, this is the drink for you. I would most definitely go back and get the exact same drink again and again.

I hesitate to even say this, but the Natoma Cabana is the hidden gem of the SOMA/​FiDi area. Somehow, the mobs of techies that invade every popular Happy Hour spot in this area have yet to discover Natoma. Interior design has a super cute cabana style vibe (thus the name) with a cool graffiti mural on the exterior. They have a decent beer/​wine selection but it pales in comparison to their craft cocktails– DELICIOUS… the ‘Pocket Square’ was on point.

I love this little bar!
If you only take away one point from this review, take this: the Whiskey Vic is an amazing whiskey cocktail. I usually drink Old Fashioned’s but I opted for something different and I’m glad I did.
Other observations:
— This place is tucked away discreetly away from the main street. You’re unlikely to find it just by wandering in
— It’s filled with lots of lounge chairs and couches, so there are plenty of convenient places to sit. The benches upstairs can accommodate bigger groups too
— It’s not super crowded. This was a pro for me, since I was there to hang out and talk with the person I came with. It may be a con for you if you’re looking to meet new people
— Despite not being crowded, the place is loud due to the loud music. It was a good playlist at least
— The staff was super friendly. The bartender/​bouncer in particular was a really cool guy
Only con: my partner ordered a cocktail called the Odeon. It’s made with champagne as an ingredient, and they used really cheap-​tasting champagne. Her drink was not nearly as good as mine (she also ended up drinking half of mine as a result).

I was really excited for Natoma Cabana, because 1) it has such a fun name and 2) the last two times that I’ve been trying to go, I’ve been turned around, so this place MUST be nice right?
Unfortunately, it’s just a mediocre bar. I ordered a Moscow Mule and it wasn’t worth the $ 12 that I paid for. My sister also ordered a Manhattan and it wasn’t made right (there was no orange peel!). As Unilocal describes my review, «Meh. I’ve experienced better.»

Natoma Cabana is a cool bar, though if you don’t know about it you’re sure to miss it since it’s on a very discreet corner and there’s no signage for it. Once you go inside you’ll notice right away the very tropical hut-​like atmosphere this bar is attempting to create. They have a good amount of lounge chairs on the main bar floor and they also have a nice upper level loft that overlooks the lower floor.
The cocktails here are solid and are moderately priced at $ 11 each. I had the Watchman which is made with whiskey, benedictine, grenadine, orange juice, and lemon. It’s a refreshing drink but it has a enough whiskey to get your alcohol buzz going.
Overall, great bar in the SoMa \ FiDi and if you can get a spot upstairs in the loft, it’s a good space to gather with a group of friends or coworkers.

Ooooo I love this place! Natoma is a trendy bar with a cool vibe, good drinks, and awesome music. I came here on a Saturday night for a friend’s birthday, and I must say I was rather impressed. The bartenders were attentive even though it was a busy night, and the drinks were strong (and tasty). The bar is located on the first floor and there’s a small lounge on the second floor with tables and seats.
One thing to note: This place is well hidden with no signage. It’s located within an alley on Natoma, and its entryway is lit up with a big neon arrow and black & white artwork on their wall.

Ok the location and the ambiance is kinda cool. There is no happy hour and and the drinks are average 12 bucks for cocktails. Cheapest beer is $ 5 dollars.
It does feel like a beach cabana though so besides the lack of Happy Hour and steep alcohol. You come here because its cool inside and outside. It gets 4 stars just because of that.

Stopped in with friends for drinks before having dinner at Jersey around the corner.
We were the only people there, so the bartender was chatty and knowledgeable about some liquors.
Some drinks were better than others, and prices were reasonable for the area.
*If you aren’t looking for this place, you’ll never find it! It’s down an alley with a small sign.

Fun vibe, designed to create a relaxed atmosphere, but inevitably feels overly cramped and obnoxiously loud once the after work crowd envelopes the bar and the music overtakes everything.
Arrived around 4:30PM on a Wednesday to meet some friends for drinks… thankfully we beat happy hour crowd. They must not have started the happy hour yet, because beers were regular priced (starting around $ 6) and all cocktails were a flat $ 12. The contrast on the menu design was a little intense, so I asked what was on tap and proceeded to go with a Guinness.
A few observations:
* Floor plan — Aside from the bar & the loft space above (which was being used for a private event), there’s some really comfy looking furniture on both the left/​right sides between the entrance and the bar in the back… this worked beautifully when there weren’t that many people, but once people started pouring in after work, it absolutely killed the more relaxed vibe that we were enjoying. The seating looked really comfy, but we all quickly sinked into the seats a little too much and we all had to reach uncomfortably far to sit our drinks down on a small cylindrical piece of wood. It’s one of those things you don’t think about until you sit there for a while and realize you’re slowly inching further and further out of your seat just so that you don’t have to get up and grab your drink for a sip.
* Noise level — Other Unilocalers commented about the noise level, especially in the loft area. I’ve been to enough bars to understand that there’s only so much control the owners have over the noise level… though my gripe was that before the crowd even get mildly loud, the guys at the bar seriously cranked up the hip hop on the speakers to the point where the I couldn’t even hear my friend that was sitting right across from me. I just kept thinking to myself, «why is this necessary? Isn’t this incredibly easy to balance with the existing noise of the crowd?» It really conflicted with the relaxed vibe that the plants, string lights, and comfy furniture had created.
Thankfully I didn’t have to wait at all to order a drink and didn’t have to fight to find a seat, otherwise I don’t think I’d have enjoyed my time at this bar. Not a bad place to if you’re working in the 2 – 3 block radius if you’re just looking for a solid drink and don’t mind the noise.

I came in with my company for happy hour, and the place wasn’t too crowded yet at 430 on a Friday.
I ordered a whiskey sour first but wasn’t a fan since it was too sweet for my taste, so I ended up just getting cognac on the rocks.
The bottle of Remy was low so the bartender went to the back and didn’t find another. He said «I’ll top it off later». Okayyy. Should have seen that as a red flag to begin with. But I drank almost everything I had in about 15 mins and asked to top it off. The bartender (who did remember telling me that he would top it off) said they had absolutely no more cognac. Which I found really hard to believe? How do you run out off ALL your cognac on a Friday afternoon? I asked if he could give me anything else (since I already paid for my drink) and he just said no.
Will definitely not be back. Although the locations a little weird (in this sketchy alley), I really did like the interior. Bummer.

Feels like you’ve walked into a tropical oasis, if you are lucky enough to snag what limited seating they have
Drink selection is robust and can make things off menu
Cool private upstairs area (reservations accepted)
Sound system is loud and can be hard to chat especially when the DJ is there
This place gets packed so keep that in mind
Overall Thoughts
If you can make a reservation, you’ll have a much better experience

My friend and I came here after our run club to get a drink. I’ve also been here for a birthday before. I saw a few people order apps, but I think it best serves as a HH spot. I had the sangria and my gf had one of their cocktails. They served the sangria in a plastic glass, which was odd.
The vibe inside is very relaxed and I love all the string lights! They also have an upstairs lounge area. This is a great place for large groups!

Well I have been here twice now and just love it!
It does get a tad crowded, but it comes with the good tunes, drinks, and service. I like that there is an upstairs and several little cozy spots for hanging out.
The servers are quick and friendly, and know how to pour a drink. My friend got my a mixed drink which I was not trilled about since I only drink whiskey straight. Forgot the name of it, but the drink did have whiskey in it, and it was really good! I was pleasantly surprised!
They have a full bar and can make what you want. What a great place to hit up for a drink or two after work to take the edge off!

Love the vibe. Love the drinks. Love the atmosphere.
But it’s just so damn hard to get a drink at the bar.
All three times I’ve come it’s been a struggle to get anywhere near the bar. Getting a bartender’s attention isn’t hard, and the bartenders are all beautiful and friendly, but they’re just busy as f*ck because cocktails take a long-​ass time and the bar here, at least for the ratio of how large the rest of the space is, is teeny tiny and I don’t know that it allows for more than 2 – 3 people behind the bar.
Again, the drinks are delicious and I’d love to come here and get several rounds but I just don’t have the fight in me to battle through the often crowd and try not be cut by some SOMA business bitches and then battle again to close out my tab so I tend to one and done it, or plan to take turns with friends on who fights the crowd and buys the next round.
If you can reserve the upper area and maybe work out some system for getting drinks for your group, Natoma is absolutely perfect. And same if you get there super early and can procure yourself several drinks and a nice cabana seat, but avoiding the rush is imperative to your sanity… know before you go, but you def should go.

One of the few bars in the area open in the early afternoon on a weekday. I’d say that deserves 4 stars already!
*Montgomery ($ 11): rye, italian vermouth, maraschino, bitters
*TKO: rye, mezcal, bitters
Drinks are nice and stiff. I got the TKO. It was actually my first meal of the day so it’s not so stiff that I couldn’t drink it. (Yes, a drink is a liquid meal! Hehe!)
We were here on the Friday before President’s Day weekend so it wasn’t very busy. Got there around 3:30pm and it was practically empty. Sat at the bar for one drink.
Cute place for a quick drink. I’d probably only come here mid-​afternoon. Happy hour might ba a little too crazy for me. Plus, I hate waiting for drinks!

Directions to this hidden paradise:
— Walk on 2^nd Street towards Market Street
— Turn right onto Natoma Street
— Walk all the way down until the dead end
— Enter through the door that has a neon arrow above it
The décor downstairs is pretty tropical and fun. They have couches and chairs everywhere, so get comfortable! A stairway upstairs leads to a more intimate lounge area with wooden benches, chairs, and tables. Being able to check out the drinking scene downstairs from upstairs is pretty amazing!
The music they play here is A+. They were playing some old school R&B on a Tuesday. Talk about a great ambiance for drinks with friends!
I love the hanging lights and the «liquor» sign above the bar. ;) Snap a picture because it looks good on Instagram!

Somewhat recent venue for drinks that is not crowded/​noisy like at nearby places. Drinks here are good and strong, the staff is friendly, and there are areas where you can sit and have a conversation without yelling. It’s definitely worth a visit.
Still, this is a stop-​in between drinking places, or a good pregame spot. At least that’s been the case on all my visits. It’s never been a destination but a stop for a drink or a shot and then on my way to somewhere else. Perhaps this is because it still feels like the old John Colins? And, somewhat hidden in an alley?
Bonus: