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Absinthe Brasserie and Bar - SF, San Francisco, CA

Absinthe Brasserie and Bar - SF

4.8
4.8
7371 Reviews
$31 to $50
French

Make a booking

2 people
7:00 pm
Booked 36 times today
  • Charming
  • Neighbourhood gem
  • Good for special occasions
We are currently accepting reservations for lunch, brunch, and dinner.


Effective 09/26/2022:
Outdoor seating will not be available.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    French, Californian
  • Hours of Operation
    Brunch Sat, Sun 11:00 am–3:00 pm Lunch Wed–Fri 11:30 am–3:00 pm Dinner Wed–Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (415) 551-1590
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Executive Chef
    Ian Begg
  • Area
    Civic Center / Hayes Valley / Van Ness
  • Cross Street
    Gough
  • Parking details
    No valet. Street parking and nearby public lot located on Grove between Franklin and Gough.
  • Additional
    Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 7,371 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.8
4.8 based on recent ratings
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.8Service
  • 4.8Ambience
  • 4.4Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • San Francisco

    French

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Absinthe Brasserie and Bar in San Francisco is a delightful spot known for its "excellent cocktails" and "reliable tasty food." Guests appreciate the "attentive service" and the perfect pre-show dining experience. Popular dishes include the Petrale Sole and the French onion soup. The atmosphere is cozy and inviting, making it a favorite among locals.
7,371 Reviews
  1. Pati

    VIP

    San Francisco

    29 reviews

    5.0

    29 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    A go to restaurant for us in the Hayes Valley before theater or Symphony Hall concerts. Fabulous food, great service, and quaint atmosphere.

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  2. richard

    VIP

    San Francisco

    16 reviews

    5.0

    16 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Absinthe is a winning combination of great ambiance, great food and great service -- always very enjoyable!

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  3. William

    VIP

    Portland

    50 reviews

    5.0

    50 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Excellent for brunch before afternoon concerts at Opera House and Davis Hall. We had the sole and the Benedict. Both delicious.

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  4. Steve

    VIP

    San Francisco

    37 reviews

    5.0

    37 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We've eaten at Absinthe many times over the years and we keep coming back. The couple next to us had the fillet of sole meunière. I was going to order the duck breast, which was always one of my favorites, but I changed to the fish and didn't regret it. It was beautifully prepared, very tasty. Served on top of mashed potatoes with some very thin crunchy potatoes on top. It was so good that my wife had the same thing as did the people at the table on the other side of us. The service was great and the dining room room delightful.

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  5. Dr. Leo

    San Francisco

    31 reviews

    4.0

    31 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Good varied food options. Good choice of wines by the glass. Outstanding international fine wine list. Can be busy pre-ballet, symphony, but great nearby choice. Tables in front section by bar can be noisy, quieter tables in back room.

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  6. Kris

    San Francisco

    8 reviews

    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    The cauliflower soup was out of this world. Ditto the duck fat frittes.

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  7. gene

    San Francisco

    13 reviews

    4.0

    13 reviews

    Dined on 20 January 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had a lovely time. Food was good. Service was good.

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  8. Gerald

    Las Vegas

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 20 January 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our party arrived early for our reservation, but the hostess made the effort to seat us quickly. The server was friendly and attentive, allowing us time to settle in and visit before taking our order. Food arrived perfectly prepared and beautifully presented. Most importantly, at no time during our 2+ hours there did we feel rushed to leave. All this makes Absinthe a great choice for pre- and post- performance meals.

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  9. J

    San Francisco

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 18 January 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Always a great brunch spot, and dinner spot. Beautiful space, great music, great service.

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  10. Miles

    Houston

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on 16 January 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 5
    We kicked off the evening with oysters, which were fresh and delicious. The beef tartare was excellent and paired nicely with a great bottle of wine. For our entrée, the duck stole the show—perfectly cooked and full of flavor. A fantastic meal overall!

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FAQs

Absinthe Brasserie and Bar - SF is rated 4.8 stars by 7371 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people
7:00 pm
Booked 36 times today
Google Map for Absinthe Brasserie and Bar - SF

398 Hayes Street, San Francisco, CA 94102

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    Gough
  • Area
    Civic Center / Hayes Valley / Van Ness
  • Hours of Operation
    Brunch Sat, Sun 11:00 am–3:00 pm Lunch Wed–Fri 11:30 am–3:00 pm Dinner Wed–Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    French, Californian
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Parking details
    No valet. Street parking and nearby public lot located on Grove between Franklin and Gough.
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Ian Begg
  • Additional
    Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
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