Trick Dog

Housed in a repurposed factory with soaring ceilings and a mezzanine overlooking the bar, Trick Dog (opened 2013 by Josh Harris and the Bon Vivants team) has cemented its place among San Francisco’s top creative cocktail destinations. Known for its playful, biannual themed menus—past iterations have riffed on airline safety cards, conspiracy theories, and Pantone swatches—each menu is a full immersion: drink names, garnishes, even visuals spin around that theme. The drinks are as clever as they are complex. Signature cocktails like the “Commune Life” (gin, herbal liqueur, Chartreuse, burnt honey) and the more recent “Bee Bearder” and “Ring Master” show off flavors from fish sauce and mango to shochu and coffee, always surprising without alienating. The menu features SFW non‑alcoholic options, highballs, shots, and even boilermakers. The food offering isn’t merely an afterthought: kale salad with pepitas and slow-cooked egg yolk packs a punch, while bar bites like loaded fries and the signature Trick Dog burger (in a hot‑dog bun) blend effortlessly with the cocktail program. Despite its acclaim and occasional crowds—especially during Friday/Saturday evenings—it retains a neighborhood bar vibe. Music is loud, bartenders are welcoming (you may need to work a bit for their attention), and the crowd is as diverse as its menu—locals, cocktail nerds, art-lovers and visitors alike. Recent honors include ranking #71 in North America’s 50 Best Bars and Food & Wine naming it among the top‑10 U.S. bars—validating more than a decade of innovation and cultural relevance. Trick Dog is more than a cocktail bar—it’s a rotating creative showcase, a communal late-night hangout, and a place where expectation is skewed into delightful discovery—with every menu drop promising something new.