BARS • First Round
The Skinny: New owner Grace Huntley has transformed cocktail spot Lobby Bar into a Castro destination for happy hour drinks and bar snacks.
The Vibe: Though also the ground floor of the Castro Hotel, Lobby Bar remains a mellow, neighborhood-focused after-work spot that transcends the Castro’s typical offerings. Huntley has retained most of the design elements from the spot’s previous iteration, including its plush banquettes, wide front area, and nook of tables in back. New is a focus on 100% accessibility for disabled patrons. The crowd is cheery, mixed between hotel patrons and Castro denizens.
The Drink: Previously filled with experimental concoctions, the new cocktail menu is more straightforward, approachable, but with a couple twists and turns. The three whiskey drinks include two Old Fashioned variations, the Leave No Trace and the High Fashion. The former is a mix of blended and Islay scotch with maple bourbon and chocolate bitters; the latter mixes bourbon with cinnamon, honey, and both Angostura and chocolate bitters. There’s also the Manhattan-esque D-E-Rye Hire — a nod to owner Huntley’s day job in engineering at Code For America and focus on DEI programs — featuring rye, bourbon, Amaro Ciociaro, sweet vermouth, and Angostura and chocolate bitters. There are also several vodka and tequila options, and the rhum agricole-based Castro Swizzle.
The Food: A concise snack menu includes four Argentinian-style empanadas, three of them vegetarian — beef, mushroom, spinach-feta, and soyrizo — with excellent, slightly spicy chimichurri on the side. The new Lobby Fries are more like steak fries, served with house-made spiced Mexican ketchup. Crispy Brazilian-style waffles, modeled on pao de quiejo (cheese bread), are served with smoked honey butter.
The Verdict: Huntley’s tweaks have only improved this cozy cocktail spot, while still retaining the elements that always made it feel special. It’s also home to one of the best hidden gem happy hours around, with signature drink specials Wed-Thu 5-7p and Sun 3-5p. –Jay Barmann
→ Lobby Bar (Castro) • 4230 18th St • Wed-Thu 5-11p, Fri 5p-12a, Sat 4p-12a, Sun 3-10p • Walk-ins only.