Rooftop
Rickhouse
San Francisco-Financial District
May 11, 2018
Rickhouse exudes a bourbon-scented cool literally. The interior is covered in the staves of old barrels, giving the bar a rich, golden glow, and even the light fixtures are made from old barrel hoops, with lots of exposed brick and wood making the place feel welcoming and natural. Bottles line one wall of the dark and narrow main room: and we do mean bottles and bottles and bottles it’s a lovely sight and will warm the heart of anyone with a love of quality booze. Knowledgeable, talented bar tenders are on hand to guide you towards your preferred libation. They make a potent cocktail; their Campos Cooler is deceptively smooth with a latent tequila kick and their Pisco Punch comes in bowl big enough for four people to share – it’s practically big enough to swim in. There’s a strong focus on good quality ingredients Rickhouse takes the city’s history of cocktail imbibing very seriously, so no corn syrup or artificial ingredients here. Also recommended are their signature drinks the Rye Maple Fizz (rye, lemon, maple syrup and egg white mixed with soda and Angostura bitters) or the delightfully refreshing La Bonne Vie (gin, grapefruit juice, fresh basil and bitters). If cocktails aren’t your thing, there’s a decent selection of boutique Californian wines, local beers and fine spirits. There’s live music Monday from 8pm and Saturday from 10 (and no cover charge), though it tends not to be raucous, reflecting the slightly older, well-moneyed patrons look around you and you’ll see a stylish Financial District crowd milling around with drinks clutched lovingly in hand, looking deservedly pleased to have something so awesome nearby. Closed Sundays.
