Rye

Located in a semi-random section of town that real estate people try to trick you into calling ‘Lower Nob Hill’, Rye is a great bar to grab a drink when you need to be near Union Square but desperately want to escape it. And if you happen to be in the area, it’s worth popping into for the basil gimlet alone. The service is friendly, the cocktails are good, and the space feels like an oasis from what is actually the edge of the Tenderloin. A spacious bar and a larger lounge-y area in the back make it good for big groups.