San Francisco Guide to Drinking
Name: Americano Bar
Address: 8 Mission St. (Map it)

The first thing you notice when you step into the Americano Bar is that this is no ordinary San Francisco bar. Located inside Hotel Vitale, Americano brings a kind of style and class that sets it apart from many of the other places you might choose for that happy hour drink after work. Frequented by business types and dot comers looking to network as well singles looking to do their own style of networking, Americano is a bustling hot spot that is worth a stop.

Aside from the striking panoramic view, the Americano Bar is accented top to bottom with a variety of wood—the floor, chairs, ceilings and walls give the bar a sort of lodge feel, but that is quickly erased with the stainless steel fixtures around the bar. There is a patio which you can walk out with your drinks, making Americano’s view even more striking. The patio is accessible year-round—it is covered with a plastic overlay when the temperature gets below comfortable.

The Americano also serves food for those who have some post-work munchies. Pizzas, souflees, raviolis, desserts—it’s all there for those who need to grab a bite to eat before dinner. While it can get crowded around 5 or 6, the Americano Bar is a great place to get your drink on if you are looking for more than just a quick drink in a dingy pub. The food, the view, the cocktails, and the ambiance create an atmosphere that produces an all-around enjoyable visit to this bar right off the Embarcadero.