San Francisco Guide to Drinking
Name: John Colins Bar
Address: 90 Natoma Street

Tucked away in a little alleyway off of 2nd Street, John Colins is a mellow retreat from the clubs nearby. With a rustic-yet-urban décor and a plethora of alcoholic beverages, this hidden gem is quickly losing its secrecy as one of the top SOMA/Financial District happy hour bars during the week. Apart from being great for after work, John Colins plays host to some chic weekly parties and weekend events.

With convenient hours for socially active people and heavy drinkers alike – open until 2am each night of the week, except Sunday – John Colins offers a casual, well-stocked bar to everyone from students to suits to fellow bar and club managers. The experienced owners and knowledgeable bartenders have built a fully stocked bar with an immense amount of liquor. There are half a dozen draft selections, which are only $3 a pint during happy hour (minus the Guinness), and they carry a decent selection of reds and whites. Well drinks go for $4 each during the brief happy hour (5pm-7pm), while bottle beers are $2 and all other drinks are $1 off. (Take a look at our guide to San Francisco's Best Happy Hours here)

The cottage-like building is filled with eye-catching artwork. Sam Flores created the most impressive pieces – the Japanese-inspired floral painting on vinyl and the deep-toned armoire in the hallway near the bathroom – especially for John Colins’ walls. The other paintings are interesting; maybe even a bit eccentric, specifically the ones of pit bulls. The space is great for groups, as the leather cube seating and rustic, wooden tables can be moved throughout to make room if need be. The exposed brick walls and concrete floor make for a very industrial-looking space without being cold or uninviting.

With an eclectic crowd and covert location, John Colins is hip without being overly trendy or obnoxious. More often than not, the gathering of people are quite laidback, although weekend nights can be a bit out of the ordinary for regular patrons, as B&T’s sometimes come in the loads for the special events. Be sure to check out their weekly parties: “Soul Afrique" (funk, soul, rock, hip-hop) every Tuesday, “Reggae Wednesdays” (obviously, self-explanatory), and “Rebel Bass” every fourth Friday. Other than regular events, they often have guest DJs spinning on the second floor loft and holiday parties – look out for the upcoming Halloween shindig on October 27th.

Also, be sure to throw any butts/trash in the provided trash receptacle or the respectful door guy will put you in your place.