San Francisco Guide to Drinking
Name: Beauty Bar
Address: 2299 Mission St. (at 19th)

As one of the most popular bars in the Mission district, Beauty Bar San Francisco was the first of its kind until the recent birth of many salon-bar-hybrids. Complete with vintage vanities, hair dressing stations, and a black and white checkerboard tile floor, the 50s décor is consistent throughout each of the Beauty Bar locations around the country. While some consider it a bar chain, it's everything but corporate.

Opened in 1998 as the second location – there are now 6 total in all major U.S. cities, including S.F., New York, Austin, L.A., San Diego, Las Vegas – three years after the original New York shop opened, Beauty Bar serves locals and visitors alike. Set in the middle of the lively Mission district, owner Paul Devitt hired Garry Hayes and Chase Marshall to remodel the space using a salvaged salon interior from Long Island. Always looking for locations on the verge of becoming hip and stylish, Beauty Bar is a popular go-to place without being overly trendy.

In addition to offering a range of music 7 nights a week, patrons have the option of getting manicures as they sip their Platinum Blond martinis. For just $10, you can enjoy your cocktail and manicure during a relaxing happy hour. The “Manicures and Martinis” specials are offered Thursday through Saturday from 7:30pm until midnight. The fully-equipped bar offers numerous beers (including the wonderfully refreshing Blue Moon) and endless cocktail options, although their more popular drinks include the Prell (P.I.N.K. vodka, Midori, and pineapple juice) and the Shampoo (Jose Cuervo, sweet & sour, Triple Sec, and Chambord liqueur).

Beauty Bar is graced with talented DJs nearly every night of the week, some of the most notable being SF’s Jeffrodesiac and Richie Panic spinning all night long on Fridays. While the bar has been known for preferring Indie rock to other tunes, they often host nights filled with hip-hop and 80's movie soundtrack hits, as well as mixes of disco and rock. Every last Sunday of the month serves as the day for the Beauties’ Drop Dead Gorgeous contest where candidates show off unique talents and compete for cash prizes. Unlike traditional beauty competitions, these don’t involve ball gowns or tiaras, as each contest takes on nontraditional themes – past themes have included Swingin’ 60s, sci-fi, and Zombie fits.

Check out their weekly schedule!