Reports show that Fernet Branca is the most popular drink in San Francisco and that Outside of Argentina San Francisco consumes the most per capita in the world. Rumor has it that perennial favorite R Bar (1176 Sutter St) sells more Fernet then any other place on the planet. True or not, this is the drink that lubricates the SF bar scene, but what is it and why? More importantly - where can you get it for cheap? Set up an Italian car chase for yourself and get ready for the Metrowize guide to Fernet.

To be honest with you, this is a bartenders drink. It's dark, disgusting, vile, evil and unabashedly brilliant. It s possibly the worst thing you can ever drink and possibly why we bartenders drink it. We have a choice of anything at the bar and time after time we go for the Fernet. The point being is that we've trained ourselves, with grimaces and pride to like this black sludge. To pass it on to our friends and hapless passer byes - and give them a glimpse into the secret world behind the bar. If anything Fernet is more then a drink, its a nod, a handshake, a coded message that lets the pourer and imbiber know of a special club that not everyone can enter. A challenge that not all can face, but yea to those who walk in the valley of the shadow of death.

To the uninitiated a shot of fernet is followed quickly by an even bigger shot of ginger ale. To the disciples of this foreboding and arcane alcohol ginger ale is a misdirection on the true path to enlightenment.

Fernet isn't just all doom and gloom - it actually serves a purpose. As a digestive it'll set'll your stomach - as a bar tool it'll give you an extra burst of energy thats more intense then a double espresso.

The easiest way to explain the taste is to imagine Jagermeister without the sugar. You shoot it, immediately getting a strong hit of mouthwash - drying the mouth out, stinging the tongue. Its kind of like getting hit in the nose. Your brain hurts, your eyes sting and water, you cough a bit. Then, as soon as it begins a warm wave of relief washes over and you are left baptized in Italian herbals and golf ball eyed awake.

It's about $21-30 per bottle depending on where you shop and generally around $6 per shot at bars and clubs. The following 2 bars offer great (or extremely devious) pricing on Fernet whereas the last bar on this list is going to be damned straight to hell for its consistent low barrel prices.

Shanghai 1930
(133 Stueart Street)
Weekdays between 5-7 there is a $4 fernet special as well as other cocktails and appetizers in this throwback to a ritzier age of chinese restaurants. The happy hour crowd is pretty regular and mostly contains Fi-Di as well other bar people from the area. As a bonus they also serve $4 shots of kubler absinthe. Its also a great place to watch out for older celebrities and people who out of the blue decide to come in costume.
Trouble.

Monaghans
(3259 Pierce St)
$3 Fernet shots on Wednesdays means you'll only need to call in sick to work once a week. Or try to reschedule your Thursday.
They'll line them up in a marina hotspot that is actually fun to hang out in.

Then there's the devil. Sure they've got a wii bowling league, 2 for 1 happy hour on beer, a friendly easy going north beach atmosphere but beyond they're cheery almost friendly demeanor at Columbus Cafe (562 Green Street) hides a dark and evil secret. It is the most easily of Fernet bars in the city of San Francisco. $3 shot per shot pricing no matter what time of day or week, it makes you feel like Han Solo smuggling some droids and an old man and his twink lover across the galaxy, always on the look out for imperial troopers to come in and break the party up. Its crowded, its loud and its patrons are drunk and that's just in the morning.

However if you're in the mood to try the versatile nature of the beast then we recommend Wish Bar (1539 Folsom). They have a plethora of Fernet inspired martinis and drinks to soothe away the pain of an achy day, set in a cool SOMA setting.

I can walk into any bar in San Francisco and by the time I've ordered a shot for the bartender and myself I've worked my way in. The drinks will pour freely, the cocktail servers will have exchanged stories and like a tree I will have established roots.
Other cities and other towns have their secrets, for us in the shadow of the golden gate 40 some choice botanicals remain the keys to the castle.

Fernet in the end is our shinning light and our curse, the way in becomes just as blurred as the way out when shot after shot turn into bottle after bottle. Smile and a wink, a wave and a nod.