Charmaine’s

What you need to know

What to drink

The cocktail menu is well-crafted and changes seasonally. The Big Cat (Ron Zacapa 23yr rum, passion fruit, vanilla, velvet falernum, $20) is a crowd favorite for good reason. The Salem Saberhagen (Ford’s gin, orange muscat, pineapple, honey, lime, $20) is a solid pick if you lean toward gin drinks. Zero-proof options are well-built, not afterthoughts.

Food

Small plates and bar bites keep the menu focused. French fries ($13), deviled eggs ($5), and lemongrass chicken wings ($22) are the most popular orders. The crispy fish tacos ($22) and Proper sliders ($21) are filling enough to call dinner if you’re not looking for a full sit-down meal.

The scene

Conde Nast Traveler and Thrillist have both named it among the country’s best bars, so it draws a mix of hotel guests, locals celebrating something, and tourists who did their research. Friday and Saturday nights get packed after 7pm. If you want a fire pit seat, arrive right when they open on Saturday (4pm) or come on a weeknight.

Getting there

The hotel entrance is at 1100 Market Street, with a secondary entrance on McAllister. Civic Center BART is a five-minute walk. Van Ness Muni is nearby too. Don’t bother driving; parking around here on weekend nights is expensive and scarce.