House of Shields
The Verdict
"Old fixtures, no clocks, a long mahogany bar. A classic downtown saloon."
What you need to know
House of Shields opened on New Montgomery Street in 1908 as a working-class saloon for the printing-trade workers and journalists in the surrounding buildings. The room has barely changed since: dark wood, a long bar that runs the length of the space, no clocks. Warren Harding reportedly drank his last cocktail here in 1923, hours before he died across the street at the Palace Hotel.
The Drinks
Classic cocktails. The bar pours about 80 percent whiskey and the bartenders know every bottle. Beer and wine lists are focused. Happy hour is on the menu.
The Space
Two-story room with a mezzanine. Stained-glass skylights, original fixtures, mahogany bar. The crowd mixes after-work Financial District professionals and visitors interested in the historic room.
Practical Info
Price: Cocktails $14 to $18
Reservations: Walk-in only
Hours: Mon-Fri afternoon and evening, Sat evening only. Closed Sun.
Explore Nearby
LeRoy King Carousel
A 1906 hand-carved carousel by the creator of Coney Island's first carousel....
Tartine Bakery
The Mission bakery that set the standard for the city. Pastries $5...
Foreign Cinema
Films from the 1960s and 1970s projected on the courtyard wall.
Onsen
A Japanese-inspired communal bathhouse with a 104-degree soaking tub, redwood sauna, steam...
