The Pawn Shop

What you need to know

The Pawn Shop is a speakeasy tapas restaurant in SoMa. The storefront on Mission Street looks like an actual pawn shop, complete with old electronics, watches, and trinkets in the window. To get into the dining room, you have to pawn something at the counter (a personal item the staff returns when you leave). The host plays a code and the wall slides open.

The Food

Spanish and Mediterranean tapas built for sharing. Pulpo a la plancha (seared Spanish octopus), Jamon Serrano with 20-month aged ham, hanger steak with mushrooms and potatoes, and a vegan rice-based chicharron round out the menu. Cocktails are named after Spanish numbers (Uno, Dos, Tres). Dessert: churros with hot chocolate, pecan tart, and cheese plates.

The Space

Once you’re through the wall, the room is intimate, low-lit, and colorful, with a photo booth, a secret exit, and occasional drag shows. From the same team behind Beso and Monarch.

Practical Info

Price: Tapas $14 to $28, dinner for two with drinks $90 to $150
Reservations: Strongly recommended via OpenTable
Hours: Tue-Sat 6pm to 11:30pm. Closed Sun-Mon.
Address: 993 Mission Street
Getting there: Powell BART/Muni a 5-minute walk.