Rock Bar

Recent Reviews

• Rock Bar

  

  david p.

  • 3 friends
  • 80 reviews

  5.0 star rating

  5/12/2012

  Have been frequenting its' across-the-street sibling, Front Porch, for a while and have been meaning to try this place.  Impromptu walk-in… Read More

  Have been frequenting its' across-the-street sibling, Front Porch, for a while and have been meaning to try this place.  Impromptu walk-in this afternoon and glad we did.  
  
  Bartender, Ryan I believe, is a great guy.  Quietly engaging and reads his customers well;  highly knowledgeable about the craft without being booze nerdy.  Bar is cocktail-centric but half a dozen or so beers on tap.  Didn't see any wine but it must be lurking there somewhere. Daily special cocktails on the chalk board and also on a bar cocktail menu.  
  
  Not too pricey - thinking $6 - $9 for well prepared cocktails utilizing some rare ingredients.  Best Old Fashioned I've had in a while, followed by a St George's Rye Gin cocktail, then I asked for a cocktail of Ryan's own choosing and had a great Rum drink.  So a fun hour or so breezing around some of the spirit staples..!
  
  Mid/late afternoon for this first visit so pretty quiet.  We are a 40/50 something male couple & rest of bar a 20-30 something mix.  No attitude.
  
  Great to be able to call across to the always excellent Front Porch for refueling.
  
  In summary, a great little bar.

• Rock Bar

  

  Kristin G.

  • Elite '12
  • 81 friends
  • 251 reviews

  4.0 star rating

  4/11/2012

  I've been a fan of the Front Porch for a while now.  Boyfriend and I were freezing our asses off after waiting for 45 minutes in the rain to… Read More

  I've been a fan of the Front Porch for a while now.  Boyfriend and I were freezing our asses off after waiting for 45 minutes in the rain to get into a roller derby match without jackets.  We were cold and hungry.  We went to Front Porch, but there was a wait.  So while we waited we crossed the street and went to the Rock Bar.
  
  The service was fast and good.  The waiter made me something warm and boyfriend ordered off of the menu.  Great place to wait for a table, that doesn't feel like a place to wait for a table.
  
  A few weeks later we went there for a pre dinner drink, the bartender remembered us from the prior visit.  It was lots of fun.
  
  **the drinks are strong.  going here for a pre-drink may make you not care about eating and you just drink more.  Fun night but the next day sucked, through no fault of Rock Bar.

• Rock Bar

  

  Wen S.

  • 15 friends
  • 5 reviews

  5.0 star rating

  3/30/2012

  This may seem crazy, but I've never been a big bar-scene fan.  In all honesty, I just went by because I'm a geologist and, hey...it's a… Read More

  This may seem crazy, but I've never been a big bar-scene fan.  In all honesty, I just went by because I'm a geologist and, hey...it's a geology themed bar (which is freaking awesome).  But man, was I in for a surprise...the drinks are fabulous, the staff is great, and it's a nice place to go chill out for a bit and talk to some fellow bar-goers.  You won't go wrong with the Rock Bar.
  
  Someone mentioned that it's cash only, which is fine - since there's an ATM in the corner.

• Rock Bar

  

  Alan M.

  • 48 friends
  • 30 reviews

  5.0 star rating

  5/10/2012

  They continue to update the bar and someone painted gold all over the gum stains in the front. I feel like digging for some gold and getting… Read More

  They continue to update the bar and someone painted gold all over the gum stains in the front. I feel like digging for some gold and getting a cold liberty ale!

• Rock Bar

  

  ruggy j.

  • Elite '12
  • 4837 friends
  • 1312 reviews

  4.0 star rating

  3/13/2012

  I never had a chance to hit the International Club when it occupied this space for eons, but the birth of the new Rock Bar across from Front… Read More

  I never had a chance to hit the International Club when it occupied this space for eons, but the birth of the new Rock Bar across from Front Porch had me wanting to smell what these cats were cookin' as soon as they broke ground (WWE reference, my friends).
  
  It's no secret that I love a good dive bar with a quirky theme, and when you throw in a gaggle of handcrafted cocktails into the mix, it makes it even better.
  
  Not only can you get down on cheap, shitty American beers and craft variations from breweries all around the Bay Area, but you can sip on their version of a martini (Dirty Metamorphic - Dirty Tito's martini with muddled Fresno chilies), something strong, yet delicate for the ladies (Basil Mudstone - Templeton Rye, Pineau, basil, lemon, and white tea), and something noteworthy that'll go viral among your circle of friends (Fire in the Hole - The above-referenced shot-and-a-beer special with Schlitz, Bulleit bourbon and complimentary charcuterie). All of their signature elixirs are quite tasty ( and named after gemstones), but if you want something a bit more traditional, they'll be happy to whip up a classic Manhattan or a Sazerac as well.
  
  If your'e feeling hungry, word is you can order fried chicken from Front Porch right across the street (they own the bar). Talk about the best bar bites ever, huh? If you've yet to enjoy a greasy piece of their renowned fried chicken, you haven't lived!

• Rock Bar

  

  Alice C.

  • Elite '12
  • 17 friends
  • 191 reviews

  4.0 star rating

  3/26/2012

  The Rock Bar?! I think they really got the idea to have a miner themed place when they took over the International Club, and didn't know… Read More

  The Rock Bar?! I think they really got the idea to have a miner themed place when they took over the International Club, and didn't know what to do with all those tacky rock veneer on the outside: hey, we have all these rocks, and let's name it the Rock Bar!
  
  Okay, back to the real business. It is a new bar that is not quite swarmped with hipster yet, and it should stay that way. A short list of special cocktails at $9 each, this place is following the cocktail trend. Most of those cocktails are good, not spectacular, but my boyfriend didn't really like one of the drink and the bartender gladly replaced it with a beer. They have Abita on tap, out of 8 that were availible.
  
  There is a pool table, and if it is not crowded, you can squeeze in a game or two. It is not a really big bar.
  
  Over all, it is a good place to chilled with friends if you are in this part of town. Nothing worth traveling to.

• Rock Bar

  

  Elizabeth P.

  • 4 friends
  • 4 reviews

  4.0 star rating

  4/15/2012

  Enjoyed a well-made spicy olive-y martini-like cocktail for a darn reasonable price at this clean, down-to-earth, hip but not full of itself… Read More

  Enjoyed a well-made spicy olive-y martini-like cocktail for a darn reasonable price at this clean, down-to-earth, hip but not full of itself friendly neighborhood bar. Cheers!

• Rock Bar

  

  david c.

  • 47 friends
  • 30 reviews

  5.0 star rating

  2/20/2012

  A lovely miner-themed bar in a great spot. It's ideal for hitting up pre and post dinner at The Front Porch or for getting out of the heart… Read More

  A lovely miner-themed bar in a great spot. It's ideal for hitting up pre and post dinner at The Front Porch or for getting out of the heart of the Mission scene (but not too far out).
  
  The drink menu is a mix of some well-done classics (e.g., Vieux Carre) and some inventive house-made concoctions. Great location, great drink selection, great neighborly vibe and super friendly and attentive staff. Go get you a drink.

• Rock Bar

  

  Tom P.

  • 50 friends
  • 46 reviews

  3.0 star rating

  3/11/2012

  Oh Lordy, I thought the only cash-only bars in SF were the gay bars. But this one is cash-only, so think about stopping by the ATM on the… Read More

  Oh Lordy, I thought the only cash-only bars in SF were the gay bars. But this one is cash-only, so think about stopping by the ATM on the way.
  
  OK, the first three stars are because the drinks were tasty and the location is close to me.
  
  But otherwise, the bar is a bit of a disappointment. It's already too-cool-for-school. I just know this bar is going to be the next mini-El Rio. It's going to be swarmed with hipsters smoking their American Spirits and drinking their PBRs.
  
  That said, the drinks were tasty. But in a city filled with awesome mixologists, this bar falls short. It's not hipster-y enough to be a real dive bar. But the cocktails aren't good enough to make it a Churchill or Blackbird or even Royal Cuckoo. So it's just fair-to-middling on all fronts. Sad.

• Rock Bar

  

  Marni S.

  • 10 friends
  • 13 reviews

  5.0 star rating

  4/20/2012

  They have a nice selection of drinks.  The staff is great and it's a nice mellow fun vibe, very relaxed and welcoming.  It's casual but on… Read More

  They have a nice selection of drinks.  The staff is great and it's a nice mellow fun vibe, very relaxed and welcoming.  It's casual but on the nicer side.  The decorations are unique and interesting, cute and kinda funky.

• Rock Bar

  

  Loretta M.

  • 7 friends
  • 33 reviews

  5.0 star rating

  3/12/2012

  This bar just opened, may I say great addition. I like the old school style of cocktails, the staff is really friendly, and the crowd really… Read More

  This bar just opened, may I say great addition. I like the old school style of cocktails, the staff is really friendly, and the crowd really had a great vibe going. I will be back.
  They even had stone coasters, and a victorian gas fire place ( well it looked like it from far away so not really sure?)

• Rock Bar

  

  P W.

  • 0 friends
  • 2 reviews

  4.0 star rating

  3/17/2012

  Really love this place.  Bartendars were very friendly and the cocktails were very delicious!  I also tried there selction of beer's which… Read More

  Really love this place.  Bartendars were very friendly and the cocktails were very delicious!  I also tried there selction of beer's which was very very good.  I would recommend this place to everyone in the area that is into drinks and conversation.

• Rock Bar

  

  MyShawn C.

  • 3 friends
  • 28 reviews

  3.0 star rating

  4/2/2012

  Very nice little dive bar.  I really enjoyed the reggae music is the background but wish they would turn it up just a bit.  The cowboy… Read More

  Very nice little dive bar.  I really enjoyed the reggae music is the background but wish they would turn it up just a bit.  The cowboy shaped shot glasses were cool, drink special was awesome and the service was nice.  If I'm ever in the neighborhood again, I'd stop in.

• Rock Bar

  

  Daniel M.

  • 41 friends
  • 126 reviews

  2.0 star rating

  4/2/2012

  Local dive bar. Draft selection OK. Come by if you are in the area and have a drink to judge for yourself.

• Rock Bar

  

  Jack M.

  • 10 friends
  • 17 reviews

  5.0 star rating

  2/16/2012

  Despite the fact that it was very crowded (can't fault them for that), the bartender was immediately attentive.  The first drink they list… Read More

  Despite the fact that it was very crowded (can't fault them for that), the bartender was immediately attentive.  The first drink they list is a Sazerac.  They nail it.  It's by my house.  What more could you ask for.

• Rock Bar

  

  OhTheRogue S.

  • 0 friends
  • 3 reviews

  2.0 star rating

  3/3/2012

  $6 for a pint of Speakeasy Prohibition?  This is 29th Street, not downtown, I call BS!

• Rock Bar

  

  Justin M.

  • 46 friends
  • 12 reviews

  5.0 star rating

  2/20/2012

  Great new bar right across from the Front Porch. The interior has nice touches of old mining equipment here and there and it kind of makes… Read More

  Great new bar right across from the Front Porch. The interior has nice touches of old mining equipment here and there and it kind of makes you feel like you are in a little miner bar back in the gold rush. House specialty cocktails are poured by bartenders that know what they are doing (try the sazerac) and cost $9 each. Wasn't overly crowded on Sunday and Monday night when we went back-to-back. This is definitely looking like it will become our local bar!

• Rock Bar

  

  s k.

  • 8 friends
  • 73 reviews

  5.0 star rating

  2/12/2012

  welcome addition to the area. across the street from Front Porch in the old international club.  This bar is a definite improvement from its… Read More

  welcome addition to the area. across the street from Front Porch in the old international club.
  
  This bar is a definite improvement from its predecessor, focusing on simple cocktails and local craft beers.  Pick up a bucket from Front Porch and head over to the Rock Bar

• Rock Bar

  

  donkey d.

  • 3 friends
  • 5 reviews

  5.0 star rating

  2/27/2012

  This bar kicks A$$ and I mean the donkey kind of way. Super cute interior, great drinks & friendly, knowledgeable staff. This is definitely… Read More

  This bar kicks A$$ and I mean the donkey kind of way. Super cute interior, great drinks & friendly, knowledgeable staff. This is definitely gonna be my new place to hang. Dad's fire in the hole has a piece of meat coming out of a beer bottle my dad would for sure order this. Pool table and jukebox that is in transition, but I'm sure will be great. This place has a  really nice vibe everyone seemed to be having a good time. Now if there's a wait at the porch it won't be so bad I hear that you can order to go and bring it over also heard the chef is starting up a bar snack program that will hold you over till you get some of that delicious fried chicken.
  You guys ROCK

• Rock Bar

  

  Ken H.

  • 9 friends
  • 137 reviews

  5.0 star rating

  2/28/2012

  Great place, good vibe, friendly staff and owners.  Great beer selection and cool theme.  Vintage stuff on the walls, in the theme of miners… Read More

  Great place, good vibe, friendly staff and owners.  Great beer selection and cool theme.  Vintage stuff on the walls, in the theme of miners and the old West with more to come.  bring it...and getcha some!