Bourbon & Branch is a renowned Prohibition-era speakeasy at 501 Jones Street in San Francisco's Tenderloin, built on the site of an actual illegal bar that operated there from 1921–1933. It offers meticulously crafted classic and house cocktails made with premium, hand-selected spirits and house-made ingredients, served in a series of hidden, atmospheric rooms including The Library and the Wilson & Wilson Detective Agency. Entry is by reservation and password to preserve its secretive, old-world vibe, and while it doesn't serve food and can be pricey, it's widely praised for ambiance and drink quality.
- Located at 501 Jones Street in San Francisco's Tenderloin neighborhood
- Housed in a building with a Prohibition-era speakeasy history (1921–1933)
- Reservations and a password are required for entry to the main bar
- The venue does not serve food
- Known for high-quality, handcrafted cocktails using premium spirits
- Enforces house rules such as no phones, no cameras, and no standing at the bar
- Operating hours
- Claude Open daily from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m., with hours varying slightly by day per some listings
- Perplexity Open 6pm–12am Monday–Wednesday and Sunday, extending to 6pm–2am Thursday–Saturday
- Walk-in access to The Library
- Claude The Library opens without a reservation only on many Fridays and Saturdays
- Gemini The Library can be accessed via a separate password ('books') without requiring a full reservation
- Perplexity The Library is open 7 nights a week from 6pm–2am with no reservation or password required beyond saying 'books'
Bourbon & Branch is a Prohibition-themed cocktail bar located at 501 Jones Street in San Francisco's Tenderloin/Lower Nob Hill area. In the style of the actual speakeasy that illegally operated in this Tenderloin spot from 1921 until 1933, Bourbon & Branch is a modern glimpse back to a time when buying and selling alcohol was illegal. The location was originally listed as "The Ipswitch: A Beverage Parlor," then purchased by John J. Russell, who opened his bar in the basement with "JJ Russell's Cigar Shop" operating upstairs as the legitimate front. Today, it offers classes at its Beverage Academy and serves flights of culinary-style cocktails in the adjacent Wilson Bar, and in speakeasy tradition, reservations and a daily password are required for entry. However, on many Fridays and Saturdays, one of the bar's rooms, the Library, opens for those without reservations. The bar does not serve food. To maintain the vintage atmosphere, the venue enforces quirky house rules — no cameras, no cell phones, no standing at the bar, exit quietly, and "speak easy," which means asking the bartender for a drink without raising suspicion. It's known for its stock of premium liquors, many of which are rare and made in very limited batches, with all juices, purees, and extracts used in the cocktails handmade in house. Reviewers generally praise the ambiance and drink quality but note it can be pricey, with some added local surcharges. It's open daily, typically seven days a week from 6 p.m. until 2 a.m., though hours vary slightly by day per some listings — worth confirming directly before visiting, along with making a reservation, since capacity fills quickly.
Bourbon & Branch is a well-known Prohibition-style cocktail bar and speakeasy in San Francisco’s Tenderloin, located at 501 Jones Street in a building with documented Prohibition-era history. It specializes in meticulously made classic and house cocktails, uses a reservation-focused format for much of the venue, and maintains house rules intended to preserve the intimate speakeasy atmosphere. The venue also includes themed spaces such as The Library (which has walk-in access under specific conditions) and the more exclusive Wilson & Wilson bar-within-a-bar experience. If you plan to visit, checking the current reservation options, hours, and entry policies in advance is recommended.
Bourbon & Branch is a renowned speakeasy in San Francisco, located at 501 Jones Street, offering a unique Prohibition-era experience. It operates in a building that has housed a bar since 1867 and famously functioned as an illegal speakeasy from 1921 to 1933. To maintain its secretive ambiance, the establishment requires reservations and a password for entry, often provided when booking online, though "books" can grant access to The Library, one of its several hidden bars. Known for its expertly crafted, labor-intensive cocktails made with hand-selected spirits and house-made ingredients, Bourbon & Branch discourages cell phone use, photography, and standing at the bar, and famously will not serve a "Cosmo". Beyond the main bar, patrons can discover additional clandestine rooms like The Library, the Wilson & Wilson Detective Agency (accessed through a fake detective agency storefront), and Russell's Room, each offering a distinct experience. The atmosphere is dark, tastefully decorated, and designed for quiet conversation.
Bourbon & Branch is San Francisco’s intimate, Prohibition-themed speakeasy located at 501 Jones St in the Tenderloin neighborhood, built on the site of an actual illegal speakeasy that operated there from 1921 to 1933. To enter the main bar, you need a reservation and a daily password emailed ahead; instead, the standing-room-only **Library** is open 7 nights a week from 6pm–2am with no reservation or password required (the password is “books”). The venue features five hidden bars inside, including the ultra-secret basement speakeasy called **The Ipswitch** and the separate **Wilson & Wilson Private Detective Agency**, which requires its own reservation and is only open Thursday–Saturday. Bourbon & Branch serves world-class, handcrafted cocktails but **no food**, with typical drink prices ranging $31–$50. Hours are 6pm–12am Monday–Wednesday and Sunday, extending to 2am Thursday–Saturday. The entrance to the Library is through an unmarked door on O’Farrell Street (look for the “Anti-League Saloon” sign at the corner of Jones and O’Farrell), while the main bar entrance is on Jones Street after providing your password. Phone: (415) 346-1735; website: bourbonandbranch.com.
Bourbon & Branch is a well-known Prohibition-style speakeasy at 501 Jones St in the Tenderloin. It's a small, intimate, 1920s-themed bar known for classic craft cocktails and detailed house rules — reservations are required online, you need a password for entry at the unmarked door, and there are rules about no phones, no loud talking, and no standing. It's 21+ and best for a quiet, seated cocktail experience, with an adjacent private room called The Library available for smaller groups.
Bourbon & Branch is a reservation-only speakeasy-style cocktail bar in San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood (501 Jones St). It features a Prohibition-era theme with hidden entrances, dim lighting, and a strict no-photos, no-standing policy in many rooms; guests typically need a password (provided with the booking) to enter. The bar specializes in classic and craft cocktails made with quality spirits, and it offers a library-like main room plus several smaller themed spaces. It is generally well-regarded for its atmosphere and drinks, though it can be pricey and requires advance planning to visit.