The Alembic

(Haight Ashbury)
1725 Haight St.  
415-666-0822 Map it
www.alembicbar.com

E + D Award Winner; Dinner only
$$
Fusion Eclectic
bar scene, dine at the bar, good for groups, late-night dining, romantic

2008 EAT + DRINK AWARD: Best Cocktails

SCENE: When the nighttime chill rolls into Golden Gate Park, Haight residents need look no farther than the Alembic, from the owners of the nearby Magnolia Pub & Brewery, for a little warmth. There’s history in the space: The bar was made from bleachers from the original Kezar Stadium (with seat numbers still visible), and the walls and floor were also constructed from recycled materials (a 160-year-old Wisconsin barn and a 100-year-old Pennsylvania barn, respectively).

EATS: The Alembic might just be the city’s best “little restaurant that could.” Despite its diminutive size, it manages to be both an exceptional bar and a great place to eat. The Moroccan-spiced lamb burgers with harissa aioli and deviled duck eggs are bar bites at their finest, while the braised rabbit with bacon and spaetzle lets us know that the kitchen has serious ambition. Further evidence? The back alley has transformed the back alley into an urban garden, filled with herbs and other edibles. Alembic’s old-fashioned cocktails, artisan-distilled spirits and Magnolia Brewery beers will have the color back in your cheeks in no time, no matter how cold it is outside.