Hobson's Choice image

Hobson's Choice

Bar

Rum specialist pouring fruity punches in an old Victorian house setting with loungey sofa seating. People often mention drinks, good, bartender, punch, Haight, friendly, people, Great, windows, birthday,


Address

1601 Haight St, San Francisco, CA 94117

Website

www.hobsonschoice.com

Contact

(415) 621-5859

Price rating

$ $$$

Rating on Google Maps

4.40 (388 reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Friday: 10 AM to 2 AM
  • Saturday: 10 AM to 2 AM
  • Sunday: 10 AM to 12 AM
  • Monday: 10 AM to 12 AM
  • Tuesday: 10 AM to 12 AM
  • Wednesday: 10 AM to 12 AM
  • Thursday: 10 AM to 12 AM

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: drinks (10) good (9) bartender (9) punch (8) Haight (8) friendly (8) people (7) Great (6) windows (6) birthday (6)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Jake G. 8 months ago on Google
    I love this bar. 😀 Favorite in SF, hands down. The punch is delicious, the ambiance is ideal, but the bartenders are what make it! GO HERE. They also play amazing music, like really really good
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Chuck S. 1 year ago on Google
    Great Haight St Bar. Friendly locals. Bring in food from anywhere nearby. Lots of sports on 4 screens. Nice view of street action from the front windows. Highly recommend.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Stacy M. 1 year ago on Google
    Local hangout, and wandering in tourists with camera capturing vintage momentum, enjoyed the Tuesday Mojito (bartender Ben’s favorite) light refreshing and not too sweet. House punch (signature blend strongest among punches, made of silver rum, mango, orange & pineapple juices). Locals shared their drinks of 1-3-1 (1 Jamieson, 3 coffee and 1 bailey) definitely recommend this Rum DEPOT. Recommend premium rum flight including my cavities Zaya aged rum
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Sky O. 1 year ago on Google
    One of my favorite spots in the Haight Ashbury neighbourhood and a place you should visit to be in good spirits. Known for its punches and rum drinks, you can still have your traditional drinks if rum isn't your thing. Ability to being from the outside makes this a great spot to grab a pizza or tacos, and chill with your friends.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 OZGUN G. 1 year ago on Google
    One of the Haight Street standard, watch the games, catch up with locals or chat with tourist..
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Linda R. 7 months ago on Google
    This is a nice bar with lots of regulars. Prices are reasonable. I did not notice any food though

  • 4/5 Kevin H. 2 years ago on Google
    Took a stroll down Haight St. from the park nearby. Walked by and figured we'd stop for a quick drink. Staff were friendly, not overly personable. Prices were good and atmosphere was comfortable. I really liked that there was a very good mix of people so you can tell all types feel comfortable.

  • 2/5 Andrew “Andy” V. 1 year ago on Google
    Poorly ran bar. I get it's a local neighborhood dive bar, but what we experienced on Saturday night was rough. My girlfriend and her friend decided to do a Haight street birthday bar hop. This bar was one of the stops. We gave them a few days heads up that we were bringing in up to 30 people. They were accommodating, reserved an area for us and even offered to make a special drink for the birthday crew. We arrived at 10pm like scheduled. They ran out of all punch bowls. One of the the main reasons this was on the list. They wouldn't close tabs out because it was "too busy". First time this has ever happened at a bar. Despite being a bar that specializes in mixed drinks, they eventually refused to make basic mixed drinks. Considering they were low on a lot of their items on the menu, people naturally asked what they could make. They eventually stopped making mixed drinks and diverted to shots/beers at 11-1130PM because they were 'overwhelmed'. There was a lot of people, but the birthday party wasn't sloppy. Everyone was in really good spirits until the bartenders brought the energy down by being incredible rude about asking for basic mixed rinks. Despite they're disfunction because of their management team, they took it out on the customers and were sassy about everything. Lastly, special shout out to bartender Dave. He was the one who we coordinated with and came through with nothing that was promised. Not only did he fail to execute, he pulled some racist stuff and got one of the birthday girls mixed up with her friend. The birthday girl that he coordinated the event with and had full on conversations with. The birthday girl that wore an orange dress and her friend was in all black. The main similarity being they're both the same ethnicity. Most people of color have experienced this and it's annoying.

  • 5/5 Renae L. 1 year ago on Google
    Victorian style rum house. Felt like I was in New Orleans. Service was rly friendly.

  • 5/5 Scott C. 8 months ago on Google
    Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum. Top flight rum 🍹 booze bowls made daily from scratch. Been around for a long time. The bartender was super friendly and made us great drinks. I love the music there and the old school chalk board if rum offerings is always fun to read. Check it out maties

  • 5/5 Jonathon J. 6 months ago on Google
    Bahama Mama, House punch bowl. Lovely Haight St dive. Great place to celebrate a 49ers win or lament a heartbreaking loss. Excellent service; the bartenders are usually the life of the party here. Great rum selection; love this place, A+++

  • 3/5 Debra W. 1 year ago on Google
    Not a great experience with woman bartender very verbally disrespectfu l to clients...Sat at bar and observed her interaction with customers that ordered drinks from bar, she was very rude for no reason, other bartender was more patient and gave the customers patience and friendly.

  • 5/5 Maria M. 1 year ago on Google
    Loved the atmosphere and drinks. Thank you!

  • 5/5 Mary F. 1 year ago on Google
    Solid selection of rums from many good places for rums. A local feel that I like.

  • 5/5 Christopher G. 1 year ago on Google
    Great spot with greater people. The drinks are fast, cold, delicious, and reasonably-priced. Fraser is the man. Run, don’t walk.

  • 5/5 Vickie A. 1 year ago on Google
    We were wandering the Haight and fell into Hobson’s. The bartender was friendly enough. He too our orders and returned quickly. I tried a rum punch and found it to be quite tasty. My wife had a vodka with soda. She was satisfied with her drink. The clientele was friendly. If I lived in the area this would become a regular stop.

  • 3/5 Tom J. 2 years ago on Google
    Not a bad punch bar. The bar tender was good. Prices were good. We were already a little happy by the time we got there, so of course it was good. The building itself could use a sprucing up, but hey, it's an old SF bar!

  • 5/5 Cris H. 2 years ago on Google
    Had a great time having a drink at Hobson's. The bartender was nice and friendly. I could have stayed all day chatting with him. I had one of their special punch and oh my, how delicious that was. Definitely worth to stop there and get a bit local.

  • 5/5 Anil P. 1 year ago on Google
    A small place. Initially I felt the bartenders were not paying any attention to us and only to the football watching patrons. However the bartender who served me was polite and got me water also. I had the premium rum flight and my wife had the Bahama Mamas. For $11 and $8,50 it was worth every penny. The Ron Barcelo Gran Reserva from the Dominican Republic hit the spot for me. Great football watching spot. Update Feb 2023: The rum flights are gone and it has become an ordinary bar. Still friendly.

  • 5/5 Dennis L. 2 years ago on Google
    Just an excellent staff. Great music from the '80s genre of all types. Fun atmosphere for people who just want to be themselves and unwind and have great conversation.

  • 5/5 Cory 2 years ago on Google
    I've come here to slam a bunch of punch during happy hour. Cheap buzz and nice atmosphere.

  • 1/5 Elysia C. 2 years ago on Google
    My name is displayed all over their establishment so I hold them to a very high standard. Their windows were quite dirty so I used a chalk marker to write "clean" on their windows in cursive handwriting. It's totally erasable and there is no damage to the windows. I can also create Christmas illustrations on the windows and I am experienced in Merchandising and I've worked on windows throughout the city. The owner did not consider this and freaked out and flagged down police and wanted to press charges! He seemed drunk and was hackling me while police were talking to me. Police were rude. Took my pen and gave me a citation for vandalism even though the marker was erasable and the owner erased it after they walked away. Now I know the kind of attitude this place and the men around have. They are creating situations that are possibly violent. Thank God police only citated me and didn't lock me in the van like last time.

  • 2/5 Stephen M. 2 years ago on Google
    Went on a Thursday night, bartender was unhelpful seemed like he didn't even know what beer was, better yet what beers they had on tap. Men's restroom was occupied/locked all night so you had to awkwardly use the women's. Disappointing for a place like the Haight


Call (415) 621-5859 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Payments
    • ✓️ Debit cards
    • ✓️ Credit cards
    • ✓️ NFC mobile payments
  • Offerings
    • ✓️ Beer
    • ✓️ Food
    • ✓️ Wine
    • ✓️ Alcohol
    • ✓️ Cocktails
    • ✓️ Hard liquor
    • ✓️ Happy hour drinks
  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible entrance
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible restroom
  • Dining options
    • ✓️ Outside food allowed
  • Service options
    • ✗ Takeout
    • ✗ Delivery

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