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Absinthe Brasserie and Bar - SF, San Francisco, CA

Absinthe Brasserie and Bar - SF

4.7 (7423)
$31 to $50
French
398 Hayes Street, San Francisco, CA 94102

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 25 times today

About this restaurant

  • Neighbourhood gem
  • Good for special occasions
  • Charming
We are currently accepting reservations for lunch, brunch, and dinner.


Effective 09/26/2022:
Outdoor seating will not be available.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    French, Californian
  • Hours of Operation
    Brunch Sat, Sun 11:00 am–3:00 pm Lunch Wed–Fri 11:30 am–3:00 pm Dinner Wed–Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Executive Chef
    Ian Begg
  • Area
    Civic Center / Hayes Valley / Van Ness
  • Cross Street
    Gough
  • Parking details
    No valet. Street parking and nearby public lot located on Grove between Franklin and Gough.
  • Additional
    Patio/Outdoor Dining

What 7,423 people are saying

Absinthe Brasserie and Bar - SF reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7
4.7 based on recent ratings
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.3Value

NoiseModerate

Diners' Choice Awards

  • San Francisco

    French

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Absinthe Brasserie and Bar in San Francisco offers "wonderful food, wonderful service, wonderful ambiance," making it a top choice for pre- or post-performance dining. Guests rave about the "delicious cocktails" and "Paris-like atmosphere," while dishes like the sole and beef bourguignon are consistently praised. It's a beloved spot for special occasions, thanks to attentive staff and a delightful European vibe.
7,423 Reviews
  1. Bernard VIP

    San Francisco Bay Area2 reviews

    1.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    Cons: - mouse scurrying in the restaurant. When notified, the staff feigned to be surprised, and the manager laughed it off, saying that it’s a battle but with the doors open, rodents get in. (So now I need to empathize with this man?!). PS: the doors are NOT open. - I had notified the restaurant that this was for a birthday celebration. I had to remind the wait staff. Didn’t make the occasion feel special. They did comp a dessert. - prices have gone up significantly. Pro: - the food was good. - the place is quiet. This place had symbolic significance for us but this experience was subpar. I really want to support SF businesses and I know this review will be damaging but I can’t see myself ever going back there.

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  2. Risa VIP

    San Francisco Bay Area25 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Absinthe is a wonderful restaurant with delicious food and fine personable service. While it’s a bit on the expensive side, I gladly pay for the upscale ambience with table cloths and a moderate noise level. Eating here is always a nice experience.

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  3. Reynette VIP

    San Francisco Bay Area43 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    We stopped in for an early and light dinner. We ordered several smaller plates and a salad for sharing. Two cheese plates, two “bar bites”, and salad lyonnaise. The Eggs and Toast plate was fabulous as was the Birds of a Feather pate. All delicious and we would order these dishes again. The service was also wonderful, we’ve had the same server before and he is engaging, helpful, and very polite. We were sat in a way back corner which was a bit cramped for a party of three.

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  4. Charles VIP

    Hawaii149 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We have been here several times, and the food was outstanding and so was the service.

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  5. Bill

    San Francisco Bay Area6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Classy French Bistro without the airfare. The duck in all forms is excellent

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  6. Tatiana VIP

    San Francisco Bay Area3 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Great service and excellent food. Great lunch before going to SF Opera or SF Symphony.

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  7. AyobamiA

    New York City2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 31 May 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I had an excellent experience. The food was absolutely delicious, and the drinks were just as impressive. There are still several items on the menu I’m excited to try, so I’ll definitely be coming back. The lady I was with really enjoyed her meal too, and the desserts we shared were incredible!

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  8. Cathleen VIP

    San Francisco Bay Area41 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 30 May 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We are always so pleased with our meals and the service. Wonderful flavors, beautifully served. The Petrale sole is the best!

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  9. Elizabeth VIP

    San Francisco Bay Area19 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 29 May 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Always an excellent lunch or brunch before a SF performance. Stellar service and delicious food.

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  10. Nicholas

    San Francisco Bay Area3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 29 May 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Everything we ordered, from cocktails to appetizers to main dishes was incredible. And that is rare to find every single dish worthy of going back for. Service was also super friendly and welcoming. Love this place!

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FAQs

Absinthe Brasserie and Bar - SF is rated 4.7 stars by 7423 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. San Francisco Bay Area
  4. San Francisco
  5. Civic Center / Hayes Valley / Van Ness

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 25 times today
Google Map for Absinthe Brasserie and Bar - SF

398 Hayes Street, San Francisco, CA 94102

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    Gough
  • Area
    Civic Center / Hayes Valley / Van Ness
  • Hours of Operation
    Brunch Sat, Sun 11:00 am–3:00 pm Lunch Wed–Fri 11:30 am–3:00 pm Dinner Wed–Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    French, Californian
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Parking details
    No valet. Street parking and nearby public lot located on Grove between Franklin and Gough.
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Ian Begg
  • Additional
    Patio/Outdoor Dining
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Impressum
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
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