Barback

Upper Haight · Lounge

Zam Zam

To order a dry gin martini — including the smaller 'Bruno,' named for the bar's late, famously exacting owner — in the same red-lit room Herb Caen was writing about decades ago.

Going soloNightcapQuiet conversation
Neighbourhood
Upper Haight
Style
Lounge
Known for
Opened in 1941 as the Persian Aub Zam Zam; columnist Herb Caen dubbed it the 'Holy Shrine of the Dry Martini' · Longtime owner Bruno Mooshei (1951-2000) was legendary for ejecting customers who didn't order a proper drink · Designated a San Francisco Legacy Business by SF Heritage
Prices
$$ · cocktails ~$14–17
Getting in
Walk-ins only. Only; no reservations taken
Food
Drinks only
Hours
Mon-Fri 3pm-2am, Sat-Sun 1pm-2am — confirm current hours
Address
1633 Haight St, San Francisco, CA 94117

WebsiteMap

Checked: Checked Nov 2026: no official bar website exists, so status was confirmed via SF Heritage's Legacy Business page plus 2026-dated Yelp reviews showing active operation.

Photo: Zam Zam, from their website.

Same neighbourhood

Also in Upper Haight

Craft cocktails$$$ Upper HaightThe Alembic BarA narrow Haight Street room that reads like an apothecary crossed with a scholar's den — floral wallpaper, dark wood, book-lined shelves, and long shelves of whiskey running the length above the bar. It's equal parts neighborhood watering hole and destination cocktail bar, cozy and a little worn-in rather than slick.Walk-ins only