Redwood Room by The Clift

This bar was lovely. The elegant entrance, leading to a high-ceilinged space accented with stunning Klimt-inspired artwork, immediately captivated me. The drinks were excellent, and the burgers and truffle fries were absolutely delicious. While the service wasn’t the best—requiring effort to get the staff’s attention when needed—they were attentive and helpful once they noticed us. They could intentionally look around for customers' needs instead of chatting with each other. Additionally, the round tables we were seated at by the wall felt rather small for a group; larger tables would have been more comfortable. Despite these minor issues, I still give it a 5 out of 5 because the overall experience was fantastic.

Fantastic bar that emanates history and class. High ceilings, rich redwood paneling, original Gustav Klimt paintings, and elegant seating all heighten the experience. Drinks are excellent, and our waitress was friendly and attentive. There was a terrific live jazz ensemble when we were there on a Thursday evening. Definitely worth a visit!

One of the most beautiful bars in the city. The redwood paneling is stunning and made from a single redwood tree. I do miss the portraits that used to hang in the bar where the eyes would move! Still, this is a great place for cocktails and small bites. The bartenders and servers are friendly and attentive.

This is more so a nice lounge/bar. Doesn’t have any entrees.Most of the food items listened on the menu online aren’t available. The menu consists of about 5 items that go well with a cocktail. That being said, the chicken wings were some of the best I’ve had. It was very well seasoned and had a combination of fruit and jalapeños place on top- creating a flavorful of sweet and spicy

Everything a classic hotel car should be and the best Manhattan cocktail I’ve had for a while. Thursday night $12 cocktail specials with live jazz from 8:30-11 can’t be beaten. The space is beautiful with high ceilings and classic art deco touches.

Hands-down, my favorite bar in San Francisco. Classy, classic, sophisticated, stylish and yet low-key. The bar is something to just simply marvelous. The etched glass, the under lighting just gives it such an cool speakeasy vibe. The drinks are great, the only place that makes a Chocolate Martini that I actually enjoy. The hosts and the bartenders are awesome, and the lobby is just a thrill to be in with incredible furniture.

Historic, iconic and gorgeous. Best spot in Union Square for grabbing drinks and food with friends. Their Halloween and New Year's Eve events are epic.

Beautiful bar with high ceiling. The redwood walls and pillars really give a feeling like sitting in a towering woods. We came on Thusrday night and we were welcomed by the live Jazz quartet! The drinks are great. We particularly like Taramind Magarita. Unfortunately, we missed the chance to try croissant bread pudding that my friend hyped me about. The kitchen closed at 10 PM so come before that time. I will come back to try and update the review.

This bar was lovely. The elegant entrance, leading to a high-ceilinged space accented with stunning Klimt-inspired artwork, immediately captivated me. The drinks were excellent, and the burgers and truffle fries were absolutely delicious. While the service wasn’t the best—requiring effort to get the staff’s attention when needed—they were attentive and helpful once they noticed us. They could intentionally look around for customers' needs instead of chatting with each other. Additionally, the round tables we were seated at by the wall felt rather small for a group; larger tables would have been more comfortable. Despite these minor issues, I still give it a 5 out of 5 because the overall experience was fantastic.

Fantastic bar that emanates history and class. High ceilings, rich redwood paneling, original Gustav Klimt paintings, and elegant seating all heighten the experience. Drinks are excellent, and our waitress was friendly and attentive. There was a terrific live jazz ensemble when we were there on a Thursday evening. Definitely worth a visit!

One of the most beautiful bars in the city. The redwood paneling is stunning and made from a single redwood tree. I do miss the portraits that used to hang in the bar where the eyes would move! Still, this is a great place for cocktails and small bites. The bartenders and servers are friendly and attentive.

This is more so a nice lounge/bar. Doesn’t have any entrees.Most of the food items listened on the menu online aren’t available. The menu consists of about 5 items that go well with a cocktail. That being said, the chicken wings were some of the best I’ve had. It was very well seasoned and had a combination of fruit and jalapeños place on top- creating a flavorful of sweet and spicy

Everything a classic hotel car should be and the best Manhattan cocktail I’ve had for a while. Thursday night $12 cocktail specials with live jazz from 8:30-11 can’t be beaten. The space is beautiful with high ceilings and classic art deco touches.

Hands-down, my favorite bar in San Francisco. Classy, classic, sophisticated, stylish and yet low-key. The bar is something to just simply marvelous. The etched glass, the under lighting just gives it such an cool speakeasy vibe. The drinks are great, the only place that makes a Chocolate Martini that I actually enjoy. The hosts and the bartenders are awesome, and the lobby is just a thrill to be in with incredible furniture.

Historic, iconic and gorgeous. Best spot in Union Square for grabbing drinks and food with friends. Their Halloween and New Year's Eve events are epic.

Beautiful bar with high ceiling. The redwood walls and pillars really give a feeling like sitting in a towering woods. We came on Thusrday night and we were welcomed by the live Jazz quartet! The drinks are great. We particularly like Taramind Magarita. Unfortunately, we missed the chance to try croissant bread pudding that my friend hyped me about. The kitchen closed at 10 PM so come before that time. I will come back to try and update the review.

I have gone a few times now to the Redwood Room and every time it's been amazing! It's a gorgeous bar space. Recently went with a few friends for dinner & drinks. The bartender Jackie is the best! Very personable and gives great suggestions if you're undecided on a drink. It was my first time having their burger and it was delicious! 12/10 recommend! And ask for Jackie!

Pro: Great classy ambiance with a classier older (Santa's generation) crowd Con: $25 for a cocktail that's 80% ice Instagram: TianTianEats

Rating based on service from bartenders. And drinks! Came in late around closing, the lounge seating and service was closed but the bartenders were very kind and accommodating to serve us even tho it was late. They are very knowledgeable in drinks. I got the lychee martini and it was great! U can bring the drinks up to ur room too if staying at the Sonesta.

Fantastic bar that emanates history and class. High ceilings, rich redwood paneling, original Gustav Klimt paintings, and elegant seating all heighten the experience. Drinks are excellent, and our waitress was friendly and attentive. There was a terrific live jazz ensemble when we were there on a Thursday evening. Definitely worth a visit!

Romantically dimmed bar in the hotel lobby of the Sonesta. I was staying in the hotel so this was very convenient. I tried the flatbread pizza and it was OK but the drinks were phenomenal. I came on a Thursday and vibed out to the live jazz band. I enjoyed myself so much, I came down the next evening and enjoyed the DJ playing some old school jams. Really enjoyed my stay too. Overall great experience.

The place is inside The Clift Hotel and it's a really nice lounge space with a lot of different types of seating. Went there for live jazz which they have every 1st and 3rd Wed (though I did hear they might change the schedule so tbd). The place was pretty empty probably because it was right after new years. Service was fast. Once one person in my party seated someone would come over with water. Ordered fries and a NA cocktail. I forgot what the cocktail was called but it was really nice and refreshing--chose the one that was a little bitter and sour (had lemon juice and egg whites). Fries were crispy. The acoustics in the place were a little too good since the live jazz sort of took up the whole space so sometimes when talking to someone directly across from you was a little difficult. It's a place with good vibes though so I think if you're in the area and it's a little chilly, it would be nice to pop in and get away from the cold.

With my daughter in tow, I made my triumphant return to the Redwood Room after fifteen years. The store is beautiful and actually restored to it's original splendor. The art work was in storage and replaced the digital arts that was unflattering. It's 6:00pm on a Friday night and we're the only patrons. Back in the day, the bar would have been 3 rows deep. Our lovely server offered her option the decline was post-COVID fallout. Nevertheless, we had a fantastic time!

We had a great time at the Redwood Room 2 nights in a row. Debbie was our server for both times when we were hanging out there during their happy hour (5-630pm Tuesday to Saturday). First of all, the Redwood Room is classy, clean, elegant all at once. It was so beautiful walking inside with such a high ceiling full of redwood. They also have a couple of paintings by Gustav Klimt. The drinks are great and are reasonably priced. Happy hour special: $12 glass of wine, $12 beer + a shot, $5 beer Service was also fantastic. Debbie was friendly and was talking to us about the homeless problems SF is facing. All in all, this bar is lovely and would highly recommend if you are in the area.

Saturday night I wanted to come down and get the special entertainment. I saw the advertising for it right away, and put it on my list of things to do. Unfortunately I was just so exhausted from walking around. There's no way I could take the extra steps To take the elevator to go downstairs. We did go on Sunday tho . It was not as lively . I did Have a great time & great cocktails ! #5Stars

Outstanding decor, but Manhattan was $25 and they used Jack Daniels! Buddy had an old fashion for $25. Unless you are on an expense account, I would skip it

To be honest, a pretty cozy spot for conversation. Big group friendly when it's not busy, so weekdays preferable. We had a group of 24 slowly trickle in and Redwood Room was accommodating in allowing us to shift a few seats around to engage in conversation with one another. Drinks can be on the pricier end for sure and it is a higher end spot, but you're also paying for the ambiance and location. For us, not everyone can accommodate a large party and that's important to consider when gauging the price as well. Drinks were also decently tasty, despite being alcoholic. Kentucky Mule - think alcoholic lemonade but now remove the taste of alcohol. It's very dissipated where I could believe it's sparkling lemonade or something, however you definitely feel the alcohol inside you. Great Moscow mule and the copper mug looks pretty neat too.

It's been 9 years since I posted my first 5 star review for the redwood room. I've been here many times when I lived here in the past decade. Now I came back to visit, it's still one of my favorite regardless how many more cool bars and lounges have come up in the area. I loved the library wall. Very sophisticated selection. I like to come early to sit at the bar when it's quiet. Always a nice chat with the bartenders on the drinks. Shoutout to Jackie and Ivan, the two bartenders for the bourbon and Mezcal tasting! It's a place that made San Francisco home for me no matter where I move.

Perfect and classy place to spend an evening. Very attentive and friendly staff. We got a old fashioned plus dirty martini that were just what we needed after touring around the City.

Great drinks, love the redwood paneling inside the bar. Very art-deco inspired! Great for date night and getting away from the busy shopping mobs in Union Square. The endless summer was a sweeter drink, loved the strawberry notes. Perfect light drink. The big chair was a Manhattan, so typical gentleman's drink and strong. The best part is the cherries! I know it's just garnish, but these are amazing, not the typical bright red cherries with an artificial taste. These are dark cherries with a nice sweet undertone. So go try this spot for drinks!

Great service and atmosphere! Drinks and appetizers were delicious and moderately priced. I came to this lounge for a martini tasting flight event (featuring a specific brand of gin that the bar was partnering with.) When I arrived at 6pm, there were a good handful of tables available and by 7pm, the bar was nearly completely packed with people attending and not attending the event. The ambiance of the lounge is quite nice with the marble tables. Taking a date here for a cocktail or two would be really lovely! My friends and I also had a good laugh about how the top/bottom shelf spirits were organized (ie. Jäegermeister on the very top shelf, haha!) Our waitress said that the Redwood Room occasionally hosts special cocktail nights such as the one we were attending, and to look out for them in the future. We ended up having a great time sampling the different martinis and we all had found a new favorite martini. We had a few servers who provided truly excellent service- refilling water quickly and often, bar napkins with every drink, an explanation of each martini that was arriving. We later ordered some French fries and burger and both were delicious and very beautiful.

I only wanted to come in because I was craving for more olives. We have wine up in our room but I wanted something to eat. When we sat at the bar, I asked our bartender what can I drink that won't upset my stomach if I am having wine later. Jackie said an old fashioned. We enjoyed our libations and had great conversations with both bartenders. They know how to make craft cocktails and the selection is wild. We love the wall they have at the center of the bar. If we ever make it out to SF again, we will definitely visit Redwood again.

Great example of service and positive energy. I loved every second of this! I will Come back

Philippe Starck tried to make it modern (i.e. hipster), but thank heaven it's finally gone back to just being Moderne. If, like me, you were horrified when your favorite place to go for a quiet cocktail before the show morphed into someone's fever dream, and you fled the scene and never went back, now is the time to rediscover the Redwood Room. No, it's not exactly like an old-timer like me remembers, but it has recaptured a lot of the vibe it once had. The music is more contemporary, but the spirits are just as old as they should be, and the wine list is ... (wait for it) ... vintage. It's not cheap (that part is also vintage), but you get what you pay for, and service is top-notch. I like the "Mr. Clift" Manhattan. It goes well with the spiced mixed nuts. There's not a huge food menu, but what's there is good, and you'll find several good places to eat in the same block as the Clift if you want to fortify yourself beforehand. Whether you're old enough to remember days of yore, or your ID still has a stripe on it and you've always wondered what it was like to quaff something elegant in an Art Deco salon, this is your chance to (re)discover something special.

What on earth happened to this place? This used to be the place to be, super classy and historic. Now it is a dump, dirty and feels like a tenderloin dive. So sad to see this and say this but do depressing. I can't give it one star since it's the "Redwood Room" (or at least it used to be), but sheesh.

Very friendly staff!! We loved our waitress and the man checking vaccine cards at the entrance was very nice as well! Expensive drink but it was pretty good. Opens at 6pm and on Fridays and Saturdays they have a DJ with music starting at 9pm

Ambience and drinks were good, but giving 3 star for pricing. Husband and I went downstairs from our hotel to grab 3 drinks and it totaled to be $72, more expensive than Vegas prices. It makes it very hard to want to hang out at the bar every night when the prices are so high so we resorted to going nearby at the local bars.

Jackie was the best bartender! This place is a must!!! Great selections and the service amazing!!!

It's very good to come on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday nights when the jazz band comes!!! The bar itself is slightly pricey but drinks are strong. Food is decent. The service is exceptional! Very very attentive. Water is never left empty. The warm wet towel with lemon slices was a nice touch after having a burger and wings. I docked one star because the garlic aioli was too sour. Fries should be preferably upgraded to steak fries etc. Creme brulee was very good! Generous on the vanilla bean but not slightly too whipped. I'm being a bit nit picky. Good gluten free accommodations. It's a great place to go to as a hotel guest if you prioritize safety but still want a drink at night, so don't mind paying alittle extra. Also clean and nicely decorated. I really enjoyed the ambience.

My date knew I am a big fan of cocktail bars and took me to this bar after he had previously stayed at the hotel of which it is inside. It did its job, I was impressed. From the figures in the 'paintings' that spookily shift poses from out of nowhere to the gorgeous wall of liquor behind the bar, the atmosphere was beautiful, dramatic and looked like a speakeasy-type of setting. Most importantly, the drinks were tasty, looked pretty and had fun, locally-inspired names like 'Bay to Breakers.' The staff was pleasant and fast. There is a variety of seating from bar stools to large, comfy plush chairs. The design, drinks and hospitality will have me returning for more drinks. Definitely a unique hotel bar.

The room is beautiful but the drinks are just ok and if you go earlier in the evening, it's pretty boring.

I come to San Francisco once a year for Dreamforce, and there are two places I always have to go to at least twice each time. Tselogs, and Redwood Room. Jackie and Ivan are wonderful and I remember their friendly faces from the past two years. Jackie makes the best old fashioned I've ever had and Ivan always takes the time to help me choose the right wine. Thank you so much for making my stay in SF amazing every time!

Ambiance is a bit weird since it's in a hotel off the lobby. music is fantastic. Extremely over priced and poor variety of wine. Parking is difficult or very expensive. Seating is very uncomfortable. This place has lots of potential if some improvements were made .

I've been coming here for years and I went to check out the new renovations for the first time last night. I was honestly legitimately upset. A beautiful 85 year old San Francisco bar with a ton of class and character has been ruined. It now looks like a combination between an airport lounge and a depressing Hyatt Place hotel bar. This is honestly a war crime. How anyone could possibly look at what they've done to what used to be one of the nicest bars in the city and think 'yes this is good, great job' I do not know. Yet another example of how big money and rising rent is ruining san francisco. So what have they done? - Replaced the dark leather & wood furniture that actually matched the dark red walls with cheap-looking pleather chairs in a light grey and ugly fake marble tables that do not match the red wood walls AT ALL (pictured). - Put in an insanely ugly and cheap-looking Hyatt Place esque carpet (pictured). - Ripped out the beautiful glass bar top and replaced it with a fake black marble one (WHY, what a fucking tragedy). - Changed the intimate warm yellow lighting to bright cheap hotel bar white so there's zero comfort or intimacy while you're sitting at the bar, and indeed it feels like the place is permanently about to close because it's so bright right in your face. - Turned the previously intimate, dark, interesting and sexy lobby space into a ... Hyatt Place (that comparison keeps coming to mind because it's perfect shorthand for 'depressing, personality-free, cheap and ugly'). Remember the giant chair with the fur blanket and the cool carved love seat? Yeah they're gone. What they've done I've attached a picture of below. We spoke to a bar server who has worked there a long time and while they didn't come out and say it, we could tell they were upset with what has been done to an SF institution too. I am not a traditionalist in any way and am usually all for renovation, but believe me when I say this bar has had its soul ripped out and has been effectively ruined. We used to go once a week at least. We won't be going any more. Nice job Royal Sonesta.

A hidden gem at The Clift Hotel! If it's your first time here, you might have a hard time looking for it. After you enter, just walk straight through the lobby, and here you go, Redwood Room. Drinks are decent, the ambiance is somewhat chill and classic--if you get here early, you might be able to grab a table. Service is always very attentive.

"Pussy got that wet, wet, got that drip, drip Got that Super Soaker, hit that, she a Fefe Her name Keke, she eat my dick like it's free, free" - 6ix9ine Exact words that come to mind once you step into the Redwood Room. A more appropriate name would be Red Room; Red=hot, but HOT could lead to Wood so, Redwood it is. This places oozes with classy, sexy vibes. From the long red velvet drapes, to the dimly lit room, to the bar with walls of high end alcohol, to the furniture specifically the giant chair in the lobby. The crowd was quite diverse in age, sex, and race. Men in their suits and ladies in their tight IFYOUSEEKAMY dresses. In the music was current which is always a plus. Staff were friendly. This venue is perfect for your party needs, date night, or GNO. Think 50 shades minus the toys.

This place is a must for me every time I visit SF. I love the ambiance here! The dim lights, high ceilings, fancy decor, and live dj music always gets me in the mood for a night of mingling at the bars, swaying to catchy tunes, and just being around an energizing crowd. Not to mention, the impressive liquor display behind the bar that's almost as high as the ceilings themselves (and that's high). The drinks are on the pricey side, but you pay for the atmosphere. Jackie the bartender is the sweetest and makes amazing cocktails. I asked for a fruity drink with redbull in it, and she came up with this delicious cherry-vanilla-amaretto mix with cherries, raspberries, and a lemon zest on top. Amazing :) Depending on the night, the crowd can range from a classier group to some not-so-composed individuals making a scene on the make-shift dance floor. And chances are, you might encounter certain individuals with questionable intentions, whether you're a guy or girl. But don't let that discourage you from checking this place out ! Take it for what it is and enjoy your night!

Redwood Room at THE CLIFT - used to be THE PLACE to go in San Francisco - NOT anymore... Since SONESTA took over - it's down the hill, really really down. They have removed all of beautiful ART that Redwood Room was known for, removed all the memorable ART from the foyer of the hotel. They raised prices at the Redwood Room to an absolutely outrageous level and put a DJ, who absolutely doesn't care if his choice of music is being liked or enjoyed, and when we approached him and politely mentioned that nobody is dancing, giving him a hint to start paying attention - he totally ignored our comment and just turned the volume up... really bad experience. We used to come often and really enjoyed this place. We know one of the bartender's well and we made a comment to her - her only response was that management doesn't care AND we were not the first one 's making these negative comments - but no changes of any sort were being implemented OR would even ever be implemented... sad, it really was a great place to enjoy and to bring visitors to... NOT anymore

Nice place for a drink in historic San Francisco. Bartenders are very experienced and helpful with clients. Bar menu needs to be expanded to catch up with 2019. Good drinks but needs more innovation. Not sure why the Redwood room doesn't have a better relationship with its host Clift hotel for parking.

Beautiful bar & inviting lounge area. Ted the mixologist was suberb, & sweet server Romela was excellent! Greg the D J played great music, took requests & was a super nice guy. Drinks were a bit pricey however they matched the elegance of the lounge. Doormen both nights were so polite & inviting. Great lounge! Thks, LoRusso

Judging from the pictures, it looks like they have absolutely ruined what was a beautiful, somewhat original bar and made it into a flashy, stupidly trendy bar that looks like everything else out there. This used to be one of my favorite places to go for a cocktail in an amazing place but now it looks like Disney land. So long Red Wood room, it was nice knowing you. Btw, do they really paint the red wood ceiling? Leopard print table tops? Fire management and owners. A disgrace.

The jazz band was so good I have to rate it four stars. Warning: on Saturday night, the hostess tried to tell us our 8 person crowd would have a $350 minimum in order to score a seat. Even though there was plenty of room. We refused and started to walk out, and they changed their minds and said we all would have a one drink minimum instead. That was A-OK with us. The band was super fun and we danced until 1 am. Drinks were yummy. The redwood room itself is old San Francisco elegance and I'm really glad they saved the gorgeous paneling. The new decor is so much more classy than the funky remodel a few years ago -- bravo for the new furniture! Also, take a pic in the huge chair in the hallway on the way to the ladies room. Cute!

Had a great time on Friday night, 12/17. Malachi was djing and we had Elizabeth as our hostess. Greeted my husband and me with a friendly smile, had water to our table right away while we were deciding on our drinks. She was very patient and attentive. I was impressed with how she handled a big party that was seated next to us, even though she had them, she never left our drink or water glasses empty. Had a great time, listened to good music, had good drinks, and Elizabeth was a great hostess. Everyone seemed to have a great time, it was a good vibe at the Redwood Room this evening.

I love the vibe of this bar. I was there on Friday night and experienced amazing service from the bar staff. I had two bourbon old fashions that were made perfectly. The bartender who helped us was actually pretty funny and entertaining. He called me by my alias, El Diablo. Two thumbs up.

Hostess stops me from going because I am wearing shorts (keep in mind it's almost 100 degrees outside). I go to change into a skirt..... Meanwhile she lets my guy friend in, who is wearing board shorts. WELL DONE. I changed and went in. Bartender is super cool. Makes great martinis. Lychee and regular.

Love this place and have been here a few times over the last ten years. The hostess was slightly off and slightly dim but nothing compared to the server. When I asked her if she could have the burger cut in half she said " I'll bring you a knife, my chef is in a bad mood I don't wanna ask him" I'm like what ?!!!! Then she forgot to put an item through, I will say she gave us a comp martini for her balls up but even so ! WTF. She is probably better suited on the run way. Definitely hired for her looks rather than hospitality skill. The food was amazing and the martinis great but I have to say the service was more like a TGI Friday's than a high end hotel.

Whoa, I am surprised that this bar lounge exists in the hidden realms of the Cliff hotel! It's sexy and chic and their crafted cocktails fits the mood. There are moving art portraits hung on the wall that reminded me of Harry Potter. They offer petite bar bites along with other drinks, such as wine and beer. Golden and dimly lit setting with appealing, velvet lounge.

Come for the drinks. Pricey but made with interesting ingredients. My friend had a huckleberry cocktail made with cinnamon syrup! Come for the classy, upscale ambiance located inside the Clift Hotel, with its wall to wall rich Redwood paneling, the beautiful glass etched bar, the high ceilings and the flattering lighting. Come to people watch. Folks in their 20's, 30's and 40's were all chic: women in their LBDs and men in their suits. Stay only if you can afford the $15 cocktails, $10 non-alcholic drinks and the $8 beers. Jesus, for that price, I heard my wallet screaming at me and saying, "didn't you spend enough on your outfit already?!? now you want to spend more on drinks!" Ladies, this is the time to work the crowd and get those free cocktails. I'm sure you won't have a hard time, the male to female ratio is definitely in your favor. Whatever happens after that, you're on your own.

I should wear a tuxedo when I come here with my valet and my sterling silver cocktail shaker...."The important thing is the rhythm. Always have rhythm in your shaking. Now a Manhattan you shake to fox-trot time, a Bronx to two-step time, a dry martini you always shake to waltz time." That's a clever line spoken by the martini-swilling Nick Charles in "The Thin Man", and it fits perfectly in the Redwood Room, as old-school San Francisco as you can possibly get in the Clift, a legendary hotel that was built in the then-popular Beaux-Arts style just in time for the Pan Pacific Exposition in 1913. The Art Deco bar didn't come for another twenty years at the height of the Great Depression, and it still retains the theatrical grandeur of the architecture and polished wood finishes (photo: http://bit.ly/15WZRTl). I don't come often, but when I do, it always feels comfortable no matter how crowded it can get with tourists. It feels enormous with the vaulted ceilings and the brightly back-lit shelving unit of various libations (photo: http://bit.ly/YAlHqB). Otherwise it's quite dark save for the central fireplace and the mood lighting on some of the unusual artwork that can be found on the walls. It would be the perfect setting for an illicit tryst if only the house detective wasn't spying on us. Cocktails here are steep at $15 but seemingly appropriate with names that evoke a time when the boys were overseas fighting for Uncle Sam and the USO was in town. A Marilyn Monroe, for example, is made of Leblon Cachaça, tamarind, coconut milk, lime juice, and a splash of cream on the rocks. However, a faux-sophisticate like me deserves a Clift Manhattan consisting of Bulleit bourbon, Carpano Antica sweet vermouth, and orange bitters. Straight up with no chaser please. Ah, very smooth indeed. COCKTAILS - 4 stars...pricey but the ideal mood setter AMBIANCE - 5 stars...one of the nicest old-school bars in the city SERVICE - 4 stars...the bartender takes care to shake and not stir TOTAL - 4 stars...where the elite meet to be discreet

OBSESSED with this place. Just came here Thursday with my bestie and now I know why my boss continuously raves about this place and he is the pickiest person ever. Got here around 9:30 and it was poppin. Busy to the point where you have to scout for seats at the bar. You can make reservations for the sofas as well with a minimum easily reached. This bar is gorgeous and super swanky. Every corner is a new photo op and I'm sure I looked dumb af taking a million selfies here. Whoever runs this place NEEDS to give Ivan a raise. This guy is SHARP. He is the best bartender I've ever had and I am a drunk so I know my bartenders. I'm literally writing this review sitting at the hotel bar in the Four Seasons Biltmore wishing I was at the Redwood Room instead just so I can see Ivan again. Some guy was trying to get me to buy drinks on my tab and I told Ivan to make sure to hand the guy the bill and he didn't miss a mothafucking beat. He just nodded and looked straight at him and was all "so you want to start a tab?" amazing. This is what dreams are made of. I started with the Clift Painkiller with half the coconut cream so I didn't up drinking 5000 calories by the end of the night. I ended up ordering it again four hours later (I ended up staying till close) and Ivan remembered exactly how I liked it. Super impressive considering how busy this place was and how he had probably made hundreds of drinks in the mean time. He is super attentive aind so quick. My friend and I ordered a stupid amount of drinks and it was never difficult to get his attention. Nothing worse than having to wait 20 minutes to order at a busy bar. Along with the cocktails galore, we also got a hamburger which was MASSIVE and four espressos. I also asked Ivan to make me a strong vodka drink that didn't taste like vodka and he hooked it up considering it tasted like juice and I was proper wasted by the time I left. Just how I like to spend my thirsty Thursday's. The only thing that might throw people off is the sausage fest here. I've never seen so many dudes on the prowl. I'm pretty sure everyone thought my friend and I were escorts purely based on the fact we were the only single ladies there. Lots of cheesy dudes hitting on us to the point where my friend hid under a chair to hide from one!! There is no way this is escort central because there were no other single girls there. Just tons of dudes probably looking for escorts. Some guy literally followed me to the bathroom and yelled at me to talk to him as soon as I got there. Otherwise I don't know why there are so many negative reviews. Drinks are pricey but it's also SF. I've paid more for drinks that had dead flies in them (ahem ahem Fleur de lys). Trust me this place could charge even more and people would still swarm for the solid drinks and ambiance.

This bar is part of the Clift Hotel in the city. A little hidden when you enter but head towards the (loud) music and you should find it! You can reserve tables here ahead of time so you have a place to sit with your group. Ambience is pretty great, but it gets pretty loud in there. There was a live DJ and live music playing the night we were there (a Thursday evening). It wasn't too crowded around 7-9pm. It was a little hard to have a conversation across the table since the place was so loud. Fun fact: At one point of the night, the paintings on the walls change into portraits of people and they move! The people will move their head ever so slightly and even blink. Check them out and keep your eyes peeled - don't blink!

I need something good to start off with 2017. I work with badge carrying fools all the time, but they don't have something I have - a new shiny Yelp Elite 2017 badge. Of course, their badge will get them in places my elite badge won't, but hey...they haven't lived like I have. To celebrate the New Year, I'll have to bust out a nice five star review. Staying on the badge theme, why is it whenever I walk into the Redwood Room, I just feel like James Bond? Picture a scene where he is wearing his white tuxedo jacket, bow tie, Walther PPK under his arm, and some nice hotties just to make eye contact with him and to go on his other arm. To add to the sleuth scene, pictures on the walls have moving eyes...I'm sure I'm being watched. You talk about a full bar, with full prices and premium choices? You found the right place, and you may find me there too.

Terrible service. Ridiculous clientele all looking at their phones. Waitresses can't be bothered to serve anyone but the reserved tables. Rude, rude, rude. Only go here if you want to be treated like garbage and be ignored waiting to be served an overpriced cocktail with a bunch of 21 year old kids with phones in their faces! Additionally there is a collection of escorts in this place. It's too bad overall bc the bar itself is really cool looking and the music was good. The only reason this isn't one star is bc we did manage to get served by a bartender who was awesome. She was smart and friendly. She was the saving grace for this place. My advice is to plan on a loud, oddly mixed crowd, rude waitresses and by chance a great bartender. Escorts hang out in the back of the room... young model like women clinging to unattractive, overweight, older, wealthy looking men.

This is located inside The Clift hotel in union square. I've always loved this place, it's has a very sexy vibe. The seats at the bar are prime real estate,since most if not all of the booths and seating areas are reserved for bottle service, like Vegas. They have these 3 photo images on the walls and they have been the same persons FOREVER, they change their expressions every few seconds and frankly they need to change them, they are not attractive people. I once mentioned to a manager that it would be cool to put up pics of patrons when they come in the bar, how cool would that be? They certainly have the technology and the crowd would love it. I've been in the bar biz my whole life and I know what works...

I went here largely because there was a lot of my colleagues staying in this area. First this place is cool and expensive but the place had hookers walking around looking for customers. I am sorry I don't go to what is considered a classy joint to be hit on by hookers looking for a trick. Not sure this is normal but it really turned me off. The DJ here is pretty good and the cocktails are good but it is damn expensive for what it is. I really liked it the first time I went there. I almost did not go in as the hotel would refuse to let me in unless I had a room key or was meeting a guest. I hate places that have a exclusive mentality and I only went there as I wanted to spend time with friends who were staying there. All in all a great bar / lounge and I would go there if they were a bit more open and secondly prevented other nonsense activity from happening in the bar.