Wei-Ai Tai

Fun neighborhood bar in the Mission District of San Francisco. Wide variety of distinct and unique hand-crafted cocktails, set in a vibrant and hip environment. All the drinks we ordered were fantastic. Friendly and super efficient service. Music is on the loud side, though. Seating for food available on the second floor if you want more than cocktails.

Kunal Puranik

This is a great place for cocktails. We went there just before it started getting crowded and were lucky to find a great spot by the bar. Everyone working here is so nice. We tried a couple of cocktails and loved each one of them. But, The optimist was our favourite

+6

JZ

3.5/4 A dark ambiance bar known for creative, themed, and seasonal menus. The cocktails were fun and playful but taste wise, they were just ok. The decor leans casual and relaxed - good for both friend groups and dates. Honestly I don't remember too much bc I was busy canoodling so safe to say it was dark enough, vibey enough and I had great company:'). A fun place, not too packed on Sat past midnight, would recommend.

Carmen Augusto

Trick Dog is such a fun and creative spot! It’s a themed bar that switches things up every six months — last time I went, it was a poetry theme, and yesterday they had a space theme. The menu is always super inventive, with cocktail names that match the theme perfectly. Drinks are delicious, the vibe is lively, and the music adds to the energy without being too loud. Definitely one of those places that keeps things fresh and makes you want to come back just to see what they’ll dream up next.

Pedro Vicente

Nice, solid cocktail bar. Small in a good way, but it can get packed. It's hard to get a drink then given that they only have two bartenders. Found it randomly while walking after visiting San Ho Won.

Manny Perez

It was a busy night when we came and really loud, but we were able to find a table upstairs. Service was prompt, drinks came out with not too bad of a wait. Cocktails are good, I definitely believe with their extensive menu there is a tasting profile for everyone. Bonus points for theme and creativity with he menu.

Luke Qian

Trick Dog has long been known for its creativity, both in cocktail design and visual presentation — a legacy proudly displayed through its rotating, themed menus, many of which now serve as part of the bar’s wall decor. We visited during the Circus menu and sampled several cocktails. As expected with a concept that evolves frequently, the quality and balance of the drinks varied. Some offerings were well-executed and enjoyable, while others leaned more heavily on novelty than finesse. For instance, the Human Dartboard was a standout — refreshing and vegetal, topped with a clever cheese foam that added both texture and intrigue. In contrast, the Glass Walker opened with aggressively savory notes that made the first sip jarring; while it became slightly more approachable with subsequent sips, the overall balance felt off. Trick Dog continues to impress with its ambition and originality, but some drinks could benefit from a bit more nuance. At times, the concepts feel more literal than layered — bold in idea, but lacking the subtlety that makes a cocktail truly memorable.

Landon Ledbetter

Stopped by while we were waiting for a table for dinner and definitely enjoyed ourselves. This is a solid place to grab some drinks and hang out. The food list is short but it tastes good with a wide of speciality cocktails that mimic yoga poses, you’ll find something you enjoy. Indoor and outdoor seating is available, definitely recommend checking out!

+1

Devdav Newar

This place was suggested by our local friend. unique name for sure and so is the place. One thing that attracted us the most before we got there was their poetic drinks menu. The owner has curated a poem for every drink that describes them very creatively. They also have a regular menu but would suggest you to read the poems. Every drink has a unique flavour and presentation that is not something you would find in other bars. The bartenders are really fun. Don’t expect to ask for anything off the menu as they don’t do that. It was pretty warm inside and our friends would keep going out to get some air. Don’t know if that’s a usual or was it just that day. Its a hole in the wall kind of a place and one should definitely go for the unique experience.

Jon Leong

ultimately, a disappointing experience. Hopefully an anomaly. Context: Towards the end of a week night, group of five of us went there. both food and drinks were ordered. Cocktails were OK. But there was definitely an issue. One cocktail was almost completely ice. I would say 90% of the glass was ice cubes. The fries definitely tasted like they were old and stale, and were refried to try and save them. Texture was off, no longer crispy on the outside, fluffy on inside. Chicken sandwich was OK but felt like it was more a combination of ingredients rather than a cohesive sandwich. The kale salad, however, was quite good. Copious amounts of kale and cheese. That one is worth getting again. hostess, bartenders and staff were friendly. Nice ambience, cool place to hang. As I said before, I hope it was just an anomaly.

Andrew

I really want to love Trick Dog. The rotating menu every six months and the commitment to a full theme is genuinely cool and surprisingly not gimmicky. They do it well. San Francisco needs bars like this places that are creative, ambitious, and willing to take risks. I’ve followed Trick Dog across the last three menus and have tried a majority of the drinks, which is why it’s disappointing to say that, after giving it real thought, the cocktails just don’t land for me. Yes, the techniques are flashy, and yes, the flavor combinations are unexpected. But more often than not, the end result simply isn’t very good. The drinks tend to prioritize shock value over balance or depth, leaning heavily on “look what we put in this” ingredients rather than crafting something truly delicious. Clever doesn’t always equal satisfying, and here it often feels like the concept outweighs the cocktail. On top of that, the service has consistently felt a bit pretentious. I get that staff probably hear questions like “what do people order the most?” all the time, but when drinks are this expensive, a little patience goes a long way. An eye-roll or attitude doesn’t make the experience better, especially when guests are just trying to navigate a complicated menu. It genuinely bums me out to write this, because I like the idea of Trick Dog and root for them every time a new menu drops. I keep hoping the next iteration will be the one that clicks but so far, it hasn’t. I’ll probably still stop by in the future out of curiosity, but if you’re choosing where to spend your money, you’re better off rounding the corner to True Laurel for a more consistently great cocktail experience.

Ananya Mahesh

worst drink i've ever had in my 23 years of life and my boyfriend said the same. took one sip and was like let's leave and we walked out. very old demographic and just not it. DONT GO. waste of money and time