Aub Zam Zam

Gorgeous artwork and a very chill vibe. Generously poured martinis! A must visit for bar lovers coming to San Francisco! A fabulous untouched bar from 1941 that encourages social interaction and jukebox playing!

Best local bar with a rich history (but don’t go if you’re out on your bachelorette party or with a big annoying group please - locals will hate you lol)

Timeless classic of an old bar in Haight Ashbury. It's a beautiful setting and a destination of a place. Drinks are strong. Cash only or preferred to my understanding. There is an entertaining crowd of evident regulars.

It's a great place for me to hustle my meat 🥩

Reviewing a venerable institution like Zam Zam feels almost sacrilegious, yet here we are. Established in 1941 by Assyrian-born Samson Mooshei as the "Persian Aub Zam Zam," this iconic Haight Street bar has been serving classic cocktails for over eight decades. The late Bruno Mooshei, Samson's son, was the undisputed king of martinis, known for his exacting standards and, shall we say, selective hospitality. Today, Katie has assumed the role with aplomb, continuing the tradition of crafting impeccable martinis and Manhattans. Stepping into Zam Zam is like entering a time capsule of old San Francisco. The Persian-inspired Art Deco interior, complete with a mural depicting the Persian love story of Khosru and Shireen, exudes a timeless charm. This isn't merely a bar; it's a shrine to the city's storied history of libations. Ordering anything other than a martini or a Manhattan would be akin to heresy. With its rich legacy, Zam Zam stands as a testament to enduring quality and tradition, a place where the past is ever-present and the martinis are eternally perfect.

If I don't rate it 5 stars, Bruno will come back from beyond just to kick me out. Generally stays pretty tourist free due to being cash only! All the locals bring their dogs too.

Funky/ retro secret little bar. More of a lounge, really. Low light. Vintage jukebox with old/ jazzy/ interesting music. CASH ONLY

Favorite bar on Haight St. Best scene, best people, best staff, best ambiance. They have a phenomenal gin selection! Welcoming environment, but with perfect size and mood lighting to feel like a secret spot. Great for a date, a nights adventure, or just something different.

Had a wonderful time! Met really nice people, loved our bartender (she’s amazing), we were from out of town and she made us feel like we were locals! It was our 10year anniversary and new to the city! Definitely look forward to our next trip to San Fran and this place will be one to visit again! Martini’s are wonderful, bring cash! If not they have a convenient ATM inside. Thanks again for the awesome experience!

back in the 1980's this place was more commonly known as "Bruno's", the name of the owner/barkeep. He disapproved of most people, but for some reason he liked me... probably because I drank martini's or old fashions, or maker's mark over ice... he would drink along with us. But honestly I think he kicked out or refused to serve half the people who came in ("You can go to the fern bar on the corner down the block and order your little frozen sissy drink!!!"). Sometimes he didn't like their look, or what they ordered, or if they talked too loud. We would guess how long the people at the little tables would wait before they realized there are no servers and he's not going out from behind the bar. I enjoyed the show very much... I hope it is still filled with character and laughs.

What an amazing find. Tai(sorry if mis-spelled) was our bartender and the sweetest lady ever. We had the best martini and conversation. Definitely will be back next visit.

Super super strong martinis (I guess that's how they're supposed to be?) and a great old doge to hang with at the bar as well. The bartenders are nice and open to conversation which is a rarity in this city. Apparently its been around for a while too, so a great place to take people who want a ~~real SF experience~~

One of the bartenders, Kundan, is awesome: she saw a very drunk lady taking someone's drink when they weren't looking and read her the riot act. I already loved this bar, but it made me feel far more safe, knowing bartenders are looking out for their customers.

One of the last true San Francisco Gem❤️.Last night I had a fabulous Mai Tai . The bartender was very nice . The crowed was polite and chill and hip! The decor is a eclectic mix of 50’s , Baroque , Hippie chic 😎super cool.

The greatest neighborhood dive bar in the world. Amazing bartenders. Amazing atmosphere. If and when it closes, my heart will break.

Loved the aesthetics of this bar. Also, loved the doggie that was guarding at the door 🥰

Having stumbled upon this bar by walking down Haight Street, we decided to go in and see what it was like. We were in for a great treat. We sat at the bar and were immediately greeted by a male bartender who said he had recently joined the staff there. He was extremely friendly and told us about the bar's history. It used to only serve Gin Martinis. In fact, he told us a story about how the owner of the bar (1940's, I believe) would only serve Gin Martinis, and if you asked for anything else, he would kick you out of the bar. Of course that isn't still the case, you can order any drink you desire, but it made for an awesome story to listen to while we were there. There are even pictures of the old owner hung on the walls. There are some from a new years celebration & a few others. I ended up ordering a martini (vodka), just for the nostalgia of it. Before you say anything, yes, I know it wasn't Gin, but I'm not a Gin drinker, so Vodka was my selection. The martini was delicious, the setting was very interesting & learning about the history of the bar made the whole experience that much more memorable. The bar is very ornate, for being so old, but is a very casual place to relax and have a drink. I would recommend stopping by and checking it out. You'll be glad that you did.

The best Mixologist I have ever came across on my life! This location is cozy and inviting, and their restrooms are very clean.

ZamZam. Good old ZamZam. Strong pours of classic drinks. My go to is the Manhattan. Lots of people drinking shots with a beer back as well as those having gin and vodka martinis. Place has a beautiful mural behind the bar that’s been there mostly forever. Pretty sure the place would look seedier were the low lighting ever turned up. Still, old school bar on upper Haight. Drop in for strong drinks, mellow vibe of locals and tourists, consistently attentive bar tenders that know their customers and craft.

Zam Zam definitely belongs on the short-list for classic San Francisco bars. Dimly lit lounge vibes, eclectic decor, and most importantly, a pretty bangin’ martini.

Enjoyed Dirty Martini’s at this amazing bar, by Katie with my new bestie Frankie x

A classic, little dive bar with some great history and beautiful Deco-Persian design. We stopped in for a drink while on vacation and were not disappointed! The bartender went out of his way to find us the ingredients he needed for the drinks we asked for. Great drinks, service and a fun atmosphere! BTW, it's cash only but they do have an ATM located inside.

This place is extremely memorable. The bartender working on Saturday, August 20, 2022 was excellent. Evidently a true craftsman and very friendly. He made my first Old Fashioned ever before my eyes, and it was pretty artisanal stuff. The Old Fashioned is now my favourite cocktail, but I doubt I'll have one as good as the one (well, two) I had here anywhere else. My friends and I stared at the mural for quite some time.

Zam Zam is legendary for any number of reasons but mostly I am here to tell you to get a martini and hopefully to not have anything else you need to get done later and probably even the next day Also it’s objectively a pretty and uncommon (these days at least) semi-circle bar. Just go enjoy the ambiance!

A wonderfully quirky little spot. The negroni goes hard.

Josiah Roe

The greatest neighborhood dive bar in the world. Amazing bartenders. Amazing atmosphere. If and when it closes, my heart will break.

Ditmoitous

One of the last true San Francisco Gem❤️.Last night I had a fabulous Mai Tai . The bartender was very nice . The crowed was polite and chill and hip! The decor is a eclectic mix of 50’s , Baroque , Hippie chic 😎super cool.

Christopher Morris

Having stumbled upon this bar by walking down Haight Street, we decided to go in and see what it was like. We were in for a great treat. We sat at the bar and were immediately greeted by a male bartender who said he had recently joined the staff there. He was extremely friendly and told us about the bar's history. It used to only serve Gin Martinis. In fact, he told us a story about how the owner of the bar (1940's, I believe) would only serve Gin Martinis, and if you asked for anything else, he would kick you out of the bar. Of course that isn't still the case, you can order any drink you desire, but it made for an awesome story to listen to while we were there. There are even pictures of the old owner hung on the walls. There are some from a new years celebration & a few others. I ended up ordering a martini (vodka), just for the nostalgia of it. Before you say anything, yes, I know it wasn't Gin, but I'm not a Gin drinker, so Vodka was my selection. The martini was delicious, the setting was very interesting & learning about the history of the bar made the whole experience that much more memorable. The bar is very ornate, for being so old, but is a very casual place to relax and have a drink. I would recommend stopping by and checking it out. You'll be glad that you did.

Dianna Barbosa

The best Mixologist I have ever came across on my life! This location is cozy and inviting, and their restrooms are very clean.

A.C. Antonelli

Zam Zam definitely belongs on the short-list for classic San Francisco bars. Dimly lit lounge vibes, eclectic decor, and most importantly, a pretty bangin’ martini.

Renay

Enjoyed Dirty Martini’s at this amazing bar, by Katie with my new bestie Frankie x

Heather Walker

A classic, little dive bar with some great history and beautiful Deco-Persian design. We stopped in for a drink while on vacation and were not disappointed! The bartender went out of his way to find us the ingredients he needed for the drinks we asked for. Great drinks, service and a fun atmosphere! BTW, it's cash only but they do have an ATM located inside.

Queen’s B

ZamZam. Good old ZamZam. Strong pours of classic drinks. My go to is the Manhattan. Lots of people drinking shots with a beer back as well as those having gin and vodka martinis. Place has a beautiful mural behind the bar that’s been there mostly forever. Pretty sure the place would look seedier were the low lighting ever turned up. Still, old school bar on upper Haight. Drop in for strong drinks, mellow vibe of locals and tourists, consistently attentive bar tenders that know their customers and craft.

Andrew Jacob

This place is extremely memorable. The bartender working on Saturday, August 20, 2022 was excellent. Evidently a true craftsman and very friendly. He made my first Old Fashioned ever before my eyes, and it was pretty artisanal stuff. The Old Fashioned is now my favourite cocktail, but I doubt I'll have one as good as the one (well, two) I had here anywhere else. My friends and I stared at the mural for quite some time.

Alex Friend

A wonderfully quirky little spot. The negroni goes hard.

Jane Natoli

Zam Zam is legendary for any number of reasons but mostly I am here to tell you to get a martini and hopefully to not have anything else you need to get done later and probably even the next day Also it’s objectively a pretty and uncommon (these days at least) semi-circle bar. Just go enjoy the ambiance!

Eric Hayth

Classic cocktails with no frills. Enjoyed a manhattan before my flight home while visiting Haight-Ashbury. Wish I had a few more hours (and drinks) to kill.

Hands down one of the best bars in sf. Needed a place to decompress after an intense few days. Shoutout to Peter for the hospitality 🫰🏼🙏🏼✨

Seeped in history, this tiny cocktail bar in iconic Haight is great for a tasty martini or manhattan. Cash only. West, the bartender’s sweet pup, will beckon you in…

Tina Norton

Seeped in history, this tiny cocktail bar in iconic Haight is great for a tasty martini or manhattan. Cash only. West, the bartender’s sweet pup, will beckon you in…

Good atmosphere with superficial Persian motifs (interior and exterior). Strong drinks, but not particularly well-crafted or memorable. Good prices, though cash only; the old-school cash register behind the bar is cool. Our bartender was not very polite, but that's fine as long as you know to expect a no-nonsense type of service.

A cool bar with the rudest bartender I have ever encountered. Absolutely the worst. Multiple customers came in and she was belittling to each one. Im not sure if she was having a bad day, but it was very surprising to watch that treatment of people wanting to enjoy the evening. Also her cocktails were unanimously lacking.

My husband I have loved coming here for years, but the bar decor is the only reason left. The bartenders have become condescending, the last bartender we had yelled at me for not knowing what I wanted (I was trying to ask for a suggestion similar to a Last Word and she said her job wasn't mind reading ... No shit). The drinks are overpriced, we paid $15 for a drink we can get down the block for $10 in a better atmosphere We are done coming here. Onto better bars 🥂

Wanted to love this bar and fell in love with the vibe when we walked it, just for it to be completely ruined by the rudest bartender I have ever met! ! We couldn’t even sit after our encounter, we honestly felt so uncomfortable and quite shocked. The place’s atmosphere was zeroed, we have never left a bar quicker! Everything cool and fun about this place goes out the door with this staff :(

Johana Escudero

My husband I have loved coming here for years, but the bar decor is the only reason left. The bartenders have become condescending, the last bartender we had yelled at me for not knowing what I wanted (I was trying to ask for a suggestion similar to a Last Word and she said her job wasn't mind reading ... No shit). The drinks are overpriced, we paid $15 for a drink we can get down the block for $10 in a better atmosphere We are done coming here. Onto better bars 🥂

Aila Hayatt

Wanted to love this bar and fell in love with the vibe when we walked it, just for it to be completely ruined by the rudest bartender I have ever met! ! We couldn’t even sit after our encounter, we honestly felt so uncomfortable and quite shocked. The place’s atmosphere was zeroed, we have never left a bar quicker! Everything cool and fun about this place goes out the door with this staff :(

This bartender made a false accusation of a female touching/spiking a gentlemen’s drink who was paying for her drink. Eye witnessed pointed out that the female customer never touched the gentlemen drink while he was away. The bartenders attitude was completely unprofessional, which was recorded on a 0:09-0:32 second video. The bartender approached the tipsy customer and began to yell at her while she was asking for what reason she was being kicked out. The bartender stutters, obviously thinking of an excuse on the spot to remove the person from the premises. A false accusation was made and the bartender threatened to call the police. I believe there are surveillance cameras inside the property that could’ve been reviewed. The person who paid for the female drinks was an apparent regular. Key things to take from this review -Grave Accusation was made. -Staff approaching the tipsy customer in an intimidating demeanor. -Biased customer service. -Customer humiliated. If the owner check reviews I have video recording of the disgusting behavior. Your bartender openly admitted on camera that “She didn’t know who she was and if it were him-“ >>insert inaudible<< stumbling over her words and corrected herself while informing her she was “86” just by passing by. It’s infuriating to see the video footage of how demeaning a person can get all because the person is a local regular. Do not spend your money here, regulars are more respected than new customers.

Great range of spirits but terrible cocktails when we were there. We like our alcohol, but the drinks here - I had a gin "cocktail" vs my boyfriend asked for an old fashioned - were far too strong and made with no talent or finesse. Literally just loads of booze poured in and barely mixed. We both left our drinks unfinished. What a mistake to be drawn in by its intriguing and "exotic" interior.

Perhaps this is one of those places where part of the “schtick” is to make customers feel belittled or embarrassed, but I didn’t really appreciate it as my first experience at an establishment in SF. I like cocktails, but definitely not an enthusiast or know much about certain spirits & brand differences. Had my boyfriend helping me make some choices since he’s much more knowledgeable about it than I because it’s something he enjoys learning about. Upon discussing what to get as a second drink, bartender chimed in, “She’s just gonna agree with whatever you say man,” then turned right to me & said, “You’ve already made it clear you’re not a cocktail person.” While not outright, definitely had the familiar feeling of sexist undertones in the form a pretentious man trying to shame me for not having a bourbon preference. My bad bro. He seemed pretty annoyed & morose in his demeanor. Cocktails were good, but condescending attitude of bartender left a bad taste in my mouth. 5 stars to bar atmosphere & drink quality, -4 to the bartender throwing that one out to the only woman at the bar at that time.

I come into this bar regularly, paid cash, always tipped more than 25%. I had a rough week due to the holidays and yes, I did end up crying at the bar. Not sobbing or causing a scene but having a brief moment to myself (trying my best to make it unnoticeable) and the bar tender has the audacity to tell me to stop crying despite the fact I paid for drinks for the people around me and the request that I wanted water when I knew I had too much to drink. She said I needed to order more drinks in order to stay at the bar regardless of how courteous and cognizant I was of my own capacity. She basically said I needed to order more alcohol in order to stay, instead of suggesting non-alcohol alternatives and just letting me have my moment to myself. Whatever her intent was, it was beyond compassion and understanding when a customer is clearly paying for the service and just asking to be left alone. A bar tender should never pressure a customer to order more alcohol when they clearly have not finished their drink to begin with that is sitting right in front of them. I would not recommend going to this bar unless you're okay with dealing with the most disrespectful service. I truly understand the people that bars deal with, but if a customer leaves you alone and doesn’t bother any one around them AND pays for services, you should never force them to buy more alcohol when they clearly don’t need it. Let them finish their drink privately unless it’s within a timeframe that accommodates capacity.

My wife tried to order a drink while I ran to the bathroom. I like the idea of a cash only bar in a historic building. The bartender straight up said "No" without any explanation. When my wife asked why, she said "If you order a bloody mary after 3pm, the bartender will hate you." If the bartender wasn't so rude, my wife would have just ordered something else. While we came in planning on ordering a few rounds, we immediately left. The bartender screamed at us on the way out "YOU'RE WELCOME, I STOCK WITH CHARMIN". I have never had such a rude bartender in my life. Glad I didn't order anything.

Love drinking and good vibes. Used to be a bar tender myself. I can say honestly the Martini was great, but the hospitality was not too appealing. Because of that, I will not be returning. If you enjoy good drinks with a bad attitude chaser then this is the place for you! Ps don’t like leaving bad reviews, but hopefully they change the service. This is not for insults, but rather improvement

kennedy massey

Love drinking and good vibes. Used to be a bar tender myself. I can say honestly the Martini was great, but the hospitality was not too appealing. Because of that, I will not be returning. If you enjoy good drinks with a bad attitude chaser then this is the place for you! Ps don’t like leaving bad reviews, but hopefully they change the service. This is not for insults, but rather improvement

Tommy Ortiz

This bartender made a false accusation of a female touching/spiking a gentlemen’s drink who was paying for her drink. Eye witnessed pointed out that the female customer never touched the gentlemen drink while he was away. The bartenders attitude was completely unprofessional, which was recorded on a 0:09-0:32 second video. The bartender approached the tipsy customer and began to yell at her while she was asking for what reason she was being kicked out. The bartender stutters, obviously thinking of an excuse on the spot to remove the person from the premises. A false accusation was made and the bartender threatened to call the police. I believe there are surveillance cameras inside the property that could’ve been reviewed. The person who paid for the female drinks was an apparent regular. Key things to take from this review -Grave Accusation was made. -Staff approaching the tipsy customer in an intimidating demeanor. -Biased customer service. -Customer humiliated. If the owner check reviews I have video recording of the disgusting behavior. Your bartender openly admitted on camera that “She didn’t know who she was and if it were him-“ >>insert inaudible<< stumbling over her words and corrected herself while informing her she was “86” just by passing by. It’s infuriating to see the video footage of how demeaning a person can get all because the person is a local regular. Do not spend your money here, regulars are more respected than new customers.

Super rude bartender asked me and my friend leave as soon as we finished our drinks. The bar was empty. And he was scrolling on hinge the whole time. Sorry we interrupted your hinge time dude but bars are for hanging out?

If 0 stars was an option I would have gone for that. Terrible staff, super rude to us. I am not sure how a business profits from being rude to its own customers but that was the case here. One of the worse bartenders. Very disappointed and honestly was super uncomfortable. There is another bar down the line The Green Heron, we had a great time there and their service was 10/10. Luckily this place was open and we had a great time!

Rude bartenders with two exceptions. When you walk into a bar you shouldn’t be greeted with , “CASH ONLY!!!” Once that wave of rudeness washes over and you comply and order your drink, you shouldn’t be directed to other local bars serving your request as you look at your request neatly stacked near the top shelf behind the surly bartender issuing the unwarranted referral. There are far too many genuinely friendly Play bars just a stone’s throw away. Unless, of course, that’s your thing.

Snehal (thefoodblogie)

If 0 stars was an option I would have gone for that. Terrible staff, super rude to us. I am not sure how a business profits from being rude to its own customers but that was the case here. One of the worse bartenders. Very disappointed and honestly was super uncomfortable. There is another bar down the line The Green Heron, we had a great time there and their service was 10/10. Luckily this place was open and we had a great time!

Jordan Kealey

Super rude bartender asked me and my friend leave as soon as we finished our drinks. The bar was empty. And he was scrolling on hinge the whole time. Sorry we interrupted your hinge time dude but bars are for hanging out?

Marlan Hines

Rude bartenders with two exceptions. When you walk into a bar you shouldn’t be greeted with , “CASH ONLY!!!” Once that wave of rudeness washes over and you comply and order your drink, you shouldn’t be directed to other local bars serving your request as you look at your request neatly stacked near the top shelf behind the surly bartender issuing the unwarranted referral. There are far too many genuinely friendly Play bars just a stone’s throw away. Unless, of course, that’s your thing.