Cocktail Classes In San Francisco Near Me

4worldlovers: ELIXIR is open SEVEN DAYS A WEEK! But we do ask for your patience as we, and the rest of the world, are facing supply line issues and labor shortages, so we may be out of your favorite drink and our hours are not completely back to normal. With that in mind, here are some important data points:

Shop our store here to get gifts from our bar tools, t-shirts, hoodies, stickers, coffee cups and more.

We offer ticketed cocktail classes and tasting events for individuals and small groups (< 8ppl), as well as private group events. Classes are conducted both online and in-person, so participation is possible from anywhere you can log on from, in the comfort of our beautiful, or in the location of your choice. For in-person events we will supply everything, and for virtual classes we give you a list of everything needed and can help you source it.

Check out our ticketed online events cocktail classes and whiskey tastings here or by clicking the picture above.

To schedule a PRIVATE group class or a beverage catering event, please visit our ELIXIR TO GO Plan an Event page, or click the image above.

Our mission is to serve the neighborhood and the city as a communal gathering place, 365 days a year, while preserving and promoting history, operating as a Certified Green Business, and providing opportunities to support charities.

ELIXIR is the second oldest continually operating saloon location in San Francisco, making it one of the most historic bars in the country. Just one block from where the Mission Dolores was founded in 1776, we have documented evidence of saloon service on this corner since at least 1858, and it is possible that it goes back as much as another 10 years (before that is highly unlikely). The original Mission Plank Road that connected the outpost of the Mission Dolores with the bustling commerce of Yerba Buena ended at our doorway.

Over the years the bar changed hands and audiences. The original saloon burned down in 1906 and became one of the only bars to be rebuilt in the same place by the same owner after that catastrophe. Today you can see the original 1907 architect’s plans framed and on the walls, depicting the bar (expanded in 1933), the stock room (converted to a women’s bathroom in 1933), the Cigar Lobby (now the dart board area), and the Boot Black Stand complete with 4 seats.

She was called The Hunt-In Club in the 1940’s complete with a neon sign, Swede’s - a merchant marine bar in the 60’s and 70’s, La Bandita - a gay bar in the late 80’s, and Jack’s Elixir Bar - a draft beer mecca in the 90’s, before falling into disrepair and neglect. That’s when I found her.

I was the first Proprietor in 100 years to strip things down, fix them, reinforce them and bring back the beautiful mahogany, redwood and Victorian glory of her bones. I uncovered her story and continue to do so. We were a significant bar in the early days of the recent cocktail revival, and we currently hold tight on the "best whisky bars" lists. There’s a lot more to tell, but you’ll just have to catch me in the bar and ask questions. I love to talk about her with a whiskey in my hand, so come find me. I truly look forward to it!

4worldlovers: You'll experience the ambiance of that time in an actual speakeasy that operated illegally at this location from 1921 to 1933. From 1921-1923 our address is listed in the San Francisco Telephone Directory of the day as "The Ipswitch - A Beverage Parlor". In 1923, an industrious young man by the name of John J. Russell purchased the business as a "going concern" with it's solid base of customers. With his connections to the most notorious bootleggers from Vancouver, BC., he operated his bar under the guise of "JJ Russell's Cigar Shop". He did not sell many cigars. The speakeasy managed to avoid the attention of the governments Prohibition Agents for the remainder of prohibition. History was on JJ Russell's side, as it has been documented that a bar has operated at this Jones Street location since 1867.

We have a set of house rules that everyone is expected to follow to maintain the "Speakeasy". The term comes from a patron's manner of ordering alcohol without raising suspicion - a bartender would tell a patron to be quiet and 'speak easy'.

The origin of the word predates Prohibition by at least 30 years. Samuel Hudson, a newspaperman in the late 19th century, said he heard the term used in Pittsburgh, PA. in the 1880s by an old Irish woman who sold liquor without a license. She told her clients to "spake-aisy" if they wanted to buy some. The Cassell Dictionary of Slang lists the word as coming into usage around 1890. The term "spake-aisy" was used even a century before this, where it referred to smugglers' hideouts.

4worldlovers: “If something bad happens you drink in an attempt to forget; if something good happens you drink in order to celebrate; and if nothing happens you drink to make something happen. “

4worldlovers: Local Edition is more than just a cocktail bar, it is a place to relax with friends after a long day’s work, a live music venue and perhaps most importantly, a connection to the history of San Francisco.

Live every Tuesday exclusively at Local Edition! The Local Edition Jazz Orchestra is a diverse group of long-time friends that have played alongside one another for years. The ensemble ranges from having as little as 8 to as many as 18 participants performing with occasional guest singers such as Billy Valentine, Bud E. Luv (aka Bobby Vickers), and Tom Scott.

“…bring the soul of San Francisco to their music and live show. The band shares an extreme passion for the music of 60’s and 70’s soul, funk and jazz… the classic sounds of Motown, Stax, Daptones and Blue Note Records but with a fresh and original spin. Their fresh approach brings a wide array of infectious dance grooves to their high-energy live show. “Our ultimate goal is to connect with our audience, get you to feel the groove that makes you want to dance,” says band leader Jason Movrich.”

The Odiaga Project features the arrangements of Peruvian-born saxophonist Sebastian Pinillos based on music from his native Peru. Some of the performances also feature songs from Latin America as an ode to his friends and family. The ensemble is composed of Javier Trujillo on guitar and Jackeline Rago on percussion. These songs have been traditionally sung and featured little to no improvisation. Still, with Sebastian's arrangements, these songs feature an instrumental melody and plenty of improvisation creating a nice blend of Latin American Folklore and Jazz!

4worldlovers: The bar, lounge and courtyard are on a first come, first serve basis.

Our bar is small and capacity is limited, please limit your group sizes to 10 people.

*We only offer Full buyouts for P.C.H of groups larger than 25ppl. For group reservations smaller than 25ppl please email our sister bar Kona’s Street Market at [email protected]

4worldlovers: Imagine being marooned in a savage, tropical rain forest; you’ve crash landed at Last Rites, a Polynesian Noir adventure, offering over 150 rums and signature twists on tropical cocktails. The experience is an immersive destination cocktail bar featuring a real airplane fuselage-turned bar, seating enveloped by enormous banyan tree roots, stacked stone booths, all nestled in a dense jungle canopy and between two 9-foot tall stone fire-breathing skull idols.

Follow us on Instagram @lastrites_sf for up to date info on events and features.