What're some *quiet* bars and drinking-places in SF and the East Bay?

November 10, 2014 7:30 PM

Looking for quiet, quiet, quiet date-y bars, lounges, and other drinking-places in SF and the East Bay (specifically Oakland or Berkeley)...

Anyhow, I already have a shortlist of such places (e.g. the Interval at Fort Mason) but I'm looking to expand my quiet-drinking-place pickings within the City as well as the East Bay. Just looking for places that are quiet as quiet gets, so that means no music or other sources of background noise, as well as good acoustics, I guess. That, as well as it being a good place to bring a date to, is all I'm really looking for here :)

Have at it, Bay Area Green!

posted by un petit cadeau to Food & Drink (14 answers total)

My go to answer for this is Spec's in North Beach.

Its got a pretty aggressive shutup and behave policy.

My friends and I used to always play by their "shhhh" rules until we were going to leave at which point we'd break out in song in order to get ourselves kicked out.
posted by bitdamaged at 8:17 PM on November 10, 2014 [3 favorites]

The Albatross has lots of cubbies to hide in and I don't remember any music - though they do have TVs on mute. Botella Republic is quiet too, but don't get the food (small portions and expensive).
posted by Toddles at 9:45 PM on November 10, 2014

In SF:
- Lone Palm
- Orbit Room
- Martuni's (at certain times)
posted by Noisy Pink Bubbles at 10:01 PM on November 10, 2014 [1 favorite]

Bourbon and Branch's booths are pretty private and quiet
posted by raw sugar at 10:16 PM on November 10, 2014

The Mikkeller bar is very quiet ( at least on the sunday I was there)
posted by pombe at 10:27 PM on November 10, 2014

Seconding Lone Palm.
posted by trip and a half at 10:32 PM on November 10, 2014

For good beer and a relaxed vibe, try the Toronado in the Lower Haight.
posted by charlemangy at 2:44 AM on November 11, 2014

Along the lines of Bourbon & Branch, book a reservation at their bar-within-a-bar Wilson & Wilson. Amazing drinks, very small and quiet, perfect for a date.

I've had very loud experiences at Toronado (yelling to speak with the person next to me), and Mikkeller Bar (moderate volume/average acoustics, but definitely not quiet on Wed through Sun evenings,) and although they are great bars, I would not recommend them for this purpose.
posted by soleiluna at 8:02 AM on November 11, 2014 [1 favorite]

Yeah, Mikkeller Bar is not a quiet place after work.

Press Club, if wine bars are acceptable, is quiet IME. Adesso on Piedmont in Oakland would also work.
posted by asterix at 9:14 AM on November 11, 2014

The Trappist in Oakland is a great spot. Good beer selection, reasonable appetizers, quiet, and quite friendly.
posted by sk8ingdom at 9:17 AM on November 11, 2014 [1 favorite]

If cocktails are more your thing, I also recommend the The Alembic.
posted by sk8ingdom at 9:26 AM on November 11, 2014 [1 favorite]

I like Skates on the Bay in the Berkeley marina. It's a restaurant, but they have a bar. The views are great, food is good and I've spent many a quiet hour engrossed in good conversation. First place I ever had Starbucks coffee (this was about 30 years ago...)
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 10:15 AM on November 11, 2014

The Orbit Room is usually good for this, and they make delicious cocktails. A lot of places - Lone Palm for one - are like that during off hours, or even most of the time, but can be quite noisy when full later on a Fri or Sat night - you may find that working your timing is the best way to get this vibe. Earlier drinks are likely to be quieter ones in any place.
posted by sumiami at 10:19 AM on November 11, 2014

I love the Trappist and spend a lot of time there with a beer and a book, and I would not recommend it given the OP's specifications. The bartenders choose the music and the front bar is generally heavy metal (except on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, when it tends towards old-timey yodeley country and early Kinks) while the back bar is more eclectic (Led Zeppelin, jazz, other stuff) but there's always music playing.

Come to think of it, upstairs at Longitude during the meetup last Friday was one of the quietest bar experiences I've had (at the "I want to ask them to turn the music up because when a silence hits during conversation it seems conspicuous and awkward" level).
posted by Lexica at 5:17 PM on November 11, 2014 [1 favorite]