Not loud place near SF Ferry Building to share a drink on first date?

December 20, 2014 11:07 AM

Hi! I have a date planned near the Ferry Building and would like to get a drink somewhere not too loud. I went to Local Edition a month ago and found we had to YELL above the chatter of the bar. I would like to avoid that again. Where would you recommend?
posted by yaymukund to Food & Drink (13 answers total)

I've always loved the patio at Il Cane Rosso (in the ferry building) for a relatively quiet date. Of course, it's just beer and wine, and closes fairly early. But if you grab a carafe just before they close, I've never been forced out.
posted by politikitty at 11:32 AM on December 20, 2014

Response by poster: Oh! Il Cane Rosso looks wonderful, but we're meeting at 8pm because that's when they get out of work.
posted by yaymukund at 11:36 AM on December 20, 2014

The Hyatt is great for a quiet drink
posted by rhizome at 12:04 PM on December 20, 2014 [1 favorite]

nthing hotel bars. Super quiet and they have the cushiest chairs.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 12:32 PM on December 20, 2014 [1 favorite]

You could try the bar area of Coqueta, which is just a block north of the ferry building on the Embarcadero. There's usually some space in the bar area and it's not too loud.
posted by iamscott at 12:33 PM on December 20, 2014

How close is close?
posted by kenko at 12:35 PM on December 20, 2014

Response by poster: kenko, I don't mind walking for a bit if it's a nice walk and/or fun bar, but: a) they live in Oakland so we have to end up near BART, and b) it's been raining all week.

Thanks all... great suggestions so far! I have never heard the hotel bar secret, but in retrospect I have been to a bunch of hotel bars and they have been perfect for low-key conversations.
posted by yaymukund at 1:05 PM on December 20, 2014

The Hyatt is a one-of-a-kind hotel bar. The atrium has been a constant source of awesome for almost my entire life. I also found out recently that it's once again OK for rubes to take the glass elevators up to certain floors.
posted by rhizome at 2:06 PM on December 20, 2014 [2 favorites]

The Plant Cafe at Pier 3 has outdoor seating outdoors and tall ceilings indoors, and while not quiet, exactly, even when it's bustling you don't need to yell.

[And, on review, they close at 8. Bollocks.]
posted by TheNewWazoo at 3:14 PM on December 20, 2014

I just asked a friend this same question! Here's what she told me:

1. Hillstone - 1800 Mongtomery Street. Live jazz.
2. Hard Water Bar – Pier 3.
3. Coqueta – Pier 5.
4. Fog City Diner – 1300 Battery Street (just at the West end of the Levi’s Plaza.) They’ve just redone this place, and it’s no longer as cheeky and historic as it used to be- rather cooler and more hip. Great cocktails, and good dinner menu.
posted by hapax_legomenon at 4:37 PM on December 20, 2014

Market bar which is actually in the ferry building and generally not crowded. Edit: NM closes at 8 also...
posted by miles at 6:26 PM on December 20, 2014

Hard Water can be loud and extremely chaotic. RN74 is a good classy upscale wine bar with bartenders that will ratchet the class down a notch or two if that's your speed. People watching with a beer on the Gott's patio is another direction you could go.
posted by kcm at 9:17 PM on December 20, 2014

Voting for Fog City, if you're looking for the option of a longer, cosier sitdown.
posted by Orb2069 at 6:18 PM on December 21, 2014