Award winning beers, upscale casual dining
(888) 776-9665
661 Howard St
San Francisco,
CA
94105
37.785693
-122.399632
Neighborhoods: Central East, South Beach
What People Are Saying About Thirsty Bear
The Owner
Thirsty Bear
Owner
The idea of brewing fresh, hand-crafted beers with authentic Spanish cuisine is the brainchild of Ron Silberstein, a former attorney turned Brewmaster, turned restauranteur! The Brewery and Restaurant are housed in a beautiful historic brick building directly across the street from the Moscone Center and the Yerba Buena Center for the Performing Arts (including the SFMOMA). Construction on the three-story facility began in December 1995. Ron's came to fruition with the first lusciously smooth pint of beer, poured in September 1996. The restaurant is the first brewpub in the United States…
The Editor
Contributor
Citysearch
During the week, this is a popular after-work beer stop for local tech workers, while on weekends, hotel guests, dates and well-dressed 30-somethings come for the satisfying Spanish fare. The exposed brick walls, shining beer vats and steel beams set an industrial tone, although the space feels warm and convivial. Upstairs is an ideal mingling area, where a lone pool table and two dart boards sit near a second bar. Paella and main courses are served, but the reasonably priced tapas are the most popular, complementing the house-made hops. Solid selections include: wilted spinach leaves with…
07/09/08
Good food, drinks
by coog78
Nice spot for drinks and a snack. Ceviche was pretty tasty, though the small amount of flatbread was odd. Sangria was surprisingly really good, as we hesitantly ordered it instead of beer. Just wasn't in the mood for beer, but the fact that they brew on spot will ensure I order next time. Friendly waitress as well.
- Pros: Drinks
08/02/07
Worth the stop
by John3B
Another great beer destination, close to downtown. IPA and Stout are especially good, and the food is excellent - different from the usual pub fare, but in a good way. Place can get really crowded after work, but we never had a problem finding a seat at the bar, or being seated by the hostess. Friendly, prompt service. Watch out for your credit card receipt though, they still have a machine that prints out your whole number!
- Pros: Great beer, food and service
- Cons: Can get crowded and noisy
04/16/07
good beer, good scene, eh tapas
by nomadslime
Generally a good happy hour bar. The beer is fresh and always a good pour, but it gets packed pretty easily even when it's not full. This is due to poor traffic layout in what is otherwise a huge space. I'm not big on tapas, but their selection is big, so I can usually find something I like. It's in a good SOMA location for the happy hour crowds, so it's particularly great on Thursday nights. Just don't expect a seat
- Pros: beer!
- Cons: space
The Details on Thirsty Bear
The Extras:
The upstairs room can be rented for private parties. Any of the specialty beers can also be had for your own house party--$110 (half keg) or $50 (five-gallon). Call at least one day ahead.
Parking:
There's a pay lot nearby on Third Street (between Folsom and Howard Street).
As Seen In…
Message from Thirsty Bear
- Happy hour!
- Good for groups
- Large variety of beers
The idea of brewing fresh, hand-crafted beers with authentic Spanish cuisine is the brainchild of Ron Silberstein, a former attorney turned Brewmaster, turned restauranteur!
The Brewery and Restaurant are housed in a beautiful historic brick building directly across the street from the Moscone Center and the Yerba Buena Center for the Performing Arts (including the SFMOMA). Construction on the three-story facility began in December 1995. Ron's came to fruition with the first lusciously smooth pint of beer, poured in September 1996.
The restaurant is the first brewpub in the United States to serve an authentic Spanish Menu. At ThirstyBear, Executive Chef Jessica Gorin incorporates some of the finest specialty ingredients from Spain, including manchego cheese, jamon serrano, chorizo sausage, olive oil, and piquillo peppers.
Join Us on Facebook
Follow Us on Twitter