01/09/09

my new local for SF

by jpecis

i use to live in SF and still come back a few times a year. bars and pubs come and go and its hard to find a new cool spot in a rad area but this is my new place. mini bar is small, intimate, has a great selection of special spirits (whiskies), and a staff so nice that i felt like NY has made me bitter.... the neighborhood is very cool too (i ended up getting food across the street after, which i highly recommend as well- "little star") i will continue to go to this bar, take my friends, and explore more in this area. i still love SF!!

• Pros: atmosphere, service, location
• Cons: its not in NY

A full bar, gallery-grade art and a smart, sophisticated design are packed into a matchbox-sized drinking spot in NoPa.

by Patrick Heig

Anchoring the strip of nightlife spots on Divisadero between Page and McAllister--The Page, Madrone, The Independent, Waziema, NOPA, Fly Bar, Bar 821--this Mini brings a full bar, gallery-quality art and a sophisticated lounge feel to NoPa. The space feels like a pocket bar in a boutique hotel, with mod design fixtures, leather booths and couches and a small wood-grain bar, and the paintings and photos on the walls--supplied by the gallery Big Umbrella Studios across the street--are a big step above the pieces you find at most art-bars. Despite the upscale feel, drinks are a couple bucks cheaper than you would expect, in line with the keep-it-cheap-and-local strategy of most NoPa bars. Ironically, Mini Bar may be the missing piece of the puzzle that turns this strip into a nightlife destination a la the Mission, Marina or North Beach.