Martuni's - San Francisco

I 've been meaning to come here, like, forever. A classic piano bar is frankly hard to come by in this city. Long gone are the days when Doris Day and Rock Hudson could drop by after fantasizing about each other in an open convertible on Riverside Drive. They would come to a place like this after midnight and sing along with the piano chanteuse on Ya Ya Roly Poly . The interior here consists first of the darkened bar illuminated by lavender lighting under the ice filled martini glasses. The bigger back room is the nightclub with the pianist playing mellifluously on one side. One by one, people came up the mic and started singing their selections. These were not tone deaf karaoke drunks. Not by a long shot. They sounded like professional singers auditioning for the next Sondheim revival at the Curran. My hopes of singing all the parts to Sweeney Todd to a live audience were dashed. I drowned my sorrows in a luscious $15.50 Espresso Martini well chilled (photo: [hidden link] . I couldn 't get a seat in the nightclub, so I stayed in the darkness of the bar with dreams of Broadway stardom up in smoke. COCKTAILS 4 stars...a smooth espresso martini good enough for Doris and Rock AMBIANCE 4.5 stars...very cosmopolitan space with an appropriately urbane nightclub SERVICE 4 stars...adroit barmen TOTAL 4 stars...a classic piano bar is always worth a visit RELATED Exploring Hayes Valley? Here 's a collection of places I 've patronized and reviewed: [hidden link]

Good help is hard to find I have been a repeat patron of Martunis xor years. Joe Wicht and Katya Smirnoff Skyy are long time.colleaguea. I was sitting in the paino bar having a quiwt.celwbration of surviving Covid, having been clinically dead, a year before shutdown, twice of the dates thia week. Your manager saw fit to tell me I am not welcome at your bar. There are a thousand other choices in SF. Please give my email to Joe Wicht. I haven't aeen him since Bill, his husband and I, had a great conversation of how relationships evolve at their wedding. This relationship doesn't srand a snow ball's chance in hell of continuing.

Came here on a weekday and it was not busy so I can't say a lot about how this place is when it's more lively. I did enjoy the ambiance and there was also karaoke in the back. Their drinks are reasonably priced and tasted really good. It was a nice place to chill, have a drink, and just chat.

One of my fave spots in the city to listen to people sing while having the perfect martinis. Perfect for a date night or a night out with friends who love and appreciate good music and warm people.

Such a cool vibe! Love the ambiance with live music. Great date spot or for a girls night out. The lychee martini is 1000/10; not too sweet, not too strong. The service was prompt. Pricing is pretty reasonable. Martuni's is such a fun spot!