Enable JavaScript to run this app.
Skip to main content
OpenTable logo
Absinthe Brasserie and Bar - SF, San Francisco, CA

Absinthe Brasserie and Bar - SF

4.7 (7433)
$31 to $50
French
398 Hayes Street, San Francisco, CA 94102

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 22 times today

About this restaurant

  • Neighborhood gem
  • Good for special occasions
  • Charming
We are currently accepting reservations for lunch, brunch, and dinner.


Effective 09/26/2022:
Outdoor seating will not be available.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    French, Californian
  • Hours of operation
    Brunch Sat, Sun 11:00 am–3:00 pm Lunch Wed–Fri 11:30 am–3:00 pm Dinner Wed–Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Executive chef
    Ian Begg
  • Neighborhood
    Civic Center / Hayes Valley / Van Ness
  • Cross street
    Gough
  • Parking details
    No valet. Street parking and nearby public lot located on Grove between Franklin and Gough.
  • Additional
    Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 7,433 people are saying

Absinthe Brasserie and Bar - SF reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7
4.7 based on recent ratings
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.3Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • San Francisco

    French

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Absinthe Brasserie and Bar in San Francisco offers a delightful dining experience with "sumptuous food and delightful wine" complemented by "impeccable service." Guests rave about the "delicious duck," "wonderful flavors," and "creative cocktails." Its elegant ambiance and attentive staff make it a perfect choice for special occasions or pre-performance dining.
7,433 Reviews
  1. Gretchen VIP

    San Francisco Bay Area2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    People were very considerate. I really appreciated it.

    Is this helpful?

  2. William

    San Francisco Bay Area4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Great cocktails & food. Easy to have a conversation without shouting.

    Is this helpful?

  3. Shelley

    San Francisco Bay Area29 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Always delicious and beautifully presented classic French bistro dishes, great service and lovely bistro vibe, it’s a San Francisco classic.

    Is this helpful?

  4. Carol VIP

    San Francisco Bay Area100 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Dinner at Absinthe is always consistent and always good. A fun lively enjoyable restaurant. Service is great and the servers are excellent. Go there before an event or just go and have fun.

    Is this helpful?

  5. Beate

    San Francisco Bay Area1 review

    4.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 5
    Service was not as good as we have had before at Absinth. the waiter blamed the shortage on staff for slow service. My friend had requested that the egg white be cooked more solid than the egg yolk . Well that did not happen, the egg white was soupy . I wonder if the waiter passed on the request or if it was just sloppily cooked. My meal was perfect . I had the quiche vegetarienne with salad. We love the ambience.

    Is this helpful?

  6. Reynette VIP

    San Francisco Bay Area44 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Our second visit in a week. Dinner last time, brunch this time before the opera. English Pea soup, Eggs Benedict, Mimosa, Bloody Mary, Dungeness crab salad, and Black Forest cake totally wonderful. Service from Ethan S. was excellent as usual (we always hope to have him). The table location was perfect with lots of natural light and not overly bright for mid-day. Food, service, ambiance, and location all great for what we like. It's a bit pricey, but what isn't these days. At least we had a wonderful experience (again!). Highly recommend.

    Is this helpful?

  7. Judy VIP

    San Francisco Bay Area45 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The kumamoto oysters were delicious as usual and I have not been able to resist the duck for more than a year. My friend's steak frites came with enough fries that we could have shared with a neighboring table. Absinthe is not just for a meal before the symphony or opera but a destination restaurant in its own right.

    Is this helpful?

  8. alan

    San Francisco Bay Area12 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent on all counts. Very accomadating with sustitutions and half glasses of wine. We are very fussy. Eat out once a week. Our favorite place in Hayes Vallry.

    Is this helpful?

  9. Jennifer

    San Francisco Bay Area17 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Incredible lunch with a friend - pea soup with lovely toppings and Oysters Rockefeller to begin. Truffle burger and Sole Meunier for the main course and the best spin on Black Forest Torte for dessert with espressos. The cocktails were delicious as well. Our waiter Ethan was so accommodating and gracious - we couldn’t ask for a better experience.

    Is this helpful?

  10. Walker VIP

    San Francisco Bay Area5 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 4
    Service was lackluster. They had basically one server for our side of the restaurant, at prime time on a Friday. Food and drinks were good though.

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Absinthe Brasserie and Bar - SF is rated 4.7 stars by 7433 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. San Francisco Bay Area
  4. San Francisco
  5. Civic Center / Hayes Valley / Van Ness

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 22 times today
Google Map for Absinthe Brasserie and Bar - SF

398 Hayes Street, San Francisco, CA 94102

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Gough
  • Neighborhood
    Civic Center / Hayes Valley / Van Ness
  • Hours of operation
    Brunch Sat, Sun 11:00 am–3:00 pm Lunch Wed–Fri 11:30 am–3:00 pm Dinner Wed–Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    French, Californian
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Parking details
    No valet. Street parking and nearby public lot located on Grove between Franklin and Gough.
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Ian Begg
  • Additional
    Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
OpenTable
  • About Us
  • Blog
  • Careers
  • Press
More
Businesses
  • Restaurant Management Solutions
  • Restaurant Reservation Software
  • Restaurant Marketing Software
  • Restaurant Event Software
  • OpenTable For Restaurants
  • OpenTable For Restaurant Groups
  • Restaurant Resources
  • OpenTable Pricing & Plans
Join us on
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
  • Cookie Preferences
Copyright © 2025 OpenTable, Inc. 1 Montgomery St Ste 500, San Francisco CA 94104 - All rights reserved.
OpenTable is part of Booking Holdings, the world leader in online travel and related services.
Booking Logo
Priceline Logo
KAYAK Logo
Agoda Logo
OpenTable Logo