Barbarossa Lounge is a great bar to enjoy cocktails or dine in the heart of San Francisco. It has some interesting and unique design features, we love the bird cages which house chandeliers, the shining red chesterfields, along with the exposed brick walls. They offer a great champagne flight which is a must try and very reasonably priced. We received attentive service, Barbarossa Lounge is a great way to start your evening.
We started our evening with cocktails, I ordered the ‘Buckley’s City Hall’, mixed with Aged Rum, Smith and Cross Rum, Pineapple, and Jamaican Bitters. A nice blend of fruit and spice, with a solid Rum base. My partner ordered the ‘Devil’s Kitchen’, this was a smooth drink mixed with Mezcal, Pisco, Velvet Falernum, Cherry, and Lime.
Next I ordered ‘The Highbinder’, this cocktail was mixed with Tequila, Ancho Reyes, Guava, Basil, and Lime. A Southern American inspired drink and incredibly satisfying. My partner opted for the ‘Texas Tommy’, a hearty Texan inspired drink with Bourbon, Sculpin Grapefruit, Lemon, Maple, and Rosemary.
“You can’t fail to leave Barbarossa Lounge with fond memories.”
Finally I ordered the ‘Maiden Lane’, comprising of Bourbon, Sweet Vermouth, XTA, and Cinnamon. A sweet tasting cocktail, very easy on the palate. My partner ended with the ‘Sutro’s Brew’, mixed with Rye, Sage, Lemon, Grapefruit Bitters, Sparkling Wine, and Sage Leaf.
Next we sampled one of their Champagne Flights, a selection of 3 champagnes which included, Chandon Brut, Iron Horse, and Schramsberg Rose. This is a delightful experience and allows you to get a good varied Champagne experience.
We also decided to order something from their bites menu, the Harissa Shrimp Salad sounded very tempting, this included Avocado, Pepitas, and Little Lettuce Gems. The Shrimp was delicious, this was a well presented and executed. Next we ordered the Cheese Board which included, Brillat Savarin Affine, Triple Cream Cow, Cabra al Vino, Red Wine Cured, Aged Goat, and Idiazabal, a lightly Smoked Semi Soft Sheep. Fine cheese and drinks are the perfect marriage when prepared to this standard, this was an enjoyable experience.
You can’t fail to leave Barbarossa Lounge with fond memories. We will certainly return in the future and have no hesitation recommending it as a place to begin your evening.