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Innovative cocktails & refined bar bites are the draw at this stylish bar from the Lazy Bear team.
Address and Contact Information
Address: 753 Alabama St, San Francisco, CA 94110
Phone: (415) 341-0020
Website: http://www.truelaurelsf.com/
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true laurel serves food and drinks for dining outdoors on our patio … SF Magazine Bar Director of the Year, 2018. SF Chronicle Top 100 Restaurants.
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Reviews
Bay Area Reviews
Stopped by here on a busy Sunday afternoon with four and a baby for brunch and we all had a great meal. Was able to get a table with no wait at all. The drinks we ordered were all tasty, especially the coffee with foam on top. The patty melt and egg/sausage sandwiches were amazing, really enjoyed the nice toasted bread both were on. We also really enjoyed the cornmeal pancakes topped with apples. I’m glad we stopped by for lunch here. Would love to come back soon.
… moreJZ
5 Super vibey bar – perfect for dates imo. The drinks are interesting – they keep half their menu seasonal and constantly changing. That being said, while the drinks are good, Cold Drinks is prob still better in terms of nuance. This place is def more vibey than Cold Drinks tho – fun aura and is very lively (without being too loud to hear each other). Overall, excellent date spot and plenty of good bars around in case you need to wait. Definitely make a res on the weekend because you will wait for over an hour or not get in. Good set up for canoodling.
… moreCarmen Augusto
Went to True Laurel for drinks before dinner and loved it! I asked the bartender to make me something new with ginger — and they absolutely killed it. The drink was fresh, creative, and perfectly balanced.
Such a chilled hangout spot — this has become my go-to place for drinks and 1-on-1 catch-ups. The vibe is relaxed, the interior design is beautiful, and the staff are super friendly. We walked in with no reservation (party of four) and still had an amazing experience. Never disappoints
… moreSuch a chilled hangout spot — this has become my go-to place for drinks and 1-on-1 catch-ups. The vibe is relaxed, the interior design is beautiful, and the staff are super friendly. We walked in with no reservation (party of four) and still had an amazing experience. Never disappoints
Matei Eugeniu
The best experience I had in a long time. I was looking for something unique and 100% I found it. Combination of flavours is on another level.
The host was very welcoming.
Everybody from there took a good care of us.
High level of mixology, and a well deserved status of a good bar.
Thank you!
… moreThe host was very welcoming.
Everybody from there took a good care of us.
High level of mixology, and a well deserved status of a good bar.
Thank you!
Kiran Singh
I had low expectations going into this place, but wow everything exceeded expectations. We sat at the bar and ordered, In the Pines & Bobby-boo. IN THE PINES was the showstopper. The flavor was absolutely insane. I will definitely be back for this drink. We also ordered the woods mushrooms per our bartender’s recommendation & they were delicious! Ambiance is modern & service was great. My favorite part is that the bill comes in The Giving Tree book! We had a great time and will definitely be back.
… moreLinyong Nan
Ordered two drinks – in the pines under the palms, and Bobby boo-urns. Both have quite similar flavor profiles, and the thing is, they are overly sweet. I feel like I’m just drinking flavored syrup. Couldn’t finish both of them.
… moreAbdulla Jasem
I like the service here. They’re very prompt and friendly. We tried the non-alcoholic drinks and they were nice but quite pricy ($18). We were more interested in the food. We had the salad, patty melt, and chicken katsu. The salad was simple but done right. Simple ingredients and dressing, but quite enjoyable. The patty melt was interestingly delicious and fatty. Would be great if it comes with a simple side. The chicken katsu was great but huge! Keep in mind it’s not a sandwich, just a chicken katsu with ranch sauce and pickles.
… moreJasmine Chung
Oooooookay, this place will live in my head rent free. From the ambiance, service, food, drinks, and the vibe – there’s nothing to not love. Their cocktails are AMAZING. My favorites were Quinine Cobbler (light, fruity, refreshing, and hydrating!), Melons Triple Lindy, and Bobby Boo-urns but you won’t go wrong with any, really.
As for the food, please please please try the Crispy Hen of the Woods Mushroom and thank me after. It’s fried to perfection that you won’t even know it’s mushroom that you’re eating. We’ll absolutely need to be back to try the other scrumptious goodies but for now… au revoir
… moreAs for the food, please please please try the Crispy Hen of the Woods Mushroom and thank me after. It’s fried to perfection that you won’t even know it’s mushroom that you’re eating. We’ll absolutely need to be back to try the other scrumptious goodies but for now… au revoir
Betty Wu
I don’t think it’s worth the hype. We walked in just wanted to grab a drink. Cocktails were pricy and the taste is just average. We were also attracted by the Lazy Bear title but I don’t think it stands up to lazy bear quality. Vibe was good, staff was very friendly
… moreDanny K (DSKO)
Updated Review (10/11/2025)
Today, I decided to stop by True Laurel for an early dinner and some drinks right around opening time at 4pm on a Friday. There were just a few people seated, so I was able to get a nice table outside while the weather was still pleasant.
It didn’t take me long to figure out what I wanted to order. A TL Patty Melt with an heirloom tomato addition. For my drink, I ordered a Love Below, which includes Solera rum, lovage, seasonal tomatoes, dry vermouth, citrus & tequila. The Patty Melt came out in about five minutes, with the drink arriving a few minutes later. I placed the order around 4:10pm and received everything by 4:25pm.
The Patty Melt was delicious and filling enough. The Love Below had a bit of a raisin-like taste and it never really developed further from that taste. I was planning to order more food, possibly the sweet corn gazpacho and a Mai o Mai cocktail. I looked over at waitress as she walked outside and went to check on other tables before walking back inside. Every single time she came out, I tried to get her attention but she never even glanced in my direction. This happened maybe 5 times or so.
After what seems like an eternity, I looked down at my clock. It was a few minutes before 5pm. I had just sat on the patio at True Laurel for 30 minutes without a single visit from the staff after the initial order. Just completely ignored.
I have praised and recommended True Laurel to many of my friends and the online community for the past couple years. I was rewarded with the worst hospitality I’ve ever experienced among the many cocktail bars around the world that I’ve been to. It’s unimaginable how a business associated with the vaunted 2-star Michelin restaurant Lazy Bear could have such poor service. I decided to get my check, pay and get out of there. To add insult to injury, I saw that the bill already had an automatic 20% gratuity applied, which normally denotes that the service was above average. Knowing that 20% gratuity is guaranteed regardless of their quality of service seems to have led to systematic complacency. Clearly resting on their laurels. I don’t imagine I’ll have any desire to go back to True Laurel anytime soon. It’s really sad because I genuinely liked their cocktails and food.
Previous Review (5 Stars):
I’ve had True Laurel on my radar for awhile. It is owned by Lazy Bear, the nearby 2 Star Michelin restaurant and was recently named #30 on the list of 2024 Top 50 Cocktail Bars in North America. They have a weekend brunch so I gathered a bunch of my friends to meet up at True Laurel before going to MoMa to catch the last two weeks of the “Art of Noise” exhibit.
I tried the Melons Triple Lindy and Mai o Mai, which I felt had a nicer presentation with more complexity, seamless blending of balanced flavors than the signature Vodka y Soda and Green Mango Martini that I tried at the mega hyped Superbueno in NYC, #2 on the 2024 Top 50 bar list. The Mai o Mai looks virtually clear but somehow has a milkiness to it.
The brunch menu crafted by the Lazy Bear team is excellent. I ordered the Chicken Liver Mousse, which is served with rhubarb preserves with slivers of green strawberries and a few slices of perfectly toasted sourdough bread. My friends ordered the TL Patty Melt, which looked picture perfect – the toast was golden atop a square egg and dry aged beef patty. I got to try a bite which was a sudden burst of special flavor…I know what I’ll be ordering next time.
The service was straight and to the point. Courteous but not overly friendly. The interior is industrial and modern but not inherently upscale. It’s in a safe part of town so you have the option to sit outside at the wooden picnic tables.
If you’re looking for world class cocktails and brunch food with a Michelin pedigree, look no further than True Laurel, which exceeded my expectations. I’m excited to try more of their excellent cocktails and dishes. Until next time…
… moreToday, I decided to stop by True Laurel for an early dinner and some drinks right around opening time at 4pm on a Friday. There were just a few people seated, so I was able to get a nice table outside while the weather was still pleasant.
It didn’t take me long to figure out what I wanted to order. A TL Patty Melt with an heirloom tomato addition. For my drink, I ordered a Love Below, which includes Solera rum, lovage, seasonal tomatoes, dry vermouth, citrus & tequila. The Patty Melt came out in about five minutes, with the drink arriving a few minutes later. I placed the order around 4:10pm and received everything by 4:25pm.
The Patty Melt was delicious and filling enough. The Love Below had a bit of a raisin-like taste and it never really developed further from that taste. I was planning to order more food, possibly the sweet corn gazpacho and a Mai o Mai cocktail. I looked over at waitress as she walked outside and went to check on other tables before walking back inside. Every single time she came out, I tried to get her attention but she never even glanced in my direction. This happened maybe 5 times or so.
After what seems like an eternity, I looked down at my clock. It was a few minutes before 5pm. I had just sat on the patio at True Laurel for 30 minutes without a single visit from the staff after the initial order. Just completely ignored.
I have praised and recommended True Laurel to many of my friends and the online community for the past couple years. I was rewarded with the worst hospitality I’ve ever experienced among the many cocktail bars around the world that I’ve been to. It’s unimaginable how a business associated with the vaunted 2-star Michelin restaurant Lazy Bear could have such poor service. I decided to get my check, pay and get out of there. To add insult to injury, I saw that the bill already had an automatic 20% gratuity applied, which normally denotes that the service was above average. Knowing that 20% gratuity is guaranteed regardless of their quality of service seems to have led to systematic complacency. Clearly resting on their laurels. I don’t imagine I’ll have any desire to go back to True Laurel anytime soon. It’s really sad because I genuinely liked their cocktails and food.
Previous Review (5 Stars):
I’ve had True Laurel on my radar for awhile. It is owned by Lazy Bear, the nearby 2 Star Michelin restaurant and was recently named #30 on the list of 2024 Top 50 Cocktail Bars in North America. They have a weekend brunch so I gathered a bunch of my friends to meet up at True Laurel before going to MoMa to catch the last two weeks of the “Art of Noise” exhibit.
I tried the Melons Triple Lindy and Mai o Mai, which I felt had a nicer presentation with more complexity, seamless blending of balanced flavors than the signature Vodka y Soda and Green Mango Martini that I tried at the mega hyped Superbueno in NYC, #2 on the 2024 Top 50 bar list. The Mai o Mai looks virtually clear but somehow has a milkiness to it.
The brunch menu crafted by the Lazy Bear team is excellent. I ordered the Chicken Liver Mousse, which is served with rhubarb preserves with slivers of green strawberries and a few slices of perfectly toasted sourdough bread. My friends ordered the TL Patty Melt, which looked picture perfect – the toast was golden atop a square egg and dry aged beef patty. I got to try a bite which was a sudden burst of special flavor…I know what I’ll be ordering next time.
The service was straight and to the point. Courteous but not overly friendly. The interior is industrial and modern but not inherently upscale. It’s in a safe part of town so you have the option to sit outside at the wooden picnic tables.
If you’re looking for world class cocktails and brunch food with a Michelin pedigree, look no further than True Laurel, which exceeded my expectations. I’m excited to try more of their excellent cocktails and dishes. Until next time…