The Basement

Had a great time at this little place last night, great to see the place returning to form. I remember when I moved to this town and 222 Hyde kept showing up on my radar. Invites to events featuring good DJ’s on a great system at a decent price. Sadly the first time I made it to the place was the closing weekend, but what a great Sunday that turned out to be, killer sounds on an F1 system that seemed way too big for a room that size but actually turned out to be perfect.
I think the ownership changed hands and the clubbing ended, the big sound system found a new home and all was forgotten until recently when it appeared that the invited to 222 Hyde or The Basement started showing up again.
Last night I wound up there by accident and it turned out to be refreshingly fun time. A young rave crowd eager to support their mates were getting down and giving off a great vibe. The doorman was chilled out and friendly, the drink selection turned out to be quite extensive, I thought they were only doing beer and wine, but they actually do have house liquors too. The bartender was very sweet, she showed me a fancy cocktails list that had some creative names based on the rich history and personality of the surrounding area known as the Tenderloin; I liked the look of all the drinks but I opted for the one called Crackheads Delirium… it was delicious, can’t wait to try a few of the other cunningly named creations.
The music downstairs was local talent and the crowd were really having fun supporting their own which is great to see. The sound system sounded a bit shite, not sure if the DJ’s were having a few issues avoiding the red zone or maybe it’s just not the same as the beast that was roaring away the last time I visited. I hope they have some Sunday day parties here in the future! Either way, I know I will be back here again because it’s a fun space in one of the best parts of San Francisco… THE TENDERLOIN!

Small and cozy little bar with a small basement/​dance floor. Great place to come and hang out with a small group.

I came here with two friends, while I was visiting them from New York. I am not a California native and all I can say is, when we parked across the street from The Basement (for a comedy show) at this place at night… I was SCARED! Yoooooo what is this Tenderloin district where I have ensure walking on a well lit street and avoid eye contact?!
Back to The Basement… looks like a hole in the wall, but it’s really cool once you get in and you realize the people on the street are not allowed in (too much?!). On that note… we came here for a comedy show and it was GOOD! One guy was too much though (I found myself looking down because I was so embarrassed at the crass remarks he made about women… yikes!). Fun event space and a cool hang out… but the neighborhood gives this place a minus one-​star.

Great comedy show on Saturday at 8 called the Setup! Really good beer selection, cute and friendly bartenders, and this place turns into a nightclub after 9. A true underground gem in the T.L.

We had an awesome time here thanks to our bartenders Mary and Jason! These two were a wonderful duo with entertaining conversation and awesome cocktail creation skills! Thank you both for making our night so much fun!

Came here for a *free* comedy show, which was in a lower level area whose seating I’m guessing was converted just for the comedy show from what would normally be a lounge type layout. The long bar on the upper level had limited spots, but more than enough considering the limited space they have to work with. They had few taps, mostly bottle service. Friendly staff. The comedy show was also great, hosted by Buddy Holly reincarnated. Unfortunately, there aren’t many other bars or food joints around, so it’s a place you have to purposely check out, but I’d definitely do so if I were in the area (which is a little sketchy, but it’s the tenderloin… it’s gonna be).

Came here for Happy Hour before a show at the Orpheum.
Happy Hour is $ 2 off of any cocktail before 8pm.
Since it was relatively early (6:30), we were the only ones in the bar. We tried the Dr. Turk and Mr. Hyde, Crystal’s Meth Corner, «Nothing Tender about this Mother Fu**er», and Infusion Confusion. All were tasty and refreshing.
Note: this is just a soju bar, so all of these cocktails are done without hard liquor.
Service was extremely friendly and attentive. She even made us popcorn which was nice to munch on while we enjoyed our cocktails!
CHECK IN ON Unilocal FOR A FREE SHOOTER!

I’m visiting from NYC and this is my first time in the city so I Unilocaled happy hour near my hostel. This place is super chill. The bartender is knowledgable and very friendly. Tonight is free open mic comedy which is clearly awesome! The drinks are $ 2 off during happy hour. This place is going to be my local watering hole while I’m in the area! The cocktail menu is tasty and the names are hilarious! «Crackhead’s Delirium» «Nothing Tender about this Mother Fu**er» and «Crystal’s Meth Corner» awwww reminds me of home…

Currently don’t have a hard liquor license so you’ll have to settle for beer or sake/​wine.
Hosts comedy shows some Saturdays which are great.

Nice space, friendly bartender. Haven’t spent much time in this area because I don’t want to walk there, but it’s a good space that I’d visit again.

We need a pat on our backs for finding this place. They recently opened and while they are still waiting for all licenses, they got creative with soju and sake and definitely have the best cocktails and shots.
We love the bloody loins so much, that’s always the drink we have first.
The people are so awesome and friendly and they’ve done a commendable job on the ambiance. The music selection is another thing that makes this place stand out among the hordes of other places in this neighborhood.
I am very excited to see this place grow and see what they do with it.
Cheers to a long relationship with Basement!

All the bartenders are very helpful and sweet! The vibe is super cool and the place is really clean. I was skeptical at first because of the neighborhood, but it was a pleasant experience!

Ok the ambiance is cool. Drinks are original. Staff is nice. Interesting concept with the basement entertainment factor. That being said, had a drink when i stopped by one night and lacks a professional touch n flavor. Owner has students from the local arts college either interning or working behind the bar and is real slow making drinks. The drink is pretty as far as presentation, but falls short due to not the right combo of ingredients and mixology. Thus the 3 stars.

I’ve been frequenting The Basement for months. Just by chance I started swinging by for a beer or a Soju Cocktail right when they opened. The bartender, Evelyn and owner Larry are some of the nicest and creative people in the area. They’ve completely re-​hauled a once closed TL neighborhood bar into a dim-​lit and casual place that serves 100% custom Soju and Sake cocktails. They’ve managed to expand their craft-​beer tap selection into a hard to match offering. And they’ve introduced Comedy nights on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s, all while keeping the riff raffs out and good company in.
Because it’s a relatively new bar, it’s not packed and there always seems to be seating directly at the bar, with plenty of couches in the backroom for a more intimate setting.
For beer fans you’ll see Dogfish Head 90 min IPA, Drake’s 1500 and a rotating specialty selection. For cocktail drinkers, it’s a real treat with drinks like the «Dr. Turk and Mr. Hyde» which comes across like a refreshing Mojito that has jalapeño added for a bite.
Either way, if you’re in the area and looking to get off the often-​traveled path of Polk St. bars, check it out.

Came for a comedy show last night called the «Set Up.» Nice space downstairs for event like that (comedy shows and live music). Comfy seats and good sound. I didn’t really like my cocktail I had (the Dr. Turk and Mr. Hyde). Just wasn’t very tasty or well made but the place has potential.
Yes it’s in the TL and it’s deep in the TL but this is my nabe so I’m not fazed by the characters anymore. Keep your phone down and your wits about you and you’ll be fine. Nobody is going to bother you and the bar is worth the trip through a part of town not many get to see.

I love checking out new bars & lounges in SF, it is always a treat! My friend suggested we check out The Basement on a Friday night, the location worried me…4 females in the Tenderloin? Not sure if that would be smart. Decided to check it out anyway.
I only live 4 blocks away but I had to take an Über. I was dropped right in front and ran in, there were several scary looking folks standing around the block. There was no one at the bar except maybe the owners & another customer. They had the warriors game playing on the TV (perfect). The basement is a Soju & Sake bar, but they also have a great selection of Beers. I ordered the «where’s bill Murray» as the Unilocal reviews mentioned this drink several times, I had two and wish I could have one right now. The bartender was extremely friendly and lovely. I also checked in on Unilocal and received a free soju shooter!
The décor is great and there is a downstairs lounge area with a DJ booth. I will come here again and highly recommend this new bar.

The Basement is a soju cocktail bar — something that many Unilocal reviews failed to mention for some reason. I came in here ready to sip on some gin and whiskey, but alas!
That being said, the drinks are quite original and tasty. And the idea of a soju cocktail bar is pretty fun in and of itself. (Tip: Check into Unilocal for a free shooter! Though beware, they are rather potent.)
I highly recommend the Dr. Turk and Dr. Hyde if you’re a fan of more sour cocktails — it comes with mint, basil, lemon, ginger beer and some jalapenos for that extra interesting kick. Positively delicious.
Service was really great, and there’s a lot of potential for the space — there’s an entire room downstairs (a «basement,» if you will) that could actually become a pretty sweet dance space if they recruit some fun DJs. That being said, the décor didn’t always match the vibes — though rustic and modern upstairs, the downstairs felt a little gothic and creepy.
But with a few tweaks, the Basement could be a real gem.

Context: My friends and I came here for vacation and happened to walk by this place and it looked like a chill spot! Be careful when walking around at night though, other than that totally worth it!
Food/​drinks: My friend and I ordered this drink called Coco Loca, I honestly don’t know what was in the drink but their was chocolate shavings on the top which was super tasty and made for a great chaser! My friend had the Oatmeal Stout and she loved it!
Price: $ 8 for my Coco Loca, very good price in my opinion for the drink. They also have a happy hour which is pretty good.
Environment: The ambiance is super nice and classy and I love the layout. The top is a bar and when you step down its another lounge-​y area that was used as a comedy open mic for when we came. I believe it’s a dance floor or lounge the other nights. Dim lighting yet still very inviting.
My friends and I happened to walk into Open Mic Comedy Night and went downstairs to see comedians perform! Some were new and others perform regularly so it was fun watching the diversity of it all.
Service: Super friendly and nice bartender and owners/​host!
This place re opened so I would recommend checking it out! Good drinks at good prices and nice environment

love this place, right now it is intimate and nice for a small gathering of friends. It has so much potential, especially the lower level to be a dance spot. The only thing I would change would be the music. The bartender was great. the bill murray drink, infusion confusion and rave cave were great, but stay away from the ain’t nothing tender about this mother****er drink. The problem with this place is that it was deep in the TL and my group was dressed to impress, and we felt unsafe walking there even with 2 guys in our posse, so be careful. They have a bouncer once you arrive, to keep out the riff raff, but be advised you are deep in the TL.

Little hideout on Hyde. Great drinks and atmosphere. Highly recommend the beer coctail Catch 222 and Dr. Turk and Mr. Hyde. Everlyn is a sweet bartender.