Voda Vodka Bar

with their vast selection vodkas this was one of my favorite hangouts. they also had bunch of yummy specialty cocktails… the best being the key lime pie with graham cracker rim.
unfortunately though the they just closed their doors to make way for a new restaurant.
i can only hope that key lime pie cocktail will be on the new menu!

You remember the scene in Swingers where Jon Favreau calls that women he met at the party, like, 8 times in a row? I get stomach knots every time I see that scene. You, on the other hand, probably laugh your ass off. And that, my friend, is a good demonstration of the difference between empathy and sympathy.
Not enough information? Try this. While I sit and politely sip my vodka martini, I watch FiDi d-​bags hit on ridiculous-​looking trollops wearing strange, American Apparel sack dresses. And I sympathize with the trollops, because they just came here to have an after-​dinner drink, not get hit on by some d-​bag [I can’t even type that with a straight face, but let’s all pretend together, shall we?]. On the other hand, I empathize with the d-​bags who are getting shot down left and right, like fat ducks at an NRA convention.
Soon, Voda will close. My only-​very-​occasional patronship had little to do with its success or failure. I will find other places to drink my vodka, and ponder why it seems to make me overly truthful, overly expressive, inappropriately honest. Likely to call someone 8 times in a row. Pathetic. But well-​lubricated.

I went with a couple friends to Voda’s happy hour last night. I definitely agree with what Nicholas F. had to say about the place that it’s «not so much a ‘Happy Hour,’ but instead a single drink per day that is offered at a discounted price.»
When we walked in, it seemed as though we were transported back in time to the 70s, which was the last time pink and white pleather were in fashion. The décor was just awful and I usually enjoy themed or kitschy décor, but this was simply trashy… complete with a stripper pole in the corner.
We read on their website that the drink for the night was a $ 3 gimlet. We each got one, and while they were tasty, we were charged $ 4… someone needs to update their website! We were also the only other people in there besides a large group of guys who seemed to be coworkers. Most happy hours I’ve been to in the city have been packed, so I guess we should have realized that a dead happy hour is not a good sign. Meh, I’ve experienced better, indeed!

Alright, this is bumped to three stars because I love vodka, and I just got an informative response from the owners. Thanks for the clarification.
«Hello !
We’re open on tuesdays and wednesdays for the happy hour only from 4:30pm to 8pm, thursday and friday 4:30pm to 2am, saturday 8pm to 2am and closed sundays and mondays.
We’re still open until the license transfer is done wich will take another month or so.
Sorry you missed us…;-)
VODA»

Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE vodka. First child will be Vodka H. or Jack Bauer H. Works for me!
Came in when it first opened so it was empty. The place is really cute. I love the whole layout with the padded seats with tables attached. Why doesn’t ever place have this? The bartender was cool. Checkout out is sweet cherry blossom tats. Took a shot with bestie Jason C. and then went to dinner. Will definitely need to come back here again.

It’s winter time. The weather is chilly and there’s no sun light when you wake up to go to work and it’s similarly dark when you drive home. After a long day toiling in the office, I want to sit in a place that makes me feel successful and that i made a difference in the world. Or a place that lets me think of the meaning of life and wtf my purpose is. Very emo, I know. At the very least, I am dressed up and need some place to go.
Luckily, when I am feeling the combination of noir style and existential crisis, I can go to Voda. They might not make me feel successful and appreciated at work, but because they specialize in Vodka, at least I know the next drink I pound will have enough proof to raise my endorphin levels enough so I might actually get the courage to swing from the stripper pole. Or not kill myself for another 24 hours.
Walking through curtains that are as thick as the X-​ray jacket you don at the dentist’s office, you enter Voda and immediately are irradiated with fluorescent lighting. Voda is mod, hip, and feels like a cozy lounge/​nightclub. They might not have the greatest Vodka selection, but local favorite Hanger One is in full effect, as is Effen and Absolut. The prices are a little on the pricey side so if you can, go at happy hour.
I don’t think I’ve ever found out the meaning of my life at Voda or any other bar, but I do feel appreciated when my American Express bill comes each month and tells me I’m alive and helping the economy.

This is a place that my coworkers and I often sidle up to for what they like to call «Happy Hour», merely by virtue of its proximity to our office. Voda’s «Happy Hour» is not so much a «Happy Hour», but instead a single drink per day that is offered at a discounted price. Weak.
The first star is for the fun of pretending like you’re in a bar in outer space, if outer space were colonized by trendy Russians.
The second star is for the basil-​hibiscus-​vodka cocktail, which is amazing. Like a sweet and tropical liquefied bruschetta.
The empty three stars are for the high prices, the misnomer of a «Happy Hour», and the overall unfriendly vibe of the place. Space is cool, but it’s also cold. Especially if it’s Russian.

This bar is fine and that’s about it.
I can’t quite pinpoint why I wasn’t feelin it. Well first of all, I really hate weak happy hours. And Voda’s happy hour selection is pretty weak.
Then there was something really cheap-​feeling about the whole scene; it’s a loungy bar with modern-​ish décor and a stripper pole near the two unisex bathrooms in the back. To top that off, the crowd was ok but not especially friendly.
I just had no connection to the place, but even with that said, I’ll return again if I’m on Belden Lane.

I don’t think I quite get this place. A while back I visited Voda with a group of friends, it has more of a lounge feel to it than your standard run of the mill bar. A safe bet to come to with girls, there is very little about this bar that could offend the fairer sex.
It was a Friday night there was a DJ playing some euro das beats. The best feature to Voda was a stripper pole that I actually got to see put to use by someone that was pretty easy on the eyes.
Personally I’ll drink well vodka, I don’t care. I can also stomach a place a lot more dive if they have great drink deals. So maybe not such a great fit.

Right near the corner of Bush and Kearny is this little alley called Belden Place. There’s a whole lot of neat looking restaurants with outside seating that seem really sweet. No idea what the food is like in any of them becuase everytime I’m down there I’m going to Voda.
Voda is a vodka fan’s dream and they have some of the best specialty vodkas on hand. Green Tea vodka, Cherry vodka, Chocolate vodka, I’m like a kid in a candy store in there.
On any weekend night it’s pretty hoppin’ but not so much that you can’t get a drink. I like busy but not crowded. They also typically have a local DJ spinning some sort ot housey grooves.
Happy hours can be kinda crowded but I’ve never walked out if this place and had a crappy time.
If you like fancy vodkas and a smaller nightclub scene, check the place out.

Another date.
Another drink.
I’ve learned over the years (well, make it that first year of being inducted in hangover hall) that unfortunately, due to the Asian strain that was genetically placed therein that I can only handle drinks that are usually on the rocks or mixed with tonic water. Add anything dairy and that equates to a gastric upheaval of sorts (at a Craigslist foundation party a bit ago, I mixed champagne with a Häagen-​Dazs ice cream treat and behold, my rush to the private rooms) so I stick to simple.
That equates to two things:
Vodka
Gin
At Voda, it was the Grey Goose vodka. On the rocks. With my date. And I was attempting to cross my legs on the somewhat long lounges with a skirt on.
The interior of this place is geometric and reminds me of my mother’s old House and Garden hardcover book on how to construct bookshelves utilizing particle board wood painted white. Nostalgic.
Otherwise, it was pretty easy to hear over the din while my date was whispering in my ear during my furtive tiny sips as the vodka bit at my lips. Their menu is pretty vast so be ready to be the adventurous type or conservative, depending on the mood. I, for one, was not ready to try anything and just stuck with an old fashioned.
I left somewhat warm and tipsy. The date, an all-​about gentleman made sure I made it to my car.
Who said chivalry was dead?

La scèné est parfois désagréable, mais Voda est autrement un bon endroit à boire une grande variété de vodkas et à détendre dans l’ambiance super-​chic.
La musique peut souvent être trop forte, mais vous êtes ici pour devenir ivre et baiser votre copain/copine/personne-que-vous-avez-reoncontrée-sur-l’autobus. Pas pour parler.
Mais si vous insistez pour parler, beaucoup du personnel ici sont francophones.

We came here last Saturday night with some friends. I have always wanted to come here.
We walked in and the music was great and the décor was really great and lots of differ types of Vodka which ever so great.. He was this very vocal bartender. He made our first drink then talked for at least 45min about nu thin and then moved on to the next customer. Oh but wait he did served us one free shoot, but all that talking was a wast of time. I might go back just as long there is another bartender. A bartender that doesn’t talk as much, and at least has something to say.
This place is very cool

Holy Cheesy Hell In A Hand Basket, Batman!
Yikes. That is all I can say about this place without risking possible death by Drakkar, but since I am feeling frisky and daring, eff it, here is my summation of this joint.
If you are from Europe and love music that repeats the same line over and over again while a migraine inducing beat permeates your space, then you will love this place.
If your go-​to get ready for a night out on the town jam for a Friday night is something of the Right Said Fred, Aqua, Robert Miles, BBE, Nylon Moon variety, then you will love this place.
If you are a man and you own a very tight pair of white jeans and have a penchant for ditching the first 5 buttons of your shirt to let your chest hairs fly free and feel that alluring SF breeze, you will love this place.
Nutshell, if you are a tool, you will love this place.

I look better in dim lighting. Especially rooms lit in pink, because pink is a pretty color. *cough*
I like this place. On my second visit (during the first, I vaguely recall throwing back the Vodka sampler…) I enjoyed sipping (gulping?) the «Opportunity Martini» — Ketel One with hibiscus tea & basil ($ 9). This appealed to me, since I’m on a diet and would like to avoid sugary syrups (unless imbibed in a competive drinking environment — and then GAME ON, fructose!)
Like Betty Ford said, «If you’re drinking your calories, better make them count.» *cough* Okay, so I may have made that up…
I felt very feminine here, elegantly perched on my backless stool, hands folded neatly in my lap like a lady.
Then I fell off my stool getting ready to leave. Touché, Voda.

Dude. $ 3 Cosmos at Happy Hour, and Happy Hour lasts for four hours. What’s not to like?
(Okay, three and a half hours, but who’s counting?)

The stripper pole just screams AWKWARD FAILURE — whatever might be feeling cool about the atmosphere comes crashing down when you catch a glimpse of the ridiculousness out of the corner of your eye. Is it self parody? They get two stars for cheap cocktail specials, but be warned — these drinks are so sugary that you’ll tire of them before you’re properly sloshed.
What is the spot doing on Belden place? The whole trying-​to-​be-​trendy 90’s euro-​club-​esque thing doesn’t actually match up with the trying-​be-​classic euro sidewalk café charm of the rest of the street. Voda is the weak link.

3 stars – one for each dollar that my cocktail cost.
Daily happy hour drink specials make me happy – especially when they are the bargain price of $ 3. NOTHING in the FiDi costs $ 3. My morning coffee costs more. I really do like a bargain.
Wednesday nights the special is a Gimlet. Yum!
The place is decorated very lounge-​y and Euro. It doesn’t exude a lot of class– more like IKEA.
It comes complete with a stripper pole for those who like to partake in that sort of thing.

So, I walk into Voda this weekend with my friend from out of town who is a «professional dancer.» She was looking for a place with a pole on the dance floor, and I asked around, Voda was the place suggested.
SO, its 7pm, the place has seriously just opened up. My friend asks the bartender if he minds if she dances. And could he speed up the music.
She then pulls out a pair of 7.5″ heels and promises to not get completely naked.
So, there she is, dancing, in her underwear at 7pm. I’m sitting at the bar with the bartender and the owner of the bar. Apparently, they consider themselves a vodka bar. And they have a lot of great choices. Did I mention they let me drink for free?
So, I can’t promise that my friend will be there, but you know, its not a bad place to check out.

Belden Lane has been in need of a cool bar you can hang out at before or after dinner, and Voda serves that need pretty well.
The bar have something like 50 different brands of vodka, including Jay-Z’s Armadale, Hangar One, and my favorite Charbay. It’s a little clubby, maybe too LA-​ish in feel, but after a couple of shots, who cares?
Special bonus: they have a strip pole for all sorts of debauchery after the drinks start coming.

At happy hour there’s plenty of room to sit and chat to your friends, whether you’ve invited two or fifty. It’s a nice, comfortable, manageable space and very centrally located.
On Wednesdays the $ 3 cocktail special is a gimlet. You’d be hard-​pressed to find a cocktail this good, and at $ 3 (until 8pm), how can you go wrong? Voda also does an exceptional mojito! I am very much looking forward to returning for the other cocktail specials (cosmopolitans on Tuesdays!)
Additionally, our server was just lovely. She managed to keep up with our ever-​growing group. She made sure everyone was topped up and was kind enough to keep everyone’s tabs divided up.
I could become a regular…