Absinthe Brasserie & Bar is one of the restaurants that helped put Hayes Valley on the map, a handsome belle-époque-styled French brasserie open since the late 1990s on the corner of Hayes and Gough. It serves the classics — oysters, steak frites, coq au vin — in a warm, bustling room, and it sits within easy reach of the symphony, opera, and ballet, making it a long-standing pre-performance favourite.
It is also a serious cocktail destination, with a bar credited as part of San Francisco's drinks revival and, fittingly, a list strong on absinthe. Come for a long lunch, a pre-show dinner, or just a drink and a plate of fries at the bar. It anchors the dining end of Hayes Street, with plenty more restaurants and wine bars within a couple of blocks.