Heritage Happy Hour: Elixir Saloon

Heritage Happy Hour: Elixir Saloon

Heritage Happy Hour is a convivial “no-host” gathering of heritage professionals, young preservationists, aficionados, friends, and Legacy Business cohorts interested in safeguarding San Francisco’s unique architectural and cultural identity. We get together on the Second Thursday of each month from 5-7 pm at a registered Legacy Business bar in San Francisco.

Elixir Saloon (www.elixirsf.com) carries on a more than 150-year-run of saloons on the northwest corner of 16th and Guerrero streets.

The bar was a classic 19th-century saloon run mostly by Irishmen from the predominantly Irish community surrounding it. In 1906, the Great Earthquake and Fire burned it to the ground. The business owner at that time, Patrick J. McGinnis, rebuilt a grander building, which was designed by famed Petaluma-based architect Brainerd Jones. McGinnis rebuilt right away and reopened in 1907. After rebuilding, McGinnis kept the community-driven barroom active as a “soft-drink parlor” during Prohibition.

Over the years, the bar's name has changed numerous times, and there have been over a dozen owners. The bar has been doing business as Elixir since 1990, first as “Jack’s Elixir Bar” and then just “Elixir” since 2003.

In 2003, current owner H. Joseph Ehrmann recognized the Victorian bones of the building and bought the property and the bar. He restored the bar to its Victorian glory, including restoring all of the wood by hand, refinishing all of the furniture, installing Victorian lighting, and digging deep into the location’s unknown history.

Elixir is open seven days a week, providing the local community with beverages, community, and hospitality in a beautiful Victorian atmosphere of mahogany and redwood. The bar offers classic whiskey cocktails, traditional cocktails, beer and wine, Trivia Happy Hour, Industry Night, ticketed cocktail classes and tasting events for individuals and small groups, private group events, a Whiskey Geeks membership group, and a Cocktail Club.

Elixir Saloon was added to the Legacy Business Registry on December 4, 2023.

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San Francisco’s Legacy Business Program is the first-of-its-kind in the U.S. The program supports and promotes iconic, small businesses over 30 years in operation that are long-standing pillars of our communities and neighborhoods.

San Francisco Heritage (est. 1971), has protected the city in the face of rapid change by advocating for historic resources, hosting educational programming, and interpreting and preserving cultural heritage. The Legacy Business Program (est. 2015) provides marketing, business assistance, and specialized grants for local small businesses included on the Legacy Business Registry.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

3200 16th St, 3200 16th Street, San Francisco, United States