Absinthe Brasserie and Bar

Group Friendly, Brunch: Absinthe recalls the days of Dorothy Parker and her circle of witty, sardonic critics. Along with dicing celebrities, they took great pleasure in good food and drink. Plenty of both can be found here, and weekend brunch is especially delightful. Champagne and wines balance the cuisine, which includes cold seafood platters, imported French cheeses, and coq au vin. A tasty...

An upscale (Niman Ranch ham, banana-blueberry souffle pancakes) but reasonably priced brunch (all entrees are about $10) is served Saturdays and Sundays.

Valet service is available after 5:30pm, or self-park at the lot on Gough and Grove streets.

With copper-topped tables, checkerboard-tile floor, and antique mirrors, genteel Absinthe evokes a French brasserie of the Belle Époque. Its excellent cocktail menu is in keeping with this theme, using recipes, such as the Ginger Rogers, culled from early 20th-century cocktail books. The bar has a separate menu from the adjoining restaurant—chiefly nibbles and small plates, ideal for a bite...

Absinthe is an anchor of the fashionable Hayes Valley dining scene. At this casually elegant corner brasserie and bar, styles mix effortlessly. You'll see some regulars in jeans and others in tuxedos (thank you, Opera House), all with full plates and glasses, chattering madly. Thanks to chef Adam Keough, Absinthe’s menu is scored with meaty dishes, from lighter fish and seafood to slow-cooked...

Sexy fin de siècle dining in Moulin Rouge setting complete with leather and mohair banquettes. Oysters, lavender crème brulée and Ginger Rogers cocktails, though no actual absinthe or Nicole Kidman last time we checked. Slightly snooty waitstaff and pretty pricey drinks. But who cares when the warm polenta with marscarpone is so good? Some sidewalk tables, some homeless folks, so sit at your...

This Hayes Valley hot spot is sexy, fun, reasonably priced, and frequented by everyone from the theatergoing crowd to the young and chic (it's even trendier now that Top Chef contestant Jamie Lauren is the executive chef). Decor is all brasserie, with French rattan cafe chairs, copper-topped tables, a pressed-tin ceiling, soft lighting, period art, and a rich use of color and fabric, including...

With its lively, informal décor evocative of turn-of-the-century France, Absinthe Brasserie & Bar in San Francisco’s Hayes Valley neighborhood romances locals and visitors alike.