This bar is an awesome hidden prohibition era speak easy esque bar, it's quite hard to find,look out for the Anti-saloon league advertising board and then the non descript wooden door underneath. Entry is strictly via booking only and you need to give it name and the 'secret code-word'. Inside it's a very dark bar with a no mobile or photography policy which is refreshingly very nice. The drinks menu is great they serve some lovely cocktails and very thorough extensive list of bourbons and single malts. They play music fitting with what I would imagine the prohibition era would play and staff are dressed in 'peaky blinders' style clothing. When you have had a few nice drinks in here,pop next door to their sister bar 'The library' which is more casual and no bookings required. Both were very nice experiences. I would visit here again and recommend it to friends and family
My favorite place in SF. Always great staff, which makes me keep coming back.
Unique experience right from getting the password to leaving out a separate entrance. When we arrived at the unmarked door we were greeted by a gent in period garb who whispered to us to follow him inside. Perused the extensive menu and tried a few different libations each. Romantic and fun night out. Helped to facilitate the date night atmosphere as no photos allowed so our phones stayed in our pocket. Only downside and it is a minor one- was that is was hard to read the menu with it being a dimly lit venue. Highly recommend this experience at least once but with the breadth of the drink list it would be great to return several times!
We badly needed someone to help us to trace my daughter 7 years old that is missing over a month. We had tried everything. Until I saw the website about Wilsons Detectives, and we contact them immediately and I was so happy because they are very responsive. Within less than 1 week we got a update that our daughter was traced. I am very thankful to Wilson Detectives because they work so hard.
What a fun experience! Love the fact you have to have a password to get in. Once inside, the atmosphere is as you'd expect of an speakeasy...dimly lit and quiet. The bartenders were great and the cocktails are top notch; don't go expecting to get a beer. Highly recommend for a cocktail before dinner.
This was a fun speakeasy experience. Once you get in, the bartenders are friendly and knowledgeable. The atmosphere is divine. The "no photos" rule makes for a great vibe inside. I appreciated feeling like I was personally being taken care of, and like I was valued as a customer.
I wanted to like Wilson & Wilson, but it was pretentious and fell short. I wanted a flip, so the bartender recommended "Deadline at Dawn". It tasted unbalanced to me - the vanilla was too pronounced, and its aftertaste still lingers. To his credit, the bartender recognized I wasn't happy, and asked what he could do to make it right. Kudos. However, when I said I'd love to stick with a flip, and asked if I could get a rebel flip (they have a great bourbon selection) he said they only did drinks from the menu. I asked if he could re-make the drink without the vanilla infused bitters, and he said they "didn't do alterations".If you're Dandelyan or American Bar, you'd have perhaps earned the right to be that pretentious, but even at Dandelyan I've never been told "we don't do alterations" or "menu only". A great bar will work with you, explore what flavor profile you enjoy, and come up with something to match your desires. I've never had more fun than a night with Mikey Ball exploring some super creative drinks after we talked flavor profiles. This fell so horribly short.If you're going to stick to a strict menu and not allow any alterations, why don'y you just go ahead and batch it all. You might as well.tl;dr: I really wanted to like Wilson & Wilson. Nice space, nice ingredients behind the bar, but I left after 15 minutes and three sips of a drink.
The feel and vibe is great. The whole “password to get in” and location in the seedy Tenderloin adds to it. Each cocktail was top notch. My only complaint would be the attitude of our server. He looked like the lead guy from Pitch Perfect and was not very friendly. Now the extra info you need to know. The main bar (the one requiring the password) is not really a bar but rather a collection of tables that seat 4. There is NO bar / lounge atmosphere or mingling of any sort. It’s true speakeasy - when you had to hide your presence. But no worries. That is all fixed by passing thru the secret “wall” of books into the Library. Much more like a bar. It’s open and they make most of the same drinks. There is a side entrance directly into this part but then you would miss the secret door. I didn’t get to visit the detective agency part or the underground. Maybe next time. Don’t be put off by the location (although be careful when you exit into that area). Enjoy.
A speakeasy inside a speakeasy! What a brilliant idea with a great background. The atmosphere is wonderful and the staff (Shelly!) is phenomenal. Head to their website and make a res. So worth it.
Great experience, as they focus on the unique and secretive experience I won’t go into too much detail. The experience is entertaining, focusing on the speakeasy style, as you can only enter though a password and by following specific house rules. The bartenders are friendly and very experienced, the environment is calm and relaxing. A must go and comfortable, tasteful night out.