Restaurant

El Lopo

Name: El Lopo
Address: 1327 Polk St, San Francisco, CA, 94109, US
Price range: $$

Bar•San Francisco•$$

Editorial restaurant image stand-in for El Lopo

Google

El Lopo is one of the best bar restaurants in San Francisco for date night, especially if you want a strong option in San Francisco.

Editorial review•Mar 17, 2026

El Lopo runs on a premise that sounds like a college thesis but somehow works in practice: what would California bar food look like if the Spanish never ceded Alta California — if sherry held the cultural weight that IPA does in this city, and tapas were as familiar as bar nuts? That's the actual organizing fiction behind this Fillmore-adjacent spot, which started as a popup at Blur in summer 2018 before graduating to its own address in March 2019. The result is a bar that's genuinely specific in a city full of vague concepts — sherry and vermouth are the main event at the drinks program, not an afterthought, and the kitchen exists to support that focus rather than compete with it. If you find most SF bars either too precious or too loud and sticky, El Lopo positions itself in the middle: real food, real drinks, a point of view you can actually feel in the menu. The food list is short and disciplined, which is the right call for a bar kitchen working a specific lane. Anchovy-stuffed olives are exactly what they sound like and exactly what you want at a sherry bar — briny, direct, no apology. The fried Monterey squid leans into California sourcing while staying in the Spanish-ish register the kitchen has staked out. Tomato toast — pan con tomate by another name — is one of those dishes that lives or dies on ingredient quality, and the kitchen's stated commitment to seasonality and purity suggests they take it seriously. The Spanish-ish tortilla (the egg-and-potato kind, not the flour kind) is the kind of anchor dish a bar needs: filling, unfussy, adaptable to whatever you're drinking. One third-party account flags octopus and churros as worth ordering, though these aren't confirmed current menu items — worth asking. The practical read: come for drinks first, and let the food follow. The sherry list is the main reason regulars return, so ask whoever's behind the bar to walk you through it rather than defaulting to wine. The outdoor tented area seats up to 25 and is bookable for private groups, which makes this a legitimate option for low-key parties that want actual food and drinks with intention. They're open seven days, so there's no secret off-night — but a bar that leads with sherry and vermouth tends to be a better hang on slower weeknights when the staff has room to talk you through the list. Book ahead if you're bringing more than four people.

Carlos Mendez, Food & Drink Editor

Methodology•San Francisco guides•Editorial team

cocktail wine bar hidden gem date night

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Rating (Google) 9.4

361 reviews

San Francisco

At a glance

The fastest read on whether this place fits tonight.

9.4

Rating

Based on 361 reviews

Best used for

date night and cocktail

Price and pace

Moderate spend

Neighborhood

San Francisco · 1327 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94109, USA

Price

Moderate spend

Google rating

9.4 from 361 reviews

Address

San Francisco | 1327 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94109, USA

Photos of El Lopo

Google

Why go

What makes El Lopo worth the move

El Lopo is an easy yes when you want somewhere that feels considered rather than fussy. It also holds a 9.4 rating across 361 Google reviews.

What to know fast

Public rating

9.4 from 361 Google reviews

Best used for

date night and cocktail

Style

Bar in San Francisco

Spend

Moderate spend

Best for

cocktail wine bar hidden gem date night

Know before you go

Google rating: 9.4 from 361 reviews

Price point: $$

Website linked on this page

TastyPals Reviews

What diners are saying

0 diner reviews · reviewed by Carlos Mendez for El Lopo

Google snapshot

9.4 from 361 reviews

TastyPals notes

Editorial review by Carlos Mendez · diner notes coming in

This page is ready for real diner notes from the app database.

Esme is a sensible french restaurant call in San Francisco when you want something that usually lands well.

15 reviews

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Plan the visit

Quick details

Visit Restaurant Website Menu Directions

Address: 1327 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94109, USA
Price: $$
TastyPals score: Coming soon
Google rating: 9.4 (361 reviews)
Cuisine: Bar
Neighborhood: San Francisco

Frequently asked questions

What cuisine does El Lopo serve?

El Lopo is a Bar restaurant located in San Francisco, San Francisco. El Lopo runs on a premise that sounds like a college thesis but somehow works in practice: what would California bar food look like if the Spanish never ceded Alta California — if sherry held the cultural weight that IPA does in this cit…

What is El Lopo best for?

El Lopo is best for cocktail, wine bar, hidden gem, date night. El Lopo is an easy yes when you want somewhere that feels considered rather than fussy. It also holds a 9.4 rating across 361 Google reviews.

How much does it cost to eat at El Lopo?

El Lopo is in the Moderate spend price range ($$). Google rating: 9.4 from 361 reviews

What should I order at El Lopo?

Start with Anchovy-Stuffed Olives, Fried Monterey Squid, Tomato Toast and Spanish-ish Tortilla. These dishes are shown from TastyPals notes or restaurant data on this page.

Is El Lopo worth visiting?

El Lopo holds a 9.4 Google rating from 361 reviews. El Lopo is an easy yes when you want somewhere that feels considered rather than fussy. It also holds a 9.4 rating across 361 Google reviews.

Where is El Lopo located?

El Lopo is located at 1327 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94109, USA. Directions are available via Google Maps.

Is El Lopo good for a date night?

Yes — El Lopo is tagged for date night dining. El Lopo is an easy yes when you want somewhere that feels considered rather than fussy. It also holds a 9.4 rating across 361 Google reviews.

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