Matt Phillips

Review of 222 Hyde Street's The Basement

I absolutely loved this place and it will be the f...

I absolutely loved this place and it will be the first stop I make if I ever get back to San Francisco. I was in town for work and, being the beer snob I am, I bailed on my coworkers who were going out to drink shots and do karaoke and I walked 45 minutes by myself from the Fisherman's Wharf Marriott through Tenderloin to get here. I'd do it again in a heartbeat! I've been to a ton of places with massive and impressive beer menus, but this place topped them all with their 2 dozen taps of highly exclusive brews. Once I walked in and saw a Dogfish Head barleywine I'd never seen before, I knew I was where I was supposed to be. The atmosphere is tight, but inviting and the people behind the bar were wonderful. On my way out I decided to walk a different way back and, knowing I was in town from North Carolina, the bartender ran out the door to make sure I knew which way to get back to the wharf when she saw me leaving a different way than I came in! I was already happy with my experience and my service at that point, but after that I was truly touched! If you really love beer, REAL beer, this is where you want to be. This stop was the absolute highlight of my stay in the bay, above and beyond the Golden Gate and all the other touristy spots. Go there when you're in the area, it's the best place in town.