Dreamforce 2016 Networking (er, Drinking) Guide

Love it or hate it, it’s that time of year again: Salesforce’s annual Dreamforce conference. Over 170,000 people (“trailblazers”) are descending upon San Francisco right now, taking over Howard Street between Third and Fourth Streets, and just about every other street within a 2-block radius.

Locals who are not working remotely this week, should expect road closures, traffic delays, packed coffee/lunch/happy hour spots, and a congested commute.

Are you a trailblazer? You’re in luck, because we’ve prepared this Dreamforce 2016 Networking (er, drinking) Guide, just for you. And maybe for us, because we’re at Dreamforce, too. Follow us on Instagram for more San Francisco and Dreamforce tips: @49milessf.

The View lounge at Marriott Marquis. Photo: @celestease, Instagram.

The View, Marriott Marquis
$$ | 780 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
With massive, arched windows showcasing views of San Francisco, this posh lounge, conveniently located at the Marriott Marquis (part of the Dreamforce campus), is the ultimate spot for DF16 networking. The View serves cocktails and small plates throughout the evening.
Hours: Sunday-Wednesday: 4:00PM–1:00AM, Thursday-Saturday: 4:00PM–1:30AM

Tropisueño near Dreamforce's Dreampark. Photo: @styledbybriii, Instagram. — Tropisueño near Dreamforce’s Dreampark. Photo: @styledbybriii, Instagram.

Tropisueño
$$ | 75 Yerba Buena Lane, San Francisco, CA 94103
Located in an alleyway connecting Market and Mission Streets, between the Marriott Marquis and Jewish Contemporary Museum, Tropisueño is a Mexican eatery known for taco lunches, lively dinners, chile-salt margaritas, and authentic decor.
Hours: Monday-Thursday: 10:00AM–10:00PM, Friday: 10:00AM–10:30PM, Saturday: 11:00AM–10:30PM, Sunday: 11:00AM–10:00PM

Dirty Habit is a popular happy hour spot near Dreampark. Photo: @everettwilliams, Instagram.

Dirty Habit
$$ | 12 4th Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
Dirty Habit is a hip restaurant and lounge serving New American cuisine and creative cocktails in a luxe, high-design space. Located directly across the street from the Marriott Marquis on the fifth floor of Hotel Zelos, this watering hole will be your go-to for happy hours throughout Dreamforce week.
Hours: Monday-Saturday: 5:00–10:00PM

The Cavalier's blue bar. Photo: @thecavaliersf, Instagram. — The Cavalier’s blue bar. Photo: @thecavaliersf, Instagram.

The Cavalier
$$$ | 360 Jessie Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
Just a block down from Dreampark’s center you’ll find The Cavalier, Hotel Zetta’s British-themed brasserie which delivers gastropub bites and colonial-inspired cocktails in clubby digs. Being Hotel Zetta’s restaurant, The Cavalier is open throughout the day, making it a great spot to also grab breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Hours: Monday-Wednesday: 7:00AM–10:00PM, Thursday-Saturday: 7:00AM–11:00PM, Sunday: 7:00AM–9:00PM

Marianne's, a formerly private bar for Silicon Valley executives and tech titans, recently opened to the public. Photo: @kenfulk, Instagram. — Marianne’s, a formerly private bar for Silicon Valley executives and tech titans, recently opened to the public. Photo: @kenfulk, Instagram.

Marianne’s
$$$ | 360 Jessie Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
Marianne’s is a former member’s only cocktail bar that recently opened to the public. This intimate, well-heeled lounge offers elevated cocktails (try the gin-based Honey Bang Me Sloe) and New American small bites. Don’t miss the bathroom inspired by The Rolling Stones’ Beggars Banquet album art. Seriously, don’t leave without seeing the bathroom.
Hours: Tuesday & Wednesday: 5:30PM–12:00AM, Thursday-Saturday: 5:30PM–1:30AM, Closed Sunday & Monday

Escape San Francisco's bourgeois by heading to this popular Irish pub. Photo: @pfaffy47, Instagram. — Escape San Francisco’s bourgeois by heading to this popular Irish pub. Photo: @pfaffy47, Instagram.

The Chieftain
$$ | 198 5th Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
Looking for a no-frills place to unwind and not be bothered after a long day at Dreamforce? The Chieftain is the place for you. This bustling South of Market Irish pub serves beers on tap and streams sports on satellite TV.
Hours: Monday-Friday: 11:30AM–2:00AM, Saturday & Sunday: 11:00AM–2:00AM

Café 5 at SFMOMA isn't your normal museum cafeteria. Photo: @cafe5sfmoma, Instagram. — Café 5 at SFMOMA isn’t your normal museum cafeteria. Photo: @cafe5sfmoma, Instagram.

Café 5 at SFMOMA
$$$ | 151 3rd Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
We get it, you’re in San Francisco, and you want to see some sights. The recently reopened SFMOMA is located directly across the street from Dreampark and has a wonderful café on the museum’s fifth floor, serving beer, wine, and gourmet meals. To get to Café 5, you’ll have to pay for admission to SFMOMA, which is $25.
Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Friday-Sunday: 10:00AM–4:30PM, Thursday: 10:00AM–8:00PM, Closed Wednesday

Novela is a sexy, books mart bar located just a block away from the 2016 Dreamforce campus. Photo: @mylanpham, Instagram.

Novela
$$$ | 662 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94105
Novela is a stylish, literary-themed bar serving drinks named after characters and punch on tap. The space is lavishly decorated with book-lined walls and gorgeous tin stamped ceilings.
Hours: Monday-Wednesday: 4:00PM–1:00AM, Thursday & Friday: 4:00PM–2:00AM, Saturday: 5:00PM–2:00AM, Sunday: 5:00PM–1:00AM

Find your favorite hard-to-find beers from around the world at Mikkeller Bar. Photo: @athubenak, Instagram.

Mikkeller Bar
$$ | 34 Mason Street, San Francisco, CA 94102
Mikkeller Bar is an industrial-cool bar offering the best imported beers and taps from around the world alongside upscale pub grub. Mikkeller claims to be the greatest beer hall, ever, so you can’t go wrong.
Hours: Sunday-Wednesday: 12:00PM–12:00AM, Thursday-Saturday: 12:00PM–2:00AM

Rickhouse is popular with the after-work crowd if you want to feel like a local. Photo: @michaelbaffi, Instagram.

Rickhouse
$$ | 246 Kearny Street, San Francisco, CA 94108
Rickhouse is a bar popular with the after-work crowd. This hip space is highlighted by a huge menu of whiskeys and inventive cocktails.
Hours: Monday: 5:00PM–2:00AM, Tuesday-Friday: 3:00PM–2:00AM, Saturday: 6:00PM–2:00AM, Closed Sunday

The underground wine mecca you've been searching for is just between the Marriott Marquis and Jewish Contemporary Museum. Photo: @a__e_a_i, Instagram. — The underground wine mecca you’ve been searching for is just between the Marriott Marquis and Jewish Contemporary Museum. Photo: @a__e_a_i, Instagram.

Press Club
$$$ | 20 Yerba Buena Lane, CA 94103
Located on the alleyway connecting Mission and Market Streets, between the Marriott Marquis and the Jewish Contemporary Museum, Press Club is a trendy, underground wine mecca in the heart of SoMa. Here you’ll find an extensive menu of hard-to-find wines and beer served in a sleek, cellar-style setting.
Hours: Monday & Tuesday: 4:00–10:00PM, Wednesday & Thursday: 4:00–11:00PM, Friday & Saturday: 2:00PM–12:00AM, Sunday: 3:00–8:00PM

If you’re in the area…

San Francisco's best Spanish-style gin tonics are found at Coqueta. Photo: @grahamdesignsf, Instagram. — San Francisco’s best Spanish-style gin tonics are found at Coqueta. Photo: @grahamdesignsf, Instagram.

Coqueta
$$$ | Pier 5, The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94111
Coqueta is famed restauranteur Michael Chiarello’s Spanish enterprise, offering tapas and family-style plates in classy digs with a patio, craft cocktails and Spanish-style gin tonics, and spectacular bay views.
Lunch Hours: Tuesday–Sunday: 11:30AM–3:00PM, Closed Mondays
Dinner Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday & Sunday: 5:00–10:00PM, Thursday-Saturday: 5:00–11:00PM

Whitechapel is what Platform 9 and 3/4 would look like if Harry Potter was written for adults. Photo: @whitechapelsf, Instagram.

Whitechapel Gin Bar
$$ | 600 Polk Street, San Francisco, CA 94102
Whitechapel is a gin-focused cocktail lounge with global pub food. The expansive, ornate, steampunk-inspired space resembles London’s Whitechapel tube station, and is not to be missed!
Hours: Sunday-Wednesday: 5:00PM–1:00AM, Thursday-Saturday: 5:00PM–2:00AM

You don't have to be a Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte, or Miranda to enjoy Twenty Five Lusk. Photo: @twentyfivelusk, Instagram. — You don’t have to be a Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte, or Miranda to enjoy Twenty Five Lusk’s chill, *SATC* vibes. Photo: @twentyfivelusk, Instagram.

Twenty Five Lusk
$$$ | 25 Lusk Street, San Francisco, CA 94107
Feeling metropolitan? Head to Twenty Five Lusk to live out your Sex and the City dreams with creative cuisine, wine and cocktails for happy hour and dinner in this swanky locations’ lower level lounge.
Hours: Monday-Saturday: 5:00PM–11:00PM, Sunday: 5:00PM–9:00PM

Get away from the Dreamforce crowds at 21st Amendment Brewery. Photo: @jesmoon, Instagram.

21st Amendment Brewery
$$ | 563 2nd Street, San Francisco, CA 94107
21st Amendment Brewery is a restaurant and brewery offering housemate beer, pub food and brunch, located just off of South Park near the ballpark.
Hours: Monday-Saturday: 11:30AM–12:00AM, Sunday: 10:00AM–12:00AM

Head out to San Francisco's ultra-trendy Hayes Valley neighborhood to enjoy wine on a stoop. Photo: @akchiang, Instagram. — Head out to San Francisco’s ultra-trendy Hayes Valley neighborhood to enjoy wine on a stoop. Photo: @akchiang, Instagram.

Fig & Thistle
$$$ | 313 Ivy Street, San Francisco, CA 94102
Fig & Thistle is a cozy living room-style wine bar serving rustic wine, beer, meats and cheeses. Patrons pour out the door, imbibing on the Ivy Street-facing stoop. Located in San Francisco’s ultra-trendy Hayes Valley neighborhood.
Hours: Monday-Thursday: 4:00–11:00PM, Friday: 4:00PM–1:00AM, Saturday: 1:00PM–1:00AM, Sunday: 1:00–11:00PM

Grab a cocktail and an appetizer at Monsieur Benjamin, a modern French bistro in Hayes Valley. Photo: @hayanmaron, Instagram.

Monsieur Benjamin
$$$ | 451 Gough Street, San Francisco, CA 94102
Monsieur Benjamin is the second project from chef Corey Lee, who has earned three Michelin stars for his other restaurant, Benu. This modern restaurant and bar was inspired by Parisian bistro culture and the great traditions of French cooking.
Dinner: Monday–Sunday: 5:00PM–12:00AM
Reservations: OpenTable