Best Mixology

There are two kinds of bartenders in this world: Those who pour drinks, and those who elevate their profession to a level that approaches art. At the Gold Dust Lounge, you find the latter breed. Phil the bartender makes a mean Flaming Lamborghini (it's not quite as potent as the version we've had on the Greek island of Ios, but a lot less likely to result in dancing atop the bar). As for Chuck the bartender, he's the author of the San Francisco Bartender's Workbook, so if you've got a hankering for, say, an Icy Orgasm, a Fuzzy Nipple, or a Gorilla's Milk (Bailey's, crème de banana, Kahlúa, and rum; God help you in the morning), he'll know how to make it. Given the Union Square location, this decades-old saloon tends to draw a tourist crowd, but you'll also find strippers, restaurant folks, and longtime S.F. locals. Pull up a stool, then prepare to be dazzled by one of the finest shows in town.