Comments (0) Best Bar in Which to Squander a Sunny Late Afternoon - 2000
Emma
Nothing's more decadent than ignoring all of those deep-seated Puritan inclinations and spending a beautiful sunny afternoon, not hiking or picnicking or building a sandcastle, but sipping a tall cool drink in a sleepy saloon. The thing that makes Emma so ideal for this purpose is its beautiful and unsqualid interior. Situated in the San Remo Hotel, the bar opened in 1906 and was recently restored to its vintage grandeur, complete with intricate tiling, stained glass, and long wooden bar shipped around the Horn a century ago. The walls are decorated with antique advertising posters and streetcar signs, encouraging tranquil rumination. Guinness, Bass, and Pilsner Urquell -- a notable lineup -- are available on tap, and the Anna's Martini, the house specialty, defies the laws of physics by remaining icy cold throughout its consumption. Best of all, big plate-glass windows let in shafts of mellow sunshine, reminding you of what a sinner you are.
