Hayes Valley, San Francisco · restaurant
The DJ booth at Phonobar isn't a stage. It's the center of the room, positioned so vinyl-only selectors can move through deep house, soul, and left-field jazz at volumes low enough to talk and loud enough to feel it. The audiophile sound system is the whole point: a listening bar that splits the difference between a Japanese kissaten and an actual club, landing somewhere with its own logic. Food comes from Om Sabor, a resident Latin vegan pop-up, the soy-meat carne asada nachos are less of a compromise than they sound.
A spice-forward cocktail, one of the bar signature drinks alongside the Hi-Fi sound system.
Latin-style ceviche tostadas from Om Sabor, the kitchen inside Phonobar. Light and shareable.
House cocktail served by the carafe (5 glasses). A spicy riff on the margarita, with pomegranite.