The Bottom Line
The Pied Piper isn't one of San Francisco's trendiest scenes. But it's worth a trip to the lounge if you've never seen the vivid mural behind bar and to take a stroll in the Palace Hotel if you're new to town.
Pros
- Mellow ambiance in off hours
- In the Palace Hotel, a slice of San Francisco history
- Easy stroll to surrounding areas and public transportation
Cons
- No happy hour specials
- Can get busy with business crowd in the early evening, after work
Description
2 New Montgomery Street (at Market)
Telephone: (415) 512-1111
Map & DirectionsBART Station: Montgomery or Powell
Muni Station: Montgomery or Powell- Muni Bus Routes
- #9X,9AX,9BX (Formerly #15)
- #71 Market
- #14 Mission
- #30 Stockton
- #45 Union-Stockton
- Trip Planners
Guide Review - Pied Piper Bar & Maxfield Parrish
The Pied Piper Bar lives in the historic Palace Hotel, just down the corridor from the stunning Garden Court.
The bar’s backdrop is the Pied Piper of Hamelin mural, painted by American artist Maxfield Parrish. The mural was commissioned for the Palace's 1909 reopening after fires from the 1906 San Francisco earthquake gutted the building. Whether or not you're a fan of Parrish, you'll appreciate the visual kicker which begs for a slow-shutter photo op.
The ambiance is mahogany with muted lighting, which can fool you into thinking it’s cocktail hour when the sun is still at twelve o’clock high.
After work, the crowd at the Pied Piper is more business than leisure. But, slink in after hours, and you’ll appreciate the serenity as you cap the evening with a brandy.
Located a hop and a skip from Union Square, the Financial District, and the Embarcadero, the Palace's South-of-Market neighborhood can be tight on street parking but easy to navigate by way of foot, MUNI or BART.