FiDi’s newest cocktail bar, Heartwood, opened its doors earlier this week. This nature-inspired bar specializes in California craft cocktails that celebrate the plants and trees that thrive in California.
The name “Heartwood” alludes to the innermost part of a tree trunk, which yields the hardest and most resilient timber. The name is also a nod to the neighboring Transamerica Redwood Park, a tree-filled oasis in FiDi’s concrete jungle.
This much-anticipated bar comes from the team behind Third Rail, The Treasury and The Beehive, all celebrated SF cocktail destinations.
Heartwood’s Bar Director Casey Carr celebrates the nature-inspired theme through his thoughtful use of flavors derived from plants, fruits, herbs, and spices. Carr and his team use housemade tinctures, tonics, and cordials to bring flavor and complexity to the drinks.
For the opening menu, Carr crafted 11 specialty cocktails including Leaf Water, which mixes tequila, jasmine green tea, honeydew shiso cordial, citrus, and shochu. Carr has also developed a special menu of soda-based highballs and a seasonal slushy with big tiki vibes.
The food menu comes from Chef Byron Gee who produces approachable American fare including bar snacks, small plates, lunchtime salads, and sandwiches. The menu draws inspiration from a variety of culinary traditions including Mexican street corn dip, a Korean fried chicken sandwich, and Vietnamese-style tofu lettuce wraps.
At its core Heartwood seeks to do the same, providing a refuge and a gathering place that feels more connected to the local redwoods than the neighboring skyscrapers.
Heartwood is located one block from SF’s Transamerica Pyramid on 531 Commercial Street. Their hours are:
Mon-Fri: 12pm to 10pm
Saturday: 5pm to 12pm
Weekday Lunch: 12pm to 3pm
Small Plates & Bar Fare: 3pm to close