waterbar
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Waterbar Restaurant

4.6
·491k reviews·,

A stylish waterfront seafood restaurant offering stunning Bay Bridge views, fresh oysters, and exceptional service.

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

Social content

Social

From TikTok & Reddit

Best Time

Wed/Fri 18-21h

Blue hour photography, calmer galleries

CrowdLow
waterbar

Waterbar Restaurant

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

A stylish waterfront seafood restaurant offering stunning Bay Bridge views, fresh oysters, and exceptional service.

4.6
(491k reviews)

"Breathtaking views, perfectly fresh seafood, and impeccable service make Waterbar unforgettable."

TIP

Happy Hour Oysters

Visit during happy hour (2:30-5 pm daily) for great deals on fresh oysters and other seafood.

Reserve for Peak Times

Consider making reservations, especially during peak hours, to minimize wait times and secure a table.

Third hero image

Quick Facts

Open·Closes 9PM

Cuisine

Seafood

Price

$$$

Phone

(415) 284-9922

Address

399 The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94105, USA

Insta-Factor

High

Highlights

Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Stunning Bay Bridge Views

Stunning Bay Bridge Views

Dine with breathtaking, up-close views of the Bay Bridge and city skyline, especially magical at night.

The 13 Best SF Restaurants & Bars With Views - San FranciscoFall for These Fab San Francisco Outdoor Dining SpotsThe 16 Best Seafood Restaurants In San Francisco
Fresh Oysters & Seafood

Fresh Oysters & Seafood

Experience a wide selection of incredibly fresh oysters and diverse, expertly prepared seafood dishes.

Visiting San Francisco? Here's Where to Get the Best Eats for Cheap.Google Review+1
Impeccable Service

Impeccable Service

Enjoy attentive, knowledgeable, and friendly staff who enhance your dining experience with great recommendations.

Google Review+1
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Insider Tips

from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit

How do you take your crab?? 📍Waterbar, SF #sf #sffood #seafood #crab #dungenouscrab #oysters #fish #jacksdiningroom
@jacksdiningroom
6.9K likes • 145.3K views

Happy Hour Oysters

Visit during happy hour (2:30-5 pm daily) for great deals on fresh oysters and other seafood.

Reserve for Peak Times

Consider making reservations, especially during peak hours, to minimize wait times and secure a table.

📍Waterbar, SF A great place to take your parents if they like seafood! The food was good, but the service was 100/10. All of the waitstaff were so kind and attentive. #sfbayarea #sffoodie #sanfrancisco #foodtok #waterbar #sffood
@snackgorlx
49 likes • 2.4K views
An affordable date idea but make it classy #waterbar #sanfrancisco #sanfranciscofood #foodietiktok #datenight #explorecalifornia #eatgood #seafood #oysters #hogisland
@travelingsauce
242 likes • 16K views

Counter Seat Tip

For comfort at counter seats, choose the right side to avoid chilly winds from the terrace door.

Kid-Friendly Environment

Enjoy a family-friendly atmosphere with floor-to-ceiling fish tanks, making it great for kids.

@Waterbar SF #waterbar #sf #sanfrancisco #bayarea #viralvideo #trending #fypシ #viraltiktok #fyp #foryoupage #foryourpage #foodies #yummy
@daleenakha
36 likes • 1.7K views

Tips

from all over the internet

Happy Hour Oysters

Visit during happy hour (2:30-5 pm daily) for great deals on fresh oysters and other seafood.

Reserve for Peak Times

Consider making reservations, especially during peak hours, to minimize wait times and secure a table.

Counter Seat Tip

For comfort at counter seats, choose the right side to avoid chilly winds from the terrace door.

Kid-Friendly Environment

Enjoy a family-friendly atmosphere with floor-to-ceiling fish tanks, making it great for kids.

What Travellers Say

4.6
(491k reviews)

Reviews Summary

Waterbar is consistently praised for its stunning waterfront views and exceptionally fresh seafood, particularly its oysters. Diners rave about the impeccable service, with staff noted for their knowledge and attentiveness. While some find the prices to be on the higher side, most agree the overall experience, from the ambiance to the quality of the food, makes it worth the splurge for special occasions or a memorable meal.

"We had dinner here on a special occasion and were delighted with the entire experience.
We had drinks and oyster starters and trout and lamb dishes as entrees. All items were well prepared and tasteful!
The service was very courteous, friendly and efficient. In fact I had a query about the origin of the Trout Fish and it was explained very informatively by our steward.
All in all we had a delightful dining experience!"

Subir Das

"We went to their happy hour for the $1.55 oyster. We ordered a dozen first to try if the oysters are fresh. YES. They are so fresh and tasty, so we ordered another dozen. The location is very good, you can see the bay bridge from the window. The aquarium in the restaurant is a plus. We also had reservation for dinner, they transferred us to dining tables with breathtaking views. We tried their Seared tuna, beef and lamb. The food was very tasty, but personally I like lamb chops better. The service was excellent. We will definitely come back."

Hong C

"It has the potential for more. The crab cocktail was nice and fish and chips were pretty good too. Oyster of the day was ho hum. Fresh but I didn’t like the flavour. They forgot one order and pretended like it was on the way 🙄 . Service was average. Very very average."

Gargleblaster

What People Like

Stunning Bay Bridge views
Fresh and diverse seafood selection
Attentive and knowledgeable service

What People Dislike

Can be pricey

Frequently Asked Questions

Waterbar is renowned for its exceptionally fresh oysters and a wide variety of seafood dishes, including crab, lobster, and various fish preparations.

The 16 Best Seafood Restaurants In San FranciscoGoogle Review

Yes, Waterbar has a daily happy hour from 2:30 pm to 5 pm, featuring specials on oysters and other seafood items.

TikTokBest Seafood Restaurants in San Francisco: All-Time Favorite Seafood Spots

Absolutely. Its stunning views, upscale ambiance, and excellent service make it a popular choice for anniversaries, birthdays, and other celebrations.

The 16 Best Seafood Restaurants In San FranciscoGoogle Review

Yes, it's recommended to make reservations, especially during peak hours or weekends, to ensure you get a table and minimize wait times.

The restaurant maintains a relaxed yet refined atmosphere, so smart casual attire is generally appropriate.

Fall for These Fab San Francisco Outdoor Dining Spots

Waterbar is celebrated for its Bay Bridge views. Requesting a table with a view when booking is advisable, especially for the patio or window seats.

Best Seafood Restaurants in San Francisco: All-Time Favorite Seafood SpotsFall for These Fab San Francisco Outdoor Dining SpotsGoogle Review

Yes, Waterbar is considered kid-friendly, featuring large fish tanks in the dining room, making it an engaging experience for children.

TikTokThe 10 Best Kid-Friendly Restaurants In San Francisco, California

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At Waterbar, you’re not just paying for the great seafood, you’re paying for great seafood that is fresh-caught and sustainably sourced with respect to the seasons and the sea—definitely worth it. You’re also paying for the panoramic views of the Bay that you’ll get no matter where you sit—also definitely worth it. All of the tables are great, but if weather permits and you can snag one on the patio, that’s the way to go—usually more feasible for a seafood lunch or a happy hour—2:30 pm to 5 pm, daily.

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Eating at Waterbar feels like dining in an aquarium—not just because the dining room has floor-to-ceiling cylindrical fish tanks, but also because you’re only a few steps from the bay. The Embarcadero seafood restaurant is a great choice for an oyster Happy Hour or lunch with clients who are easily impressed by sweeping Bay Bridge views. If you’re pulling out all the stops, go in on the $185 Seafood Indulgence Platter, which pretty much includes every creature that once called the ocean home.

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Waterbar is the waterfront sister restaurant of Farallon, and also was designed with a degree of flair by local restaurateur and restaurant designer Pat Kuleto. With unparalleled views of the Bay Bridge and Bay Lights, and a grand semi-circular bar, Waterbar screams "special occasion" and is also a perfect place to get treated by parents in from out of town — it's pricy, though, so hopefully your parents are prepared for that. Chef Parke Ulrich offers an array of chilled shellfish — like Farallon there's a big tiered platter for $240, but also smaller platter options — and the entrees include oak-grilled Tombo tuna, and oak-roasted swordfish.

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This is one of the highly rated kid-friendly restaurants in the west coast where you don’t have to cook complicated or sophisticated dishes but just keeping it simple with the mouthwatering delicacies prepared from fresh and locally sourced ingredients. Its strategic location on the waterfront of San Francisco’s Embarcadero features picturesque views of beautiful scenery such as San Francisco’s skyline, Treasure Island, the bay, and the bay bridge. When it comes to the whole process of sourcing, cooking, and serving of seafood, Waterbar has continued to raise the standards of excellence, variety, and continuity.

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If you want to try some of the mouthwatering seafood that San Francisco is famous for, I really liked Waterbar and the Anchor Oyster Bar. The best way to reach Fisherman’s Wharf is to take the F-Line streetcar that runs from the Castro neighborhood along the length of Market Street before turning west at the Ferry Terminal Building. The area is also serviced by two cable car lines: the Powell-Hyde line on Hyde Street and Beach Street, and the Powell-Mason line on Taylor Street and Bay Street.

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Directly next door to Epic Steak is Waterbar, sharing the same breathtaking Bay Bridge views. Waterbar makes the most of its prime location with ample seating, modern design, and a relaxed yet refined atmosphere, perfect for enjoying a leisurely meal while soaking in the iconic San Francisco skyline and the shimmering bay. Celebrated for its seafood-centric menu, Waterbar offers a diverse array of fresh and sustainably sourced items, from delectable oysters and clams to inventive fish dishes.

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An outdoor waterside setting is one appealing factor of Waterbar, which offers stunning views of the iconic Bay Bridge which is why it's on my best outdoor dining list. Locally sourced seafood dishes are a specialty here, with oysters from around $5 to their entrees ranging from around $25 to $30 each. Visit during the day for a relaxed and friendly atmosphere or wait until the sun goes down and experience outdoor dining SF style with a great choice from the dinner menu.

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Waterbar knows it's a beautiful restaurant in a beautiful city - and makes the most of it. Designer Pat Kuleto spared no expense to ensure diners will walk away with a complete ocean experience, including floor to ceiling aquariums full of Pacific Marine life. Some of what's swimming in the tanks might look tasty, too - including the calamari, "dip net" caught in nearby San Pedro, and the long tank full of Dungeness crab, when in season.

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Situated on the Embarcadero near Rincon Park, Waterbar is practically nestled under the Bay Bridge — the San Francisco entryway for many California residents. Is it any surprise then that the restaurant (especially its outdoor patio) offers amazing views of the iconic long-stretching bridge?. What's more, Waterbar is a renowned fresh seafood restaurant keen on sustainability, so you can enjoy fresh, local fare that's responsibly sourced.

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The Waterbar at the Embarcadero on the waterfront specializes in seafood, but it also has a special kids menu that includes chicken, ravioli, and pizza. The children’s menu also provides puzzles and pictures to color for impatient and hungry young patrons. The view of the city and the bay is breathtaking, and the two floor-to-ceiling aquariums in the dining area keep the whole family enthralled.

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If unreal views of the Bay Bridge are on your event’s short list, look no further than Waterbar. Complementary only to the views is the cuisine, which many consider some of the finest seafood in town. Executive Chef and owner Parke Ulrich changes the menu daily, keeping his promise to deliver sustainably-sourced seafood and fresh, local organically grown produce to his discerning clientele.

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