Bix
Chinatown, San Francisco
Restaurant in San Francisco, United States
Book with PearlThe Read
Dress
Smart Casual
Why go
Bix is a stronger dinner choice than a daytime option: book it when the brief is atmosphere, drinks, a polished San Francisco evening room. Choose Quince for a higher-spend Italian celebration, Cotogna for a clearer Italian value play, Bix when setting matters as much as the meal.
About Bix
Bix is a San Francisco dinner choice for guests planning an evening out. The key planning point is timing: Bix is open in the evening: Monday through Thursday from 5:30–11 PM, Friday from 5 PM–12 AM, Sunday from 5–10:30 PM, closed Saturday. If you need another option to compare while planning, Quince and Cotogna are two restaurants to consider alongside Bix.
Choose it for dinner mood, not a lunch workaround
The lunch-versus-dinner question is simple: treat this as a dinner venue. If the plan needs a midday meal, choose elsewhere in San Francisco rather than trying to force Bix into that role. For evening plans, the hours make it relevant for dinner planning, including later Friday service and Sunday evening service.
Confirm price, menu format, reservation difficulty, seat count, bar seating, private dining, dietary accommodations directly before committing. Bix is best evaluated on the basics: it is in San Francisco, it operates during evening hours, the dress code is smart casual.
Who should choose it, who should cross-shop
Choose Bix when the known schedule works for your evening and smart casual dress fits the occasion. For larger groups, special requests, or any plan that depends on a particular seating setup, check directly with the venue before making firm plans.
Skip it if the meal needs a confirmed cuisine category, named chef credentials, published signature dishes, allergy protocols, takeout, delivery, or lunch service before committing. For broader planning, use Our full San Francisco restaurants guide, then round out the trip with Our full San Francisco hotels guide, Our full San Francisco bars guide, Our full San Francisco wineries guide, Our full San Francisco experiences guide.
Planning details
- Location
- 56 Gold St, San Francisco, CA 94133
- Website
- bixrestaurant.com
- Phone
- +1 415 433 6300
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Bix presents itself like a rescued mid‑century supper club tucked down a dim alley in historic Jackson Square. An understated entrance gives way to a high‑ceilinged room with low lighting and a long bar, where the décor and layout deliberately resist the city’s more minimal or theatrical tendencies. Live jazz plays on most evenings and is treated as an architectural element of the space rather than background music, so the room feels curated and cinematic. The overall effect is a polished, retro‑tinged dining room that leans on classic style and old‑school glamour.
Best For
Bix is primarily an evening destination: its supper‑club format, live jazz and long bar make it an ideal choice for dinner, date nights, and business dinners that call for a more formal, classic setting. The restaurant sits apart from San Francisco’s tasting‑menu trend by offering a distinctly old‑school dining experience rooted in mid‑century sensibilities. Guests looking for an atmospheric night out — one that balances convivial music with refined service and substantial, signature entrées — will find Bix particularly well suited to special occasions and polished after‑work evenings.
Ordering Tips
Stick to the signatures that define Bix’s classic menu: the Maine lobster spaghetti, filet mignon with béarnaise, and steak tartare are highlighted dishes that exemplify the restaurant’s supper‑club approach. Aim for an evening when jazz is on to experience how the music shapes the room; sitting at or near the long bar puts you at the center of the space’s theatrical layout and offers a good vantage for the music and service. Given the clublike atmosphere, plan an evening visit rather than a quick midday stop.
Venue details
Ambiance
Sophisticated atmosphere with mahogany paneling, plush banquettes, fluted columns, white tablecloths, and live jazz creating an elegant, swanky supper club vibe.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Sourcing
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Smart Casual
- Noise Level
- Conversational
- Service Style
- Upscale Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Leisurely
- Capacity
- Medium
Signature Dishes
- Maine lobster spaghetti
- filet mignon with béarnaise
- steak tartare
Planning details
Location
Recognition and awards
Restaurant context
How Bix compares in San Francisco
Bix is the easier booking when the priority is an atmospheric evening rather than a major tasting-menu commitment. Quince is the bigger splurge, with Italian and contemporary cooking at a $$$$ tier, so choose it for a celebration where the meal is the main event. Bix is the more flexible call for a polished night out where the room and timing matter as much as the food.
Cotogna is the sharper value comparison for Italian at a $$$ tier. If the group wants a clear cuisine lane and a lower-friction dinner, Cotogna is the safer pick. If the group wants a more dressed-up Financial District-adjacent evening with stronger ambience, Bix makes more sense.
ama by Brad Kilgore, Cafe Sebastian, Roka Akor are better cross-shops when the choice is driven by a specific dining style or neighborhood fit. Bix is the practical pick for an easier-to-book night with a grown-up room; Quince is the spendier occasion choice, Cotogna is the clearer Italian value play.
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Bix guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Bix
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Price | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bix | San Francisco | ; | ; | 2026 San Francisco Martini Trail |
| ama by Brad Kilgore | San Francisco | ; | ; | No published awards |
| Quince | San Francisco | Italian, Contemporary | $$$$ | Star Wine Lists 2026 · #12026 San Francisco Chronicle Top 100 Bay Area Restaurants · #182026 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #492026 Forbes 4-Star2026 James Beard Award Nominees2026 James Beard Award Semifinalists2026 New York Times Best Restaurants in San Francisco2026 Relais Chateaux Restaurants2026 James Beard Award Winners |
| Cotogna | San Francisco | Italian | $$$ | 2026 San Francisco Chronicle Top 100 Bay Area Restaurants · #512026 OAD Casual in North America Ranked · #77Star Wine Lists 20262026 New York Times Best Restaurants in San Francisco2026 Michelin Plate2025 OAD Casual in North America Ranked · #3222025 Michelin Plate2024 OAD Casual in North America Ranked · #992024 Michelin Plate |
| Cafe Sebastian | San Francisco | ; | ; | No published awards |
| Roka Akor | San Francisco | ; | ; | No published awards |
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How Bix San Francisco compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is lunch or dinner better at Bix?
Dinner is the clear choice, since the hours are evening only: Monday to Thursday 5:30–11 PM, Friday 5 PM–12 AM, Sunday 5–10:30 PM. Bix is closed Saturday. If you need a midday meal, look elsewhere in San Francisco.
What should I wear to Bix?
The dress code is smart casual. Dress for an evening restaurant visit rather than a very casual drop-in stop.
Does Bix handle dietary restrictions?
Ask Bix directly before visiting if your group has a strict allergy, dietary need, or other special request.
What are alternatives to Bix?
For comparison planning, consider Bix alongside Quince, Cotogna, Roka Akor, Cafe Sebastian, ama by Brad Kilgore. For other choices, compare Bix with San Francisco dining options generally.
Can Bix accommodate groups?
Contact Bix directly before visiting if your party size or seating needs are important to the plan.
