Zam Zam

At 1633 Haight Street in San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury, Zam Zam is a small, dimly lit bar known for gin martinis and Persian-inspired decor. It has been here since 1941, and its round, horseshoe-shaped bar, ornate details and photographs of former owner Bruno Mooshei give the room a strong sense of its past. Order a gin martini to follow the bar’s tradition, or choose another drink. It’s a good stop if you want a relaxed drink in a distinctive historic setting.

A Haight Street bar since 1941

Zam Zam opened on Haight Street in 1941. Its early name was Persian Aub Zam Zam, and the bar has kept its Persian-influenced interior through the years. The address is 1633 Haight Street, beside the older Robert’s Hardware building, so the entrance can be easy to miss among the neighborhood’s colorful storefronts.

The bar’s history is closely linked to Bruno Mooshei, who ran it for nearly 50 years. His family came from what is now Iran, and the family business began with his father. Photographs of Mooshei hang inside, including images from a New Year’s celebration. The bar’s name later dropped “Persian,” but its decor retained the Moorish-inspired details associated with its earlier identity.

The bar and its martini tradition

Inside, the room is dimly lit, with ornate details and a small, round horseshoe-shaped bar. The Persian-influenced furnishings give the space a different feel from a standard neighborhood drinking spot. Its intimate layout keeps the bar at the center of the room, where conversations can carry beyond the people who arrived together.

Gin martinis are the drink most closely tied to Zam Zam. Mooshei was known for insisting on gin rather than vodka in a martini, and the bar’s history still shapes what many people order. The current menu is not limited to that tradition: you can choose other drinks, including a Mai Tai. If you want the classic order, ask for a gin martini.