Brother and sister Tym and Liz Ryan aren’t just Lower Haight regulars — they’re also the team behind the newest bar in SF, The Sycamore.
Located at 2140 Mission (between 16th and 17th), The Sycamore threw open its doors to friends and family on Sunday, and the place quickly garnered 5-star buzz around the web. But it was a long journey that led up to the bar’s successful launch.
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The Ryans, who are natives of the North Shore of Massachusetts, are new to bar ownership. Liz moved to San Francisco about 11 years ago to attend art school, and began bartending at various locales around the city, including a year-long stint at Noc Noc. After so many nights slinging drinks for others, she had the thought that’s no doubt crossed the mind of many a mixologist: “Why not try opening my own bar?”
Knowing the process would be challenging, Liz enlisted the help of her brother Tym, who was working as a DJ back in Boston at the time. Tym was ready for a change, so he came to SF, found an apartment near Haight and Steiner, started DJing at a few places around town (including Noc Noc), and began collaborating with Liz on plans for the bar.
The siblings’ first challenge? Finding a location. They searched the city for the perfect spot, and after nearly two years of hunting, finally settled on the Mission Street space being vacated by Cafe Prague.
Then, the renovations began. Because the space, well… it needed some work.
They outfitted the place with new furniture, lighting, paint, and artwork to create a classy but comfortable neighborhood bar.
Here’s the result.
Touches like a jukebox and games are meant to create a casual atmosphere where people will want to sit down and spend a few hours with friends.
One of the bar’s greatest aspects is its back patio. Liz and Tym set up picnic tables, chairs, heat lamps, and stools fashioned out of tree stumps (in keeping with the “Sycamore” theme).
The Ryan siblings have stocked the bar with more than a dozen varieties of bottled beers, including microbrews, imports, and Mission staples like PBR and Miller High Life. They’ve also got eight beers on draft, more than half a dozen wines, and their own homemade sangria by the carafe.
And oh yeah. There’s a freaking. Amazing. Food menu.
Chili roasted peanuts. Lamb burger sliders. Pan fried provolone with chimichurri. Pulled pork sandwiches with pickled slaw. And the Sycamore’s signature sandwich, a roast beef creation that they’ve brought to the west coast from their native North Shore.
The Sycamore is open every day from 11:30am to midnight (they’re working on getting a permit to stay open later), and there’s a daily happy hour from 4-7pm with $1 off drafts. They’ll be posting more details of specials, events, and menu items on their Facebook page in the weeks ahead.
Congrats to Tym and Liz on the launch of the Sycamore. Go check it out this weekend — and let us know what you think!