Longtime Financial District Bar and Grill Will Reopen at Original Location

A once-iconic San Francisco eatery is set to return to its longstanding home in the heart of the Financial District. The historic Sam’s Grill & Seafood Restaurant, which first opened in 1867 and operated in various downtown locations over the decades, will reopen at 374 Bush Street, the same address it occupied before shuttering in 2020.

The relaunch follows the recent acquisition of the Bush Street property by real estate firm Pembroke, a subsidiary of Fidelity Investments. As part of a broader redevelopment plan, Pembroke intends to revitalize the street-facing side of the building with retail tenants that reflect San Francisco’s culinary heritage. Sam’s Grill, often cited as one of the city’s oldest continuously operating restaurants before its closure, is scheduled to return later this year.

Known for its traditional wood-paneled booths, career waiters in white jackets, and a menu centered around seafood and steakhouse classics, Sam’s Grill was a regular spot for lawyers, lobbyists, and city officials. Its return signals not only a nod to the city’s dining past but also a potential step forward for downtown’s struggling hospitality sector, which continues to feel the effects of the pandemic.

The original owner, Phil Lyons, sold the restaurant in 2014 to a group of long-time diners soon after its then-parent company went out of business. The group restored some of its older menu traditions and interior design features. Operations were suspended at the start of the pandemic and the restaurant quietly vacated its space in 2020. Since then, fans of the establishment have awaited news of its fate.

While an exact reopening date has not been announced, signs recently posted on the building confirmed that Sam’s Grill will once again occupy space there, with the familiar name and logo visible. According to people familiar with the plan, the restaurant is expected to retain much of its classic feel.

As downtown landlords face pressure to fill ground-floor commercial space, Pembroke’s decision to bring back a local institution may serve as a test case for blending nostalgia with commercial revitalization. For many in the Financial District, the return of Sam’s Grill is less about luxury and more about restoring a piece of normalcy.

The reopening comes amid broader efforts to rebrand and reinvigorate San Francisco’s downtown, which has seen a steep rise in vacant storefronts and declining foot traffic. It remains to be seen whether returning legacy businesses can reverse those trends, but for now, the revival of Sam’s Grill offers at least one tangible link between the city’s past and its uncertain future.