Lobalita, a warm modern Mexican cantina from local hospitality veterans, quietly flipped the script on a familiar Marina address today, moving into the former Tipsy Pig space at 2231 Chestnut Street. The low-lit, shared-plates spot leans into late-night cocktails and snackable dishes instead of the rowdier pub scene that defined the location for years. The owners say the goal is to soften the block’s nightlife rhythm with a more design-forward bar program.
As reported by The San Francisco Standard, Lobalita opened today and is run by Stryker Scales, Nate Valentine and Jamal Blake-Williams. According to the Standard, cocktails are all listed at $14, and the wine program includes private-label Chilean orange and white wines. The opening menu mixes familiar crowd-pleasers like taquitos, guacamole and quesadillas with more composed plates such as tuna tartare cones, a lamb picadillo gordita and a section of two-to-an-order tostadas.
Design and neighborhood
The interior was designed by Brittany Busacca, who is married to co-owner Jamal Blake-Williams. He called the project "a full circle of accomplishment" and described one of the signature tostadas as "breathtaking," according to The San Francisco Standard. Inside, the room favors dark woods, checkered flooring and red diner stools, creating a cozy, bar-forward feel that clearly aims for date-night energy over bar-crawl chaos.
Per the restaurant’s website, Lobalita lists its hours as Tuesday through Sunday from 4 PM til late, with kitchen service starting at 5 PM. The site notes that the restaurant is currently open seating and plans to take reservations for larger parties in the future. Contact is listed as [email protected], and the address is 2231 Chestnut Street in the Marina.
Served its final round in spring 2025, the longtime tenant Tipsy Pig ended a more-than-a-decade run on Chestnut Street, per Hoodline. The change signals continued turnover along the block as operators retool familiar footprints into new dining concepts. For regulars, the swap will be hard to miss: a gastropub that once anchored the block is now a cocktail-led cantina.
The team’s other projects include April Jean and Bar Darling, which helped establish their local footprint and bar sensibility, according to The Infatuation. That background suggests Lobalita is built to function more as a steady neighborhood bar than an all-out weekend spectacle. How the Marina responds will show up in early service patterns.
Menu and drinks
The cocktail list skews playful, with options like the Lolo-lito, which pairs gin with roasted corn and a mini elote garnish, and Holy Mole, which mixes tequila, mole syrup and sweet vermouth. There is also a horchata-colada riff and an espresso-carajillo variation. Behind the bar, five mostly local beers pour on tap, and about a dozen wines are available by the bottle.
Food runs from snacky taquitos and guacamole to composed bites such as tuna tartare cones and a lamb picadillo gordita. The tostadas, served two to an order, come with fillings like birria, al pastor and a duck "patito." The shareable format, paired with the late hours, is set up to encourage lingering and conversation rather than quick turns at the bar.
With Lobalita now open, Chestnut Street’s dining mix gains another low-key option for weeknight cocktails and late small plates. Between the owners’ track record and the focused menu, the new cantina is calibrated to attract regulars who want quality drinks without the fratty flash. If those much-hyped tostadas really are as breathtaking as advertised, word is likely to travel fast.
