Golden State Cider is finally tapping into San Francisco, bringing a long-awaited cider bar to Thrive City right outside the Chase Center. The Sonoma County maker’s first city taproom is headed for 640–650 Terry A. Francois Boulevard, putting fresh pours a short stroll from Warriors games and big-ticket concerts while adding a cider-focused counterpoint to the arena plaza’s growing lineup of spots to eat and drink.
The plan for the Thrive City location at 640–650 Terry A. Francois Blvd was confirmed by the San Francisco Business Times, which notes that the opening comes as San Francisco sees a modest resurgence of new taprooms after several years of consolidation in the craft world.
What the taproom will pour
Golden State Cider’s taprooms serve the company’s core ciders alongside rotating taproom exclusive blends and apple-spirit cocktails that you will not find on store shelves, according to Golden State Cider. The company points to its Sebastopol tasting room at The Barlow as the template for special releases and events at the new San Francisco outpost.
Why Thrive City makes sense
Thrive City, the 11-acre plaza wrapped around the Chase Center, already mixes restaurants, breweries and seasonal public programming, making it a natural fit for a cider taproom. The arena’s visitor and Entertainment Zone materials highlight the plaza as a pre and post event hub for food and drinks, a setup that should help Golden State Cider draw both neighborhood regulars and event crowds, according to Chase Center.
Hiring and timing
Job posts show Golden State Cider is already hiring bartenders and taproom staff for a San Francisco location at the Chase Center and Thrive City complex, suggesting the opening could be close. The listings, which spell out game-day shifts and event-focused staffing needs, popped up this month on sites including Indeed.
What it means for fans and the local scene
Thrive City has been steadily filling in with neighborhood-style restaurants and spots like Harmonic Brewing, and a Golden State Cider taproom would widen drink options for fans looking for something other than beer. That shift has shown up in coverage of other Thrive City openings, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
For now, Golden State Cider’s public taproom page does not list a firm opening date or event calendar for the San Francisco location, and the company has yet to post public hours for the new spot, per Golden State Cider. This story will be updated once the taproom announces its official opening date and hours.
