'Garaje' Team Launches 3rd Street Tap Room 'G Spot'

'Garaje' Team Launches 3rd Street Tap Room 'G Spot'G Spot on 3rd Street. (Photos: Alisa Scerrato/Hoodline)
Alisa Scerrato
Published on February 07, 2017

New beer bar G Spot is now open for business in SoMa.

After months in the works at 251 3rd St., across the street from the Moscone Center, the new tap room softly debuted last week with a focus on craft beer. It's now open five days a week—Mondays through Fridays.

Proprietors Alfredo Aguilar and Steve Paoli, of Bistronomics LLC., also own nearby 3rd Street eateries Garaje and Garajito. They named their newest offering "G Spot" to keep it in the "G family," Aguilar told Hoodline. 

The space, formerly the sushi restaurant Shiki, has been renovated by the Bistromonics group, and now features dark leather booths and dim lighting.

G Spot has 18 taps and will feature an evolving selection of draft beer from West Coast brewers, such as Alpine, Fieldwork, Henhouse, Faction, but will also serve East Coast beers, such as  Allagash, plus selections from Germany, Belgium and Japan. 

Photo: G Spot/Facebook

Aguilar said he is passionate about beer but doesn't have the patience to brew it himself. He respects what a lot of local, craft brewers are doing these days and likes to be a facilitator of that.

One of his favorite brewers as of late is Fieldwork Brewing Co.

"If they aren't satisfied with something they brewed, they'd rather throw it away than serve it to the public," he said. "It's not about pushing beer and selling it, it's about making sure it's done right, and that's what they do."

Co-owner Alfredo Aguilar (left) with bartender Travis Thumm during their soft opening Friday night. 

Garaje, the team's first restaurant/bar, opened in February 2013. It's well-known in the area for its burgers, tacos and craft beers.

Last September, they launched Garajito, which is a smaller, express-food take on Garaje. Garajito serves items like Mexican salads and tacos, and is currently only open during weekday lunch hours. It's located just a few steps down the street from G Spot at 257 3rd St.

Aguilar said that over the years, he has worked every possible role in the restaurant industry, but opening G Spot is like being back home because he can put his main focus on the beer side of things, which is his ultimate dream.

In addition to the curated selection of craft brews, the bar serves a small selection of wine and will soon add light snacks made onsite, such as homemade potato chips, grilled cheese, tacos and pickled vegetables.

During the wintertime, G Spot will be open 5-10pm Mondays through Fridays. But the bar's hours will shift to noon to 10pm, still only open on weekdays, after we turn the clocks forward in mid-March for daylight savings, Aguilar said.