Alba Ray's

San Francisco, CA

Conceived as a passion project, Alba Ray’s brings the infectious spirit of New Orleans to San Francisco’s Mission District. We collaborated with owner Alvin Garcia and Chef Adam Rosenblum to imbue the 2400 sq ft space with the charm, history, and mystique of The Crescent City in order to complement the authentic Cajun menu and cocktail offering, celebrating the highs and lows of NOLA culture. Alba Ray’s promises to be a vivacious and generous experience with a sense of faded grandeur courtesy of architectural elements salvaged from ‘The Big Easy’ itself.

The transportive and eclectic experience begins at the façade, featuring a French Quarter lantern and fleur de lis neon; gold leaf signage beckons as jazz riffs murmur from the entry door. When you enter, ornamental iron arches and decorative corbels brought from New Orleans set a nostalgic tone. Reminiscent of an old shotgun house porch, the bar vibes are classic yet laid-back with bistro style white marble table tops, locally hand crafted tiles, and a mosaic inspired floor mural by SF local, Caroline Lizarraga. Weathered plaster walls line the main dining room, alluding to Sazerac-fueled nights gone by, while low lit sconces and hanging ferns add to the lush atmosphere. Midnight greens thread through much of the design along with gold accents and a tufted, purple velvet banquette – a sophisticated nod to the tri-colors of Mardi Gras.

Like NOLA, Alba Ray’s is a high-spirited place. With seating that accommodates large parties at the communal zinc top and sightlines to the kitchen or an abundance of roomy booths, patrons can expect ‘a roll up your sleeves and dig in affair’- crawfish boil style.

Overhead, just below exposed beams, an eclectic mix of vintage style light fixtures give Alba Ray’s a warm and inviting quality along with antique mirrors and silhouette portraits.