Royal Cuckoo Market on 19th and Capp streets is not just a liquor store, market and cafe anymore: it’s now home to the Mission’s latest beer and wine bar.
Horsies Saloon, located within the shop but roped off from the market section, offers a cozy setting for a total of eight patrons at a time who will also be able to enjoy an expanded food selection that already includes sandwiches, charcuterie boards, and soups.
Paul Miller, who opened Royal Cuckoo in 2014, hopes to eventually acquire a general liquor license to serve spirits in-house – though the market is licensed to sell bottled liquor, Horsies is only permitted to sell beer and wine for on-site consumption.
That won’t deter the tiny bar from offering mixed drinks, however – Miller offers cocktails made from wines, fortified wines, and aperitifs. Some are twists on classics, such as the “Cuckoo Americano,” which contains cocchi Americano, antica carpano, orange bitters and soda, and the “Horsies Mary,” with underberg, spicy tomato and beet juice.
“I’m used to drinks with hard liquor, so it’s a little bit different,” said Miller, who owns another bar in the city.
The name “Horsies” is derived from Horsens, Denmark, the hometown of Miller’s grandparents. The décor and some of the food reflects the Scandinavian influence, he said.
Horsies will celebrate its grand opening on Thursday, November 3 from 5 to 8 p.m.