Stephen Curry and Chef Michael Mina
Bourbon Steak SF
Acclaimed chef Michael Mina and NBA icon Stephen Curry debut Bourbon Steak San Francisco and The Eighth Rule, two distinct yet harmonious concepts inside The Westin St. Francis—reigniting the heart of Union Square with flavor, craftsmanship, and a shared belief in the city’s comeback.
In a city that has shaped both their stories in profound ways, Michael Mina, the James Beard Award-winning chef and founder of MINA Group—now a 25-plus-restaurant empire spanning the U.S. and abroad—and Stephen Curry, the four-time NBA champion turned entrepreneur and philanthropist, have joined forces this fall on two headline-making openings inside The Westin St. Francis in Union Square.
Bourbon Steak San Francisco, the next evolution of Mina’s celebrated steakhouse brand, and The Eighth Rule, Curry’s debut hospitality venture, arrive as a dual statement of craft and confidence—a culinary comeback story for the city’s most iconic crossroads.
Curry, who in 2023 launched Gentleman’s Cut Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey in partnership with John Schwartz of Napa’s Amuse Bouche Winery and Boone County Distilling Co., brings the same precision and intentionality that defined his career on the court to the glass. His bourbon brand, distilled in Kentucky and produced in partnership with Game Changers Distillery, was built around legacy, patience, and attention to detail—qualities that now anchor his first bar concept.
Large crowds are visible during an opening party for Bourbon Steak restaurant and 8th Rule bar, a collaboration between Stephen Curry and Michael Mina, Union Square, San Francisco, California, October 7, 2025. (Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)
Gado via Getty Images
For Union Square, long regarded as San Francisco’s civic and cultural front porch, the openings symbolize new momentum. “This is absolutely exciting beyond words,” says Marisa Rodriguez, CEO of the Union Square Alliance. “What it really represents is the return and momentum of Union Square—our city center, our gateway to San Francisco. We’re meeting the moment post-pandemic, giving people what they want and showing the world that Union Square is back.”
For Mina, the project feels like coming home. Two decades after earning his first Michelin stars at The Westin St. Francis, the Cairo-born, Seattle-raised chef returns to the landmark that helped define his career.
“This has been an incredibly emotional opening for me, filled with plenty of memories and nostalgia,” he says. “Bourbon Steak is a restaurant that continues to evolve. Of course you’ll be able to enjoy an incredible cut of meat, but for this latest iteration, we wanted to push the envelope even further and offer something that we knew would fit right in with the unmatched culinary scene in San Francisco.”
Tomahawk steak
Bourbon Steak SF
The menu will feature Mina’s signature tableside presentations, refined takes on steakhouse classics, and an expanded focus on seafood—a nod to his early days at Aqua, the trailblazing San Francisco restaurant that first made his name. “Seafood is a big part of the menu program here,” Mina explains. “We have access to the freshest fish, so the seafood on the menu is not only an homage to Aqua, but also celebrates ingredients from right here in the Bay Area.”
“We have a fresh fish cart where offerings will change depending on what we can source and guests can select how they would like their fish prepared. I want people to come to a steakhouse and crave our fish.”
Inside, Bourbon Steak San Francisco exudes modern sophistication while honoring tradition. At its center, the Bourbon Lounge blurs the line between bar and dining room—a place to start the evening or stay late, surrounded by live music, fine spirits, and Mina’s hallmark hospitality.
Just steps away sits The Eighth Rule—a smaller, more intimate bar designed to embody Curry’s love for bourbon and his belief in the power of shared experiences.
Inside The Eighth Rule
Michelle Lin
“With Gentleman’s Cut, I was able to share a part of my story through bourbon; something that represents legacy and craft,” Curry says. “But I’ve always believed that experiences are what truly connect people. The Eighth Rule was a natural next step because it brings that same spirit into a physical space where people can come together. It’s a place to celebrate life’s wins, share stories, and create memories.”
The bar’s name pays homage to bourbon’s seven official production rules while encouraging guests to define their own “eighth.” “Every decision, from the glassware to the playlist, contributes to the vibe,” Curry adds. “The challenge was making sure my vision—something approachable, yet elevated, and authentic—came through in every aspect. Michael’s experience and creativity made it possible to take that vision and turn it into a space that feels both world-class and welcoming.”
The two concepts complement each other seamlessly—one celebrating culinary precision, the other the art of connection. And both, says Rodriguez, “are exactly what Union Square needs right now. World-class cities have a world-class city center, and for San Francisco, that’s Union Square. These are the kinds of experiences that remind people why they fell in love with this city in the first place.”
Inside Bourbon Steak SF
Bourbon Steak SF
Mina echoes that conviction. “I have to be very blunt here,” he says. “I’m sick and tired of hearing people who haven’t even visited San Francisco anytime recently giving negative comments about this city. I am forever grateful for all that San Francisco has given me over the years, and I will continue to shout loudly that SF is the place to be! I am thrilled to be joining forces with my friend, Stephen Curry, to open two dynamic destinations right next to each other in Union Square.”
For Curry, The Eighth Rule is both a gathering place and a statement of belief in what San Francisco stands for. “For me, my eighth rule is simple: be present,” he says. “Life moves fast, and I’m pulled in a lot of different directions, but when I’m with my family, friends or teammates, I try to give them my full attention. That means putting the phone down, being intentional with the time we share, and making sure everyone feels seen and valued.”
Seafood tower
Bourbon Steak SF
Together, Mina and Curry are doing more than opening two new venues—they’re re-imagining what it means to dine and drink in downtown San Francisco. In a moment when the city’s narrative is often clouded by challenges, Bourbon Steak San Francisco and The Eighth Rule stand as testaments to belief: belief in craftsmanship, in hospitality, and in the power of coming together.
As Rodriguez sums up, “You can’t be a world-class city without an iconic city center—and this is ours. Union Square is where we celebrate, where we welcome visitors, and where we show our best selves. What Michael and Stephen are doing here proves that the energy, innovation, and magic of San Francisco are very much alive.”
And as Mina concludes, “We believe in San Francisco, and we are committed to continuing to provide spaces where people can come and eat, drink, celebrate, and feel welcome in one of the best cities in the world.”