46 Best Dive Bars in San Francisco

“I have never been inside for a drink , but I absolutely love their choice of music which is piped into the parklet ; they play songs by Natural Milk Hotel, and The Sundays; and for this I thank them. I shall visit soon.I am also impressed with murals on their parklet.“

“Met up with family here for a beer before sailing. This place has been here for a while. I first noticed it from a spot on Anthony Bourdains show. We had fish and chips and a couple of burgers. Food was good and they had a nice selection of drinks. Live music was playing and it was pretty crowded but lots of seating. I feel it's really all about location. Worth a stop if you're down in the Oracle Arena area.“

“Great old bar remodeled in the past few years. The bartender has been there nearly 30 years and is beloved on the block. Do yourself a favor and descend into the bathroom... A great place to lay like a rock on the bottom of the river and let the current flow over you.“

“A must stop when in the area. Nothing fancy, dive bar feel, but always a good time.“

“I know where Lucy Borden’s remains are. She was delicious. Barbecue was great, but the menudo was the best!“

“awesome place! I highly recommend!“

“Super cool bartenders. Even cooler patrons. Came here solo for a boilermaker and also an old colleague was womaning the food bar serving up mean Bette's chicken parm sandwiches so I had to show support for those delicious Italian American sandwiches on shokupan.The vibe is classic San Francisco punk. All walks of life come through here so don't be hater, drink, be merry and tip the bartenders.“

“Best place ever. Real humans being real beautiful weirdos. Music sometimes. Eye candy always. Specs’ is one of my favorite places on earth.“

“This is my go-to spot in the Castro for a well crafted cocktail, good conversations and fun. I always end up meeting with and talking to so many random people. And the fact that I can order a Paper Plane, Naked and Famous, Aviation, or a Last Word with the bartenders not blinking in confusion is priceless - CJ in particular is the BEST.Bonus points for the content on their TVs where you never know what random movie on DVD will be playing from Death Becomes Her to Rat Race to random horror flicks.“

“Great venue. L, X“

“No food, but, I like the curated variety of drinks you can get here. I hate to be insensitive, but, I have to admit that the bomb-shelter-esque decor creates a vibe that always feels fun. (I suppose primarily so because- it's NOT actually an underground bunker made for escaping enemy warfare attack.)My only nit-pick is that the interior has changed very little (if at all) in the last three decades.“

“great place and the prices are even better. The owner is so nice. This is our new go to bar when we come to San Francisco. They rhave happy hour prices all the time. love the drink he made me“

“I found the Tempest while staying at a nearby hotel, and was so glad to have discovered one of SF's most revered dives nearby! I visited two nights and enjoyed the bartenders, delicious food from the Box, and connecting with local regulars. My only grievance is that they didn't have a Tempest t-shirt in my size!“

“A bar that feels like the embodiment of a Dive bar (in the best way possible) My girlfriend and I stopped by here for drinks while waiting for a table at The Laundromat up the street. The bar itself is a quintessential Sports/ Dive Bar - TV's every where playing different sports, some small tables to sit at, and a pool table in the back corner. My girlfriend and I ended up grabbing a beer and a gin and tonic respectively and just chatted and watched the PBR (professional bull riding) event that was airing on one of the TVs. Also - that gin and tonic was one of the best I've had in a *l o n g* time. Staff here were friendly (notably the bar tender and the guy working the front door) and a lot of the patrons were amicable and easy to talk to. I don't find myself out in this neighborhood often but, if I did, I could easily find myself being a regular here. 5/5 just purely based on the vibes alone.“

“This Bernal Heights spot has been a lesbian bar since it first opened in 1962. When I paid my first visit quite recently, the irony was that most of the customers were guys. It was a chill vibe, and the bartender Heather had a been-there, done-that sense about herself which I quite respected. She made a fine $8 Tequila Sunrise (photo: which I promptly took out to the back deck. There was a female customer sitting contently on a couch, and she shared her long history with the place and generously walked me down to the large bucolic garden downstairs. I was surprised how large and private it was with lots of outdoor sculpture and various art pieces scattered among the foliage. I sat peacefully in my own private enclave. What a nice find on a mellow afternoon. DRINKS - 4 stars...the drink provided a nice balm AMBIANCE - 5 stars...definitely an unbeatable garden SERVICE - 4 stars...not much conversation but quick TOTAL - 4 stars...the secret garden, for sure RELATED - Exploring Bernal Heights? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed:“

“Great watering hole in the TL, especially if you're early for a show at GAMH. If you go between 2-8pm, there is a lovely Korean bartender who will teach you Korean while you drink. Solid jukebox, clean restroom, and entertaining regulars.“

“Great bartenders, so welcoming& makes an awesome Old Fashion, makes you feel like a family“

“This is my absolute favorite diner anywhere on earth. And for so many reasons.1. Atmosphere: is it a bar? A diner? A pinball machine warehouse? A little bit of all this things, really. Cozy, weird, and vaguely threatening, there isn't any risk that you'll be outclassed by your surroundings. More likely, you'll find yourself wanting to stay well after you're done eating. And no one will be rushing you to leave.2. Service: i was better attended than in most of the "better" restaurants I've been to, and Pamela actually boxed my leftovers for me. Love that!!3. Food: perfectly simple, simply perfect. Pancakes were incredible.“

“Not sure if Dan is still the owner but he is a huge Steelers fan- he has a “Terry Bradshaw Sings” LP on display at the bar. This place used to named Pittsburgh’s but after a bit of Covid-era trouble, a name change/reboot was warranted. As far as I can tell it’s still the same nice neighborhood vibe.“

“Can’t believe this place is still open!Just stopped by cause the outside light was on. Got 2 Anchor Steam beers on draft. Bartender remembers me after all these years. Beers are only $6 each!Great spot as a low key, neighborhood bar.Stop by for a chill time!“

“Went here with a friend so the could get a drink and we could shoot some pool last night. Bartender was really really cool and very sweet. Service was great. One of the customers got too drunk and tried to pick a fight with us because we had to start turning down the shots he kept buying us. She told him he needed to leave so props to the bartender last night, but not to cool of the patrons.“

“Holy smokes, this was an incredible night! Went with a friend to see Rachel Garlin, and it was fantastic! The music was awesome, the atmosphere was great, the bartenders were prompt and attentive, and the drinks were perfectly mixed. Thank you El Rio for a night to remember!“

“Great experience!!! Loved it m/“

“The beer geek's first choice in SF is Toronado, a no-nonsense dive bar featuring many great local beers on tap, and an impressive selection of highly sought after bottles. A great place to mingle with an alternative, peace-loving crowd.“

“Great old Skool bar. Bartender rocking on Spotify! good times! good drinks! Good peeps!“

“This is a cool 2-story dive bar in the Richmond, with pool tables, foosball, darts upstairs and ample seating downstairs. The drinks are relatively cheap and their bar bites looked a good price too. There was confusion with our tab since there were 2 cards with the same first name, and the bartender told my boyfriend she lost his card before she dug around some more to find it. I think they ended up charging someone else's tab onto our card, but we closed out every time after that initial mix-up with the tabs. I guess if you have a common name, be careful about keeping a tab open. Other than that, there was a younger crowd upstairs by the pool tables and a chiller crowd downstairs. Service was a little slow, but there were only two bartenders to a pretty large crowd. Bathrooms were actually pretty clean and usually no wait. This is definitely a good bar to stop by!“

“Super fun place. Old school decor from old kung fu movies all over the walls ceilings and floors, giant animatronic dragon head, mirrored dance floor area, cheap drinks, what more could you ask for? Totally worth the visit, one of my favorite bars in the city late “

“Great atmosphere and great service. Liz is so nice and genuine. I appreciate an honest experience and that's exactly what you get here. It is a small but an awesome space. I will definitely come back when I can. I had great conversations with Liz and another patron. I feel like you can't find this type of establishment anymore. I'm just super bummed I moved to Southern CA and can't come back more often. Go here for a personal and dare I say intimate experience.“

“Bar is fun, liked that they had local DJs playing music in addition to what looked like a live band who was about to play when I was there. My friends were ordering tequila shots and many said it was some of the best tequila they have ever had and it wasn't that expensive, I think it was $28 for 5 shots. People in my group were also ordering micheladas and were happy about them so solid bar all together.“

“Way to be different lol“

“We popped in on a whim so we could warm up and use the restroom. We bellied up to the bar and enjoyed the company of our uber friendly bartender. We loved it so much that we had a second round of drinks. I ordered a Mimosa and then a Screwdriver. I was surprised, but the Screwdriver was my favorite. Both were strong and perfectly balanced. My husband just had a rum and Coke. He was satisfied with his drink. In fact, he’s totally why we stayed for the second drink! The restroom was reasonably clean as well as locked (understandable). You need to ask for the key. Yelp labels it as a gay bar | dive bar. We didn’t know it was a gay bar, nor did we care. I learned later that it is the the longest-running gay bar in the Haight-Ashbury area. However, it is indeed a dive bar, which we really liked! Dark, hard wood finishes–gives you a cozy feel on a cold Sunday afternoon.“

“One of my top bars I go to with my friends when I’m out in the marina. The place has an old-school aesthetic, but it’s always lively and they have a mix of oldies and new music playing. Also note this is more of a party/dive bar not really a fancy type classy bar. They got two bars and a pool table and a basketball hoops in the back. It is a fun place to go with friends and they’re always seems to be a medium sized crowd. Ive taken some of my friends parents in their 60s here on a night out. It’s fairly diverse with people in age groups ranging from 20s to 30s ages. Sometimes the people there in their younger 20s can be a bit stuck up or act a bit insecure which can be a bit annoying, but other than that, the bartenders are awesome and it’s overall a good time.“

“Nikki, what a gem! She knew all of my friend's drinks that are regulars at this bar and I'm the new guy of the crew! Totally amazing, prompt and fun service. She totally makes the place what it is, crowded or not too busy my friends always make a point to come into Crestas for the great service and good vibes.“

“Easily the best bar we have found in SF. Kick ass jukebox, no nonsense bartenders, cheap drinks and a pool table. What an awesome place! Props to Corey and Stephanie, my two favorite bartenders there! People have said this is the last bastion of old SF, if that's the case I was born a generation too late. Love Molotovs!“

“Brett. A great guy, a great owner, an amazing singer with little hands. A great guy, truly. Go Brett!“

“This was my 1st visit to San Francisco on my birthday! Hidive was welcoming, with great staff, good drinks, and a great bar top food menu! Started the day out there with margaritas, and stopped back in for some wings and a nightcap at the end of the day. It was great!“

“Great local bar. Been around since 1930's.“

“Play dice with the local Chinese guys. Hang out and chat with possibly a non-tourist. Hard to say.“

“… Drew is coolYour friends from the east coast.Amazing bar, great atmosphere, friendly patrons. The bartender was great, and very attentive. We were visiting for the weekend with friends and he gave great recommendations for a few other spots closer to our hotel. I Will definitely make it back and recommend anyone looking for a great bar to visit this spot .“

“visiting san francisco for the weekend and we walked in this spot on a whim to grab a drink and had the best time! Gordon & the other bartender (didn't catch his name) were so friendly, funny, and hospitable. they took the time to give us SO MANY great recommendations for our weekend visit from restaurants and bars to museums and attractions. Genuinely some of the nicest bartenders i've met, definitely recommend a visit if you're in the neighborhood!“

“Awesome bar :) Great vibe and great bartenders.“

“My new favorite dive bar in the city. A great blues band was playing the night we went and the atmosphere was fun and full of happiness. Excellent and creative cocktails (the Bee's Knees and the ginger cocktail are very much recommended). Service was exceptional, we'll be definitely coming back! Love this place, A+++Parking: best to get here via ride share because parking is extremely difficult to find.“

“My favorite bar from comedy night , dj's , to hanging out with my neighbors this dive bar exceeds expectations . The staff always remembers my name and is welcoming / engaging in conversation .... a true gem in regards to service. The Ave is and will always be the best bar around and a place that I call home.“

“The asada Super Burrito was soooo goooood!! Jarritos Mandarin was a good pairing.“

“Great spot. The bartenders and regulars are always nice, it's never terribly packed without being totally empty, they bring in vendors to do free tastings of liquors, allow dogs and outside food, and it's got a cool almost saloon-like vibe to it. They have a decent selection of beers and of cocktails. I'd specifically recommend their old fashioned because they do them well.“

“If I could give Patty and Happy Lounge 10 stars...I would. Met some old friends here on a Friday night before heading to Night Bloom and late night dinner. But after meeting Patty and having a few rounds of beers, drinks and shots with her none of us wanted to leave...EVER! There is something special about a dive bar in the City with cheap drinks, cool vibe, pool table, darts, and a jukebox box playing 80's music...that something special is owner and bartender Patty. Patty is so warm, welcoming, and utterly candid in the most endearing way. She is the most real and adorable bartender I have ever met. She and I were instant friends...she even invited me behind the bar. Which I imagine is much like a cook letting you into her kitchen. I hear Patty used to have a Thai restaurant and still occasionally makes curry for her bar patrons. Did I tell you that Thai food is my absolute favorite food and that Thailand is my fav vacay destination? Happy Lounge is now my fav dive bar. And Patty...she's just my fave!“