The Saloon

When you're in the city looking for places to drink, this place is mandatory. Stop by, listen to the music. Chat with some locals or tourists. Get you a very cold beer. They're very cheap, if not the cheapest beer to get in North Beach. Saloon is perfectly across from El Farolito if you get hungry. It's the oldest saloon in the City.

This place is so fun, the music, the energy, all so great. The drinks are great and the bands are amazing.

Visited 1/5. Nice woman bartender. Dog on the bar. Dog and I hated the music. IT WAS WAY TOO LOUD. Drink prices reasonable

Great no nonsense bar in San Francisco North Beach neighborhood. Cash only and live music. Rule #1 minimum. 1 drink per person! And...if you have seen Reese Witherspoon in Just Like Heavan, they filled a scene here. Stop by for a drink and some fun!

Great place for live music and well drinks. Cash only, with a $5 cover per person on the Friday I was there, and the staff are super friendly. Can be hard to get a drink at the bar, so have your order ready when they come to you.Something to be aware of, there are pickpockets that hang out in the back, where the band is playing. Guy put his whole hand into my purse while using a jacket over his arm to hide it.

Fun cash only dive bar for a stop on your weekend out. Cover charge of $5 for really good live music. Drinks were strong and bar was full of energy and good vibes.

SHARON!!!My spouse and I are tourist. And we were recommend this bar many times, though we already had planned to come here. It was WELL worth the hype. If anything it was undersold to us. Very good prices on drinks, great clientele, but let me speak on the bartender- the one who sets the tone for the bar. Sharon knew we weren't locals but was happy to share the history of the bar, take us outside to show more history, and recommend food/fun/dining nearby. After only 2 drinks I consider her a friend. She makes a GREAT host. My spouse and I own a bar in Florida and if we could pack her up and take her with us we would. She was incredible. From start to finish. We'd visited many bars since being in San Fran and never stayed more than one drink anywhere else. She is a perfect representation of this bar. All wits, banter, fun, and full of character. A class act in anyone's book. You can tell she's a valuable asset to The Oldest Bar In The Bay. I can't wait to make another visit solely to be served by her again.

the folks were nice and welcoming; shots were big; it was definitely a dive bar if that's what you are looking for; music was just ok but we were there early around 5pm

This is an amazing place, an institution, full of real music and real people. Nuf said.

This place shouts that it's a dive bar. Not so much IMHO.What it is is a wonderful music bar with a casual (rough) interior, very good inexpensive drinks, smart bartender, and really great music. Incidentally, one reason I question it's diveish credentials is that they have a discrete but excellent sound system, not easy in a long narrow room with the music at one end.Get there between sets, stake out your seats and don't move. It's small and gets very crowded when the music's playing. There's limited (very) space for dancing in front of the band.