The Most Scrumptious Dive Bars in San Francisco

Kung Fu Action Theatre

★★★★★ 4.5 (42)

"THis was a very fun spot to visit. I went for a prvate brithday event themed EDC. My friend had decorated it with inflate led lit balloons, led lit wands, a kandi making station.The front had a popcorn machine, there was a electronic automated dragon, there were projected screens, and seats like a theater along the wall.The restroom at the back was pretty big. I loved the dance floor and different type of seating with all the decorations around. THey had drinks available, but I was not thirty this evening as I just wanted to make a special appearance for my frineds bday. I'd go back."

Gold Cane Cocktail Lounge

★★★★☆ 4 (270) • $

"The review posted about 20 minutes ago by Victoria S. Is completely false. I am a patron of this bar, and witnessed the interaction she is referring to. Usually, when walking into an establishment one has never been to, the normal course of action would be to greet the person who is running said establishment, particularly in a bar setting. We have very strict laws in San Francisco regarding liquor and its service. Unfortunately, sometimes visitors to our city are not aware of this and perceive our local laws and regulations being enforced as rude. I personally find it comforting that an establishment is following the rules and serving our community safely. When I have travelled to Europe, I noticed it is common to greet shopkeepers and workers when you enter their establishment. Strange that this seems foreign to Victoria. Maybe she's just rude. The Gold Cane Cocktail lounge is one of the best neighborhood bars in San Francisco, friendly service, very affordable drinks, and good vibes all around. If you think that the vibe was off - which we all heard you say when you walked out, Victoria... it seems like your vibe is the off one. Have a great stay in San Francisco!!!!!"

The Bitter End

★★★★☆ 3.8 (462) • $$

"Good cocktail, friendly bartender, relaxed vibe. Didn't try the food but maybe next time."

Club Marakas

★★★☆☆ 2.5 (17) • $$$$

"Ever walk pass by a storefront whether be it a restaurant, Nike store, Best Buy, whatever, and see or hear all this commotion and hype that you just you just have to go inside to investigate? Well, that's what happened to me and my homeboy Joel after grabbing a super suiza from El Farolito up the street. We were on the way back to the car and then we heard some blaring Mexican music with guys singing karaoke in Spanish. It was actually more like yelling Karaoke in Spanish. You could tell standing outside that they were super drunk and having a good time and it was contagious. Me and Joel looked at each other undecided if we should go in or not but once we heard the drunken yells off the, "Ahhhhhhhhh yay yay yay yay" from the other guys, that was the green light. This bar is perfect for transplanting yourself to Mexico as the bartender didn't speak any English at all. I had to point to one of there many fine beers they had displayed on the counter to order. Folks here are super friendly and welcoming but I think I would probably have to take a couple shots of tequila in order to start karaoking in Spanish."

The Lucky Horseshoe

★★★★☆ 4.1 (99) • $

"Great legit dive bar on the fun Cortland Street. Nice selection of beers on tap, cider, and cocktails. It's all you want in a bar--dark with tiny little booths and a good bar tender, and fair prices. On Sundays they have a bluegrass jam that is super fun!"

Surf Lounge

★★★★☆ 3.6 (102) • $

"Lower your expectations. Or actually, don't. Because you may be pleasantly surprised (or spoiled) by the fact that if you order a bourbon or other shot on the rocks, trust that Louie or any of the other bartenders will happily pour you the most generous drink you've ever been served in a long time. No joke. They will take care of you and $20 will easily cover your drinks for a while. Amazing. Don't ever change, Surf Lounge. You're something special!"

Li Po Cocktail Lounge

★★★★☆ 4 (795) • $$

"Big fan of this divey spot. Blunt and kind bartenders with strong Chinese mai tais for a decent price. There are photos of Anthony Bourdain on the front door plus huge vintage Chinese lamps and fans to add to the cool cave like ambience of the bar. Sometimes the downstairs is open and it turns into a club adjacent vibe with crowds, loud music and loud convos. It's always a diverse demographic whenever I go here, can't wait for my next visit!"

The Summer Place

★★★★☆ 4.1 (66) • $$

"What a cute hidden bar! I went during the holiday time during the Santa Con. The place was packed but they serve you right away. They had a cute holiday menu. I ordered the egg nog cocktail and I could taste the alcohol. I loved that every 10 minutes fake snow would fall. If you are looking for a cool bar with holiday theme and drinks check out this place. I plan to return soon."

Columbus Cafe

★★★★☆ 3.9 (368) • $

"Been coming here for happy hour 2 for 1 beers since 2000 after work when a bunch of copier salesmen from different companies would meet here and after many pints, grab a slice or two a few doors down on Green St! Good times on the pool table too."

Hockey Haven

★★★★☆ 3.8 (191) • $

"Fun bar and fun music! I met up with a group of friends after a day at the park, and it was nice to be inside, it wasn't too crowded, and still be able to enjoy the really nice patio outside. You can play music on the jukebox from your phone which is nice and convenient. Make sure to bring your physical ID! The bouncer will not accept the CA DMV app on your phone."

Fairway Cocktail Lounge

★★★★☆ 4.2 (19) • $$

"Wrapping up the northern part of the Tour de El Camino (go to every Elco bar), what's up with all these bars not having anything on tap and just all bottles? I ask the bartender what kinda beers he's got and he mumbles a few things, mostly all domestics and I didn't order anything but being the pushy barkeep he is, just orders up a blue moon for me anyways. No food here either, but they do have whoppers at BK down the block. It's mostly a sports centered ssf watering hole with a few cool niner Montana clippings, ahh the good ol days when the niners were good. Anyways, quite the interesting crowd here. This guy at the end of the bar was just slammed yelling at the tv where it showed the news and when Diane Feinstein came on he was just yelling at the top of his lungs that she was previously a man. Whoa! That's the cue to go play some pool on their minature sized table. Kinda bizarre but the rest of the tables/chairs in the bar are a little bit smaller than usual."

El Rio

★★★★☆ 4.1 (800) • $

"Big ups for the outdoor patio area; it's big, now with awnings to protect you from the rain, and a stage for the DJ. When a party is going on with an outdoor DJ, this is the place to be. El Rio hosts various fun queer parties; check out their IG for event details. Mango is a fun one for the female-leaning peeps. For some events they have food, but otherwise you can only get snacks at the bar, like popcorn. Their cocktails and beer options are nothing special."

Miraloma Club

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (37) • $

"When I moved to SF I resolved to go find the nearest bar to my house and become a regular. It didn't take long to discover the Miraloma Club, at which point I then resolved to find the second-nearest bar and become a regular. And I never actually went in here.But now I'm on Yelp, and hey, I need the reviews.So today after work I decide to drop in. The first thing that surprised me was how busy it was for 5:00 on a Tuesday. I can't even get a seat at the bar. Everyone's there, even the guy from the road crew out on Portola, reflective yellow jacket and all. Aside from him though, the clientele could hardly be called blue-collar, except perhaps by someone so acclimated to SF's extreme hipster-yuppieness that they've forgotten what blue-collar really is. In fact, I just might have stumbled onto the hiding place of the mythical "middle class".At any rate, this is a big-time regulars bar. Everyone knew each other's name but me (not that I got any weird looks...this is still San Francisco, after all). It almost seemed like they were going to all rotate shifts behind the bar. It doesn't really hold a lot of value for an outsider like me, *except* that it has a great pool table in the back, so when my old high-school buddies come to visit, a game of pool here would definitely be in order."

Route 101 SF

★★★★☆ 3.5 (128) • $

"Interesting bar with decent beer selection! Pool tables and pinball machines The bartenders were friendly and we really enjoyed their dark beer I love a place that has so much atmosphere. Sure the bathrooms look a little crazy but overall it was still clean. They're right next to a place that we saw band play live so they pretty sure wish I lived in San Francisco!"

Would You Believe

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (119) • $

"After putting my little pup to bed, I took my friend to one of my favorite Shabu places in the IR. Dinner was delicious and as our girl's day slowly coming to an end, our conversation turned from more serious to lighter topics. And with our bellies full and our bodies warmed, all she wanted was a nightcap. Since we were just steps away from a few bars, it was a bit hard to choose, but Would You Believe?? we came here.Lots of bottles lined the wall behind the bar, a pool table also occupied the space inside. Sometimes they have parties here, but on this night, it was quiet with just a few patrons. This place is managed by a pro who is known for her amazing cocktails, but my friend opted for the tried and true--classic Dirty Martini. Served in a beautiful tall martini glass with tiny olives. Perfect way to end our day fulfilling a fun day with some surprises, lots of good food (mostly), walks, conversations, and lots of drinks (somewhat). We bid farewell afterwards as a hired car pulled up to take her back to her hotel. Until next time."

Cancholas Bar

★★★★★ 4.5 (4) • $

"It's a Mexican bar and obviously the crowd reflects the same. My friend's father brought us to this place after his graduation party. Met some really nice people and had fun having drinks."

Murio's Trophy Room

★★★★☆ 3.7 (271) • $$

"Pliny The Elder. On Tap.Not sure if this is a usual occurrence, but it is enough for me to want to check this place out every single time I go here! Which isn't very frequently, but it's about to be a whole lot more frequently if this is the case!If you are not familiar with Pliny (Elder/Younger), then I strongly suggest you get off your butt, climb outta your shell, and go familiarize yourself! It's super good, DIPA, Strong, but goes down oh so easily. I was blown away by the fact it was on tap. Almost didn't want to leave, but adventures must be had, and they only go so far when you're in a bar all day.Anyway, staff was super friendly and chill. Y'all should come check it out because, ya know, stuff.KThxBai! LUVYOU!!!"

Noc Noc

★★★★☆ 4.2 (521) • $

"This place is one of a kind, from the drinks to the decor. Their tagline is "Lower Haight's Most Unusual Bar" and they MEAN it (in the best way). I recommend giving their speciality drinks a try, like the "Snake Bite" (a half mix of Pilsner and cider - don't "noc" it til you try it lol). But seriously, great place to catch up with friends without the messy large crowds of other bars. Maybe it's because the hardest thing they serve here is sake so people aren't as rowdy; regardless, highly recommend!"

Hi Dive

★★★★☆ 3.7 (595) • $$

"Food was good, I got a chili nacho and a little too many toppings for my liking but still tasty! Megan was my waitress and she was great! She's so friendly and inviting, would love to have her again. Ambiance is great, cute and by the water, not too crowded, very awesome people who work here & can definitely tell they have a good set of regulars! Will be back soon!"

Bender's Bar and Grill

★★★★☆ 4 (457) • $

"Pretty cool dive joint in Mission that me and the work crew stopped in after all day workshopping. Pretty much a metal joint and it was what we needed. We ate before we got there so no food but we had some good drinks.While in line for drinks, I looked and saw they had Weller in which I was shocked that this place would have it. It consumed me for the rest of the night as thats all I dranked...neat of course.Good vibes, atmosphere and crowd...would definitely come back"

Glen Park Station

★★★★☆ 3.9 (146) • $

"I'm an emotionally intelligent & particular, feminine woman of color. Visited solo on an early Friday evening.First visit in about four years. I highly recommend this bar. It's the best of old-school San Francisco. Some gratis bar snacks, decent German beer very clean bathroom and personable bar staff and nice patrons. What more could you want?I know phonies and racists when they come across me and I would recommend Glen Park Station to people of all nationalities and genders. Don't write many reviews now, only when necessary. Think pink"

Wild Side West

★★★★☆ 3.9 (320) • $

"Met up here with a friend for a much needed gossip and gab session. We're both in the area for work so not local at all, but heard good things and wanted to support one of a few remaining lesbian bars.It's cash only, but there's an ATM inside. The decor is amazing, the outside space even better, and the atmosphere was so welcoming. Definitely would come back during the summer just to enjoy a drink outside in their garden area.The bartender was helpful and friendly and people in the bar were all close regulars. Drink prices were reasonable and there were lots of people with their pets around too.It's a really special place and I'll definitely be recommending this spot!"

Silver Spur

★★★★☆ 3.7 (111) • $

"After dinner, we were looking for a bar. Walked by Silver Spur on the way to the car and decided to check it out. My group of four stopped by on Wednesday, January 2nd around 8:30pm.I believe we got two jamesons and two wines. One red and maybe one rose? The pours were good (at least for the whiskey) and our total ended up being $28.25 with tax, but not including tip. Not bad for 4 drinks.This is definitely a dive like bar. Dark, a little dirty, but the bartender was fun and so were the patrons. One had a really sweet dog. The four of us had a good time for the hour or so we were here. We were able to talk and just shoot the sh!t. Also, they gave us peanuts in case you need a little snack.Not a bad spot for one round."

Orchid Room

★★★★☆ 3.6 (85) • $

"It's a dive bar and as dive bars go this is one of the good ones. There's a welcoming crowd here and the location is great. The people seem like good people to like I've known people that have left things here and it wasn't stolen. Not saying not to be cautious because you should anywhere you go but it seems like less of the shady vibe in this place that you'd get from other places . This has usually been my go to new yrs even spot because it's close by. I can just walk there so no getting pulled over. They have a jukebox and even a pool table here. There's also a front and back exit. The bartender was pretty cool here. The drinks are nice and strong so you get your moneys worth. This is a great spot for Holiday drinks , ha who woulda thought right? They definitely have some great hotty toddies.oh they have a shuffleboard too. I've noticed there's always been someone willing to play with you if you're looking for a partner. Yknow this place ain't bad I've seen a couple people here that usually don't like me outside of here but in here they've been cool with me so I guess even tho it's a dive bar you get that peaceful tranquil vibe."

Doc's Clock

★★★★☆ 3.7 (407) • $

"Doc's Clock is a San Francisco institution. It's dark, divey and is like a comfy living room for locals and tourists alike."

Kozy Kar

★★★★☆ 3.6 (448) • $

"More of a novel place to visit. The strong scent of incense reminded me of a grandmas house. My friends took me to this spot since I'm visiting SF. There's a waterbed seating area by the entrance (looks like the fir shag cover needs to be washed) and a booth area made with old jacuzzi parts. A place with a lot of personality. And disco lights. Posters of naked ladies covers the entire place- floors, walls, tables, everywhere. Boobs and weenies everywhere you look. Definitely not somewhere I'd come back to regularly but it was a fun place to visit. The p*rn on the tvs was shocking lol. Honestly I'd recommend checking out this unique bar but maybe not for everyone.The bathroom door is just a curtain. Btw the bras you see at the bar are donated by the community. I was told you can just offer up yours on the spot if you want!!"

Underground SF

★★★★☆ 3.6 (122) • $

"The weekend barista, Chandler, is very friendly. The window coffee shop is a different vibe than the bar/club (which I haven't been to). He works 10-4, go visit!My star rating:5 - must go!!! 4 - liked it, give it a try!3 - it was alright2 - I probably won't go back 1 - turnaround and run"

The 500 Club

★★★★☆ 3.8 (473) • $

"The 500 club is the quintessential bar experience; a no-frills watering hole. Walking around near the Valencia Street area, we stumbled upon this bar and stopped by for some drinks. I wasn't sure what to have, but the bar tender was knowledgeable and offered various types of cocktails. I opted for a rum and pineapple drink which was the perfect refreshing drink. We are big tennis fans and were hoping to watch the Australian Open-- lucky for us, as soon as we walked in, the bar tenders were so kind and offered to play it on one of their TVs. Great place to decompress, have a drink, and enjoy the night!"

Cinnabar

★★★★☆ 3.9 (46) • $

"Was in the area and needed to kill some time before heading to our next destination, so we popped into Cinnabar. We were greeted right away by the bartender, who was a very sweet girl.It was happy hour and the drinks were cheap, I ordered a vodka and 7up with a cherry, somewhat version of a dirty Shirley, and this drink was super strong.Chatted up with some folks in the bar and before we knew it, it was time to make our way to our next stop.So if you're looking for cheap strong drinks and friendly service, give Cinnabar a try!"

Last Call Bar

★★★★☆ 4.4 (125) • $

"Overall - One of the best bars in the city, and probably the best in the Castro. Inviting team and stellar cocktails make this spot on our regular rotation.Rating: 5 of 5Ambiance - divey but charming. Since I first started coming here, they've slowly been adding small touches to make the space more inviting and it shows. Not a huge complaint, not worth dinging, but it does get very busy in here sometimes and it's not the most suited place for that. Could really use a second bartender for the busiest times. Again, though, not huge.Rating: 5 of 5Service - this is where this bar shines and, I'd argue, what makes this spot so popular. All the bartenders are unique experiences and any single one of them would make this bar worth coming to. Every tender has their own menu with their own unique cocktails, I can't tell you how wonderful this is. This plus their personalities almost make this place a different bar every time they switch shifts. Special shout out to Jonathan, but everyone else is incredibly lovely. Rating: 5 of 5Drinks - pretty standard choose your own adventure cocktail bar with some signatures based on the bartender. They do put a lot of love and time into their concoctions and it very much shows.What Was Ordered: Maker's Old Fashioned, Black Manhattan, Spicy PalomaRating: 5 of 5Scoring modifiers:- Price: the most reasonably priced, high quality cocktails in the city. +.5Rating Modification Adjustment Total: +.5Notes:- Ordering tips: if it's busy, recommend being patient, the drinks are worth it! Also, the crew has a very good memory, so order all of your party's drinks at once (and it seems they prefer this, correct me if I'm wrong) and sort out the tabs after the bill is paid.- What to Get: Anything- What to Avoid: Getting to the bar before you have the full order ready!"

Red's Place

★★★★☆ 4.3 (129) • $

"(Tony Leung Chiu-Wai voiceover)The vibe is dive bar right smack in the middle of Chinatown! Never been. First time for a lot of things.Jenny warmly greeted me.I'm here tonight to listen to the very best Taylor Swift Karaoke contest in San Francisco! Met the host, Hayley, who reigns from Vancouver. Not only does she have exquisite taste in cinema and music; her drive is even more admirable!Ordered the usual Red Bulls to mellow me out for the evening festivities!My gosh, the energy was stratospheric and seismic! And yes I, Tony Leung, just like my bestie (who I sometimes sound like) Ryan Reynolds are Swifties. And yes like Ryan, I've been to 2 of her concerts at Levi & Sofi. Let me tell you, Swifties know how to rock and will save the world! In my less-than-humble-because-I'm-over-qualified opinion (as well as the audience-wide gasps and unbridled raucous applause), the clear winner for the contest was the rendition of Taylor Swift's Beautiful Ghosts. The audience fit the clinical definition of slack-jawed! Yes, we were in awe!Wait...was this even karaoke? What was Whitney Houston doing in the house?! That was an absolutely amazing performance!My oh my. That was a witnessed objective truth! Objective truth does exist! Fabulous vocals! Music, mirth, wine, conversation, and places like Red's is how we will achieve world peace, a prosperous economy for all, defeat the lies of depopulationist globalist tyrants, and find meaning!Jenny also recommended a Bulleit which was absolutely fab!Would order everything again! And will be back to try some of the exotics I saw on the top shelf (especially on a Saturday to see Jenny)!Duì!Xiè xiè, Jenny & Hayley!Zài jiàn!Woohoo!"

The Connection

★★★★☆ 4.1 (24) • $

"Stepped into the connection, because I wanted to connect my hand with a nice cold brew. Never been here before but my dad lived a block away back in the days so yeah, there's a child hood connection to this neighborhood. A dive bar in every sense of the word. The faithful patrons of The Connection truly make this otherwise quasi quiet watering hole come to life.Nothing fancy, nothing to neighborhoody or kitschy, nothing sketchy either. Just some middle aged - blue collar - highly entertaining city worker type folks. However, the fireplace gives this joint some panache. One guy at the bar, a real big dude - imagine if you will a 6'4", 266lb pregnant man. Like literally! He had the same physique as Kate from Jon & Kate plus 8, before her sextuplet delivery. Anyways, me and my homeboy Kris were in an intense game of 8 ball on their $1 pool table. We were simply enjoying our $3.25 Hefeweizens when the aforementioned bar patron pauses from random bar banter of F-bombs and Beyotches between himself and the KTVU news staff on the tv and challenges me to some pool. Pregnant man was a pool shark! He starts shooting my balls in while talking about Jeet Kune Do. I'm like WTF? Back to the game - he schools me and gets the 8 ball in on a 2 rail bank shot while I have 3 balls remaining on the table?!? I later find out he's a security guard - ohhh, that's why! The orange vest guy, who had a striking resemblance to Ned Flanders from the Simpson's, was GENUINELY happy that we came in. He starts introducing us to the bartendress and says they hardly have any customers during the weekdays even though they have $7 pitchers, but it's $8.50 for a pitcher of Hef. He also told us about The Connection's karaoke Fridays @ 9pm. These guy's vibe and energy was surreal. It's like in the movie Stepbrother's when the two brothers start making bunk beds after finally connecting and bonding for the first time. The patrons make you feel welcome. Karaoke Fridays at 9pm. I just might have to."

Trax

★★★★☆ 4.1 (192) • $

"Fun funky and really good drink pricesFriendly bartenders Great location and fun vibe Old school bar"

Hyde Out

★★★★☆ 3.9 (175) • $

"*3.5 Stars*Can you say: diiiiiiive?! Gimme some of THAT right quick! The Hyde Out is literally a great place to "hide out" and just chill and maybe catch a game or two. It's practically hidden on the corner of Hyde Street and California in the Nob Hill district. There's nothing fancy about this spot and that's exactly why I dig it! Low key, not too crowded (except for on big game day nights) with a local crowd and super down to earth bartenders. And did I mention that the drinks are cheap? Oh yeah... that's ALWAYS a winner in my book! And, they aren't watered down either. You will definitely get a bang for your buck. The bar itself is long and narrow with plenty of seats and a few TV's that hang in the corners. There's also an upstairs area, but we haven't yet gone up there. Most of the people who come here are locals and regulars but they are very welcoming and a few of them will really have you cracking up at their jokes! Although I enjoyed myself while I was there, a few things are keeping me from giving them a higher rating. First, they are cash only! BOO HOO! I have to say that I truly despise cash only businesses. I understand the concept but then again... I kind of don't. Secondly, that bathroom... let's just say it ain't the prettiest. I know, I know... it's a "DIVE". Buuut, that don't mean y'all can't fix up that bathroom one time! I mean damn! I would hate to see what that bathroom looks like on a game night....Aside from those nuisances, I really dig this bar. It's a great a little hidden gem in the area to chill out and have a nice drink. If you're in the area and are looking for something low key, I would recommend it. Just make sure you bring cash and try to use the bathroom BEFORE you get there."

The Outsider

★★★☆☆ 2.7 (70) • $

"This place is more of a 2 and a 1/2 stars. And it's not that I didn't have a good time here. I did.But that was largely due to the fact that I was with a lovalicious group of buzzed, weary Santas.Taking a break from the red and white packed bars on Polk Street - during Santacon - we wondered into the Outsider.The space was dark and empty and - the crowd - eclectic. We grabbed some seats, kicked back, and made friends with the jukebox. With holiday songs in full swing - we couldn't help, but notice the eccentric Outsider crowd - who appear all too familiar with this place. From the casual pool hustler, to the guy who repeatedly used the women's room (despite the men's room being free) and always left the door unlocked, to the dazed bleary eyed regulars nursing their drinks at the bar. To the smokers in the corner.The Outsider is bizarre. There's something off about the place. And usually I embrace the different - but there's something about the Outsider - that doesn't feel right, and that only works - if you're with a solid group of people.I appreciate that there are plenty of seats and room in the place. I appreciate that their bathroom is clean enough. That they have a pool table. I especially appreciated that they didn't mind when we brought in egg nog to make festive toasts. But I don't see myself coming back here. There are definitely far more charm and character filled bars in the hood to end or begin your night here. Trust."