Royal Cuckoo

Awesome records, drinks, and Lavay Smith singing! Fantastic dive bar, a real gem! Both the pre-made and freshly mixed cocktails are great. Super vibe.

Man, I just love this place. I still haven't stayed late enough for the 8PM organ set, but presumably it doesn't consist of selections from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir hymn book but rather jazz numbers that complement their extensive vinyl collection. They open at 4PM during the week, and I showed up not long afterward since I happened to be walking on Mission.The comfortable vibe hit me right away. It was filled with a lot of vintage items including the requisite antelope head, but it didn't feel excessive. I think simply calling it a dive bar marginalizes what owners Paul Morgan and Debbie Horn truly provide here. My interactions have been mostly with Debbie, and she's the real thing, one of the most genuinely friendly bartenders in the city.And hey, I've been served by all kinds around town, and upon a return visit weeks later, she recalled me and where I was from without hesitation. This may be an obscure shut-in reference, but she reminded me of the effervescent Erin Napier, the host of HGTV's "Home Town", just someone whose smile equates to a warm hug. That's not to say Paul is a social slouch.He was busy trying to discourage a high-as-a-kite urban teen from entering the premises. Another reason not to call this a dive is their specialty cocktail menu which reflects their hard-earned years of respective bartending experience. The house cocktails don't disappoint. The $12 Ava Ray's Pina Colada wasn't frozen but quite delicious nonetheless with dark rum, port, pineapple, and coconut (photo: https://yelp.to/wY2XRbfdsc.The $12 Red Margarita caught me by surprise as it combined tequila and agave with pomegranate and raspberries (photo: https://yelp.to/sNqvywHg5L). It was a treat from Debbie, who spent years at Puerto Allegre perfecting it. I was so entranced I later ordered the $13 Backyard Lemon Tree Margarita which I believe took advantage of lemons picked in the welcoming back patio (photo: https://yelp.to/ED3asUmzdP). It ain't gay but I could become a regular.COCKTAILS - 5 stars...they know how to mix their craft cocktails, don't let the casual vibe fool yaAMBIANCE - 5 stars...just love the vintage garage-sale vibeSERVICE - 5 stars...all about DebbieTOTAL - 5 stars...I just need to come back with Jamie W. during organ timeRELATED - Exploring Bernal Heights? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2CaaWFe

Very nice place. The atmosphere is amazing. The music reminds me of Christmas . Thank you, I will come back again

I felt like I entered a portal into a different world when I visited for the first time this past weekend. Could not figure out the vibe when first entering. Dark and eclectic at first impression. Brimming with character on every wall and decoration after further observation. And then the music started. I couldn't believe it was real. A truly incredible organ player and a wonderful singer captivated the bar with soulful tunes. Whether you are a fan of organs or just good live music this is a must visit establishment.

Albums, and organs, and cocktails, OH MY! What a treat it was for me to visit the Royal Cuckoo on my visit to San Francisco. I had been told to go because I love live music, particularly jazz music. This dive looking bar has a whole organ inside. The night I went, the organist was accompanied by a fantastic saxophone player. (See posted videos). They threw the house down. The royal cuckoo isn't a very big space but it had a cozy feel. I sat at the bar. The bartenders are fantastic. I knew this would be the place to order a classic/vintage drink. I ordered a whiskey sour and it was delicious. The staff was attentive and greeted everyone wanting a drink within a reasonable amount of time. In between band breaks, the bartenders played vinyl records. Their selection of records was massive. The record the bartender chose was a major vibe. There's something about vinyl that makes the music sound so good. And their set up includes old speakers. It made for the perfect cherry in this intimate space. I can't wait to go back on my next San Francisco trip.

A fun eclectic vibe. From the random decorations to the moody red lighting. Definitely a dingy/divey vibe. Came on a Friday night and there was live music that started around 8:30 pm (organist and vocals). The drinks were very hit/miss. The best one we tried was the pina colada. Decent prices for the city.

Great vibe, solid service, drinks were good. I appreciated that there was a cute outdoor area behind the bar, pretty enclosed and nice for conversing over a beer without the disorienting darkness + music that plagues many standard bars. Inside, the decorations are intriguing and the bartender plays from a massive selection of vinyls. I'd like to revisit for live music at some point.

A bar with no TV and vinyl...YES, PLEASE!!What a delightful den of oddities. I went on a beautiful Sunday afternoon and spent time outside and inside. The vibe is exactly what we were in the mood for and I will definitely be back. The bartender said there's a nightly organ player at 8pm.

(+) Stars for the weird decor and lovely outside patio with trees shading it. (-) service was unimpressive. it bugged me how each time I ordered the same beer, it kept getting more expensive. Pretty sure the bartender was just making up whatever price and adding in her own tip lol a bit lame for that .

Love this bar for a good drink before eating at Blue Plate. On our last visit, I appreciated that the bartender admitted that he didn't know how to make the cocktail I wanted. He googled, and made a textbook version of my fave, the Vieux Carré. I have been other places where they just faked it, with sub standard results. I dig the funky vibe at this place, friendly folks and some awesome Soul spinning on the turntable. I hated to leave.