The Bears Cocktail Lounge

Charlene here was GREAT, amazing bartender who served our drinks perfectly! Pictured is the Pina Colada drink she made me & she was so understanding of me liking sweet drinks.... There was another bartender who switched with her though that made the drinks 90% alcohol and it made me throw up at home with home much was in the drink despite me telling her I don't like tasting the alcohol. The chick was unwilling to lower the alcohol for me.... Good thing was my boyfriend got the shot he wanted & enjoyed his drinks.What's nice is there is 2 hour parking right outside so no paid parking & the music is great, overall a great vibe in here but the fact I had 4 sips of a TERRIBLY made drink ruined the 5/5 star rating for me.

Love the pool tournament. Talitha is amazing . While.... dealing with people she doesn't know, who instantly complain about rules and then tell her to pay for them... because they cant come up with .50 cents..... she is slingjng drinks and doin it all! Good times!

Its ok, lots of changes with a few new bartenders. The floor is dirty AF, its a working class crowd. If you want a good bar experience, come before noon! I mean, i still go here but i know what im in for ya know. Don't bring any boujee dates here thats for sure. Beer is the main staple here and quick to make drinks...bloody mary an koolaids are big here.

It's odd. Bears hibernate in dens. It's not far from The Bears to Willow Den. But the Den uses the symbol of a pig to say they're a "public house". Or a pub. The Bears is a pub. A dive. A juke joint. A pool hall. Most times, everyone in here is cool AF. Vinny always has his leather jacket on. He's half Native and people always confuse him for some type of Latino. The lovely Bessy allowed me to flirt with her and play her sweet music on the juke box. The pool tables play great. The felt is good. The tables are well maintained. Even the house cues are mostly all very good. And. The Bears is located on a very historic section of San Carlos, near their sister bar, Alex's 49er. This has always been a bit of a seedy area. Jerry Rice once got arrested around here looking for a happy ending. Somebody offered to show me a glory hole just a couple hundred feet away from the bears the other night. The area is filled with sex shops, strip clubs, bars, liquor stores, smoke shops.... Etc. But. I say The Bears rises above it all. It is a good place. The bartenders there are as tough as they need to be, and cool as fuck. Plus. I know how to get cussed out by the prettiest lady in the Willow Den (glad we were able to shake hands, lesbian Rita, who has a sweet dog and girlfriend. I am sure you are a kick-ass bartender.)And to the other lady, with the bandana. Yes. You were the prettiest lady in a room filled with beautiful women.I'm not going to be around here much longer. I'm just a kid from SJ, who has woman troubles. I'm moving to Cleveland. But when I return to visit CA, I know there's a great place to have a cold one and shoot some pool. A classy cocktail lounge? A seedy dive? The Bears is perfect. The bartenders there take care of those in need. Like a good bartender should. I've been thrown out of classier places than this. They didn't throw me out of here. But that tough beautiful woman wanted to kick my ass. I lost on purpose so I wouldn't have to play her. I don't like fights. And that pretty lady wanted to fight me. So I bounced right on out.Edit**"Katie and Jess" are both as classic as a good tender can be. I have faith in anyone who is behind this bar. The people who run it and hang out in it are classic people. Salt of the Earth. And there are Ethiopians on this block Cradle of life.

I've always loved this place! Till I was rejected cause of my pooch. Mind you my dog fits in my bag. Never a problem he's a 4 pound pooch. Was just looking for a drink. Thankfully Red Stag is a great place that accommodates! Don't bother. Stage has so mush more to offer! Better ppl and vibe!

Feeling down on your luck? Kept the party going for too long already and figure WTF let's find the outer limit? Not intimidated by sketch or maybe sketch is your sixth love language? Then Bears is for you. As far as I know, given my limited research, this may be one of the few bars on the west side that opens at dawn. Back door entry may be a right of passage in some circles, but at Bears you will literally want to enter through the back door right off the spacious and dimly lit (obviously!) parking lot. Now this is just a guess, but I'll bet you could find something other than what's pored from a bottle or drawn from a tap, should you be brave and curious enough to inquire. The place itself is split between 1) serious pool players, 2) solitary regulars, and 3) friends or groups of regulars congregating near the back door. There's a juke box. Bar seats about 15-20. Um, that's it. Drinks are cheap. Talk is cheaper. Get your drunk on and hope to God you wake up alone in your own bed when all is said and done.

Shoutout to my favorite bartenders at this bar who are genuinely good and chill people, Katie, Elaina, Corina and Charlene. I always try to patron during their shifts for the best service.

I love this place. I might have to come check this place on my free time. Karina was very friendly plus she has beautiful eyes. Just for that I will have to come back play pool.

The worst bartender my buddies and I have ever encountered. Her name is Charlene and she typically works Saturday's. We all watched her as she served drink after drink to get customers completely drunk, and after taking all they're money she happily kicks them out. A insensitive, unprofessional and uncaring way to treat people. We were all shocked, and will never return.

I received the worst service of my life here. The Bartender who someone said is also the manager. was more concerned with gossip than service. She seemed annoyed by having to stop her conversation long enough to pour me the worst Long island I have had in years. Do not recommend this place unless you like horrible service and bad atmosphere.