San Francisco's Best Dive Bar

A Mission staple with a rock attitude and enough outdoor seating for an entire biker gang.

Reviews:

• “Zeitgeist”
• “Zeit-great!”
• “Warm Beer, Cold Women, Stay Away.”
• “A BIKER BAR???? PLEASE!!”
• “Just like we remembered it.”

Tips: This place only accepts cash, but there’s an ATM on-site.

Zeitgeist or email Zeitgeist

A quintessential Mission watering hole with a rec-room feel and Sunday barbecues.

Reviews:

• “Great local”
• “Quintessential Mission Dive Bar”
• “Under 25 Club”

Tips: Happy hour is Monday-Friday, 2pm-7pm. To find out about additional specials, read the banners hanging from the ceiling. Highlights may include free pool on Tuesdays and cheap drinks at midnight.

500 Club

A funky Potrero Hill hangout with a standout jukebox and free popcorn.

Reviews:

• “Great dive for chatting”
• “The New Sadies Rocks!”
• “Improving Sadie’s”
• “Chalky Good Times & $1 PBR are gone”
• “comfortable, not trendy”

Tips: In the front room, there’s a popcorn machine stocked with all the free popcorn you can eat.

Sadie’s Flying Elephant

A keystone North Beach drinking establishment with more than 80 years of hazy history.

Reviews:

• “Old school bar with a drunken bartender”
• “Be careful”

Tips: Though there’s no happy hour, PBRs cost $2, all other domestic bottle or drafts cost $3 and well drinks are only $4 all day long.

La Rocca’s Corner Tavern or email La Rocca’s Corner Tavern

Since 1978, DJs, billiards, televisions broadcasting sports, and nine beers on tap, with free food specials on Sundays and Tuesdays.

Reviews:

• “Taco Tuesday – Gringo Style!!”
• “bars”
• “Get Drafted”

Tips: Weekday happy hour lasts from 2pm to 7pm with discounts on beer and well drinks.

Jack’s Club

An old-school bordello look paired with potent margaritas and Mexican fare.

Reviews:

• “Freakin Awesome Mexican Food—Cool Place!”
• “Down to earth Cantina……”
• “average food. nothing special”
• “Good Margaritas”
• “Great food, Great Drinks, and an Even Better Atmosphere!”

Tips: The bar opens up at 5pm and often stays open until 2am; call for a specific closing time.

Velvet Cantina

Located in the Tenderloin, this two-tiered rocker bar attracts tattoed, laid-back 20- and 30-somethings.

Reviews:

• “Nice Dive”
• “Always fun!”
• “great place to hangout!!!”
• “this place rocks!”
• “She can’t mix a drink”

Tips: An enclosed patio on the upper tier offers smokers a place to hang without having to stand on the street.

Hemlock Tavern

A laid-back rocker’s bar with an enormous suds selection, free popcorn and petite smoker’s patio.

Reviews:

• “Favorite bar in the area”
• “Great place dont listen to…”
• “My new home! Start out there or end up there, but be sure to go there every day. I’m not an alcoholic.”
• “Guess I’ll never be back!”
• “Lucky 13 were lucky its here”

Tips: A daily happy hour (4pm-8pm) features $1 off pints and 50-cents off well drinks.

Lucky 13

Boisterous Italian-American chums make this little watering hole a friendly North Beach find.

Reviews:

• “Great Neighborhood Bar”
• “Love the people you meet in this place”
• “neighborhood bar”
• “Feels like home…”
• “cen’tanni”

Tips: The biweekly, Thursday luncheon (1pm) requires advance ticket purchase. The meager $10-$15 price includes a feast of salad, pasta, main course and wine.

Gino and Carlo

Reviews:

• “Down & Dirty”
• “no fuss dive "
• “Unlimited Potential”
• “Culturally advanced”
• “Hidey Ho”

High Tide

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