Li Po Cocktail Lounge

What you need to know

Li Po Cocktail Lounge has been open since 1937. It is named after the Tang dynasty poet Li Bai, and the room is built around a large gilded Buddha shrine behind the bar, lit by strings of red lanterns.

The Drinks

The house drink is the Chinese Mai Tai, made with a recipe the bar keeps to itself. It is strong and served cold, and it is the reason most first-timers come in. Beyond that the list is simple: beer, well drinks, and a short set of cocktails. Cash only.

The Space

The bar sits a few steps below street level. The lighting is dim and red, the walls hold decades of Chinatown ephemera, and the bathrooms are down a steep staircase in the basement. It is small and fills up on weekend nights.

The Story

Li Po has operated continuously since the 1930s and is one of the few bars inside Chinatown proper. It draws a mix of neighborhood regulars, bar crawlers, and visitors moving between Chinatown and North Beach.

Practical Info

Price: $. Cash only.

Reservations: None. Walk-in only.

Best time: Weekday early evening for a seat and conversation.

Getting there: On Grant between Washington and Jackson. The 30 Stockton and 45 Union-Stockton stop a block over on Stockton, and the 1 California runs two blocks uphill.