Pop’s Bar

What you need to know

The History

Carl Joseph Saxsenmeier, known as Pops, ran a clubhouse here that allegedly served alcohol during Prohibition. After repeal he opened Pop’s officially in 1937. The bar passed through Irish post-war flyboy years in the 1940s and 50s, ownership changes through the 70s, 80s, and 90s, and into the present, where it sits in the heart of the Calle 24 Latino Cultural District. The City of San Francisco named Pop’s a Legacy Business in 2022, recognizing nearly 90 years of continuous operation.

The Bar

Pop’s opens at 6am every morning to catch the graveyard shift coming off work. That early-bird policy makes it one of the few places in the Mission where you can get a beer with breakfast. Through the day the crowd shifts from neighborhood regulars to industry workers ending late shifts, with a younger crowd filling in on weekend nights.

Pool table in the back. Photo booth in the corner. Jukebox loud enough to drown out conversation when the right song comes on. The floor leans, the bartenders pour heavy, and the room is darker than it needs to be. The 24th Street corridor has changed around it; Pop’s has not.

What to Order

Beers, well drinks, and the kind of basic cocktails a dive bar should make. Nothing fancy. Cash works fastest.

Practical Info

Price: Drinks $6 to $11
Reservations: Walk-in only
Address: 2800 24th Street at York, Mission District
Hours: Daily 6am to 2am
Website: popssf.com