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1
Specs’ Twelve Adler Museum Cafe
A North Beach dive since 1968 with walls covered in seafaring memorabilia.
A Legacy Business down an alley off Columbus. The menu is cheese and saltines.
12 William Saroyan Place, San Francisco, CA 94133 Full write-up → -
2
The Saloon
San Francisco's oldest bar, on Grant Avenue since 1861, with live blues nightly.
1232 Grant Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133 Full write-up → -
3
Li Po Cocktail Lounge
The 1937 Chinatown dive famous for its secret-recipe Chinese Mai Tai.
916 Grant Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94108 Full write-up → -
4
Zeitgeist
A Mission beer bar with a huge gravel back patio and around 50 taps.
Bloody Mary and a picnic table on the back patio. No photos.
199 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94103 Full write-up → -
5
Pop’s Bar
A Mission dive on 24th and York, a Legacy Business with block history back to 1937.
Pool table, photo booth, jukebox. Open 6am to 2am.
2800 24th Street, San Francisco, CA 94110 Full write-up → -
6
The Knockout
A Mission dive with punk and garage DJs, live bands, bingo, and burlesque.
Cheap, loud, a different show most nights. Check the calendar.
3223 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94110 Full write-up → -
7
Latin American Club
A Mission dive since 1993, known for strong margaritas under paper lanterns.
Come for the margaritas. Pace yourself, they're strong.
3286 22nd Street, San Francisco, CA 94110 Full write-up → -
8
The Mix
A Castro dive on 18th with a pool table and a back smoke patio.
Cheap drinks and a neighborhood Castro crowd. The patio is the draw.
4086 18th Street, San Francisco, CA 94114 Full write-up → -
9
Red’s Place
Bills itself as the oldest bar in Chinatown.
672 Jackson Street, San Francisco, CA 94133 Full write-up → -
10
Buddha Lounge
A Chinatown dive with red lanterns, a jukebox, and stiff, cheap pours.
One of the only bars inside Chinatown. Strong pours, cheap.
901 Grant Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94108 Full write-up →
Last updated August 18, 2026
