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- 757 Market St., SoMa
- 415-633-3737
Four Seasons Hotel Bar
Sure, the drinks are pricey, but you enjoy them in high style. And in hand blown glasses, yet. Elite world travelers mingling discreetly with sophisticated after-work boozers quietly getting lit on... read more
- 39 New Montgomery St., SoMa 94105
- 415-975-8651
House of Shields
Think Baby Face Nelson caressing his platinum-haired moll with the butt of his machine gun. Established in 1908, only watering hole around for years, and a gentleman’s-only club till 1972. Prohibit... read more
- 10 Mark Lane, Financial District
- 415-788-7152
Irish Bank
Now here’s a place to get rip-roaring drunk and feel like you’re following tradition at the same time. Country-schoolroom look plastered with black-and-white photos of famous Irish alcoholics of yo... read more
- 25 Maiden Lane, Union Square
- 415-298-4826
Otis
Make up your minds now: Private club or not? Soho House or Studio 54? Boys get A for exclusivity effort, but velvet rope more gesture than reality. Teeny two-tiered space on lovely Maiden Lane with... read more
- 2115 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley
- 510-644-2226
Acme Bar
Wanted: black-leather-jacket-wearing, occasional coke-snorting biker folk looking to have fun, play some old punk on the jukebox and have a dingy, dark, and delightful place to call their own. Frin... read more
- 1822 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley 94710
- 510-843-2473
Albatross Pub
Oldest pub in Berkeley. Glimmerin’ moonshine, Coleridge style. The Bird, man. Chill out, have a great beer on tap in a sexy glass, play darts, listen to music, play a board game (Balderdash, Boggle... read more
- 924 Gilman St., Berkeley
- 510-525-9926
The 924 Gilman Street Project
“At least we know where they are, dear … they could be down some dark alley in the back of a car.” Punk kids line up for all-ages, non-profit alternative music mixer Fridays, Saturdays, and occasio... read more
- 450 Powell St, Union Square 94108
- 415-395-8595
Harry Denton’s Starlight Room
The setting: crushed-velvet booths on the 21st floor of the Sir Francis Drake Hotel. The crowd: Botoxed bleached blonds wearing leftover prom dresses and escorted by black-tie bucks. Portraits of s... read more
- 243 OFarrell St., Union Square 94102
- 415-954-0777
Johnny Foley’s Irish House
Sweatshirts and stonewashed jeans aside, there’s good times to be had at this true drinkers’ bar. A tall tale or two to raucous old-time rock ‘n’ roll will have you in the gutter singing Irish rebe... read more
- 444 Jessie St., SoMa 94103
- 415-625-8880
Mezzanine
Cheesy fast beats throbbing on the Funktion One system, as the Mezz was one of the first clubs in SanFran to have it. In addition to serious live act booking (The Cool Kids, Q-Tip, etc) in a 12K sq... read more
- 5445 College Ave., Oakland
- 510-653-7441
George and Walt’s
Repeat after me: This is a sports bar. This bar has drinks and sports on TV. There are pennants and pool tables. Video games and pinball too. TVs in every corner. The bartender will call you honey.... read more
- 5227 Claremont Ave., Oakland 94618
- 510-655-7373
Kingfish Café & Pub
Who ordered the takeout pizza? Y-chromosomes in favorite pair of sweats and T-shirt connect over brews and a poker table at this local dive. Lobster shack slash baseball dugout where the boys are, ... read more
- 1015 Folsom St., SoMa
- 415-431-1200
1015 (Ten Fifteen) Folsom
Hey dude, you got my glowsticks? Twentysomething B&Ts, experimenting Asian cliques and various hoochies and tourists who don’t know any better. Massive muliti-level club (capacity 2000) w... read more
- 15 Romolo Pl., North Beach 94133
- 415-398-1359
15 Romolo
Recently reborn, classy cocktail bar is tucked away in an alley around the corner from some of the nastiest strip clubs in the city (which we know nothing about…). Moustachio’d bartend... read more
- 222 Hyde St., Tenderloin
- 415-440-0222
222 Club
Ambitious little spot for such gritty surroundings, but someone’s gotta do it. Owners transformed this washed-up dive by themselves, painting the interior bright red and sanding down the bar. Belov... read more
- 540 Clement St., Richmond District
- 415-752-7276
540 Club
How to make a 540 Club: Take one local dive, add trippy lighting, Catholic School Karaoke Parties, Trivia Night, darts, pool, smoking patio, jukebox, happy hour, and DJs spinning old school punk, s... read more
- 1954 Hyde St., Russian Hill
- 415-928-2633
Bacchus
Shoebox-sized wine and sake bar that serves as Sushi Groove waiting room (or get it delivered to the bar). Just enough space for you and seven of your friends. Always changing cheese plate to compl... read more
- 3199 Fillmore St., Cow Hollow 94123
- 415-921-3944
Balboa Café
Buckingham Palace for SF royalty. Mayor Gavin Newsom’s pet project (aside from the city itself, that is). Power politicos talk urban planning over Maker’s Mark at the corner table, while finance ty... read more
- 1980 Union St., Cow Hollow 94123
- 415-409-4469
Bar None
Ever wonder where UC college grads go to mourn the loss of their PlayStation-tournament days? The Abercrombie & Fitch frat party resumes every weekend at this subterranean venue. Escape the sticky ... read more
- 1750 Polk St., Russian Hill
- 415-440-2355
Bigfoot Lodge
Paul Bunyan meets Smokey the Bear meets Polk Street drinking scene. Lowlit log cabin that’s a full-tilt four-wheel-drive frontier for adults. Strange taxidermied creatures like the elusive jackalop... read more
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