Our Bar of the Week guide profiles taverns, lounges, pubs, canteens, and dives around town to expand your lexicon of bar knowledge. Keep reading to discover your new favorite watering hole.
Abbey Tavern
Neighborhood: Inner Richmond – 4100 Geary Blvd. SF, (415) 221-7767
What you’ll find: A neighborhood favorite Irish Pub and Sports bar that has been serving local Guinness drinkers some of “San Francisco’s Best Pints” since 1997.
What to order: Order the August beer of the month – Newcastle.
Fun Fact: There is live music from local and touring bands on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday nights, as well as one of the longest running Euro-Disco DJ nights in the Bay Area.
Crowd: Mostly locals – make Abbey your home away from home for world sports!
Drink specials not to miss: Try their famous Sunday bloody mary special.
Wreck Room
Neighborhood: Nob Hill – 1390 California St., SF, (415) 823-2337
What you’ll find: The bar boasts a pool table, Pop-a-Shot, shuffleboard, ten TVs, jukebox, and a super plush women’s bathroom stocked with US Weekly magazines.
What to order: Order one of the daily a drink specials and hit up the hoops or dartboard.
Fun Fact: All of the wood in the bar is salvaged maple from the gym floor at Carlmont High in Belmont.
Greens Sports Bar
Neighborhood: Nob Hill/Russian Hill/Cow Hollow – 2239 Polk, SF, (415) 775-4287
What you’ll find: Aside from the many TVs and sports memorabilia that line the walls, there’s much to like about Green’s including the pool table, video games, and plenty of seating.
What to order: We have a great selection of beers on tap, including Shock Top!
Fun Fact: Greens is the best place to catch a game or ponder life.
Crowd: Happy hour patrons from the neighborhood and rowdy, fun sports fans on game nights.
Drink specials not to miss: We have cheap beer specials – just ask!
Aces Bar
Neighborhood: Tender Nob – l998 Sutter St. in San Francisco, on the corner of Sutter and Hyde.
What you’ll find: We are a neighborhood bar with a little bit of everything, including nine flat screen TVs so you dont miss a game, a brand new golden T, a jukebox that usually has the Rolling Stones or Springsteen coming out of it. We have cheap drink prices, friendly bartenders and clean bathrooms. Home base for all four major New York sports teams as well as the Wisconsin badgers Alumni group.
What to order: Our Favorite order is a BJ, i.e. Budweiser or Bud light and a shot of Jameson for $8
Fun fact: We open at 6 A.M. everyday of the year! Christmas, Thanksgiving, and New Years day. No, we don’t serve food and yes we’re serious!
Crowd: Being open 20 hours a day a wide range of characters come in. Midnight shift workers, FiDi people for happy hour, sports enthusiasts, east coasters, and restaurant and bar industry folks.
Upcoming events: We have done bus trips to games, brewerys, and Golden Gate Fields as well as boat trips to McCovey Cove. Best way to stay informed is through our Facebook page.
Drink specials not to miss: Take your pick! Well drinks are $4 everyday from 6am-8pm. Monday’s special is a $4 Jameson shot, and Wednesday is ladies night where women get two-for-one drinks.
Tope Bar
Neighborhood: North Beach – 1326 Grant Ave. in San Francisco.
What you’ll find: When you walk in you’ll notice the old-fashioned lighting, tin ceiling, funky wallpaper, rotating artwork, and the old school back bar. You may also notice the deep and balanced bass urging you to get your groove on, or the unique and expansive selection of draft and bottled beers.
What to order: If creative cocktails are your thing, then try one of our artisinal cocktails. You will appreciate the fresh herbs, fruit compotes, and wide selection of bitters.
Fun Fact: The word “tope” is a verb that means to drink alcohol habitually and in excess. So, get toping!
Crowd: It’s a casual, mixed crowd with locals and tourists alike.
Drink specials not to miss: We have a late happy hour until 10pm every day that includes $3 wells and beers on tap.
Bus Stop Bar
Neighborhood: Marina – 1901 Union Street
What you’ll find: There’s something for everyone – friendly bartenders, pool, Big Buck Hunter, Ms. PacMan, 17 big screen TVs so you will never miss a game, and much, much more.
What to order: Choose from a great selection of inexpensive drinks.
Fun Fact: Bus Stop is one of the oldest bars in San Francisco and was founded in 1900!
Crowd: Casual atmosphere with plenty of big-time sports fans.
Drink specials not to miss: We’re known for our tasty Bloody Marys
Gussie’s Chicken and Waffles
Neighborhood: Western Addition – 1521 Eddy in San Francisco
What you’ll find: True home cooking with a crazy mix of flavors
What to order: Taste of the South fried chicken special.
Fun Fact: Sunday dinner every night!
Clientele/ crowd: casual
Drink specials not to miss: Happy Hour M-F, 4-7:30pm with specials on drinks and 1/2 off appetizers.
Pilsner Inn
Neighborhood: Castro — 225 Church St. in San Francisco
What you’ll find: Since 1980, Pilsner Inn has been entertaining and quenching the thirsts of San Francisco’s gay (and straight!) community
What to order: huge selection of our best draft and bottled beers at unbelievable prices.
Fun Fact: You could say every hour is happy hour here!!
Clientele/ crowd: casual
Drink specials not to miss: Variety of specials on cocktails along with shot specials.
Cable Car City Pub & Cafe
Neighborhood: Downtown- 1 Hallidie Plaza, 5th and Market in San Francisco
What you’ll find: A great place to catch your favorite teams on our 10 tv’s.
What to order: Try our Effen cucumber bloody Mary made with our own bloody Mary mix and fresh basil.
Fun Fact: We have outdoor seating and serve breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Clientele/ crowd: A mix of locals and out of towners.
Drink specials not to miss: Generous $5 Jameson shots all day and happy hour 3-6 Monday- Saturday.
El Rio
Neighborhood: Mission/BernalHeights- 3158 Mission St in San Francisco
What you’ll find: Organized mayhem under the sky and often involving clowns…
What to order: Something with booze in it!!!
Fun Fact: There’s a bicycle hanging in a tree on the patio, can you find it?
Clientele/ crowd: Freaks, weirdos, loads of queers and some of the nicest people you will ever meet.
Drink specials not to miss: Best one… Come in on your birthday and we will hook you up!
McTeague’s Saloon
Neighborhood: 1237 Polk Street SF, (415) 776-1237, Polk Gulch
What you’ll find: We are currently in the process of our second round of renovations since we opened in 2008. In our first expansion, we added a 2nd bar in the middle “lounge” section. With a few extra flat-screen’s and a pool table.
What to order: We have one of best beers selections on Polk street and we are always trying out new local and other various micro brews from time to time just to mix it up.
Fun Fact: Since we opened our doors in 2008, we’ve been working hard to become a Polk Street institution. Even our name derives from a book about a San Francisco dentist who set up shop on Polk street in nearly our exact same location.
Clientele/ crowd: We are the #1 stop on Polk Street for all your sporting needs, NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, English Premier Soccer the list goes on.
Drink specials not to miss: We have weekly & monthly specials and even special free product tastings.