The beer, wine, and cocktails are the best in San Francisco and they keep the city lubricated day in and out, so you shouldn’t hold yourself from finding the good bars in San Francisco. The bars are visited very frequently in summer. These include the patios to the hip Caribbean-themed watering holes. There are some bars in the SF classics along with the fresh new menus and after experiencing most of the good bars in San Francisco, a list is prepared which includes the innovative bar scene. These range from neighborhood dive bars, elegant dens, or craft beer bars and there is a long list of bears in every category.
Some of the good bars in San Francisco are mentioned in the list below…
Bar Name | Bar Location | Website |
1. Verjus | 528 Washington St, San Francisco, CA 94111, United States | |
2. Moongate Lounge | 28 Waverly Pl, San Francisco, CA 94108, United States | |
3. El Rio | 3158 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110, United States | |
4. Fort Point | 742 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94110, United States | |
5. Oeste | 722 Clay St, Oakland, CA 94607, United States | |
6. Everdene | 250 4th St, San Francisco, CA 94103, United States | |
7. ANINA | 482 Hayes St, San Francisco, CA 94102, United States | |
8. Cold Drinks Bar | 644 Broadway, San Francisco, CA 94133, United States | |
9. Jolene’s | 2700 16th St, San Francisco, CA 94103, United States | |
10. Last Rites | 718 14th St, San Francisco, CA 94114, United States | |
11. Tonga Room & Hurricane Bar | 950 Mason St, San Francisco, CA 94108, United States | |
12. Radio Habana | 1109 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94110, United States | |
13. Black Horse London Pub | 1514 Union St, San Francisco, CA 94123, United States | |
14. Butter | 354 11th St, San Francisco, CA 94103, United States |
1. Verjus
It is a French-themed wine and bites bar across the Transamerica building and is styled with geometrically patterned tiles. It is an old-world bar and a menu is posted on the back-lit train schedule. It is a brainchild of Michael and Lindsay Tusk of Quince and Cotgona fame and the daily rotating fare at this bar is more casual than the fine dining establishments and is as flavorful as one expects.
Sucking pig, crab tartine and the pate en route are some of the best dishes in the bar and the wine mentioned is a curated list of some small-scale independent and organic produces from France and Italy. The vintages from the US, Spain, Portugal, and Germany are present and retail space is available next door from where a bottle can be purchased and the collection of home goods and gifts can be selected.
2. Moongate Lounge
The Michelin starred Mr. Jui’s opened this lounge located upstairs and drips with midcentury elegance. One can snuggle into the red velvet booth under the lotus-shaped brass lamps. The cocktail list includes seasonal offerings and signature drinks based on the Chinese calendar and is spiked with garlic, plum, oolong, and other ingredients.
Timing – Wednesday to Saturday – 7 pm to 12 am
3. Good Bars In San Francisco: El Rio
El Rio is a decade-old standby that includes all of San Franciso in its finest and it is a beloved dive which welcomes a colorful cross-section of the city. It is gay and straight or young and old it has a huge patio which is inviting. Shuffleboard is also found and the pool tables which an anything-goes dance floor in which the bands, DJs, the dancers, and the karaoke kings perform every night. In the warmer months, the live bands come out back from salsa to bluegrass. In between the competitive bar games, chatty patio, and the ongoing party, the introductions happen automatically.
Timing – Thursday to Sunday – 5 am to 11 am
Must Try – Fort Point IPA, Trumer Pilsner, Jameson or Absolut Mule
4. Fort Point
Fort Point beer is by far the best brewery in the city going as per the location. This brewery is located in the Ferry building along with outdoor tables for soaking up the sun and is easily recognizable for the colorful cans it provides. It is a fitting mini-beer garden backed by a giant aluminum wall and was founded by two brothers Tyler and Justin Catalana in 2014.
More than 20 varieties of crafted beer are available and these include right from the smoked altbier to the charred manzanita. In as early as 2016, this brewery was opened and was the first brick-and-mortar presence in SF. Six taps of the rotating beer pick plus the growlers and the chilled six-packs to go. It has a handful of tables that can be claimed as first come first basis and it is a scenic spot for the people. The place also serves hot dogs and bread pretzels from several places.
Timing – Friday to Sunday – 10 am to 5 pm
5. Oeste
This is an Oakland café that has one of the best quality rooftop bars and has an inviting space. The space is lit up by the chandeliers and is hung from exposed wooden beams. There are cushioned couches and greenery which make the patio feel like home and the menu is a mix of both Latino and southern cuisines. The happy hour’s range from 11 am to 7 pm daily and there is a large variety of drinks like Tito’s vodka strawberry lemonade and the beer and wine are a steal.
Timing –
Tuesday to Sunday – 4 pm to 11 pm
Must Try – Fried Plantains, Crispy Fried catfish
6. Good Bars In San Francisco: Everdene
The Soda’s virgin hotel has a rooftop bar that combines the breathtaking city with a lush outdoor garden and an indoor salon. There is a creatively designed menu that includes signature cocktails named Love, Honor. These are made and mixed up with gin, apricot, lemon juice, lavender, and sparkling wine.
7. Anina
If you want to live the crazy nightlife in San Francisco, visit ANINA. It is a light and bright tropical-inspired cocktail bar. The owners of this bar are Anthony Healy London and Josh McAdam and Matt Conway Adam with the second bar being opened in 2016. The polar opposite of the first bar is Brass Tacks this has a more summery vibe with the Moroccan tiles. Brass tacks are dark, loud, and moody and Anina is bright with an eight-table patio with Spritzes and aperitivos. These are designed for pre-dinner sipping and the large punch bowls are to be shared because they can’t be eaten individually.
Timing – Tuesday to Sunday – 4 pm to 11 pm
Must Try – Salad days, Lucila
8. Cold Drinks
It is a modern Shanghai inspired by the cocktail bar and has a Blade Runner-esque speakeasy vibe. Sleek and darkly located, it is hidden away on the second floor of the China emporium. It specializes in Scotch whisky and the tuxedoed bartenders sling in half a dozen styles of the highball and includes the Shanghai shanty.
It is made with Benromach 10, carrot and orange juice, and the ginger honey syrup, bitters, and peaty Scotch and Anchor larger. There are unique cocktails that feature unexpected flavors and it is a candy cap mushroom bitters and black pepper syrup. Along with a handful of wine and beer, a condensed Chinese bar and delights like the duck fat caramel popcorn and the crispy lotus chips which are dipped in the five-spice sesame dip to find the right one.
Timing – Tuesday to Saturday – 6 pm to 11 pm
Must Try – The unplugged, Silk Degrees, Sometimes old fashioned
9. Jolene’s
This is a stylish LGBTQ+ bar scene that has a very expansive bar venue with a poolside table upfront and has a dance floor wallpapered. Jolene’s namesake margarita and a $28 mimosas paired well with the dinner and brunch offerings and include a lot of vegetable options.
Timing – Friday to Sunday – 8 pm to 2 am
Must Try – Chicken bites, Beef sliders
10. Good Bars In San Francisco: Last Rites
It is a Duboche triangle bar that shows the dark side of the tiki with the sky-high skulls and a plane crash in the tropical jungle décor. It has been sacrificed as none of the Disney quality of the tiki bar and the Last Rites has managed to complete it with a bit more satisfaction. The bar does not have any small parts but has grown-up cocktails that eschew the blue curacao and the sickly-sweet combinations.
The combinations include Halfway tree which is an overproof rum and uses fortified wine served in a skull mug. The Hetch Hetchy is a drink composing bell pepper and paprika and one does not carve the classics after drinking this. Some cravings of the classics can be forgotten by having this drink and another drink is the Fog Cutter which is made out of homemade cashew orgeat.
Timing – Tuesday to Saturday – 6 pm to 1 am
Must try – First love, Mano a Mano, Last rites
11. Nob Hills (Tonga Room And Hurricane Bar)
This is a place famous for the kitsch and one can stay for the Asian snacks like the pupu platters and poke. Tonga is inside the Fairmont Hotel atop Nob Hill and has amused guests with the tiki torches. There are faux Polynesian totems, palm fronds, and bamboo for decades, and the best of all these fake tropical storms, complete with the misty rain and pre-recorded thunder.
Timing – Thursday to Saturday – 5 pm to 10 pm
Must Try – Lava Bowl
12. Radio Habana
Radio Habana Social Club is the first bar that comes to mind when one thinks about the SF bars. The unique bars in San Francisco have friendly, the patrons are relaxed and the music is very interesting and fun.
Timing – Monday to Saturday – 7.30 pm to 12 am
13. Black Horse London Pub
Black Horse London Pub is a small and weird place that offers no liquor just beer. The place does not have a refrigerator and a keg is jammed into the tub. A seat can be found on the eight barstools and turns on the sides on the kneed which won’t hit the bar.
Timing – Monday to Sunday – 5 pm to 12 am
Must Try – The roo-roo-Reuben, The pony express
14. Butter
This is a bright yellow place and the butter stays on the theme and the trailer trash here and the bras are hanging from the ceiling. A deer head is hung on the wall and has a dusty disco ball and the butter skanky snack menu has infamous classics like Spaghettios and the deep-fried Twinkies.
Timing – Wednesday to Sunday – 6 pm to 2 am
Good Bars In San Francisco: Summed Up
There are many gastropub San Francisco that can be visited and give a good vibe. These places are easy to go to and the place can be enjoyed. The vibe of the place is good to enjoy and the menu is very unique and cool.
