San Francisco Bars
My Favorites & Best Bars by Neighborhood
There are hundreds of San Francisco bars to choose from -- so where do you start? Here you can find recommendations for some of the best bars in San Francisco. You can also find some of the best bars in each neighborhood.
This list was a tough one since there are so many great San Francisco entertainment choices. From San Francisco wine bars to live music, this list of San Francisco night life options includes something for everyone.
Lush Lounge: Strong Drinks, Great Crowd
Let's start with one of my favorite San Francisco bars, the Lush Lounge. The name of this bar says it all! The mixed drinks at the Lush Lounge are strong.
They have a number of options to choose from too from martinis to cheap beer. They also have great happy hour specials including $2 PBRs or Tecate beer.
Check out their daily specials on the signs above the bar. They have a pretty standard pick of drinks, but the juices for the drinks are freshly squeezed and seem to always have a heavy pour.
It's usually pretty packed on the weekends. It's also popular during happy hour during the week.
This is just one of the San Francisco bars that is cash only. There is an ATM right inside the front door in case you forget.
The Lush Lounge is located on Polk Street between Bush and Sutter. They open at 3pm and it's usually hopping until around 2am.
Harry Denton's Starlight Room: Views of Union Square
Another one of my absolute favorite San Francisco bars is the Harry Denton's Starlight Room in the Sir Francis Drake hotel. It's a little bit of a cheesy scene, but I love it anyway!
The Starlight Room is on the 21st floor of the hotel. There are great views of Union Square and the downtown San Francisco area.
The tables at this bar in San Francisco are usually reserved ahead of time. To get around this, head to the bar when it first opens around 6pm for a couple of drinks and some appetizers. This gives you time to check out the gorgeous views of the city before it gets too crowded.
When you enter, just let them know you are only there for a couple of drinks and they will seat you right away. The hosts and hostesses at the Starlight Ballroom are always dressed in formal evening wear.
You'll want to dress up a little before you go. It's a great excuse to break out those nicer clothes during your visit.
The Sir Francis Drake hotel is on the corner of Sutter and Powell Streets in Union Square. Enter the lobby and head to the elevators to reach the Starlight Ballroom. There is also a small bar on the first floor of the lobby where you can wait if you arrive before the Starlight Ballroom opens.
Redwood Room in the Clift Hotel: Historic, Funky Lounge
One of the more fun and funky San Francisco bars is the Redwood Room. This bar is in the famed and historic Clift Hotel. The Redwood Room has a gorgeous bar with some fun decor.
The bar itself is a huge presence with backlit bottles on display and beautiful carved wood. It has a modern, upscale feel with some historical charm.
Grab a drink at the bar and watch the 'paintings' on the wall. Each one is actually a plasma TV that moves slightly throughout the night. This is another San Francisco entertainment option that usually has reservations for most of its tables.
You can head in early or call ahead to reserve a spot. You'll also want to dress up a little more for your trip here. It's one of the places to see and be seen.
The Redwood Room is on the first floor of the hotel. Walk in through the front doors of the hotel on Geary Street if you arrive early in the evening. If you arrive a little later, you will see the line forming by the side door of the hotel on Taylor Street.
Medjool Rooftop Bar: 360° Views of San Francisco
My next favorite is the Sky Terrace at Medjool. This is one of the San Francisco bars with a restaurant and bar in the Mission District San Francisco.
Medjool has several floors of San Francisco entertainment. The bar and restaurant share the building with the Elements Hotel that has both private and shared sleeping options.
The Sky Terrace, a rooftop bar, has amazing 360 degree views of San Francisco. You can grab a drink and even some food.
There are several tables on the rooftop, but are first come, first served. They also have heat lamps to keep you warm on those cool San Francisco nights.
Medjool is great because it also has an indoor bar area on the second floor. The restaurant is on the first floor and usually turns into a dance floor after 10pm or so.
It's great because you can walk around to all the different areas to meet new people, have a little bit of a different scene and warm up if it's too cool outside. Medjool is just one of the great San Francisco bars located in the Mission.
It is right on Mission Street between 21st and 22nd Streets. The rooftop bar opens most days around 4pm and 2pm on Saturdays and Sundays. They also close the rooftop bar during the cold, rainy winter months so call ahead to ensure they are open during these months.
Zeitgeist: Large Beer Selection & Outdoor Seating Area
This is one of the San Francisco bars with a relaxing and casual environment. They have an amazing back patio that is packed on any sunny, warm San Francisco day.
Zeitgeist is in the Mission District San Francisco. Located on the corner of Valencia and Duboce streets, this bar is a melting pot of San Francisco locals and tourists.
They have over 40 great beers on tap. The bartenders are friendly and the overall environment is lively and fun.
Zeitgeist also has a great bar food menu. Their burgers are amazing and they have a modified late night menu for those with munchies after the kitchen closes.
Zeitgeist is open from 9am to 2am every day. It's a great option for those seeking a laid back place for some food or a beer.
Top of the Mark
On the opposite side of the spectrum is the Top of the Mark in the Mark Hopkins hotel in Nob Hill San Francisco. This bar and restaurant is a little more upscale than most places in the city.
This is one of just a few San Francisco bars that has an amazing view of the city. The bad news about this place is that the drinks are really expensive, ranging from $10 to $12 a piece and the service is not always great.
However, it's still a great place for a drink (or maybe even two if your wallet can handle it) so you can check out the great views. It's also a little fancier, so it's a fun excuse to get dressed up before heading out on the town.
The Top of the Mark also has a restaurant. It's also pretty pricey and usually reserved far in advance. But feel free to ask for a table if you have the time to wait.
If you want to check out some great views and grab a drink at a little bit of a nicer place, then I'd recommend stopping in at the Top of the Mark. Head through the hotel lobby to the elevators and then to the top floor.
The Press Club
Another one of the San Francisco bars you will enjoy is a wine bar called The Press Club. It's located near Union Square, the Metreon and other downtown San Francisco locations.
It's a unique San Francisco wine bar that features wines from only a small group of wineries. You can find out more about this bar and more San Francisco wine bar recommendations in this section.
The Independent
One of the best places for San Francisco live music is a venue called The Independent. This is a world class San Francisco live music venue that books top talent.
You can find it at 628 Divisadero Street in the Alamo Square/NOPA district in San Francisco. This San Francisco nightlife option features a number of smaller bands.
Some are new on the scene and are more up and coming. Others that play here have been around for a while.
The venue is general admission and considered standing room only. They do have a handful (maybe 10 or so) tables and chairs, but they are first come, first served.
If you want to sit down, you need to get there really early to snag a table. It's one of the great San Francisco bars that feature live music, since it's a smaller venue with great acoustics.
You are also pretty close to the action and you can enjoy the show from almost any angle. This is a bar, so even though they have great bands, it is restricted to those 21 and over. Don't expect to get around this rule even if it's a band you are dying to see.
Find out what what is playing on their calendar of live music and plan on going to a show while you are in town.
Top San Francisco Bars by Neighborhood
These are just some of the best San Francisco bars. There are always new and interesting bars in San Francisco opening and sadly, those that are closing. I hope this list gives you some ideas on where to start or end your evening, based on what type of San Francisco entertainment you are seeking.
Looking for something a little different than these San Francisco bars? Here are some other San Francisco nightlife options:
- Alcatraz History
- Alcatraz Prisoners
- Al Capone Bio
- Birdman of Alcatraz Bio
- Alcatraz Escapes
- Tips to Book Tour
- Visiting Tips
- Cheap Hotel Recommendations
- Haight Ashbury History & Visiting Tips
- Cable Cars History & Info
- San Francisco Theaters
- 1906 Earthquake History & Facts
Share It With Friends!