110 Best Bars in San Francisco, California

San Francisco is a city full of great cocktail bars, but it has surprisingly few options for an excellent drink to go with some live music. So, leave it to the gifted minds of the Future Bars group (Bourbon & Branch, Pagan Idol) to transform a historic space that originally was a speakeasy during Prohibition, then a marquee jazz bar mid-century, before falling off the SF music-and-cocktails radar for decades until 2023. Today, it's a glamorous, convivial space for top-tier, usually intricate cocktails and jazz nightly. Reservations aren't required but are encouraged to avoid disappointment at showtime.

At the end of the Hyde Street cable car line, Buena Vista packs 'em in for its famous Irish coffee—which, according to the owners, was the first served stateside (in 1952). The place oozes nostalgia with its white-jacketed bartenders and timeless atmosphere, drawing devoted locals as well as out-of-towners relaxing after a day of sightseeing. It's narrow and can get crowded, but this spot is a sip of history and provides a fine alternative to the overpriced tourist joints nearby.

Euro-chic yet comfortable, this rooftop lounge serves up jaw-dropping skyline views along with sophisticated small bites and expert cocktails—it's not hard to reach the $65 per person minimum spend. The indoor space is cozy and intimate, and the outdoor tables with personal firepits are popular, so reservations are a good idea.

The cocktails are well crafted and affordable (by pricey San Francisco standards) at the city's second-oldest saloon location—various watering holes have operated on this site since 1858. It's San Francisco's best example of a vintage neighborhood favorite with the finest elements of a modern ingredient-focused cocktail bar. Cocktail geeks and sports fans mingle in the same room. Don't miss the holiday cocktails in December.

Named one of 2024's top 50 bars in North America by the beverage industry, PCH is a relaxed, suave favorite for some of San Francisco's most unique and sophisticated cocktails (plus one of the city's best cocktail bar courtyards). As the name suggests, Asian Pacific flavors—shiso, ume, li hing mui, pandan—abound on the lengthy cocktail menu, and the talented bartenders make reliable recommendations. Fun theme nights and unique mugs and glassware are common; the holiday season is a special delight.

The Palace Hotel's clubby, wood-paneled watering hole takes its name from the 1909 Maxfield Parrish mural The Pied Piper of Hamelin, which covers most of the wall behind the bar. The Pied Piper lures an upscale clientele for stiff two-olive martinis, Manhattans, and other trad libations.

With the decor of a pirate ship and a slew of rum-based cocktails, you half expect Captain Jack Sparrow to sidle up next to you at this offbeat Disney-esque hangout. But the folks at Smuggler's Cove take rum so seriously they've even had it made for them from distillers around the world, which you can sample along with more than 550 other offerings. The small space fills up quickly, so arrive early—though with two bars on three intimate levels, there's a lot to see.

For almost 100 years, this storied rooftop space has hosted a hotel bar with sweeping city views. Its current incarnation, opened in 2024, is particularly glamorous, with velvet banquettes, golden accent chairs, and floor-to-ceiling windows, as well as carefully crafted, city-inspired cocktails, elevated bites, and a bill to match.

You come to one of the city's most popular dive bars for one thing and one thing only: the reasonably priced beers, about four dozen of them on tap. The Toronado opens in the late morning and has a good-size crowd by early afternoon, so show up early to sit at one of the highly coveted tables. Just make sure to bring cash, as they don't accept credit cards.

If you're hitting only one bar in North Beach, it should be this one. The low-ceilinged second floor of this raucous boho saloon hangout, little altered since its 1960s heyday (when Jack Kerouac frequented the place), is a fine vantage point for watching the colorful Broadway and Columbus Avenue intersection. Another part of Vesuvio's appeal is its diverse clientele, from older neighborhood regulars and young couples to bacchanalian posses.

Whether you’re in the mood for a Paso Robles Grenache Blanc or an Oregon Pinot Noir, you'll find it at this narrow, sleek locals’ favorite. The kitchen isn’t much more than a stovetop but does some pretty impressive work beyond cheese and charcuterie. Take advantage of the ability to order half pours and sample more wines.

It's a dive but one of the city's best beer bars—there are almost 50 on tap—and a great place to relax with a cold one or an ever-popular Bloody Mary in the large patio on a sunny day. Burgers and brats are available, and a few items on the menu incorporate food from local farmers' markets.

A stone's throw from the bay, the city's greenest wine bar serves up sustainable, organic, and biodynamic wines from around the world. Small plates are also available, usually vegetarian, and change weekly, as does the wine menu. The commitment to a healthier planet isn't reflected only in the food and drink, but also the decor, a mixture of reused wine bottles and wood reclaimed from nearby piers. Public transportation shuts down early at night, so expect to need a taxi back and to wait about 30 minutes for it to arrive.

Easy to miss on an alley and overshadowed by neighboring adult-entertainment venues that are parallel along the Columbus strip, this craft cocktail den with a Basque theme serves up tipples of sherry, a few thoughtful wine picks, and creative cocktails. Pair your drink with tasty, Spanish-driven bistro snacks, such as pressed tuna baguette sandos, house-made pickles, pintxos (Basque tapas with bread), and croquetas (a fried snack). With a non-Internet jukebox and a photo booth, this place oozes vintage hipster vibes but with old-world sensibilities.

The popular restaurant's nearly two dozen specialty cocktails make a trip just to the bar worthwhile. The classic but modern French cuisine, California and French wines, and vintage bistro decor are terrific, too, so pair a cocktail with a few bites before or after a show.

One of the city's top cocktail bars, ABV offers elevated small plates (the burger has a devoted following) late into the night to pair with their excellent cocktail menu, which includes such favorites as a Mumbai Mule with saffron vodka. A knowledgeable and friendly staff serves a diverse energetic crowd in a smart modern setting.

This dark-wood, low-lit space has a certain swagger that's at once charming and classy. It serves full meals but is also a good choice for cocktails and small plates—the polenta fries, Scotch eggs, and seasonal salads are all winners.

A slice of modern French life, this cozy and romantic wine bar is an ideal spot for oenophiles, with a list strong in French selections. Vintage-theater seating is available up front—perfect for mingling with strangers. The prices are reasonable, the pours handsome. Sit at the red-lacquer bar to learn about wine and pick up a French phrase or two.

Mention "San Francisco" and "beer" and most locals and tourists will immediately think about Anchor Steam. It's a core part of the city's culture—it's what San Franciscans drink when the Giants win or after a tough day at work. Anchor started in 1896 and moved to its iconic Potrero Hill home in 1977, where the smell of brewing yeasts, hops, and barley greets the area on most days. The brewery tour and tasting is always a hot ticket (and well worth the time to see the historic copper kettles), but it's much easier to grab a flight or pint at their Public Taps bar next door. While you're there, make sure to order some of the unique Californian-Mexican cooking.

This floral-and-tropics-themed bar boasts one of the prime patios in San Francisco, plus excellent, non-fussy craft cocktails.

Saucy, sexy, and fun, this is one of the best places in town for dinner with a show. The entertainment, as well as the gracious food service, is provided by some of the city's most gorgeous transgender women, who strut in impossibly high heels on top of the catwalk bar, vamping to tunes like "Cabaret" and "Big Spender." The creative Asian-influenced cuisine is surprisingly good. Make reservations, and go on a weekday to avoid the bachelorette parties.

Here you'll spy young (thirtysomething) and upwardly mobile former frat boys and sorority girls sipping on powerful espresso martinis and munching on tasty burgers served sandwich-style on a baguette—considered by some to be the best in town. Classic cocktails are proper and stiff, bartenders always have something witty to say, and the wine list is one of the neighborhood's best.

In addition to teaching workshops on improvisation, this group based in a renovated warehouse stages performances such as "Guilty Pleasures: Improvised Soaps" and "Spontaneous Broadway." As is always the case for improv, the quality varies, but it's reliably fun. Tickets can be purchased in advance or at the door and have a suggested price range of $5 to $50 depending on what each patron feels comfortable paying.

The groovy 1960s are the inspiration for the gorgeous setting of this cocktail destination with a busy bar up front and a more relaxed, lounge-style atmosphere in the back. However, the cocktails are straight-up modern excellence, always mixing a superb balance of high-quality spirits and homemade ingredients. The glassware and garnishes are gorgeous.

The plush main room and adjacent lounge of this club retain a retro vibe perfect for the "Cocktail Nation" programming that keeps the crowds entertained. For a taste of the original San Francisco nightclub scene, you can't beat it. Indie low-fi and pop bands such as Mustache Harbor and Tainted Love have played here.

The city's best brewery within actual walking distance of downtown resides on a warehouse stretch of SoMa that is better known for Bay Bridge on-ramp traffic than food and drink. The cozy, colorful tasting room is always friendly and full of great fresh, gluten-removed beers on tap. It's hard to pick from the extensive list of brews, but there's a wide variety of styles, from classic lagers and pilsners to uniquely flavored sours and imperial stouts.

Barely seven stools fit in San Francisco’s smallest bar. There are just as many bottled beers (served from a bathtub!) as seats, and be sure to bring some cash since credit cards aren't accepted. It's as bare-bones as it gets, but there's sports on TV, a fun dice game, and most important, a neighborhood camaraderie that is increasingly hard to find.

This neighborhood hangout blends industrial chic and old-world charm. The crowd is less casual than others in the Castro, though no one will judge you for wearing Chuck Taylors. Blackbird serves up a good selection of craft beers, along with seasonal cocktails.

A cozy, casual date spot, Blush! serves wines paired with tapas, charcuterie boards, and grilled cheese sandwiches. Sit at the counter for a nice chat with the friendly bartender, and pick a glass or bottle of bubbly or white, rosé, or red wine from its well-curated collection. This place always buzzes on weekends, so reserve in advance.