50 Best Dive Bars in San Francisco

“Bring on the funny 😁 happy anniversary Lisa good times great atmosphere!!!“

“I quit drinking before the judge ordered me to—how is that for initiative? Since that last call, no bar has captured my attention. Nor have I returned to any of the bars I enjoyed around here. I’m from the east coast—a pub near a rail station which draws a crowd free of pretense is proper nurture. Glen Park Station is welcoming, comfortable, fun, and built for a night done right.

There are non-alcoholic brews for those who abstain, shot-and-a-beer specials for $12.00, wine by the glass, and an indoor smoking lounge. A pinball machine which takes dollar bills. Darts. Superior bar stools. Table seating up front. A rear patio. No Apple Pay.The bar has neighboring businesses which serve food. One can find Vietnamese, Thai, and Mexican fare within a block. The bodega sits across from BART, on the same side of Diamond St. A pizza place is in proximity. This area has a low-key dominance about it. A great spot for socializing, a walkable pocket of the city wherein small businesses sling good eats, and you have the option to get hammered.

Parking is available in the public library lot after 6, 7, 8PM during the week. Street parking on the northbound lane of Bosworth between Arlington & Diamond is free in the evenings. I am not sure when the meters stop accepting payment-I pulled up at 7:30PM on a Monday.

To those behind the wheel—be advised—residential streets intersect as sharp turns become sudden hills. At all hours there are pedestrians, cyclists, and coyotes. SFPD often posts a patrol vehicle on Bosworth (south of the Arlington intersection) to eyeball the I-280 south on-ramp.“

“Really enjoyed the atmosphere here. The vibe is relaxed, welcoming, and perfect for unwinding after a long day. The drinks were excellent, and I loved that there were games available, which made the experience feel more interactive and fun. The crowd was friendly, conversations flowed easily, and the overall energy was laid-back without feeling boring. A great spot to meet up with friends, catch up over drinks, or simply enjoy a relaxed evening out. I'll definitely be back!“

“Always fun place wonderful experience“

“I know where Lucy Borden’s remains are. She was delicious. Barbecue was great, but the menudo was the best!“

“Locals unite. No one can it nicer than Cat Ho, the bar director at Arcana in the standard.

On nights when she’s able to leave Arcana before 11 p.m., Ho pops over to this 33-year-old dive. She says all the items are hits but gives special shoutouts to what the menu calls the “classic schnitzz” ($13), a take on a fried chicken sandwich, and the “bent totzz” ($12), which sees tater tots smothered with bacon, shredded cheddar, lettuce, house sauce, and a mountain of pickled jalapeños. But the draw for Ho is the “din din noodzz” ($8), a plate of spicy yakisoba noodles stir-fried in a peanut sauce and sprinkled with herbs, bell peppers, and seasoned peanuts, to which she adds a piece of fried chicken ($9). “After a long shift or night out, that’s pretty much all I’m craving.”

Say hi if you see me and my tall friend stuffing our faces with schnitzel sandwiches and having a beer.“

“Amazingly weird, a real gem. Strange and wonderful interior with a wildly good beer selection and the owner, Remat, is a genuine “only in SF” character. Go for the decor, stay for the sour beer, and support a neighborhood bar that could never be imitated.“

“Nice neighborhood bar. We used to come to The Bitter End during the weeknights back in the late 90's as my friends lived nearby. It is nice to see they are still busy. It is the type of restaurant/bar where you order at the bar. You fetch your own drinks and if you are eating, tell them which table you are at. The fish & chips $20 come with mushy peas. That is rare in San Francisco as most restaurants don't have mushy peas. The batter was light and the fish was perfectly cooked. My food came out fairly quickly as it was busy.“

“Can’t beat the rustic atmosphere and the bartender was very friendly and informative.“

“Great venue. L, X“

“Good food under the towering Bay Bridge- great views 😍“

“Overall a great spot to chill w/ friends or on your own!! 👍 My BF & I have visited quite a number of times, and we love this place!“

“Not many bars out there make you feel so welcome that even their regulars welcome you with open arms. This is one of those spots! Incredible owners, amazing selection of beers, and fantastic cocktails made with love.“

“Great experience!!! Loved it m/“

“Great bartenders, so welcoming& makes an awesome Old Fashion, makes you feel like a family“

“A San Francisco legacy business; old school lgbt hangout with plenty of TVs to watch Niners and Warriors games. The decor is full of beautiful nostalgia; one of the TVs is dedicated to either Xena or some hilarious b-movie with Bigfoot. Excellent drinks (amazing margaritas and whiskey sours) and top class service. Love this place; A+++ ♥️“

“This was my 1st visit to San Francisco on my birthday! Hidive was welcoming, with great staff, good drinks, and a great bar top food menu! Started the day out there with margaritas, and stopped back in for some wings and a nightcap at the end of the day. It was great!“

“Great bar that has friendly patrons as well as lots of entertainment. You will often find love entertainment on the weekends, and always loads of pinball.

Bar has quite the selection of craft beers, and bar staff are knowledgeable to help find your perfect pint.“

“When you walk into a place and the first accent you hear at the bar is Irish, you know you're in a for a great evening.

Red Jack Saloon is just back from Pier 39, and it's the perfect relief to the cheap, tacky, colourful, overpriced clobber.

Great beer selection, super friendly vibe, and there's even an old school style pinball machine in the corner.

Top class.“

“great place and the prices are even better. The owner is so nice. This is our new go to bar when we come to San Francisco. They rhave happy hour prices all the time. love the drink he made me“

“Great old Skool bar. Bartender rocking on Spotify! good times! good drinks! Good peeps!“

“This was home for me when I was living in San Francisco. Great people operate and tend to this bar and its community, which is hard to come by these days as the city continues to change. Make sure to go to any of their mainstay events, or a concert! My favorite events were Drink & Draw, KO Karaoke, and Cyberpunk Cinema. You should check it out.“

“Bartenders are all nice. Shirley is great she's my friend anyway so maybe biased. They actually have a lot of Chinese karoake songs too. My friend lives close so we go there kinda often. Always have a blast, and go home wasted after a great night haha“

“Way to be different lol“

“best tacos 🌮🇮🇹🐍🦅 in San Francisco 🚩🏟📍49ers 🏈 maybe 🤷 😂24th street 💘“

“My new favorite dive bar in the city. A great blues band was playing the night we went and the atmosphere was fun and full of happiness. Excellent and creative cocktails (the Bee's Knees and the ginger cocktail are very much recommended). Service was exceptional, we'll be definitely coming back! Love this place, A+++

Parking: best to get here via ride share because parking is extremely difficult to find.“

“Tony is the fantastic bartender“

“A must stop when in the area. Nothing fancy, dive bar feel, but always a good time.“

“Kati is an excellent bartender with great skills in talking to people and making drinks. As a former bar owner, I think she is the perfect person for this pub. Don't hesitate to ask Kati what her favorite drink is! It might become your favorite too.“

“Good drinks, great atmosphere, best food!!“

“If I could give Patty and Happy Lounge 10 stars...I would. Met some old friends here on a Friday night before heading to Night Bloom and late night dinner. But after meeting Patty and having a few rounds of beers, drinks and shots with her none of us wanted to leave...EVER! There is something special about a dive bar in the City with cheap drinks, cool vibe, pool table, darts, and a jukebox box playing 80's music...that something special is owner and bartender Patty. Patty is so warm, welcoming, and utterly candid in the most endearing way. She is the most real and adorable bartender I have ever met. She and I were instant friends...she even invited me behind the bar. Which I imagine is much like a cook letting you into her kitchen. I hear Patty used to have a Thai restaurant and still occasionally makes curry for her bar patrons. Did I tell you that Thai food is my absolute favorite food and that Thailand is my fav vacay destination? Happy Lounge is now my fav dive bar. And Patty...she's just my fave!“

“Great watering hole in the TL, especially if you're early for a show at GAMH. If you go between 2-8pm, there is a lovely Korean bartender who will teach you Korean while you drink. Solid jukebox, clean restroom, and entertaining regulars.“

“2 gorgeous lady bartenders who are both sweethearts.“

“Can’t believe this place is still open!Just stopped by cause the outside light was on. Got 2 Anchor Steam beers on draft. Bartender remembers me after all these years. Beers are only $6 each!Great spot as a low key, neighborhood bar.Stop by for a chill time!“

“I had a total blast! Very retro vibe. Amazing people.“

“El Rio is such a classic SF spot. The backyard patio is honestly the best part — super spacious and perfect for dancing or just hanging with friends. The crowd was really inclusive and the energy felt like a big backyard party. Drinks were reasonably priced for SF too. Definitely a great place if you want a fun, lively night out.“

“Very small dive bar in the Tenderloin! So much fun…..say hi to Davy Jones……😉“

“I had such a fun evening here with YuKIko and friends, drinking and enjoying the metal and hardcore tunes. Sincere thanks, especially, to a generous fellow drinker and music lover. Thank you all for making my week in SF that bit more memorable!“

“No frills, no cliques, best cheaper drinks, 3 generations when I was there last.“

“Great bartender, great service, perfect location. Will be back when we're in S.F. 😊“

“(This was originally written about Trax but it was sold and is now Mary's. Every word still applies.)
Ostensibly a gay bar (the last of what were once 4 on Haight St.) it is, in practice, just a nice friendly neighborhood pub. Pool table, TVs, booze, nice humans.“

“By far one of my favorite bars in the area! 🍻“

“If you are not looking for overpriced crafted cocktails and pretending wannabes, but for an honest cold beer after work aswell as down-to-earth-folks, this is your place to go.Fair bartenders, nice karaoke on Friday, always someone to play pool against.“

“Either an FML type dive or a fun place to meet friends for a drink. No in between. A souped up version of Hockey Haven on Balboa.
Excellent drinks, great vodka selection and daily beer specials. A great place to watch the Niners.
Solid service; love this place!“

“Great local bar. Been around since 1930's.“

“Found out my great grand father owned this bar 70 years ago and came in here early this afternoon and I'm so amazed how amazing the staff and customer were to me and telling me stories about the bar was an amazing experience for my 1st time. Ever I love this bar“

“Stopped by for a drink and realized there 49ers were playing in the playoffs. Drink was great, patrons friendly, and there was a nice spread of food for guests. I didn't eat anything, but my companion enjoyed a fully loaded hot dog and a bowl of chili. The bartender was a Rockstar! She manned that bar all by herself.“

“such awesome chill vibe!! jessi the bartender was super sweet and made us feel super welcome, she was holding it down even amidst the masses at puzzle night. also just love the set up of the bar, really good for groups or to find a private space if needed“

“Great local and visitor’s vibe. Family experience as a local guest. Good billiards talent… I’m home from the hospital today, Dovre family.“

“Had a great first visit to Toronado! Charlie was super friendly and took care of my group. I bought some merch that I wore the next day at a conference and got lots of compliments from the locals attending.

Will be back soon!“