Bar Crawl: San Francisco’s Classic Bars
A Beat hangout, an iconic beer bar, an elegant cocktail spot, a late-night favorite, and more places to soak in The City's character.
Welcome to the weekend!
Today we have a new installment in our Bar Crawl series that raises a toast to the classic bars of San Francisco. One of America’s best drinking cities, San Francisco has a storied bar history and whenever we visit, we find ourselves in taverns, dives, and cafes across The City – we stop in at top-tier cocktail bars like Pacific Cocktail Haven, have tropical drinks at Smuggler’s Cove, and grab a glass of wine or two at Verjus. But the places that give SF its character are city staples that have been slinging drinks for decades. Some have evolved over the years, but all are places we can’t wait to revisit. Our list includes a restored 120-year-old saloon with Pimm’s on tap, a friendly dive bar where you can while away a chilly afternoon, and a Beat Generation hangout that offers clever twists on classic cocktails. (For more great places to eat and drink, see our list of favorite San Francisco restaurants.)
And earlier this month, we rolled out our brand-new Field Guide to Indianapolis — just in time for the Indy 500. It’s a robust guide to where we think you should eat and drink in Indy right now, including 30+ vetted picks for coffee, breakfast, lunch, dinner, and drinks. It’s included in a paid subscription, or you can purchase it for $15 on our website.
Before we head out for the weekend, our seafood-focused Weekend Reading list includes Brad Thomas Parsons’s guide to Seattle’s Pike Place Market, Amy Traverso on New England seafood shacks, and Danny Palumbo’s review of a new Detroit-area seafood restaurant.
Thanks for reading!
— Amy Cavanaugh & Kenney Marlatt
Editors, American Weekender
San Francisco Standards
SAN FRANCISCO, CA. — As the white-jacketed bartender at Balboa Cafe slid my Negroni across the wooden bartop, I realized why — more than 100 years on — locals are still making this Marina landmark a neighborhood hotspot. Bars like this one capture something special about San Francisco. It’s elegant without being stuffy. Classic, without being outdated. It has an air of quiet luxury yet maintains a workaday, come-as-you-are vibe. Just like The City itself.
It’s fun to check out new places when you travel, but to really know a city you’ve got to visit the old-school spots. These are the places that tell us about a city’s past while showing what locals still value today. They are places that have stuck around for a reason. San Francisco has countless historic bars that are worth your time, but our eight picks below include places that are known for iconic cocktails, a beer bar that continues to set the city standard, and a couple restaurants and cafes with thriving barrooms.
BREAKFAST COCKTAILS
The Buena Vista
Famous for introducing Irish coffee to America in 1952, the Buena Vista is a pilgrimage site for cocktail lovers — and anyone who wants a good breakfast. Made with local Peerless Coffee, Tullamore D.E.W. Irish Whiskey, C&H Sugar, and heavy cream, the hot Irish coffee offers a bracing start to the day. You should eat too, so order the Dungeness crab omelet, which comes filled with tomato and Swiss. It’s a hearty, easily shareable portion that includes excellent house potatoes and sourdough toast.
What to get: Irish coffee, Dungeness crab omelet
2765 Hyde St, San Francisco, CA | @thebuenavistasf
LUNCH AT THE BAR
Balboa Cafe
Open since 1913, Balboa Cafe in the Marina has seen a Renaissance of late as a younger generation flocks to the restaurant for classic American dishes, espresso martinis, and an appealing patio. While the Balbs happy hour is notably a thing, you’ll find us sneaking in a little early to have lunch at the bar, where we’re ordering Kingston Negronis, PlumpJack chardonnay, and a perfect BLT with a side of fries. The burger, served on a baguette, is a house favorite. The vibe is classic, the service is great, and everyone is happy to be there.
What to get: BLT, Kingston Negroni, wine
3199 Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA | @balboacafesf