Great vibe, great service, great great bartenders i.e. Karlee, great two for ones happy hour every day. Now that is something great! Great! read more

$5 beers AND a token for a free draft beer if you come during happy hour and purchase a beer?!? Too good to be true! We came here to watch the Niners vs Packers playoff game, and this place was packed! However, the bartenders did an incredible job of making sure everyone's glasses were full; I don't think I ever waited more than a minute to order and receive my next drink. The crowd here is very fun, and it never got too overwhelmingly packed. A plus is that if you're a girl, there wasn't a wait for a restroom even though there is just one women's restroom. I know that seems ridiculous, but when you're used to waiting in long lines, and you've broken that seal after one too many beers, it's something you can really appreciate! This place is also conveniently located next to a lot of good food, so after you have a good buzz on, you can just walk a few steps and be on your way to some delicious drunk food. read more

I reallllly like this bar! It has a great vibe and it's a great place to watch sports. It was really crowded during the Warrior's playoffs (but what sports bar wasn't?). I also came when it was a little low key and they have nice barstools and tables. The bartenders are really friendly. It has a nice casual vibe but sometimes, you may encounter a random weirdo who walks in with a suit. Another cool thing they do is something with tokens. I actually haven't quite figured out what it is but basically, after a night at Columbus Cafe, I end up with some tokens in my purse. I think it leads to another drink? I have to keep going to explore this. Golden Boy Pizza is right next door. You can order your pizza (cash only), then walk back over and enjoy your IPA. I highly recommend this as a great place with da homiezzz! :) read more

Great, great, great Happy Hour spot! 2 for 1...Come on...doesn't get much better than that! And it's not on just cheap beer, they have some great drafts to choose from. Although it can be dangerous and at some point you might say, "No, no I just want one!" but when that point happens you won't even remember what is going on. 4 stars because the ambiance isn't the best, but I mean it's a sports bar, what do you expect! Don't go there if you are looking for valet and a coat check... You will not be received well. I would definitely recommend this place for an excellent happy hour experience and the best part....RIGHT NEXT TO GOLDEN BOY! Hellooo...enough said. read more

Stopped in on Tuesday December 27th, 2011 around 6:30 while waiting for a friend. They're daily happy hour - except for the North Beach Festival runs from 4 to 8 PM with 2 for 1 draft beers which runs $5 with taxes included! Otherwise Fernet shots were $3! Screaming deal for SF. Becca, the bartender, who was Johnny on the Spot was wearing an interesting helmet and was always quick to offer a drink. When entering they had the Celtics vs Heat on the TV's, however, they were playing club music on the jukebox which was making some patrons leave as it was only Tuesday at 7 PM. Becca, did offer a few dollars to one of the patrons to put into the juke box to fix the music selection. Otherwise, one of the patrons - who must have had too much to drink - young, blonde gal was throwing up outside at 7 PM and had everyone laughing - only in North Beach does this occur i suppose. Location is amazing as it's right next to Golden Boy Pizza, which has some of the best pizza in town. read more

Spend some time in this par this past fleet week... I was very surprised at the fun had by all here. The bouncers were cool in--fact i'm almost sure i got one of them laid. All n all i was too drunk to go into details on this but trust its a great recipe for a random Saturday night in the city!!! read more

The staff here is amazing, which makes this place a favorite! They obviously make great drinks, but they're also incredibly friendly and attentive, which makes all the difference in a bar experience - especially with so many bars to choose from in North Beach. I recently forgot my wallet here late at night, and the staff held onto it and returned it to me the next day. I mentioned the experience to a colleague, who had the same thing happen to her at Columbus Cafe and also got her wallet back - that says something about the kind of people who work there (as well as how much fun it is, because people are constantly having such a great time that they lose their wallets). read more

One of my fave dives in the city! Love the place because, though heavy with tourists or, worse, Marina douches/douchettes much of the time, there is still a corner of the bar for chill locals. The bartenders are always cool and remember their regulars. I love the reviews regarding the jukebox overrides. Anyone who has worked in a bar knows the torture of listening to the inane crap that people pick (and also knows that many bars have an override option because, believe it or not, there is always some "tool" who wants to listen to the same Creed song over and over again. Creed should be blotted from the earth. We all want to "take you higher"...so that the fall from the cliff will be that much longer). Save your money (and the unnecessary angst of having "Sweet Home Alabama" shut off after 10 seconds) and just enjoy what is already playing. All those dollars you spend on songs can go toward getting a slice of pizza at Goldenboy next door. Isn't that what you'd really like during a night of drinking anyway? (Minus a star for the Marina douches. It's not the bar's fault, but the place is often rife with bros from the Marina or techies fresh off of conferences. Unless you're into bros and techies of course...Then, ENJOY!) read more

OK boys and girls of the drinking age. let me begin by saying "happy times happy times at this spot on Saturday nights" so if you like juke boxes, well they got one. Now if you like pool,don't fret. if you ,Like myself and many other geniuses prefer your drinks strong but done with taste then they not only have it covered but they will even provide you with live entertainment that is very easy on the eyes if you go to the back and follow the steps behind the blue door......... The night to go is Saturday night .why,because for free the dudes downstairs get their international and local DJ bad asses friends in for a live DJ sets served while you socialize in a non pretentious setting. look for good looking crowd no further because they are all there. boys and girls i believe i found my new favorite hang out spot in town. now also when i went down to the DJ lounge underneath the bar i told the bar tender i am a yelper and he let me in on a little secret: if you say yelp 3 times you get $2 fer nett shots all night. so imagine my face when i kept yelping for about two minutes and sure enough i don't really remember how i got home and how this beautiful i was having breakfast with even got to meet me. but in conclusion don't think it's paradise that's OK because i do read more

I usually stop here when I go next door for food. The bartenders play punk music. 10/10 would just go here to drink and listen to tunes

2 for 1 beers, seven days a week from 4-8! It sounds like I'm a spokesman, but it blows by mind. It may be me, but I can't understand why anyone would give this anything less than a five. BOGO beer is amazing--cherish it. It's a "dive," sure, but for SF only. Most places in the world this place would be considered a normal bar with no pejorative attached. Four years in and this city still confounds me at times. It's a bar, you're there to drink. If you require more amenities, pay for it. Can't discount a place because you get more than what you pay for. And, "tip on the chip." I was there today and saw a few douches fail to tip on their "free" beer. If anything, be extra-generous--you just saved five dollars. read more

Yesterday my boyfriend and my Italian friend head to North Beach after watching the SF Giro for a beer. We've been here before and we always have fun and heck, the 2 for 1 happy (4) hour(s) is something you can't really pass up. We sat down in the window at the end of the bar where a pleasant young lady asked us what we'd like. We order our beers and relax. We're feeling the "lazy last day of holiday weekend" set in on a beautiful, sunny SF day. All of a sudden in my haze of sunshine and beer, I see the bartender, Kelley, with the soda gun aimed at someone saying "I will spray you if you don't get out of here right now!". What? ^^ What the heck is going on? I look and there is this old lady (not too old, don't get all crazy! She was like that old leather-worn from smoking and drinking too much type. Not the cute grandma type). The old lady tried to take a swing at Kelley with her bag but she was most likely too drunk to follow through. Kelley starts spraying the lady in the face like one of those carnival games where you spray in the mouth of the clown. A guy comes over and pushes the lady straight out the door and they leave her dripping and wide-eyed on the sidewalk. WHAT THE F*** JUST HAPPENED??? OMG! THAT JUST HAPPENED??!!! "She comes in here all the time, she's mean and she always bails on her tabs!", says Kelley. Now that I have my jaw off the floor I start dying laughing!! This was SERIOUSLY the funniest most random but absolutely HILARIOUS thing that has happened to me in YEARS! So, here's your break down.. 1 star for 2 for 1 beers (26 beers on tap but only 25 of them qualify for 2 for 1!). 1 star for good atmosphere and the ability to being in outside food since they don't serve any 1 star for great location - right next to Golden Boy!! YAY! 1 star for the best bartender EVER 1 star for making me laugh the hardest I have in FOREVER! I will be back. I will most definitely be back. Every time I go to North Beach. It's my new religion. read more

I stumbled into this bar on a weekend b-day getaway with my best friend. We were drunk and lost walking around North Beach and just so happened to see the Tamale dude we met the night before at Vesuvio, the bar next to City Lights book store. Anyway, we decide to go in, because, hey if you can find that guy, his cheese and chili tamales are f**king amazing, even if you find them in your purse the next morning and eat them for breakfast, which I did. Anyway I got an awesome shirt there with a naked mermaid on it serving beer, like a true turist. And also, the lovely bartenders served us many, many creative shots. We ended up having a dance of with a swedish guy and then walked home happy with many new friends, and tamales. I will surely visit this bar every time I am in San Fran. read more

A cool bar in North Beach! Went here for a friends birthday, good amount of bar stools and tables for seating, cool movies on the TV's, bartenders are nice, not a bad place to be! We asked the bar tender to make us all a shot and she whipped up an electric blue sort of drink that was smooth going down! Great happy hour specials which is always a plus in my book, and the window by the door makes it easy to people watch and chat with the people outside smoking (if you have friends that smoke!) Seems to bring back regulars and I can see why! Cheers! read more

2008 started off with two very pricey beers at Columbus Cafe. $13 for two beers!? $6.50 per beer? $0.54 per Ounce? Damn, thats some expensive beer. Thats like London prices. Man, you fools in North Beach must be ballers to not be fazed by prices like that. --- UPDATE a couple hours later --- I just got a message from one of the owners informing me that only the Chimay is that expensive. I think they need a bright, blinking warning sign on the Chimay that says: "I'm SUPER pricey! Only for North Beach Ballers!" I'm bumping them to 4 stars in anticipation of that sign, and because they seemed like a reasonably cool bar with a cool basement lounge. read more

Thank you Rich you are an awesome bartender that saved my cell phone. Being out of town I was using my phone for gps... Rich saved the day with his excellent beer pouring technique, great personality and plethora of phone chargers.... ps the pizza 3 doors down makes a great accompaniment to the beer Great local spot with good happy hour. read more

This is a fantastic local bar. It's made better by the amazing service of our go-to bar staff like Karlee. This chick is the most friendly person you've ever met! She's super helpful and welcoming. Come here if you want to feel like a local. read more

My first visit here a few years ago, I really thought I was being taken to regular café, and was pleasantly surprised to find a dark, low-key, chill watering hole - complete with a couple of TV's, jukebox, and pool table. Cool, friendly bartenders. They also have a great happy hour - buy a beer, and get a poker chip good for a free beer - but ya gotta use your chips by 9:00pm, so chug-a-lug. (I'm always finding random poker chips that the old man didn't use, in my purse). And, I just love their t-shirts and hoodies - adorned with a sexy pinup mermaid holdin' a cold one. And, I love the photo booth... I got some good blackmail pics of the old man as a sexy blond! We always end up making a stop here whenever we're in town. A café, it is NOT - A great little dive bar, it IS! read more

Ok, this place is a great place to come to if you're a little short on dough. 2 vodka tonics for $11. Whaaaaaaaaat?! Drinks are super cheap compared to other bars, but that's what makes this place great. And in my previous review of meeting fun/crazy people and the unexpected, I met a very forward lady in the restroom. She taught me how to work my pectoral muscles and made me feel her left and right ones as she showed me the difference in the working of those muscles. Very interesting. You get a diverse crowd here though. The front doorman was also very nice and offered to take our picture outside with the Columbus Cafe stand. Thanks! read more

Ummmm...ok, so the name is a little weird: it's not on Columbus...and it's not a cafe. What is it? Only one of the best bars in the city! I love this place. Just divey enough not be a lounge. Just clean enough not to be a dive. The happy hour is awesome...oh the love of the poker chip and the free beer it represents. Great beers on tap, by the way. Bartenders? Friendly and fast...no better combination. And to top it all off, I came back after dinner for another beer, it was PACKED, and some guy let us have his stools. Really? Who does that? In North Beach? Nice. Very nice. Meet you there for happy hour? That little stretch of Green St is adorable... read more

Why you should come here: 1) 2-for-1 beers on weekday happy hours 2) Football on plasma screens 3) Great beer on tap (I for one would do terrible things for a Rogue Ale Honey Brown Nectar) 4) Golden Boy pizza next door, mmmmmm read more

I really like this bar. The have lots of good beers on tap, as well as a pretty decent liquor selection. Prices are pretty good considering the location as well. The bartenders are friendly and pretty quick with the service even when it is packed. On the weekends this place is cracking. However I did stop through with some friends for a couple beers on a weeknight once and I have to say that it was pretty dead. When raging it in North Beach I do usually try to stop through here for at least a beer though. read more

Mary is a badass bartender who slings drinks straight and doesn't put up with bs from day drinkers who roll in doing the Bernie. 5/5 will do happy hour here more often!!! read more

I love the tattooed bartender with the bleached hair! She is so cute and friendly. Definitely the perfect bartender. The place is alright. Fun to drop by during a night in the city. Busy even on a Tuesday. :) read more

God I love this place. The bartenders are awesome, Paul the owner is great. I got to know them all over the years and they're flippin awesome. $4 Fernet shots, 20+ beers on tab, and a pool table...I almost lived there for my first year in North Beach. Hell, I still live there. Do yourself a favor and go!! read more

This is THE best frikin' dive bar in North Beach - it does get CRAZY here when they have specials but being within walking distance when I lived in 94133, I could drop in often. I actually used to see people light up a smoke INSIDE the bar and no one even blinked. Don't know if they allow that anymore but imo it added sort of a cool factor to the place being SF is so pissy about smoking unless it's pot. read more

Great happy hour spot, 2 for 1 drinks. Rolled in here because it looked like a cool spot, and I was pretty happy with the decision. There was a very lively happy hour crowd on a Friday evening. They played good music and had a few games on TV. Not too much to hate here. read more

Kona porter: THREE DOLLARS! You can't beat that. Bartenders were great. The place was crowded, but not too crowded. Got to play first game of pool in over a year. Only bothersome thing was I was approached twice by some people trying to sell charity stuff. The first guy was like, donate $10 and then you get some beer for $2. Hmm, that still means I'm paying $12 for a beer. I don't even know what charity you are talking about. Approached later by someone selling raffle tickets. As it was later, and I had a couple more drinks, I bought one. Still didn't know what the charity was. And I never heard the raffle drawing results. Anywho, good time was had by all. read more

Classic dive bar. You buy one beer, get a token for a free beer later on when you make another purchase during happy hour. Gotta love it. Great place to meet old friends and to make new ones, unpretentious and totally chill. Come in a t and jeans and sandals...grab a beer, take a sip, and relax. You've arrived at the right place. read more

Great place to hang out with friends! Back seats are comfortable and you get drink chips (vegas type chips) for a free drink. Bar tender is very chill!! Great dive bar!! read more

Columbus Cafe - Comfortable seats and good drinks!!! :) Great place to chill and hang out!! - best part... You get drink chips (tokens)! - Dive Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

One of the top 5 happy hour spots in the city! 2 for 1 is obviously beyond fair. The bartenders are always cool, the crowd is chill. I don't know how many times I have gone here, but I know how many times I have left sober. Notaone! Do me a favor- go to this bar for happy hour, take advantage of all the delicious beers they have on tap, 2 for 1 of coarse, strike up a conversation with some of the regulars and the bartender, and if you still don't have a good time. Go home and watch The Real House Wives of Orange County with your 9 cats and Costco size Bon Bons, cause you don't deserve to take up space in a bar anyway. They lost one star because parking is nearly impossible. Take a cab, your gonna need it when you leave anyway. read more

2 for 1 beers every night. Nuff said. Gotta love the fact that the backpack I carry to work every day now has a pocket full of chips just in case we stop at the Cafe after leaving the office (which we do way too often) read more

Best Happy Hour in town. 2 for 1 drafts 4-9 EVERYDAY! Great place for Sunday Fundays. Had one of the strongest Bloody Mary's known to man. Thanks Yoel! read more

Go. One of the best dive bars because of the 2-4-1 beers and the people. We went in for a beer and ended up staying all night. Has a pool table in the back and a $5 photo booth. Great music played and a decent amount of beer selections. North beach is a nice place to walk and see the town. read more

I'm not a big fan of bars, but this is one of the joints for a good drink with a friendly bartender while shooting some pool. Service is good for recommending drinks especially to the ladies. Happy hour deals with 2 beers for $5 make it worth visiting. It's in the heart of North Beach and close to all the major bus lines in case you need to get to and from the place. Parking is tough on the street. read more

Columbus Cafe is my new favorite place to drink beers in North Beach. Clean "dive" bar, good jukebox, friendly bartenders and 2 of my favorite beers on tap - Franziskaner and Hoegaarden! Plus 2 for 1 beers during happy hour! read more

This was the first bar I visited after moving up to San Francisco. I'd been no stranger of this place, had frequented it a couple times visiting. My dad even told me he used to come here all the time in the '70s and '80s for happy hour. But this time was special, since I was now a resident, and coming from Irvine (the land with no soul) it was the most rewarding feeling to see people out laughing, drinking, eating pizza, loitering on the street, and know this was home. Great happy hour spot, 2-for-1 beers on tap until 8pm. They let you cash-in your saved chips for drinks until 9pm, or you can take your chips with you and save them for another happy hour. (Chips are customized Columbus Cafe, so I wouldn't recommend trying to use generic poker chips for a free drink.) Crowd is mixed, pretty chill, not your standard tourist NB or barely legal Saturday night Kel's bar binge drinking, frat boy crowd. Besides happy hour, I prefer coming here on a lazy Sunday to watch a game. But, I admit, there are those times that I find myself lingering here after happy hour on a Friday night and singing to Bon Jovi on the jukebox. Good thing there's Golden Boy next door to lure me away when Journey starts to play. read more

I loved this place. I loved the atmosphere, the bartender was really cool, they had plenty of beer to choose from on tap, there are plenty of televisions to watch, and it is roomy so you do not feel cramped. Definitely a great neighborhood bar. The Wizard says; check it out. read more

Columbus Cafe is one of my favorite no-frills bars in North Beach. It doesn't have an overly cheesy theme or gimmick, there isn't a cover during special days like a lot of their neighbors (St. Patrick's Day), the drinks aren't obscenely expensive, and the bartenders actually give a damn and pay attention to your order and fill it quickly. I love starting my night and ending my night here, because it's conveniently in the middle of North Beach, and just a few doors down from Golden Boy Pizza. I was most recently here on St. Patrick's day when my friends and I didn't exactly want to pay a silly cover charge to go into a crowded bar or corral in the streets. We had no problem getting in and no problem getting drinks. I've also been her countless times before on the weekend, before dates at local restaurants or shows at Beach Blanket Babylon or... the Hustler Club. It's not the biggest bar, nor is it the best bar, but it's definitely a great bar that I frequent almost every time I come to the neighborhood. read more

Fun easy bar in NB... yes, it gets PACKED but with cheap drinks and yummy chips who cares. Great spot downstairs for a private party... will be back! read more