Speaking of darkness...our next stop was thoroughly appropriate...Dalva! Talk about dark...it's always been dark in here for years. Anyway, great bar although I was surprised that there was only one bartender to service so many customers. Regardless, I was impressed with his professionalism and how he still took meticulous care in making every single cocktail despite people changing orders midstream (like me) and adding drinks to orders. He was slammed and yet handled it like a true professional. Drinks were really good and I loved the kooky (kookie?) fish theme throughout the bar area. I thought the metal coelocanth above the bar was hilarious. Not sure if most patrons even know what that is. Bar stools were kinda cramped, but the people were nice and even moved over one for us. Fun times! read more

I love sake...I love unfiltered sake even more...I love free unfiltered sake the best. So, I am there with a few folks, sitting at the bar and had requested only some ice water as I had already had some Wyder Pear Cider at Little Star and was worried that this could be another fainting evening. The bartender gives me a glass of water with ice and two green straw stirrers. I am sitting there toying with my stirrers and say to my friend: they are sorta like chopsticks. She says: I will give you $5 if you can pick up an ice cube with the stirrers and bring it to your mouth. I love a challenge. What can I say about my attempts...it's like picking up ice. With two bendy flexible thin straws. She's laughing: Actually, I will give you $10. Me: Can I use both hands? She: Only if both hands are on the straws. But I am determined to do this the right way. I am determined to prove my Korean steel-chopstick using skills. Yeah, you know we Koreans are the baddest of all chopstick users. Determination pays off. And good luck. Thank god the bar has a lip on the counter that I grabbed while laughing my ass off so I wouldn't fall off the stool. She didn't have a $10, but she did get me the unfiltered sake. read more

Great job Tom! The meetup happy hour was great success ( Ali G ) Drinks specials, bartenders and company were all loads of fun. I'm surprised I haven't written any review of this place even though I come here once in awhile. You certainly can't beat the Pee Wee Herman movie playing at the bar. You will have your own DYL in no time with or without making out drunk. =P Har Har. read more

The Mission's got a whole lotta these types of bars: dark, sticky, stale beer stinky, used to be a *real* dive now trendy, old (usually neon) sign havin', cash only, wall art havin' holes-in-the-wall. (Oh, and this one has 2 dollar Sierra Nevada pints on Wednesdays after 9.) read more

Dalva - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Here's what just drives me nuts. Abuse of the common sense law. If I'm at a bar that's not crowded and the bartender is hassling me to hurry up and order my drink so he can tend to the waiting customers he doesn't have... fuck that. If it were crowded, that's one thing. If it's not crowded, get over yourself bartender. I just hate it when they're dicks. Anyway, what I like about Dalva is their top secret back room where they sometimes host poetry slams. During said poetry slam sesh people are bound to be smoking hellza weed so be prepared to get face slammed by a fat cloud of smoke when you walk in. As soon as the smoke settles though, and as long as you can cope with how hot it gets in that little place, the top secret room can be way cool. read more

Smallish bar with three separate areas, all of which have ample seating and space to rest your drinks. Prices are cheap, drinks are strong, faces are friendly. read more

Awesome ambiance and service for a solid cocktail bar in the Mission. Drinks are SF priced, mostly tasty. Recommend La Mala Vida and The Secretariat. Interior is cute and clean and looks recently updated. Worth a visit if not too crowded! read more

Is it a dive bar? Or is it upscale? Is it creepy? Or is it sexy? I dunno but we were fucking mesmerized by the silent movies on the big screen. Beer prices are solid. We stuck to local beers which the bartender knew all about. The dark ambiance was very intriguing. Drinks: 4/5 Service: 4/5 Location: 4/5 read more

Dalva is a good bar, but it's kind of like if they started making chocolate bar wrappers out of cheap gum: I appreciate the attention to detail on the exterior, but I'm probably just going to disregard it and go right for the prize wrapped inside. In this case, that prize is The Hideout. The best thing I have to say about Dalva is that the layout is a nice, expeditious straight line between the entrance to the building and what I actually care about. The Hideout, as anyone reading this no doubt knows, is (one of) THE places to get snooty artisanal cocktails from mustachioed bartenders who on the best days are wonderful gentleman-scholars about the art of getting customers fucked up for money and on the worst days ignore me in favor of staring down the top of every girl who walks by while mainlining shots of whiskey. If you beat the crowd and get a table for you and your friends (especially in the loft area up top), the Hideout is generally a lot of fun as long as you're the type of person who appreciates that they will garnish things with blood orange peel or a splash of rosemary-infused gin. Since I am that person, I think this place is amazing. If you are looking for a place to get some dollar drafts and chill with your bros, you might want to try elsewhere. Also, this place is not "divey" in the most important sense of the word: the price. It's certainly dark and cramped, but you'd best expect to shell out if you want something interesting, so come prepared to spend a little more than you would otherwise. read more

The Hideout, which is located in the back of Dalva, is one of my favorite little dive bars in the city. They've always got amazing music going, it's small, dark (with red lights), intimate and cozy and the cocktails are to DIE for. The cocktails are so fancy, and I love me a fancy cocktail! They are made very strong with dashes of this and bits of that. They're really amazing and I love watching the bartenders making the drinks. Cash only, a bit on the expensive side (about $10 for one cocktail) but definitely a great atmosphere and experience. Love the Hideout! read more

I really don't understand while Dalva gets a bad rap. On a street full of scensterific dive bars, it somehow gets ignored. Well, the hipsters' loss is my gain, cause when I need lowkey, Dalva is where I go. They show movies there at night, and the atmosphere is always mellow. Where as at Dasanova or Delirium you'll be fighting your way to the bar, Dalva has a leisurely stroll. And their drinks? Strong & cheap. And even better at happy hour, when they have $2.75 drafts & sangria. Need an oasis of calm in the mission? Stop by Dalva for a pint. read more

Intended to hang in the garden at Zeitgeist today with my brother, a guy, and a girl. We all met at the Zeit but the bar was packed 5 people back. Not good. I've been dry all weekend...I want a Guinness in the sun! Go out back...forgetaboutit...thought I was big in SF but obviously not THAT big because I don't see one face I know... Switch gears. All six eye's look at me concerned...we're outta here. On to Dalva! I love Dalva. Been going to Dalva for over ten years. We walk into Dalva and the bar is empty and, the friendly bartender (note friendly bartender here!) says he's got crazy specials right at this moment. God Bless that bartender with the Sebastian Bach hair and the friendly smile. All domestic tap beers are $2.75. We'll take two Anchor Summerfests, one Prohibition, and a Ketel One Martini (DK loves her martini's and, you're not much if you're not Dutch!). Never once did we wait for our drinks plus, great music, friendly bartenders, no wait for the WC. If you're sweet on someone and want a cozy nook to kiss on a Sunday afternoon, this is your place. The back room was empty the whole time. I know Dalva can be crowded on weekends and this review is being written after a Sunday afternoon but, in the over ten years I've been going to Dalva, I always have a positive experience. They used to be known for the best jukebox in SF. Other bars have copied the whole cool jukebox thing...that's okay. I know Dalva is one of the first cool dive, "hip" neighborhood bars and people might not think it's so hip anymore but, that's what makes it still one of the great bars. Yeah Dalva! read more

I used to go here quite a bit when I lived in the Mission. I remember they were the only place in town where you could get a mint julep (and drink it while shivering in the fog). I was pleased to see that it was just as cool as I remembered -- perhaps even better. The back/upstairs Hideout is a good cozy spot, but it has no cell reception to speak of. Lots of interesting and tasty beers on tap, as well as a roster of specialty cocktails. The bourbon drink (derby?) was on the small side and kind of minty/pulpy for my taste, but it didn't bother me enough to take off a star. read more

I normally love The Hideout. It's a great spot for good drinks. Except for last night. The Mission is known for our surly bartenders. It's one of the things I've grown to love about my neighborhood. But when the bartender, let's call him Napoleon, is SO intoxicated that he drops and breaks a full bottle of liquor (which I'm sure the owner is happy about), doesn't understand your order, gives you attitude for ordering shots (when he and his buddies were taking round after round of shots) it doesn't entice you back. I'm not sure who he was showing off for - the guy he was training? his friend? but we weren't impressed. read more

Zomg, how have I not reviewed this place yet?? This review is really for The Hideout, which I adore and am going through withdrawals right now. But all that shall be remedied this weekend! My first intro was for a wonderful pahtay put on by the lovely and fabulous MK moons ago. I brought the Boss with me since he lived quite close. Others couldn't make it. That night, I was introduced to their house whiskey cocktails. It was love at first sip. They only open up at seven each night, but it's so totally worth it. The place is small and gets super crowded, so beware of elbow pushing and waiting your turn to order at the bar. But these guys are pros. Every minute wait is worth it in the end. read more

I can't believe I lived a few blocks away for over a year and I never stopped at Dalva. The sign and the glance in aren't terribly flattering, but once you get in the surroundings are surprisingly intimate (note: I came in on Election Night / Day of the Dead, so perhaps the bar gets louder with more of a crowd). The service was awesome. Our bartender was extremely friendly, and offered to talk us through the bar's featured cocktails (and even suggested a couple of his own concoctions if we weren't totally sold). Prices are just north of dive bar, which is awesome given that the drink and service quality is well north of dive. I'd definitely head back to Dalva with friends. read more

Last night was a Nat Sherman kind of night, so of course we went to Dalva. Where else can you go to laugh and cry over bullet manhattans and chain smoke? While the bar itself is nothing special, it has a warm, low lit back room worthy of conspiratorial conversation, make-out sessions and joint rolling shenanigans. I recommend going on a weeknight when the flow is slow and steady. read more

Dalva is a dark, loud little joint situated close to BART and lots of little cheap late night eats. My friend and I were amused by the menu, seeing as it is pieces of paper cut out and pasted on a wall behind the bar. Luckily for us they has Sierra Nevada on tap and we had a throw-back to our college days. The dj was providing some enjoyable music and we lucked out on some seats along the wall. Perfect for people watching and seeing the drinkers wander in off the streets. I also loved the screen on the back wall with black and white pictures showing and the wild coasters with the barmaid on them. read more

Danke, Dalva, for being one of those places where you can meet a date, regardless of where your final destination may be (though, yes, every date I've met here has turned out to be one of those "no sparks" kind of things. C'est dommage, n'est-ce pas?). It's easy to get to, it's non-threatening, the little tables next to the wall are strangely intimate, and the back room simply rocks! Merci, Dalva, for having a wonderfully laid-back set-up. It's pretty damn easy to get to the bar, and - thanks to the attentive barkeeps - it's also pretty damn easy to get your drink(s) quick. I don't think I've ever had a bad experience here, if only you will quietly discount the failed dates that have originated here. Gracias, Dalva, for the music. Yeah, your jukebox reigns supreme, but the last couple of times I've poked my face into your front door, you've had a pretty decent DJ, haven't you? Siouxsie, Depeche, Cure, Joy Division, Bjork, Sex Pistols, Birthday Party, Bauhaus, Peaches? Check, check, check, check, check, check, check, check and CHECK. Bad-ass fucking music goes long in my memory, mate. Although I can't really speak out for the failed or no-spark dates that have originated here, I'm not gonna hold you accountable. Dalva's a bit like an aged velvet glove that's past it's glory days, but still fits like ... uh, a glove ... and is comfortable at that. Great fucking joint. Though next time I go, I'm going by myself. Fuck dates. read more

If anyone actually reads my reviews they will soon realize that I am easily pleased by three things: 1. Mojitos 2. Sangria 3. Burritos Now Dalvas has an excellent happy hour with 1/2 price Sangria AND I can go over to Pancho Villa and bring my burrito back to the bar and eat and drink in Happy Hour merriment with my ladies. 2 out of 3 ain't bad folks. read more

Czech it out. Awesome beers for an impressive $5 price served by a friendly and attentive bartender: http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/763/22173/ Cozy little upstairs area perfect for getting to know your drink and the other person: http://www.urbandaddy.com/sfo/nightlife/8454/The_Hideout_at_Dalva_A_Speakeasy_Inside_a_Mission_Dive_San_Francisco_SFO_Mission_Dolores_Bar Four years after my first review the only thing that has changed is adding two more deserved and overdue stars. read more

A pretty generic Mission bar really. The back room can be nice when you get some friends together, but all in all there's not much that makes this bar stand out from the rest of the alternatives in the area. The drink/beer selection is average, the prices are average, the crowd is average mission hipster types, the bar staff are average, and the jukebox selection sucks. It doesn't help that Kilowatt is across the street either. I can think of no real reason to avoid this place, but why you'd opt to come here instead of Kilowatt or even Cassanova is beyond me. read more

Hell's yeah...this is long running fav bar in the city. -First time I had a Mojito -Small room in the back. If your cool about it you might be able to have a smoke back there. -They play Apocalypse Now, and Steve McQueen movies on a regular basis..or at least when I'm there. -DJ Toph One and the Red Wine Wednesday nights -Ticky Ricky is the best bartender Good Juke read more

One of my favorite hangout spots in the city. They have great drinks and the bartenders are super friendly. My friends and I always get the Celery Gin and Tonic. Dalva makes the best version of this drink that I've ever had. The Hideout is nice, cozy and intimate. It such a great spot! read more

Taking into consideration its 16th St location, I never thought that a bar this accessible would be this decent. Also, with Dalva being a few doors down from the scene-y meat market Delerium (where it seems that former Arrow Bar clientele have taken up residence), I never thought that it would be this unpretentious. Along with Mission Bar, this is one of my favorite Mission dives because of the mixed crowd, cool tunes playing on the jukebox, cheap drinks, and laid back vibe. read more

was there last night and ordered 2 cocktails from the A.hole behind the bar...One drink was great the other one was lame = $20...the hideout is NOTHING special and there are so many better options than this place, not sure why the bartenders had an attitude as it was not busy and they had plenty of time to be friendly and provide good service if only they knew how!!!! F them! read more

This place is awesome! Apke with his awesome parking karma (whether it's finding a place to park a car or his butt, he always finds a spot) landed us a table under the stairs here last Friday and it was the awesome. Had my first Cape Cod here and it was so good that I had to sit down. No, seriously. I couldn't stand after this thing! Things got very mushy and soft focused and I was feeling GOOD. Cool music though I can't remember anything specific. There was something cool being shown on the big screen too but again, the memory fails me. Upstairs was smokey but since I didn't go up there, didn't bother me. Very cool place that I hope to visit again soon. read more

This place is kind of like that friend of a friend who, whenever you meet, you embrace like your brother but after a few minutes of catching up you remember why friend of friend is where your relationship ends. I'm not sure why I find myself here so often. Past 8pm it usually crowded, far too loud and it takes way to f*ng long to get a drink but at the very least the DJ's are usually good selectors. There is a Juke Box with a not so varied but tasteful. Just beyond the bathroom there is a little space out back with an upstairs that can be pretty comfortable depending on whom else you're sharing it with. One word of advice though. If the door to that area is closed and there is an inviting little sign that says free poetry on it...don't go any further it's a trap! I made the mistake of venturing into this forbidden zone only to find out there is no mechanisms to keep the door closed, no door stop, Nada. I stand there without a clue as the music from the main bar (way to loud) is making it impossible to hear. So the lovely brown girl who is apparently in charge comes at me with the wrath of the math, the poor chump who has the rotten luck being in the middle of reading when I make my oh so suave entrance is looking at me like I just slapped his moms and the rest of room is looking at me like WTF?. My question is how the hell am I supposed to know that the payphone to the left is what I'm supposed to use to rig the door. What am I f*n MacGyver. Any way as far as Dalva goes, why not give it shot. If it blows you're already smack dab in the middle of party central, step out on to 16th and pick a direction. read more

Whoa...it's dark in this bar. But I kinda love that about it. Once my eyes adjusted, I realized that this bar is AWESOME. After a quick scan of the draught beers, I had a hankering for Hefeweizen. Back in my college days in the good ol' midwest, I drank A LOT of Hefeweizen. More recently, I visited my bff from college in Minneapolis where I delighted her with my knowledge of Hangar One (they do sell it there, it's just not as easy to find). However, the best times I had there were not bragging about our California fruit infused vodkas but drinking beers at a dive bar on the outskirts of the city. I have a special place in my heart for midwestern dive bars and sippin' on that Hefeweizen at Dalva took me back. Also, it is super cool that they serve the Hefeweizen in such a huge glass. My drinking companion was upset that theirs wasn't so grand. After dinner, we decided to go back to Dalva and since it was a little darker, my eyes didn't need to adjust. Not that I would have minded...just sayin'. read more

I was happy when Bar Night found Dalva, mainly because it's was closer to my house than any of the other bars we went to. Aside from the convenience factor, Dalva is easily the best bar on that terrible 16th St stretch. Easily. Dalva always has good movies playing. There have been times when I have been so engrossed by a movie that I have ignored the people I was with. They have Death and Taxes on tap. There's a "secret" back room where you can smoke, or you used to be able to smoke. There's an even more secret room upstairs from the back room. And I know no one believes me because my credibility for the "truth" is suspect, but the last Wednesday of the month used to be free wine tasting. But the absolute best thing about Dalva is Barry, the bouncer. I'm not sure when he works, but he's the big tall guy. I love seeing that big smiling face. read more

Very chillllll... lots of distractions if that's what you're looking for. Worth stopping in and having a few happy hour drinks if you're on 16th St. Added bonus: mentioned in the 3eb song "Wounded," so if you're a 3eb fan, you have to go there for the effect. read more

The atmosphere has improved noticeably from my previous review - they still tend to keep the lights very low, but it's got more of a cool vibe, with lots of small red lights and subtle inset-grille lights in the walls, which is pretty cool. Still quite minimalist in feel - it's certainly not over decorated by any stretch - and they still usually have a movie projected against the back wall. The beer selection is good, and the bar is usually not too crowded, which is better. But the best part is the Hideout - basically a whole second bar in the back, tiny, intimate, even darker than the front, but with fantastic high-end cocktails on a revolving menu, and a rotating set of bartenders who get to ply their delicious trade to an appropriately attentive audience. Seriously - there are all of 6 seats at the mini-bar, with table/bench seating for maybe 10 more people, plus an additional upstairs space that tends to get too warm & stuffy. The only down side to the Hideout is the volume level - such a small space, with nothing but hard wood surfaces, and as soon as there are more than about 5 people the conversations have to start fighting each other for space. But other than that minor quibble, it's pretty fantastic. Plus, it may be the only place left in the city to get Todd Smith to make you cocktails. :) read more

The ultimate mood place to take that hottie hipster date you just scored at Casanova's on Sunday afternoon. Dark and slick and all candley in the best possible ways.....it just reeks smoove-ability. Seriously, you come here on a chill weekday and its like an extra +1 on your game. For a sure fire home run, practice that long gaze, that rakish grin, those "come hither" seduce me eyes at home first, and let the red candles do the rest. Oh yeah-it's on like donkey kong. oh, they have good drinks too....but c'mon...its all about the smoove.... read more

I don't think I've ever actually had a drink in the bar area. I usually arrive already drunk and I make a beeline straight for the back room. From there, I start to chain smoke and jive talk. I don't know how I end up with drinks in my hand, but it happens. I'm pretty sure the drinks are pricier than other bars in the area, because I always end up a few bills lighter. I'm reading this review and it totally sounds like I get roofied/robbed at Dalvas. But it's not true! This is a cool spot if you're a smoker and don't want to deal with the cold Zeitgeist yard. read more

Last night I decided to drop by this place after the gym... Little did I know it would be the night I had the best drink of my life! Cheesy yes, but seriously true. I went to the bar in the back and asked the bartender (didn't catch his name, but I remember he had a shaved head) for a pimm's cup... Which I've had in various bars and even in Europe... I watched as he made my drink with such precision and love haha, it was like a 10 step process, then I drank it and was pretty much immediately in heaven. As for the rest of bar, I didn't have the food and the place was kind of dark.. a friend had rented out the upstairs area so that was fun... but be careful on those stairs, too many amazing drinks, could lead to something not so awesome. oh and cash only- sucks! it might have only been for the back bar, I'm not sure. They did have a atm machine, but really, transaction fees.. buzz kill! read more

Very relaxed dive bar pretty much defining the Mission. Downer is the creepy clock art on the main wall. Seriously, that thing is script for a possessed demon child's drawing. They also play some random old movie on the screen too, which I guess only adds to the hipster vibe. Drinks here are really weak but they are $9, so they are a bit cheaper than other places in the Mission. There's another bar with fancier cocktails in the back called Hideout. This place is incredibly crowded though so have fun waiting in line. Also, cash only!u read more

Dalva's pretty awesome, but I can't put my finger on why I think that. The room is kind of a shambles, it gets totally crowded, my friend had her purse stolen here once, the bathroom's a dive, and there's pretty frequently sketchy dealings going on right outside or in the back room. Oh, wait; apparently I can put my finger on it. Those are all kind of awesome (aside from the purse-stealing bit) if you're into that scene. Lately I've been ordering the sangria here, which seems odd I know, but is actually tasty and will get you totally hammered. And it'll get you part of your RDA of fruit. That's what I tell my nutritionist anyway. read more

I stopped in last weekend for cocktails with a few friends, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I found myself particularly amused while watching the bartender prepare our drinks. My friend had ordered a drink that required some moderately-involved preparation (don't recall what the drink was, I'm afraid), and I became completely entranced watching it come to life. The bartender's movements were so mesmerizingly precise and deliberate, each movement terminating with a sensual flourish -a whiff of the liquor, or a taste of an ice chip. In fact, the first thing that popped into my head while watching this was that scene from Love Actually where Rowan Atkinson (aka Mr. Bean) is gift-wrapping a necklace. The drink's preparation was similarly over-the-top in the most wonderful and amusing way. If you haven't seen the film, this clip captures the moment. Watch it. No really, I insist. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfNzZre-sIU Oh yeah, my whiskey sour was pretty good, too. read more

we came here on a wednesday night for a friends going away. he told us that he yelped 'dive bar' and dalva is the best that came up and this place is pretty cool. we came in before 7 so they had some drinks on special for $3.75. i originally was just going to get a mojito to sip on but asked the bartender what he made that was good. he said he had some fresh tangelos. he made me a tangelo daiquiri. it was so good. i had 2! they have a little back room, a juke box with about 2 songs that i know, and stairs that lead to i dont know where. the walls have grates on them. weird. but ok the drink was good! read more

Dalva - tangelos limes lemons - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Stumbled upon this place a few weeks ago while in town visiting, and was pretty glad. Me and the bf were looking for a low-key bar to just chill at after walking up and down hills all day long, and this met our criteria just fine. Cheap beer? Check. Good music? Check. Bartender making us shots from a random recipe my bf's friend texted him and not being annoyed by this? Check. We had a good time hanging out here, and if I ever found myself in SF again, I would definitely come back. read more