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

Dalva is kind of under the radar. It's easy to miss if you aren't paying attention and the sign out front is unassuming and not much of a representation of what is nicely tucked inside. Dalva is a great place to grab a well-made artisan cocktail with some great dance tunes. The bar feels a bit crowded in the front and definitely has a younger feel in the front, but make sure to make the walk back to the back room/bar where it is a bit more intimate and the bar tenders tend to have a bit more focus on the customers. The service is awesome and my old-fashioned was perfectly made with a well balanced bourbon and the most important part, a GIANT ICE CUBE, that won't melt fast to water down the drink. Dalva is a solid drink spot - I'll be sure to be back. read more

Dr. G and I have many things in common: an antipathy toward holidays, a disdain for seasonal revelry, and a love of bars: the divier, the better. This is how I know that Dalva is open on Thanksgiving. You guessed it, we ended up there. Dalva would be a worthy drinking hole even if options were not limited. It's hipster without trying too hard; divey without being depressing; and the drinks are served up by a friendly, extremely competent bartender. I started off with the hot toddy "du jour", a fresh-raspberry take on the lemon-brandy concoction, due to a persistent chesty cough I can't quite kick (Dr. G assures me it is not T.B.). It was nice, although it was less hot toddy than hot jello (evoking not-so-fond memories of high school parties, but let's not digress). After a well-priced beer or two, Dr. G had an extra dirty Grey Goose vodka martini on the rocks, served in a remarkably sturdy tumbler with heaps of ice and some skewered pickled olives. Heaven in a glass. Or at least a lot of vodka in a glass. In keeping with the brandy theme, I had a v respectable sidecar. Then, too hammered to care about thematic consistency, I switched to wine (for those of you keeping track at home, this is where the night went wrong). Don't get me wrong: the pours were respectable, and the tastes were complimentary. But sweet baby Jesus, was this wine awful. Each and every red they served was ghastly. But you know, when the service is this sweet, and a bar is willing to open its doors and embrace you at 7 pm on Thanksgiving, and the D.J. obviously cut his turkey dinner short to come spin very cool old-school hip hop for us, I can't complain. I really can't. Happy holidays. read more

Dalva and places similar to this is the biggest reason why I "love" San Francisco. I passed from Dalva's street probably 100+ times and have not realized this hidden gem until a few weeks ago. It's great for a first date and trying out cocktails in the hideout. It's generally not that crowded and noisy so if you are looking for a place that you can actually "talk" to the people, Dalva is probably your best bet around Mission. read more

One of my favorite Mission bars that hasn't has been taken over by the new migration of hipster implants from who-knows-where. Low-key, dark, good selection of beer and spirits, and good bartenders make it a great place to hang with your friends. I usually feel a little overdressed in this typically jeans, t-shirt, and mustache crowd but I don't care if they don't. No judgements. The Hideout, Dalva's back bar, is where you'll find me more often sipping Bourbon and Whiskey with friends and strangers alike. Its got a great selection of higher end and rare spirits. The cocktails there look and sound amazing yet I've only had a few sips as I'm a "straight up" kinda guy. Be prepared to do a little standing there if you're not lucky enough to grab one of only 4 tables. There is also an upstairs room that is used for parties and for those who just want to get away from the crowds. read more

Came with here with a childhood friend. The beer was good (some ultra micro brews). They were playing Sin City on the projector. They only take cash, so load up first. Otherwise, there is a bank machine outside. Good after work place. Thanks read more

Went here last week. Would've written a review a lot sooner but I totally forgot i went. Which is a good thing. It's all a blur. But I do remember actually being able to just chill and let the music absorb into your buzzed out body. It was a little too loud in there to talk... that's probably the only downside to this place. I didn't use the bathrooms, so I don' t know what they're like. Unfortunately, they only take cash which really sucks, but they have an ATM. That $2 charge hurts though. UPGRADE TO PLASTIC PLEASE. You know, I just really like bars that aren't flooded, I mean FLOODED with people. I could actually move here. The drinks were pretty good too... it's been a while since I've had a bubbly tom collins ;) read more

Stopped in last night while on our "bar crawl" in the Mission and was pleasantly surprised. While its kinda a small bar, they have a great selection of beverages. Good variety of local beers and other beer-like beverages and a full bar. I also appreciated the not totally disgusting bathroom that actually didn't have much of a smell. Hey sometimes bar bathrooms are some sort of evil hell hole you never hope to go in again and others aren't so bad. This one was not too bad :) Definitely think that if we are in the neighborhood again we will be stopping by read more

Dalva seems like your typical dive bar, dark & dingy. Perfect place to discuss some very shady things over a great beer. The beer selection is diverse & caused me to have some decision anxiety (I know, rough problem to have right?) The kicker though... there's another bar within the bar... my mind is BLOWN! Hidden in the back is the Hideout. Small, very dark, very intimate. The red back lit bar gives you just enough light to barely make out the amazing beer & cocktail selection. In short come here if: you love beer, you & your sig fig love beer, or if you're involved in some shady business and need a place to have your office hours. read more

Dalva is one of my favorite bars in the Mission.The best part about Dalva is that it's two bars in one. The Hideout is the bar within Dalva. They serve the most amazing cocktails I've ever had in my life. Other Mission bars might be more trendy like Trick Dog and ABV, and they do have awesome cocktails. However, my local recommendation is definitely The Hideout. The front bar (Dalva proper) takes credit cards but The Hideout only takes cash. There is an ATM by the bathrooms if you need one. You can go straight back to The Hideout and ask for a menu and choose your new favorite cocktail (I have faith you will be returning, lol). Their menu consistently changes but they will always make old menu drinks if you fell in love. My favorite drink ever is the Grapefruit Soda, which ironically has zero grapefruit in it besides the garnish, but tastes like the freshest grapefruit you've had in your life (with a touch of vodka, of course). It is SO GOOD. Watch out though, like all of their drinks they are pretty strong. Ambiance: perfect for a first date or a GNO. The lighting is dim but not dark and it's not too loud at all so you can have a nice conversation. It's 50/50 on getting a table. High turnover but low amount of seating. All of the bartenders are brilliant and very nice and prompt. This is a great spot to go before or after dinner at one of the delicious spots around the area like Monk's Kettle or Lers Ros. read more

I love that Dalva is cool and low key. I stumbled upon this place on a Saturday afternoon while waiting for a premiere at the next door Roxie theater. Grabbed a beer and never looked back. Ended up staying for hours, chatting with a friend and watching Salem's Lot (Stephen King). Apparently, they have a projector that they use to show old scifi and horror films. Hideout (a bar inside the bar located in the back room) is also nice. And though I can't vouch for the bartender's recommended craft cocktails, I can say that the ambiance is pretty great. It's quite dim and sketchy-looking from a distance, but it makes for a cozy and intimate venue. Cons: Place is very cramped and CASH ONLY read more

A great bar. An early SF favorite (along with the now-departed, but still mourned, Dr. Bombay's) (I was a huge Bewitched fan, and the best compliment I ever got was when someone told me I kind of looked like Samantha, but she was a close friend, and sort of drunk, so it didn't count, and I know that). Dr. Bombay's was the laid-back spot, and Dalva's is what we thought was cool and hip, and I still think it is. Update 5/30/07: so in my day (not so long ago), there were white votive candles stretching down the bar. Today, they were red. Yet . . . what's not to like about a bar with fresh-squeezed juices. Grapefruit is one of my mixer juices, and a bar that does fresh squeezed remains a bar for me. Add to that my continued affection for Dalva. It's great. Would be super great with white votives (and not those red things), but hey. Super great is a rare thing. read more

Dalva is a really wonderful bar. The bartenders are so friendly (especially Breezy - hi Breezy!), they have a great selection of beers, and the basic cocktails are prepared stiff and proper. I love going on Sunday nights when KJ Paul is hosting karaoke. The whole place gets packed around 11pm, so be sure to get there by 9 or 10 for a table! The crowd rocks along with the singers, so it's a whole bar experience. For a real treat, head to the back and check out the fancy cocktails at The Hideout. My favorite bartender David knows his way around a shaker and serves up some of the most delicious cocktails I've ever tasted. He even made me love gin! What a feat :) So Dalva. And Sunday karaoke with @KJPaul. And The Hideout. Go get some. read more

"Ohhhh, Girl, he is Grade-A Prime Rib..." Where else would you find a homeless transvestite on the street hitting on my date??? Yes, it's just another episode of fun in the Mission District!!! =) As for the bar, it's got alcohol, a movie playing on the wall and candles -- I've got no complaints. This place is great! read more

You all have done this unless you live in the immediate area and even then only if you live like within 2 -3 blocks. You go to Delerium, Amnesia, Casanova or Doc's Clocks. Then every time you go through the Mission, each bar you see, you're thinking "Oh, yeah, just another Dive Bar." Then you pretty much assume everything is the same bar, different name or at least I did this for Skylark before realizing I was right. Dalva, however I find to be quite a decent place. For one, it isn't a dive. Yeah it has dive prices but the bar actually looks pretty nice and the seating isn't bad. The low lights make it a decent bar for a date or even a good place to meet with a group of friends. The beers are good too. The one that stands out the most is that they have Hennepin from the Ommegang Brewery (which specializes in Belgain style beers) for like $4. I'd probably be able to remember a lot more if I wouldn't have had those shots of Jameson. One star off because transporting a round of drinks from the bar to the back area can be a nightmare on a crowded night but otherwise I'm definitely coming back. read more

As the first bar I went to in San Francisco, Dalva will always hold a special place in my heart. My friend took me here and led me to the back of the bar. At first I wasn't sure what that area was: Cellar? Cave? Lost catacomb of San Francisco? Built over crevasse, a remnant of the 1906 Quake? Whatever that area was, it was dark, quiet and a nice place to have a couple drinks and chat. My friend advised me that Dalva has a nice selection of beers, though admittedly I'm the rum and coke type. It's a simple cocktail, but the drink I had was like a hard Roy Rogers: definite cola taste with a splash of sweet grenadine, and a rum kick. It was casual and didn't pass the razzle-dazzle-flair buck onto the customers, which is always nice. read more

Holy crap this place is a classic hole in the wall dive bar. This place does get packed and busy. I met up with a friend of mine here and I had a dark lager that drank deceptively smooth which knocked me on my ass. Of course they have other poisons at your disposal. If I lived in the City, I'd be a regular here. read more

It's very un-missioney. And I liked it. Bartenders move quickly, always a plus. $5 GnT also a plus. They play 80's music. And when they aren't playing 80's music, they play something I call "Music That Doesn't Suck." Gripe: Cash only Highlight: D&T on tap, the vibe, the music. read more

Dalva is great when it's laid-back. The backroom is a great place to get together with friends, esp. if those friends smoke. The drinks are yummy. The music is great. I don't like it so much when it gets super crowded on the weekends though. It has the problem that all narrow long bars have, you end up having to push your way through. read more

Dalva is a nice little mellow respite from the other 16th and Mission bars. Yeah it's a bit divey, but not in a "hey look how divey we are!" kind of way. It's just a small little place, really low-lit with loud music and random movies projected on the back wall. I've only been here on weeknights so it's always SUPER mellow, so I can't really say how it gets on weekends. But from my experience the bartenders are cool and the drinks are just fine. Apparently there is also a back room for smoking, which I've never been into. read more

Dalva, I'm pretty sure you're one of my favorite bars on the block. Right when I walked in there was a couple making out at the bar. What a welcoming entrance! The good thing was that they left enough wiggle room for me to order a drink from the nice bartenders. The place is nice and intimate, almost like a cave of wonders type of lighting. The red candles spread throughout was a nice touch. There's also a screen up above playing obscure cinema for your conversation starting pleasure. Like, "What the...? Are they crucifying that guy? Oh no, it was some dude's crazy dream. Oh shit, no it's not a dream! What the fuck am I watching?" You know, that kind of stuff. A little visual stimulation along with drinks is always a good time. Also, they have a great beer selection. Any place that has Death and Taxes on tap is fine with me. In the back there's The Hideout. At first we thought it was some sort of exclusive place and thought, "Whoa, a bar within a bar!" That is awesome. They have more of a liquor selection for your refined tastes, also it's a great spot to just hang out with your group of friends without having to move for a crowd of people every second, but that usually happens on the weekend. This place is always a first stop on the Mission block when it comes to barhopping. Easily accessible by Muni and Bart and just a hop, skip, and a jump away from the other bars in the area. Or maybe you just want to unwind with a nice, cold drink after seeing a movie at the Roxie. Either way, good times are waiting to be had! read more

A must stop spot along 16th street, especially on the weekends. Awesome beer selection. I probably get a little too excited when I see something on tap that I have yet to try, total excitement overload here. Had the bartender reco Abita Amber and Moose Drool. I felt like the guy knew me. Loved them both. They still have a couple other selections I would like to put back so I'll certainly return. The front/main room is where it's at. Nice crowd but not packed. It did get a little congested in the back past the bathroom but not terrible. I was also upstairs in the Hideout. Way too hot up here. I had to make frequent trips downstairs, not just to grab a beer but to cool off. I think the Lasko fan in the window was the same one I had in college. This needs improvement. Read some complaints about the bathroom here. It is definitely not aesthetically pleasing but the toilet flushes, the water runs and there were no foul odors. Not bad enough to ruin a night so deal with it and have a good time. read more

Came here on a Monday night. If you're a fan of whisky, ask for the Derby. Schmwowwww read more

A kick of a bar. Every bar in SF has its gimmicks -- this bar's got two. First, aside from the standard bar setup, with tables in the back and a smattering of two-seaters along the side (kinda like Brass Tacks) they have an extra "cocktail" bar in the back. It's smaller, more crowded, and exciting -- sorta like a western speakeasy. A few nice drinks there, and a real choice selection of beers. We walked in as the crowd broke out in a "Happy Birthday" serenade for... who knows? But get her a drink. Second, there are campy scifi movies playing overhead in the back of the main section. Perhaps campy is not quite the word. More like train wrecks without trains. Makes for an interesting talking point, should it come to that :D but it justifies the dark setting. So -- great for a drink of twos or fours. Might be hard of hearing beyond that. Cocktails in the back were 12 a piece, and the craft beers were around 8. read more

Drinks are cheap! Two cocktails plus a $3-tip for only $16! We came here on a Friday night at about 10:30ish. It wasn't packed, but was bustling. Very very loud place with a nice projector screen. I felt like I was yelling for hours, but we were only in there for about 30 minutes. I'd come here again because the drinks are pretty good and it's cheap. And it's right across the street from my boyfriend's...so no need to walk far. =) read more

Dalva's a good place for good prices on drinks and a glowing orange ambiance. After an arduous search for parking I arrived and the place was packed with both folks just looking for a drink venue and others pre-gaming for the club. It's a small narrow hangout with the bar running along one side and bar tables on the other with larger ones for groups toward the back. Located even in the further back is an area called "The Hideout" where i met with my group. The Hideout is a smaller area with elbow to elbow room that gets stuffy and oh so intimate. The atmosphere was friendly and lively with music playing in the background and some 70's "Shaft"-esque movie playing on a projector screen hanging high on their back wall. Aside from hunting for parking Dalva is a great place for drinks and a friendly staff. Located in the Mission it's easily accessible using public transportation (the preferred mode is you're traveling here during prime happy drink hours). It's definitely one of the prime spots in the Mission area and worth at least a 2 drink visit if you're hopping around for the night. read more

DALVA BAR CLOSES ROXIE ON SUNDAY NIGHTS Well, not literally. But Dalva's Sunday night karaoke makes it impossible to enjoy films at the Roxie Theatre next door. If you prefer films in the original version, without a backdrop of drunk monkeys howling through the wall, avoid the Roxie on Sunday night. And stay away from Dalva, the cause of the din. They don't deserve your business. Dalva is a dive bar gone upscale and pricey. It's nothing special, really. By contrast, the Roxie is special. If you love film, it's a gem, screening independent and foreign films that nobody else bothers with any more. But if you love film, you might as well assume the Roxie is closed on Sunday nights. Dalva's loud karaoke makes it nearly impossible to enjoy any film in which silence is part of the oeuvre. And management simply doesn't care. Maybe they think that the Roxie screens mainstream action films, with a strong soundtrack, full of helicopters, explosions, revving motors, gunshots and yelling, so that patrons wouldn't notice the din from the drunk monkeys in the dive next door. But that's not what the Roxie screens. :-( To be clear, Dalva doesn't actually close the Roxie on Sunday nights. But its insensitivity drives business from one of the last independent film houses in San Francisco. If you love film, or if you just want to make a statement for neighborhood civility, don't patronize Dalva. There are other dive bars in the neighborhood. But there's only one Roxie, and Dalva makes it impossible for them to operate one night out of seven. Dalva will do anything (karaoke?!) to attract business on a slow Sunday. As such, it doesn't deserve your business on any night. Go elsewhere. read more

Dear Dalva, Do you know how thin those walls are? I know you have music to play, people to entertain. BUT there are some people who are trying to enjoy independent films at Roxie Cinema next door as well. I was watching a Japanese indie film in the theatre - very emotional and beautifully shot film - and all I could hear was "thump, thump, thump, thump," the silly repetitious beats from the bar. It ruined my mood and movie experience. Be nice to neighborhood businesses, please. read more

I went on a Saturday night around 9:30 for a friend's birthday-- we set up shop in the 1st floor back room-- and it was great! The prices of drinks were plenty reasonable-- I got 2 domestic pints, and a standard well drink for $13. For the mission, that's not too bad. I love that you can either go out into the crowded bar and have a good time, or go into the back rooms and be able to chit chat without screaming. Definitely will go again. Also, the music being played (I didn't see a DJ...) was a plus. I'm sure their jukebox during the week is good too. read more

EVERLASTING LIGHT. At the hideout. It has totally become my regular spot in the Mission and I have ended up here way too many times in the recent past but get me my drink and I can't resist. read more

A mixologist's dream! A bar inside of a bar (the Hideout), this place although hole in the wall is a lot of fun with a very vibrant crowd to go with. Check out the Hideout in the back of the bar, which has an interesting list of drinks which will have you mesmerized at how the bartenders are making them. Reasonably priced for SF standards, definitely one of my go to spots when I am in the Pac Northwest. read more

Dalva has the best jukebox in the city...morcheeba, st. etienne, thievery... and it just has a totally laid back chill atmosphere. They also make a killer (seriously, drinking too many of these will kill you) Caipirinha. It totally pisses them off if you order too many though cuz they're a bitch to make. oh! added bonus is that they have these little hooks on the wall under the tables in the back so that you can hang up your purse...sweet. Bathroom situation: sucks on a super busy night, but usually serviceable and for some reason the men think it's okay to migrate over to the women's bathroom and piss all over the floor. read more

3.5 stars really. Another fun dive bar. Good DJ, cheap drinks. Dark everywhere, crowded. Fun. Serves sangria which made me happy. Mixed crowd. Super casual. Jukebox plays when DJ isn't there. Back room is good if you want to not have to scream above the DJ, we moved back there when the DJ got there. Good place to meet friends. Probably not a place to meet your next one night stand though, everyone seemed to really be there to hang out with each other, not to get laid. My second sangria though was warm. Or maybe I was too busy talking to drink it and it got warm. read more

Since I live in the TL I tend to frequent MY local bars more than I do these Mission bars. I feel like an outsider...even though they are still pretty walkable from where I live. Therefore I don't ever feel all that "at home" here. I feel like a tourist. This place is very very dark, which I normally like (in chic bars) because you know it's probably clean. (even though you can't see crap) But in Dalva the tables are sticky and wooden. God knows what the floor is like, it's too damn dark to see anything! It's nice to go to Dalva when waiting for your movie to start...and I guess that's all I really know about it. Oh yah, and the backroom is a "smoking room" and freakin' FREEZING. Buuurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. read more

Great Selection of Draft Beers for $5 during happy hour, maybe that's their standard price? I didn't try their cocktails but I believe that's what everyone is raving about so a must try next time! The place is dark, great small back area for groups and you can bring in outside food! Overall Thoughts Definitely would come back to see why Dalva has so many great reviews read more

I really should come here more often. It doesn't look that inviting from the outside, kinda dark and sketchy-looking, but it's a really decent place to grab a drink with friends and catch up. As opposed to other places on the block, Dalva is a bit quieter and has a more chill vibe, so it's better spot for conversation. It's also got the whole bar within a bar thing going, so don't forget to walk past the bathrooms in the back and check out the vibe on the other side. I should go there more often... read more

A glorious Mission watering hole in the wall, with another hole in the wall inside. Good for a beer and to hang out, you can pop into the hideout if you want a fancy and excellent cocktail. They also let you bring food in and eat at the tall tables with your beverage of choice, which I appreciate. Watched the second half of a world cup game here, would have been perfect if the sky light hadn't made the screen half visible. read more

Pluses: 1) Dark, so much so that you can't see your date. It makes it mysterious... 2) Attentive, respectable bartenders Beers: Nice draft selection with some rarer brews Cocktails: I've only had one and I'm not exactly a cocktail guru, so I'll just say "thumbs up." Decor: Taxidermy + 80s cult films. Not too stuffy, not too grimy. Crowd: People who like this type of place. read more

When mission hipsters grow up they go to Dalva... I really like it here. No music really, but they play great movies on the screen. Bar tenders are pretty attentive. I would much rather spend my night at Dalva then Double Dutch, Kilowat, Delerium, Elbow Room.... etc. etc. etc. read more

Been here once with two girlfriends around 7 or 8ish, already hopping even then. Bartender was unbelievably nice, we ordered reasonably-priced beers from their respectable list of draft beer. Sat at the bar - this is the kind of place to come with one or two friends or maybe on a date, not so good for groups of people. Dim lighting, clean and cozy interior. Good location (in the Mission), we came here after an event at Needles & Pens and before hopping on BART. I'd be interested to come here later at night next time. read more