Very laid back place indeed. I caught a few people smoking in the back, so if that's your thing, you'd probably like it here (They recently put up a no smoking sign). They played some pretty good music too which is always a draw for a music geek like me. The Mission has so many great places to hang out and this is one of them. I've been here on several occasions and it's always been a relatively pleasant one. There are tables in the back and a few more upstairs if you just want to hang out with your friends with a drink. The sign says, "We only serve nice people." So far, it's been that way ever time I've gone here. Blink and you might miss it behind the Roxie theatre. Edit: Thumbs down for the nasty bouncer who only let HALF of my party in recently. I dunno if I'm going back cuz once you mess with the bull, you'll get the horns..subtracting a star for that. Every time except this time it's been pleasant. read more

Enter Dalva on Albion St., go all the way to back of the bar, there's a little hallway leading to a smaller bar called the Hideout. I came here with a date last night and I was super excited because I love stumbling onto secret, unassuming bars-within-bars, speakeasy-type situations; so the concept here is on point, but sadly the execution not so great - it was cozy, but kinda musty. I would love it if they even put in a little more effort with lighting or candles, maybe even some more artwork? There also seems to be an upstairs area where we heard laughter but couldn't figure out if it's additional private seating or just the upstairs office. I had a moscow mule and it was diluted-ish, and my date had the Honey Badger which was actually really good and not too sweet. The bartender was a woman who was super friendly and gave tips on other bars. Also they take card, some reviews mention that it's cash only, not the case (anymore?) read more

Long time customer, but new fan. The Hideout backroom "secret" fancy bar is a real winner. The rest of the place is nice and a good normal bar, but cocktail nerds will love the back room. It's small and you'll wait 10 min for a cocktail, but it's so worth it. And at similar high quality bars the time for prep is similar in my experience. If you just want a pint glass of gin and tonic, stick to the front room. Put your trust in the bar tender, I started to say something about liking Bourbon in a savory preparation and he stopped me, said "savory, you have to try my celery cocktail" and then went into a flurry of activity. The drink was incredible, maybe I'd call it a celery gin fizz? Not sure what it had in it, but I want another. read more

This place is okay. Cash only. ATM inside. Good vibe, okay crowd, great drinks and fast service. Definitely stop by when you're on 16th. read more

If you're looking for a chill, better than divey, but not fancy place, this is perfect. It's not overbearingly crowded and not deserted either. The bartenders take great care in making your cocktails, and they make a mean old fashioned! Nice date place. read more

This is a cool place to hang out, and it feels super chill and divey. It's down the street from the 16th/Mission BART station, so bonus points! The bartenders are always very friendly and attentive. It's not usually too busy here, which is another reason why I like Dalva. Minus one star because the cocktails (each $9) are pretty weak. I was especially disappointed by the El Diablo that has tequila, lemon, ginger, cassis, and soda. I could hardly taste the tequila. They have fun selections though. My favorite is the Bee's Knees which has gin, lemon, and honey. They have a bunch of beers on tap from Moonlight Brewery, which it turns out I'm not a fan of. The IPA tasted more sweet and fruity than hoppy, and the Death & Taxes Lager tasted like death. Minus another star because they pretty much only make the cocktails listed on their menu. I asked for various drinks that contained mint or something spicy, but they said they don't have the ingredients to make those. You can always go to the bar in the other room called Hideout. Just wanted to note my disappointment. Dalva is CASH ONLY so keep that in mind, too. read more

Excellent bar on a weeknight. Not too crowded; very chill place where you can still talk. Bartenders in the front and also in the Hideout have been very friendly and approachable. They knew what to recommend. Had the: (in Dalva) - Boulevardier: sweet upfront with a surprisingly bitter aftertaste, very addicting Also had: (in the Hideout) - Altered State: my new favorite; do not be deceived by its transparency - it's smoky, complex, and beautiful - Gin & Celery Tonic: total thirst quencher, very refreshing and good use of celery bitters Can't wait to be back! Reasonably priced. read more

Dalva or Hideout, front or back, same location...just take your pick. Came here with some girlfriends on a busy and crowded Friday night. We heard of Dalva before as people in the industry, and were excited to check this place out. Got here around 9-10PM at night so the crowds were getting a bit dance-y, slosh-y, and dare I say it...sloppy. But we were looking to wind down and enjoy a couple cocktails/beers. After walking straight to Hideout in the back, we realized that it was a dark cave-like space where bodies were up against each other...like a dance floor without any DJ or music! The poor bartenders looked horrified and bored because no one was ordering drinks. People seemed to stare at them from their cramped space like festival go-ers stare at DJ's. We got lucky and found bar seating and ordered a delicious Hermitage stout and cocktails. As we looked around, the scene in Dalva consisted of a few two-top bar tables and bar stools...tables were pretty scarce. So this isn't really the place to have a huge group come in--don't expect to stay together if that's the case. It's great if you're looking to go out with a roommate or even with your boo. I would consider Dalva to have almost a divey vibe to it on Friday nights after 9:30PM. read more

Miss Greta G. We DON'T condone Weed Smoking@Dalva! (Everyone check out the Dalva review below) What a way to slam me! you're such a sweetheart. "low-life?" ouch! "Scumbag," that hurts. "Loser," Damn! What gives? By the way, you spelled my name wrong. Its J-A-R-A-D. Next time you come by the bar maybe I need to check your ID a little more closely. We don't let children into the bar, and that is what your recent review of ME, not Dalva, suggests. You're a childish person. Not to mention petty. If you want to discuss it further over a drink, on me of course, let's discuss your absurd "dis." By the way, nice picture of me, you stole it off my personal Myspace page, which suggests you might be a little obsessed? Get a life DORK! For everyone else, Dalva is the Shit! Come by, have cheap strong drinks, and a hell of a good time! www.myspace.com/dalva_cocktails. CHEERS! Dalva Management Say it to my face instead of hiding in computer land!! I don't need to say anything else about it. read more

I had about 20 minutes before my BART train came. That's a perfect amount of time to fire down a cocktail or two. My buddy had been to this place a few times in the past and wanted me to check it out. We went right by the front bar to the back area called The Hideaway. You know when people say things like, "handmade tortilla" or "handmade clothing?" You think of some nice, old Mexican lady with some dough and that big clampy thingy or some 13 year olds in Thailand with a loom. When I say handmade cocktail, I think of the guy in the small, dark room in back room of Dalva mixing up adult beverages. The guy makes each beverage with such care, precision and love. It's simply amazing. He mixes the cocktail right up to the line on the measuring jigger not to be skimpy, but to make the flavor of the cocktail *exactly* how it should be. When he's done with the beverage, he takes a quick sip out of it (with the straw, not out of the actual glass) to ensure it's the way it should be. It may take a minute or two extra to get your cocktail, but it's worth the wait. There's a cool red, little room up the stairs way in the back that is a nice spot to hang and talk some shit with some friends. Such a good spot. While the music is awesome, it isn't super loud, so you can actually hear the people you're talking to. read more

A fun, low key bar to chill out in the Mission, Dalva is a wonderful place to catch up with friends over many libations. The charm of the bar isn't just confined to the decor or crowd. I love the random 70s movies that play in the background. There are few things more fun than filling in your own dialog to the action. Dalva has a great variety of beers on tap and at pretty fair prices too. I really liked the Reality Czech that they had on tap. It's a really easy to drink Pilsner and while hard to find, was one of Dalva's numerous taps. Dalva strikes a fine balance in the Mission - not too divey, not too classy, not too hipster, not too proper. All in all, just a pretty great bar. read more

This was my first experience at a dive bar. A couple of locals that lived in the neighborhood took us to this place. They highly recommended it, and I thought it was pretty cool. We went here on Halloween, although very few people were dressed up, there were some that came in. The place was crowded, and there weren't many places to sit. I liked that there was sort of a ledge where people could stand on the stairs and below the wooden divider. It made the bar seem bigger than it actually was, and allowed our group to split up and mingle with different people that we came with. Crowd: I'm not sure about the crowd, I mostly stuck with my group of people. Drink: I had the Moscow Mule. It was quite delicious. :) I would come back again, but would also like to explore other places in the area. read more

The Hideout would have been better if the bartender hadn't been hanging out with her boyfriend all night. I was trying to ignore it, but him, talking about his recent trip, condescendingly telling another patron "it's Bangkok, dawg." was the final straw. read more

Came here on a Thursday night and ordered the celery gin and tonic. What the drink lacked in physical celery stalk it made up for in drinkability. Feels like I am on a healthy juice cleanse - meeting my 2018 goals! #crushing #winning #suckit read more

Dalva - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Came here with a friend on a Saturday evening. After hours and hours of shopping in the MIssion we needed a break. Best way to relax? Grabbing a couple of Bloody Mary's at Dalva. WTF. I don't even like Bloody Mary's. These were so good though. MMM. read more

Dalva - Yum, great bloody Mary - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Do you like to get hot and sweaty with unbathed dudes in fluorescent tights twizzling handlebar mustachios? No?! GO TO DALVA. One of my favorite bars in the city. A good beer selection, awesome prices and some of the friendliest bartenders you'll ever meet. They've even added a posh lounge in the back with swankier cocktails... so you can bring your hot date there to try and impress her, fail miserably, then head back to the front for shots of well whiskey... read more

I almost got in a fight here. And I know what you're thinking, "Stephy?! Sweet, innocent, demure, waif-like (yeah right) little Stephy?" *Gasp!* "Never!" Well, it's true. I have been in a scrap or three in my years and the night it almost happened here, would have been justifiable because a girl violated.... The Bathroom Door Rule. Allow me to explain. It's a bar. There are chicks. This means that the drink to bladder ratio gets challenging. There is the magical thing called the "seal" but once that is broken, well, you are as they say in some countries, "screwed." Well, on my first weekend as a SF resident, we came here for drinks and my seal was definitely annihilated. And so, I did what any lady would do and excused myself and went to the ladies room. It was towards the end of the night and as seals go, many were in similar states as mine, but here's where the line was crossed. As I walked over to the door, I reached for the handle and saw that it was locked. Cool, no worries, I will wait for the young lady to finish. I did, she came out and then I walked in and closed the door behind me. Then not 3 seconds. Count them. 1,2,3 seconds later, someone starts pounding on the door. I'm not talking, "Helloooo, is anyone in there, may I borrow some sugar" knocking, but more like a "Bitch Betta Have My Monaaaay. )(@#&#%)(&!!!" pound. That, my dear friends, is totally un#@&!ingacceptable. And so I did my business for all of 45 seconds. Did the pounding end? Newp. Did it dull in its rudeness and volume? Newp. Did it piss me the hell off. Oh you bet, and so when I opened the door, I practically hit the broad with the door (intentionally of course) and got right up in her face and said, "45 seconds! Really. You can't wait 45 fucking seconds!" To which she responded some gibberish about kicking my keester. Yeah, yeah, yeah, suck it. I was new to town and wasn't all that interested in destroying the girl on a Saturday night and an arrest may have affected my first day at work, so I opted out. But believe me, the temptation was there to knock Impatient Patty the fuck out! Anyhoo, I came here again last night and definitely had a much nicer experience. There weren't any drunk and unruly broads, just nice, friendly faces and some great nipple art on the wall. I know that sounds weird, but go in and look, this artist is awesome. I had the wine and I will say, it's not the best, but who orders wine at a bar anyway? No biggie and I will definitely be back again :) read more

Their $7.50 Bulleit Manhattan is reason enough to come to this place, but the old school movies (Caddyshack last night) and the fantastic juke are the icing on the cake. We spent about an hour and a half here last night, just hangin' out, drinkin' cocktails and shootin' the sh*t. The dark interior with red votives aligning the walls is a nice touch and it wasn't busy at all when we were here. It almost feels like a well kept secret in the Mission. Definitely coming back for another Manhattan. "On the rocks" here is a good idea if you're going that route. These drinks will put hair on your chest and a swagger in your step! read more

I didn't intend to come here, but am kinda glad that I did. We were just wandering down Mission, not sure where we were going to end up. It occured to me at one point that maybe we should just call it a night. Bars on a Friday in the Mission are not only crowded, but generally crowded with really annoying people that I want to stab. We walked by this place and I just happened to glance in. The only thing I noticed was that it wasn't packed with people, so we went inside and immediately found a table against the wall. It was suitably dark, which always works to my advantage because I like to do sneaky things to my dates under the cover of darkness. There was a DJ spinning cool hip-hop, and a projection screen in the back was playing a retro 70s movie. They have a really extensive selection of beers I'm not familiar with. I ordered the one that looked like it had a dead body in a coffin on the handle. It tasted delicious and I'll have to go back to get the name of it. Some beers are served in these really weird beaker-like glasses that make people look as if they're guzzling their 10th grade chemistry class assignment. People here were....normal....I don't know what it is about Dalva that repels all the people I want to stab, but none of them found there way here. Maybe it was just dumb luck, but I don't care. read more

I came here because all the other local bars were busy and this was less crowded. I ordered a whiskey ginger and the bartender was generous on happy hour. While waiting for my friends I started a tab and order another drink, but the bartender at a few points kept coming over to ask if I wanted to close out my tab which I didn't. He later came back and said he was heading home and I HAD TO close out my tab. I've worked in the service industry and I'm pretty sure you can transfer a running tab over to another bartender. I assumed he wanted his tip so I closed out. What baffled me was that he stuck around for another 30 minutes serving other people UNREALISTIC read more

Dalva - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

"Huh?! What?! Say that again! Still not getting it... Repeat that!" That's me yelling over the unnecessarily loud music, trying to establish how much my beer cost in this nearly empty bar with terrible acoustics. Toward the back there are a few high tables for 4-5 max with uncomfortable bar stools and, although it was slightly better here, having to yell at the person right next to me and the pounding in my brain so soon after work on a Monday made me anxious to leave the entire time I was here. Apart from that, Dalva seems to be your typical Mission bar - sparing decor, decent liquor selection, variety of local/indie beers on tap, and choicer imports in bottles. I was happy to see a couple kinds of Chimay and Hitachino, including a large bottle of Hitachino white that was very nice indeed. So, I guess this is a cool spot with good stuff to drink... but given the quality of the several bars within a block of this place, I doubt I'll return unless invited. read more

I've walked past Dalva a couple times but never thought about going in. It looks very cramped and long, and I'm not trying to involve myself in that. Then when my chef friend said that there's a secret bar in the back, the Hideout, that offers craft cocktails and a cozy atmosphere, I rallied my girlfriends and we headed over on Friday night. Dalva was exactly what I expected, so we happily made our way back to the Hideout. It was small back there too, but I liked the intimate feel of it. We all ordered the drink of the evening, which, I of course can't remember the name since we glugged a couple bottles of wine with dinner, but it was basically a fancy, straight up Old Fashioned in a small wine glass. Very strong, with an orange finish. I got to sit and chat with my friend about life and boys before we headed out to Toronado to meet the rest of our crew. Very cool spot, I highly recommend checking it out. read more

I was at Dalva on a Friday night a few weekends ago and had a terrible experience. I was carrying two drinks back to a group of friends and had some guy unzip my purse and steal my phone. I turned around and made eye contact with him before he walked upstairs. Once I realized what had happened about 30 seconds later, I found him with a group of friends and approached him. He denied taking my phone and laughed at me for accusing him. I talked to the bouncer to see if he was able to help and he told me that the guys were "nicely dressed" and he didn't think that they were capable of taking my phone right out of my bag. Not only was he zero help, but he also made me feel completely unsafe and ridiculous for accusing the guy upstairs. I downloaded the find my phone app on my boyfriends phone and it confirmed that my device was in the building. I was very disappointed about how the situation was handled and I would never go back to this bar. I would also strongly deter anyone thinking about going there, unless you are in the market to be a victim of theft and then laughed at when trying to recover your stuff. read more

Why is it that I've never written a review of this all-time favorite bar? Dalva feels like my living room should I actually have one with a full bar and jukebox. They project campy old horror movies like "Blacula" and "The Dagger Killers." Dalva was my favorite bar when I first moved to the city in the mid-90s and has retained its distinct identity. It's cool without trying to be, which is more than I can say for 90% of the chodesters (hipster chodes) that troll its surrounding streets. read more

Darkness, sangria, and good looking male bartenders. Why don't more women hang out here? I always meet the most interesting people in the back room. And the chats are completely random but always memorable. A few years ago some guy back there told me to check out Koh Tao when I was traveling around Asia. I ended up living there for a year. Good blind date meeting place because it's easy to get to (one block from 16th and Mission BART), the drinks are delicious and varied, and the lighting, or lack thereof, makes everyone look pretty. read more

Dalva has a lot going for it when it's not too crowded. Nicely decorated but comfortable, and a respectable beer selection. A few things to keep in mind while there: DO NOT GO IN THE DARK ROOM IN BACK where the kegs are; I just looked in there and I got a bad bad feeling about it. It's probably safe if you're a barback and you have business in there, but everyone else should stay out. In fact, the whole back room seems like it would be used to store canned fruits and gardening tools if it wasn't full of people drinking. There's a hole in the ceiling in the mens bathroom right above the toilet. It's best not to think about where it leads. If you get kicked out of heaven for asking too many questions I bet you'd fall through that hole. Be patient. The bartender is a busy man and he marches to his own drummer. A lot of the drink prices end in .25, so you'll get quarters back. Dalva is a great place to come if you like playing pinball or reading the newspaper. That is all. read more

I never seem to have anything nice to say about poor Dalva. My friends really like this bar, and some of my more recent retorts to their cries for "Sangria at Dalva!" include... 1. "Ugh. Their jukebox is full of hipster barf." 2. "Their walls are too bare. I feel like I'm in the Tower of London." 3. "IPA tastes BAAAD there." Are these things true? Well, in my strange little warped world -- yeah. BUT... They're also incredibly subjective. And, Dalva may have a few retorts of its own when it sees ME coming... 1. "Oh god. It's the bitch who can't seem to remember that she's ordered the IPA five times before and doesn't like it." 2. "Shit. Are we going to have to listen to ANOTHER drunken rendition of 'Do You Hear the People Sing?'" I'm sure it has other gripes with me. Because I do go here a lot. I'm apparently the only person I know who has a beef with Dalva. So I will call it a wash. And 3 stars. read more

So you've probably noticed if you take the time to read any of the stuff I bother to write with the narcissistic delusion that strangers in the world give a shit about what I think about anything, or everything, as the case may be . . . that I give a lot of 5-star reviews. Here's the thing - there are places I hate, but why pollute the internets with vitriol unless someone really does me wrong, or someplace is so horrible that I feel the need to warn others off? So I don't write a lot of 1 and 2 star reviews - a few, but not many. Likewise, I am disinclined to write a review of a mediocre place at all - mediocrity does not warrant my commentary. That leaves lots of 5-star enthusiasm for the places I really like. I really like Dalva. I like the beers on tap. I like the DJ spinning stuff I've never heard. I like the lighting. I like the old wooden bar. I like the room in the back. I like that they'll accommodate a big party. I like that it's just a little grungy, but mostly kinda nice in there. I like Dalva - get it? Any questions? read more

I wish I could close my eyes as I walk though Dalva and just open them when I get to the Hideout. But then I'd probably run into a lot of tables and hipsters. The Hideout is my secret "bar inside a bar," although by now it's no secret. Their grapefruit soda cocktail is on 7x7's 100 Drinks To Try Before You Die: it's fantastic. Tastes just like grapefruit soda but has all the kick of a good cocktail. The bar area of Hideout gets crowded quickly and the music is always a little too loud, so I try to get up to the lofted area for a seat. It's dark and loud and a total dive, but the only dive bar I actually like. A lot. read more

Liked Dalva, but loved the secret bar in the back, Hideout, even more. The latter boasts some serious cocktails- the type that involves citrus rinds, bitters you've never heard of, and impeccably square ice cubes; all measured out and shaken to perfection. Spendy, but quite delicious. For a date-night in the Mission, I say class it up with a couple of drinks at Hideout, and then head up front for the cheaper but still tasty, easier-on-the-wallet stuff. Fun times at Dalva. read more

Dalva is a good bar. I am writing this after leaving there at 1:30am on a Saturday night. That's right, a Saturday night in the Mission, out with all of the drunks (present company NOT excluded) and I'm not saying anything bad or judgmental. Now that's something! I will say that we tried to go to Double Dutch first and it was sardine-can full of people listening to MC Hammer, and that made us run in the direction of Dalva as quick as bunnies. Dalva has always been a good staple - kind of a non-descript , low key place to hang with your friends. They play decent grooves and the crowd is mixed in a good way. Bartenders are nice and make a good, strong cocktail. On the big screen TV tonight, they were playing some movie about Evil Knievel and that made many people in my party smile. 60's music, 70's icon - what's not to like? I usually reach that "hit the wall" moment at Dalva. If you're going to end your night on the town somewhere, Dalva is a better-than-average place to do it. Oh, and this night will forever go down in history as the night one of our friends coined the term "re-drunk". That's when you have been drinking for such a long time that you've been drunk, sober, and then drunk again, all in the same day/night. Good times. read more

This is pretty much the sexiest bar in town. Any place that offers sangria without having to buy accompanying patatas bravas is the kind of place I like to patronize. Even better, it's only $2.75 at happy hour. Which happens on Sundays for some ridiculously long time in the evening. Rad. There are many neat things about Dalva: the hideout (where you may or may not be able to spark up a cancer stick), the gorgeous art deco bar, and the ladies room. Yes, the ladies room. It's good for two reasons: it's got excellent water pressure for handwashing, and when you're in there with the door closed, you can hear everything your friends are saying about you clear as day. Dalva. It's like a cool ass secret fort. read more

This is a sexy type Mission bar for sure! Dim lighting, a cool back area, and a movie screen that plays random stuff. Drinks seemed to be be competitively priced, I guess, I think. Did I pay for any? I don't think I did but it didn't seem like it was too steep. There's a cool mix of people hanging here, I liked it, I'd go back. Friendly bar tender. read more

Another Happy Hour, another hangover...as the location of this weeks Happy Hour Dalva served admirably - the specials were great and the crowd was chill...I partook of one (or two) too many double Sangria's and have been paying for it all day but no regrets. Added bonus - the super secret smoking area in the back is great for those inclined to be social and want to catch a smoke. I definitely would recommend Dalva as a great place to kick back enjoy Happy Hour at...I will definitely be going back to partake again but next time I will moderate my Sangria intake as a red wine hangover is just one of those things that makes you wish for death or unconsciousness. read more

Oh boy was I in for a surprise when I finally made it to that back bar! There are some mixology geniuses that work that back bar and I have tasted some rare adult libations from far reaches of the globe I never new existed before. Their selection of scotch, ryes, bourbons, cognacs and armagnacs isn't encyclopedic but definitely well chosen and varied. I've had many a libacious thrill ride here since discovering the place for myself. Check it out! I love that word. Libacious. Heh. That should be in the dictionary. read more

At the seventh bar of Christmas I bought myself for me: One Fernet One PBR One PBR One Jack and Coke One PBR One vodka Red Bull One pint of PBR You can't smoke cigarettes nor weed all day upstairs anymore: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B91wki_jQf0 It's what you were, Dalva that makes it impossible to grant you five stars for what you are. Aside for that, for a small bar on 16th and Valencia, Dalva is quaint and romantic. Great music, quality conversation if you want it - though people will leave you alone here. DEFINITELY the easiest bar on the Valencia strip, when I'm around here I'm always sure to check in for a drink. read more

I first went to Dalva many years ago on a date, and enjoyed my first mojito that night (no, that's not a euphemism)...while the woman came and went (no, that's not an innuendo), the mojitos have hung around, occasionally rearing their minty heads to say 'Hey stranger, wanna party?'. Oh wait, this is a review about Dalva, and not a showcase for my pathetic attempts at humor? Oops... So, I just went to Dalva for the second time on Todd E's latest installment of the 'Destroy Your Liver 2006' tour, and this place was just as sweet as I remembered it! The drinks are strong and fairly priced, the staff is cool, and the layout guarantees that you'll definitely find a place to hang...the 'secret' back room even ensures that smokers are not banished into the outside world... The location is also perfect, because it allows you to easily stumble somewhere to grab some grub before coming back to re-initiate the assault on your liver... It had been too long between visits to Dalva...but it's nice to know that it forgave me and welcomed me back with open arms...open arms holding a bottle of booze in each hand. read more

I love Dalva. Let me reiterate: I LOVE Dalva. And not only because of the amazing Trumer Pils glasses, one of which I successfully stole last year, but which broke right after I first used it. No, I love Dalva because it's a really relaxed, unpretentious (at least when I'm there), casual bar that offers a great selection of beers and hard liquors, good music, and a good atmosphere. I first went here on a date, and it's a good place for casual drinking with friends, more-than-friends or people you're interested in getting to know a little better. Especially the somewhat scary but overall pretty awesome upstairs room (which is where I plan on going to steal my next glass...). Um. I love Dalva. That's pretty much all there is to say. I love Dalva. I love their Trumer glasses. I also love their proximity to Taqueria Pancho Villa (tofu tacooooooos!). Oh yes. Yes indeed. read more

This place gets three stars only for the awesome B movie that was showing on Saturday night (which I found out later was Airport '77...aptly named after my birth year). Dalva is convenient if you're in the area...but to be honest, it seems more of a happy hour place to me. It's quite small and doesn't have much atmosphere other than the cliched moody darkness. Drinks were alright and from what I could see of the crowd, they seemed 20's/30's...but it wouldn't be my first choice of bars to frequent in the Mission. read more

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