The Dovre Club has an old timer feel to it. Reasonable priced drinks, good neighborhood vibe, and friendly bartender. Great Jukebox and a pool table adds to a fun evening with a friend who lives close by. read more

I need to upgrade my review of the Dovre. For one thing, they like my dog. For another, they were very hospitable when I wanted to host an event there. The staff also seem like they've gotten a bit nicer. Overall, there's a nice neighborhood vibe, and I've warmed up to the joint. read more

Such good times at the Dovre Club. Support your local Irish Bar! Play pool, play dice, and enjoy the juke box playing all kinds of great music! read more

Classic dive bar with inexpensive drinks and neighborhood vibes. I like the Dovre for being a SF classic spot and meeting place in the Mission. It's a good place for meeting up with friends for a cocktail, either before of after dinner because of the location and options nearby. I like divey and usually go with something easy when I come here, like a gin and tonic with two limes. Cheers! read more

Love the vibe in this place. Working class people. Random people selling you BBQ. Reminds me of the OGs of the 80s & 90s. From the bar you can see the pool table through the open window aisle. Reminds me like an old mafia movie. Not a big alcohol selection. It's a hole in the wall bar a walk from Bernal Heights not quite the inner Mission. read more

This dive bar has been around since before I was born. I've seen it in my neighborhood my whole life but for some reason, I've never had a chance to go in. The sign outside claims they pour "The best Guinness in town" and my friend, having been to Ireland several times, thought this was a claim worth checking out. I wasn't expecting much when we walked into the fairly lit, cozy bar- but they had a pool game going on in the back and a wall covered with paperbacks! These are all signs of a place I'd like to spend more time in. A friendly bartender came up to us and asked what we wanted to drink. I mentioned that as a San Francisco native, I was sorry to say that I had never been in here before, to which he replied, "Shame on you." Then he introduced himself as Elvis, with a handshake and a smile on his face. No sooner had we finished our drinks, Elvis was ready to pour us another. He was very attentive to everyone there, who are all on a first name basis with him. My friend got a couple pints of Guinness, which she was very happy with, and I had a pear cider while Elvis talked to us about Ireland. We were there during happy hour and everyone else seemed like friendly locals too. I'm so glad I finally came in and I can't wait to go back! read more

Dovre Club - a man holding a green apple - Dive Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I had an Elvis sighting; he's serving drinks at Dovre club. Actually the owner of the place is named Elvis. I didn't ask him about it because I'm sure he's tired of the question. Dovre club used to be on 18th street, in The Women's building, but was evicted years ago. I don't know if Elvis owned the old Dovre Club, he looks a little young to have, but this location is a vast improvement. The Staff and regulars are a friendly bunch. Elvis himself is a great host; more in line with what they'd call a Publican in the old country than the typical American Bar owner. I brought in a large group of people, over 40 and maybe better than 50, and Elvis was not only easy to deal with but he knows how to treat someone that brings in business. Dovre is definitely in the rotation. read more

Ah, the Dovre Club. I remember when they got kicked out of the Women's Building on 18th St...ol' Paddy Nolan would be rolling in his grave. (And by "remember", I mean read it in the newspaper article framed on the wall here. Now that would have been one cool spot for a pub). They're also known to throw a St Patrick's party so hot it just about burns the block down (now that I *was* around to see--and a mighty big cloud o' smoke it was...) Most of the time, though, Dovre Club is just an unassuming, rather shabby Irish Pub that the hipsters haven't yet seen fit to colonize. Despite the authenticity, it's not that full of Irish either--at happy hour it was just a bunch of locals enjoying their cheap drinks and chatting it up with the bartender lady. I'll definitely be back to toast the final defeat of the British (and of my ancestors, the Ulster Scots) in Northern Ireland...I'm sure Paddy would want drinks to be on the house, ya? read more

Dovre Club - a man walking down the street - Dive Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Basically, this is the Cheers of the Mission, "where everybody knows your name!" Always loved divey Irish bars and this one will always be my fav! It's even shown in the modern noir local movie called "El Otro Barrio!" That's when you know it's the real deal! I've gone to bbq potlucks for the Superbowl here, watched giants and warriors playoff games here, heard an Irish band play their hearts out on St. Patrick's day many times, shown up in full Halloween costume for Halloween (and even when it wasn't halloween), sang karaoke lots here, celebrated many a birthday here, lost at pool too much here, and finally after many years, have brought our doggie here because who doesn't want their fur baby to be a bar dog too! Love all the bartenders here and have made really good friends here as well! Like they say...IT AINT OVER TIL THE DOVRE! read more

Great local bar for a pint on a quiet weekend afternoon!!!

Fugazi was playing within minutes of me walking in. Big cool pool table space to watch games in. Hands down a million stars no matter what else goes on in this comfy spot. All my love for repping my absolute fave band and sport right off the bat. SEE WHAT I DID THERE?! I hope you live forever, Dovre. read more

Great family bar! As soon as you walk into the Dovre, you're not alone anymore. Good music is playing, the bartenders are friendly, and people treat you like you're a long-lost friend. Prices are fair, and everyone is respectful plus the pool table, jukebox, and pinball machines help spice up your time there. This is a dive bar, so be prepared to go back to that time in San Francisco history where simplicity and no-frills reigned. I love this place and Elvis (the owner) and his bartenders make sure you're taken care of. This bar is more than a place to have a drink, it's a place to be with friends and chill. Sometimes they even have DJ parties like for Halloween and they're rockin'. One year, I decided that hosting a New Year Eve's party are too much of a pain for me, so went to the Dovre, and Elvis, his girlfriend, friends, and family gave me the best NYE I could ask for. This bar has a long history and it feels good to support a family-run small business with caring people. THX Elvis! read more

This place was my neighborhood hang, more nice people in one room than you'll find anywhere. Now I live in Oakland and it's a great place but I still have to return to the Dovre for that special kind of bar experience. It's the quintessential dive bar where you can feel cool and meet the best people. read more

Hanging out at the Dovre Club Friday night, I was half-expecting Sam Spade to walk in at any moment to order a scotch straight up, no ice. Sam didn't show up, but I had a great time at the Dovre, a small neighborhood dive bar in the Mission District with great character, friendly bartenders and patrons, and reasonable prices. The bar is small and divided into two rooms: the first room by the entrance features a wooden bar table that wraps around into the next room where there are also some tables, chairs, and a pool table. It's a simple set-up. But simple and dive bars go together. I got to meet one of my favorite Yelpers at the Dovre, Tom R., who puts together the dive bar meetup groups in the Mission District. Tom's awesome, just as his reviews indicate. And, those at the Dovre were an eclectic mix of people who were friendly, funny, expressive, bohemian, artistic, smart, happy to meet others and have a good time. There's nothing like standing shoulder to shoulder with some good people sharing drinks, stories, and good times in a relaxed, down-home, unpretentious dive bar setting. Tom R you are the real deal, a true Mavin a la Paul Revere calling the local townspeople in for drinks and good times. This is Community Action....! read more

So, my boyfriend and I are going to our favorite over-decorated (think Christmas projectile vomited on the walls) tranny gay bar tonight, because that is where we met and true love began. No, it is not the Dovre. But, in the spirit of our relationship not starting out in a traditional place we decided that nothing could possibly tip the romance scale more than not just seeing a drag show but seeing it hungover and tired. True love, bitches. You should be jealous. So, THIS is where the Dovre comes in. It is a lovely sort of worn, but in a good way, place to go and hang out with friends over a few strong cocktails, a game of pool and a some really good tunes in a low key atmosphere. You will enjoy yourself so much that you will not realize you are shutting the place down and forcing yourself to go on your special obnoxious decoration tranny bar drinking date on a mere 3 hours sleep. Awwwww....... thanks again Dovre for being such an awesome bar and, this last time, helping contribute to our very special date night! read more

Dovre is a classic dive bar. The dark lighting keeps the furniture looking clean and you looking good that crazy guy talking to himself down at the end of the bar. The dark lighting also helps keep the falling-down drunk guy across the room attempting to focus on your face rather than actually falling down. Key features of this bar include: * pool tables with league night * a meticulously curated jukebox (at-the-time-of-writing features Old 97s!) * a free book exchange (at-the-time-of-writing features The Da Vinci Code!) read more

This is like a grungier hole-in-the-wall (HITW) version of Cheers - where everyone knows your name. I'm not from San Fran or anywhere in California, but I went back to this bar hours after leaving ... and the people there - both workers and patrons - remembered me! Hah. What a friendly bunch. :) Dee was the "day" bartender. She was a hoot! So friendly, playful, helpful, and fun! I would definitely go back to visit her. These are the kinds of bartenders that make these kinds of HITW dive bars special. ...Stereotyping? Maybe. But whatevs. Dee is awesome. This is the place to get your fernet on. Dovre popped my fernet cherry! This is the place where I was first introduced to this minty black licorice drink. It's not exactly minty, but it did leave a menthol-like finish in my mouth. And it's pretty dark in color and almost syrupy. ...Only at a place like this would I try something so bold and scary-looking like fernet. Hah. (TGF HITW bars like the Dovre.) VERDICT Go for it. If you're any sort of dive bar enthusiast as I, you will quickly become a Dovre regular. No joke. I was only in the area for a day / night...and I felt right at home! read more

I've heard the Dovre referred to as 'a second livingroom' and I agree. Whole-heartedly. :) Maybe it's because my friend bar tends there and maybe it's because now I feel like I can go there any time and be treated like a regular (hmm, perhaps that's a bad thing). But, I think what I really like about that Dovre is that if I don't feel like being at home (alone) and all the usual suspect friends are busy, I can hit the Dovre and feel like one of the family. That's a nice feeling. A "5 star" feeling. There's always someone who likes to chat sitting at the bar and they have plenty of Bowie goodies on the jukebox. If Dee is working (can't miss her bright red hair), I recommend getting a dirty martini. She makes the best! read more

Dovre Club feels like home. I look over and have to doubletake - is that my uncle Rob? Is that my old neighbor Margery? No, but they could be. This is not the upscale faux Irish pub, but the real thing, and I believe it was popular with the Irish crowd way back when, when the Mission was packed with big Irish families. When I am homesick, I visit Dovre. I have a Guinness. Then I call my mum. read more

WORST BARTENDER EVER. Not to be confused with some other bartenders who work there and are apparently cool, this chick was a bitch. 30ish, short brown hair, hopped up on coke or something, low evil cackling smokers laugh. You know how sometimes a bartender or waiter will ask you what you want, and you're not quite ready yet, or your friend hasn't shown up yet and you're just buying time, and you respond that you'd like another minute - then they proceed to be a rude prick or ignore you for the duration of your stay because you were not ready when THEY were? Well that's what happened. And let it be know, I was totally polite. I am not one of these "treat service workers like crap" people that Yelpers love to hate on. I'm a southern gentleman and try to be nice to everyone. Anyway - after my friend arrived we sat at the bar TOTALLY IGNORED for a good 10-15 minutes, the bartender didn't even GLANCE at us while we sat there. It wasn't very busy either, everyone else had a drink. She proceeded to talk to patrons, hug patrons, make a second round of martini's for the couple sitting across from us, bitch about how they were out of martini glasses, then went in the back and WARMED UP HER DINNER IN THE MICROWAVE! WTF! Still being ignored, finally she bent down under the bar where we were sitting and I said "Hi" really loudly to which she quickly responded "hi". Then she finished what she was doing and said "oh sorry" and finally made our drinks. My friend frequents this place and said she hadn't seen this bartender before, so I guess we just had bad luck. The rest of the bar is actually ok. Mixed crowd of Irish construction guys, older people, and a few Mission hipsters. 20 oz Guinness for $4.50. Reminds me a lot of The Ivy Room in the east bay, minus the music stage. But this is part of what Yelp is for... real reviews reporting the bad apples even if they work at good places. Don't think you can get away with attitude and bad service in SF and it won't show up here for someone to read it. UPDATE 2008 - I went back on a date. The bad bartender was there, but just done with her shift and heading out the door. A much nicer bartender (with long dyed braids) took over and was very sweet and flirty. read more

I don't really see what's not to like in this bar, except for personality issues with staff. Being that Dee the bartender was nice to me, I like this place. The drinks are reasonably priced, and they have a nice happy hour special. There's a lot of space in the bar area, and they have a pool table on the other side. I like the layout of this place. This is kind of a no-nonsense bar. It is divey, and being in the Mission, it will fill up with hipsters on weekends after 9PM. Expect lots of skinny pants and cigarettes outside. read more

This casual bar gets 4 stars for: 1. Charging just $4 a beer (in SF too!). 2. Being spacious and quiet enough that you can come with a group of your friends and chat. 3. Having a decent selection of beers on tap - Boont Amber Ale, Widmer, Blue Moon, Guinness, Sierra Nevada and some others. 4. Being conveniently located. Just a few blocks from the 24th BART and El Farolito. It smells like stale beer when you first walk in, but once you get a few drinks in you, it's not that noticeable. It's cash only, but there's an ATM in the bar. There's also a pool table and a few tvs. read more

Dovre Club is a real dirtbag's paradise, so naturally I feel right at home here. It even looks enticingly seedy from the outside. Actually they've got books in the bar for your reading pleasure, so it's a little more highbrow than your average s-hole. Good tunes, cheap beer and mouth-wateringly large shots. And I mean "mouth-watering" in that "Uh-oh, I think I'm gonna throw up" juicy mouth sort of way. Quiet by bar standards and out-of-the-way by Mission standards, the Dovre is a nice neighborhood place to puke n' rally. read more

Not a bad dive bar so long as you stay out of the restroom,.. Not only will you seem the same couple of bartenders if you frequent the place but you will see the same bar patrons in the same seats each time as well (maybe there are bunks in the back). Anyways the place totally has the Cheers vibe down. And that's always a really cool thing to see in a big city. The lay out of the bar is well thought out and makes the most of the limited space. The bar itself is a horseshoe that devides the place into two rooms. One room is just seating and the other has a pool table. There are books around to read if your date or friends bore you I guess. A little weird but I love to read so right on. (Although once I start drinking I typically have to close one eye to focus on the words..) The pool table was free when I last played and that in itself deserves a couple of stars. Since Dovre does not have a Patio all the smokers congregate right outside of the door to the bar in front of the cross walk at 26th and Valencia. The last time I ate across the street at SouthEnd I could literally smell the smoke (and I'm a smoker so if I noticed that's impressive). There are often dogs hanging out so it is a dog friendly bar for which I gave them another star. The drinks are super stiff and reasonably priced. Friendly bartenders, speedy service- plus plus! The clientele is extremely eclectic. 9pm on a Friday night you will see guys in skinny jeans, guys in baggy jeans nearly around their knees, old guys, young guys, tough guys, nerds.. But not quite as many women- except those there with one of the previously mentioned guys. A great spot for a single lady. She will feel like she's hunting- at a buffet table. read more

A good sized neighborhood dive bar with beer, liquor and pool. Our housewarming party got foiled by noise complaints from the old ladies upstairs. We managed to successfully funnel 40+ of our drunk friends over to the Dovre Club. It was a freakin' blast! I attribute the fun more to the company than to the bar itself, but THANK YOU Dovre Club for providing the perfect escape from our crotchety old upstairs neighbors. read more

Exactly what you'd expect from a neighborhood Irish bar. Smallish, yet comfortable. Not overdone in that "look how Irish we are! It's like you're in Ireland, we're so Irish! Do you think we could put more Irish stuff somewhere to make it feel more Irish?" sort of way you find at far too many "Irish" bars in SF. No - at Dovre, it's subtle in a way that makes you believe it. Good basic beer-on-tap selection, plenty of nice warm wood in the walls and over the central bar, a pinball machine, and a pool table on the far side. Dovre is a place to relax with friends, especially if you live just down the street, enjoy a pint or three, and chill. It's not raucous, and it'd feel wrong if it were. It's comfortable. And to those calling it a dive - I respectfully disagree. El Rio is a dive. Dovre is your best friend's place, and he serves booze. read more

Nice. An unpretentious non-hipster reasonable low key dive on Valencia. With a solid jukebox. I'll take it. Oh, and a 7 minute walk from the 24th St./Mission Bart station. Just remember, last train for the East Bay leaves around 12:15 AM. We forgot. Somehow it's fine when you're planning on missing the last train, but when you're running to catch it and you don't it can sometimes ruin your night. Welcome to a $45 cab ride and and a 20 minute argument about whose fault it is that we missed the last train. A one way ticket to bummer city. read more

When you say "last call" and then someone says "I'll have a gin and tonic," you can't just say "Sorry, i just made last call." Yes, you did just make last call, however the whole point of last call is to allow people to make one last drink order. It wouldn't have troubled you that much to pour one last drink, which as it turns out, would have been my first and only drink for the night. No there were not a ton of people waiting around us and it would not have created a "me too" phenomenon. You may not have done anything wrong I suppose, but you just didn't do anything that cool either. This probably should be a one star review but whatever. This is something I've noticed about the city of San Francisco. For all the bad rep that the east coast gets, I have found that overall the people who work in the service industry in SF are far more douchier. Perhaps they've realized that they can treat people like shit and still get the same 3 buck tip on a 10 dollar order. In some ways, I think they are right.... I mean, this is probably because I spent years working as a waiter so I always give them the benefit of the doubt. A waiter/waitress/bartender has to pretty much beat my groin unmercilessly not to get at least 20%. read more

For those of us who don't like "Irish Pubs" - don't be scared away by the Dovre Club. It's a great little neighborhood dive bar first, irish pub second. Cozy inside (couches, pool tables) with some fair drink prices. People are nice - you're sure to meet locals who are friendly (a bit less rugged than Clooneys). read more

Pear Cider gives you the grossest breath. But I guess that's what I get for ordering a Pear Cider. This place is a dive, which is cool, and which I like, but it was a boring dive. There was nothing going on that made me intensely want to return. Three stars for letting me watch the Food Network Channel. read more

Ready for some groping, eyeballing, and acts of strangeness that may/may not hinder your thirst? Dovre is the place for such moments of libation. During a bar crawl, I snuck in behind several male counterparts and the haggard and strong ambiance of this bar hit me as well as the people there. No need to dress up for this place.....locals and regulars are what make this bar a hot zone. The bartenders (both male that night) were quick with the drink orders and I seriously thought my gin and tonic lacked the tonic. I felt woozy after three sips. Some odd thing was going on where I could not figure out if the couple was drunk and dancing, or just drunk and moving about in some strange snake-like fashion. Then again, it could have been the shadows wisping about in my somewhat loose stupor. If it were not for the males around me, I probably would not come here alone, but with a group of friends, this bar rates a 4 stars in my book. I left feeling lighter and definitely with memories from all the people-watching from my little corner. read more

I'm not sure why, but I like this bar. The crowd is pretty diverse, meaning that it's a neighborhood bar that you don't have to get all dressed up for or worry about fitting in. There's not a scene, just people enjoying a few cocktails. The few times I've been there, the bar staff was friendly. I'd rather go here on a Saturday night then anywhere else. read more

This is a dive, as in, leave your push-up bras, Kate Spades and stilettos at home. My ensemble of choice consisted of slightly stained sweat pants and a hoodie. You don't come here to a lure a potential mate, you come here to drink. That said, this is a great place for some good tunes via the jukebox and a few games of free pool. Oddly, for being what it is, the beer list is slightly lacking; however, the mixed drinks carry quite a punch. read more

This place was a splendid find! After a decent dining experience across the street at Toad's, a co-worker and I walked over to Dovre and discovered heaven in bar-form. The bar is unique. It's a REAL Irish bar...not a touristy clover-stuffed joint. There are comfy couches in a side room surrounding a classic pool-table, with crazy-unique art on the walls. The bar itself is neat as it is divided by the two rooms with a window in the middle so the barkeep can serve both sides. The beer selection is decent, the prices reasonable. The ATM fee is $2. I'll be back. read more

Elvis and Brian make STRONG drinks. Be prepared to drink it with no complaints or else they'll call you a pussy. D is an awesome bartender. She's SUPER sweet and makes fantastic shots. Jukebox is ok, the pool is only 50 cents, you can smoke inside, Toad's is across the street and Wild Pepper is a block away. Awesome place to go with one person or a big group. read more

Definitely a neighborhood bar. Stopped in for a quick pint while waiting on friends. Surprise surprise I made happy hour! $4 for a cold Trumer? I'll take this deal any day of the week. Bar stools on both ends of the bar. The bartender works both ends with seamless effort. Watch your step! You don't want to step on paws! I like this spot. read more

The drinks are strong. The people are not hipster assholes. There's pinball, pool, and... NUDE PHOTO HUNT- 25 cents a game, funny, laid back entertainment. I've never seen this place get too crowded, and I've always had an excellent time. read more

I adore this place and call it my neighborhood bar despite the fact that I live in the Haight. I've been kind of reluctant to review this place, since I'm selfish and want to keep this bar to myself and the rest of the cronies that frequent the place. Everyone there that I love, which are about twenty people, have always made a night there a good night. Many of which I can't really remember. I even met my husband there. Who ever said you can't meet Prince Charming in a dive bar?. read more

This is a super chill bar, frequented by Irish men and locals with dogs. Two of my favorite things, served alongside booze! Steph is an awesome bar mistress and is always quick with a smile. read more

I always assumed this place was an Italian social club, because "Dovre" means "where." I dunno, you get the picture. So one day my roommate and his friend invite me to a place pronounced "the Dover Club" and our conversation goes something like this: "Where's that" "Just on the corner, right there." "Oh. You must mean DOVRE" "Um, no, it's pronounced Dover" "No, it's Italian, right, isn't it DOVRE"? "Um. No. It's Irish. Look." And I see evidence of this being an Irish pub all over the outside, such as a clover-shaped neon Budweiser sign. ===================================================== OK, so I said I'd write again after I've been here a few times. The bartenders are really friendly, the beer is reasonably priced, and the pool table costs 50 cents. Bonus half-star for the night I came in when a pair of dogs kept sitting on the bar stools. This place is my official neighborhood bar. read more