The place is nothing to look at from the outside, but I wanted one more beer before I went home from San Francisco so I checked it out. I felt like I've walked into Cheers. The bar was completely full, and everybody seemed to know each other. The bartender was super friendly I didn't realize until after I had my drink that there's a really, really nice backyard. It's the typical out of Richmond neighborhood. You can see fences for the neighboring buildings and there's a big sitting area. read more

Date: Thursday, September 11th, 2025 Time: around 6pm, then again around 10pm Party of: 2, then 5 *Beers *Jameson *Fireball *Some other shots *Chips I was meeting up an old friend for drinks. We were headed to another spot later, so grabbed two rounds while here. I arrived first and was able to grab a table by the window. He got the first round which was just a beer and Jameson. I grabbed the second which was the same plus a bag of chips. The total for my round was $14.56. I had no idea HH had a back patio. We ended up there for our second round. I adore sitting outside, so it was nice to catch up while sipping our drinks. After our event, we came back for two more rounds to end the night. Our party grew to 5 and we sat at the bar. A gf got the first round and I got the second round of shots. Total for that was $31.20. I had Jameson, some had Fireball. I can't recall the rest. Fun neighborhood bar. REVIEW #3856 read more

Hockey Haven - Beer, Jameson - Sports Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Dive bar. Not bad. Decent service. Drinks are what you'd expect from a typical dive bar. Local neighborhood vibes. I would not come specifically to this spot, but would only come here if I was in the area and just wanted a quick pregame drink! read more

Special dive-bar to the neighborhood. Good cheap drinks, good food (when they offer food), and good waitstaff. Go there when you want a drink and be left alone. read more

If you ever watched Cheers on television or streaming, you would know the vibe here. Friendly neighborhood dive bar with tv screens so you can watch the local teams play the big game. And because we live in an area where we have solid sports teams, we are treated to a whole schedule of watchable games that you lose your voice screaming at the screen. It is infinitely more fun to watch a game like 49ers Eagles in a room full of strangers bound together by their home squad. I had a beer and a mezcal-soda and their complimentary turkey chili last Sunday. Made friends instantly and high fived strangers after the dominant win by the local team. So fun, I heard this spot sells steaks on Mondays. I need to come back to try that. JYW highly recommends. BTW, there is a back patio here too. read more

Hockey Haven - Inside the bar - Sports Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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A classic dive bar, I've come here to watch hockey a couple times, contrary to the name it is not a hockey bar. Hockey is not the priority sport. They have a limited cash only, until sold out menu that I have yet to try but the food sounds pretty good. The bar tender was nice and quick, the bar is pretty relaxed, good place to catch any sporting event on tv. read more

my partner looooooves dive bars, so this is our little spot whenever he comes visit me in the city. the atmosphere is lowkey and friendly. we also went here to watch the superbowl and saw homemade food on the pool table for all the folks including the customers, which was very wholesome. read more

A bar that feels like the embodiment of a Dive bar (in the best way possible) My girlfriend and I stopped by here for drinks while waiting for a table at The Laundromat up the street. The bar itself is a quintessential Sports/ Dive Bar - TV's every where playing different sports, some small tables to sit at, and a pool table in the back corner. My girlfriend and I ended up grabbing a beer and a gin and tonic respectively and just chatted and watched the PBR (professional bull riding) event that was airing on one of the TVs. Also - that gin and tonic was one of the best I've had in a *l o n g* time. Staff here were friendly (notably the bar tender and the guy working the front door) and a lot of the patrons were amicable and easy to talk to. I don't find myself out in this neighborhood often but, if I did, I could easily find myself being a regular here. 5/5 just purely based on the vibes alone. read more

Fun bar and fun music! I met up with a group of friends after a day at the park, and it was nice to be inside, it wasn't too crowded, and still be able to enjoy the really nice patio outside. You can play music on the jukebox from your phone which is nice and convenient. Make sure to bring your physical ID! The bouncer will not accept the CA DMV app on your phone. read more

22 with a valid ID and still got denied service at the bar. Apparently, the staff here can't read a calendar or a birth year. Truly impressive how much they hate making money. read more

Walked in with a group of friends on a Tuesday night and as we're talking about what to order. I went up to buy a bag of chips while deciding on my drink where I was told our group looked "f***ing suspect", yet no one had took our order or asked for our ids. We were then told to "get the f*** out". Very upsetting as we didn't get helped at all, and were genuinely looking to get a few drinks and play pool. Seems like the bartender was focused primarily on the repeat customers and ended up being extremely rude to us. read more

Solid local bar. Good amount of TVs. Also got pool tables. Nothing fancy, but seems reliable.

The bait and tackle shop is practically next door. It is much easier to go fishing before you come here. Sort of miss the place, mostly friendly happy people here. I think, it appears to have weathered the pandemic alright. I stopped by last week and still busy. I am definitely happy I still do not live around the corner anymore. read more

Came in on a Saturday night around 9:30 pm and it was great! The place was full in a good way, but not crowded in a bad way. Always appreciate a place that throws some good old school vids in the tvs. There was definitely a "regulars" squad hanging around the pool table but they were all very friendly and respectful. Will definitely be back :) read more

This place is very fun and had an excellent vibe! We ordered Irish coffee and some mules and a bloody Mary. So so good! Staff were upbeat and the patio outside is a nice place to sit and chill. You can also play music inside and play pool. Lots of high top seats and you can feel the local atmosphere. Very chill. Loved the Irish coffee! Got to come back. I liked it. read more

Thank you Megan! We had a blast! We will see you next time we're on the west coast! Excellent ambience, great bartender, very friendly locals, cold brews on tap! We loved the atmosphere and the back patio was the cherry on top! read more

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What a lovely chill bar. Friendly staff, locals telling stories, fun decor, vintage vibe, and an outdoor garden! I was on a tight timeframe, otherwise I would have stayed much longer. I love this area of the city, and and would love to claim hockey haven as my own neighborhood bar read more

Hockey Haven is arguably one of the best examples of a modern day Public House that I can clearly describe. The little neighborhood it occupies is sleepy, but still in one of the most vibrant Cities in the World. It's spacious, there are lots of good TV viewing spots, good drinks, great bartenders and a pretty stellar "Avenue-style" backyard. I've come here for years. I now live nearby (very, foggy, nearby) and I come on occasion. Love it. Great people. Interesting people. They are 100% on track. There are very few ways that you could make a fun public gathering bar as neighborhood oriented and yet not drawing in bar A-Holes. Good folks here. This place is on point for being the only real bar on Balboa Street. It's open, they've got good TV's and lots of space for a pool table. Plus the backyard. It's located in a spot of SF that locals come to gather. Great Job! Shamrocks! read more

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Very friendly staff and great outdoor seating! A really cute and relatively cheap dive bar. Just a great ambiance for sitting and relaxing on a slow day. My wife and I stopped here to rest our feet from a long day walking around the city. Great idea! Really felt relaxed sitting outside watching people stroll by and sipping a cold draft beer. Just a great afternoon rest stop. TL;DR: Good dive bar. read more

This is a dive bar that sells good steak on Mondays. Came here with my wife to watch the game and relax. We drank Guinness and watched Sunday night football. We heard that people were complaining about ID checks. I'm glad they're doing their job because I wouldn't want my underage children drinking here illegally. read more

Great atmosphere and attentive bartenders. Great selection for on tap beers and prices are very reasonable. Outdoor seating is available and plenty of TV's inside. A gem in this neighborhood. I will patronize when I'm on this side of town. read more

Watched the Super Bowl here! Wasn't crowded which was nice and the bartender made my drinks correctly and was very nice! They had a potluck style food layout for everyone for free as well which was cool. The vibe was definitely not it from the older customers though who groaned at the halftime performance and were talking about their day and what music was. read more

Sad that I live soooooo far away (read: across the Bay, lol). Perfect chill, cozy neighborhood bar. Has a nice outdoor area too! Bartender was super friendly. Plus they have chips! Woo. read more

Great local sports bar and dive bar with plenty of TVs. Their smashburger is also really good.

Lovely backyard area, and just the perfect amount of old and gross for a dive bar Love that it's pretty much the only casual spot to sit down in the dark and enjoy a drink in the Outer Richmond read more

Place is very cool. I went one time with my husband and our friends and this lady bartender is rude for absolute no reason. She said that the place closes at 12 am but it really closed at 2. I know some bars close early due to a slow night but they had a lot of the regulars. My husband asked to play pool and she said only til 12. I was sitting at the bar watching the whole encounter and was just irritated and wanted to leave due to this woman's attitude towards us. Anyways my husband started playing pool with one of the regulars, and 12 am hit the clock and there was another guy bartender and my husband asked if he can keep playing. The guy was like yeah sure we end at 2. The guy had no attitude what so ever. For my experience the lady did not even come up to me at all. I was sitting at the bar for about 10 minutes while she was at the bar. Not tending to me. And finally the guy came up to me and was very friendly. He got me my drink and made conversation with me and all the while, that lady was giving me stank eye. My husband went with his friends just yesterday. They had literally just walked in and we're trying to figure out what they wanted and as the bartender was standing there. my husband was handing his ID, the lady said out of nowhere, "alright, your pissing me off." Mind you, they literally walked in and was having a good time. It's not like they were being obnoxious and loud. She said that to them about 3 times but my husband and his friends were just trying to enjoy the night. They all still were bothered by this woman. I think this place is great. I don't know what connections she has.( Other people would have been fired for giving that kind of attitude). But they need to do something about that female bartender. Because little by little this place will have more reviews like mine. read more

Positive: Neighborhood bar with a great backyard that is dog friendly that could have easily hit four or five stars due to it's hidden gem type of appeal. Negative: A bartender with a completely unnecessary and over-the-top attitude. Wife asked for a cocktail and bartender said they don't serve cocktails and "it's not that kind of a place". Asked for an amaretto sour instead thinking it could be simpler to make and bartender again said they don't have it and "it's not that kind of a place" and then asked the owner(?) if they had amaretto and sure enough they didn't. I finally asked if they had rum (she said yes) and if she could make a simple rum punch and she said "well we have rum and we have some pineapple juice and mixers" and then after looking around at the patrons seated at the bar, said for the third time "it's really not that kind of a place". Now the patrons didn't seem to give two hoots about all this which was cool but she kept making an unnecessary big deal out of repeating that line "it's not that kind of a place". Ok I get it, you are a cool divey place and have a reputation to uphold but maybe an easier and friendlier way to respond could have been... no we don't have those cocktails but what if I made you drink Blah or drink BlahBlahbittyBlah instead which could be close to that taste profile. Jeez. read more

This place is great with same faces and bartenders who know you by name and at times have your drink ready when you sit down. It's been around for many years so clientele can range from 21-75. I gave it a 4 star due to no food is served, but you are allowed to bring in food to eat it there or have food delivered to you at the bar. read more

Real neighborhood bar vibe. Lots of bad reviews because they didn't play the Stanley Cup - kinda hilarious. Glad to know I can come here and watch Warriors games. I really wish all bartenders had a handle on how to mix drinks. Whenever I ask for a manhattan and the bartender needs to ask someone how to make it - we're in trouble. Bar tending is more than pouring shots and pints. To be fair, one bartender made me a decent one - then the other had no idea. I think she just gave me a glass of Rye with a cherry. Overall this place is fine, but won't get much/any repeat business from me. read more

Hockey Haven - Busy Friday night - Sports Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

This is a good place but bartender girl working today (07/31/2023) had very bad attitude to customer, I cant believe that.

This is a one of the best dive bar in the Outer Richmond. Great drinks! The service is great and wait time for a drink is never long. There is a great selection of beers. And (surprisingly) a good wine selection!! The place has a internet juke box and a pool table. Just an all around great place to bring your friends and hang out! read more

Hockey Haven - Cuba Libre (aka Rum & coke). $4.50 - Sports Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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These days, we hear a lot about loss of community, about how nobody knows their neighbors anymore. In most parts of San Francisco, a city hell-bent on being the capital of the so-called global village, that's a pretty accurate assessment. But in the Outer Richmond, the local businesses are still fairly local, and Hockey Haven is among the throwbacks to a time when neighborly proximity meant more than it does elsewhere in the City today. Along with Simple Pleasures coffee shop less than two blocks away, Hockey Haven serves as a hub for 94121 neighborhood news, recreation, confab and most importantly, good times. Before 6pm, diurnal drinkers populate the place, often with the owners tending bar. An early-evening crowd talks up the news of the day before giving way to a rangy nighttime crew, right around the moment when the jukebox shifts from the Allmans to contemporary hip-hop and the pool table gets going. Some nights it's a sleepy tavern, good for chatting with locals or meeting friends after taking in a show at the Balboa Theater across the street. In the fall there's a steak dinner offered during Monday Night Football games, which packs the place. And there's usually a pretty good party in there on weekend nights, when one of the City's best bartenders is working. That'd be the tireless Erin, whose drink specials now complement a beer and liquor selection that's a step beyond the usual. The Haven's storefront doesn't seem all that welcoming, but step inside and you'll find a warm and friendly joint. (Every neighborhood has its characters, and Haven is no exception. I've rarely seen trouble in there, and the community tends to police itself.) It's a truly mixed crowd, where regulars and newbies commingle. Whatever's going on -- election season, Super Bowl week, neighborhood events -- you'll find a gregarious crew ready to loosen their jaws. By the way: It's not really a sports bar, although the TVs usually have ballgames on. Don't expect all hockey all the time, but if the Sharks are playing, they'll surely be on at least one of the four flat-screens. Also, they started accepting plastic a few weeks ago -- it's no longer cash only. read more

It's a Saturday...a great day to watch hockey games. Sounds like Hockey Haven is the place to go - nope. They don't even have the NHL package, and they're only playing the nationally televised game on a day with 14 hockey games. Please either rename your bar to something else, or get the NHL package and play hockey games...something you're advertising with your business name. read more

Hockey Haven looks too spiffy for a dive bar, it's a neighborhood bar though. lots of flatscreens, amenities: pool table, internet juke box, video games, etc. large microbrew draft/ bottled beers selection. ong bar, didn't see HH pricing/notice designer hard liquor available. pour: "drake's pride" (4.75) -nice stout, strong stuff bartender recommended, knows her stuff. on draught: -nice place to sit and drink/think. read more

I first darkened the doorway of Hockey Haven in the mid 80's when I was barely old enough to get a drink. A friend of mine threw a party at his place on 48th Ave, and everyone had taken some bastardized version of X that I didn't want to deal with. I quietly slipped out the door and headed down Balboa street, striking out aimlessly in search of big-city nightlife. Ten blocks later, Hockey Haven seemed to be the only thing for miles around. When I walked in, the place had a half-dozen sedate patrons...all middle aged men. Fast forward to 2006, and nothing has changed. Hockey Haven is still an oasis of nightlife in the asphalt tundra of the Outer Richmond. If you keep walking in a straight line after you pass it on Balboa street, you won't find another pub till you've crossed the Pacific Ocean. The other thing that hadn't changed was the entirely male clientele. Only two attractive women graced the establishment, and both were working behind the bar. Most of the clientele seemed oblivious of my presence, but a few cast me curt glances that said "ya ain't from around here are ya boy?" I pondered what few tourists and city-dwelling fun seekers made their way out to Hockey Haven...and figured that strangers in this neck of the woods were a rare thing indeed. Hockey memorabilia was nowhere to be seen. Still, an extremely cool collection of baseball-related photos graced the back wall. Amongst them were team pictures of the San Francisco Seals from the 1950's. Another was an autographed picture of Lefty O'Doul and Joe DiMaggio with an unknown man standing between them. I asked around the bar...nobody seemed to know who the third man was. Yet another awesome black-and-white photo showed a single player running towards the outfield wall after a fly ball, neither face nor team logo visible but with a number 24 on his back. No name was below the picture....nor was one necessary. A sizable shotgun bar runs the length of the East wall while two window-seat tables look out over Balboa street. The beer selection was pretty respectable for a place this far out in the boonies, and a chalkboard over the bar displayed a wine list that included Ravenswood Merlot, Hess Cabernet, and Kenwood Chardonnay. Guys, if you've ever taken a date on a pub crawl, you don't know what a blessing this can be. All in all, it's a pretty nice space. The locals seem OK, but they're hard to approach. If you're with a date, the wine selection can be a lifesaver. But if you come here single, the male-to-female ratio leaves little chance of meeting someone special. Eat before coming here...the kitchen in the back hasn't been used since jukeboxes held 45's, though the walking-distance restaurant selection is surprisingly decent. Say what you want, but I've taken a liking to this place. Check it out, and you may do the same.... read more

Hockey Haven - Sports Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

I've been coming to hockey Haven once a week for about two years now it was one of my favorite bars but I invited friends from out of town who are a little different than the normal crowd we were harassed by regulars and forced out I will never return hockey haven even though I live close I recommend all my friends who live a little bit differently to avoid the regulars are extremely homophobic. I'm disgusted I gave them my business. I have met the owner and it's sad this happens when she is not here. I feel shame in writing this but I can't bite my tongue I hate that this attitude is in sf especially the part of town I own a home. Carmel what the hell! read more

Good casual bar out in the Richmond. There's a pool table and a golf video game. The beers are at a good price. I paid $4.50 for an Angry Orchard cider. I went here around 9:30 on a Saturday night and they had already ran out of Guinness. It's a cool place to get a good beer and hang out with friends. read more

The greatest bar in the world. Never leave me HoHa. Chill local bar, once inside you feel far away from the stress of rapidly changing and bland-ifying San Francisco. read more

Great local bar. Nothing fancy and they have some of the best beer prices in the city.

I have to admit that I'm a bit partial here because I live out by the beach and the Haven's been my local spot to drink for a few years now. But honestly, it's a great neighborhood bar. The bartenders are very professional - special props to my girls Erin and Carmel - so you won't have to wait long to get your drinks and they're all pretty laid back. The jukebox is fairly diverse and the patrons aren't ALL old crusty dudes, as some of the reviews have mentioned. there's been a bit more of a younger crowd coming in the past year or so but no matter what, you'll still find some funny regulars around. read more