This is a true neighborhood watering hole. I didn't have the impression bar patrons traveled overly long distances to come here. Nothing wrong with that. Unless maybe if you're not a local regular customer. As a non-local, I came upon it as I was walking on Taraval all the way from Ocean Beach. The first time I visited, I was looking to wet my whistle without resorting to booze. The bartender happily complied by pouring me a Diet Coke. I felt badly I didn't order a proper stiff drink, so I tried to make up for it in the tip. Months later, I found myself returning on a rather nippy afternoon. As luck would have, just as I took a seat at the bar (and not the one shaped like a concave set of cheeks), I saw a hand drawn chalkboard advertising "Tito's Borghetti Espresso Martinis $12". Yep, that was it for me (Photo 7). The Tito's brand really made the difference, especially the Caffè Borghetti Espresso Liqueur. Very smooth with just the right amount of kick. Meanwhile, the true regulars were socializing with each other like an episode of "Cheers". I just need to take a long ride on the L-Taraval MUNI line to get here. Gee, maybe I could become a non-local regular. DRINKS - 4 stars...the espresso martini is the get here AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...very suburban feel in the Sunset SERVICE - 4 stars...always treats me fine here TOTAL - 4 stars...hey Norm! RELATED - Exploring the Sunset? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/LDOvVmENkL read more

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We got: * chicken wings in house sauce, blue cheese, carrots and celery $16 * side of steak fries $8 * side of onion rings $9 Came here to watch the 49er game since it was walking distance where our friends got there to snag the last free table a half hour before the game started. I recommend placing your FULL order as it will take awhile on game day. Price point the chicken wings were delicious and I would recommend! I was still a bit hungry and my bf ordered me the fried artichokes and the chicken basket but I think since it was such a madhouse, they forgot. Looking forward to trying them next time though! They were attentive with keeping our tables clear of empty glasses, plates etc. Everyone on staff seemed friendly and it was a cool place to hang with everyone and watch the game. Good amount of tvs and a back area. | January 11, 2026 | read more

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Great drinks and food! And TVs a plenty to serve your needs. And the bartenders are great too! Plan to watch your next sporting event here.

Hell yes to the corn bread and burnt pieces! You won't regret it. Freaking amazing! Only served Thu-Sun read more

Karl’s Beacon - Cornbread w/burnt pieces. GET IT! - Sports Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

I was introduced to Claudio, the owner, by a coworker and he allowed me to host a small friendsgiving in the back of the bar. The location is great with decent parking outside. Everything was very clean and with the pool table in the back, it makes it a very nice place to hang out. He already had a nice playlist so that I didn't have to connect my own phone for music. My guests loved their drinks and kept telling me how nice the place was. If you ever want to host a small shindig for adults, Karl's Beacon is the place :) read more

Karl’s Beacon - Lovely area in the back for small get togethers - Sports Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

I love coming here and it's a cool place to chill and relax and enjoyable they don't rush you to leave..

The bartender was nice and friendly. I wanted to order food but the kitchen was closed. It opens at 4pm fyi.

Cozy, neighborhood bar. Nicely curated cocktail list for the ladies and bang for the buck! Will try the weekend eats next visit! read more

Karl’s Beacon - Sports Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Soo good! Reasonably priced drinks (cheap by today's standards) and great food! The burnt ends were amazing! Can't wait to try more food here. read more

Karl’s Beacon - Burnt Ends - Sports Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Inviting space with good food. It's an awesome environment to watch a big game because the fans REALLY show up. I just wish they were closer to my side of town, (hint hint). The bartenders are all expert -- they know what you want before you do. I look forward to going there soon! read more

Okay... so this is a staple of the Sunset. Friendly people, blue collar. Full bar... Yes it's a good price. Let's get some munchies! Stepped this one up. Smash burger Wings Corn bread I want to try to chicken ceaser wrap. Looks good though. Have a room for pool. Long L bar with tables behind. If you're here you know it. If you're visiting check it out. read more

Karl’s Beacon - Thursday- Friday 4pm - 9pm Sat-sun 12:30 - 7:30 Wings are good Smash burger - Sports Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

This is what a tavern should be. Great rotating selection of beer, bartenders that know what's up, food served Thursday-Sunday (pay attention to the Sunday handmade pasta), great light coming in from windows, a pool table, tvs and real interesting crowd. On any given day you can see cops, firemen, alcoholics, baseball coaches, teachers, Subarus, and neighbors. The chef, Chance, is legit in the kitchen. Both owners are very involved in the community and willing to set up parties in the back room, host music or just listen to you complain. 5 STARS. read more

First the name shows its run by San Franciscans... the rest is known to all who stop by...good drinks...good food...and good friends

Great spot! Kind of place to hang out and watch games with nice patrons and very personable owner/ bartender. Will be back for sure. Nice little gem find. read more

A super simple and chill neighborhood bar in the Parkside neighborhood. Ample amount of street parking around. Inside is nothing fancy - it's your typical dive bar. Drinks did the job and at an affordable price. It's a great place to watch a game or to stop by for a drink after you've had dinner around the area. read more

Burger & wings were massive portions and so delicious. Drinks were good too. Fun spot to hangout with friends

We had our 60th Elementary School Reunion at Karl's Beacon from 4-7 pm on a Saturday. There were 25 in attendance. They have a lovely "back room" which easily accommodated our group. There was plenty of seating, including low and high-top tables. The owners, Claudio Luporini, Jr., and Patrick Gallagher, were so easy to work with. The curtains were tied back to allow plenty of light into the room. We chose to have several appetizers from their Catering menu. All of which were simply delicious and served buffet style. They provided us with china plates, napkins, and cutlery. They were very attentive in restocking our food items throughout the evening, thanks to Chance. Patrick is the chef and is definitely very talented. Guests raved about the tasty items. Claudio tended the bar and assisted us in setting up an account whereby attendees wearing our special name tags would order drinks from the bar at no cost. He kept us informed about our tab throughout the evening. Everything worked out perfectly and was reasonably priced. I would highly recommend Karl's Beacon for an evening of great pub food and cocktails or as a fun party venue. read more

This place is hit or miss I keep hearing good things about it but the service I have experienced does not add up. The bar tenders that I have interacted with were rude and ignored me. read more

We went there for happy hour for our school staff. It was like 4:00 p.m. and the bar was completely packed on a Friday with one bartender and he definitely focused on the locals, not people he didn't know which was not okay. It took me 15 minutes to get one drink and then I went for another drink and again I had to get a tall male to order my drink because the bartender would not look at me! Maybe think that Friday is a busy time especially for school happy hours and put more staff on. And also I ordered a wine spritzer it cost $10. Oh and then I ordered a normal glass of wine. Guess what? It cost $10. Wouldn't you think that a wine spritzer would cost less considering that it was a quarter wine and 3/4 soda will not be returning unfortunately. read more

A good neighborhood bar. Very aesthetically pleasing. Great service. Bald Pat helped us out on a Monday. Killed it. Love it.

Awesome service, heavy pours and great prices! I feel like this would be a type of small town local bar from a rom-com movie. The bartenders are super friendly, attentive and are generous with the drinks. I've been here more than a handful of times and never had a bad experience. Like what others have said, the vibe is super friendly and chill which explains why they have a lot of regular. They normally have a few games playing on their TVs which is great because shots and sports are always good together. I've been here on their slow days and had great conversations with the bartenders and I've been here on busy game days where they're still friendly and quick with their drinks. If you're looking for a place to chill, this would be a great place to check out! read more

Recently renovated, Karl's Beacon is clean and shiny but with the feeling of a down-home, local, divebar. They have lots of TVs for watching whatever local sports team is playing at the time. There's even a back area with a pool table and large screen. The bartenders are friendly, and they have a nice selection. They even serve aperol spritzes! There's also outdoor seating, but you won't be able to watch the game. read more

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Very kool place to hang out. Cozy & clean. Atmosphere is chill. Food wise we had the stake fries

Good local spot. Super clean, decent drinks and there's pool tables in the back. Prices on several rounds not bad at all. read more

Love meeting my husband here after work! The vibe is friendly and chill. And the bartender is attentive. In our experience, they ask you what type of beers we like and serve us accordingly. We haven't yet tried a cocktail but the shots are generous. Now for the food.... We CRAVE the wings here lol. They are so good. Not a traditional buffalo wing. Not too hot, slightly tangy, with a hint of sweetness, and highly addictive. Anything we've had here has been delicious. Great place to watch any game too! read more

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This is the Covid spot to get away from it all. The neighborhood cheers where you feel comfortable to grab a drink. The new outdoor seating is AWESOME. Patrick and Claudio are always coming up with new cocktails to change things up and of course they have beers on tap and your favorite cocktails. I love it when @theporkexchange is there on Sundays for the rice plates, burgers and pho. Awesome collaboration. read more

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Karl's Beacon has become my favorite neighborhood bar. The owners, Claudio and Pat, are always friendly and welcoming. They also have a good amount of outdoor seating, along with two TVs. If you visit on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Sundays, make sure you order food from The Pork Exchange. They serve Laotian food, with an Asian fusion spin to it. We got the Porko Loco ($11) and the Lemongrass Ribs ($11). Everything on the menu is reasonably priced and the food was sooo good. Jason, from The Pork Exchange, knows what he's doing in the kitchen. The menu changes so be sure to try his food. Overall, Karl's Beacon is a nice neighborhood spot for food and drinks. I've been there a few times since they've reopened (during covid), and I always leave feeling like I've had a good time. read more

Karl’s Beacon - Porko Loco and Lemongrass Ribs from The Pork Exchange. Mac Drizzle and Victory Sour Monkey beers. - Sports Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Came here few days ago for happy hour after school to meet colleagues from local HS up the block. Came early to beat the crowd. Nice bartender, waiter and other locals welcomed me and my coworker. Ordered wings and potato skins. Yummy! Clean, and pretty accommodations...sweet place to hang out. Large room in back our group took over the place. Lots of good vibes and fun! read more

Cool place, okay alcohol but WTF service?! My friends and I came to support a local bar and spent a few hundred dollars here. When one of my friends asked this bald bartender for a glass of water, he made an offhand remark asking for a "please" to close out our sentence. He then scoffed and said "you millennials" insinuating that all millennials are without mannerisms. This bartender not only was rude, but was also presumptuous by assuming our age based solely on looks. This sort of judgmental behavior is highly unacceptable, especially for those in service work. It's so unfortunate my friend had this experience when all he was doing was asking for water. All we were doing is trying to have a good time with friends out of town. I work in the service industry too and I get that it's stressful, but at least I don't take it out on my customers. read more

Karl’s Beacon - Sports Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

I've been sober for 10 years and I asked for a mock tail and they gave me an alcoholic drink. When I asked why it wasn't a mock tail they said respect the bar. I might relapse over this. P.s f the bald headed bartender who gave it to me. read more

Looking for a great fun place to go have a drink, stop in to Karls Beacon! All the bartenders are amazing! Claudio, Pat, Mike to name a few, really make you feel welcome and at home! It's a great place to watch sports, hang out with friends, meet new friends and even shoot some pool if you like. Great spot! Highly recommended! read more

Lively neighborhood bar. Friendly staff. Classic old style decor. Most amazing was the food!

Great neighborhood bar with a fun vibe and personable staff. I've been here several times and enjoy the relaxed vibe.

My partner and friends been coming here since they opened. Claudio, Patrick and the whole staff are super friendly and welcoming. We always have a great time here, the alcohol selection is amazing. We also tried the food a handful of time and it's super yummy. They have the games on TV on game days, pool table in the back. This is just what this neighborhood needs. read more

Great food and a few strong drinks made the night. Good neighborhood vibe! Service was on point!

Great food and service. The place is cool with a classy divey vibe, if that is a thing. We went there to relax, we were promptly greeted and served by Claudio. We ordered the house special espresso martini and a Heineken for drinks with an order each of fried artichokes and burnt ends. The food was excellent. If you are in the area don't miss the chance to sample the flavor of this spot! read more

Had so much fun on a Saturday here! They have a fantastic outdoor patio and Parklet. They also had food provided by this delicious place called Meat & Fire! Brisket was outta hands!!! Great to see businesses coming back alive in our SF neighborhoods! read more

Karl’s Beacon - Sports Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Tried this place on a sunny Sunday afternoon - there was a pop up (Pork Exchange) that served REALLY good food. Bartender (owner?) was really friendly - great vibes. Outdoor seating. Support these folks. read more

Karl’s Beacon - Sports Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Good vibes. Nice bar. Good drinks. Friendly staff. Pool table.big tv. Plenty of tables. Big room at back.

Excellent taste in music,which by the way, I have yet to hear the same genre- can't wait for you to Reopen! read more