I have always liked this bar (for its $2 PBR) because it's really chill and I have a soft-spot for old-man bars, but last week I heard both bartenders saying about the neighborhood crime "if you're brown, get out of town". When I asked him to repeat what he said the bartender (who is a short fat bald headed man who looks like Curly from the Three Stooges...without the humor) stuttered, "Oh, I mean, um, what I meant to say if someone wants to cause trouble they shouldn't be here." And then he digressed, "This is North Beach, not Bayview or hip-hop land,,,)." Curly is a racist and so is the other bartender (brown hair, dark mustache, old man) for agreeing with him. Lame Rocca's, lame. I guess I'll find my cheap beer elsewhere, at least when Curly and the guy with the molesterstache are working. read more

Bar hoping in SF this was one of my favorite bars because it has a dove-bar home feel like Sacramento (where I'm from). Paul was my bartender who is a character and isn't shy about starting a conversation. Some businesses in the big cities forget about the hospitality and the care for the customer's experience. Don't be shy when you tip these guys! The bar is kind of small, I could only imagine how crowded it can quickly get on a busy night. A pool table would be awesome at this bar if they had room for it. read more

You want a super old-school, no-frills dive? You've found it. Old photos and street signs plaster the walls. Oldies crank out of the dated jukebox. And, classic drinks come out from behind the bar, such as Irish coffee. Drinks are cheap. Think 2 draft beers, a whiskey on the rocks, and a gin and tonic for $22. There's no food. The chairs are sticky. And, the clientele drink for hours. Welcome home. You'll thank me later. read more

Rock'n La Rocca's The first clue on the Yelp Drink & Hunt Event led us to this little corner stop bar. Nice little joint, though the tenders could have been a bit more cooperative, as they acted if they had no idea that there was an Elite event taking place that evening. At least they make a decent Ol'fashion. We found our next clue in the back of the bar. The space seemed pretty chill, I might stop back here for a few one of these nights. But no time to lollygag, we got the clue, deciphered it, took our shots, and were off to the next location. read more

Ronnie...aka..Sil...makes the best bloody mary in town and he is the best ever tender of bar in sf!!!!!! Always pleasant and helpful to tourists...locals and tourists both have love for him read more

La Rocca's Corner - Sil - Dive Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Last weekend my boyfriend and I wandered in here with pretty low expectations. We had caught a ride over to this side of town hoping to meet up with a friend, but ended up wandering around deserted streets lined with closed bars and restaurants. After a few minutes of walking, off in the distance we saw neon signs beckoning us in. We desperately made our way inside, glad to see signs of life. After sitting down it was pretty obvious this is a local hangout, but I disagree with what another yelper said, "tourists stay away". We felt totally welcome and ended up staying here most of our nightly strictly because of Paul. Paul really made our whole experience, he's hilarious. I wish I could remember what he put in the shots we had, they were amazing... read more

Good: - shows all the big football games (real football that is) - not too crowded (which is good if you want somewhere to sit while watching the above mentioned games) - the local white collar alcoholics hang out here which gives the place a somewhat miserable but cozy feeling - not too pricey even though it's located on the tourists' main avenue - even though they don't serve food themselves they are ok with you bringing over food from the taqueria next door and sometimes they will even take your order for you and run over and get your food while you're watching your game (now that is good service!) Not so good: - sometimes the waiters can be a little slow and lazy - a tornado of flies always reside in the middle of the room....they don't really bother you as they stick to their spot in the middle of the room, but a tornado of flies is always a tornado of flies - the TV-screen could be bigger Not sure if it's good or not: - one of the waiters (short one with long hair in a pony tail) can sometimes get drunk while off his shift and start harassing his co-workers and guests (it makes for a good show since he seems to be kind of harmless) read more

This is myyyyyy type of place. Super friendly staff and nice stiff drinks. It's that type of "dive bar" that is a level above an actual dive. You don't feel outclassed but you don't feel dirty. It has subtle hints of nostalgia from the old school cash register to the generic coffee maker. But then a complete juxtaposition because they have a very nice espresso machine. They also have chargers to charge up your phone which is a nice touch for a tourist out and about. If you go make sure Tonya pours you...she's the best!!! And Johnie behind the bar takes that extra care. Will definitely be back!! read more

Came for a weekend trip to the city and came across this little bar. Great atmosphere and good old school rock music. The staff are very friendly and drinks are reasonable.. Great location with window seating. read more

I have to admit that I hadn't ever been to La Rocca's Corner until a couple weeks ago and boy, it's a great dive bar. My friends who live in North Beach are regulars at this place and I can totally see why. $3 dollar beers, great well spirits, a few TVs and a nice calm dive bar attitude. It's a great place to grab a couple cheap drinks pre Cobb's comedy show and watch some of the bay area sports teams. You'll find a bunch of regulars in there along with some visiting tourists making their way up from Fisherman's Wharf so, it's a nice mixed crew of patrons. Solid dive. It's not a destination by any means but, if you're in the neighborhood, it's a great option. read more

The best bar my husband and I went to during our stay. Very funny bartender, Sil, was great company. We came here on our last day of our trip. I really wish we went there at the beginning so we could've gone more than once. We will definitely go back when we visit again! read more

Great Bloody Marys. Johnny is a great bartender. The patrons are welcoming. I'm so glad I decided to pop in.

Most people: Drinks, football on TV, conversation with the barkeep about how/when/if the 49ers will ever turn things around while watching the cable cars roll by. Me: Espresso, Sunday paper, headphones with EDM to drown out the football while watching the cable cars roll by. All: A fine way to experience an eight decade North Beach institution. read more

It's clear that this bar has been a fixture in the neighborhood for a long time and you can feel the character when you enter it. It's a nice place to catch up with the locals, but until recently it wasn't a great spot for younger crowds. However, I stumbled in randomly on a Tuesday night to discover the launch of 'Beer Wars' every 2nd Tuesday of the month. Teams of co-eds were competing in games from beer pong to flip cup while listening to a newly added sound system. When I asked one of the cute girls near me why they were there they told me that the winning team gets their bar tab comp'd at the end of the night and the bartenders let them dance on the bar and do body shots. Nice! read more

La Rocca's Corner - Kenny (bartender) and a patron on Mardi Gras - Dive Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Bartender friendly a good stop after Lombard street. Try the local brews. Gives me my Wisconsin small town vibe.

Stopped in after wandering around town and had a cold beer. Staff and locals was really friendly. After the beer we asked about where to get breakfast, EVERYONE had suggestions and recommendation, which all the suggestions had great reviews on yelp. They also had lunch and dinner suggestions. What a friendly, quiet, relaxing bar. Great place for a cold beer, mixed drink, or just a causal conversation. read more

STAY AWAY!!! If I could give this place zero stars, I most definitely would. It is not deserving of even an inkling of a star. Myself and some friends met my boyfriend there after a commercial shoot. (No, we are not models or actors...my friend's brother was the director so he graciously let us be in it.) Anyhoo, Jeff didn't feel like hanging out in the cold for the whole thing, so he headed down Chestnut to the nearest bar: La Rocca's. When we got there, there were maybe six people in the bar, not including my bf or the bartender, all of whom were dudes who clearly were not used to interacting with women on any level. When we ordered beers, the bartender thought we were all on the same tab, but we weren't so he proceeded to tell us the bill was "all fucked up". When he figured out who owed what, my friend asked if there were any drink specials since her beer was a little expensive. The bartender replied with, "Five bucks is expensive? Where the fuck are you from? If you want cheaper beers, you should probably just fucking drink at home." Not that five bucks is terribly expensive, but there are many, MANY (way cooler) bars in the city, with cheaper drink prices. His hostile response was a little shocking and totally douchey. We all agreed no tip was in order and when he picked up our credit card slip said, "Wow. Thanks." Sorry, fucktard, but you act like a dick to customers, you're gonna get treated like one. I know this is a total tourist trap of a bar, so we really had no business being in there, but Jesus, if I was a tourist and got that kind of abuse, it would leave a shitty taste in my mouth about SF for sure. It left one in mine. The only way I would ever step foot in this dump again is to purposely not tip this asshole. Too bad, because according to my bf, about ten minutes before we got there a really cool older bartender was working who hooked him up with shots. Sorry, old dude, but that douchebag that took over for you tonight is a real stain on your establishment. Totally unappealing on EVERY level. read more

I've seen a couple Badger games here, and while it's a little small and out of the way for me, it's a great little spot to hunker down on a Saturday afternoon. There's something about North Beach on a weekend that's really nice and almost magical. But it's nice, with decent beers on tap, sunlight pouring in, and a really friendly staff waiting on you. And we bring in a bunch of Badger fans, they serve us complementary sausages, which makes them top notch in my book. read more

Great place to hang comfortably, people watch, catch some local history / gossip. Delicious pear cider there, love that stuff. Can order grub from the place next door, they'll bring it on over. I like to stop over before and after a show at Cobb's Comedy Club a few steps away. read more

Standard tavern. Cheap drinks, nice out-of-the-way location. Beware roving bands of Sacred Heart alums prone to coke-induced random violence. read more

Great hole in the wall bar! I walked in late one night when visiting San Francisco for business. I was with my fiancée and our friend and we were meeting with at least other 2 people. We passed up a few bars and none had any seating available. We strolled into this place, and had a great time! read more

Everytime I come to La Rocca's, the night (or day) gets really interesting. I love this place because everyone is really nice and keeps their eye on the prize: to get drunk. I brought a couple of my friends and gave them the bartender's specialty (my personal favorite)- its basically tequila and espresso. That will get you moving if your feeling unmotivated. These guys know their stuff- ask them about the history of Fernet and they'll give you the story. Great spot, glad its in my neighborhood. read more

Great bar! Corner spot perfect for people-watching, great jukebox that they'll just pump $$$ into and let you choose, beers galore, and rugby on t.v. Dude, it's the most ruthless sport EVER! Metal screw-ins, no pads, catching AND kicking... I hope they have a US-NZ Gridiron so our NFL primadonas can get a taste of real hits and possibly knock their egos down a bit. A huge plus-The mex place next door will deliver right to your barstool! Nice : ) read more

Great place to come grab a drink and hangout. The place seemed to be packed with regulars who didn't mind sharing their conversation with anybody else who happened to be in the bar. The friendly atmosphere extended to the employees as well, who were friendly and easy-going. The place is extremely laid back, which makes it a great place to relax with a drink. As an added bonus, they've got TVs up for the games read more

This is the place where tourists meet the locals and native San Franciscans. Love the atmosphere, cable cars rolling by bells ringing. Bartenders are friendly and attentive. Outside sign always has funny comments. read more

Been here all of three times, but each time was a good time. Sports/Rugby bar, well priced drinks, great jukebox, but it tends to get VERY crowded and VERY loud. Lots of fun memorabila on the walls, the bartenders are nice and heavy handed with the liquor so go on, get drunk and enjoy. read more

This place is known for its strong drinks and strange cast of regulars. There used to be a guy named "Pooh Bear" who was this sweet yet ornery semi-homeless guy who weighed about 300 pounds but was the "sweetest bear around"... I used to send him postcards from my travels around the world care of La Rocca's, and the bartenders there would give them to Pooh and he'd cry because someone thought of him. He died recently, but his legend lives on (ask any of the bar staff for stories). I guess it used to be an old Mafia hang-out, but now it's a hang-out for soccer hooligans. A quick walk from Fisherman's Wharf, the more commercial part of North Beach, and right by Bimbo's, La Rocca's is a little out of place, but that's the way it likes it. read more

One of the nicest bathrooms I've seen in a bar in a long time, very spacious and clean. The aromas are tantalizing! Outside of the bathroom the smell changes to stale beer and dudes. Lots of dudes and beer here... read more

Mike roddy and the boys know how to make you feel welcome. Found this place 15 years ago in a rugby crawl. Always stay at Columbus inn down the street so I can start and end my night here and walk back. Cheers mates! Oh, try the fernet... read more

This was the first place my roommate and I came for a drink after moving into the city. We now go at least twice a week and consistently end our nights with a shot poured by our favorite local bartenders. Comfortable atmosphere, interesting people and cheap drinks... great North Beach establishment. read more

I just returned from 5 months in Ireland and was expecting not to find any decent pub-like atmosphere in north beach. Wrong. I love La Rocca's. I can always hear my friends talking, they have pear cider, and I can people watch from the window stools. It's a block from my apt and I wish it were my living room. read more

Conveniently near Cobb's for a pre-game beer!

$15 for a Long Island Iced Tea!!!! Wow! If you are a tourist, watch out. They have special pricing structure just for you.

The bartender here was too drunk to attend to his duties, and was outright rude to some of his customers who were trying to place orders. His shouting at the patrons to leave the bar at the end of the night really killed the experience here, and I'd never visit this bar again. read more

Nice little hang out. We are visitors from far away Idaho and the bartender remembered our names and what we drink. La Rocca's is a must stop when we go to SF. Kinda like the Lipo! read more

Stopped in here randomly with my boyfriend looking for a bathroom and We decided to have a couple beeers. And I'm so glad we did because SYL was AWESOME! I've worked in the service industry for years and let me tell you that he is the main reason we will be back! Not only did we get drinks but we got a show as well! He had us laughing the whole time! Thank you syl for your amazing customer service skills! read more

Divey and I love it. My son and I rented bikes on the wharf and rode around the city for an afternoon. It was a perfect day, we worked up some sweat and enjoyed my favorite big city in the world. Afterwards we had some time to kill so we walked around and looked for a cool place to intake some carbs. A trip through Trader Joe's for some water and chocolate bars lead us further inland and right to La Rocca's Corner for a couple of pints while the afternoon turned into evening. The locals were talking crap about the 49ers and all the 2014 season would hold for them. I just sat back and enjoyed the show, and the wonderful ambience of a old school corner bar. read more

I hate it when bars market themselves as places where the "tourists meet the locals", or have one of those obnoxious "THIS IS IT" signs, how much more of a trap could this be? read more

I spent too much of my life there so I quit drinking and now stroll past and think fondly of the many good memories. When my old SF friends come back to the city we often start or end the evening at LaRocca's. Except when Bimbo's and Cobb's have star headliners parking in this part of North Beach isn't too bad especially if you are willing to climb a few blocks to retrieve your car. But why drink and drive when the 30 Stockton is right outside or you can grab a cab before the competition really gets tough in the middle of NB? The place can get busy when there are big North Beach events, the local nightclubs have a big name performer, or there is a big sporting events. Great jukebox, wide selection of beers, usually an interesting mix of people, and I like every one of the bartenders. Tourists comprise a very small percentage of patrons and don't spend nearly the amount of time that the locals do. This is a great place for a drinking session with your buddies. Though LaRocca's isn't for every one, particularly people who don't understand proper bar ettiquette and abuse the word douche. One Yelp review that cites the bartender kept dropping the F bomb is something I've never seen anything close to but certainly isn't outside the parameters of possibilities. In that case the Yelper states that three entered, ordered three drinks gave the bartender a card and then told him they wanted to pay individually. I'm not sure what is weaker: Not telling the bartender that the first card was for one drink, or being too damned cheap to buy your friends a drink? For the literate folks out there the place during most hours is more like "The Tender Bar" and less like "Cheers". Those times LaRocca's is hosting a reunion party, showing ballgames for the Wisconsin Badgers SF alumni, or other local televised sporting events the place loses some of its dark charm. The odd shape of the place creates a great flow that makes the place feel comfortable. Best Recent Moment at Larocca's: Giants are two outs away from winning the World Series when a 30 Stockton pulls into the bus stop. Bus driver opens the front door and asks what is going on? and is told "We're about to win the World Series. Except for two people on the 1/5 full bus everyone takes a position at the bus length of windows on the right side of the bus to watch BWilson close out Texas. Victory was sealed and big smiles and cheering in the bus as it pulled away while LaRocca's became a Champage drenching lovefest . read more

My friends and I had the best time here our first night in San Fran! We had been down by the wharf getting Irish Coffees, and decided to walk around. On a whim, we saw this bar, and decided to go in and get a beer. Before we knew it, several hours had passed, and we were hanging out with the owner after hours, having great conversation, and drinking way too much. Good times! or at least I think..... read more