Visited for the first time last night and am very glad I did! The atmosphere of the bar was cool--not too crowded, not too empty. The bar service was good, and the drinks were definitely affordable. There isn't much seating available, but I didn't mind standing near the bar and watching Viva La Bam on their TV while enjoying my beer. I was especially pleased to see the owner's dog roaming the bar. Who doesn't want to meet a happy dog while they're out on the town? Definite highlight. The lower Haight is becoming one of my favorite spots in the city, and I'm glad to add Molotov to my list of bars to visit in the neighborhood. read more

The men's bathroom at Molotov's makes the joint. Located indiscretely at the back of the bar, it's perhaps a ten-by-ten room, remarkably stench free, as I recall. The door does not fully close, much less lock. Once inside the men's room by way of a gentle nudging, you are greeted by a sink, a toilet, and a urinal. Thankfully, I did not need to use the toilet, as I just could not see myself squatting while some drunk punk crashes through the door directly in front of you (jamming it open, of course, as that would be my luck), and stumbling over to relieve himself two feet to your left. This has the perhaps unintentional side effect of transforming the men's room into the women's room by random girl grabbing nearest patron / tattoo'ed nightclub security reject to act as bouncer in front of the door. To get into the women's room, you need to grab a key from the bar, and the men's room is freely accessable. Every square inch of the restroom is covered in Marks-A-Lot graffiti of the typical variety. Unfortunately, it's not nearly as interesting or captivating as the stickers that plaster every vertical surface in the bar proper. But then again, who's really all that witty while pissing away cheap bar and whiskey? The time to be witty is the first stage: the drinking. If this doesn't bother you, feel free to wander down for a cheap PBR or five. By the time you're done, you'll need the restroom. I liked it enough here to happily visit twice in 18 hours. read more

Many hours later, as he quaffed his Spaten at Noc Noc, Andy was to remember the fateful moment when Wes took him to discover Molotov's. Oh, wait, no he wasn't. He had already forgotten we had even gone there. And how can you blame him? It's a forgettable bar in a neighborhood of memorable ones. read more

I really really don't want to like this place. It's a total biker/dive bar with annoying tattooed people that are super sketchy and annoying. But other than that (hence the one-star deduction), Molotov's really does do everything else right. They have the strongest drinks in the Lower Haight, while also being quite affordable (4$ for a gin and tonic not during happy hour? Really?), while also having an incredibly nice group of bartenders (also very skilled) who will run after you down Haight Street if you forget your wallet. It reminds me why I love the Lower Haight, there'[s so much variety, all of the bars in the Lower Haight are so different from each other yet each one has a certain time and place when it's right. read more

The fact that is has LOTR pinball says it all. Great bar, I wish it was in Long Beach. Of course, then it might not be such a great bar. I only wish the pinball machines had been plugged in. Sigh. When I went by the next day someone was playing, so I was TSOL on the LOTR. 4 rather than 5 stars for being dog friendly, and for the no pinball for the wicked factor. read more

The drinks here were awful! I asked for a tanqueray tonic and it tasted like rubbing alcohol. To top it off, my fiance bought a beer and paid with a $20 and the bartender insisted he paid with a $10 and would not give him the correct change. They were rude and make horrible drinks. I'll never go back! read more

When the Toronado is just a bit too loud, too bright and too hectic, and I fear for my dog's life since she's liable to be trampled under so many many many careless drunken staggerings, or slopped dripping wet with a bit too much sloshed beer, I head over to Molotov's. There, generally, I can sit in the dark with the pup and the boy, sip my fernet, and feel, amazingly enough, almost tranquil. (Like the Toronado, outside food is welcome -- or at the very least -- ignored.) read more

I come here for the cheap PBR ($2/bottle) and the smokin' neck-tatted door-guy. And the music. And the rad movies they play at the bar. And the pool table. And the pin-ball. And all of the super-cute "punk" boys in tight jeans. Yes, this is a good neighborhood bar to have. read more

The Lower Haight doesn't really have many dive bars. I hear you calling me an idiot, but think about it. Toronado is like the brewer's alehouse. SF Underground seems more like a club. Mad Dog is like a legit "pub". Noc Noc is... well... Noc Noc. So it's good to have Molotov's right the midst of it all. It doesn't get much divier than this. Dogs, crazy art on the wall, low red lights and enough people wearing black and/or metal to make you ask: "what band is that guy in?" The beer selection is pretty good, definitely above average with Full Sail, Prohibition and Boddington's on tap. For those of us on a budget, they even have High Life and PBR in bottles. The seating is fairly limited so if you're planning on sitting down you may want to rethink your destination. Also props on having an ATM in the bar so I don't have to use that seedy ATM on Fillmore and Haight. I have many fond (i.e. blurry) memories of coming here for that last beer or shot of Jameson and for the longest time thinking this place was in the Mission. If all else fails, there are about 6 bars within a block. read more

"Excuse me." *"Oh! Sorry! Shit, lemme buy you another..." *To be used when you spill your drink or someone else's on a stranger; PS - this will most likely happen here 'cause it is almost always crowded... er, maybe I'm just the biggest klutz in town? "Are these your quarters?" The above phrases are frequently uttered by me at this place. Pretty much every time I'm here. Yes, I am a klutz and I'm usually the one who spills the drink of the night, usually on someone else, and usually when I'm not even partially drunk yet. They only have one pool table so don't expect to bogart it all night okay? They also have a nice range of pinball machines near the front so your friends named Dan H. are always entertained. I always like to take my from-waaaay-out-of-town friends here because of the awesome mixture of people who tend to show up here. I am always fascinated by their responses to our lovely diverse culture: "Was that a man?" me: "No that was a woman." "Was THAT a woman? We don't see people like this in Tracy." me: "Yes. Now she is. You should move." "Huh?" me: "Oh, they're probably going to Burning Man next week." them: "What's Burning Man?" Oh lord! My friends are so entertaining! I love the Lower Haight. read more

A fun place to gather with your old friends during a weekday. I went there with my friends - had an amazing time with my friends. That said, the bulk of my experience was around the good people that I met there and the oddball stuff that happened there. I found the staff to be largely unresponsive - waiting and yelling finally did the trick. And, please, go across the street to the bathroom. There's a long waiting line for the scary bathroom - and when you do get into the bathroom, your body will prevent you from going to the bathroom as it is so rancid. Go here for your friends and the environment - leap over the staff to get what you want. Go to the bathroom, later. :) read more

I own the entire Fugazi and Bikini Kill discography, but lemme tell you: I am NOT punk rock enough for Molotov's. And neither are you. And neither are your friends. And neither is the majority of the crowd who frequents this place on any given weekend night. BUT if you love the sweet, sweet stench of intermingled whiskey, cigs and piss and your ideal of hotness involves spikes, tats, and all black ensembles, this is the place for you. Just remember to pee before you come and do not touch anything (both mobile and immobile). read more

Molotov's is just crusty enough for me. I like the jukebox, the people inside are fun to watch, and they actually have some cool paintings on the wall. I took off a star because I can get my usual drink at Deliruim for a dollar less. Absolute greyhound @ Molotov's: $5 Absolute greyhound @ Delirium: $4 But Molotov's is closer, so I'll take it! read more

I'm pretty sure this place could give a shit about their yelp ratings, but I'm gunna go ahead and give them 5 stars anyway! 1. $2 PBRS. YES! 2. The most eclectic crowd city. YES! (we're talking punkrockers with their dogs to girls in forever 21 going out on the town. This place is hilariously eclectic and that's why i love it.) 3. Awesome juke box and/or DJ I pretty much never leave this place disappointed. read more

Can you give a dive bar 5 stars? Do they want 5 stars? You know what I hate though-- hear me out-- I hate a bar that tries to be a dive bar but is just a generic piece of trash. Even worse is a shit bar that tries to be a dive bar but has no locals and overpriced drinks. This place... is not that. It's a dive bar that knows it's a dive bar and is genuinely a dive bar in all its glory. Go here for cheap beer, pin ball, bring your dog and a meal (who the hell cares) and get lit. Pay cash. Classic. read more

Tall skinny bartender wearing all black with a studded belt and face. Every square inch of the beams and walls covered in stickers making obscure references to obscure punk bands. Where the walls do show through it's old dark wood. Tables and chairs are also old dark beer stained wood. Bathroom decorated with stickers and grafitti. pool table. I love this bar! The bartenders were wonderful as my throbbing head can attest to this afternoon. It's a great local dive bar and I felt very much at home here. I'm sure I'll wind up here again, and next time I'll pay more attention to the jukebox. read more

Oh God I hadn't been there since my days of punk rock, bad choices and seedy guys. My first time back in a long time and it felt like slipping back into my Mohawk and studs.....F*CKIN RIGHT ON!!! PBR still dirt cheap (DUH) shots come and go at your leisure and if your lucky, some guy hocking useless camel stuff outside will give you a free lighter!! Oh yeah Ill keep coming back when I need a reality check and want to run into old friends I haven't seen in ages......Have I changed since then...You're damn right I have, oh don't let the pink hair tattoos and piercings fool you I am a big girl now but still as hardcore as ever....Well underneath the squishy marshmallow outer shell anyways read more

So I went to an international high school in India. My buddies and I thought we were so punk rock. We skateboarded. We were in India's best (only?) punk rock band, The Perms. And we ordered most of our music from Lookout! Records catalogs and random listings in the back of Punk Planet. This is all pre-Internet, mind you. And then my senior year my family moved back to the US, and I attended a public high school. I vividly remember walking the halls on my first day, and running into a pack of crusty punk kids. One of them bumped me and said something like, "Watch it, fag". Okay. I guess I was not so "punk rock" after all (nor did I want to be, anymore). Molotov's takes me back to that experience. Everyone here looks straight out of a Rancid video, and while the jukebox is good, there is only so much scowling I can take. This place just has majorly unhappy and mean vibes. If you are crust-core or whatever you want to call it, come here to be miserable and hang out with your brethren. Otherwise find a more friendly dive bar in the neighborhood (my vote is to just walk over to Place Pigalle on Hayes Street). read more

This is my bar. I might eventually get eighty-sixed for medicating too close to the front door (I'm sorry bro, I was drunk and thought I was further over) but even that wouldn't affect my opinion of this place negatively. The people who complain about the cheap booze... shouldn't buy it. Most standard and luxury brands of liquor are available here, so if you buy a well drink and get Taka vodka in it buck the fuck up, or better yet don't be so fucking cheap and buy some real booze. I regularly drink pints of Newcastle and glasses of bourbon here while reading, writing or just enjoying the interesting spectrum of people who frequent this incredible establishment. The bartenders are, from my experience, all very capable if not all overly polite, with some being genuinely warm and courteous. If you don't come in with a bunch of fucked up attitude, chances are you will not receive any. I'm not a punk by any stretch of the imagination, and I always feel right at home at Molotovs. Their jukebox ranges from the expected punk and metal selections (as well as some unexpected ones) to reggae standards. They have James Brown, Nina Simone and in addition to other hip hop and rap, Wutang and Public enemy. I would wonder about someone who couldn't find a song to listen to on that machine. They have chess and other board games behind the bar for those nights when you decide to post up for the evening and eat take out food from any of the surrounding restaurants at the bar's comfortable table booths. They have a pool table, naturally, and I 'm pretty sure the door actually closes on the women's bathroom if not the mens. Pinball is a huge bonus, and if you can get on it, try the Lord of the RIngs machine they got recently. The multi-ball on that shit is bad. The only thing really missing from this place right now is a dart board an me. I'm going to fix that this instant. read more

Only been here once, after dinner with a pack of folks down the street at Naan & Chutney. It really pained me to walk PAST Toronado to hit this spot instead, but this is where everyone wanted to go. The beer selection didn't knock me out, as they only had one beer on that I would actually pay to drink: Lagunitas IPA, and it tasted like they'd watered it down. However everyone else seemed to enjoy their cocktails, and the be-stickered surfaces made for good conversation starters. For some reason I got onto a tangent of spouting random quotes from The Big Lebowski whilst sitting there admiring the stickers, but then again, it never seems to take much to get me going on that. Location seems to be one of the main reasons why this spot thrives, but for my beer-drinkin' dollars, I'd rather brave the crowds at Toronado across the street. read more

Got here on Halloween and we wanted a safe place to chill after a long night. This place was warm and Martin the bartender and own does a great job of making you feel welcome and taken care of. Looking forward to coming back to this neighborhood bar with a pool table. Cash only but so homey read more

Dive bar. Pool table. Dog friendly. Cheap drinks. Cool people. You will get drunk. read more

I only hung out here for a short amount of time. I accidentally snuck past the guy checking IDs. Corey lost his ID (and complained about it for a while) he stood outside all dejected. He managed to get in, because apparently the bouncer said he recognized him and had all ready checked his ID. They let me bring in pizza from across the street -- yay! anyways, Corey ended up finding his ID later, inside the cuff of his Santa pants. read more

Kinda smells. Kinda dark. Kinda scary. It does what it needs to do, which is offer up booze to Lower Haight locs. If it did not have the pinball machines, I would never go back. But it does. So I will go back. Damn my pinball addiction! It makes me do things I wouldn't normally do, like sell my body for quarters. And go to this bar. read more

I'm not the typical Molotov patron, but I have only fond memories of this place. Despite being a suburban prepster in the city, the bartenders have never given me or my friends the "you're not from around here" brush-off. In particular, Kevin (a Molotov legend in his own right) kept the drinks flowing and even acted as photographer when one party-goer posed in his birthday gift - a classic radio flyer wearing a doggy bowl for a hat that was bought from a homeless man. To this day, I still have no idea what that drunk bastard was thinking in that red wagon, but the pictures are priceless. Admittedly I've run into some gruff service in my visits to the bar, but I accept it as a bar staying true to itself. If you want plush seating and refined surroundings, the Marina is a short cab ride away. read more

Molotov's my favorite bar in Lower Haight. Expect cheap beer, pinball, and good tunes. read more

It was many years ago. I am sure the staff has changed. Maybe the owner has changed. But if they are still deliberately showing seriously ethically questionable videos on their television screens (this went on for over 30 minutes), it's why I never went back. It is a memory I have never been able to shake, and it compelled me to see if the bar was still in existence. Maybe now I can let it go, like Elsa. I've been carrying it a long time. read more

This place is definitely in need of some more color..and I'm not talkin' about ink. What is it with this place? Why is it that whenever I walk in here I get stared at like half of the guys & half the girls are ready to fight? All I want is a fuckin' Guinness...posers! 2 stars cuz they serve beer & I get thirsty sometimes...real difficult criteria to meet, sucka asses, so does Chuck E. Cheese's read more

I went for a birthday surprise drink-a-thon and my experience is probably colored by the fact that I actually found parking right across the street. Dive Bar, not a lot of service and that was A-ok. We gathered in the booth up front and the PIBs (people in Black) were nice to us. If you get loud and rowdy, no one cares, 'cause you are competing with the punk music background. That means, you gotta be pretty darn rowdy to be even noticed. Yeah, it is a hipster/goth/punk sorta place and if you show up in pastels talking about re-runs of Friends, you won't be well received. First of all, you are prolly too old if you are talking about Friends with enthusiasm and finally, you overshot your destination and should've ended up in the Marina. But I liked the place and would def go back for another meetup with like minded souls, even if they do look like they were just dearly departed. read more

What a great bar ! Best music, reasonable prices, pool table, and rad bartenders. Beau the bar tender is LEGEND ! Go by and have a drink ! It's worth it read more

I don't even remember very well... All I remember is they were playing "Use Your Illusion II" front to back. That's enough to earn 5 stars! For some reason the juke-box wasn't working, or someone fed it a million dollars! Everyone was choosing any song they liked. Well, after "Use Your Illusion II." read more

I visited Molotov's while in lower Haight & had a great time. Inexpensive drinks, great atmosphere, & really nice bar staff. The jukebox is full of GREAT music - We sat just inside the front door & fed it dollars late into the evening. Really enjoyed this bar! Stop in if you can! read more

Molotov's - Yeah, I'm a tourist... - Dive Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Living 3 blocks from this place use to be my local, I could: Put a buck in the juke box and listen to Sam Cooke, The Pogues, Biggie and The Clash. Play pinball Get a fernet with a high life back for 6 bucks Get PBR on tap or in bottles. One of the bartenders would let you guess the card under the cap of the pbr to win a free beer. Never did win that game... read more

Good selection of music on the jukebox, $2 PBR... What's not to like? Chill punk rock dive bar in the lower Haight that doesn't seem to give a shit what you like as long as it's not Google Glass. On the real though, you're probably gonna get your ass beat if you try any of that tech bro shit here. Just no. Stop. Don't. Get your drank on and save the number crunching for work, techwad. Kplzthxbai. read more

Yup, standard divey goodness. I had a friend who was ALWAYS at Molotov's playing pool no matter what time or when I called him. He and I hung out frequently so I inevitably found myself there quite often. It's the only place on that block of Haight St. that serves hard liquor. We also used to kickit at the Noc Noc and then head over to Molotov's just for a warm up shot of whiskey in between. There's nothing wrong with a little Molotov's but I don't usually go out of my way to frequent here. read more

Had a funny moment when we discovered that not only was the bouncer also from Minneapolis, he was even from within a few blocks from us. The topic quickly turned to the CC Club, a great hipster/dive bar from our shared neighborhood. "Yeah, this is basically the CC Club of San Francisco," he said. In my book, that's a hell of a compliment. Can't say I disagreed. read more

Been a while since I was in here - I just remember it being like a cave that had been given too many coats of glossy paint and it was TOO LIGHT so the walls were a little shiny. Like flourescent. This is going to date me in a really embarrassing way, but back in the day, back when I was too poor for anything other than piss beer, my friends and I used to hit a whole slew of punk bars in the Lower East Side. they had three things in common -- cheap beer, LOUD LOUD LOUD CAN'T HEAR YOURSELF THINK music, and this sort of living (cheap beer and dirty surface-enhanced) dimness. This joint aspires to something but doesn't pull it off. And the something isn't much to start with. read more

With the relentless gentrification machine in high gear these days, it's getting harder and harder to find a punk-friendly bar. (Indie hipster joints don't count, because so much indie rock is just plain weak and listless.) So it's always great when places like Molotov's are around. Cheap prices. Hardcore jukebox. Pool table and pinball. And occasionally a hot mohawk girl perched on a barstool. These are all good things. If there's anything I don't like about Molotov's, it's that it isn't quite punk enough. It needs less lighting, more graffiti, more band stickers, ripped old show flyers, and that slightly threatening aura you feel at a hardcore hangout. Maybe it's the windows -- they let in too much outside light. A punk bar should really be a black hole with crummy furniture, slummy locals, and at least one postcard punk passed out by the back door. Until then, I rate Molotov's with four pyramid studs. And the hope that it sticks around for a while. read more

So I'm walking back from Golden Gate Park on my way back into downtown. My girlfriend and I are like 11 hours into out last day in SFO and we've been walking all over, miles on foot. We decide to head down Haight out of the park and what do we stumble into? Walking past Molotov's the first thing I noticed was Monster Bash pinball, a favorite game of mine while in college in Oregon, it's no Mideival Madness, but it's pretty awesome. It was about 5pm on a weekday and the place was starting to pack up with a happy hour crowd. Most people in there were somewhat hipster with a bit of a metal vibe thrown in, lots of fixed gear bikes out front and sleeve tattoos inside. I walked up to the bar with a clear look like I didn't really fit in and visibly stoked for pinball. I got a PBR on tap for only $2 on the their happy hour prices, first bonus, the bartender was kind of cute with that "somebody farted" look on her face. I was immediately summed up by this bartender as not quite cool enough to be in this place, which I probaly wasn't, tourist suitcase on my back, and *gasp* a collared shirt? I had no tattoos, no ironic moustache, no skinny jeans, no v-neck sweater, how dare I, how dare I indeed? I did my best to fit in by smoking a Parliament outside and ordering a PBR didn't I? Her only response to my excitement about pinball was, "yeah, have fun with that". I can't really blame her I guess. The table next to ours looked to be full of guys she knew all drinking PBR long neck bottles with practiced looks of subtle ennui. All I was looking for was a quick game of pinball with my girlfriend and a cold beer to allow me to stay and play. I found both at Molotov's and it made me happy. I definitely felt the vibe that I was too square to be in this place but I didn't really mind. For a $2 beer and some pinball it is a small price to pay. I'd say I would go back again and give it another try, but I don't live in SFO. Oh, and I got one multiball but didn't crack the nut for the replay, oh well, it was worth the visit anyway. read more

Felt like I was at just another bar in the Mission. Not a compliment. But if you're into it, the majority of the crowd was of the punk variety; skateboard optional. Whether or not there was actually any vodka in my vodka & cranberry is debatable. read more