Stopped by Friday night at 6:45. It was at 80% capacity, but still plenty of room to walk, stretch, perfect. Really cool vibe here, friendly neighborhood bar. Non-douchey, non-pretentious, chill. Bartender was awesome, she is your friend right from the get-go. Bar crowd is friendly too, doesn't get too loud that you have to yell, was able to converse with a nice gal two barstools over. Happy hour Mon-Fri ends at 7, with $3 wells and drafts, and free popcorn. That popcorn wasn't just stale stuff from a large carnival bag either, it was on par with fresh theater popcorn with a hint of butter, popped in an actual machine right by the door. Wish I lived or worked nearby, honestly. This bar certainly has that potential for a HIMYM meetup. Can't wait to stop by on a Sunday to check out the football crowd! read more

Northstar Cafe - Popcorn was surprisingly delicious. - Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

BUFFALO BILLS BAR. What else needs to be said? Get some franks red hot or crystal hot sauce and some wings in here and I might set up a cot to sleep on instead of the units at 755 Green st. Seriously, those units are unreal but this bar rocks that much. Free popcorn err day? Why the hell not! Keep killing it Northstar read more

I like this little dive bar because it's not too crowded on a Thursday night, there's a pool table and a good amount of seating, they serve DEE-licious John Daly's (sweet tea vodka, odwalla lemonade), and have several beers on tap for a good price. I don't see space for dancing, and I don't know why you would dance at this place unless you're completely plastered. On another note, the bouncer was very friendly unlike at many other dive bar places where they scowl at you when you enter. read more

You can't ask for a better bar bathroom. It's tight but there is a locking door for toilet privacy. The people tend to put up the seat if they're peeing, so there is a level of gentlemanly civility and seat cleanliness. There are funny pictures above the urinal that will not be photographed, as they're part of the lore of this bathroom. Would have been a five-star experience if someone would have installed the tp correctly. read more

Northstar Cafe - Privacy with a door - Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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'Twas my first visit, a rendezvous point before another progressive meal through San Francisco. Not bad even though a theme bar and cousin to Shanghai Kelly's at Broadway and Polk Streets. The staff were very welcoming and patrons - even the one puppy - seemed to be having a lovely time if it. My now typical order was a double shot of Bushmills with a lager or ale chaser and that was tasty and served well. One could do a lot worse. read more

Cool neighborhood joint with a great Happy Hour. Best seats are always at the bar but we decided to grab one of the tables next to the window this time because it was a very hot day. Mind you it really didn't help but it was a cool spot to watch the actions. We don't care for the popcorn smell but I guess it helps many to absorb the alcohol or prolong their thirst for more cold ones. Many 20 something hang out here but there are few seasoned regulars as well. read more

Nice place to watch a game. Otherwise, not so great. Crowded, marginal service, good local place.

SO FUN! Came during COVID, and the outdoor seating was great! Each group gets their own table, and theres as much mingling as you want. Drinks were delicious and our bartender was a ton of fun. Would definitely come back read more

This dive pretty much defines what a dive is, and shall always be. The drinks flow fast, strong, and cheap. It's small, crowded, and fun. The crowd is a smattering of all types from the area. There is one free pool table in the back... If you see me there, let's play for shots! read more

It's a Buffalo bar, so it's got to be fun! Free popcorn, pool, decent drinks, and overall a good place to hang out. The plus and negative of this place is the same. His name is Frank. The old man must not have a job, because he is there all the time (ok, so maybe I'm jealous). Frank will ask you the same sports trivia questions each time you meet him, so be prepared. Here they are: 1) Name all of the sports teams that have the same name (ex. Arizona Cardinals and St. Louis Cardinals), and 2) How many ways are there for a baseball batter to get on base (hint, there are 10). Also watch out, Frank is a pool shark. You have been warned. read more

Northstar Cafe - FRANK!! - Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Many thanks to Mark and the staff for hosting our #GingerStrong fundraiser in late January. I definitely suggest you using Northstar Café to host a\your fundraiser of choice. We set it up the fundraiser so that if you paid $10 at the door you got a wristband and extended happy hour pricing. We also had a special shot that we received 90% of the proceeds from. We made over $600 from the donations at the door, and just over $200 from the #GinngerStrong shot, totaling over $800 raised. We could not have done it without your support, and the support of your great team. We look forward to hosting another fundraiser next year, and we will certainly see you in the fall for what is shaping up to be an exciting Bills' season! read more

Northstar Cafe - For all my Western NY brethren, give me a blue! - Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Came here to watch the USA get eliminated from the 2006 World Cup in the first round of play. Seems like a friendly-enough place, just not sure what would bring me back. Americans playing great soccer? read more

FREE POOL AND POPCORN!! (4 stars) Although the popcorn was kind of stale, it was still addicting to keep munching on. This was the meet up spot before the Elite Yelpers started the Drink & Hunt SF game through North Beach. The location was a bit off the side from the main bars, which was kind of nice. Drinks are dirty cheap for HH and if you were an elite yelper that evening, drinks were extra cheaper. The venue was small, bartenders were friendly and always there to fill your glass up, TVs around to watch football, and the back area has a pool table. The place is kind of dark but i guess its good to taint the attractiveness of people around you! ha! Will I be back? I'd actually can see myself grabing a drink or two here on a random day. read more

Excellent choice for getting a nice cocktail during the day. At night it gets a bit crazy and packed. The drinks seem to become more expensive as the night goes on too. If you're a rum drinker, I do NOT recommend their well rum choice. It was disgusting. I had never even heard of it and it didn't even taste like rum. We've had some nice times here though, all during the day. Again, at night, especially if there is any game on, it just gets way too loud and packed with screaming people. So if you're not there to watch sports I wouldn't recommend it. read more

I've come by here for drinks a few times when wandering the area. Major bonus, they have a few awesome ciders (since I'm really not a fan of beer). The inside is kind of small, so it's not the best place to go if you have a large crowd, but it's friendly, has a great atmosphere, and a good range of drinks plus bar food. I definitely enjoy stopping by here for a drink while out in the North Beach/Chinatown area. read more

I was researching where the Bills Backers of San Francisco meet and that's how I found the Northstar Cafe. I arrived early enough to get a seat at the bar and was glad I did as it filled up fast. This place is fairly small with a room off the bar that has booth seating, a pool table and additional TVs. The bartenders were efficient and friendly. The popcorn was a bonus! Loved the retro cash register and old school charge card machine used. It's been awhile since I've signed off on a duplicate inked charge slip. Lots of cool memorabilia and sports banners serve as decor. The patrons were friendly and overall I thought this was a cool bar. Based on the many reviews, it's a great place for happy hour - maybe next time. read more

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Yelp is very much on a relative scale and in terms of a fun dive bar, this place is one of the best. The drinks were reasonably priced, the crowd was fun, friendly and there to have a good time. We particularly enjoyed the "obamarama" shot which is a vodka cranberry shot that is dangerous because it is decently strong and tastes amazing. The service was very friendly. My colleague spilled his beer and the bartender refilled it and didn't charge us for the extra. read more

Northstar Cafe - Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Northstar is the best neighborhood dive bar and the bartenders/manager Brian are fantastic to work with.

Love, love, love Northstar. And not just because I'm an LSU fan and it's an LSU bar. Such a solid dive bar, but one going back a long time, to the 1800's. Particular shout-out to London, one of the bartenders, who is an absolute rockstar, you're in such good hands. Their sidewalk Covid setup is great - with TVs and high tables and lights, it's got the right feel to it to let you drink good Guinness and almost feel like you're in a comfortable dive bar read more

Cozy little bar in a yellow building on the corner that has good happy hour deals along with free popcorn and pool. Bar that has a lot of TVs around so great for watching games. 5 dollar drafts. Eavesdropped and heard it's the true Bill's bar of San Francisco. Also free popcorn and pool - great place for after work. Shoutout my trainer Tom who recommended to me read more

Best bar in SF, and if you have a problem with them, or it, the problem is probably you. Stick to the newer bars and $20 cocktails and leave the Star for people I'd like to drink with. read more

It was the classiness of Girls Gone Wild meeting with the excitement of Mardi Gras. If you showed your breasts to the oaf in the joker's hat, he would give you fifty dollars. He was yelling at the sweaty slugs dancing to Brass Monkey. His mic cut on and off, so all they could hear was: "That's right, ...give you fif... bucks ... the sexiest pair of ... So, c'mon! ... them out and ..... them around. Yeahh! It's st...... to get ... in here! Whooo..ooo Hoo...oooo!" The ecstasy was working. One bar stool was doing a handstand on another bar stool and begging someone to dance with. The guy in the trenchcoat was impressed and threw his beads on them. One of the stools must have said something sleazy, because Trenchcoat started swinging at it and his friend Mohawk had to hold him back. The beer selection was super and you couldn't get kicked out of here if you tried. Even the couch potatoes were there to order a Miller and lip read the television newscast off of the killer flat screen. As you can imagine, it's more chill during the week. But you would feel like you'd be missing out if you didn't check this out on a Saturday on your way to O'Reilly's. read more

2012 Drunkcathlon: San Fran Edition. Review #3 Drink requirement: Order any 2 draft beers Maybe next time we have a generic drink requirement like "order 2 draft beers", we won't leave the choice up to the bartenders. The fact that they hooked us up with 2 IPAs made be love them and hate them in the same moment, the hate only coming from the fact that at this point in the competition we were pretty hammered and downing a few Bud Lights would have been a much wiser choice. The atmosphere was really great - eclectic and semi-off beat. I can definitely see myself stopping by this place for a San Fran happy hour at some point in the future. read more

We stopped by Northstar one night before taking on the all you can eat sushi challenge at Sushi Hunter. You would think we'd be smarter than filling our stomachs up with beer first...but we had time to kill. Happy hour, M-F, 1-8. Um, HELLO! 8! We got a table in the back and immediately realized that everyone in the back room was already belligerent. Resisting the urge to join the party (since we had dinner plans, after all), we kept to ourselves in our booth and goofed off on our own. Will be back! read more

Having a blast watching the Bills game with fellow Buffalo Bills lovers!! Bloody Mary's are perfect for the 10am start!! read more

Northstar Cafe - Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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One star off because they didn't Close Caption the High End Prostitution story on CNBC. I really wanted to know the ins and outs of being a high priced whore...I mean, call girl. You never know. This IS San Francisco, you know. Great prices on Happy Hour drinks and how can you beat a 7 hour Happy Hour? Freaking A! That's almost as long as a whole shift at work! Think of the havoc I could wreak on this place if I were there all day. Think of all the pints I could drink...Hmmmmmmm...... Great bartender. Very friendly and will talk to you if you want someone to talk to. I think he is into FPS on the game consoles so you can open with that as a first topic. I had a wonderful companion to drink with and to try and educate about on hockey. You will succumb to the thrills of hockey. Yes, you will!!! read more

First off, this bar really isn't that divey... We came here post-North Beach Festival, and it was jam packed. I don't know how anyone was playing pool, there was barely enough room to stand. Luckily enough though, it was also beautiful people central, so although you were being stepped on and manhandled, it was by really pretty people...which is always better, right? And, everyone in the bar was making eyes, like "hey sexy..." eyes at everyone else. It was ridiculous, I felt like every time I looked up I saw people undressing each other with their gazes... Drinks aren't cheap, but it's ok...to get your money's worth you just need to order a Long Island...t's HUGE. I got a Long Island and everyone else ordered Vodka Soda/Tonics and my drink totally dominated theirs, it was like 3x bigger...and for $9 instead of $6, it was a much better deal. Soooo............................................................. 5 stars for everyone making sexy eyes at eachother. 4 stars for my monster Long Island. 1 star for the bar kinda smelling like bathroom. 2 stars for poor music choices and for playing Shakira twice in a row. read more

I've made it to Northstar a few times, and it's usually via O'Reilly's. The bar tenders are nice and you can pick out a few songs on the jukebox if that's your thing. Beer and mixed drinks seem priced on par for a casual San Fran bar. A no frills vibe minus the blinking distraction from the strip clubs on Columbus is a definite relief. They recently hosted a nice event benefiting the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. They decorated, ran drink specials, and donated their proceeds from the night, very cool. read more

I have been living in the city for 5 months now and it has become one of my favorite bars. The drinks are inexpensive and the bar tenders are awesome...AND THE POPCORN IS FREE! It's a great place to watch college and nfl football on the weekends... read more

I walk in. I hear Jesse's Girl. A bit later, I hear "Josie's on a vacation far away...." Sold. [but the covers I have of these are much more awesome.] Friendly bartenders who, when I tried to do a blow job, studied my efforts, assured the jeering crowd, "yes, her mouth does NOT fit around it. She gets a pass." Umm, I'm talking about the shot... not THAT. Pool table, divey bar. Love it. read more

This place makes happy hour even more happy. I walk in and feel happy instantly. I leave feeling happy (and slightly buzzed), I remain happy for the rest of the night. Northstar Cafe, you make me happy. Thanks! I have only been here for happy hour, not on a Friday or Saturday night, so I can not attest to the weekend crowd, during the week it is casual, laid back, local, and relaxed. Just the place you want to chill on a week night with friends. I saw some pool tables, they have seats by the windows, full bar, attentive bar tenders (a requirement to make me happy). Can't wait to go back! read more

OK I don't get it. Seriously... Every female I know absolutely LOVES this place and insists on dragging me here. Like no joke they always want to come. What I don't get, is that if all women seem to love th eplace, how does it turn into a sausage fest every time!?!?!! All the bartenders are pretty friendly and the vibe of the place is pretty chill on a weekday night. Weekends get pretty crazy, and when it gets too crowded it loses it's allure pretty damn quick. stays fun if you can get a table though, and the pool table in back is definately clutch. Guys room has some great reading material for while you pee!! read more

Friendly neighborhood bar during the week, meat market on weekends. I enjoy going here. It's usually pretty crowded on Fridays and Saturdays. Like ourselves, everyone here is pretty. We take bets on which cuties will end up making out with which of the frat boys. A very entertaining place. read more

When you need a taste of home (East Coast)..... Northstar When you are looking for a chill place..... Northstar When you want cool bartenders..... Sub at Northstar When you want to watch the Patriots or any team.... Northstar When you want to chill with Boston peps.... Northstar Where everyone knows your name..... Cheers When you just need the score of the game, but stay for drinks.... Northstar When you want a great time..... Northstar $20 min charge for credit cards ATM's around the corner One Pool Table in the back Small Bathrooms No food is served here except POPCORN, but feel free to bring your own grub. read more

Came here on a Sunday to watch football with a friend. It was his suggestion, and after reviewing Yelp I was prepared for the worst. Luckily, I was pleasantly surprised and had a really great time. For starters, the place was not packed. I suppose this was because it was Sunday afternoon and the local sports teams had been eliminated from competition, so that reduced the number of folks inside. In turn, we had a really great table against the wall, offering a great view of the TVs, with easy access to the bar. Score. The location of this place is also a plus, as it is close to numerous pizza joints. This meant I was able to run out, grab a pie for my friends, and enjoy it at the bar. Nobody working there said anything, which is also nice. Pizza and beer at a bar with big screen TVs. Win. Drinks were reasonable, but I don't like the $20 minimum credit charge. I'm surprised at how many establishments don't know that this is illegal and that it will get them punished by the credit card companies. read more

Please tell me you will be selling Labatt's to us throughout the playoffs! We need you! I miss you. GO BILLS!

I like popcorn. And beer. And juke boxes with lots of Michael Jackson. Northstar has all these things. And to boot, my boyfriend lives across the street. I watched a few football games here last season and they make a mean bloody mary which was good Sunday morning companion. Just don't expect to be at all productive after having two :) Pretty bare bones and by no means fancy, but that is just how this girl rolls sometimes. read more

I'm always wasted by the time I get to Northstar and if I'm not, it's not too far off in the horizon. This is a great bar off the beaten track in North Beach. I have to agree with some of the earlier reviews on yes, it's mostly ex-frat guys and they're definitely cute and friendly. It gets a little crowded here on some nights but the drinks are cheap, there's a pool table in the back and a fun jukebox with a good hip hop and rock selection. This place is casual...feel free to wear your sweats/gym clothes. read more

My Uncle Walt (not a real uncle, but one of those family friend ones) owned this bar back in the 60s-70s. I logged a lot of hours here as a kid. Back then, women were only allowed in at lunchtime and had to sit in a booth and never at the bar. The cook was a Chinese guy named Fee, who made a wicked red sauce. He's the one who told me to always put a shot of vodka in. The place hasn't physically changed all that much. Whenever I go in I feel five years old again. I think Walt and Ernie and Fee would be happy. read more

This place is awesome. We found it on our walk to Fisherman's Wharf. It was quiet cuz it was a Monday afternoon. Fleet Week was in progress so among us, and two locals, was a few Navy personnel. The bartender was very attentive and fun to talk to. We had a beer...nothing special. Place has been around for a long time. It is, in fact, NOT a diner any longer. We would go back again. read more