Dive bar? Inexpensive drinks? This place is pretty cool if you reside in the area...I don't think I'd go out of my way to go here by any means, but that's not an insult. This is a typical SF dive bar with a pool table. Service was great, ambiance wasn't too bad either. Their patio looks nice too, would be great with a group. read more

Philosopher's Club - Patio - Sports Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

Went there with the girls while waiting for our table up the street for Thai food. I visit to the Mainland couple times a year. While we always love dive bars usually like Li PO, when it was opened Broken Record, this place was dead empty. No vibe. It was Wednesday night. Drinks were mediocre to did I just spend that on this!!!! We tried to talk to the bar dude to ask where else we could go after dinner, since we aren't from around here. He cold shouldered us. Maybe we weren't their type of customers. We ended up walking to this Irish bar after dinner across the street, they told us about bars Riptide, White cap. If you're waiting for Thai food like us, just go to that Irish bar across the street next to the Mexican place. They make really good Irish coffees. read more

Bad quality drinks, sloppy service to downright rude service. Went last week during the weekday night. 4 people there at 7pm. Go down to McCarthy or Dubliner. Places packed. read more

Philosopher's Club - Bored rude bar man. Serving 5 people. Place was empty - Sports Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Definitive dive bar. Grab a sando or burger next door and a beer here with friends. It is what it is. Service is friendly Great neighborhood spot. read more

Stopped by on Mother's Day while waiting for some Thai take out located around the corner and wanted to cool my jets with a draft of Trumer Pils. Solid Austrian brew previously made in Berkeley but understand they moved the brewing and distribution to Paso Robles. Spotted the logo merchandise and purchased the cap pictured since I do a fair amount of traveling for work. Gotta mix up my merch since I seem to always promote Original Joes. Justin who I met previously when George was working greeted my son and I warmly and our 2 drafts were $7 each. This is definitely a "Neighborhood Bar" where like at Original Joes everyone will know your name. read more

See all

Philosopher's Club is the kind of neighborhood bar that reminds you why people fall in love with West Portal. It serves as a true hub for the community. The owners clearly care about both their establishment and the neighborhood. They regularly host fundraisers for the local elementary school and run a holiday toy drive in conjunction with SFFD, which says a lot about where their priorities sit. As for the bar itself, the spirit selection is excellent and the prices are refreshingly reasonable. Adena and Brett are two of the best bartenders in the city. They pour with skill, remember people, and set the tone that makes the place feel welcoming. There's also a charming little patio out back that many people miss. It's worth seeking out if you want a quieter spot to enjoy your drink. A standout of a neighborhood bar and an easy place to become a regular. read more

Sweet dive bar in the West portal area of San Francisco. Joe vibes lots of TVs with the sound on as well. There's a pool table in the back. Decent drafts on tap. Blind pig seven bucks can't beat it. Except cards and can bring food here. Will come back. read more

Nice and clean. The bartender was very friendly and helpful. They don't serve food , the drinks are great and the people are nice. I did not feel intimidated because they were very cool. Would visit again. read more

Great spot for some pre or post game drinks ! The owners are two brothers and you can tell they love what they do. The vibe is typical bar, it was be chill but also can be noisy on a weekend. Nonetheless , amazing spot read more

First and foremost, the bartenders and brothers are awesome. The people and company are big reasons why I would be a returning customer. They were super nice and treated everyone including newbies like myself with warm welcomes and even the ritual fare-the-well! I am pretty sure I replied with thanks and farewell too. It leaves me with a warm feeling in my tummy, just like pizza, or drinks. So I'm happy to return. Oh, as for vibes, it was packed! Local school teams were represented with the helmet display, so represent! They're famous mural is also a must-see. read more

Philosopher's Club - 805! Tried and true - Sports Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

No matter how much time passes this neighborhood bar always feels good to come back to. We don't live close by which is why we don't frequent it more often but this is the kind of bar you wish was in your neighborhood. Great selection of libations with locals that are friendly in an institution that's classy and timeless. Had the pleasure of meeting one of the owners/bartender, Justin, who was terrific. Just an all around good time with great drinks, and wonderful people. read more

Philosopher's Club - Sports Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

Local. Friendly. Historic Dive Bar. No frills. Lots of local San Francisco sports fans. read more

Still probably my favorite bar in SF and if not, in the top 3. First, it's not a dive bar, it's a neighborhood bar. It's clean and friendly. Some neighborhood bars have regulars who treat it like a clubhouse and let you know you're not welcome. Not here! The regulars are friendly and if you're a Giants fan, within 30 seconds you can fall into a great conversation. The drinks are fairly priced and the bartenders are just the right amount of chatty and very congenial. Sit at the bar or the high-top tables. Don't forget to look UP to see the amazing Philosopher's mural. If you can't figure everyone out, they'll give you the answer key. The only way the public transit options could be better would be if they drove the muni inside the club. And for me, the neon sign outside should be a city landmark. Don't change a thing, PC! read more

Best bar ever. Love the people that work here. It's a great local spot. Perfect that it's directly outside of west portal station as well. 10/10 read more

Great place to catch a Niner game!! I don't think I've ever gone to a bar that cares more about their regulars/locals. The staff/team are so thoughtful and kind to everyone who stops in. They also have very cute merch. The pricing on drinks is definitely more than fair. Definitely a new favorite spot. read more

Philosopher's Club - Sports Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

I like this spot. The bartenders are chill and let you bring in your own food. It is a quiet spot with regulars. They play the game on the big screen when it is on and there's a pool table at the back, as well as an outside patio at the back. It's a good spot to unwind and chill away for a bit read more

Philosopher's Club - a shelf full of sports memorabilia - Sports Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

Awesome local that you can always count on seeing local sports and friendly service from the owners !!

Josh is awesome to talk to you at the bar. They do a great job with service and the drinks are fantastic including great beer selections. Fun crowd every night. The pool table and TVs are great too. read more

Philosopher's Club - Beer and pool... what could be better. - Sports Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

A great neighborhood bar! The bartender is awesome. Very friendly and welcoming, and he makes the best manhattan in town! I also like the mural on the ceiling. read more

Tl; dr: Old-school SF bar. No-frills standard cocktails and beer at reasonable prices. Perfect spot to chill after a long day. No food, but you can bring some food in while you enjoy a pint. Yes, they have credit cards now. No, you can't bring your dog. After I moved to San Francisco, I discovered there's a specific breed of bar that is unique to this city: the building, the bartop, and the bartenders have been in the industry for a while, but it doesn't smell like dive bar (Thank goodness). You're not going to get a mojito or an Italian red wine or a round of fancy 1942 shots here, but you're going to get a solid Margarita or Manhattan, Fort Point on tap, you know, the classics. The beer (and the aforementioned Margarita) isn't going to break the bank, though yes, I'm sure it's more expensive than it was 5 years ago. And it's one of those places that when you walk in, everyone is going to look up to see who just walked in, in case they know you. People pre-game before going elsewhere (more expensive) in places like this, or end the night here, or end up staying - there are several TV's to watch the game here, as well as a really nice patio outside. I suppose there are a lot of regulars warming the seats. The Philosopher's Club in particular is close to the MUNI metro station, so it lends itself to that kind of behavior. Some people find this intimidating. In my personal experience, this is quite helpful, as, if you've been to one of these establishments and walk into a similar one, it's easy to get into a conversation with the bartender there (all bartenders in these types of bars are very friendly, low-key, and don't like bullcrap... and they all seem to know each other). It's a place where I can sit by myself with a book and choose to have a conversation with people sitting next to me, or not. No pressure. I guess it's like Cheers, but San Francisco? But if you've read this far, you'll know that you either know what this kind of bar is and you like it, or you prefer other kinds of bars. There's a bartender behind the bar, not a mixologist, you see? I guess what I'm saying is that I have a soft spot for bars like this, though I do frequent other places, and this is my favorite of all of them. The Philosopher's Club takes credit cards now, so you don't need to have to use that ATM in the corner if you really don't want to anymore. read more

The two owners, Josh and Justin, are amazing. They treat their customers like family and are welcoming to all that enter. This is my go-to spot in all of west portal and it never disappoints! read more

Situation - Drinks with friends Friday evening before going to the nearby movie theatre Feedback - All the bartenders that work there are great - There are a handful of TV's with sports - The mixed drinks are pretty decent - There are only 4 beers on tap read more

Nice neighborhood bar right around the corner from the west portal muni stop. Worth a visit for cozy interior and intriguing ceiling mural

Have I gone here since forever ago? Yes. Did I end up here after my bachelor party dinner? Yes. Have I thrown up in the bathroom? Yes. Have I made the hour-plus walk home from Philo's after midnight to the Outer Sunset rather than calling a cab or even jumping on the L? Yes. I love this place. Go here if you like dive bars. read more

Came in on a cold san francisco summers eve Sunday. I was instantly greeted by the handsome long haired bartender, I once knew as Fabio/Jesus. He welcomed me in from the cold, and made me feel warm. This is the place to be, whether you're cold, warm, or looking for a good time. Casey makes you feel welcome and at home. read more

Philosopher's Club - Sports Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

Love this place. Energy is right. People authentic. No rush. A gem in any city. Fortunately in San Francisco.

On the scale of dive bars, Philosopher's Club is on the higher end. It actually has a cool theme, stiff drinks, and great parking/location. Got a drink before watching a movie for date night. We both agreed we would get a beer next time. Our drinks weren't the tastiest, but they were strong. Props to our bartender. I was craving a whiskey sour and bae got an old-fashioned. But we both agreed they tasted on the sweeter side. I was disappointed, but should've KNOWN that the sour would've been a pre-made mix. Ah well. Next time I'll get a kamikaze or a well drink. Although the selection on tap is slim (think VERY BASIC like Blue Moon and Red Trolley), they do have a wider selection of alcohol vs beer. In terms of the service, I give it a BIG 5 stars. AWESOME bar staff. There were two guys taking care of the entire bar, and they were so welcoming and friendly. I definitely don't always feel comfortable as an Asian girl at someone else's local watering hole, so I really appreciated how friendly and smiley the guys were. They were playing the Warriors game, which is mainly why most people were there. There are lots of seating options from tall bar stools to high tops and tables in the back. The place is cozy and inviting, not dingy and smelly like wet carpet. I'd definitely come back if in the area! read more

This is whole in the wall place but they only take cash. I was there to get few beers and catch up It's not a bar for pre game or post game it's just a bar and you chill read more

I feel that the West Portal area is one of the nicest, yet under appreciated neighborhoods in SF. I really should spend more time in this area since they are so many gems, and the Philosopher's Club is one of them. My friend, Amy, recommended PC, and total props to her for doing so. We walked in and literally a minute later decided to order some snacks from Bulls Head next door to bring back to PC. *BTW, I love when bars allow outside food to be brought inside their establishment* As we walked out, the bartender and friends at bar waved and said bye to us, and we assured them that we'd return. Maybe, they thought that we were scared off by this bar or something, BUT that was so far from the truth. We were totally vibing this place, which was clean with cool interior, pool tables in the back, and flat screen TVs (with the Warrior game on) throughout the bar, etc., OK, so it also helped that there were some cuties hanging out, too. Duh, we'd be stupid to not come back! So, after returning with fries and mini corn dogs from next door, we sit at a table close to the lone video game. Chowing on our snacks (which were tasty treats), drinking our brewskies (which were oh so refreshing), and soaking in the PC vibe (which we were totally diggin' as while girl chatting, we were also checking out the eye candy and Warriors game) :) Bartender was friendly and knew many of the patrons, who seem to be a mix of young and old, and definitely locals. This is the type of bar that reminds me of Cheers - friendly and not stuffy; no frills but not exactly divey; and yes, where everybody knows your name (and if they don't, they will soon enough)! Unfortunately, my first PC experience was cut short since we had to head back to the Empire for the flick. Rest assured, I'll return to spend more than just an hour and one round of drinks at PC. I predict a fun, crazy drunken eve here in the near future! :) read more

Friendly bartenders, great drinks, lots of fun! They also have a pool table, and delicious beers on tap. A must visit bar

Basically Cheers minus all the fun people. Pluses: A set of Liars dice (but only one) Two game machines Pool in the back Great Bartender Minuses: Nothing all that interesting about the décor No booths, only stools Jukebox doesn't have some great hits (and it's online too) People smoke directly in front of the door Mainly, this is the most fitting A-OK that I've ever done. read more

Philosopher's Club is a great little place to catch a game, have a decent priced drink, shoot some pool, or host a Yelp Mix CD swap. I like the proximity to the train, which helps keep all of us drunks off the road post pints. The decor is cool - check the ceiling (painted by one of the owners), the nostalgic artwork, and the photos galore. The regulars are friendly and welcoming, it's not overly hip - which is a plus - and they have pool tables in the back. Good times all around. read more

The Philly Club. Generations of San Franciscans perch on a barstool as their dads and grand-dads did before them Fact: Everyone loves The Philly Club - Fun and chill place to pop in for a pop. We often jump off the K Car and drop on and then continue downtown...a tradition! Tons of old locals grace the place...it is like old home week...a "Cheers" wannabe Bartenders are a hoot. Did I mention cocktails are a bargain? They are. read more

This place is a decent bar and has a great bartender who is friendly and welcoming. It's always busy here and we usually play pool in the back. They have one table and it's a dollar a game. Drinks are solid and all around fun place for a casual drink in the area read more

Philosopher's Club - Sports Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

This place became my go to when I lived in West Portal. The true definition of a neighborhood bar. Not really a dive, but very still very relaxed and friendly. Plus a nice outdoor patio if you just want to sit an relax before hopping on the muni (literally right next door) I watched the tail end of the Giants winning the World Series here in 2014. So much fun! read more

What an excellent establishment! Such a welcoming environment and get ready for this....bartenders who actually enjoy their job and are happy to pour you a beer or make a drink! We popped in to watch the Warriors take game six and wound up high fiving complete strangers who wanted to make sure that we were welcome at their local spot. It was a great night out. SF is still so full of surprises and this place is one of them. Guys--don't change a thing--you're good people. read more

Philosopher's Club - Sports Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

This review is actually in response to Hailey's comment that was left just yesterday evening. I'm a queer-presenting, openly gay woman who visits the Philly Club quite frequently. It's my neighborhood bar and where a good number of my friends hang out. I actually happened to be at the Philly Club when Hailey's friends were there and saw the situation play out in its entirety. The only reason I'm writing this review is because I was shocked at how grossly inaccurate the narrative is. I'm attributing this to the fact that the girls involved did not write the review themselves, rather, a third party not present wrote it for them. Here is what actually happened: I walked in around 5 and two girls were sitting at the bar, right in the center where the taps were. The only reason I noticed them is because other people were staring and making comments. Not about the fact that they were two women, but about the fact that they were making out in the middle of the bar. Given the fact that the day crowd at Philly is older and more conservative, I'm sure you can imagine the nature of the comments. These comments, which people began sharing with the bartender, were making the situation uncomfortable. I also want to add a note and say that I don't think the two women knew what was happening around them. Understandably, they were focused on each other. The bartender came up to me and said, "I'm going to have to say something here in a minute. Too many people are starting to say stuff." I said that I agreed and that she should just explain the type of place this is during the day and say that there is more privacy out on the patio. If this was taking place at night, with the evening crowd at Philly, there probably wouldn't have been an issue. It's just a matter of space and how space dynamics change. This is where Hailey completely has it wrong. When the girls stopped kissing, the bartender went over and VERY QUIETLY just asked them to stop making out in the bar during happy hour. She explained that the day crowd is just older and more conservative. She also said that they could take their drinks on to the patio where they would have more privacy. The bartender was super quiet and very apologetic throughout. I would also like to say that I have seen and heard bartenders at Philly say the exact same thing to heterosexual couples. About 10 minutes later Casey came in, the girls left, and he followed them out. What Casey said to them, I obviously can't comment on because I wasn't there for that conversation. This is all to say that the the two young women were not "loudly and repeatedly" told they "had to leave because they were lesbians" as Hailey said in her post. They were asked, one time, to cool down the PDA in the middle of the bar at 5:30 and offered the patio if they would like more privacy. They weren't kicked out at all. And to say so, is just inaccurate. Now, as I said before, West Portal is still a pretty conservative part of SF. Are there some people in the bars there that have bigoted points of view? Absolutely. And in SF (not to mention the entire world) in general, there are some places where LGBTQ+ people are not welcomed and would absolutely be kicked out for being who they are. The Philly Club is just not one of them and that is not what happened here. When we give false narratives to try to provoke outrage (as I believe Hailey is doing with her post) we actually end up doing more harm than good. read more

One of the most Original names for a bar in SF. Love the location. Love the bar. Great neighborhood bar and wonderful junction to catch muni downtown or have that drink getting off the train coming home from work. My image of the bar is the black and white photo. read more

Philosopher's Club - My Karmann Ghia taken in front of the Philosopher's Club in west portal. This was nearly 20 years ago - Sports Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Went here one afternoon when the air quality index was in the 90s in my neighborhood and in West Portal AQI was in the 20s. They have a patio out back with a big TV where they showed a game (don't remember which game, wasn't paying attention). Bar offered chili (great for a foggy evening) or you can order food next door. Must have food to stay. Bar follows COVID guidelines. I ordered onion rings next door and an Anchor Steam at the bar. I might go back and get some writing done on a late afternoon. Patio is rather small. read more

Very nice place to spend New Years Eve. Four of us hung out at a table from 10-1. It was very good energy in there. Youngish crowd. Festive. Had NYE shows and sports on. They seemed fine with outside food. Limited tap beer selection, but my table enjoyed their simple well cocktails. Seemed to be strong pours. No champagne at midnight. Guess I should have expected that, but I was a tad disappointed. Only one bartender in service. I would definitely return. read more

See all