I hit this place regularly right after work for happy hour, and it's a reliable unwind option in the FiDi. They position themselves more as a full restaurant than just a bar--big menu of hearty American pub classics like burgers (people rave about them), wings, sliders, calamari, garlic fries, and apps that make it easy to turn drinks into a proper meal. Classic dark wood vibe, tons of TVs for sports (great for Giants/Warriors games), lively crowd, and that historic feel since 1972. Happy hour (Mon-Fri 2-6pm) is solid value: $6-ish specials on select beers (big tap list, 40+ options), wines, wells, and apps--perfect for a few rounds and bites with coworkers. I usually grab a pint and wings or sliders. The food comes out quick, tasty, and satisfying (garlic fries and calamari get frequent shoutouts too). Staff hustles and stays friendly even when busy. Post-work rush (5-7pm especially) means it's typically packed--loud, crowded bar, wait for tables or bar seats, energetic after office scene which I consider part of the charm in FiDi. Service keeps up, but expect the volume and bustle. Parking downtown is a hassle so I'd recommend taking BART/Muni or nearby garage is usually smartest. Dependable for decompressing with good drinks, real food options, and that classic pub-restaurant energy. Been a consistent stop and stays in rotation. read more

I was in need of some lunch and dipped in. Service 4outta5 Martini 4outta5 Shrimp 3outta5 tasty but not memorable Fries 3outta5 too much truffle oil, pretty good tho It was late afternoon before the evening commute, kinda like the calm before the storm so the vibe was chill & laid back. #GoTaste&See read more

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Fun, lively energy and a cool vibe -- great spot to meet up with people after work. That said, the happy hour was pretty limited and the discounts were minimal. As a vegetarian, I had only four options: rosemary fries (a little too oily), a pretzel with a great honey mustard sauce (my favorite item), hummus and crudité (standard), and an Impossible Burger, which I skipped. A rotating sour was $10, so it's on the pricier side with few options for vegetarians and vegans. read more

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There's a few spots for happy hour in FiDi, and Royal Exchange is one of them. It's far from my favorite happy hour spot, and I only head to Royal if the other locations are busy (eg trivia night) as Royal is typically empty. Happy hour has discounts on wine/well drinks/some beers and a couple of appetizers. I wouldn't go here just for the happy hour, but if it's a nice bonus to have discounted prices. Interior is dark, moody with bright TVs showing sports. Most TVs are all fairly high up so watching sports on them is an exercise for your neck. Booth seating around the edge and a huge bar in the middle of the restaurant make it feel like a race track to get around the restaurant. The further in you go away from the windows, the darker it gets. Despite the semi-dark space, service has always been friendly and great whenever I go, with servers checking in on how my party is doing and if we want anything before the end of happy hour/refills from time to time. Ditto with all the bar staff, they've all been great. For this visit, I got pretzel knots for the table to nibble on: fist-sized, hot and great sweet mustard dipping sauce which comes with them. I ordered a Royal Exchange BLT and it was fairly good. Fries were fine, and the BLT was well put together with the exception of a huge hunk of raw onion in both halves. Despite the signs "best burger in San Francisco" I haven't been a fan of the burgers at Royal the two times I've tried them. My friend decided to get the Bull Market Burger (for science) and also agreed with me that they're so-so. Cheese wasn't super melty and flavor was just alright. Royal is okay all around, but doesn't win in any aspect. Not great for the sports on the TV, has a so-so happy hour, and I've found the food a mix of great and just alright. The big plus for me is it always has enough seating pretty much anytime I go here. I recommend it as a safe bet if you're with a group and need to pick a spot which likely has enough room for people to grab a few drinks. A caveat is the minimum is $10 and you can't split the check more than a few ways (forgot the max, but it bit me in the past). read more

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Walked in with my husband for a late lunch. We sat down ordering some drinks while we wait for food. The place seems clean and neat with some background music. The waiter was very friendly and also told us recommendations. As food arrived it was faster than finding street parking outside. Definitely recommend read more

Royal Exchange - Chipotle Grilled Chicken Sandwich - Sports Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

If you haven't been to Royal Exchange yet, make sure to snag one of their cozy booths! My colleagues and I settled into one during a rainy evening for dinner, and it was the perfect spot to unwind. Craving something simple, I ordered the fried chicken tenders, and they did not disappoint--crispy, golden, and perfectly fried. read more

Royal Exchange - Fried Chicken Tenders - Sports Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

This gem is perfect for a night out w/ friends, Happy Hour or a quick bite to eat. There are two bars and plenty of open seating including the options of a booth or table. One time I even dropped in here last minute w/ 8 of my coworkers and they were super accommodating. Shoutout to one of their managers or bartenders named Chris. I've dealt w/ him a few times and he's always super friendly, knowledgeable about the menu & wines/beer and makes you feel like "sometimes you want to go where they all just know your name". read more

Royal Exchange - Inside - Sports Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Awesome customer service! I can't for the life of me remember my servers name but he has a foodstagram!! He was great with recommendations and checking up on us I ordered the chimi steak sandwich with rosemary fries and it was chefs kiss! I will definitely be back to try it again! read more

Royal Exchange - Sports Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

We had dinner here and enjoyed the food. The portions were good, and everything tasted fresh. Service was friendly, though the wait for the main dish was a bit long. Still a nice place to eat. read more

I was in town for a conference and wanted a nice bar to have a drink. This place didn't disappoint. They have a solid selection of craft beer. read more

Royal Exchange - Nice New England IPA. - Sports Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

As a frequent Royal Exchange customer, they ought to be ashamed for charging people $3 for grilled onions that never touched a grill. The "grill" is awful. The onions are raw, barely cooked, and unseasoned. I don't mind paying but the quality needs to match the charge and they missed the mark. read more

I went last night to this new place and was very impressed. It's beautifully built out with friendly and attentive service, great live music, and a nice walled and heated outdoor patio- and only a block from Golden Gate Park and walking distance to the de Young! I would highly recommend visiting. We only had drinks, which were great (and not those tiny thimble sized drinks so many places serve) but I'm eager to see what the food menu looks like when I return. ( I think the official opening is tonight, February 28. ) read more

Outstanding experience from start to finish! The food was innovative and delicious, the service was impeccable, and the ambiance was both elegant and inviting. Every detail felt thoughtfully curated. A perfect spot for a special occasion--highly recommend! read more

Royal Exchange is a favorite. The staff (Rachel, Andy, Elliott, Sandy and all) take great care of their guests. The service is always top notch. They have a great rotating beer menu. Food is excellent. We love going there. read more

Went to Royal Exchange for a late lunch/ early Happy Hour. Everyone on staff from the bartender to the host to the waiter was very welcoming and hospitable. We took a seat in the window. Loved the ambiance. Definitely had your classic sports bar vibe. TVs visible from every seat but not loud or overwhelming. There was also a good amount of art on the wall with depictions of all our favorite SF teams. Finally the food! Chicken wings were epic! Among the best in the city! So hot, crispy, and we asked for the sauce on the side. They had Buffalo and BBQ to satisfy all taste buds lol. Garlic Parmesan fries were on the HH menu and they did not disappoint. Also had a pretty good sized salmon salad and it had all the flavors! Salmon was cooked very well. Excited to go back when there's a big game on :) read more

Royal Exchange - Buffalo Hot Wings Grilled Salmon Salad French Fries - Sports Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

'Happy hour' food is all frozen fried items from Sysco. Bartenders have some chip on their shoulder like guests are an inconvenience. Cool setting but it's soulless food and the staff that are burned out and have a chip on their shoulder. This is the 2nd review I have left the first was removed for whatever reason. read more

This place is run by the nicest group of people ever. We were going to be in neighborhood for a night market and I called to see if they'd be showing the Tyson/Paul "fight". They weren't planning on it since they didn't have Netflix, but said they'd see what they could do. A few hours later they confirmed, and we were able to make it in time to enjoy some drinks and grub for the big show. The bar provides a warm and friendly environment, thanks in large part to the great attitudes of the staff. And despite the "match" being kind of a dud, I'll always remember how accommodating the Royal Exchange was to making it available for us on such short notice. Thank you! read more

Royal Exchange - Tyson/Paul Nov 15, 2024 - Sports Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

es un sitio muy acogedor me encanta la vibra que tiene el lugar y la comida es simplemente un poema muy rico mas sus camarones que tienen ahí ufff a parte la atención es buenísima muy educado y servicial el mozo read more

After not being able to get into Schroeder's across the street, my date and I came here. Sure I was disappointed that I wasn't getting a pretzel, but I was surprised by how good the chili dog and French fries were. The fries were hot and crispy and the homemade chili had a lot of flavor. Loved that the service was extremely fast, since we were going to the Oakland A's game across the bay. read more

Royal Exchange - Sports Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

If you find yourself looking for a solid weekday happy hour in the Fidi district, Royal Exchange is a solid spot! Happy hour is available Monday-Friday from 2-6pm and has a bunch of $6 specials. Select beers, wines, appetizers, and we'll drinks. For the appetizers, we got the fries which were perfectly crisp and would go great with ranch. The pretzel knots come in an order of 2, they were warm and delicious and came with a mustard dipping sauce. Warm cheese would be hella good with these. Golden Road's Mango Cart is one of my favorite casual drinking beers and it was on their happy hour menu so for $6, that's a good deal for this area of town. They've got plenty of bar seating that wraps around, lots of medium large tables if you come with a big group. Plenty of TVs to watch spots. So, If you are unsure of where to go to take your colleagues for happy hour in this area, this place fits the bill and then some. read more

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Royal Exchange is the classic pub/bar watering hole in the financial district. I've been coming on & off for years (usually on Fridays after work, before Covid) & it's a great place to watch any sports event as they have a lot of tv screens. They have a modified menu and limited hours while the financial district isn't fully open during Covid but have some pretty good food & drinks. My most recent visit was for a farewell gathering for a former colleague who's relocating and to watch the Warriors game. I had a cheeseburger with garlic rosemary fries. The burger was nice & tasty & fries were crispy. Yum. I washed it down with a cider beer. Service is friendly & helpful. read more

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Definitely a good place to get a good burger and have a couple of drinks and atmosphere get to watch sports -

What's new? I am back! Stopped by for lunch, got the chipotle chicken sandwich. Always so tasty and filling. Only ate half and the rest if for later! I get side of garlic fries cause yum. Today was a bit oilier than normal but the garlic taste is deliciously (maybe off putting if going back to office haha). But I always have gum ready. The server is always fast and efficient. They always always get the order right, no matter how big our party is. Is it time to change it up for lunch, probably not haha. See y'all next time! read more

Royal Exchange - Espresso Martini - Sports Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Updated Review of The Royal Exchange I walked into The Royal Exchange on a quiet Friday afternoon intending to grab a bite and get some work done. The restaurant was nearly empty--just two other tables were occupied. I sat at the only table near a power outlet so I could plug in my laptop. Almost immediately, without even a basic "hello" or "how are you," I was asked to move to a smaller table. When I explained I needed the outlet to work while I ate, I was told that if a large group came in, I'd have to relocate. With the restaurant virtually empty and multiple open four-top tables available, this kind of response felt absurd--and honestly, typical of the kind of low customer service I've come to expect in San Francisco. This wasn't about seating logistics--it was a knee-jerk reaction rooted in a lack of hospitality or understanding of how people use space in a business district. If you don't want solo diners using the only table with an outlet, maybe consider placing a smaller table there, instead of making people feel unwelcome the moment they walk in. San Francisco is not known for excellent service. Anyone who's lived here long enough knows it can be hard to find a clean table at a coffee shop, and some stay dirty for over 24 hours. I'm not comparing this place to that, but when a mostly empty restaurant immediately pressures a paying customer to move, it reflects the same lack of thoughtfulness. I chose not to stay. I won't be bringing myself or any of my colleagues back here. There are plenty of other downtown spots that understand how to accommodate someone who simply wants to eat lunch and plug in a laptop. read more

bartenders are extremely friendly and fast here. Even on st paddy's days when the crowd was overflowing. They know how to deliver and keep the lines moving . read more

Royal Exchange - Sports Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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**Review is from pre-covid (Feb 2020), just cleaning up my drafts and posting them** Came for lunch with two friends on a Thursday around 1:30 pm and the lunch crowd had mostly cleared out. There were many empty tables, and we were able to get seated immediately. I'm not a big fan of sandwiches or burgers, which is the majority of the lunch options here, so I went with the Royal's Cioppino ($20.50). It was such a huge portion of food! They really don't skimp on their seafood here. There was so much shrimp, cod, scallops, calamari, and clams in the cioppino, plus it comes with 4 hearty slices of bread. The flavor of the tomato soup was good as well. I was hungry going into lunch, but couldn't finish everything and took maybe the last quarter of the cioppino to go. My friends enjoyed their burgers here as well. Definitely a chill spot for lunch in downtown SF! read more

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Enter the self-deprecating humor (?), definitely not a good value for the money, but it's SF and the place is called Royal Exchange. That's on me. I had walked past it a few times so I wanted to try it anyway, especially since the vibe looked decent. 30 bucks for a coke and a burger. Seasoning was decent on the burger but the prep could have been better, cheese wasn't super melty. I guess I just expected more for what I was paying. Service was decent as well. Anyway, it was alright, not great and doesn't warrant a repeat from me because there are so many places to try! Happy foraging. read more

Royal Exchange - Bear Market Burger & French Fries - Sports Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

There food was great the service was great they have professional staff higjly recommend

Few places in the world are better than Royal Exchange. Staff, ambiance, food, the whole lot. It's a great experience and I always feel like family at the Royal. When I walk in and Elliott is cutting lemons, I know that I'm home. read more

Around lunch it gets super busy and crowded. We missed the crowd by going at 11am. The food was good but portion is a bit small. The vibe is nice but gets loud during lunch. read more

Royal Exchange - Black & Blue Steak Salad - Sports Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Busy Old school pub. Very great happy hour prices and efficient bartenders. Prices are around $6 per drink: well, wines and select beers. $6 for a some bites They do have an amazing beer selection. read more

Royal Exchange - Bar area - Sports Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

They gave my credit card to the wrong person. Clueless staff, not helpful at all. How does that happen?

Nice cocktails, good service, awesome atmosphere, like an English pub. There are an impressive number of beers on tap, for the beer drinkers. read more

Royal Exchange - New old fashioned - Sports Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Wanted to explore bars around the Financial District, and I always love a pub, so I was definitely happy to come here. Got myself a Guinness and an order of Fish & Chips. Very good! I went during lunchtime shortly after the COVID restrictions were lifted, so there weren't many people there. I remember a lot of TVs showing sports (what else would you show in a bar?). The bar itself seems to take up a lot of space, while the table seating looked squeezed in along the sides. Next time I'm in the Financial District, I'll definitely swing by and try something new from their menu! read more

They're praising their burger, saying it's the best burger in SF, I won't agree or disagree, but the burger was very delicious. One thing I'll say it was outstanding was FRENCH FRIES !!! The waiter was polite and patient with us. Food came super fast, and it was fresh and tasty. Portions are very decent. I recommend this place, it's definitely worth visiting. read more

Came here on a Tue night because the place we tried to go to originally was packed due to two private events. It was busy at Royal Exchange because I think I bunch of people was in the same situation as us. Fortunately there were 3 tables left at 6pm. So we sat down right away. Service was very good. Took advantage of the yelp 20% discount. I ordered the prime dip sandwich with au jus and coleslaw. My husband ordered the chimichurri steak sandwich. My sandwich was good. Bottom bread was soaked. Au jus very salty. Coleslaw had too much onion. But I'd ordered the sandwich again with fries instead of coleslaw. My husband says his sandwich was fine but not enough chimichurri sauce. For drinks I ordered 3 Brown Derby. It's that good! He had craft beer. I'd come back and try other stuff. Solid place for drinks and fries! read more

Royal Exchange - Chimichurri steak sandwich. - Sports Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Stumbled into this financial district bar leaving our hotel. The service was top notch and i would highly recommend stopping in during Happy hour. Order the black and blue salad ... delicious. Ask for Andy at the bar and you'll be taken care of! read more

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Wow what a surprise.I've been walking past this place for years, and I've never stopped in. Tonight I had 45 minutes before my movie at landmark embarcadero, and I noticed that they sell fish and chips. I'm darn glad I stopped in. I sat at the bar and had fish and chips with a Perrier water. I asked for the fries extra crispy. the food was ultra-fresh and the fish tasted awesome. The service was fast and extremely friendly. And best of all, everyone was carefully complying with the city's covid-19 safety procedures. read more

The food and ambiance was very good. As indicated by the signage, the burger was perfect. It was also the perfect size. I'll definitely be stopping in again. read more

My favorite place for lunch / happy hour / meeting / anything. Come here at least once a week. Octavio is like family!