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    The Knockout SF

    3.9 (315 reviews)
    InexpensiveDive Bars, Dance Clubs
    Closed 6:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)

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    Simpsons Trivia
    Jessica H.

    We came for Simpson's Trivia and it was super fun. The drink prices were great and the service was okayyyyyy... but i may have a high bar as i am also a server and come from a family of Bartenders.

    Shoegazey photo of the excellent watermelon mezcal paloma
    Matthew G.

    I had my doubts about this tiny venue for the Airiel / Deserta / Asteroid No 4 concert... but it turned out to be awesome! Enjoyed the layout, lighting, sound quality, service and drinks in a cozy, intimate venue. The drinks weren't bad (the watermelon mezcal paloma was actually really good), and the prices reasonable, too!

    A more settling picture.
    Jimmy L.

    It was very difficult to find a good bar in San Fran on our last night there. Most of the ones we drove by were closed (it was Christmas) or they only served beer. In fact, I think we had to Yelp bars and Knockout was on the list of the ones nearby! Outside, it looked a little sketchy. Dark. I was honestly scared someone was going to stab me if I walked in, but you can't judge a book by it's cover. At first, it looked really crowded. A bit loud from all the chatter, but what bar isn't, right? There was a guy going around just taking pictures of everyone even though some didn't want their pictures taken. Luckily, he left us alone and left soon after we got in so it was a smooth ride from there. The bartender was good and he reminded some of us a little of our business law professor back home. Almost same face and pony tail. Anyway, he was really efficient about walking the counter and taking our drink orders in a timely manner. When we ran out of ideas what to drink, we asked and he suggested "Hot Apple Pie" which was actually a pretty good one (no shame in ordering a sweet drink). We ordered another round and he comped our drinks PLUS he found the time to take a shot with us. Very laid back. We appreciated the fact that he'd take some time to chill with the SF bar hopping noobies. We figured since the service was so good, we could probably take a couple more drinks before we left so jager bombs all around. Left a nice tip and bailed out! I don't drink very often. Personally, I don't like the bar atmosphere but our experience here wasn't based on how the place looked, rather, how it operated. I was impressed and very satisfied with our time at Knockout. When we got home, I made a recommendation for a few friends to stop by there when they decide to go and they did! They had the same bartender and had a GREAT time.

    Jonny Manak and The Depressives
    Miss D.

    I can't believe this was my first visit! Super fun little dive with fantastic bands. We made the trek from the north bay to check out Jonny Manak and The Depressives, Genuine Parts, and more. Frontside Five was so amazing we went to Oakland the next night to see them again. This place is small, but the sound is good. Drinks are solid, and a decent selection of beers on tap. We found parking just a short walk away, too.

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    What a great find on Mission fantastic music and amazing bartender loved the vibe . Would definitely go back

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    Page 1 of 8

    Ask the Community - The Knockout SF

    Review Highlights - The Knockout SF

    On any given night they always seem to have a fun theme (hello, bingo and board games?

    Mentioned in 42 reviews

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    Recovery Room

    Recovery Room

    4.4
    (70 reviews)
    1.6 mi
    $$

    The name alone was the reason I wanted to check this place out when it first opened. formerly known…read moreas Pissed Off Pete's and then bought out by the co-owner of the (now closed and conveniently located) Last Stop in Daly City where the Muni 14 Mission bus terminates, Recovery Room is a pet-friendly, laid back dive with a great selection of draft and bottled beers, some cocktails and large flat-screens above the bar area that makes it an ideal spot to catch a game or 3. some memorable personal encounters of mine thru the years include members of the Mongolian national (?) basketball team hanging out and being drunkenly invited by some hella friendly Samoans and Tongans to a biannual picnic at Candlestick Point. there's a back kitchen that dishes out wings, some of the thickest and juiciest burgers around (with plenty of choices for toppings) as well as hot sandwiches that include pastrami and turkey. every once in a while, they'll also feature live music/bands. I think there's even a karaoke night, to boot. though I still miss the Last Stop, Recovery Room has nicely filled in its absence and continues to be one of my favorite bars in this part (Excelsior District) of town.

    Food and service was great! Tried the sandwiches and hot toddies. Food came out pretty quickly on a…read moreweeknight. Bartenders are friendly and they play giants games on tvs. Would definitely come back here to try the yummy eats and vibes.

    Photos
    Inside w/plenty of TV's
    Inside w/plenty of TV's
    Delicious pastrami sandwich.
    Delicious pastrami sandwich.
    Vodka soda

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    Vodka soda
    7 Mile House

    7 Mile House

    4.2
    (2.2k reviews)
    2.9 mi
    $$

    I enjoyed stopping by 7 mile house recently and it was just as awesome as I remember it when I came…read moreto happy hour after many work days 23 years ago! This place has a vibe that you need to experience to understand. It has so much history but also has a new feel. Filipino food is on point and drinks are the right amount of strong. The adobo is so tender and flavorful- I could have eaten the whole thing on my own. I wish i lived closer but I will not let distance be a barrier. This is a great spot to enjoy sports, good food, nice vibes, and friendly peeps!

    I came here last Friday to try some of their highly praised Filipino dishes. This place is located…read moreoff the road in Brisbane within this industrial type area. It looks random at first but at the same time, very unique. It reminds me of a dive bar for truck drivers from the outside and heading inside, it also gives you that feeling. It's a pretty small restaurant sports bar with majority of the seating being outside. I ordered their Sisig Manila Style, Sizzling Pork Adobo with rice, Lumpia Sampler, Calamari, and Ube Cheesecake for dessert. The Sisig is our favorite pick because it's fatty with that nice sizzling taste and texture. It's bold with a good flavor and pairs nicely with the runny egg. This dish is a must. The adobo was just ok. Honestly, it wasn't my type of adobo and was too watery, thin, and slightly bland. It just tasted like watered down soy sauce and light vinegar over shredded pork meat. The calamari was a big portion and went great with the garlic aioli sauce. I also didn't like the lumpia's. The lumpia was soggy and way too bland with little filling. It didn't have that authentic taste to them which was a bummer. I'd avoid this sampler. We thoroughly enjoyed their Ube cheesecake though! It was sweet, tasty, and had a nice cream cheese texture. The makapuno coconut shreds paired great with the cheesecake and made it so unique. We'd definitely order this again. Overall, I thought it was just ok. I listened to the hype and yes, it was too much. For those that aren't Filipinos or didn't grow up having authentic homemade Filipino food, you could tell the difference. It's almost as if the dishes are "Americanized" and lacks the real ingredients in the dishes. Truthfully, I wouldn't come back but hey, there's a lane for everyone and I know this place is beloved by many. That's important.

    Photos
    The cheery section of the interior.
    The cheery section of the interior.
    Crab, avocado salad with olives
    Crab, avocado salad with olives
    Bloody mary

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    Bloody mary
    Dance Fridays

    Dance Fridays

    3.8
    (5 reviews)
    0.9 mi

    If you want a more authentic picture of this event and place, search for Club Fuego (basically the…read moresame event at the same venue.) The glowing reviews for Dance Fridays seem to be an attempt of the new organizers to get away from all the other negative reviews while not really changing things that resulted in a bunch of bad reviews in the first place. First off, they CHARGE FOR TAP WATER. You read that right, a dance venue with a cover charge ($10-$25 per person) charges for TAP WATER. I've travelled and danced all over the US and this is a first. I don't think I need to explain why this is ludicrous to people who have ever gone dancing. Secondly, the bachata room is much smaller and has NO FANS. So when you get super overheated from dancing in a crowded room with no fans, you can't even get free tap water to cool off. And the cherry on top was the guards kicking me (a woman on my own) out of the building at 1:30 am in a seedy part of town instead of letting me wait for 15 min inside until my Lyft arrived. They were not leaving to go home, they just stood there and smoked.

    Maybe it's too late to get it in at 550 before the end of the year, but save it on your bookmark…read morefor 2022. I'm SOOOO happy they opened back up after being closed all of Covid. I used to come here every now and again for the dancing because I always loved the vibe here. Lessons start at 8pm. It's a perfect spot for beginners, and every now and again, you'll find a more seasoned person who joins the lessons. Salsa and Bachata seem very natural to me, but I'm very much a novice. With that being said, I feel super comfortable to show up alone, do the lessons, and get out on the floor. The beauty is diversity: Younger, older, men, women, beginners and advanced people all mix it up. Ladies, all you gotta do is hold tight and wait for an invitation, and you'll be dancing all night. No weirdos (at least not that I've encountered yet), no negativity, and just all around good times. Here's a little tip: Sign up for the text alerts, and they offer early bird tickets for $10 on Mondays. After that, the price goes up. And if you pay at the door, the price could be $30 or $35; I think it depends on the night. Thanks 550 for staying true!

    Photos
    Dance Fridays
    Dance Fridays
    Dance Fridays

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    The Knockout SF - divebars - Updated July 2026

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