Sugar Lounge delivers a fun, lively atmosphere with neighborhood bar vibes. Well, they do say they…read moreare a neighborhood joint. The scene is definitely great people watching also. My friend and I grabbed a table against the wall facing the bar. We enjoyed our drinks- mojitos and Palomas throughout the evening listening to vibrant music under dimly lit red lighting and fancy sconces diffusing soft lighting against the walls. The place is pretty casual, the restrooms plagued with graffiti but love the easy-going, good time people are having in here including the bartenders. This is a great "pregame" cocktail spot or a scenic place to get your buzz on. I could used some more Sugar Lounge next time I'm in the Hayes Valley neighborhood.

Great spot for an affordable drink. They're pretty strong. The margarita tasted good, but the…read morestrawberry was kind of chunky so while drinking you kind of have to chew too. I did not enjoy the tequila sunrise but it was strong and cheap. The staff were very friendly and attentive. Really love the free chips and candy too.

The Horseshoe Tavern has been our neighborhood watering hole for over 16 years, and at this point,…read moreit feels a lot more like family than just a bar. So many memories have been made here -- birthdays, celebrations, nights out with friends and family, and plenty of random evenings that turned into some of the best ones. We've also made friendships here that have lasted for years. It's one of those rare neighborhood bars where you can walk in, see familiar faces, bring your dog, grab a drink, and immediately feel at home. I was especially honored to be asked to guest bartend for The Equal Pour, an event celebrating 55 years of women being able to bartend in California. It was such a fun and meaningful day, and San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie even stopped by to celebrate with everyone. And because the Horseshoe always seems to have a good story attached to it, we were also there when the Budweiser Clydesdales came by to deliver beer -- definitely one of those only-in-San-Francisco neighborhood moments. The staff here has always treated us like family, and that's what keeps us coming back year after year. No pretension, no fuss -- just good people, a great neighborhood atmosphere, dogs welcome, and a place that has been part of our lives for well over a decade. The Horseshoe is a true Marina neighborhood gem, and I hope it stays exactly that for many more years.

My friend and I were in the Marina after an event at Fort Mason, and were looking for a low-key bar…read moreto get a drink. Fortunately, we were lucky to stumble across Horseshoe Tavern, as it immediately gave across a welcoming and comfortable vibe. Although there was only one bartender working the bar which was packed with a lot of people watching the Kentucky Derby, the service was incredible and the bartender immediately acknowledged us and took our order. We ended up getting two rounds, and again the bartender was super prompt and attentive with service when we went back inside for round two. Overall, this place is a gem, especially being in the Marina. Down to earth and comforting vibe. Highly recommend if you're looking for a nice watering hole or a place to play pool.

Great mixology!! Andre and Rodney are the dream team !! From Manhattans to Ghot Pepper Martini s !!read more

I should be embarrassed that I had not discovered this longtime SoMa bar after all these years, but…read moreI refuse to live in regrets. Too exhausting. After all, after nearly two decades of Yelping, you have to forgive me for overlooking a watering hole that really syncs up quite well with my sensibilities. In the late afternoon to the early evening, it's a relaxing, low-key spot. The space is dimly lit but with bright front windows that make it feel welcoming. There are rustic touches to the decor like tree stumps, wooden posts, and maritime paraphernalia strewn about. And you have to love a place that has seat pillows on the bar stools. That's what I call civilized. Anyway, I walked in when I saw a small sandwich board advertising $9 Manhattans. Even though I had not had a Manhattan since the first Clinton administration, I thought I should make an exception (photo: https://yelp.to/Zv2yLb6VGk). In fact, I made a couple of exceptions because the vermouth was smooth and the bourbon quite rich. Plus Chris, the bartender/owner was great company. No surprise that I've been back a couple of times, and the quality of his $13 craft cocktails never wavered. I've had the Oakland Sour, a lovely, rather idiosyncratic concoction with Bok Gin, Cocchi Americano, Lavender Syrup, Lemon, and Egg White (photo: https://yelp.to/jSEmreQlQa). On my last visit, just today, I tried the Good Times, which amusingly looked like a Diet Coke but was instead a smooth, slightly sweetened mix of Four Roses Bourbon, Cherry Heering, Averna, Walnut Bitters, and Orange Bitters over a big ice cube. Periodically there's live music here, but Chris mentioned that there isn't currently a regular schedule. I'd like to come back with Jamie W. for a performance and a cocktail. I also found out Driftwood is a drop-off point for a sustainable seafood subscription service called Sea Forager. To go with its maritime theme, I guess you can pick up a whole fish while you tipple. Glad I found this spot. Like I said, no regrets. COCKTAILS - 5 stars...creatively conceived libations nicely executed AMBIANCE - 4.5 stars...very chill in here SERVICE - 5 stars...Chris does his job very well TOTAL - 5 stars...glad I found it as late as I was RELATED - Exploring western SoMa? Here's a collection of places I've patronized and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2H0vGTV

Drinks are next level. Bartender has serious mixology skills. The lounge is cozy with a cool…read morehistorical vibe and they connect with the guests. Lots of interesting things going on inside The Majestic Hotel and The Butterfly Lounge is definitely worth a visit for great cocktails and ambiance.

Everything I hoped for and more. Came here for some birthday drinks and Mike and Amit couldn't…read morehave been more hospitable. The atmosphere and drinks were exceptional. This will always be on my list when I visit San Francisco from now on. Thank you so very much for the experience.

This is a FABulous, family-owned and operated bar that absolutely does take credit cards, despite…read moremany reviews (connected to prior owners perhaps) saying they don't. We were there for Thanksgiving and Sully was working non-stop behind the bar, his wife turned the pool table into a Thanksgiving day spread that could have competed with grandma's dinner! All were invited to a California-style holiday, where you could bring the family you chose to spend the day with, while making new friends if you were interested in doing that. No shopping, cooking or cleaning up. And amazingly they didn't even charge visitors for the meal! Everything was wonderful! Another guest brought an addictive, spicy, NOLA influenced oyster stuffing that we must come back for next year! OMG I don't know if there's any food normally, but we were very lucky to have discovered this bar, any day of the year! And with Sully and his wife's decades in this business, they've created a very friendly, but also extremely professional , local neighborhood bar. They've also lined the walls with great, music-themed photos and Bay Area concert posters that add to the vibe! And while their Irish coffee is as good as The Buena Vista, the price is much more palatable !

Bartender, male, ~6ft, black uniform, ethnically black. The most rude bartender I have ever…read moreexperienced in my life, rushed me to use the toilet, swore at me "I will fuck your shit up", very intimidating along with his pals who were drinking in the bar. I was gobsmacked at the treatment I experienced in this venue, I would absolutely advise any customer to tread carefully with that bartender, an absolute disgrace. Certainly should not be working in a customer facing role as such, purely antisocial.

After a Yelp Event I stopped by the Lone Palm for an after drink. Well, upon entering, the place…read morewas dark and only lit up by lots and lots of small candles. A dark colored dog (yes I said dog) came out of nowhere which I almost fell over. Welcome to the Lone Palm! Sat at the end of the bar once I got my bearings, met the bartender Alex, and had a champagne split. Alex is a charming bartender and has been there for 17 years. Great bartender shared history of the place and made you feel comfortable and welcomed. This is a cozy also romantic place to take a date. Enjoy the ambiance and share a story or two with Alex.

Lone Palm is a GREAT find in SF... so much so, I almost didn't want to write a review. It's a small…read morelittle neighborhood gem that I'm sure the locals like to keep close to their chest. We stumbled (kinda literally) upon Lone Palm one late Saturday night after an evening of shows and a few drinks. Fortunately, our AirBnB was literally steps away from the LP. We went in for a nightcap. It's a hopping little joint for being tucked away in the lovely little Mission neighborhood. The bartenders took great care of us and kept the drinks flowing. Price is extremely on-point and the pours are generous. We can't highly recommend the Lone Palm enough... truly a secret little gem that the Mission neighborhood is very lucky to have. We plan to be back in the next couple weeks and look forward to visiting again!

Mauna Loa is such a fun Marina neighborhood bar and one of those places that always feels familiar…read morethe minute you walk in. It has that classic, unpretentious San Francisco neighborhood-bar vibe that's getting harder and harder to find. The bartenders are friendly, the drinks are good and strong, and there's always an interesting mix of Marina locals, longtime regulars, and people just out having a good night. It's casual, lively, and never trying to be something it isn't. Whether you're stopping in for one drink or somehow ending up there for the rest of the night, Mauna Loa is always a good time. A longtime Marina staple with plenty of personality and one of those neighborhood spots I'm glad is still around.

Visited this place because it was a short walk from our hotel. Cute place, lots of decorations to…read morelook at. I got a pina colada and my guy got the peach drink on the menu board, and they were both delicious. We had a nice time talking to the bartender, Daniel. Would come back for another drink!

Came here for salsa on a Thursday. Shocked it wasn't packed. Good dancers and nice music! Will be…read moreback!!!

I never leave 1 star reviews but something so sexist happened last night that I need to address it…read more I went last night and was playing pool. My partner (a man) and I won the table after a round of pool and started playing other people. At some point, my partner was playing one of our friends (a girl), who was playing pool for the first time ever. He stepped away from the table and had me take over. Understandably, since it was my friend's first time, she wasn't the best player in the world- though I will say she was very good at defense and kept me away from any clear path to getting my balls in. After a couple minutes of subbing in for my partner, a man who identified himself as a security guard comes up to me, slurring his words. He tells me that we need to hurry up because other people want to play. Meanwhile, my partner and I have had control of the table for a good 30-40 minutes and have played at least 3 sets of people (who had all lost to us), and we had a good queue of the next 2 sets of people going. The system was set up before I even got to the bar- people come up to whoever is playing, asked about the order of who was next, and a verbal queue was formed (I should also add the bar didn't have chalk so no one could write their name down). I tell this security guard that we are playing a game and that this is very standard. He then approaches my friend and tries to tell her the same thing- that we need to hurry up so other people can play. He gets very close to her face and again is slurring his words. I go up to him and ask him what the actual problem is. I call him out for being sexist as when I approached the table initially, before I even got to play, there was a 2 v 2 game with all men going that was very slow and no one seemed to have a problem then. At this point, after calmly but repeatedly calling him out for his sexism, he walks away. I need to add that at no point did I yell at him, I simply told him he was being unfair and sexist. Over the next 20-ish minutes (and other games), other security guards filter in and out, without saying a word. This incident was so disgusting to me. One, if you're working security at a bar why are you slurring your words on the job??? Two, this man assumed because we're women that we're so bad at pool that it's holding everyone up- not understand that I've been playing pool almost every day for 3 + years now and I am used to winning the table at a dive bar (without the help of my partner, a man). Three, in all of my years of playing pool (even in the first year when I was really bad) I have NEVER been told to hurry up, nor have I EVER told someone to hurry up. Four, this man tried to intimidate my friend and I- which he backed up off of immediately because he knew he was in the wrong. I will never come here again. If you're a woman who wants to play pool- NEVER come here. If you're a woman trying to hang out with other women- NEVER come here.