the folks were nice and welcoming; shots were big; it was definitely a dive bar if that's what you are looking for; music was just ok but we were there early around 5pm read more

Amazing vibes and good music! A must if you enjoy live music or visiting San Francisco. Please note it is a cash only bar and there is a $5 cover. read more

This is an amazing place, an institution, full of real music and real people. Nuf said.

Erica was an amazing bartender. She was very friendly and attentive. We loved sharing jokes with her. We will be back to see her soon! Thanks Erica!! read more

Ok let me preface this by saying I absolutely love Sam Francisco nostalgic architecture and culture. I came here on a recommendation from a conversation with an uber driver about old buildings in the city. He was quick to let me know how it was "The Oldest Bar in the area". Well I am a sucker for a good dive bar and some history so I had him drop me off there. Based upon appearance this was everything I was hoping for. Old building. Some faded paint on the single paned windows door open which seemed really inviting. I walked in to find a middle aged bartender with a biker vest and orthopedic senior citizen shoes on with his face buried in his cell phone. I greeted him with a "Hello" and promontory got ignored as I went to find a seat. Upon finding my seat the odor of musty, moldy wood overtook me and I checked under the bar where I was sitting due to the strong smell of something rotting. But no big deal, I was here for the experience. Expecting a bit more hospitality from the bartender in orthopedic shoes I noticed he had a lap dog sitting on the bar which he was feeding water to at this point. Hoping to make eye contact or get his attention he started a conversation with two guys who were already at the bar. This went on for a few more minutes. He eventually looked in my direction, placed his hand on a large buck knife he had in a leather sheath on his belt and began to glare at me and walked toward my end of the bar. I said hello and asked what beers he had in a bottle. He didn't utter a word and pointed at a piece of cardboard which had beer box labels glued to it that was affixed to the bar and immediately looked at the ceiling in disgust. Thinking this may be part of the schtick of this place I ordered a beer, which finally got my first verbal response from this guy. He rudely just told me the price as he stared at the ceiling. Thinking this was a pay first place I got my wallet out and his second verbal berating came which was to rudely inform me that it was cash only. I paid for my beer and was hoping to take in the place, again this place came recommended. What I found was nothing short of disgusting. There was musical equipment (microphone stands, amplifiers etc.) sitting on the floor leading me to believe that this place must play live music. I could imagine how entertaining of a venue this place has the potential to be. Living in the 21st century I had already checked this place out online and noticed a unique bathroom which was half basement half washroom. It was about time for me to make a nature call when I entered the mens room. I was greeted by a set of stairs going under the foundation which I had to lower my head to make full entry. I found the single toiled which was full of human feces, toilet paper which was covered in fecal matter laying over the side of the toilet and floor. It looked like something from a 3rd world refugee camp. Completely disgusting. By this point I was about to leave but knew I had a drink waiting to be finished at the bar. I returned to my seat only to finally hear the bartender speak to a couple who walked in. They said "Hello Shane" which he replied with a grumble. They seemed to know of him or be regulars. He was about a half a tick less rude to them. But they seemed to accept it. I would imagine good service is hard to come by in that area if he's the norm. To sum this place up, it's a disgustingly dusty, musty wood smelling, rude service by a middle aged man who's a mix between a bootleg Sons Of Anarchy character and half cripple in orthopedic shoes fully equipped with an open carry fixed blade knife. The fecal matter covered toiled was just icing on the cake to the experience. I'm looking for the thumbs down button or -10 stars. I would never return to this place. Don't let the nostalgia fool you. It's a real dump. read more

It's a dive bar at its best. Oldest bar in SF. Awesome live music. Rude, old bartenders lol. Cash only. You don't come here for the service. You come here for the music and crowd. read more

The Saloon - Jazz & Blues Near Me - San Francisco, California

Amazing our bartender was great and very personable. The coolest thing is they serve easy drinks at an affordable prices. If you want to feel like you're in the heart of the city with some cool regulars definitely check this place out. read more

Classic and the oldest Saloon in the City! It's a must visit when in town or a local! Live music bands jamming it up and a pleasure while getting a drink on! Cash only and sometimes a cover depending on whose playing that night! Hole in the wall spot and for the older crew is the scene here! read more

My favorite place for blues music in north beach. My destination for every trip to SF!

Very cool spot to grab a drink and hang out with friends. The bartenders were very knowledgeable and on-to-it. Great service.

Okay. So I like a dive bar as much as anyone else but there's a point where it gets too much. The music was perfection. The atmosphere great. It just needs a renovation and cleaning. Also beer was not cold. Probably would not return. read more

Fun time, comfortable vibe and live music - what else can you ask for. If you're into blues, this is the place for you. Fair warning, it is an older crowd but any age would feel welcome. read more

Sharon was the most amazing bartender in the whole city! I hardly write reviews but this woman deserves it all. 12/10 service, representation, went above and beyond for us !! read more

The Saloon - Jazz & Blues Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Latest news, now open! Praise be! Noon - 2am everyday, with live music again. Visit their FB page for band updates. Normalcy is feeling better and better. https://www.facebook.com/saloonsf read more

Love this place! The people are very friendly. The music is fantastic. And the drinks are inexpensive. Great spot!

This is the best place for relaxation and having bear. Enjoyed much with my friends and family!

You had me at daily 4pm shows! And after 3 years of avoiding the trip to city, we did it yesterday! Incredibly fun afternoon with bartender Rose's stiff, cheap drinks, dancing alone, dancing with others while soaking up every note from Walter Jebe and band AND so many talented musicians that popped in for different songs - AJ Crawdaddy, guitar and Jill Dineen, bass guitar and a woman singing blues that had every cell in my body singing right along. Only downside was learning that Walter Jebe is taking a year off. But good for him. Bathrooms - mine was clean. Parking - North Beach Garage $4hrly +chinese proverb w/space! Call liquor $4.50 Cash only bar RIDICULOUSLY GREAT TALENT Friendly patrons though a giant guy in California Hells Angels jacket bumped me on his way to bathroom. I grinned. Tight space. Stepped out front for air a few times and what a hoppin' corner! If you've been procrastinating, make it happen! Worth the ghastly drive (especially since I wasn't the driver ;) ) read more

The Saloon - View from front door - Jazz & Blues Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I visit San Francisco a couple of times a year I have been to this saloon many times. I'm not always used to being treated with respect when I go there. About a month ago this female bartender I think her name was Ashia she was so nice to me and very professional. I hope to see her next time I visit. read more

This is a great local dive bar, the blues band was great, the drinks are reasonable and the atmosphere is fun and easy going

I came here last night with 3 of my friends. They just wanted to grab one drink and then we were heading home. I am sober and don't drink, I ordered a soda water and found a stool to sit on and enjoy the music. My friend wanted to take a photo of us and their was a flash on her camera. After the second photo was taken I was still smiling and laughing and out of no where a huge ice cube is thrown directly at my eye from the bar tender and I immediately started crying from the pain. I was confused as to what had just happened I thought it must have been an accident and then I thought it was a shot glass she threw from how hard it was. My friend who took the photo realized she was trying to throw the ice cube at her to get her attention because she didn't like the flash of the camera. So the ice cube was thrown on purpose to hit my friend and hit me instead. I was embarrassed and people around had seen what had happened, when I looked up the bartender knew she had hit me and she was just shaking her head saying things under her breath. I was still so confused as to what happened and my friend walked me outside. She asked to look at my eye and told me it was bleeding. The bar tender cut my skin open under my eye with the ice she had thrown. My two other friends stayed in the bar and quickly told her what she had hurt me & how horrible it was and then they left. I drove home and I still am just in shock. I've debated filing a report to the police or just calling the owner but I have a feeling she might be an owner. I am just so disturbed this happened and I hope this woman doesn't go around assaulting patrons on the regular. Regardless.. if there is no flash allowed at the bar (we didn't see any signs) then the correct way to tell someone that is not to assault them. This woman was maybe in her 60s with blonde hair. This is a photo of my eye when it happened and when I got home and took off my makeup. Today I have a black eye. On Easter, which is also the death anniversary of my father and I had to spend time with family today with a black eye and share the wonderful story. Which everyone told me to press charges. read more

The Saloon - My eye after the bar tender threw an ice cube at me - Jazz & Blues Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Fun Cash only Dive Bar! If you want cheap strong drinks, live music and awesome people, this is the place to go! Bar area seating, and a couple more high chairs, really a simple setting. Everyone was friendly, lady bartender was nice! The band that was playing was really good, all in all my Hubby and I had so much fun! It's an awesome place to listen to live music! It is a dive bar, so expect it to be one! Lol read more

The Saloon - Bar - Jazz & Blues Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Music was very good. Bartender was not. She was an older lady that seemed to be mad at the world. I saw her insult customers and it was like she was doing everyone a favor by letting us drink there. First time in this bar and I expected a lot more since I was referred here by another bartender at another bar. Hopefully she was just having a bad night. read more

I had some out-of-town friends, who wanted to hear some blues, so we went to this bar, what a mistake! The bartender Shane is so rude and the worst, we have ever seen! The place is still extremely dirty! extremely read more

Live music at The Saloon never disappoints!! It's not for everyone, but it's a San Francisco gem if you're going for real blues music.

I mean they don't make 'em like this anymore. This is a dive bar that has live music every day. It's cash only. It's always got a random array of peeps here, and usually dancing, to boot. The bar list doesn't have that Bay Area craft varietal that you'd find at any bar in the Bay - it's a Budweiser bar so keep on moving if you're looking for a double IPA from a small craft brewery from northern California. Drinks are strong, the prices are low, there's a ton of character and it's a breath of fresh air. I'm a fan, fo' sho'! read more

The Tap PBR has been flowing through those lines a decade or two before that beer became cool. It may be a "cool" beer now but taste like a cheap shity beer as it did in the 70's. But we're talking the "saloon" now this place is something else, no other place in the world would I even contemplate staying for a second more after smelling the centuries old puke coming from the millhune hardwood floors... It's then you hear the band and you see the crowd and you understand perfectly it's all part of the patina. Next thing you know it's last call...6 hours have gone by, your date took off with a biker and you don't give a fuck you want more live music you want another beer, but you got to go home and you realize then you can't smell that puke but you can taste it! I love this place! read more

The Saloon - THE SALOON - Jazz & Blues Near Me - San Francisco, California

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This love-able dive joint is a cherished piece of San Fran history. You can see, smell and hear the past here, as the smell of marijuana gently wafts through the open doors offsetting the smell of stale beer and dust. Super talented local musicians and an eclectic, friendly crowd. Just spotted a little person dancing in front of the band, ever so enthusiastically. In other words, you never know who or what you will see here. Don't order a fancy craft cocktail, though. Beer and/or simple mixed drinks, and a shot of bourbon are the smart choices here. CASH ONLY, not surprisingly. This is the old San Fran that makes the new San Fran look like a lip-singer on auto tune. read more

The Saloon - Jazz & Blues Near Me - San Francisco, California

This little gem is located in a popular part of SF. This bar only takes cash so make sure to bring the green. I love the character of this bar. My boyfriend and I sat at the bar not realizing we had a great location for the band. The drinks are so strong. Pricing?!? Omgggg!! Strong, cheap drinks.... Yaaaasssss!!! Seriously shocked in a good way. I couldn't believe we were paying $4 for drinks. Amazing! The band was great. I love live music! The band did a great job of getting everyone on the dance floor including me! My flapping arms were happy to be on the dance floor. read more

I was passing by this place for dinner and it was already pretty hopping by 8.30pm on a weeknight. So I decided to stop by on the way back. This place brings me right back to the Nashville music scene, the band is super enthusiastic. The guitar player was awesome even though the speaker quality wasn't the best. Old school funk and blues mixed in a dose of country here and there. Definitely a lot of fun. By 10pm this place is completely packed. Good vibes to this place. read more

My favorite bar in San Francisco I lived there for 20 years. If I had a chance to go back I would go to The Saloon, Buena Vista, Scoma's, House of Prime Rib. It been 20 years but I would bet on them. Those kind of places are rare everywhere. read more

Cool little bar one of the oldest in San Francisco . Live music . It is cash only so keep that in mind but it's a cool place to spend a couple of hours read more

The Saloon - Drinks - Jazz & Blues Near Me - San Francisco, California

The Sunday bartender is so hospitable! From her accent, I'd guess she's from the South. I believe her name is Markelle Palombo. Best Bloody Mary's in the neighborhood. Muy Fuerte! read more

A real dive bar! Fabulous music! Great drinks! Welcoming bar staff! Great place to spend an evening meeting new friends! read more

This is the go-to place in SF for live music! It's very famous, but in the end it's just a dive bar. I wanted to see blues but the night I was there it was country - but country played very, very fast! Wow! Despite being very well known they don't scalp you for drinks. I definitely plan on going again the next time I'm in the area. read more

Perfect dive bar. Cash only. People are friendly. The band that was there when we went on a Sunday night was The Door Slammers. All such professional and talented musicians. They will get you dancing or at least swaying to the music by the end of the first song they play. As for drinks they are the expected dive bar prices of being on the cheaper side for San Francisco. Enjoy the local vibe and music that's good for the soul. read more

The Saloon - Jazz & Blues Near Me - San Francisco, California

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The Saloon is great not only because of it's rich history but also because it attracts all walks of life, primarily older generations who rock out zero f***s given. I came randomly on a Saturday and there was a band playing. The guys were essentially garage band princes that never grew up and I LOVED IT. Garage band KINGS NOW. They had really great chemistry together and I loved that everyone was rockin out. There were these 2 older ladies moshing for the world to see and I loved their attitude. Old people are the best and live life unapologetically, which we could all take a page out their book. It's cash only so you know it's real. It's old, It's grimy, it's the essence of old town SF and a MUST VISIT. Do yourself a favor and take a step back in time at this historic hot spot with good music and great vibes accompanied by live music and happy patrons. read more

This place is the real deal. Stiff drinks, incredible music, fun staff. Our bartender even took a twirl with a patron on the dance floor! If you like live music, this is the place to go. read more

Yes it smells bad Yes it's a bit cramped and sweaty. What matters though is that the music is usually incredible, there is music every night, and everyone there is just there to have a good time. read more

A funky in more ways than one, a bluesy bohemian wonderful piece of San Francisco history come during the daytime to check out the decor then come back at night to dance the blues. Everybody dances! Funky in more ways than one and absolutely essential. Some of the cheapest bar drinks in all of San Francisco. read more

Love the live music! Drinks are not skimmed at all. Definitely a dive bar but exactly what me and my girls were looking for!