Our hero isn't sure what the appeal of this place is, but this hipster mish mash of a bar is a bit too scattered for him. It's a tamale shop and bar in the front, a pool hall and burger joint in the back, and a hipster picnic in a construction zone (complete with porta-potties) in the outdoor area. Upon entering, the door man took a quick glance at our hero's ID and said "oh yeah, YOU... I've seen you here plenty of times." Actually, no you haven't. And you probably won't ever again. PROS: - Lots of outdoor seating. - Quick service at the bar, likely because most people prefer sitting outside. CONS: - Horrible restrooms. - Way too hipster for its own good. - Gets too smokey out on the patio for non-smokers. - Even the door man seems to be on something or other. read more

Top Ten Awesome things that happened at the Zeitgeist: 1) I had my birthday party there last year and my housemate got drunk and was pretending to drink from a container of bleach that was lying around only the cap was loose and it came off and spilled bleach all over him. We felt bad, but we laughed anyway. 2) Talking to some random people sharing our table one time, we spied a guy sporting a utility-kilt. As if that wasn't awesome enough, random girl #1 bet random girl #2 she couldn't slip a tampon into one of the pouches of homeboy's utility kilt, which, in the most anti-climactic bet winning move ever, she did two seconds later when he dropped something and bent down to pick it up and left one of his pouches totally exposed to tampon insertion. I'm betting he found the tampon days later and thought "oh THAT'S where that went." 3) My other housemate got a job there barbacking and checking ID's, so once when I was with a big group of people all going in he looked at me and just waived me on through. Awesome. Also, I am convinced that once the bartenders realized I knew someone who works there, I started getting my drink orders taken more quickly. 4) I ate a really yummy hamburger (many times). 5) I ate a really yummy tamale from the tamale lady (many more times). 6) Had a half-hour long argument with friends over whether the pink elephants on the wall are supposed to be a tower of pink elephants falling off a motorcycle or one pink elephant jumping down, frame by frame, onto the motorcycle (I say it's just one pink elephant--why would a whole crew of pink elephants all have the same Zeitgeist tattoo on their legs?) 7) Didn't have to wait for an hour to use the bathroom because there are port-a-potties right there! 8) Saw Quentin Tarantino (he was kinda fat). 9) Made out with a stripper (off-duty). 10) Oh yeah, I sat outside in the sun and got sunburned drinking pints of vodka lemonades and/or bloody marys and didn't give a damn (many many many times, and surely many more times to come). read more

How in the hell does this place average 4 stars? I went here tonight and it was absolutely horrible. To sum it up in one sentence: Bitchy bartenders and bouncers that were complete dicks. The place itself is a decent setup. They have a nice, large outdoor patio and on a nice day like today, it has the potential to be a great place to enjoy a beer under the sun. They have a pretty good selection of beers on tap, and the food that was cooking on the grill smelled pretty good. However, the place was packed like a friggin' sardine can. Lots of smelly, grungy guys and girls. Not my kind of crowd, but I thought they neither added nor detracted from my experience. I have no idea what bug crawled up the bouncers asses, but picture roided up, neckless slobs in sweat stained wifebeaters on a total power trip. One of these charmers screamed vulgarities at the top of his lungs to one young woman who had the audacity to stand up for a second on one of the wooden benches to look for a friend in the crowd. Completely unecessary. He also blew a huge snot rocket on the deck about 5 minutes later right in back of my friend as I was talking to her. I shit you not. This sort of place might appeal to some small segment of of the population that enjoys spending their hard earned money to be ignored by bartenders, berated by bouncers, and generally treated like shit, but as for me, I'd rather walk through hell in gasoline boxers before I ever step foot in here again. read more

Bouncer was super agro when I came in to meet a friend. I have lights on my cycling gloves and one of them turned on while I was handing him my ID. He told me to turn the light off, which I did immediately. Then he took his bright torch light and shined it directly in my eye. Clearly he was trying to escalate a non issue and power trip. I felt myself get angry but instead I just apologized and he let me in. Zeitgeist should hire non assholes to manage the door. read more

If I could give negative stars, I would. Came here last night at about 1:30, last call. Bought a beer, hung out for ten minutes, until, all of a sudden, the ten-or-so bartenders started barking orders for people to stop talking and leave. I asked the closest one, "what time do you close?" and the man answered, without eye contact, "Whenever the f*** we want! Now!". When observing cornered animals, you'll notice that agressive behavior is usually paired with prolonged and confrontational eye contact. None of these workers could look anyone in the eye and the reason is obvious to me: they are ashamed that their jobs require dehumanizing their clientele. So as I'm drinking the last sip of my beer, a female worker comes up to me, literally grabs the beer that I paid for (and tipped) out of my hand AS I'M DRINKING IT. It spills and the bottle hits me in the face. And her response is "Get the f*** out!" instead of, "Oh, I'm sorry, did I just wack you in the face with your own beer bottle?" If you don't want to be manhandled, yelled at, and physically, yes physically, pushed out of this place, I suggest not coming here near closing time. And if you want a beer during the day, make sure not to tip. Any establishment that not only tolerates, but also promotes physical violence against their own customers probably shouldn't be in business. read more

This place ROCKS. Coolest bar I've been to in quite some time. This is a place where those afflicted with serious maladies requiring the use of a certain medical card congregate to share their remedies for their problems. Ahem. They have a huge selection of beers - all of the prices are clearly posted on a giant chalkboard with the price for a pint or a pitcher. Buy by the pitcher, and save! Most of the beers are California beers, with an emphasis on IPAs, which I loved! The seating is all outdoors, on picnic tables. So it's "family style." You hang out there, and meet new people, and share stories and beers. There's lots of great music being played. The bathrooms were in pretty icky condition, but it was a Saturday night, and they were swamped, so I guess the bathrooms were swamped too. Ew. Don't wear sandals. The service was pretty fast and friendly. They offer pool, and video games. The prices are fair, $3-6 for a pint. When you consider the quality of the beverages being served, this is a heckuva deal! I wouldn't call this bar clean. But it's a dive bar, so what do you expect? read more

Zeitgeist doesn't need Yelp reviews or your patronage. I first came here in college, and more than ten years later it's exactly the same. Still perfection! The beer selection is great, the bartenders and bouncers are salty, the music is agro, and the grilled cheese with tomato is the best thing on the menu. Pick up a couple of books of pin-up girl matches and enjoy the sunny patio with an American Spirit. read more

A bar that makes me feel at home in San Francisco. Zeitgeist has a very New Orleans-esque vibe about it to me, where everyone is friendly, but not going to hold your hand and explain every beer to you despite a long list of local brews ranging from pilsners to stouts...though I will say, they're kind enough to explain the multiple trashcan situation we don't have in New Orleans for recycling. They'll make a badass, perfectly strong Bloody Mary without charging you an arm and a leg. There burgers are unpretentious, but made perfectly with the Pepper Jack cheese melding the bacon to the beef. They're home fries are serious potatoes and divine for a dive bar. My favorite part about this place is the patio. It's huge with tons of seating, comfortable, and just what I wanted on my last day in San Fran. You can either watch everyone from a bar stool on the porch or sit at a picnic table and not be so anti-social. The inside is local eclectic with a huge chalkboard and local bar paraphernalia everywhere, and a pool table as well in the back room where you order food. Notes, cash only but two ATMS are at your service, and there isn't really any signage but the Yelp app gets you there easy enough. The logo is basically the playboy bunny with a skull if you can visualize that. And if you like that sort of thing, they've got schwag. I will totally hit up Zeitgeist every chance I have when I visit San Fran. read more

For some reason I went back and it's like being mean is part of their culture. Our group of 5 was herded into a corner and told we could get a drink while we wait. I followed the arrows on the ground to a window at the bar and after approaching was yelled at to "step away from the bar". After standing in the corner drink-less we eventually got a table and waited another 15 minutes to be approached by a waiter read more

While we were there last night, a nice looking girl got harassed by the bouncer because she tried to take a picture of her friends. I respect the rule, but it was uncalled for to be so intense...it made everyone sitting outside in that area really uncomfortable, and the girl looked uber upset. A jacked up guy running at a girl who didn't know about the rule...he literally ran at her yelling, grabbed the camera, started yelling at her again, and stood there while she deleted the picture. On top of that, I saw a couple bouncers throw out a group of 15 because one of the guys stepped up on a bench for a second to make way for some people coming through. Seriously!? The reason I like living in the mission is because people are chill, reasonable and friendly. These two incidents were one of 4-5 I witnessed at Zeitgeist that was totally ridiculous. basically, this whole bar has a big chip on its shoulder. I couldn't believe how uptight and uncalled for the staff was...also speaking as a former bartender who understands bouncers deal with a lot of shit. too many other bars who don't verbally abuse women to make this place worth my while. read more

Lets start off with the good: They have a variety of beer and an outdoor patio. End. Bads: These a$$holes really act like they're doing YOU a favor when they serve you. Down to their bouncers, their staff sucks it up with rudeness. I'll give you my best worst Zeit story: I was ordering a hamburger and I rarely tip before I get my food, drink etc and so when I held off tipping, waiting for my burger to come, WHEN it came, which was about 30 minutes later! This rude ass lady slopped it up on the counter with this jerky motion and a "go eat shit" smile. I asked for the home fries advertised to accompany the burger and she reluctantly, haphazardly flung 2, t-w-o, no more, no less home fries on my plate. I asked for more and she said, "Well, maybe next time YOU should tip" I had no other response but, "Well if I need to tip to get what I ordered then maybe you should just include gratuity in the prices!" She then threatened to kick me out. One of San Francisco's absolute rotten worsts. If its a good pint, company and perhaps a sausage you be wanting then best try the Gestalt. They don't have a patio but at least you wont get frost bite dealing with the help. read more

Funny place and it does seem like they are "working" to create a biker bar experience. Having huge biker looking guys working a smoking outdoor grill, yelling orders out at the top of their lungs does wonders to a dive bar's image. The crowd wasn't very surley, but rather very Mission, casual and chill. read more

If Seinfeld came to San Francisco, Jerry, Elaine, George and Kramer would make a cameo at Zeitgeist. The scene at last call amused me ~ staff repeatedly shouting, "LAST CALL! DRINK UP! GOTTA FINISH THAT NOW!!!". Some of the other Yelpers experiences are (unfortunately) reminiscent of the 'Soup Nazi.' Nonetheless, I enjoy Zeitgeist for its character, its spacious beer garden, pink elephants decor, black beanies and leather. I recently noticed that the building adjacent (the one with a rainbow on it) looks like a movie set. Great spot for people watching, catching up with friends, making new friends, a few pints (or pitchers) and a grilled meal...be sure to bring your greenbacks (and thick skin), this place is cash only. *3.5* read more

A sweet dive bar that's a great place to meet up with a group of friends to chill and drink good beer. The beer list is long selection is varied, with a focus on local (Cali) beers. The bartenders are super friendly (especially considering how many customers they must serve per night) and will gladly pour you a sample if you're not sure about a beer. I've never seen the legendary "Tamale Lady" but their burgers and sandwiches are pretty decent (and are quite satisfactory after you've had a few drinks). Prices are reasonable, as well. Make sure to bring cash. Inside, there's a pool table, a couple of arcade machines, and a few tables which are usually taken up so it's usually standing room only. The real hangout spot is in the courtyard, which is wide open and full of tables, which makes it a great place to hang out when the weather is good. It's also a popular spot to light up, which may or may not be to your liking. The bathrooms aren't the cleanest, but that's par for the course for a dive bar. If you live in SF, you'll stop by this institution at some point. Come in with an open mind and a thirst for beer, and you'll have a good time. read more

Worst bar experience I have ever had. - Smug, rude, slow, pompous bartenders - Drinks priced as if it were a night club ($6-$12) - Splintered, overcrowded benches - Smelly, grimy and overall unpleasant atmosphere Avoid this one, even as a novelty. read more

This is the sort of bar hipsters love, for that authentic "dick" atmosphere (think of the hipsters, on the TV show, Shameless, who try to frequent the The Alibi Room). Waited 15 minutes, to purchase a beer, while the bartender gladly ignored me, in favor of five others, who showed up five minutes after I did. Guess I'm just not hip enough to buy a beer here. ANYHOW, walked off. I don't spend my dollars, to be ignored, in places pretending to be dive bars with "working class cool" (guess this is where Zeitgeist lives up to its name)- too many REAL dive bars in San Francisco, where they *GASP* actually serve drinks, to spend time and money here. read more

There is no way in hell that I am hip enough for a place like Zeitgeist. However, I think recognizing how unhip I am, by definition makes me hip, since true hipsters know that being hip is unhip, so the desire to be as unhip as possible makes them hip. OKAMIDOINGTHISRIGHT? The point is, I can drink enough to think Zeitgeist is awesome, and that's what really matters. read more

Terrible place. The bartenders are such b****es. Not friendly or nice at all. I know that dive bars are not made for a perfect service but still. If you don't like to interact with people/customers, change your job. 2 stars cause I liked the patio area. read more

How to even begin to describe the absolutely abysmal experience I had at Zeitgeist earlier this afternoon. But here goes, it was my good friends birthday so we thought it would be a great idea to head over to Zeitgeist with a big group of people and have a few pitchers and kick back. Sounds like fun doesn't it? Well first we get there and the bouncer at the door apparently thinks he works for the CIA and scrutinized every ID like they were forgeries. Ok, fine, whatever I love overzealous performance of useless jobs as much as the next gal. Next we go up to the bar, and my friend who is extremely hungover asks if they have an iced tea. The bartender literally laughs in her face, and says "are you even old enough to drink" and "are you even awake". First of all, if you're going to be unprofessional and rude at least come up with some better insults, and second HOW DARE SHE, AN ICED TEA???? I know, it's like she asked for the blood of baby endangered tigers. Seriously, what are these people thinking in running an establishment like this, mocking your customers seems like a great way to get repeat business. If that wasn't bad enough, then my friends attempt to order some food, nothing could go wrong right? WRONG. Well, the guy at the bar proclaims "UMM we don't take food orders here." Right, sorry sir, didn't realize that I wouldn't be able to order food AT THE BAR when we're IN A BAR. So we go over to what could only be described as a oil slick and parasite ridden cesspool, but which I assume is the kitchen, and the guy behind the counter proclaims that "the grill is broken" so there were only cold sandwiches. Again, ok fine. Except that after that I saw quite a few people with grilled cheese sandwiches and burgers. I didn't go to Le Cordon Bleu Academy but last time I checked you need a grill to make those. Apparently we were just not up to snuff for this high brow establishment. Then to top it all off when we left, being out in the middle of god knows where, we politely asked the CIA agent who checked our IDs if he knew of a good place to catch a cab. He just smirked and shrugged his shoulders. Oh well excuuuse me Your Majesty, didn't realize that this was such a ridiculous question for a classy gentleman such as yourself. So ONE STAR, because I guess my beer was cold, but so is the beer in my refrigerator, and Yelp doesn't give the option to give zero stars. So farewell Zeitgeist, let me give you a one fingered salute, the people who work here and run this bar are some of the most terrible human beings I've ever met, and I legitimately hope you go out of business...doesn't seem too far out of the realm of possibility considering how you treat your customers. read more

Rude bartender yelled at me and my kids, all we wanted were burgers, but apparently SF is not smart enough to provide for this in the law governing businesses with liquor licenses. This would be OK, in itself, but is not a license for total douche-baggery on the part of barkeeps. PS- I am smart enough to not order alcohol for my kids without the city's help read more

I really want to give this place a good review. It's not expensive, the crowd is great, the food is on par, the atmosphere is just what it should be. It deserves three or four stars. That being said: BOUNCERS: There's a nice way to do your job. Nothing you deal with at this place excuses the misanthropic guerrilla reaction that people get for something as innocent as sitting on a table top or needing to run back to a car to pick up ID. You people respond to non-threatening situations in a very threatening manner that shows how weak and pathetic you really are. The toughest bouncers I've met were never nearly as discourteous as your cadre of semi-literate low-rent mercenaries. read more

Stop calling yourself a "biker bar" and start accepting credit cards! The only reason I like you is because of your outdoor patio. And beer selection. And food. And bike access.... Dammit! read more

Remember in cartoons whenthat cat was trying to kill that fucking jerk-off mouse, so hed set up this sweet sinister killing machine comprised of saw blade, fire and vats of acid? And it was all tied together with pieces of Grandmas red khaballa string? And then to get that fucking mouse to come to the trap, hed put down a deliciously decadent piece of yellow cheese that would waft smell waves in the air? Usually to a middle eastern genie soundtrack. And those waves would come to that shitty mouse and caress his chin the way your friend's Aunt Ruth would touch you after a stunning evening of cocktails containing Valium and Absolut? Zeitgeist's BBQ does that to me. Rarely do i ever go to a bar alone (ill reserve that for the days when ive accepted alcoholism as a way of life and not a hobby). But ill go here for BBQ and pitcher of beer and call it dinner. A shot of Fernet if im feeling Sharon Stoney. If im really lucky, i can be dinner serenaded to gentle croonings of Tom Araya singing "Angel of Death" or Ice Muthafucking Cube telling me how it was a good day. Im glad that shitty Octavia exit wasnt ZG's apocalypse. I want to continue coming here for a long time. After all, Tom never did catch that little son of a bitch, did he? read more

Several of my friends feel that this is the best bar around. I have to premise my review on the fact that I myself was a bartender at a dive bar and hated it so I understand the frustration of working at a bar, however, that is not really a good rational for being entirely miserable. It has the rudest bartenders I have ever encountered. I have heard there are secrets to getting them to like you however, I have no need to pay at an establishment where I have to work to receive a bartenders acceptance whom I am giving money to. I broke the cardinal rule and grabbed an olive. I know it was wrong and it was stupid. What proceeded was at least a ten minute lashing which felt like forever. The bartender yelled at me for a bit then took the olive container tossed the olives out while staring at me to assure that I could see her extreme discontent. Following her tossing the olives clear across the bar she proceed again to tell me to never do that again. I continually apologized. She had just handed a pitcher of beer to a friend and did not give us glasses, which I was now afraid to ask for. So we had to continue to stand at the bar. She left while continuing to give me the if I could kill you I would eye while serving others. I think if she had a gun she would have shot me dead. Next she proceeded to return and yell at me some more. I received several if you want something ask for it, don't ever do that again and so on however this was after I apologized and apologized. There was no need to continue to yell. I had learned my lesson. Maybe she hates the world or her life but really is there a need to continue to yell at someone after they have apologized profoundly. She left again after her third round of yelling and gave me a few more words she then looked at my horrified friend and gave her some glasses for our beer. She never once took he eyes off of me. I suppose she was hoping I would start crying and maybe that would make her evening a little better. She does give one good evil eye. This was not this first type of this kind of encounter here. I have tried and tried to like it here, but I don't. The staff is so rude and it is not worth my money to go there anymore. If you want to go there get some evil eyes and attempt to kiss ass to bartenders so they will like you enough go there. It is the worst treatment I have ever received at any establishment. I have been a bartender and waitress so I understand however nothing explains their hatred of life in general. read more

You know, it's funny- usually when I'm giving people money in exchange for drinks or food, we're both looking forward to what we're getting. I'm getting sustenance, and you're getting cash. Everybody wins. I'm pretty sure the staff at Zeitgeist all must hate money- otherwise why go out of your way to be OPENLY HOSTILE to paying customers? This place has the potential to be one of the most fun dives in SF- too bad the people who work there consistently make it the worst bar I've EVER been in. Fuck this place. read more

It's been a long time since I've been frisked upon entering a bar. Maybe I've gone all soft and don't go to the right places anymore, but I was a little surprised when after carding me the big bald bearded dude half-heartedly patted me down. (Protip: If you're planning to bring a weapon to Zeitgeist, carry it anywhere other than the front pockets of your sweatshirt and they'll never find it.) Zeitgeist is an outdoor bar, for the most part. There are a few seats inside, along with pinball machines and a pool table, but the bulk of the bar is a huge patio with wooden picnic benches. Zeitgeist patrons drink outside whether it's warm or cold 'cause they're hardcore. The cold weather keeps the wrong crowd away in the same way that forests in northern Alberta depend on cold snaps to control pine beetle infestations. but yeah, there's beer and there's food. Place an order inside and after 15 minutes or so a cook will come out and scream your name to let you know your food is ready. Five bucks will get you a big ass hamburger with a side of potatoes, six will get you a cheeseburger or sausage. The food ranges from pretty good to fantastic depending on how drunk and hungry you are. Oh, and take one of the matchbooks, even if you don't smoke. They have porn on them! read more

The staff is probably as surly as they are because they deal with hundreds of drunkards who think they're a lot cooler/funnier/smarter/hipper than they are. And you know what, it gets a little annoying after awhile. The staff is pleasant if you are, and extra-specially so if you tip well. Don't wait in line, just go up to the bar. I hate to say it, but I wish they'd cut down those trees (nature lovers, don't hurl tomatoes!) that offer shade because this is San Francisco, and on the occasional days that we can actually see that big yellow ball in the sky, those trees block it out, especially around 4-6 in the afternoon. Ladies, if you plan to use the bathrooms inside (rivaling Place Pigalle for the dirtiest bathrooms in San Francisco), hold the door closed whilst on the toilet. Sometimes those locks just don't really hold. Playing cards and drinking pitchers on the picnic tables at Zeitgeist is going to be my spring/summer to a tee. read more

I'm a 50 year old dude...and my review is from a much different perspective than the average patron of this place. This place probably should have a higher rating...but it's the old fart scale here... For a guy my age, this place sucks...outdoor seating, which is crammed packed with people...blaringly loud music...and rude 20-somethings getting their drink on...or in the case of the two guys thinking they were being discreet...smoking pot in the corner near a giant tree...and wondering why I was giving them looks...and they returning "What?...I'm not doing anything" looks. I'm all for people doing what they want in their own homes...but until Pot is legalized...officially...keep that shit to yourself, I don't need to fail a random drug test from second hand smoke from a burner. (Yes...second hand contact with pot smoke can cause you to test positive...though I will give you it would have to be the next day or so...and yes, I'm being a grumpy old man here.) Now...with all the above out...I can see why this place is popular among the twenty to thirty year-old group. The food here is excellent...and reasonably priced. Their tiny ass kitchen puts out some great food...and I loved the burger I got...amazing fries...and I can't even remember what else we got, but it didn't last...I know I'd go back here simply to eat...it was that good. Also, this place has an amazing number of beers on tap...a selection which is boggling to say the least. Which actually brings me to another complaint about this place. Several of the bartenders are rude as hell. I get when things are busy, you need to move quickly to serve the masses...but being a smart ass impatient bartender is bulshit. It's not the patrons fault if the menu is so vast it takes a study hall session to get through it. That's where asking a few quick questions can lead you to making a suggestion which most patrons will take...and find very helpful. (To those rude ass bartenders...If you don't like what you are doing...go find something else to do. Having been a bartender for years when I was in my 20s...even in the busiest of clubs...I never gave people attitude...and see no reason for it...it just shows your lack of ability...or that you're just a-holes.) Anyway, if you like crowds...noise...great food, and a huge selection of beer...this is definitely a destination place...you'll have fun here. if your 20 to 30ish. If you're old like me...maybe not so much...but I still recommend going at least once...or earlier in the day for food. read more

Zeitgeist is the perfect San Francisco spin on a beer garden. So much of heavy metal's history is tied to the Bay Area; it is great to have a place that relishes in that hard edge. The craft and specialty beer selection is top notch, and often includes Pliny the Elder on tap. The large backyard beer garden is an excellent low key place to hang out with friends, listen to some killer tunes, and enjoy some of the best beers in the world. read more

**great outdoor beer patio, perfect for a summer's day, nice selection of beer, come with your biggest sunglasses and under dress. **the tamale lady comes and makes everyone go wild for tamales, "tamale lady!!!" **It's an alright place to ease a hang over on a summer's day, don't be scared of the crowd, have fun and relax outside. read more

I had been to Zeitgeist a couple times before and had a good time which is why I chose this place to meet up with friends to celebrate my birthday. We are a low key bunch so a fun/low key place is what we like. When we arrived it was busy in the back but we hung out until we got a spot. We sat down and there was dirty cups, etc.. left over from the last people, including outside empty bottles of alcohol - we were told it would get cleaned up soon. 5 min later the bouncer comes over and yells at us and says THATS IT YOUR OUT because of what was left there. It wasn't even ours and we have to convince him that it wasn't ours and asked him not to yell like that at us. He came over 6 or 7 times throughout the evening and yelled at us for stupid things like standing for too long!!! WTF?!?! There seriously was no reason. We are nice people and respect establishments. I told him it was my birthday and I just got engaged and all we wanted to do was hang out and celebrate and I hoped this would prompt him to be a little nicer (it didn't). At the end of the night (and I'm talking 1:15am) my friends were leaving and went to the car to get me a gift. I tried to go out to get it from them and come back in but the bouncer said we are closing and it is last call so once you leave you can't come back in. Um....they close at 2am but whatever.... At that point I was just super annoyed and had it with their unnecessary rudness and said EFF IT and left for the night. Needless to say say...I will not be going back.. and neither will the 20 other people I was with. read more

Never managed to get a spot at any of the tables for the times I went--disappointing. It's a popular spot among outdoor hangouts in San Francisco. I just don't see the appeal. read more

I'm from out of town (Seattle) and was completely stoked when I first walked into Zeitgeist. They were playing great metal and had that dive look I tend to gravitate to in bars. Boy was that honeymoon over quick. One of our party made the mistake of taking a photo in the back patio. They have a no picture policy; no big, it's their bar. When I very politely asked one of their goons why they have said policy (intellectual curiosity, I'd never seen that at any bar ever) he was a complete and total a-hole, treating me like some sort of problem customer and threatening to kick me out. Huh? I was beyond nice because that's who I am but he was having none of it. Inside ordering drinks through the night I couldn't get one person behind the bar to crack a hint of a smile either. Yeesh. This place is the serious no fun zone. I'll actively work to make sure I never land there again, and regret giving them any of my money during my one and only visit. read more

Sunny afternoons are the best at this outdoor backyard party. One of the best selections of beers on tap in the city. Great burgers barbqued right in the backyard for your order. This place is prop tamale lady, mmmmmm! She actually chills there all the time. Margaritas, mmmm!!! read more

YAY! After poring over the reviews I figured out that I should not be hating on this bar anymore than I already was for having kicked me out. It sounds as if many, many people get kicked out, and when you read all the scenarios here, it's obvious that the staff is basically told to ham it up and be dicks (and make sure to do arbitrary kick-outs every hour on the hour.) Also - I think they're probably looking to weed out the non-cool-kids maybe just to get rid of any potential Vice squadders. Anyway, service is lousy, doorman sucks, and if they've got a policy or dress code, nobody knows it. Wear a hoodie, wear tattoos, and try very hard not to look corporate. I too, was given the boot when visiting in 2008, and despite the fact that my boyfriend was falling asleep in his drink and my brother was like 14 sheets to the wind, I was the one kicked out because I took a photo of my boyfriend passing out. When the bartender kicking me out said it was marked 'No Photos' on a sign, my brother flipped out, saying the sign was tiny and in GERMAN (near the entrance/bouncer.) So at least he and I bonded, and he stuck up for me, and he made the douchey bouncer and some other dude, both of them bearded and half his height/weight - totally cower. It's a really cool bar if you're the type to think that tattoos and hoodies are still wicked exotic and pot is so novel to smoke in public. If not, it's probably not worth the manic establishment and attitude you'll encounter. Oh yeah - and the Tamale Lady is gone anyway, so why bother? read more

A gem in the rough, I'd call it. This place definitely has a face (well, if a bar had a face) that only a mom can love. The place looks kinda ghetto from the outside but once you get inside you'll realize the place is fairly pleasant and if you enjoy/enjoyed the frat party kinda scene you're definitely in the right place. The vibe here is very chill. Don't judge a book by it's over, the employees here look a little intimidating at first but they are actually quite nice! This is probably the only bar I've been to where it's 6pm and it's PACKED! I was very impressed but the selection of beer but again even more impressed by the employees and the patrons they bring in, whom were super friendly and laid back. Also, the first where I've been asked if I had some gonja to sell...LOL! WTH! Just 'cause my eyes are chinky does not mean I am high! Ok? =P LIke a said the place is a little on the rough side and I can see how not everyone would be comfortable coming to a place like this, but give it a whirl, you might enjoy the place as I did. read more

The 754 reviews Zeitgeist has are a testament to the only problem that this bar has. It's too popular for it's own good. But still, it is awesome to drink pitchers upon pitchers of reasonably priced beer in the sun. If you haven't already, it's time to check out this SF landmark. read more

What not to do at Zeitgeist. Order a few drinks like your ass doesn't stink, then complain to the bartender that she needs to be a little more friendly. Yeah, those dudes didn't last. Good bar food, savvy selection of beers on tap, and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds on the jukebox makes for one damn happy Javi. for it. Yup, definitely a night for the lotus eaters... read more

I totally got kicked out of Zeitgeist last weekend. Let me repeat that in all caps so you can pretend I'm yelling: I TOTALLY GOT KICKED OUT OF ZEITGEIST LAST WEEKEND. I don't get kicked out of bars. I'm not bitchy, whiny, aggressive or combative. But I guess I AM stupid enough to sneak in a half-finished Sparks in a paper bag. But listen. I bought the Sparks for the walk over from Lower Haight, but my mom called two minutes after I popped the can and I had a lot to tell her about (moving, boy problems, fainting at The Fillmore during Broken Social Scene), so I didn't make much headway. Sure, I could have just dumped it and ate the three measly bucks it cost, but I pride myself on being a fierce proponent of NEVER, EVER wasting alcohol. So I stuck that baby in my purse and waltzed in. Apparently big, bearded bouncers dressed in black (alliteration, anyone?) have eagle eyes and don't take kindly to foreign drink in their bar. I mean, it's not like I didn't buy a pitcher too, though, guys. Regardless, in typical mean Zeitgeist employee fashion, a couple guys stomped over to my table. One grabbed the Sparks and dramatically poured it out on the ground. The other growled, "You're outta here." So that's it. Three stars for the awesome patio and really good grilled cheese and hot pastrami with grilled onion sandwich. Minus two stars for the jerks that work here making me feel like an asshole every time I've been. read more

I have to start out by saying that I love Zeitgeist, and I have for the 15 plus years that I have lived in SF - from the days when they use to host punk rock bands like the Barfeeders, etc., And honestly, I still love this place ... which is why it pains me greatly that they are one of the only establishments EVER, in San Francisco and/or other states as well, that has ever given me a hard time about letting my service dog enter their establishment. I have a legitimate service dog trained for the first 2 years of her life at Canine Companions for Independence (CCI) in Santa Rosa, Ca. The door man said that they had been having trouble with "service dogs." First of all, I just don't believe that. If the dog was an actual service dog, then there is no way that dog had given them trouble in any way. What they are having trouble with is the multitude of people who go out and buy a vest for their dog and claim to have a service dog when they actually do not. This phenomenon of people pretending that their dogs are service dogs is really making it more difficult for people like myself who actually DO have a service dog, who is trianed and legally allowed to enter establishments. So, boo to Zeitgeist for not being sensitive to the rights of the disabled and boo to the many individuals who are also not being sensitive to the needs of the disabled and selfishly lie about having a service dog - both of you together are making my life way more difficult. I'm pleading with individuals who do not have service dogs to stop pretending that you do, and for establishments to be more sensitive to the disabled community ... we're in SF for goodness sakes ... read more