Fun and entertainment San Francisco & Bay Area

Historical bar of North Beach where the beatniks, but also the musicians Theolonius Monk, the poet Jack Hirschman and the journalist Warren Hinckle, spent their evenings chatting around a beer or a whisky, the Specs' has kept an artistic and bohemian atmosphere, without really changing its decor since its opening in 1968. The frontage is a bit old-fashioned, but give it a chance, once installed at the counter, the welcome is warm and the meetings very nice! Moreover, the glasses are rather cheap for the district.

Hidden in a small alley in the Financial District, this cocktail bar recreates the speakeasy atmosphere of the bars of the 1930s and 1940s. Large space, dim lights, live jazz band and bartenders in white contribute to this very dandy atmosphere that appeals to the 35-55 year olds. Trust the bartenders who concoct delicious cocktails that are famous throughout the city. The dining experience is also very good, with Chef Bruce Hill receiving three stars from the local SF Chronicle newspaper. An excellent address for a dinner for two.

For over twenty years, The Blue Light has been a popular gathering place on Union Street in San Francisco. Warm and welcoming, the bar's atmosphere attracts locals and visitors alike. A very student bar where people come to drink cheap beer, dance and play pool, while watching soccer and basketball games on one of the 19 high definition screens in the house. All in a very relaxed atmosphere for the neighborhood... And if you like to sing at the top of your lungs, they organize karaoke nights on Thursday nights.

Perry's is a restaurant, a bar and a coffee shop, all in one, made legendary by Armistead Maupin's San Francisco Chronicles. In the 1980s, it was a place to pick up girls. Today, fans of the Chronicles come there as a pilgrimage. For holiday makers, you can also come and enjoy its happy hour, every weekday from 3 to 6 pm. Copious food and seafood menu with lots of lobsters and crabs, slightly greasy fries but very good onion soup. You will leave the table full!

This pub offers typical American dishes with a touch of California influences. More than a hundred local and international beers on the menu, including a nice selection of IPAs. In the evening, this sportsbar comes alive with game tables like the shuffle board, or in front of the twenty or so giant screens set up in the bar to follow the games... You can also nibble on typical Californian pub snacks(nachos, quesadilla, chicken wings, sandwiches...).

Aloha! Pagan Idol is a huge, spectacular Hawaiian tiki bar. Colored lights highlight the decor, which combines tiki elements such as totem poles, aquariums and gigantic plants behind glass canopies... It's almost an attraction in itself. Lean against the counter in one of the bars, or simply stand on weekend evenings when the bar is full, to sample fabulous cocktails where rum is king, including the famous zombie of course. Some are flambéed for added spectacle.

Tucked away on a side street in Union Square, this little vintage neighborhood bar is warm and inviting because music is at the^{heart of}the project. DJs who are friends of the bartenders and the owner play vinyls from their collection on turntables on the mezzanine floor of a small dancefloor. The atmosphere is rather groovy and calm during the week, but livens up at the end of the evening on weekends. On Wednesdays, a small band plays at the beginning of the evening, creating a really nice atmosphere: either jazz (but not daddy-style jazz) or reggae.... The cocktails are delicious.

This superb concert hall is historic, having been built in 1909 with the grandeur of the halls of the time. Featuring parquet flooring on stage and a horseshoe balcony, it's an example of Scottish architecture blending gilding, stucco and red velvet in neoclassical and beaux-arts styles. The musical program is one of San Francisco's most renowned, with major headliners in all styles performing here, from electro and American hip hop to rock, reggae and naija.

This little Jamaican juice bar has just the thing to get you back on track with its vitamin-packed juice cocktails! We particularly recommend the stamina punch (almonds, peanuts, matcha, pumpkin seeds, spirulina, ripe banana, almond milk, natural spices) and the guava tam (tamarind, guava, mango and kiwi). Around the corner, at 412 15th Street, you can enjoy a delicious, spicy Jamaican jerk chicken at Minto restaurant, owned by the same owner.

Bissap Baobab is a lively address with lots of live music on Mission Street, created by Marco, a friendly Senegalese who has lived here for many years. It's a place for concerts, DJ sets and get-togethers, offering world music (not necessarily African). The evening schedule is available on the website. On the menu are affordable and delicious West African specialties such as yassa chicken, mafé (with peanuts) and plantains (aloko)... as well as mixed salads and exotic cocktails.

Pub in the heart of the Tenderloin (beware, take a cab in the evening). Typical American-style neighborhood pub atmosphere, here named dive bars, wood panelling, subdued lighting, two galleries upstairs to get away from the crowds, DJs some evenings. You can drink beer, eat fish & chips and, above all, have a good time. On quiet evenings, you can enjoy a drink tucked away on the wooden benches or perched on the mezzanine. But the real bonus here is that everyone talks to each other, and that's a good thing!

Originally opened in 1947 by a boxer and a wrestler converted to bartending, this mythical place has been reopened after being beautifully renovated. The original style has been preserved, and you can still sit at the vintage bar in a subdued red atmosphere, under the incredible ceiling made of carved wooden slabs, ordering a bourbon on the rocks, or enjoying the pretty terrace; before indulging in a good game of billiards. You'll feel right at home. A classy dive bar that promises a great start to the evening.

Perched on the ^21st floor of the Beacon Grand Hotel, ex-Sir Francis Drake's new Art Deco showcase, the Starlite is a glass eagle's nest with a dizzying panoramic view of Union Square. The iconic Starlite, born in 1928, deserved such a successful revival. Velvet armchairs, marble tables, subdued lighting - the retro decor in jade green and beige is sumptuous. The musical atmosphere is distilled every evening with vinyl DJ sets. On the menu, fine cocktails by mixologist Scott Baird and tapas concocted by Michelin-starred chef Johnny Spero.

In the 1990s, the Up and Down Club was best known for its jazz and acid rock. Now, the Raven, with its decor of antique mirrors and leather banquettes, boasts three bars and offers an eclectic evening's music, with a "feel good" and slightly nostalgic leitmotiv. From the 1990s to the present day, hip-hop, grunge, R&B and pop, among others, are all played. You'll enjoy the barmaids' cocktails, concocted with freshly squeezed juices and premium spirits, following creative and delicate compositions.