Beer / Wine Bars, San Francisco

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I'm throwing this in for one reason: the patio. The Cannery as a whole is a complete waste of space but this place has an outdoor courtyard bar that's good for killing a couple of pints on a sunny day (or starry night). They also have a ton of beers on tap. The brews aren't necessarily cheap, I don't know as I'd eat here, and the street musicians who take up residence nearby can be of dubious talent but what the hell - at least you're outside. And if you're a puffer, you won't get the evil eye for lighting up.

Dress Code: Total dive bar - wear your cheap Fisherman's Wharf t-shirt

This place is somewhere between a bar and a really nice beer market. They've got a few beers on tap, but the treasure lies in their refridgerators and shelves. Bottles and bottles of beer - local, imported, organic, lambic, wheat, ale, porter, lager, mead, weiss - it's beer heaven. You get the feeling that each beer has been hand picked for the store, which, while tiny, is packed full of good people and good brews. So grab that beer you've never heard of, get excited and start drinking.

Dress Code: no no no

OK Bar Crudo is actually a raw bar ... so it can fall into the category of 'restaurants' instead of 'nightlife', but I went there for beer and to chat so I can't really comment on the food.

For its true San Francisco style (small, trendy, sophisticated and warm) this place is one of my favorite spots for a late-night relaxing drink.

The place is really small so definitely not recommended when you are with a large group.

The main attraction is of course the raw bar offering small serving of top quality shellfish and fish (see website for menu). Now I haven't had the chance yet to sample their food but I came here for ale's.
They don't have hundreds of ale's, but they have a few crucial ones; Duvel, Tripel Karmeliet, Gouden Draak and DeKoninck to name a few of my favourites from my time in Europe.

The ambiance is quiet, dark and the crowd is good looking and sophisticated.

Dress Code: I don't think there is a dress code but the patrons are all rather nicely dressed

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The oldest bar in town, it survived the 1906 earthquake and subsequent fires (rumor has it, because the fire brigades made sure protect the hookers who worked upstairs).
Saloon offers $2.50 beers and live music that draws all types of people, from rough-looking characters to tourists and North Beach residents.

NOTE: No cover on weeknights for live music. On weekends expect a $5 charge.

Monthly schedule of blues performers.

HOURS: 12pm -2am daily.

Nectar wine lounge is a wonderful wine lounge in the Lombard/Moscone area.
The ambiance is classy and romantic. Staff was very friendly and helpful; while prices are reasonable. I had a bottle of 2000 St Emillion for $40.
We didn't order any food so I cannot give you any advice on that, although we did have a cheese platter and it was really good with the wine.
A 'flight' of wine is recommended for those who want to try several different types. With a wine list of 40 pages, there are many to try indeed!

Dress Code: Concerning dress code: they are not uptight about it although you will look out of place in shorts and flip-flops :)

The Thirsty Bear is a popular Bar/Restaurant in SOMA area. Go for the beer sampler to get a taste of what they are brewing. The waiters and waitresses are very helpful and patient in explaining the different types. The quality of the beer is very good, and if you don't drink beer no worries as they have a full bar.
We came here for food (tapas) and I can recommend the paella. Reservation is recommended if you want to come in the weekend.
On the second floor they have dart boards and a pool table.

Dress Code: It has mixed crowd of people coming after work, friends on a night out so you can wear comfortable clothing.

The Mad Dog is a nice English Pub like place on Haight St. in the Lower Haight. They do have food, which is OK, but the main thing here is beer. Lots of delicious ales. It's also a great sports bar, with the emphasis being on soccer, particularly English Premier League. They usually have the later rounds of FA Cup action. This is also a place to look for sports tickets; the owners often organize excursions to 49er and Giants games.

Lefty's is a sports bar, mainly baseball, great atmosphere and good food. You can sit at the bar and buy you own beer or take a chair watch the baseball and get your drinks/food via the lovely waitresses.

Dress Code: Not sure, I had jeans and trainers on every time I went in.

The Toronado is about one thing and one thing only - beer. They have literally hundreds of different beers from all over the world. Like most places in the neighborhood, it attracts a scruffy but jovial local crowd. The Rosamund Sausage Grill is right next door, should you get hungry.

For a real treat, try the delicious Framboise Lambic - a Belgian beer fermented with raspberries.

They also have GREAT T-shirts! They're black, with their logo - a fist holding a pint of Guiness - emblazened in white accross the front. A must have souveneir!

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You wouldn’t normally be in this part of town but it’s well worth the walk if you like good beer at good prices. The happy hour runs from 2:30 to 5:30 when pints set you back only $3.00. They also have half price appetizers going. It’s quite busy and the horseshoe bar adds to the festive atmosphere. It’s got a bit of the warehouse effect with high ceilings and fixtures on display.

We didn’t have anything to eat but the Watermelon Wheat did come with a slice of its namesake fruit as a garnish. I generally shy away from anything like this but it was refreshing and avoided any overt sweetness despite each batch having 400 lbs of watermelon in it! The Oktoberfest was a big malty brew that lacked the spiciness of a true Marzen. The Midnight Milk Stout was a nice coffee roast brew with just the right sweetness appropriate for the style, finishing off nicely bittersweet. The cask IPA was gravity dispensed offering nice lacework, a strong citrus hop component and floral hop nose. It was well-balanced and all too quaffable at 7.5%!

Dress Code: Very casual but you could be in a suit too as it's close to Financial District.