'''Mission-Bernal Heights''' is a district of San Francisco, composed of the historic Mission and Bernal Heights neighborhoods. It is bounded roughly by the 101 freeway on the east and north, Dolores Street on the west, and I-280 on the south.
Understand
The Mission District surrounds the oldest building in San Francisco, '''Mission Dolores'''. The area was the site of the Spanish mission that was the kernel of the city San Francisco is today. The mission itself was secularized in the 1820s, and the lands were given to the Native Americans who lived there. Many sold or lost the land in later years.
During the 19th century, the Mission District was physically separated from San Francisco proper, which mostly clustered around the seaport on the San Francisco Bay. The district's area was a pleasant country day trip for San Franciscans, and soon grew into a small village. By the end of the 1800s, the area had been assimilated into the rest of the City.
By the early 20th century, after the 1906 earthquake that destroyed several blue-collar neighborhoods, Irish and Italians relocated to the quickly expanding Mission District.
From the 1940s the district gradually became more populated with Mexican/Latin-American immigrants creating a strong counterculture in the arts and politics during the civil rights movement. Following this era, the Mission remained a strongly Chicano and Latin-American neighborhood, but also with a great contingency of African-American, Asian-American and European-American driven by the relatively cheap rents in the neighborhood. In the 1980s and early 1990s, it attracted an influx of new artists, musicians, and other counterculture types.
By the turn of the 21st century, the district experienced an increased gentrification. Expensive restaurants and the construction of "live-work" spaces were moving in to the area, displacing hundreds of residents. However, as the post-Internet boom recedes, the wave of affluence is partly diminishing and the Mission is continuing to be a place for multicultural encounters, where long term residents, immigrants, hipsters and yuppies are living side-by-side.
'''Bernal Heights''', just south of the Mission District, is a cute, eclectic neighborhood that was once very working class, but is becoming quickly gentrified. Sister to the Castro, this neighborhood is very popular with the lesbian community. The main commercial drag of the neighborhood is located along Cortland Avenue.
Get in
From other parts of San Francisco and the Bay Area, '''BART''' serves the Mission neighborhood with stations at 16th Street and Mission (served by the MUNI 14, 22, 33, 49 and 53 bus lines) and 24th Street and Mission (served by the MUNI 14, 48, 49 and 67 bus lines).
The '''MUNI Metro''' J-Church line runs along the western boundary of the area from downtown through the nearby Castro and Noe Valley neighborhoods, and passes within a block from the '''Mission Dolores''' that gives the Mission neighborhood its name. From the J line you can just walk into the area or easily transfer to one of the following MUNI bus lines:
'''22-Fillmore''' from the Church Street Metro station. From the station, the #22 will travel down Church Street, then turn left onto 16th Street and travel across the Mission neighborhood to Potrero Hill on the other side.
'''33-Stanyan''' from the Church and 18th Metro station. From the station the #33 will head east on 18th Street before turning left on Mission, then turning right onto 16th Street. Then it will turn right again onto Potrero Avenue and head south to 25th Street before turning around again.
'''48-Quintara/24th Street''' from the Church and 24th Metro station. Through the area, the #48 travels east-west along 24th Street.
'''24-Divisadero''' from the Church and 30th Metro station. From the station, you can take the #24 east down 30th Street and Cortland Avenue through Bernal Heights before continuing onto Bayview-Hunters Point.
'''23-Monterey''' from the Glen Park station. From the station, the #23 heads up Bosworth and Mission Streets before turning right onto Crescent Avenue, running along the southern end of the district and into Bayview-Hunters Point.
Other bus routes which serve the area include the '''14-Mission''' bus, which runs right down Mission Street from the north and south, the '''49-Van Ness,''' which comes down Mission Street from Van Ness near Fisherman's Wharf, the '''26 Valencia''' eases down Valencia Avenue from downtown, the '''9-San Bruno''' which runs along Potrero Avenue through the Mission neighborhood, the '''67-Bernal Heights''' which runs through much of Bernal Heights from the 24th Street BART station, the '''12-Folsom/Pacific''' which heads down Folsom through Mission to Cesar Chavez, and the '''27-Bryant''' which runs along Bryant Street through Mission to Cesar Chavez. Both the #12 and #27 terminate around Cesar Chavez and Mission Street.
For cars, the Cesar Chavez Street exit from highway 101 comes right into the Mission, and the San Jose Avenue exit from Highway 280 North brings you past Bernal Heights and onto Guerrero Avenue.
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Get around
The Inner Mission is only about 20 blocks by 10 blocks, and is easily navigated by foot. The Mission is generally safe for walking (even though 16th and Mission remains a major drug dealing corner). It's not dangerous, but one should expect a certain amount of urban grittiness at night up and down Mission street near 16th. Valencia Street, just one block over, is much more gentrified and is filled with bars and eateries.
By '''car''': You will find that people attending religious ceremonies at one of the churches dotting the mission will park down the center lane of Valencia. This is not a common practice at any other time and not advised as SFPD will not hesitate to have you towed. A popular dinner destination neighborhood, street parking is difficult to find in the early evenings. There are two cheap parking garages, one at 21st Street and Bartlett between Valencia and Mission and another on 16th and Hoff St also between Valencia and Mission.
By '''bicycle''': You'll see many people using the dedicated bike lanes on Valencia Street, but the entire neighborhood, with the exception of the Dolores Park area, is flat and easy to navigate.
See
Mission Dolores. 321 16th Street. t Dolores. 1 415 621-8203. arish@missiondolores.org. ttp://www.missiondolores.org. One of the many Spanish missions in California, the white, intricately decorated towers of Mission Dolores tower over the neighborhood.
The Women's Building (and MaestraPeace Mural). 543 18th Street, #8. etween Valencia and Guerrero. 1 415 431-1180. 1 415 861-8969. ttp://www.womensbuilding.org. Houses women's nonprofits groups.
Precita Eyes Murals. ttp://www.precitaeyes.org. Can be found all around the Mission neighborhood, especially on 24th street, east of Mission Street.
Balmy Alley. ttp://www.balmyalley.com/. An alley full of incredible murals between 24th and 25th Street. There are some really beautiful works here, and it's always changing.
Bernal Heights Neighborhood. Take a wander around losing yourself amongst the pretty houses and the charm, it's a fine way to spend an afternoon.
:* <see name="Bernal Hill" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">There is really only one "attraction" in Bernal Heights, and that's the hill itself. The top is more than 40 acres of grassy open space, with views of the San Francisco Bay and Mt. Diablo to the east, downtown San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge and Marin to the north, Twin Peaks and Noe Valley to the west and a rise of hills leading up to San Bruno Mountain in the south. People come and run their dogs here and watch eclipses, sunrises, sunsets, the Blue Angels and wildlife. There's been a celebrated coyote since 2003; recent sightings confirm it's still there. There are nooks and crannies and stairs and weeds and it's a big, big, well-loved back yard.</see>
Theatres
Roxie Cinema. 117 16th Street. t Valencia. 1 415 863-1087. ttp://www.roxie.com. An independent art-film theatre, with some of the best features shown in the country. If it's showing here, it's usually worth seeing.
The Marsh Theatre. 062 Valencia Street. t 22nd Street. 1 415 826-5750. ttp://www.themarsh.org. A breeding ground for new performance, playwriting workshops, performances, a youth program, and classes. Some excellent one-person shows have been hatched out in the Marsh.
Intersection for the Arts. 46 Valencia Street. etween 15th and 16th Streets. 1 415 626-3311. ttp://www.theintersection.org. San Francisco's oldest alternative art space, This tiny space has premiered works by noted authors such as Dave Eggers and world-class playwrights such as Denis Johnson. The resident theater group, Campo Santo, is very good. The space also has an upstairs art gallery.
Artists' Television Access. 92 Valencia Street. ear 21st. 1 415 824-3890. ttp://www.atasite.org. A nonprofit educational group and screening venue for independent film and video. This center often shows genuinely strange art films and videos, particularly during their frequent "open screenings" (you bring it, they'll show it). Don't miss the intriguing window displays.
Do
Carnival San Francisco. ttp://www.carnavalsf.com/. Late May. A Mardi Gras-like event which features a parade with colorful costumes, choreographed dancers, and scantily clad women.
Outdoor open mike poetry/music/spoken word/etc.. 6th and Mission. Every Thursday starting sometime between 9PM and 10PM and ending around midnight on the southwest streetcorner at 16th and Mission. No mike (so you have to shout...), and no sign-up. Completely free to all. Open to poets, MCs, musicians, comedians and all manner of performers, the open mic has been happening for the past five years and has recently spawned a lit magazine, the 16th & Mission Review, and a website: 16thmission.com - newcomers are encouraged to perform. Bag your beer and see what the fuss is about!
Bernal Yoga. 61 Cortland Avenue. etween Andover and Wool. 1 415 643-9007. ttp://www.bernalyoga.com. If what you want in a yoga studio is a lot of hot, tight young bodies bending away in spandex, well, Bernal Yoga has that. But it's also got a lot of older practioners, less fit practitioners, moms-to-be and moms-returning-to-shape, and a set of instructors that really know the meaning of "all levels classes." The soulful, welcoming, peaceful community is run by sister-and-brother team Savonn and Bill Wyland, who keep things varied with frequent guest instructors and quarterly literary events, which attract nationally-known poets and fiction writers.
J+K Fitness Studio. 947 Mission Street. 1 415 621-5775. ttp://www.jkfitnessstudio.com. A fitness studio fully equipped with the latest machines, colorful exercise balls, and shiny free weights. Full service trainers encourage customers to achieve their goals and genuinely care about their clients' fitness and nutrition.
Buy
Alemany Farmers Market. 00 Alemany Blvd. t Bayshore. 1 415 647-9423. ttp://www.sfgov.org/site/alemany_index.asp?id=86. Forget the farmers market at the Ferry Building, unless you just can't live without the high prices and the most fashionable vegetables. San Francisco's original 1943 farmer's market is where it's at. It was founded by the Victory Garden Council as a WWII ag-surplus depot! Rock-bottom cheap, we-picked-it-at-3AM fresh, it's where elderly Asian ladies swarm piles of fresh peanuts and carefully pick out the live chicken to bring home. It has flowers at unbelievable prices and a really stellar selection of basic fruits, nuts, tubers and vegetables, and exotic Asian produce. There aren't that many organic farmers, but there are some. Get there early for salad greens and Euro-American vegetables, as these go fast. The fish market is mixed but sometimes has good local catches.
Aquarius Records. 055 Valencia Street. etween 21st and 22nd Street. 1 415 647-2272. ttps://www.aquariusrecords.org. -W 10AM-9PM, Th-Su 10AM-10PM. An eclectic music store specializing in the best of many obscure genres, including drone, prog, psychedelic, indie rock, experimental, electronic, noise, black metal as well as many other international/cultural styles. While it has been a San Francisco icon since 1970 and has been located in different neighborhoods in the past, it is truly a Mission mainstay, and the staff is very knowledgeable and passionate about what they stock.
Good Life Grocery. 48 Cortland Avenue. etween Andover and Bennington. 1 415 648-3221. People tend to have a love-hate relationship with this grocery store on the busy Cortland/Andover corner. On one hand, it's a fine, manageably-sized market with all the quality brands of pasta, meat, dairy, condiments, juices, vegetarian staples, etc. that you would hope for in a neighborhood with a significant upscale, foodie population. On the other hand, the prices are high, and it would be really nice to be able to purchase a razor blade or non-natural hair conditioner. Great wine selection and recommendations, though.
Valencia Interiors. 74 Valencia Street. etween 20th and 21st Street. 1 415 647-9500. ttp://valenciainteriors.com/. -Tu 10AM-6:30PM, W 10AM-5PM, Th-Sa 10AM-6:30PM, Su Noon-5PM. This store sells new furniture from all over the world. The friendly staff will help you choose a new bedroom set, kitchen table, bookshelves or whatever your home needs.
Eat
Arinell's Pizza. 09 Valencia Street. ust south of 16th Street. 1 415 255-1303. -W 11:30AM-10PM, Th-Sa 11:30AM-Midnight, Su 1:30PM-10PM. Pizza by the slice. Loved and worshipped by East Coast transplants for being some of the closest to real NY pizza available in the Bay Area. Unfortunately unlike NYC, they close at midnight.
Bissap Baobab. 323 Mission Street. t 19th Street. 415) 826-9287. ttp://www.bissapbaobab.com. pm-10:30pm. A Senegalese restaurant with roots in West African Senegalese culture.
Boogaloo's. 296 22nd Street. t Valencia. 1 415 824-4088. ttp://www.boogaloossf.com/. aily 8AM-3PM. 1 415 824-3211. Hipster-ed up diner, only open for lunch & breakfast. Long lines on the weekends, but surprisingly it moves quickly. Much better vegan breakfast option than Herbivore. Try the plaintain cake and the mimosas.
Cafe Arguello. 832 Mission Street. ear 24th BART station. 1 415 601-9154. ttp://www.cafearguellosf.com/. u, Tu-Th 5PM-10PM, F-Sa 5PM-11PM. afearguellosf@yahoo.com. Finest Basque & Spanish tapas comfort foods in the city.
El Castillito. 092 Mission Street. t 17th Street. 1 415 621-6971. aily 10AM-2AM. While everyone has their favorite Mission taqueria, this one may legitimately have a claim to the 'best salsa verde' throne, which is filled with serious avocado chunks. Also, they grill (rather than steam) their tortillas, a key burrito preparation issue.
Foreign Cinema. 534 Mission Street. t 21st Street. 1 415 648-7600. ttp://www.foreigncinema.com/. -F 6PM-2AM, Sa-Su 11AM-2AM. Dinner and a movie. The Laszlo Bar. A little splurgy and quite fine. Reservations recommended.
Herbivore. 83 Valencia Street. etween 20th and 21st Streets. 1 415 826-5657. ttp://www.herbivorerestaurant.com. u-Th 9AM-10PM, F-Sa 9AM-11PM. All-Vegan Restaurant. Mediocre entrees, but delicious sandwiches, soups & salads. If it sounds too complicated, don't order it. Only all-vegan brunch in the area.
Hunan Chef. 25 Cortland Avenue. t Andover. 1 415 648-3636. ttp://www.sfhunanchef.com/. -Sa 11AM-9:30PM, Su 4:30PM-9PM. A great local and simple Chinese place. Hunan Chef has been servicing Bernal Heights for many years. The usual American-Chinese fare, along with a pretty extensive vegetarian offering. The vegetarian General's chicken is a favorite among some Bernal Heights locals. The hot and sour soup is perfect for any cold and rainy day. Service is great. Most of the food prepared is wrapped up for take-out. Beer/Wine available. Good Value.
Jay's Cheesesteak. 285 21st Street. etween Valencia and Mission. 1 415 285-5200. aily 11AM-10PM. Niman Ranch beef, or seitan veggie/vegan sandwich options. Great garlic fries!
Liberty Cafe. 10 Cortland Avenue. between Bennington and Wool. 1 415 695-1223. ttp://www.thelibertycafe.com/. afe: Tu-Th 11:30AM-3PM and 5:30PM-9:30PM, F 11:30AM-3PM and 5:30PM-10PM, Sa 10AM-2PM and 5:30PM-10PM, Su 10AM-2PM and 5:30PM-9:30PM. Bakery: Tu-Su 7:30AM-2PM. This is one of those places that would be perfect for a business lunch, a dinner with visiting family or any other time you want relaxed elegance. The reviews about its pot pies are quite true. They're better than your mother used to make. There's a tiny narrow walkway to a back courtyard and cottage that's a bakery for your baguettes, cafe au lait, warm raspberry bran muffins and brioches by day, and a wine bar by night. The post-yoga crowd goes there for their coffee, as opposed to Progressive Grounds and Martha & Bros.
Little Star Pizza. 00 Valencia Street. t 14th Street. 1 415 551-7827. ttp://www.littlestarpizza.com/. u, Tu-Th 5PM-10PM, F-Sa 5PM-11PM. For a deep dish that can't be beat.
Luna Park. 94 Valencia Street. t 18th Street. 1 415 553-8584. ello@lunaparksf.com. 1 415 553-8660. ttp://www.lunaparksf.com. -Th 11:30AM-2:30PM, 5:30PM-10:30PM, F 11:30AM-2:30PM, 5:30PM-11:30PM, Sa 11:30AM-11:30PM, Su 11:30AM-10PM. Upscale American comfort food menu. Small, slightly swanky. Always packed, with the accompanying noise level. Decent grub. And their signature drink is the mojito.
Mariachis. 08 Valencia Street. t 16th Street. 1 415 621-4358. ttp://www.myspace.com/mariachisrestaurant. aily 11AM-11PM. A taco bar with good food, excellent prices, and an interesting atmosphere. The menu has a slight upscale slant (a specific item may come off as healthy, yuppie, or hippie) compared to El Castillito or Cancun, but they're still delicious.
Martha & Bros. 45 Cortland Avenue. etween Anderson and Ellsworth. 1 415 642-7585. ttp://www.marthabros.com/. -F 5:30AM-8PM, Sa-Su 6AM-7PM. Hands down, the strongest coffee on the strip. Martha & Bros. is part of a six-shop San Francisco chain. The smiling, mostly Hispanic female staff, crack-of-dawn hours (it opens at 5:30AM), big pastries and reasonable prices make the place a favorite of newspaper readers, working men and the California Highway Patrol.
Moki's Sushi & Pacific Grill. 15 Cortland Avenue. etween Anderson and Moultrie. 1 415 970-9336. ttp://www.mokisushi.com/. u-Th 5:30PM-9:30PM, F-Sa 5:30PM-10:30PM. This peach-walled fish chop shop serves fun maki rolls, including a variety with tempura'd ingredients. Its also got killer barbeque spare ribs with wasabi mashed potatoes and steamed greens on its small-plates menu. A good time, often packed, so get there early.
Moonlight Cafe. 34 Cortland Avenue. etween Anderson and Moultrie. 1 415 647-6448. -F 6:30AM-6PM, Sa-Su 7AM-5PM. A creperie with some great taste sensations. If you're hungry, the Mediterranean platter will fill you up. The toasted bagels with cream cheese, sun-dried tomato and cucumber are perfect, as is the lavender or ginger lemonade. It's not the best coffee on the block, but it's good enough not to turn you away if you're craving their food.
Picaro. 120 16th Street. t Valencia Street. 1 415 431-4089. ttp://www.picarotapasrestaurant.com. u-Th 5PM-10PM, F-Sa 5PM-11PM. If you like authentic tapas, the way they were before "small plates" were all the rage, then you'll definitely love the reasonably priced, authentic and generously portioned Spanish dishes here. Don't forget to try their Sangria.
Progressive Grounds. 00 Cortland Avenue. t Bennington. 1 415 282-6233. A perfect Bernal Heights cafe. Serves up some great coffee drinks and a good selection of salads and lavash wrapped sandwiches. The hummus will make anyone think twice about buying hummus from a grocery store again. Great service. A great place for all types and ages. Kids have their fun with Enzo and his assorted instruments every Sunday. PG also has a nice garden space in the back.
Puerto Alegre. 46 Valencia Street. t 16th Street. 1 415 255-8201. 11AM-10PM, Tu 5PM-10PM, W-Su 11AM-11PM. Local favorite, Puerto Alegre churns out inexpensive, delicious Mexican food & margaritas in a fun, festive environment. Divey atmosphere, but that's what you come to the Mission for. Very long wait on the weekends, but absolutely worth it. Host rules the restaurant with an iron fist, so don't try to sneak in!
Serrano's Pizza. 274 21st Street. etween Valencia and Mission Streets. 1 415 695-1615. ttp://www.serranospizza.com. u-Th 11AM-Midnight, F-Sa 11AM-1AM. Buy a "slice" for under $3 or add toppings for a few cents more, and they'll make a fresh-to-your order triangular slice-shaped pizza that overlaps a dinner plate at three points. Free delivery. Cash or credit, no checks.
Taqueria Cancun. 288 Mission Street. t 19th Street. 1 415 252-9560. -Th 10AM-11:30PM, F-Sat 10AM-1AM. Commonly touted as having the best vegetarian burrito in SF. If you're a meat-eater, try the Alambres (beef, peppers, onions, and bacon sauteed together, served with beans, rice, tortillas and (optional) avocado.
Taqueria El Farolito. 779 Mission Street. t 24th. 1 415 824-7877. ttp://www.elfarolitoinc.com/. Gigantic super burritos. Grilled chicken and steak both are really great. Super steak quesadilla is the highlight of the menu. Open till 3AM on Friday and Saturday, 1AM the rest of the week. Nachos are enormous.
Tartine. 00 Guerrero Street. t 18th Street. 1 415 487-2600. ttp://www.tartinebakery.com/. 8AM-7PM, Tu-W 7:30AM-7PM, Th-F 7:30AM-8PM, Sa 8AM-8PM, Su 9AM-8PM. One of the Bay Area's best bakeries; rich, decadent, and pricey.
Ti Couz. 108 16th Street. t Valencia Street. 1 415 252-7373. -W 11AM-11PM, Th-F 11AM-Midnight, Sa 10AM-Midnight, Su 10AM-11PM. Excellent Breton creperie.
Valencia Pizza & Pasta. 01 Valencia Street. t 19th Street. 1 415 642-1882. There is better pizza to be had in the 'hood, but for Midwestern sized portions & prices of pasta & no frills American food (try the excellent pork chops), it can't be beat. Extremely cheap beer & wine ($2 Peroni!). Service can be sloppy, but it adds to the charm. Fantastic, inexpensive, all-American breakfast. One of the neighborhood's best kept secrets.
Valentina Restorante. 19 Cortland Avenue. etween and Bennington and Wool. 1 415 285-6000. ttp://www.valentinaristorantesf.com/. -Th 5:30PM-10PM, F-Sa 5:30PM-10:30PM. Bernal Height's romantic Italian restaurant, where at times every single table is a land of mingling glances. The food is delicious, if not that exciting. The staff knows that when you order a primi and a secundi, that they should bring the pasta first and the meat second and let you share both.
VinoRosso. 29 Cortland Avenue. t Anderson Street. 1 415 647-1268. ttp://www.vinorossosf.com. -F 4PM-11PM, F 12PM-11PM, Su 2PM-10PM. A great little wine bar with emphasis on Italian varieties.
We Be Sushi. 38 Valencia Street. etween 16th and 17th. 1 415 565-0749. ttp://www.webesushi.com. The best of a handful of locations of this restaurant, truly "sushi like mom used to make". Try the early bird special.
Markets
Bi-Rite Grocery. 639 18th Street. etween Guarrero and Dolores Park. 1 415 241-9760. ttp://www.biritemarket.com. aily 9AM-9PM. How do they get that much good produce and that incredible deli counter into that storefront? Essential neighborhood and picnic-in-the-park resource. Dolores Park is handily enough a block away, and you're likely to find festivals, rallies, or the SF Mime Troupe at the start and close of their summer touring season there along with kids, dogs and tennis players.
Lucca Ravioli Company. 100 Valencia Street. t 22nd Street. 1 415 647-5581. ttp://www.luccaravioli.com. -Sa 9AM-6PM. An old-world style Italian deli/dry goods grocery who, bless them, sell ''ingredients''. Check out the Ferlenghetti poem over the door while getting your sheet-pan pizza, sliced turkey, good wine and tiramisu.
Valencia Whole Foods. 99 Valencia Street. t 21st Street. 1 415 285-0231. aily 8:30AM-9PM. Organic produce and groceries, good bulk foods, and a deli with organic salads, Middle Eastern foods, and sandwiches to order. A neighborhood essential.
Drink
The 500 Club. 00 Guerrero Street. t 17th. 1 415 861-2500. -F 3PM-2AM, Sa-Su Noon-2AM. Great neighborhood alterna-hipster bar, but in a good way. Formerly an old man dive bar that's been taken over by the thick black rimmed glasses youngster.
Amnesia. 53 Valencia Street. etween 19th and 20th. 1 415 970-0012. ttp://www.amnesiathebar.com. aily 6PM-2AM. Small bar with eclectic live music every weeknight. Wine & beer only.
The Attic. 336 24th Street. etween Bartlett and Osage. 1 415 643-3376. aily 5PM-2AM. Hipster bar. Decent reasonably priced drinks. Open and drafty; on (frequent) cold evenings you'll be drinking with your coat on. Closest good dive to the awesome El Farolito taqueria at 24th and Mission: getting Farolito's massive nachos to go to eat at the Attic over cocktails is recommended.
Blondies. 40 Valencia Street. etween 16th and 17th. 1 415 864-2419. ttp://www.blondiesbar.com. aily 2PM-2AM. Yuppie martini bar. Where the Marina set goes when they wanna go slumming in the Mission. In keeping with this demographic, drinks are very overpriced (several dollars more than every other bar on the block), and service is both slow and surly (whiney is probably a better term), although to be fair the drinks are well made and strong (also true of many other cheaper and friendlier bars on the block). Truly good martinis, and voted #1 place to have a guy with a semi hard on grind it against you on the dance floor, outside of the Marina.
Dalva. 121 16th Street. etween Albion and Valencia. 1 415 252-7740. aily 4PM-2AM. It's very dimly lit but cool decor. Excellent jukebox, though after 9PM they tend to turn it up just a touch too loud. Frequently has great DJ's playing funk / R&B but varies; clientele leans toward the gentrification crowd. Lots of smoke from the VIP room in the back filters out into the main bar. Excellent happy hour!
Delirium. 139 16th Street. t Albion. 1 415 552-5525. aily 2PM-2AM. The Albion was truly a vaguely scary dive bar. Delirium was another great neighborhood bar, but it's shockingly turned into a bit of a bridge and tunnel 20-something meatmarket these days. They have a place to dance in the back, with good 60's rock and soul on Wednesdays.
Elixir. 200 16th Street. t Guerrero. 1 415 552-1633. ttp://www.elixirsf.com. -F 3PM-2AM, Sa Noon-2AM, Su 11AM-2AM. Pub quiz, charity events, great drink specials and a warm vibe.
Esta Noche. 079 16th Street. t Rondel between Valencia and Mission. 1 415 861-5757. ttp://www.estanocheclub.com. -F 1PM-2AM, Sa-Su Noon-2AM. Latino drag queens and papis who love them. Fun dance floor and eclectic crowd.
Homestead. 301 Folsom Street. t 19th. 1 415 282-4663. Beautifully reincarnated back into it's historical self in 2005, this cool neighborhood space is a true local's hangout. The building has been a bar since 1907. Free peanuts are a bonus. Friendly and efficient bar staff. Close to the hipsterier Bender's, so the Homestead regular crowd is a little hipster depleted / 'we got a babysitter tonight', but all in all a great bunch.
Kilowatt. 160 16th Street. t Albion. 1 415 861-2595. ttp://www.barbell.com/kilowatt. -F 4:30PM-2PM, Sa-Su 1PM-2AM. Fun yet intimate bar. Great music on the jukebox and a decent place to play pool or darts or just get a drink. Outstanding bartenders.
Latin American Club. 286 22nd Street. between Valencia and Bartlett). 1 415 647-2732. -Th 6PM-2AM, F-Sa 5PM-2AM, Su 6PM-2AM. . Decorated in dusty kitsch, the LAC also has large paintings for sale by local artists. They can offer up some of the best, strongest margaritas in town. Just one, that's all it takes.
The Lexington Club. 464 19th Street. t Lexington between Valencia and Mission. 1 415 863-2052. ttp://www.lexingtonclub.com. aily 5PM-2AM. Fun inviting rowdy lesbian crowd.
The Liberties. 98 Guerrero Street. t 22nd. 1 415 282-6789. ttp://www.theliberties.com. -Th 2PM-2AM, F noon-2AM, Sa-Su 9:30AM-2AM. Irish Pub. Excellent late weekend brunch no one knows about.
Monk's Kettle. 141 16th St. 1 415 865-9523. ttp://www.monkskettle.com/. aily Noon-2AM. A small tavern with good pub food and specializing in craft beer.
Phoenix. 11 Valencia Street. t 19th. 1 415 695-1811. ttp://www.phoenixirishbar.com. -F 11AM-2AM, Sa-Su 9:30AM-2AM. Generic Irish pub with surprisingly good food.
Phone Booth. 398 S Van Ness Avenue. etween 24th St & 25th St. 1 415 648-4683. Another competitor for the ''*definitive dive bar*''. Appropriately named given its size. Allows smoking. Free popcorn.
Shotwell 59. 349 20th Street. t Shotwell. 1 415 647-1141. The definition of a neighborhood bar. Still smoky despite the smoking ban.
Skip's Tavern. 53 Cortland Avenue. t Wool. 1 415 282-3456. ttp://www.skipstavern.com. Live blues music spills from this dive located in the heart of Bernal Heights. Good for a game of pool or darts.
Skylark. 089 16th Street. t Valencia. 1 415 621-9294. ttp://www.skylarkbar.com. u-Th 7PM-2AM, F 5PM-2AM, Sa-Su 7PM-2AM. A bit of a meatmarket 'club' scene. Mostly hip-hop style and "gangster" wannabe crowd, mostly not from the city. Lots of dancing. Clientele is usually very friendly and outgoing and the bartenders handle the busy crowds with aplomb.
Stray Bar. 09 Cortland Ave. 1 415 821-9263?. ttp://straybarsf.com/. -F 4PM-close, Sa Noon-close, Su 10AM-close. Popular lesbian bar. Happy hour is daily from 4PM-7PM.
Uptown. 00 Capp Street. t 17th. 1 415 861-8231. Small neighborhood bar with artsy aging punk rockers and a relaxed attitude. Dogs and bicycles welcome.
VinoRosso. 29 Cortland Avenue. t Anderson Street. 1 415 647-1268. ttp://www.vinorossosf.com. -F 4PM-11PM, Sa noon-11PM, Su 2PM-10PM. A great little wine bar with emphasis on Italian varieties.
Wild Side West. 24 Cortland Avenue. t Wool. 1 415 647-3099. aily 1PM-2AM. Although technically a lesbian bar, this neighborhood watering hole welcomes all. Inexpensive beer flows from the taps. In the winter time, a fire burns in the main room, which includes a small pool table. But the most interesting aspect to this bar is the outside garden in the back, best enjoyed on warmer days and nights. The garden is heavily decorated with sculptures and lights. Find a nook to cuddle up with a loved one while sipping a drink.
Zeitgeist. 99 Valencia Street. t Duboce. 1 415 255-7505. aily 9AM-2AM. Cool motorcycle/bike courier punk rock-ish alterna-crowd. The bartenders can (and almost always do) often drip with attitude. They, and the regulars, can be fiercely protective of their little hideaway. Awesome and huge backyard (i.e. beer garden). Rowdy on weekend nights and they bbq too.
Sleep
Elements Hostel. 516 Mission Street. etween 21st and 22nd. 1 415 647-4100. ttp://www.elementshotel.com. 23 (dorms) or $29pp (twin-share). Dormitory and private accommodations, 24 hour check-in.
The Inn San Francisco. 43 South Van Ness Avenue. etween 20th and 21st. 1 415 641-0188. nnkeeper@innsf.com. 1 415 641-1701. ttp://www.innsf.com. PM. oon. 120+.
Contact
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