Opened in 1941 as the Persian Aub Zam Zam by Assyrian-born Samson Mooshei, this Persian Art Deco cocktail lounge on Haight Street was famously presided over by his son Bruno — who would refuse to serv...
84
2
Vesuvio Cafe
Bar · North Beach
The Beat Generation's living room since 1948, perched on Jack Kerouac Alley directly across from City Lights Bookstore. Two cluttered floors of stained-glass windows, peeling poster art, and the ghost...
83
3
Li Po Cocktail Lounge
Bar · Chinatown
Open since 1937, Li Po is a low-ceilinged Chinatown cave dimly lit by red paper lanterns and a giant gilded Buddha behind the bar. The signature Chinese Mai Tai — three rums, a 'Chinese liqueur', and ...
83
4
Specs' Twelve Adler Museum Cafe
Bar · North Beach
An unmarked door off Saroyan Place in North Beach opens into 1968 — a museum-cafe of nautical curios, dusty knickknacks, faded photographs, and decades of regulars. Founded by Richard 'Specs' Simmons ...
82
5
The Halfway Club
American · Mission
No-frills Excelsior neighborhood bar with stiff drinks, solid bar food, and an unpretentious local vibe on Geneva Avenue — a genuine neighborhood institution.