Editorial
San Francisco still puts a band in the corner most nights of the week. We ranked these eight on how often the music plays, whether there is a cover, the sightline to the stage, and the price of a round. Some are old saloons. Some are proper rock clubs with a real bar. All eight let you hear live music with a drink in your hand.
Four rooms in the old heart of the city where the music never really stopped.
Out past downtown the rooms get bigger and the bookings get wider.
The Saloon is the first stop, the oldest bar in the city with blues two sets a day. Bottom of the Hill is the call for a real rock show with a drink at the antique bar. The Riptide is the move when you want free music near the beach. Our San Francisco live music guide covers the rest, and the San Francisco bar guide sorts the city by occasion.
Tom Callahan covers the practical side of going out. He cares about the room, the sound, the price of a pour, and whether the place actually delivers. He sources every pick from local reviews, Reddit threads, and the venues themselves.