SF hidden bars use the city's geography — Tenderloin's secret rooms, Mission's neighbourhood places. The 10 below show why SF hides things well.
Part of our 50 Best Hidden Gem Bars in the World listThis article is one chapter in our larger global guide. See the full pillar with every featured city.
Read the world list
The 10 best hidden gem bars in SF
01 · San Francisco
Tenderloin
$$
Password speakeasy
You text for the password. Five secret rooms.
Order: Bourbon-led; that's the brief
02 · San Francisco
Hayes Valley
$$
Tiki · Three floors
Martin Cate's tiki temple.
Order: A Mai Tai with their reserve agricole
03 · San Francisco
Mission
$$
Speakeasy · Reservations
Mission speakeasy through an unmarked door.
Order: A spec made with their house-aged spirit
04 · San Francisco
Fort Mason
$$
Time-philosophy · Library
At the Long Now Foundation.
Order: A drink referencing the Bronze Age
05 · San Francisco
North Beach
$$
1907 · Restored saloon
Restored 1907 saloon.
Order: A Pisco Punch
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06 · San Francisco
Mission
$$
Themed menus · Loud
Each menu is built around a concept.
Order: What's on the current menu
07 · San Francisco
North Beach
$
Beat-era literary bar · 1948
Operating since 1948. Where Kerouac drank.
Order: A whiskey, in the upstairs room
08 · San Francisco
NoPa
$$
NoPa cocktail bar
NoPa neighbourhood cocktail bar.
Order: Bartender's choice
09 · San Francisco
Mission
$$
Lazy Bear's bar
Bar attached to Lazy Bear restaurant.
Order: Whatever uses California-grown citrus
10 · San Francisco
North Beach
$$
Late-night · Cocktails
North Beach late-night cocktail bar.
Order: An Old Fashioned at midnight
More SF hidden gemsThe full SF hidden-gem-bar index by neighbourhood.
See the full list
How SF hides its best
Bourbon & Branch and Smuggler's Cove are essential. Most peak between 9 and 11 PM.
