San Francisco - Nightlife - Clandestine

650 Gough St., San Francisco 94102
415-869-1900

Smuggler's Cove

Insert pirate joke here: San Francisco theme bar and Tiki culture have reached their highest expression, with fully baked retro concept, décor and artisanal rum menu. In tiny former Jade spa... read more

1145 Folsom St., San Francisco 94103
415-241-9990

Bloodhound

Brings sort of a Western-rancho-punko cool to SF's over-yuppified South of Market district. Quasi-trashy ambiance with barn-like walls, trompe l'oeil bird ceilings and, yes, antler chandeliers. Enj... read more

580 Sutter St., San Francisco 94102
415-398-0195

Cantina

Stalwart of the ‘cisco cocktail scene, in a dark, attractive slot a couple blocks off Union Square, adorned with candelabras, burnt-orange walls and smartly-DJ’d samba, cumbia and hip-h... read more

1725 Haight St., San Francisco 94117
415-666-0822

The Alembic

Navigating this dismal stretch of Haight is a bit like "Vice City: San Francisco" - dodge the snarling gutter punks and steer well-clear of the white-guys-with-dreadlocks Burning Man types. Your re... read more

151 S. Murphy Ave., San Francisco 94086
408-738-0392

Pebble Roppongi

Comfy little lounge and karaoke bar with a relaxed vibe, hidden away on a side street near the Cal Train station. We have no idea what the "pebble" in the name refers to, but Roppongi is a Tokyo ne... read more

236 Castro St., San Francisco 94041
415-940-9303

Mervyn’s Lounge

Hard to describe a filthy, crummy, windowless dive bar as "refreshing" but it's a welcome contrast to some of the spectacularly pretentious restaurants on Castro Street and a great place to have a ... read more

2062 Divisadero St., San Francisco
415-567-6565

Lion Pub

Inexplicably referred to as the Lion’s Den, though there’s no sign, and that’s not its name. Just “LP” to you and me. Allegedly bit of a shag den as well—snuggle up to the fireplace with your new s... read more

601 Bush St., San Francisco
415-986-8900

Tunnel Top

Unpretentious local hang-out perched above the Stockton Street tunnel (hence the name). Outside looks like a dive but hides a cool Parisian feeling interior with bottle rack chandeliers and dim lig... read more

600 Jackson St., San Francisco 94101
415-781-5224

Night Club L'Amour

Enter a subterranean den of ill repute, appropriately red lit an expansive uderground basement bar furnished with disorientating spherical mirrors, old large couches and house women who will &lsquo... read more

3325 Grand Ave., San Francisco 94610
510-444-8505

The Alley

This is a piano bar, if you don't like the sound of that go shove your head up an electro DJ’s armpit. This place is so god dern'd authentic it will shake irony off even the most aloof of the... read more

1060 Geary St., San Francisco 94109
415-885-4788

Koko Cocktails

Once a scary shithole full of Tenderloin derelicts, ne’er-do-wells, trannies, hookers and tranny-hookers, basic space got a smart, straightforward makeover from the classy owners of Tunnel To... read more