KEY2 Pick
Speakeasy • $$$
Bourbon & Branch
A password-and-reservation speakeasy behind an unmarked Tenderloin door, pouring pre-Prohibition style cocktails.
Best for: Date Night / Special Occasion
Best bars in San Francisco
Cocktail rooms, rooftops and unmarked doors — where to start a night and where to end one.
KEY2 Pick
Tiki • $$
Smuggler's Cove
Three floors of shipwreck decor and one of the deepest rum lists in the country, hidden off Hayes Valley.
Best for: Group / Date Night
Historic Bar • $$
Comstock Saloon
A Barbary Coast-era saloon revival in Jackson Square pouring pisco punch and classic cocktails under pressed tin ceilings.
Best for: Casual / Group
Dive Bar • $
Specs' Twelve Adler Museum Café
A North Beach dive crammed with maritime ephemera and regulars who've been coming since the 70s.
Best for: Casual / Solo
Questions, answered
What are the best bars in San Francisco?+
The KEY2 editors' top picks for bars in San Francisco are Bourbon & Branch, Smuggler's Cove. Every listing in this guide is individually vetted, with hours, prices and booking links.
Where can I find good-value bars in San Francisco?+
For $$-level bars in San Francisco, consider Smuggler's Cove, Comstock Saloon, Specs' Twelve Adler Museum Café, Trick Dog.
What are the best bars in San Francisco for a special occasion?+
For a splurge, the KEY2 guide recommends Bourbon & Branch. Reserve ahead — the booking link is on each listing.
Do I need to book bars in San Francisco in advance?+
The most popular bars in San Francisco fill up days or weeks ahead. Every KEY2 listing includes a direct reservation or booking link where one is available.
More San Francisco guides