Vesuvio Cafe is one of The 15 Best Dive Bars in San Francisco.

1. Vesuvio Cafe

8.8
255 Columbus Ave (btwn Broadway and Pacific), San Francisco, CA
Dive Bar · North Beach · 130 tips and reviews

Eli H.Eli Hickox: Great bar with a lot of history. One of my favorite places to get a Pimm’s cup

EsquireEsquire: Congratulations, you've found one of Esquire's Best Bars in America. No matter how many tourists drop in for a pint, it still feels as though it's full of locals. We recommend an Anchor Steam.

Lauren J.Lauren Jeter: sit upstairs in the corner and see the bright bright lights of Broadway.

Toronado is one of The 15 Best Dive Bars in San Francisco.

2. Toronado

8.7
547 Haight St (btwn Steiner St & Fillmore St), San Francisco, CA
Dive Bar · Lower Haight · 292 tips and reviews

Roberto R.Roberto Rawbirdtoe 🐴: Great beer joint. Grab a Pliny, if on tap!

Sara R.Sara Roth: have a beer & a sausage!!!

HaighterationHaighteration: Do not ask for PBR or Bud. Know what you want before you order. -Josh K.

El Rio is one of The 15 Best Dive Bars in San Francisco.

3. El Rio

9.0
3158 Mission St (btwn Valencia & Cesar Chavez St), San Francisco, CA
Dive Bar · Bernal Heights · 122 tips and reviews

Peter C.Peter Chiu: Great dive bar with a decent backyard. Go for transvestite karaoke. Fun times

BravoBravo: Huge back patio. Perfect place to take a large group of people. Great place to hang out on a nice day and sit outside. -Laurine Wickett, Top Chef

SFGateSFGate: Now there's a reason to love Mondays: $1 Pabst and $2 well drinks, all day long. Read more.

Hi Dive is one of The 15 Best Dive Bars in San Francisco.

4. Hi Dive

8.2
501 The Embarcadero (at Bryant (Pier 28 1/2)), San Francisco, CA
Dive Bar · Rincon Hill · 85 tips and reviews

ChrisChris: Great place to get some food to split and beers along the embacadero

Raimo TuiskuRaimo Tuisku: Come here early in the morning and spend the whole day. They have sunlight early in the morning until the very end of your awaken hours.

Laughing SquidLaughing Squid: We love this place. Good food. Great patio with awesome view of the Bay. We've had many Laughing Squid Drinkups here over the years.

Bender's Bar & Grill is one of The 15 Best Dive Bars in San Francisco.

5. Bender's Bar & Grill

8.2
806 S Van Ness Ave (at 19th St), San Francisco, CA
Dive Bar · Mission District · 108 tips and reviews

Caitlin S.Caitlin Salzberg: Really cool hangout spot! Cheap beer and clean bathrooms! :)

Erika K.Erika Kali: Try the alcohol.

Britt S.Britt Selvitelle: SF's best not-gross gross looking dive toilet. Go here for a poop.

Mothership is one of The 15 Best Dive Bars in San Francisco.

6. Mothership

8.2
3152 Mission St, San Francisco, CA
Dive Bar · 1 tip

Huey L.Huey Lee: Patio is great

The Page is one of The 15 Best Dive Bars in San Francisco.

7. The Page

8.3
298 Divisadero St (at Page St), San Francisco, CA
Dive Bar · Lower Haight · 94 tips and reviews

Alyssa B.Alyssa Bereznak: excellent dive bar with a foosball table downstairs

Willo S.Willo Sana: You know it's good when you read a tip from yourself you don't remember leaving.

HaighterationHaighteration: Used to be blue collar local bar but transformed itself into the hot place to suck face over a game of billiards or foosball. -Ryan B.

The Hearth is one of The 15 Best Dive Bars in San Francisco.

8. The Hearth

8.1
4701 Geary Blvd (at 11th Ave), San Francisco, CA
Dive Bar · Inner Richmond · 17 tips and reviews

J K.J K: Dive. Neighborhood bar. Pool. Cozy.

Andrew 👟Andrew 👟: Go hearth or go home.

Ben 🐱 W.Ben 🐱 Willis: Amateur stand up comedy 2nd Saturday of the month is awesome.

Zam Zam is one of The 15 Best Dive Bars in San Francisco.

9. Zam Zam

8.1
1633 Haight St (at Clayton St), San Francisco, CA
Dive Bar · Haight Ashbury · 22 tips and reviews

Jose L.Jose Lepe: The martini is one of my favorites here. Great bartenders and good ambiance. Cash only.

Travel ChannelTravel Channel: As recommended by Travel Channel host, Anthony Bourdain.

Van N.Van Nguyen: The bartenders are the friendliest. A bar with no tv's is refreshing, just jazz and good conversations.

The Phone Booth is one of The 15 Best Dive Bars in San Francisco.

10. The Phone Booth

8.1
1398 S Van Ness Ave (at 25th St), San Francisco, CA
Dive Bar · Mission District · 37 tips and reviews

Francesca K.Francesca Krihely: My favorite bar in San Francisco. Free popcorn, PBR and billiards!

John W.John W: Scuzzy bar full of smoke yet has a charm as strong as the drinks.

Alan G.Alan Green: Keep your eye open for Panda sightings!

Tunnel Top is one of The 15 Best Dive Bars in San Francisco.

11. Tunnel Top

8.3
601 Bush St (at Stockton St), San Francisco, CA
Dive Bar · Downtown San Francisco-Union Square · 66 tips and reviews

Nick H.Nick Holroyd: Cool and unique spot to grab a beer.

BravoBravo: Totally hip place with an upstairs. A good after work hangout. -Tim Nugent, Top Chef Just Desserts

Stephen B.Stephen Bluestein: Cash only. That is silly

Thee Parkside is one of The 15 Best Dive Bars in San Francisco.

12. Thee Parkside

8.3
1600 17th St (at Wisconsin St), San Francisco, CA
Dive Bar · Potrero Hill · 86 tips and reviews

MichaelMichael: Outdoor seating, tator tots and a good beer selection. Great afternoon

DoniaDonia: America's darkest ladies room. Seriously, there could be a dude sleeping behind the toilet. You'd never know.

Ryan M.Ryan Mickle: Tots, stop playing with your iPhone and get some damned tots.

The Uptown is one of The 15 Best Dive Bars in San Francisco.

13. The Uptown

7.7
200 Capp St (at 17th St), San Francisco, CA
Dive Bar · Mission District · 28 tips and reviews

tif l.tif lacey: visiting SFO for the weekend and came across this place - it is an awesome neighborhood pub - everyone knew each other and were super friendly. good drinks, brilliant jukebox

Fast CompanyFast Company: When they're not visualizing the Twitterverse for MTV and Nike, the staff of Stamen (a 2011 Most Innovative Company) heads to this bar, which is known for its comfy couches.

MetroSeeker.comMetroSeeker.com: Great (and cheap) beer, a jukebox, and couches! What can possibly go wrong? Oh yeah, everybody else loves this place too! Make sure you arrive early or you may not be able to get a couch.

Tempest is one of The 15 Best Dive Bars in San Francisco.

14. Tempest

8.0
431 Natoma St (btwn 5th & 6th St), San Francisco, CA
Dive Bar · SoMa · 132 tips and reviews

christina leigh m.christina leigh morgan: Hidden little divey gem.

Petko M.Petko Minkov: Can't say anything bad about this place. Beer is cheap and you look around and nobody is writing code on a laptop. Approved.

Kevin T.Kevin Twohy: five dollar Jim beam + beer.

Philosopher's Club is one of The 15 Best Dive Bars in San Francisco.

15. Philosopher's Club

7.7
824 Ulloa St (btw West Portal & Portola), San Francisco, CA
Dive Bar · West Portal · 11 tips and reviews

Laura H.Laura Hayes: great place to watch the giants and niners. killer bloody marys on sunday mornings, too.

AlexisAlexis: Friendly bartenders, strong drinks, local but welcoming patrons. $$CASH$$ ONLY

Andrew T.Andrew Tarantola: The classiest sleeper bar in San Francisco. It's got the friendliest bartenders and best cocktails in The City. Just don't try to pay with plastic, you will be mocked--likely by me.