Now that I’ve finally recovered from my trans-Pacific excursion, I find that I have to be in San Francisco next weekend on business. I was there last June, and had an alright time, but I’m sure there was a lot I missed. This time I’m going to be there with a couple of colleagues, but I’d really like to find an evening social establishment (e.g. club or bar) that would be a Good Time.
So, any Dopers have a good recommendation for a place to go Friday or Saturday night (or Sunday or Monday, for that matter)? I don’t want a dance club, since I look silly dancing (and I may have to take my colleagues), nor do I want somewhere too loud. Decent food and good beer are definite plusses.
When I lived in San Francisco, I lived at a place called Zeitgeist. It’s located on the corner of Duboce and Valencia.
They have a pool table, a super juke box, terrific food, a great variety of quality beer, a large outdoor patio and exciting, friendly clientele. The #1 best part is that they have a sign on the door that says, “Patchouli Free Zone”.
What you gotta do get the BADs to show you a good time. Heck, we could have a party in a gutter. Let us know if we are needed. (Note: this might not be a good option if your coworkers are coming along.)
I’ve always liked Capp’s Corner, at Powell and Green, conveniently located in the heart of Beatnik North Beach.
REAL old-style Italian-American food, in enourmous portions, is served up in the back room. And the front room is a great no-bullshit shot-'n-a-beer Old Frisco bar. Feels like 1932 in there.
(But don’t take the word of a New Yorker. A good friend from San Francisco came to visit me a year or so ago, and insisted on having dinner at Vincent’s Clam Bar down on Hester and Mott…I felt like a friggin’ TOURIST sitting in that joint. The converse might be true if I dragged a San Franciscan to Capp’s.)
After they took me to a hostess bar in Tokyo until 5:30 AM? I think they can live with it.
Besides, I can always ditch 'em. I’d be honored[sup]*[/sup] to buy some Dopers a beer if they’d show a foreigner some of the sights and sites of SF.
[sup]*[/sup]You’ll notice that I was careful to use the 'Merican spelling here.
Canthearya, Sax and Uke I’ve written down your suggestions. I have no idea what patchouli smells like, but I take it that a Patchouli-free zone is a good idea.
Saturdays are always good. Don’t know what or what time of day to do it, but as more BADs notice this thread and signal their willingness, we’ll have a better idea.
DPWhite, I second your first choice of the Tadich Grill. It’s a truly quintessential San Francisco experience, and they make my favorite Irish coffees there. Also, it’s right on the California Street cable-car route – handy for a little up-the-hill ride to Nob Hill to check out the view.
The only potential problem with the Tadich Grill is that folks do not wear grubbies, that is, no jeans. They might allow it, but you will feel out of place. The neat thing about the California Street cable car line is that if you’ve got to ride a cable car, there is little or no wait on this line, as it doesn’t go to Fisherman’s Wharf or Union Square.
City Lights is possibly the greatest bookstore in the world. It’s in North Beach on Broadway and something. The border area between Chinatown and Little italy. Jack Keroac alley is right behind it and the Vesuvio bar I think it’s called.
Even if you don’t like the whole Beat Generation (which I don’t really), it’s still pretty dang cool.
He’s right, you know. Pick up something good to read on your way to Capp’s. If you go upstairs to the Poetry section, you might be able to wave to Lawrence Ferlinghetti through an open door.
As far as cool city things go, if it’s a clear night I like to get drinks at Equinox, it’s a revolving rooftop restaurant at the top of the Hyatt at Drumm/Market, fairly close to the foot of the bay bridge. The drinks are spendy, but good and the views are fabulous. It’s a nice place to hang out with a few people and talk. If you have more than four, you should make reservations.
Another favorite thing is the Musee Mecanique at the Cliff House. It’s a collection of antique penny arcade machines. Those are cool, but they also have a nifty wally of photographs of the old Cliff Houses (there have been several destroyed and rebuilt over the years), the Sutro Baths, and some other local landmarks. http://museemecanique.citysearch.com/
It’s not really a place for a “night out,” but IMHO Tommy’s Joynt at Geary and Van Ness is well worth a visit for a sandwch and brew–and for the ambience. Ah, yes, the ambience. I believe they invented the “explosion in a flea market” decorating scheme, and so far no one (especially not TGI Friday’s) comes close.
I can personally support Ukulele Ike about Capps - still a great place to get decent Italian food at fair (for San Francisco) prices. I can also recommend at least six bars in the area that are good for just drinking and hanging around For seafood, I like Sabella and LaTorre - on the wharf, just under Aliotos. Not fancy, but very good!
** Zeitgeist ** is still very popular, although I haven’t been there myself. The **Stud ** has changed some and is not as popular as it used to be… full of poseurs. ** Tadich Grill ** is wonderful! **Tommy Toys ** is VERY expensive. ** Vesuvio ** has been taken over by the young, trendy and Goth - which is fine if you are one of them
In all cases, you should plan to do as little driving as possible. Parking is a nightmare in most locations, and they take drunk driving very seriously.
