It's Friday night and you find yourself walking along 16th street in the Mission in need of a tasty elixir to help you drown out the memories of a tough work week. You're in the Mission, so there's no need for mojitos or frilly drinks with umbrellas--you're just looking for a quality mission bar to settle in to so you can get to the task at hand -drinking. In San Francisco, bars out number 49er's fans these days so we have compiled a list of 10 bars in the mission that welcome your kind with open arms.
The Kilowatt
Get here early, grab a booth with some friends, order a few pitchers, and you will be in great shape to get some quality drinking in. Dark worn wood floors that have probably soaked up decades of beer warmly welcome the tired feet of bike messengers, blue collar types and service industry folk. Burritos, falafel, and pizza are all within a block and you can bring food back to the bar so that you don't lose drinking time. Pool tables, pinball and darts round the place out nicely.
3160 16th Street
415-861-2595
The 500 Club
The neon lights on Guerrero St. should easily guide your drunken self to the 500 Club. Claiming to open at 6 a.m., the 500 Club is a great place to end your night (or start your day) with a shot to take the edge off of those pills you took the night before. No matter what, you will find yourself surrounded by other people with stiff drinks in hand. Commandeer a booth and you'll be set for the entire night.
500 Guerrero Street
415-861-2500
The Latin American Club
Go here, order a pint sized margarita with freshly squeezed juice and drink it. Then, order another one and stare at the piñatas hanging from the ceiling. Bet you could knock one of those down in one swing if you really tried... You could try to play pool, but you'll probably be too drunk and the place will be too packed, so order another margarita and enjoy.
3286 22nd St
415-647-2732
Mission Bar
Mission Bar can easily be summed up by it's simple nondescript orange sign in the window that says "BAR." A killer juke box and friendly staff (plus parking spots a plenty) make this a great place to start off the evening. If the place gets busy, order a shot and a Budweiser. The bartender will love you. If you find yourself asking, "What's special about this place?" you need another drink.
2695 Mission St
415-647-2300
The Attic
The small dark hallway of The Attic welcomes you with the pungent smell of spilled beer. Past the bar, the hallway opens up to a few booths and some turntables where DJ's can be found spinning anything from prog rock to hip hop. If you're extra nice, the bartender may even pull out a chilled shot of tequila and lime juice from the refrigerator.
3336 24th Street
415-643-3376
The Elbo Room
There aren't many places where a man can sit down with a beer and a buddy and play hours of Ms. Pacman anymore but the Elbo Room is one of them. A pair of pool tables and a photo booth round out the first floor to make for a great dive atmosphere that is almost always busy but not too busy. On the weekends, head upstairs for some live music from some San Francisco's finest musicians.
647 Valencia St.
415.552.7788
Lazslo's Bar
Lazslo's sits next to both Medjool (home to the yuppie crowd that ventures in to the Mission for happy hour cocktails) and Foreign Cinema (where older yuppies come to spend copious amounts of money on oysters and fine wine). Oddly enough, this bar packs in hipsters and keeps them satisfied with good beats supplied by dj's and friendly bartenders who make mean drinks. Sundays and Thursdays are the nights to be here.
2526 Mission St.
415.401.0810
Doc's Clock
Doc's clock is one of the few places in the city that boasts a regulation size shuffle board. Dorky you say? You apparently haven't played while knockin back a few Stella's. Doc's can get real busy when there is a big show next door at 12 Galaxies but don't let that stop you from stopping in and rubbing elbo's with the proper Mission crowd.
2575 Mission Street
(415) 824-3627
Amnesia
Amnesia boasts one of the best tap beer selections in the city and this little bar can pack the people in like no other place in the area. Whether your a hipster or a beer afficianado, you will dig Amnesia. The nights can get surprisingly blurry (hence the name of the place) considering that this place only serves the barley and grapes so enter at your own risk.
853 Valencia St.
415.970.0012
Bruno's
Bruno's is back baby! After what seemed like an eternity of being closed for "remodelling", Bruno's is back in action and is once again a premiere destination for Mission drinkers. For being closed for over 2 years, they didn't really do a whole lot with the place. The dark ambiance and the room in back make this a great bar to get into trouble in and the live venue that sort of sidecars the place consistantly brings in an eclectic mix of jazz, fusion and lounge acts.
2389 Mission St.
415.643.5200
Need more help pickling your liver? Check out some of our other drinking guides.
Best SF Billiards Bars
Guide to San Francisco Wine Bars
San Francisco Happy Hour Guide- A top 10
San Francisco Brew Pub Guide
The Best Hotel Lounge Bars in SF