Just the Classics
Bix
While it may be young (est. 1988) compared to the other bars on this list, Bix has all the grandeur of an old Art Deco jazz club, and remains one of the city’s great rooms in which to drink a cold Martini.
Buena Vista Cafe
One of the Bay’s top day-drinking establishments, the Buena Vista (est. 1916) is known for one thing: the Irish Coffee. Credited with introducing the drink to America, the bar is still home to a pitch-perfect version.
Zam Zam
In a city full of bars with pedigree, Zam Zam (est. 1941) may take the cake. Though legendary owner Bruno Mooshei passed away in 2000, Zam Zam’s glowing circular bar is still considered “the holy shrine of the dry Martini,” as dubbed by bygone San Francisco Chronicle columnist Herb Caen.
Tonga Room
A relic of tiki’s heyday, the Tonga Room (est. 1945), which is famously organized around a central pool complete with simulated rainstorms, is old-school San Francisco kitsch at its finest.
Martuni’s
This dark sliver of a bar on Market Street is home to one of the country’s great piano bars (est. 1996), where folks crowd into the back room to sing along to show tunes and drink (what else?) Martinis.
Li Po Lounge
This beloved Chinatown dive (est. 1937) has remained largely unchanged since its inception, drawing a mix of longtime regulars and locals for cheap drinks, including the bar’s signature Mai Tai made with Chinese wine.
A tour of the city's old-school holdouts from a bygone era of drinking.