With a surplus of bars, Polk Street in San Francisco is a great place to go bar-hopping or meet up with friends for a drink. Here is a guide to the top 10 bars on Polk Street.
Lush Lounge is a bar with a real lounge feel due to its exposed brick wall and fireplace. Customers love to people-watch through Lush’s large front window facing Polk Street. There is also an upstairs seating area. Lush Lounge is mainly known for the fantastic happy hour cocktail menu and drinks specials such as their infamous blueberry martini.
Playland Bar
Bar, American
Serving specialty drinks, Playland Bar is equipped with an upstairs lounge and television screens for game-watching. Almost every night there is an event at Playland, ranging from all-day happy hour to a featured DJ or band to karaoke; each month the weekly events change. Customers can choose to dance upstairs or relax with drinks and friends downstairs.
The Buccaneer is a pirate-themed dive bar equipped with a pool table, multiple television screens, and a wood burning stove to keep the place warm. The Buccaneer is very welcoming in both its decor that resembles a pirate ship and its staff. The bar is also dog-friendly and serves affordable cocktails
Blur
Bar, American
Blur has excellent happy-hour deals like their two-for-one special on any item. With a laid-back atmosphere, the dive bar has a couple of TVs, a pool table and even some delicious bar food like pizza. As for drinks, they have an array of specialty cocktails, including the watermelon cocktail, blueberry mojito, and the popular Blurry Samurai.
McTeague’s Saloon is named after a book about a San Francisco dentist who opened his practice very near to their location, which is why McTeague’s Saloon has molar teeth decorations. McTeague’s has several TVs, making it perfect for game-watching during the day and a back room that can be reserved for events. There are also two bars with plenty of seating throughout and a pool table.
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Vertigo
Bar, American
Although more of a club than a bar, Vertigo has a small dance floor that is very popular on weekends, with DJs performing. If it gets too crowded though, customers can venture out onto an outdoor patio space for some fresh air or visit the smoking section. Vertigo also offers well-priced drinks and becomes more of a regular bar during the week nights.
Hemlock Tavern has a heated smoking lounge that is mostly covered from the outside elements. Customers can bring their drinks into the smoking room and can order one-dollar bags of hot peanuts, discarding the peanut shells onto the ground. However, Hemlock Tavern is mostly known for the small, live bands from different areas that play in a mostly soundproof room separate from the bar, starting at 9pm. Entering the bar itself is free, but there is usually a cover charge for the music room.
Hi-Lo Club
Bar, Cocktail Bar, Pub Grub
Hi-Lo Club is a cocktail bar that offers a beer bottle and local wine list in addition to the 12 California beers on tap. They also serve specialty cocktails and have a spirits menu. The Stock Room in the back of the venue, which can hold up to 30 customers, can be reserved for events.
The Pour House
Bar, Wine Bar, American
For a different atmosphere than what is usually offered on Polk Street, try The Pour House – a wine shop and bar. The Pour House offers a more relaxed environment with a wine-tasting menu consisting of white and/or red wines, sparkling wines, a dessert wine, draft and bottled beers, and even some small plates.
Amélie
Amélie is a wine bar with a French influence. Most of Amélie’s wines are from Europe, especially France, but they also serve those from California, New Zealand, South Africa, Australia, Chile, and Argentina. The wine bar is also good for a small bite or a large meal, providing some delicious cheese plates as well as other various plates, and some larger platters.
Natalie was born and raised in the south bay, San Jose, and has recently graduated from the University of San Francisco with a BA in Architecture and Community Design. She is continuing her education at University of California, Davis, pursuing an MA degree in Creative Writing. Natalie enjoys writing, painting, practicing American Sign Language as well as exploring new places and TV shows.
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