Top 5 Bars In The Lower Haight
Looking to grab a beer (or five) in the Lower Haight? Check out our picks for a night out along one of San Francisco’s most iconic streets.
Noc Noc I | ©Natalie Garnett
Noc Noc
Bar, Pub Grub
Mad Dog in the Fog | ©Natalie Garnett
Did you just step into a bomb-shelter ornamented with Paleolithic cave paintings? Oh nope… it’s just
Noc Noc. Self-proclaimed as the ‘Lower Haight’s most unusual bar,’ the name is short for Nocturnal Nocturne; this is a space for folks to come early, stay late, and get funky. With stalactite light fixtures, walls that bud into benches, and barstools that resemble intergalactic thrones, Noc Noc’s interior will offer up enough conversation starters for the entirety of the night.
If you and some buds want to watch a game over some beers, Mad Dog in the Fog is your spot. With TVs lining the walls and a massive projection screen at the rear, you can catch European rugby matches, Monday Night Football, and everything in between. In fact, Mad Dog is so dedicated to sports lovers that it provides a complete schedule of gametimes on its website.
Toronado I | ©Natalie Garnett
Toronado
Bar, American, Pub Grub
Toronado is the Lower Haight bar with a lively atmosphere and local feel. There is a plethora of craft beers, including the hard-to-find Pliny the Elder and Batch 0001, and the walls are decorated floor to ceiling with old tap handles, this is a brew lover’s paradise. It’s cash only, but you can grab a couple bills from the in-house ATM. Trust us, you won’t regret it.
Nickies is a no-nonsense bar that offers a little bit of everything, beer, pool, dancing, and, of course, football. On a big game-day it can get quite crowded, but otherwise the large interior offers ample space for visitors. The brightly lit bar is lined with colorful liquor bottles and framed soccer jerseys, and a disco-ball reminds guests that it’s alright, in fact encouraged, to kick up their heels and let loose.
Underground SF I | ©Natalie Garnett
Head over to Underground SF to dance, dance, dance. Open Tuesday through Saturday night, the space is dark, crowded, and, of course, underground, making it the quintessential dive-club of San Francisco. Each night hosts a different musical theme, including SF’s longest running drum-and-bass night every Tuesday, and Bubble Thursdays for the dance maniacs.
