While traveling, there are a few things that come to mind when entering a new city: Cheap places to eat, best store to find postcards at, and where to get properly liquored up. San Francisco does not disappoint. All throughout the city you’ll find a number of bars that will satiate your drinking problem. Luckily, the Green Tortoise is located in the heart of North Beach, where bars are plentiful and fast food places stay open late. Here are a few awesome bars within walking distance from the GT:
Vesuvio
255 Columbus Ave
(between Broadway St & Jack Kerouac Alley)
Located right beside City Lights Bookstore, this bar was first established in 1948 and remains an historical monument to jazz, poetry, art and the good life of the Beat Generation. Vesuvio attracts a diverse clientele: artists, chess players, cab drivers, seamen and business people, European visitors, off-duty exotic dancers and bon vivants from all walks of life. So go ahead, pretend you’re flirting with Jack Kerouac: we won’t judge you.
The Saloon
1232 Grant Avenue
(between Broadway St & Fresno St)
The dive-iest of dive bars, this local favorite is known for its nightly live music and… interesting clientele. Definitely make it a point to stop in, have a beer, chat it up with some of the locals who call this bar their home. Fear not the darkness of the bar; it’ll only make you stronger.
Spec’s
12 William Saroyan Place
Pretty difficult to find for the non-Spec’s frequenter, this place is filled with locals from all walks of life. A piano man plays in the background, and Beatnik posters cover the wall, but that’s not the only reason to go there: According to Flora, for $5 you can get a huge plate of cheese and crackers. You have no excuse now.
Grant and Green Saloon
1371 Grant Ave
(between Green St & Vallejo St)
Free live music, cheapish drinks, and about a 5 minute walk from the Green Tortoise. There’s open blues jam on Monday night along with $1 PBR (which one could argue is still overpriced), but the awesome local music and diverse fellow drinkers make it a place worth checking out.
Columbus Café
562 Green St
(between Bannam Pl & Columbus Ave)
What’s that you say? I’m not talking much about happy hours, am I? Well Columbus Café has 2 for 1 draft beer Happy Hour EVERYDAY from 4-8PM. And they’re open 7 days a week, 365 days a year. And they have 26 different micro beers on tap. This makes me very happy.
Northstar Café
1560 Powell Street
(between Green St & Vallejo St)
“Drinking consultants since 1882” is the first thing seen on their website. 1882 was a long time ago, so I think we should trust their drinkin’ judgment. If you’re looking for a big screen TV to watch the game…which game I don’t know- not a big sports fan, but football, baseball, ping pong, synchronized swimming- you can bet your passport it'll be shown there.
Dell’Uva Wine Bar
565 Green St
(between Columbus Ave & Jasper Pl)
This goes out to all you swanky, sophisticated gents and ladies who would rather leisurely drink a glass of red than hammer a beer. Dell’Uva (which I just learned means “of the grape” in Italian) has reasonably priced wine and a pretty tasty-looking menu. It’s outside seating allows you to check out all the sexy San Franciscans that walk by- just no catcalling: Save that shizz for a regular bar- you’re drinking wine baby.
Obviously, there are many, many more awesome bars in the area so ask any of us friendly front desk-ers which is our personal favorite. Most of us love to drink (especially Ellen) so we are more than happy to guide you in your quest for drunken debauchery.
