Cyclists: Let the Backlash Begin (or Not)
Muni Ticket Agent Arrested After Assaulting Juvenile
So Much For That Plastic Bag Ban
Verizon Droid: Big Deal? Or Just Another Late Arrival Rival?
Feinstein : Will She Or Won't She?
The city's going to be full of drunks (amateur and otherwise) tonight. We now bring you our quick guide to places where you might not have to stand in line to get a Guinness, or fend off twenty frat boys just to get from the door to the bar.
(Disclaimer: SFist makes no guarantees that the following venues will not be filled with amateur drunks and/or frat boys, nor that there will not be a line.)
It's a Tuesday, and perhaps the real heart of pseudo-Irish darkness got played out on Saturday, after the parade. But chances are all of these places are going to be lively shitshows filled with all kinds of Harp and Jameson-fueled tomfoolery. (Thank you Citysearch for a few ideas.) Our suggestions:
Danny Coyle's
668 Haight Street
A clean, new-ish, friendly establishment, and maybe less of a mad house tonight than Mad Dog in the Fog?
A-Sides
Underground SF
424 Haight Street
A drum-n-bass party for those who don't want the night to end with Mad Dog in the Fog / Danny Coyle's.
Buena Vista Cafe
2765 Hyde Street
It's the birthplace of Irish coffee but out of the way enough that maybe only hardcore Russian Hill denizens and tourists up from Fisherman's Wharf will think of this place.
Cantina SF
580 Sutter Street
Screw the green beer and go for a nice caipirinha instead. Or ask Duggan for a bright green Herb Caen.
The Plough and Stars
116 Clement Street
A nice, mellow, authentically Irish time in the Richmond featuring live music from Andrew MacNamara and the Rogues.
Durty Nelly's
2328 Irving
A well-loved pub in the Outer Sunset that should be a par-for-the-course good time.
Food Stamp Tuesdays St. Patrick's Day Party (mixed)
Vessel
85 Campton Place - 5 p.m.
Join star DJ and diva of divas Juanita MORE! and DJ Initials P.B. bringing retro pop, electro and a bunch of other stuff, along with $2 drink specials and no cover at this swank space underneath Niketown.
FOR THE GAYS -- because you can suck back beer just as well as the straights!:
St. Paddy's at Truck
1900 Folsom - 7 p.m.
Green beer for gays.
St. Paddy's at The Lexington
3464 19th Street
A green pool table and bottled beer for lesbians.
St. Patrick's with Pollo
The Lookout
Noe & Market - 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Join glamazon drag queen Pollo Del Mar for happy hour debauchery and shamrock Jell-o shots.
Whiskey Dick at Pink Slip
The Stud
9th & Harrison - 11:30 p.m.
Performances, cabaret acts, hostess Virginia Suicide, DJ Derek B and more green beer.
UPDATE: Apologies about listing O'Reilly's Holy Grail... we did see that it was closed about a month ago, forgot, and proceeded to rely naively on the lately unreliable CitySearch for ideas. They have since written a new list. Thanks to commenter spysea for calling us on our shit.
add to stumble upon
add to reddit
tweet this
post to facebook
re: Danny Coyle's. It's been around for 3 years and has been packed from Day 1. It will be much more packed than the Mad Dog. It was an absolute zoo after the Parade on Saturday.
try these as well! these bars are in the Richmond around Geary St:
Abbey Tavern
4100 Geary Blvd
Ireland's 32
3920 Geary Blvd
The Bitter End
441 Clement St
Don't forget the Blackthorn Tavern on Irving at 9th....drink specials and corned beef+irish stew...
I'm going to recommend the Dovre at 26th and Valencia, because it's:
a. Not an IPC product b. Is not a place for 'amateur drunks' c. Is far from the frat parts of town d. Is very unlikely to serve green beer and most importantly ...
d. They almost burnt down last St. Pats, thus becoming somehow more deserving of my Irish day drinking dollar.
What's IPC?
God I love Durty Nelly's. I used to live right around the corner from there. A fantastic place and the patrons are actually Irish.
I didn't know Truck was for teh gehz. Hmm, that explains a few things.
I didn't know Truck was for teh gehz. Hmm, that explains a few things.
Durty Nelly's is my neighborhood spot--great people, great food, great atmosphere, I'm there all the time--but while I'm not snobbish about "amateur night" or whatever, I'll be avoiding it like the plague this evening.
I also used to spend a lot of time at the Shannon Arms (another great family-owned place where they treat you as such--although I've also heard people call it "a bucket of blood" and I have seen a dust-up or two there) down at Taraval and 19th, but Durty's is so much closer.
As a professional, I hate amateurs.
Closed months ago, is SFIST recycling the list?
O'Reilly's Holy Grail
1233 Polk Street
Pretty sure o'reillys holy Grail has been closed for months now.. I'll be serving up pints o' Guinness at swig on geary. We've got live music starting at six all the way into the night. The owners and much of the staff are Irish, and do it up evey year!
Thank God, nobody's mentioned The Liberties.
O'Reillys is closed but there is a new Irish place next to O'reilly's former location. I think it's called MacTeagues.
O'Reilley's in North Beach is still open, as far as I know. They usually have a big block party on SPD. Speaking of drunk post-frat-boys.
1. The Irish Bank
Tucked away at the end of a dirty alley, this pub is a favorite of the downtown after-work crowd. Indoors or out, you’ll get a little taste of Europe in the heart of SF. 10 Mark Ln. at Grant Ave. (Union Square), 415-788-7152
2. The Plough and the Stars
Fiddlers, flautists and bagpipes, oh my! Known for their stellar lineup of live jigs, The Plough and the Stars has been keeping the Celtic tradition real for more than 30 years. 116 Clement St. between 2nd and 3rd Ave. (Inner Richmond), 415-751-1122
3. The Blarney Stone
UK sports broadcasts and dart challenges are staple good times at this Outer Richmond bar, but we like it because of the proximity to John Campbell's Irish Bakery. Head next door for the quintessential slice of soda bread (then go back in the morning for their legendary Irish bacon breakfast sandwiches). 5625 Geary Blvd. between 20th and 21st Ave. (Outer Richmond), 415-386-9914
4. Buena Vista Café
St. Patrick’s Day may be synonymous with beer, but if you’re not feeling a pint, head to Russian Hill for Buena Vista's signature Irish coffee instead. 2765 Hyde St. at Beach St. (Russian Hill), 415-474-5044
5. Little Shamrock
The second oldest bar in the city, and a great spot to snuggle up to a game of backgammon. Whiskey connoisseurs will appreciate the vast selection of Irish varieties. 807 Lincoln Way at 9th Ave. (Inner Sunset), 415-661-0060
6. The Phoenix
Avoid the financial district’s block party and head to the Mission instead to rub elbows with hipsters over a Harp or Smithwick’s. Get there early to line your stomach with corned beef, cabbage and soda bread. 811 Valencia St. at 19th St. (Mission), 415-695-1811
7. Durty Nelly's
Lost in a sea of Asian restaurants and markets, this Sunset outpost is where the real Irish men hang out. Join the throngs of expats for an authentic Celtic toast. 2328 Irving St. between 24th and 25th St. (Outer Sunset), 415-664-2555
8. Kennedy's
It’s the only place we know of where you can get a side of curry with your Guinness and finish with a game of air hockey. 1040 Columbus Ave. at Taylor St. (North Beach), 415-441-8855
9. The Chieftain
Old world abounds at this Emerald Isle mainstay south of Market. We’re hoping the street grunge on the surrounding blocks will keep the tourists away so you can pound a pint in peace. 198 Fifth St. at Howard St. (SoMa), 415-615-0916
10. The Liberties
The dark mahogany bar and warm wood accents lend an air of sophistication to this neighborhood pub. Do what the locals do and order a BLT made with Irish bacon and soda bread to soak up all the booze. 998 Guerrero St. at 22nd St. (Mission), 415-282-6789