Here to make your brunch better, our favorite picks in San Francisco for a spicy, tall, tomato-y one.

500 Club: Ashly Russell beams about the veggie/meat additions and "perfect alcohol to juice ratio" at this Mission dive bar's take on a Bloody Mary. "As one of my out-of-town friend says, 'It's the best vodka salad I've ever had.' "
500 Guerrero (at 19th Street)

Bender's
One of the best Bloody Marys in town, according to SFist reader Blair Craig, can be found at Bender's. Why? Craig explains, "You get a Slim Jim in it, along with all the foliage that usually comes with a Bloody Mary."
806 South Van Ness (at 19th Street)

Elite Cafe
For years this Upper Fillmore institution has had one of the city's oft-acknowledged, top-rated Bloody Marys. The mix is good, and depending on your needs, they offer different levels of spice, with both jalapeno- and habanero-infused vodka options.
2049 Fillmore (at California)

Elixir
Every Sunday afternoon until 6 p.m. the Vodka Salad Bar is open at this 16th Street stalwart. Elixir offers a make-your-own Bloody Mary bar with a selection of hot sauces, pickled garnishes, dry seasonings (Old Bay and celery salt, anyone?), and a house-made mix.
3200 16th Street (at Guerrero)

Hi Tops
One of the newest Bloodies in town has quickly become a Castro weekend favorite. The new gay sports bar offers a terrific Bloody Mary with a house-made mix, kind of akin to spicy gazpacho, and "fully loaded" with a ton of pickled vegetables for garnish.
2247 Market (at 16th Street)

Ironside
Bottomless build-your-own bloody mary bar? What could go wrong! Craft a bloody with the perfect combo of ingredient for your palate from an array of fixins such as olives, fresh capers, cocktail onions and spiced salt. And if someone at your table isn't the bloody type, there's also a range of bottomless mimosas so you can all stay on the level when it comes to brunchtime drunkenness.
680 2nd Street (at Brannan)

Maven
Like their brunch menu, Maven's morning cocktails are more subtly complex than the usual kitchen sink hangover remedies. There's no traditional Bloody here, but The Smokin' Jefe — a smokey mix of reposado tequila, mezcal, tomato juice, worcestershire and garlic — will snap you right out of that Sunday morning funk.
598 Haight (at Steiner)

Park Tavern
Ever since this North Beach hangout launched brunch last year, they've offered a couple of spins on the Bloody. There's the Bloody Maria, with blanco tequila, tomatillo, anaheim chili, jalapeno, and cilantro; or the traditional PT Bloody Mary, heavy on the horseradish and Tobasco, and garnished with beef jerky.
1652 Stockton (at Stockton)

The Tipsy Pig
This American gastrotavern isn't just home to one of the city's finest beer selections (or just an honoree of Michael Bauer's Top 100 Restaurants in the Bay Area), but they also boast a mighty fine Bloody Mary. Jammed with the usual sides and flavored with a uniquely salted rim, it's the best place to hunker down in the Marina after a night of partying on Chestnut.
2231 Chestnut (at Pierce)

Zeitgeist
You would kill us if we didn't mention Zeitgeist, right? Understandably so. In addition to winning the numerous polls in both SF Weekly and SF Bay Guardian, the Mary at this noted bicycle bar stands out as the go-to Bloody Mary for people who hate Bloody Marys.
199 Valencia (at Duboce)

Zuni Cafe
For a sharp twist on a classic, Zuni Cafe adds balsamic vinegar to their Bloody Marys. Perfect for lounging on one of Zuni Cafe's sidewalk tables on a warm Sunday morning.
1658 Market (at Gough)

Jay Barmann, Andrew Dalton and Rose Garrett also contributed to this article.