Casanova Lounge

Located in the mission neighborhood, Casanova Lounge has become my go to bar in the mission neighborhood. Where most bars go wrong, (blaring music, expensive covers and expensive drinks) Casanova Lounge comes out with flying colors! If you are having a night out with close friends, or looking to meet someone Casanova Lounge fulfills a variety of purposes. The intimate atmosphere allows for conversation and has fun paintings of naked ladies, equipped with some of the better music you will here at any bar in the city. The Lounge attracts all kinds of folk, from fresh faced college kids, to bar fly's in their mid 50's. Casanova truly has something for everyone.

Favorite bar in San Francisco? Possibly. One of my top five, definitely. From the naked lady paintings, to their choice in music, Casanova always seems to make me feel at home (and maybe that's weird). Their drinks are just as good as any other random bar in the same category, that's for sure. That said, where else can you go that places crazy old films silently with fun electronic or maybe, you know, 50's classics over top? I've taken many a friend here and now they seem to frequent it more than me. That's saying a lot.

If San Francisco is such a great city for singles to meet, then why are so many people feeling it is impossible to do so? Many of my female friends complain that men aren’t aggressive enough and then in the same sentence say that most men are overzealous in their approach as far as breaking the ice. This unfair standard has led many straight men, me included, to feel that women can sometimes be standoffish and put up an impenetrable front as far as actually approaching them is concerned. This is where the ultimate social emollient, alcohol, comes in. I’m not advocating binge drinking, but rather a slight lowering of inhibitions through consumption of a delicious substance. This is why I feel that bars get a bad rap as far as a place to meet someone. Sure, there are more wholesome places to mingle with desirable people: Bookstores, churches and farmer’s markets are places that readily come to mind. But it’s not like I could walk up to a woman at the farmer’s market and say “Hey, those are some nice melons, want to hang out?” and expect her to leap in my arms. In a bar at least, the lighting is dim enough to make me look somewhat attractive and the blurred vision of my potential hook-up makes my aura look like it is glowing. Hence my love for Casanova Lounge on Valencia between 16th and 17th street. This dimly lit cocktail lounge attracts beautiful people of all walks of life to come in, slip out of your coat and into a perfect martini. For gentlemen on the prowl, the full bar offers any libation a possible date may want. Even the pink lady is in play though the bartender may derisively shrug at the order. Women are usually in higher numbers then men at this bar, which ultimately, what more is there? It must be the music. There is a live DJ almost every night of the week, so ladies looking to dance can get down in their apple-bottom jeans or even their boots with the fur. Many women who go to Casanova do so under the “just out for fun with friends” philosophy can do so without the pressure of trying to find a mate. Sure, they may be hit on, but that is always a possibility, regardless of bar, or place really. Casanova is more meat market than I usually like, but it is understood in that way so most people who go are actually looking to meet somebody in a romantic way. This makes approaching women feel less sleazy then say, if Casanova were in the Marina, and the women/man ratio is so skewed it actually forces women to have to approach men, god forbid. While it is a simple lounge that offers a fine setting to interact with other singles in a friendly atmosphere, Casanova feels just dive-y enough to make you want to sloppily make out with your new friend in a semi crowded bathroom, and really, as far as bars go, is there any better place to be?

I love this place. Got nothing but amazing memories at this place. One of the best things of this venue is the low-lit and red lighting throughout the whole bar. One the walls you can find scarlet prints of sexy ladies in seductive poses. Some may think this is out of good taste, but this does nothing but ADD to the greatness that is this fantastic dive bar in the Mission district.