Irish Pubs in San Francisco

Lefty O'Doul's

20s / 30s / 40s / All Ages / Breakfast

Party Earth Review Located a block from the shopping, hotel, and theater district that surrounds Union Square, Lefty O’Doul’s is a lively, old-fashioned pub/cafeteria that straddles the line between relaxed watering hole and gaudy tourist bait. An archway divides the long space into two separate areas, the first of which drips with classic ... more

333 Geary Street
San Francisco, CA 94102

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The Buena Vista

30s / 40s / All Ages / Casual / Jeans

Party Earth Review There may be a full bar at The Buena Vista, but the endless procession of tourists who pack into this long-standing Fisherman’s Wharf institution usually stick to Irish coffee. The trend began back in the 1950s, when owner Jack Koeppler returned from a vacation to Ireland determined to develop his own version of the stuff ... more

2765 Hyde Street
San Francisco, CA 94109

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The Napper Tandy

20s / 30s / 40s / Anything goes / TVs

Party Earth Review Just on the southern edge of the busy Mission drinking scene, corner pub The Napper Tandy is authentically Irish from the name out front to the brogues of its waitresses to the all-you-can-eat fish and chips on Mondays. From the outside, little sets the place apart from the slew of nearby bars save for the large front ... more

3200 24th Street
San Francisco, CA 94110

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Kells Irish Restaurant & Pub

20s / ATM / Bar Food / Beer / Burgers

Party Earth Review A wee bit of clover in an area of town known more for dollar signs and day-trading than Gaelic watering holes, Kells Irish Restaurant & Pub provides a mellow retreat to sip some Guinness during the week, and a raging – and distinctly non-Irish – dance scene on weekends. Lured in by the deep blue façade and traditional Celtic ... more

530 Jackson Street
San Francisco, CA 94133

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Blackthorn Tavern

Arcade Games / Artsy / Barbeque

Party Earth Review The bartenders may pour lots of creamy Guinness like at any Irish bar, but Blackthorn Tavern is more than just another quaint pub to snag a pint. And though more than a dozen flat-screen TVs dedicated to football, baseball, basketball, soccer, UFC fights, and boxing make the place a top-notch sports bar, it isn’t just another ... more

834 Irving Street
San Francisco, CA 94122

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The Phoenix Irish Bar

30s / 40s / Beer / Blue Collar / Blues

Party Earth Review The Mission area may not be a sports bar lover’s paradise, but the lack of competition isn’t the only reason The Phoenix Irish Bar is so popular. True, patrons will find the game they’re looking for – from the Stanley Cup to the World Cup – on the flat-screen TVs, but they’ll also encounter a solid menu of Celtic grub and ... more

811 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94110

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Kate O'Briens

30s / 40s / After Work / Balcony / Pop

Party Earth Review With a menu of traditional grub, a tap list stocked with Irish favorites, and a staff that isn’t faking their accents, Kate O’Brien’s is an authentic little clover-kissed sports bar with an atmosphere about as far from pretentious as San Francisco is from Dublin. Popular with the Downtown crowd ... more

579 Howard Street
San Francisco, CA 94105

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Lefty O'Doul's - Irish Pub | Piano Bar | Restaurant | Sports Bar in SF

Despite being a fairly small city, San Francisco packs quite a few Irish pubs into its seven square-mile expanse, and it would be difficult to go too many blocks without stumbling into an SF Irish pub.

Like any bar, San Francisco Irish pubs see their biggest crowds on weekends and – unlike any bar – on St. Patrick’s Day, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to find a quiet pint or two if that’s what you’re looking for.

Located a block from the shopping, hotel, and theater district that surrounds Union Square, Lefty O’Doul’s is a lively, old-fashioned pub/cafeteria that straddles the line between relaxed watering hole and gaudy tourist bait, and makes for a great stop for both tourists and San Francisco locals in the mood for some kitsch-filled fun and maybe a little dueling piano.

The Mission area may not be a sports bar lover’s paradise, but the lack of competition isn’t the only reason The Phoenix Irish Bar is so popular. True, patrons will find the game they’re looking for – from the Stanley Cup to the World Cup – on the flat-screen TVs, but they’ll also encounter a solid menu of Celtic grub and weekday Happy Hour specials that attract plenty of people who don’t know a point spread from a cheese spread.

From the outer Sunset and inner Richmond to the depths of SoMa and the mountains of Russian Hill, there are Irish pubs in San Francisco with shepherd’s pie on the menu and Guinness on the taps.