San Francisco's oldest bars are still open for business. From Gold Rush-era saloons to Prohibition survivors to Beat Generation haunts, some of the city's most storied watering holes have been serving neighbors for over a century — and they're still doing it, in the same buildings, in the same neighborhoods.
Here's a neighborhood-by-neighborhood guide to the bars that have lasted longest, and why they're still worth a visit.
North Beach: The Oldest Block in the City
The Saloon — 1232 Grant Ave (Est. 1861)
The Saloon on Grant Avenue is widely cited as the oldest operating bar in San Francisco, with roots going back to 1861. The original wooden bar was reportedly imported and installed in the 1860s. Today it operates as a blues and rock venue — live music most nights, cash preferred, no cocktail menu. Just cold beer, loud music, and one of the most authentic rooms left in North Beach.
Comstock Saloon — 155 Columbus Ave (Est. 1907)
Originally opened as the Andromeda Saloon in 1907 at the edge of the old Barbary Coast, the Comstock survived Prohibition by reinventing itself as a seafood café. It was restored to its original character in 2010. The pressed-tin ceiling, mahogany bar, and well-made classic cocktails make it one of the better rooms in the city — and one of the few that genuinely looks like it did a hundred years ago.
Tosca Cafe — 242 Columbus Ave (Est. 1919)
Tosca opened in November 1919, just weeks before Prohibition took effect. The founders' solution was practical: import espresso machines and serve a house cappuccino — brandy, chocolate, and steamed milk. That drink is still on the menu. Tosca has been a gathering spot for writers, musicians, and filmmakers for decades. After a renovation and reopening in 2013, it remains one of the anchors of Columbus Avenue.
Vesuvio Cafe — 255 Columbus Ave (Est. 1948)
Right next door to City Lights Bookstore, Vesuvio was opened in 1948 by Henri-Robert Lenoir, a Swiss immigrant who built it into the informal gathering place of the Beat Generation. Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, and Lawrence Ferlinghetti were regulars. It has been running continuously since, and the upstairs balcony — looking out over Columbus Avenue — remains one of the better spots in the city for a quiet drink on a weekday afternoon.
Chinatown: Li Po Cocktail Lounge — 916 Grant Ave (Est. 1937)
Li Po opened in 1937, when Chinatown's nightclub scene was drawing servicemen and curious visitors from across the city. Most of those clubs are long gone. Li Po is not. Red lacquered double doors set into stone, a golden Buddha behind the bar, red-leather booths, and dim Chinese lanterns. The room looks essentially unchanged since 1937. Their Mai Tai, made with Chinese rice wine, is the drink to order.
Inner Sunset: The Little Shamrock — 807 Lincoln Way (Est. 1893)
San Francisco's second-oldest bar, the Little Shamrock was founded in 1893 to serve workers building the 1894 California Midwinter International Exposition in Golden Gate Park. It has been on the corner of 9th and Lincoln ever since. Above the bar hangs an old clock with a sign beneath: "No tick since April 18, 1906" — the morning of the earthquake. No concept, no gimmick. Just a neighborhood pub that Inner Sunset locals have been coming to for generations.
What These Places Have in Common
The bars that survive a century or more in San Francisco are not chasing trends. They have regulars. They have history embedded in the walls. They give a neighborhood somewhere to gather that is not trying to be anywhere else.
Mike's Liquors has been on Mission Street in the Excelsior since 1959 — younger than The Saloon by nearly a hundred years, but running on the same idea: a family shop that knows its neighbors and keeps the shelves stocked.
When you'd rather bring the drinks home — for a dinner party, a backyard gathering, or just a well-stocked fridge — we carry a broad selection of beer, wine, and spirits. If you want draft beer at home the way these old bars have it, take a look at our full keg selection. Delivery in San Francisco is $8 flat on orders of $125 or more, with same-day service for orders placed before 9 AM.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the oldest bar in San Francisco?
The Saloon at 1232 Grant Avenue in North Beach is widely considered the oldest operating bar in San Francisco, with a history going back to 1861. The Little Shamrock in the Inner Sunset (1893) is regarded as the second-oldest.
Are SF's historic bars only in North Beach?
North Beach has the densest concentration, but the Inner Sunset (Little Shamrock, 1893) and Chinatown (Li Po, 1937) have long-standing institutions of their own. Most SF neighborhoods have at least one bar that has been around long enough to have a real story behind it.
Does Mike's Liquors deliver to San Francisco neighborhoods?
Yes. We deliver anywhere in San Francisco with an $8 flat fee on orders of $125 or more. Orders placed before 9 AM go out same-day within the city. We also deliver to the East Bay on Tuesdays and the South Bay on Wednesdays. Free pickup is available at our Mission Street store in the Excelsior.