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2115 San Pablo (at Addison) Berkeley, CA 94702
510-644-2226
Casual Berkeley hipster/punk/collegiate hangout with the common red-and-black color scheme, pool table, jukebox, and frequent DJs playing everything from retro soul to rock 'n' roll. More >>
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4395 Piedmont (at Pleasant Valley) Piedmont, CA 94611
510-601-0305
http://www.dopoadesso.com/adesso/
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492 Ninth St. (at Washington) Oakland, CA 94607
510-444-2377
http://www.airoakland.com
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2315 Central Ave. Alameda, CA 94501-4513
510-769-3456
http://www.alamedatheatres.com
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1822 San Pablo (at Hearst) Berkeley, CA 94702
510-843-2473
http://www.albatrosspub.com
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3915 Alpine Road Portola Valley, CA 94028-8001
650-854-4004
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570 Green (at Columbus) San Francisco, CA 94133
415-362-4400
http://www.amantesf.com Rat Pack-style cocktail lounge in the center of the North Beach strip -- order a double martini and tell 'em Dino sent ya -- with occasional torch singers and other live music performances. More >>
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673 Geary (at Leavenworth) San Francisco, CA 94102
415-563-8192
http://www.ambassador415.com The Ambassador has two distinct personalities. On the weekends, it's a sweaty, sticky-floored night club with a DJ and a door policy (but no cover); on the weeknights, it's a party-friendly, but perfectly respectable, bar. If you're looking to go out on a school night, check out $2 Tuesdays, when you can drink and eat decent bar food for $10. It feels like a sexy art-deco bachelor pad, replete with cool chandeliers and distracting big-screen TVs. If you're feeling bold, the leather booths have old-timey phones built into the seats and, yes, people actually use them to hit on neighboring tables. More >>
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853 Valencia (at 20th St.) San Francisco, CA 94110
415-970-0012
http://www.amnesiathebar.com Dark red, hypnotic light helps this tiny bar live up to its name, and its tall stage features everything from '20s-themed nights and garage rock to bebop jazz and experimental electronica. There's no liquor, but intriguing soju cocktails and a well-chosen selection of microbrews are available if your inhibitions need loosening. Whether you're attending a comedy showcase, a literary reading, or a Gypsy dance party, however, make sure to arrive early - Amnesia fills up fast. More >>
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937 Geary (at Larkin) San Francisco, CA 94109
415-409-1111
http://www.amsterdamcafesf.com It may not be flashy, glitzy, moody, nor glamorous, but the point is to offer a respite from what the other watering holes in the 'Loin offer in spades. Amsterdam Café actually serves coffee and teas in addition to beer, wine, and Soju drinks. As if the tap selection weren't sufficient, the two chillers offer an exotic array of ales (the bar boasts that it pours 170 beers from around the country and the world). The wine selection doesn't match its beer brethren, but grape fiends won't leave thirsty. Between the art gallery walls, chill music, cozy seating, free WiFi, and again - that bottle list - there are myriad reasons to come here, kick back, and stay a while. More >>
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891 Beach (at Polk) San Francisco, CA 94109
415-771-6800
http://www.anamandara.com Glamorous (and good) French-Vietnamese dishes in a glamorous, semitropical, neo-colonial setting; if it feels like a movie set, that's because part-owner Don Johnson enlisted Hollywood professionals in its design. Upstairs is a spacious cocktail lounge overlooking the two-story dining room, lined with tables set in columned niches and verdant plants. Chef Khai Duong sends out beautifully cooked fusion dishes with luxurious ingredients, but in such generous portions that they can be shared family-style, with some determination. A destination restaurant in a touristy location. More >>
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68 Fourth St. (at Mission) San Francisco, CA 94103
415-777-1200
http://www.annabelles.net This venerable hangout for tourists serves pricey bistro and bar fare with an emphasis on local, seasonal produce and sustainable, organic meats. Annabelle's is comfortable, whether you're plopped down at the bar for a glass of wine or gathered around a table with the whole family. The menu is highly nonthreatening: calamari, garlic fries, pork chops with mashed potatoes, Anchor Steam-braised short ribs, and a fine burger. Cocktails are excellent. More >>
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285 9th St. San Francisco, CA 94103-3825
http://www.anongallery.com
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440 Broadway (at Montgomery) San Francisco, CA 94133
415-989-3434
http://www.apartment24sf.com Apartment 24 is a slick, urban club meant for hosting rowdy dance parties. Top 40 is often on rotation, yet can vary slightly depending on the DJ/promoter. Velvet ropes snake outside and discerning bouncers aim to keep the crowd balanced, knowing full well that too many of the same person makes for a bunk party. You'll get the guest-list question, but could avoid a cover by going early, or simply hittin' the right buttons on their website. The inspiration of the space is mod-rocker chic, complete with an illuminated full-city-view backdrop behind the bar. Drinks are average - $8.50 for a medium-shelf vodka-soda - but ask if they're promoting Devotion. You might shave a few off your tab that way. More >>
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450 Sansome St. San Francisco, CA 94111-3306
415-982-3101
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561 11th St. (at Clay) Oakland, CA 94606
510-444-1158
http://www.arsimonalounge.com
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201 Ninth St. (at Howard) San Francisco, CA 94103
415-255-2742
http://www.asiasf.com Although DJs at AsiaSF draw from a booming mix of R&B, house, salsa, and pop while the chefs serve up tasty treats, it's the "gender illusionists" - the cross-dressing waitstaff - who rank this inclusive, friendly restaurant as a swanky gay and lesbian hangout. More >>
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2730 21st St. (at Bryant) San Francisco, CA 94110
415-829-3375
http://www.asientosf.com/asiento/Intro.html Asiento is a new lounge in a quieter quadrant of the Mission, located in a large corner building just west of Potrero, well off the beaten path of Mission and Valencia. The focus of Asiento is to give the relaxed neighborhood an equally relaxed locale in which to enjoy a glass of wine, simple cocktail, or bottle of beer, and perhaps share a small plate. Nothing is over the top here - spirit and wine choices are kept to a minimum - but the space itself can easily accommodate a crowd, with or without seating. More >>
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24 Willie Mays Plaza San Francisco, CA 94107-2134
415-972-1800
http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com
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447 Broadway (at Rowland) San Francisco, CA 94133
415-788-4623
http://www.a3atmosphere.com Atmosphere is a glossy lounge built to accommodate just about every party need. The split-level, three-room space includes a small dance floor, large dance floor, two full bars, a waterfall wall, giant aquarium, modern furnishings, and a raised DJ booth. The bar menu pushes Hennessy and, once the crowd is in full effect, bottle-service servers cruise through. Long lines outside prove Atmosphere comes with a following, including routine limo drop-offs. Hip-hop is the favored music here and they play it loud. But should you need to have a conversation, you can duck into the side lounge, which is quieter. More >>
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3336 24th St. San Francisco, CA 94110-3825
415-643-3376
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Attic/107828765298 The grittiness of your favorite dive bar and the sounds of your favorite DJ combine to create a great Mission District spot that transcends all trends. More >>
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3336 24th St. (at Mission) San Francisco, CA 94110
415-643-3376
http://www.myspace.com/atticbar The grittiness of your favorite dive bar and the sounds of your favorite DJ combine to create a great Mission District spot that transcends all trends. More >>
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1633 Haight (at Belvedere) San Francisco, CA 94117
415-861-2545
Upper Haight cocktail oasis with a Persian decor theme and famously delicious drinks. Anthony Bourdain likes it, so why shouldn't you? More >>
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133 Turk (at Taylor) San Francisco, CA 94102
415-441-2922
http://www.auntcharlieslounge.com Boys, girls - what's the diff? Guys become gals as part of Aunt Charlie's "Hot Boxxx Girls" lip-sync show every Friday and Saturday night. During the day, this place is a Tenderloin dive bar - albeit one more gay than the neighbors - while nighttime events attract both old drag queens and ghetto-fab young hipsters. More >>
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2327 Polk (at Green) San Francisco, CA 94109
415-928-4977
http://www.gomobo.com/Order/Order.aspx?VendorId=2397 Great Vietnamese food isn't in short supply in this city, but great Vietnamese delivery sure is. Aux Delices is a delightful spot located on a cute stretch of Polk Street in Russian Hill. It's one of the few places on this side of town where you can get a traditional Vietnamese crepe, and it cooks up a mean bowl of pho. House specialties include the slightly greasy, yet oh-so good garlic noodles, and fresh, tangy green papaya salad with shrimp. Delivery is speedy, though there's a minimum charge. But the place itself has a nice atmosphere, should you choose to dine in. More >>
