Updated 2026/09/12
The Best Bars in San Francisco, United States (2026)
Compare 115 bars in San Francisco, United States, averaging 4.45 stars on Google Maps. The typical listing has 367 reviews, so the ratings below reflect real customer volume rather than a handful of opinions. 74% maintain a website. Most are clustered around Chinatown, Mission District, Noe Valley. Rankings combine Google rating, review volume and website popularity, keep one entry per brand, and refresh automatically as our data updates.
Top picks
El Lopo
Moody lounge for Spanish tapas & wine
The Sea Star
Old-school tavern for drafts & cocktails
Specs' Twelve Adler Museum Cafe
Saloon adorned with oddities
The Buena Vista
Long-standing bar & restaurant
Smuggler's Cove
Nautical-themed tiki bar
The Pig and Whistle
English-style tavern with soccer on TV
Occidental Cigar Club
Bar catering to cigar smokers
Asiento
Lively tapas bar with a global menu
Shotwell's Saloon
Saloon-style bar with pool & pinball
NorthStar Cafe
Sports-oriented watering hole
Full list
Frequently asked questions
How many bars are there in San Francisco, United States?
We list 115 bars in San Francisco, United States that meet our quality bar of at least 4.0 stars and 10 Google reviews. The wider directory holds more, including newer and unrated businesses.
Which bar in San Francisco, United States is rated highest?
El Lopo currently tops our list with 4.7 stars from 367 reviews. Rankings update as new reviews and traffic data arrive.
How are the bars ranked?
Each business gets a composite score: 70% a Bayesian average of its Google rating and review count, so a 4.9-star business with hundreds of reviews outranks a 5.0 with five, and 30% estimated website traffic. Chains appear once. Nobody can pay to be listed or ranked.