Top 10 Historic Pubs in San Francisco You Can Trust

San Francisco is a city built on stories—of gold rush dreamers, bohemian poets, labor activists, and sailors returning from distant seas. Amid its steep hills and fog-draped streets, some of the most enduring tales are told not in museums or archives, but behind the worn wooden bars of its oldest pubs. These are not just places to drink; they are living archives of the city’s soul, where generations have gathered to celebrate, mourn, debate, and simply be. But in a city that changes faster than the fog rolls in, finding a pub that has stood the test of time—maintaining its character, integrity, and community spirit—is no small feat. This is why trust matters. This guide introduces you to the Top 10 Historic Pubs in San Francisco You Can Trust: establishments that have survived Prohibition, earthquakes, gentrification, and trends to remain authentic, welcoming, and deeply rooted in the fabric of the city.

Why Trust Matters

In an era where “historic” is often used as a marketing buzzword—where a newly renovated space with vintage decor calls itself a “classic” after six months—trust becomes the compass that guides you to the real thing. A historic pub isn’t defined by its age alone. It’s defined by continuity: the same owners who welcomed your grandparents now greet you. The same oak bar top that bore the weight of 19th-century miners now holds your pint. The same stained-glass windows that filtered candlelight now catch the afternoon sun. Trust is earned through consistency, authenticity, and a refusal to sacrifice character for profit.

San Francisco’s pub scene has seen waves of transformation. The 1980s brought a surge of trendy cocktail lounges. The 2010s saw craft beer boom and tech-driven gentrification. Many beloved institutions closed their doors, replaced by sleek taprooms with curated playlists and $18 cocktails. But the pubs that survived did so because they never lost sight of their purpose: to be a refuge, a hearth, a place where the community gathers without pretense. These are the places where the bartender remembers your name, where the jukebox still plays Sinatra, where the walls hold more than beer stains—they hold memories.

Trust also means accountability. These pubs have weathered scandals, economic downturns, and social upheaval without compromising their core values. They’ve supported local artists, hosted union meetings, sheltered the displaced, and stood by their neighbors during crises. They don’t just serve alcohol—they serve history, resilience, and belonging. When you walk into one of these ten pubs, you’re not just ordering a drink. You’re stepping into a legacy. And that’s why this list isn’t just about longevity. It’s about integrity.

Top 10 Historic Pubs in San Francisco You Can Trust

1. The Saloon

Founded in 1861, The Saloon holds the distinction of being San Francisco’s oldest continuously operating bar. Nestled in the North Beach neighborhood, it opened as the “Bavarian Saloon” and has never changed its location. Its survival through the 1906 earthquake, Prohibition, and multiple ownership changes is nothing short of miraculous. The interior retains its original 19th-century bar, hand-carved woodwork, and brass foot rail. The ceiling is still adorned with the original tin tiles, and the back room—once a meeting hall for labor unions—is now a quiet lounge where poets and historians still gather.

During Prohibition, The Saloon operated as a “soft drink parlor,” serving non-alcoholic beverages under the guise of legality. Rumor has it that the back room was used to smuggle liquor in and out of the city. Today, the bar offers a curated selection of classic cocktails and local craft beers, but the real draw is the atmosphere. The staff know regulars by name, and the jukebox plays only pre-1960s jazz and blues. No neon signs. No TVs. Just history, one sip at a time.

2. Boudin Bakery & The Saloon (Adjacent)

While technically a separate entity, The Saloon’s neighbor, Boudin Bakery, deserves mention not for its beer but for its cultural symbiosis. Founded in 1849, Boudin is the oldest continuously operating bakery in California, and its sourdough has fed generations of San Franciscans—including the patrons of The Saloon. Together, they form an unbreakable duo: the smell of fresh bread drifting into the bar, the clink of glasses echoing through the alley. Many visitors don’t realize that the bakery’s original brick oven still stands in the back, and the same sourdough starter has been fed daily since 1849. It’s a rare example of culinary and social continuity in a city that often forgets its roots.

3. The Irish Bank

Located in the Mission District, The Irish Bank opened in 1875 as a meeting hall for Irish immigrants seeking solidarity in a new land. The building itself was once a bank, hence the name, and its vault door still stands in the back room, now used to store bottles of Guinness and Jameson. The walls are lined with black-and-white photos of Irish laborers, sailors, and union leaders who once gathered here to plan strikes and celebrate St. Patrick’s Day long before it became a commercial spectacle.

The pub survived the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake with minimal damage, thanks to its thick brick walls and sturdy timber beams. Today, it’s run by the fourth generation of the same Irish-American family. The menu features traditional Irish fare—shepherd’s pie, corned beef, and colcannon—but the real tradition is the nightly session of live Celtic music, where musicians from Ireland, Scotland, and local descendants gather to play by ear, without sheet music. The Irish Bank doesn’t advertise. Its reputation is carried by word of mouth, passed down through families who’ve been coming here for over a century.

4. The Old Ship Saloon

Established in 1851, The Old Ship Saloon is one of the few surviving Gold Rush-era taverns in San Francisco. It sits in the Financial District, tucked away on a quiet side street that still bears the cobblestones laid down by 19th-century cart drivers. The bar is made from a single piece of salvaged ship’s wood, reportedly from a whaling vessel that docked in the bay. The ceiling is hung with brass lanterns and old nautical charts, and the original cash register—a hand-cranked metal box—is still in use.

Legend says that during the 1906 earthquake, the bar’s owner, a former sailor, tied the barstools to the floor to keep them from sliding into the street. He then opened the doors to anyone who needed shelter, food, or a drink—and served free whiskey for three days. That spirit of community service still lives here. The Old Ship Saloon has never raised its prices on a basic pint of lager, and it still offers a “sailor’s discount” to anyone who can show a maritime ID or tell a story about life at sea. The walls are covered in signed dollar bills from sailors around the world, each with a note: “To the Old Ship—where the sea always finds you.”

5. The Tonga Room & Hurricane Bar

Though often mistaken for a kitschy tourist trap, The Tonga Room deserves its place on this list for its unbroken legacy of cultural authenticity. Opened in 1945 as part of the Fairmont Hotel’s “Tiki” craze, it was designed as a tropical lagoon with a floating bandstand and artificial rainstorms. But its roots are deeper than its Polynesian decor suggests. It was created by a group of Pacific Islander musicians and San Francisco artists who sought to celebrate the oceanic cultures of the Pacific, not caricature them.

For over 75 years, the same live band has performed on the floating stage, playing steel drums, ukuleles, and traditional Hawaiian chants. The bar still uses the original tiki torches, and the rain is generated by the same hydraulic system installed in the 1940s. Unlike modern tiki bars that prioritize Instagrammable cocktails, The Tonga Room has never changed its signature drink—the “Tonga Swizzle”—a complex blend of rum, lime, and house-made orgeat syrup. It’s a living museum of mid-century Pacific fusion, and it’s still owned and operated by descendants of the original staff. Trust here isn’t about nostalgia—it’s about reverence.

6. The Saloon at the Clift Hotel (Now The Saloon at the Hotel Zephyr)

Often confused with the North Beach Saloon, this lesser-known sibling opened in 1912 as a private club for sailors and dockworkers in the Fisherman’s Wharf district. It was originally called “The Seaman’s Refuge,” offering hot meals, clean beds, and a warm drink to men returning from months at sea. The bar’s original wooden booths still bear the carved initials of sailors from every corner of the globe, and the ceiling is painted with murals of whales, storms, and mermaids—each commissioned from local artists in the 1920s.

When the Clift Hotel was renovated in the 1990s, the bar was nearly demolished. But a coalition of historians, former sailors, and local artists fought to preserve it. Today, it’s operated by a nonprofit dedicated to maritime heritage, and proceeds from drink sales fund scholarships for maritime students. The menu includes “Sailor’s Stew,” a recipe passed down from the 1920s, and the bar still serves a “Last Voyage” cocktail—a dark rum blend with a single dried orange peel, meant to be drunk in silence before leaving the bar. It’s a place where silence speaks louder than words.

7. The Holloway

Open since 1888, The Holloway is a hidden gem in the Mission District, once a favorite haunt of labor organizers during the 1934 West Coast Longshoremen’s Strike. The bar’s original back room was used to print union flyers and store strike funds. The walls still bear faint pencil marks from the days when workers would tally their weekly wages and debts. The bar top, made of reclaimed redwood from a demolished warehouse, has been polished by the elbows of generations of workers.

After decades of neglect, The Holloway was saved in the 1990s by a group of local historians and bartenders who restored it using original blueprints and donated artifacts. Today, it’s a community hub that hosts monthly lectures on labor history, free coffee for unhoused patrons every morning, and live acoustic sets by folk musicians who write songs about the city’s working class. The bar doesn’t take credit cards. Cash only. The owner says, “If you can’t afford to pay for a drink in cash, you’re not ready to be here.” It’s a blunt philosophy—but one that keeps the place real.

8. The Black Cat

Founded in 1906, The Black Cat is not just a pub—it’s a landmark in LGBTQ+ history. It was here, in 1966, that the first known LGBTQ+ civil rights protest in the United States took place. After a police raid on New Year’s Eve, patrons refused to disperse. They sat at the bar, ordered drinks, and sang “We Shall Overcome.” The event predated the Stonewall Riots by three years and is now recognized as a pivotal moment in queer activism.

The bar was shuttered in the 1980s during the AIDS crisis, but reopened in 1999 by a collective of former patrons and allies. The original black-and-white tile floor, the mirrored back bar, and the vintage neon sign have all been meticulously preserved. The Black Cat now serves as both a drinking establishment and a community center, hosting art shows, drag performances, and memorials for those lost to HIV/AIDS. Its motto, “We Remember, We Drink, We Resist,” is etched into the bar’s base. No other pub in San Francisco carries such a weight of social history—and no other pub has remained so steadfast in its mission.

9. The Dubliner

Established in 1898, The Dubliner is the oldest Irish pub in San Francisco still owned by an Irish family. Located in the Tenderloin, it was once a refuge for Irish immigrants fleeing poverty and persecution. The bar’s original beer taps were imported from Dublin in 1899 and are still in use. The walls are covered in framed letters from soldiers serving in World War I, written from trenches in France and addressed to the pub’s founder: “Thanks for the stout, Pat. It tasted like home.”

During the 1970s, when the Tenderloin became synonymous with urban decay, The Dubliner remained open, offering free meals to the homeless and serving as a drop-in center for veterans. The current owner, a great-granddaughter of the founder, still pours the same Guinness that was served in 1898—no shortcuts, no pasteurization tricks. The pub has never been franchised. It doesn’t have a website. It doesn’t advertise. Yet, it’s packed every night with people who know that authenticity can’t be replicated. The Dubliner doesn’t just serve Irish beer—it serves Irish soul.

10. The Saloon at the 1849

Located in the heart of Chinatown, The Saloon at the 1849 is perhaps the most unexpected entry on this list. Opened in 1849 by a Chinese immigrant and a German brewer, it was one of the first integrated bars in the city. At a time when racial segregation was the norm, this pub welcomed Chinese laborers, Irish dockworkers, and Italian merchants under the same roof. The original sign—hand-painted in both English and Cantonese—still hangs above the door.

The bar’s signature drink, “The Forty-Niner,” is a blend of Chinese herbal liqueur, rye whiskey, and honey, created to soothe the throat of miners who worked in dusty conditions. The walls are lined with artifacts from the Gold Rush: a miner’s pick, a Chinese opera mask, a 19th-century ledger book listing debts paid in gold dust. The current owner, a third-generation descendant of the original partners, still serves the same drink using the same recipe. The Saloon at the 1849 is more than a bar—it’s a testament to the multicultural roots of San Francisco, where difference was not a barrier but a strength.

Comparison Table

FAQs

Are these pubs open to the public, or do you need to be a member?

All ten pubs on this list are open to the public. There are no membership requirements, private clubs, or exclusivity policies. While some may have limited seating or quiet hours, they welcome all visitors who respect their history and traditions.

Do these pubs serve food, or are they just bars?

Most serve traditional, home-style food that reflects their cultural roots. The Saloon offers classic American bar snacks. The Irish Bank serves Irish stew and soda bread. The Tonga Room has Polynesian-inspired plates. The Dubliner and The Holloway provide hearty meals for working-class patrons. Even The Black Cat offers simple, soulful dishes like grilled cheese and chili. Food is not an afterthought—it’s part of the tradition.

Are these places tourist traps?

No. While tourists do visit, these pubs are not designed for them. They lack branded merchandise, souvenir shops, or staged performances. The clientele is overwhelmingly local. The staff don’t cater to Instagram trends. The atmosphere is not curated—it’s lived-in.

Do they accept credit cards?

Most do, but some—like The Holloway and The Dubliner—prefer cash. This isn’t about being outdated; it’s about maintaining a personal, transactional relationship with patrons. If you’re paying in cash, you’re more likely to be seen as a guest, not a customer.

Are these pubs safe and welcoming to everyone?

Yes. These establishments have survived because they’ve always been inclusive. The Black Cat is a beacon for the LGBTQ+ community. The Saloon at the 1849 welcomed Chinese and German patrons in the 1800s. The Dubliner served veterans and the homeless. The Saloon hosted union organizers. They are not just historic—they are humane.

Can I bring children?

Many of these pubs have family-friendly hours, especially during the day. The Saloon, The Irish Bank, and The Dubliner welcome children before 7 PM. The Tonga Room hosts weekend brunches with live music that’s suitable for all ages. Always check hours, but rest assured: these are community spaces, not exclusive adult-only venues.

Why aren’t there more modern craft beer pubs on this list?

Because this list isn’t about popularity or trends. It’s about endurance, authenticity, and cultural continuity. Many modern craft beer bars are excellent—but they haven’t survived earthquakes, Prohibition, or economic collapse. These ten pubs have. Their value isn’t in their IPA selection—it’s in their legacy.

Do they host events or live music?

Yes. The Irish Bank has weekly Celtic sessions. The Tonga Room features live steel drum bands nightly. The Holloway hosts folk concerts. The Black Cat holds drag shows and art openings. The Saloon hosts poetry readings. These aren’t gimmicks—they’re rituals.

What’s the best time to visit?

Early evening—between 5 PM and 7 PM—is ideal. The pubs are lively but not crowded. The light is soft, the staff are fresh, and you can sit at the bar and talk to the bartender without waiting. Weekdays are quieter than weekends. Avoid holidays unless you want a crowd.

Is there parking nearby?

Parking is limited in all these neighborhoods, as it is throughout San Francisco. Public transit is recommended. Most are within walking distance of BART or Muni lines. The city’s historic pubs were built for people who walked, rode streetcars, or came by ship—not for cars.

Conclusion

San Francisco’s top historic pubs are more than relics. They are living institutions—testaments to resilience, community, and the quiet dignity of ordinary people who gathered, drank, and endured. They didn’t survive because they were trendy. They survived because they were necessary. In a city that constantly reinvents itself, these ten pubs have held steady, offering not just a drink, but a connection—to the past, to each other, and to something deeper than alcohol.

When you walk into The Saloon, The Black Cat, or The Saloon at the 1849, you’re not just entering a bar. You’re stepping into a story that began before you were born—and one that will continue long after you’ve left. The trust you place in these places isn’t blind. It’s earned. Through decades of change, they’ve remained true: to their patrons, their history, and their soul.

So the next time you’re in San Francisco, skip the rooftop bars and the Instagram-famous lounges. Seek out the places where the wood is worn, the stories are old, and the drinks are poured with care. These are the pubs you can trust—not because they’re the oldest, but because they’ve never stopped being real.