9 Best Nightlife in The Waterfront, San Francisco

At the end of the Hyde Street cable-car line, the Buena Vista packs 'em in for its famous Irish coffee—which, according to owners, was the first served stateside (in 1952). The place oozes nostalgia with its white-jacketed bartenders and timeless atmosphere, drawing devoted locals as well as out-of-towners relaxing after a day of sightseeing. It's narrow and can get crowded, but this spot is a sip of history and provides a fine alternative to the overpriced tourist joints nearby.

The epicenter for downtown festivities on St. Patrick's Day, this family-owned Irish saloon (closed Sunday) is an attitude-free place for the well-tailored-suit set to have an after-work drink the rest of the year. The restaurant serves American fare, with the occasional Irish special, and has a good selection of imported beers. Another local favorite, the Royal Exchange, is next door and eerily similar.

For a city with so much waterfront mileage, it's shocking how few waterfront bars San Francisco has. This very welcoming, somewhat retro, kind of divey bar almost directly underneath the Bay Bridge is the perfect place for a local IPA or a margarita on the patio on a sunny day. 

On a sunny day, is there anything better than sipping wine and eating oysters? Only if it's here, on a waterside patio, with the looming Bay Bridge and the Oakland and Berkeley hills as a backdrop. The oysters are from Marin County, and many of the wines are from Sonoma and Napa.

Giving the Tonga Room a run for its money as the most kitschy tiki bar in town, Pagan Idol features a secret back room complete with erupting volcano, giant tikis, and a starry night sky. The folks from Bourbon & Branch are behind this faux pirate ship, so even if the cocktails are served in goofy tiki glasses with paper umbrellas, rest assured they're on the money.

A launch pad for the likes of Robin Williams and Ellen DeGeneres, this medium-sized club books some of the nation's top comedy talents.

An after-work FiDi crowd fills this brick-walled and dimly lit, speakeasy-ish drinking spot, revered for its extensive whiskey menu and curated list of seasonal cocktails.

This cozy wine bar is in a little alley (in the shadow of the Transamerica Pyramid), and the location is part of the appeal, but the wines (with an emphasis on flights) and small plates make it truly worthwhile. A jumble of velvet chairs and love seats fills the space, and the bocce court outside is popular.

With a striking, almost elegant interior, this is a prime happy hour spot in the afternoon, then a citywide cocktail destination afterward. You can't go wrong with any of the cocktails, but the bar has a particular affinity for sherry.