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2Lips
Rating Details »
- Hours:
Mon-Sat. 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Sun. 2:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.
- Parking:
- Street
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Music:
- Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Thu, Fri, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
17 reviews for 2Lips
Holy crap. After walking about a mile out of our way from the SF Opera House in search of a drink we finally found this place. Actually we walked past it the night before but didn't give it a look. When we were in need of a strong drink we walked down Gough turned right on Market and were about to give up. Right before the BART station we remembered the scene from the night before: Dark, Bar Stools, regulars, and drinks. We had to go in this time.
We had 2 strong drinks and each and were very pleased. The bartender was attentive. The regulars were friendly and big mix of the social cosim of today. (I don't know what they really means, but it sounded good). They do have a juke box and the music was a good mix. I guess they have an upstairs, but we needed drinks too badly to venture up there.
I will definitly go back and this may be my mandatory stop before getting on BART at the Civic Center Station. In fact I recommend that you stop here before heading anywhere.
If ever a bar had an indiscernible quality, it's 2Lips. It's kind of indiscernible as a bar from the street too - be careful of you may walk right past its angular entrance. You get a transient vibe from the place. No one really meant to come into this bar, it just sort of... happened. You were walking down Market on your way somewhere else or you had 20 minutes 'til the next Van Ness bus arrived.
With that said, there are definitely regulars, usually gruff, older men who probably were regulars when the bar first opened... some 30 years ago and under a different name.
If you're open to it, conversation with the regulars and transients will happen. Often slurred with intoxication. You'll come to sweeping conclusions on life and solve global crises together... and then go home forgetting it all happened. I've had some really odd, interesting conversations here.
If there's one thing this bar is good at, it's hooking you in for a couple more drinks than you had planned. Not through any duplicitous means; much like how you ended up here in the first place, it just sort of... happens. And you've had a good time all the while - even if you watch the BoSox lose in the 14th inning on one of the two TVs.
My 4-stars is generous and completely personal. This bar could easily be a 2-star for certain types of people. The bartenders are not mixologists (it's more a beer & a shot place) and the transient vibe could turn off some. You are not going to meet Mr. or Miss Right here. I'd say it's pricier than it should be, but the atmosphere is worth it, I guess.
Here's my suggestion. If you're socially open and you find yourself in the general area of 2Lips one night, stop in. Tell yourself you'll only have one drink and then bounce. That's the draw - it's a 1-drink stop. Once you've gone, let me know how many drinks you *actually* ended up having. ;)
Too lazy to fit this into the narrative of the review. They have a decent rock juke box, but seem to frequently play music off a personal iPod, I think. The iPod thing fits into the bar's theme of no theme - as if you and your buddies decided that the living room of your house was going to be a public house.
If you guys have read any of my other reviews, then you know that I'm not a dive bar fan... so take everything I say with that filter in your head.
This place is all about expectations. 2Lips reminds me of Cheers: you walk in there and it's filled with regulars who know everyone else. Every single time I've been there, it's the same people. There's something extremely comforting about that.
The bartenders are friendly and they pour good drinks. Not the best drinks on the planet, but for the price, they're superb. There's more than enough liquor in the drinks, so feel free to go here one night and get trashed for cheap.
There's a pool table upstairs and a Ms. Pacman machine. Nothing more needs to be said about the awesomeness that is Ms. Pacman. That alone earns this place a star.
And there's a juke box. Love the juke box.
Go here for Karaoke night or go here just to go some place comfortable with a very eclectic assortment of people. This is a solid joint with a good group of people and a good batch of bartenders.
I had heard poor word of mouth recollections of this place, but was pleasantly surprised to be shown a really great bar that doesn't fill to brimming, serves good drinks, has surprisingly nice pool table and cues, and has a fully working Ms Pac Man upstairs.
I would return without hesitation.
Me likey, me likey! I've only been once and it was on my very first visit to San Francisco. I can't remember the price range of the drinks because I was already sh*t-faced upon arrival. I do remember that a DJ was spinning some cool beats (not that hippity-hop noise that these kids listen to nowadays).
I finally figured out how the new owner picked out the name. It's an interesting name to choose...for anything. Anyone I've ever told since they changed hands is like "WTF kind of name is that?".
It is because the place SUCKS!
I was a Judi's regular for many years...I know, now I'm just showing off...but it is good to see some of the other regulars still occasionally perched in their familiar spots at the bar.
They know who they are, and they know who I am. Too bad the new staff could give 2 shits (hmmm...a better name, maybe?) about even considering retaining my business. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has gotten this vibe.
On the subject of new staff...don't bring people in to a "new" business without training. Having a nice ass, decent rack, flat stomach, cute face, or anything else that could normally keep me entertained for hours is not acceptible if they are incompetent in keeping my liver excited.
Did she really ask me how to make that? There are 2 ingredients...one is a form of whiskey and one is a form of cola, both of which I ordered by name.
It is great seeing you guys from the "old" bar...if it weren't for being able to catch up with you in a semi-pseudo Judi's environment, I would have to say I am never going in there again.
Even if the times I have come in are few and far between.
Here's the breakdown:
1 star because Yelp gives everyone an equal opportunity to try not to suck as bad as 2Lips can.
I really want to give the star to the old regulars...but then they may continue to go.
**UPDATE 9/26**
They now have my favorite beer!! TIGER BEER!!! If I can give em a 6th star i would but I can't!
I love this place-it's so cozy and just chill. It's located on the out end of Market before you hit Van Ness-so it's pretty safe. It's so cute inside and I love the lounge chairs. I've met Monique (bartender) and the owner Matt-both who were sooooooooo nice and friendly. The drinks and beers are moderately priced but service is great. I'm coming back here for sure. It's definitely a friendly neighborhood bar and I will bring my friends back for sure!
This place is scary if you're a girl. I went with a couple coworkers and the old men at the bar kept wanting to buy the girl's drinks. It was cool at first, but then they started lurking around us...c r e e p y...for them.
I thought it was okay, just a very DIFFERENT atmosphere. The crowd in here is also sort of ehch.
Used to be called Judi's Place.. which was a small town bar where everyone knew everyone and you can count on seeing the same people there anytime you went. Good drinks and a good crowd.
Now it has been turned into a Lounge... Glad they decided to keep some of the old bartenders especially Gary and Tim.. best bartenders you'll find anywhere. They sure make some good drinks, good conversation and make you feel like your business is appreciated. Glad to see they added a DJ on the weekends.. Will differently keep going back... This is a great place to catch a game, hit up before a club, meet friends and even make a night of it...etc....
Sort of like a tiny Sutter Station on the other end of Market. A clean and friendly dive bar. If you don't like dive bars, you won't like this place. If you like to stop in for a quick, cheap drink before jumping on the bus, you'll like this place. Lots of regulars, mixed crowd of locals, small, clean, friendly.
I work downtown and live in the lower haight, so I pass this bar on the daily. I was interested in the randomness of its location. It's right next to the eye sore Fox Plaza on a stretch of Market street not worth mentioning. It has a local feel to it with an upstairs pool table and a Pac Man arcade machine. Only proplem... this bar puts those training wheel pour spouts on top of every bottle of liquor. Now I don't mind paying San Francisco prices for my booze, I'm a part time bartender, but my dream of this being my little gem, my whole in the wall regular bump and a hug before I go home... crushed by the hands of stingy owner, who hasn't the foresight to see that training wheel pour spouts are the end all of every local drunk that might call this bar home. They did have Sparks though....
5 stars goes to Monique, my favorite bartender in San Francisco. She is attentive (but not overly so where she is hovering or a nuisance, pleasant and is blessed with an amazing memory!
Nicely remolded bar with a pool table... Hot bar tenders and get host... Get place to throw a party... I would hang out at this place anytime... It is a happening place for people who want to chill, happy hour, friends get together... parking is great... a lot of parking!!!
Convenient location. Much love to Matt for the parties. Nice try on the digs.
It was by my therapist's. The Warriors were often playing before my appointments. It was nice to be there and we all made friends and missed counseling as the warriors went on to do real well!
This place is a dive. No, not faux-dive trendy, but just a dive. I am generally frightened when I am here. Why do I return, you ask? Because during football season, they broadcast the games and it's basically empty, so I can watch my Lions embarrass themselves in privacy. I can't comment on the drinks because I am afraid of their cleanliness, but the bottled water is pretty good.
the bartendress was really nice but the atmosphere is kind of a drag and $9 for two beers? i guess i thought i was closer to the tenderloin than i really was. i stopped here on the way from transfer to dinner at tu lan. i probably wont stop here again. too pricey and not a very great atmosphere.
