Blackthorn Tavern
834 Irving St
(between 10th Ave & 9th Ave)
San Francisco, CA 94122 (415) 564-6627
- Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Music: DJ, Live, Juke Box
- Best Nights: Mon, Wed, Sat
- Happy Hour: Yes
- Alcohol: Full Bar
- Smoking: Outdoor Area/Patio Only
- Coat Check: No
13 reviews
Neighborhood: Union Square
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49 Reviews for Blackthorn Tavern
Great place and great drinks. Bobby, Gavin, Maureen, Robbie and the entire staff are awesome! Every time i'm in SF I have to drop by.
This place is cool.
They have a nice little patio in the back.
They have karaoke (at least on Tuesdays) with EXCELLENT selection and background music. The KJ is a nice guy who hooks up the new singers, oocasionally at the expense of folks who've been waiting an hour for their second song.
The bartenders are fast and friendly. Good beers on tap that are quite inexpensive.
The first time I walked by this place I saw a guy sock another guy in the jaw. The sock-ee laughed and they laughed it off. I came back tonight and the spirit was still there.
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I am more "pub" then "club" and this place is perfect. Great place to meet up with friends - they have a few tv's with different things on them, karoke, trivia, live music and lots of room to chill. To be honest, after going there last night, I wondered why I had not been there more.
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I give it a 3.5 for our time there last Saturday night. The place was fine and company was even better!
Highlights:
- A bit away from the main 9th and Irving area so it wasn't too crowded even on a Saturday night which was nice cause we wanted to catch up with some friends we were meeting there.
- Small patio outside complete with a set of black picnic tables and icicle lights. :-) Perfect quite place to chill and talk with our friends.
- Spacious inside: lots of room--big open area in the middle, tables on the side, long bar on the other side, and space for the band at the end of the room
- Good selection of stoli vodka flavors: I'm a very top shelf vodka girl but I like when I see stoli and van gogh flavors. ;-) Blueberry stoli and soda is yummy!
- Points for having live bands come in and play
Lowlights (my flip side to highlights):
- The band was super duper loud--would be way too loud if we were inside but we were sheltered from it outside on the patio.
- My friend got a bad olive in her dirty martini :-o
Not like a place I'd have to go back to but I wouldn't shun it if friends wanted to meet up there again. If I return I have to see if they have blackthorn cider--I like that a lot and it is the name of the bar. ;-)
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I had a really great time at this bar the other night with some friends. Its a big space with a large darts area in the back which is also used for extra seating...I personally prefer darts. The bar is a wonky shape but allows for tons of sitting/standing space and allows you to look across to other people sitting at the bar which is nice. There are tons of TV's so I assume it is a great place to come watch the game of your choice as well.
There is a patio, they have Smithwicks and Guinness on tap, and when we went there was a band playing at the front of the bar who rocked the place out...on a Wednesday...good times. Cute girls, TV's, beer, darts, and live music...who could ask for anything more?
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I've been drinking at the Blackthorn for years and have seen it go through quite a few transitions with different owners and bartenders. What has always stayed the same is groups of Irish guys drinking PROPERLY POURED Guinness. The place is a great neighborhood bar and its the perfect place to have a spontaneous drunken evening. Extra points for Darla's down the block who will deliver your burgers to the Blackthorn if you order for take out. The live music is also a good time, definitely recommend Rusty Evans who looks and sounds just like Johnny Cash. If there's no live music, you're in store for lots of U2 and Van Morrison.
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I give it 4 stars not necessarily because of the bar itself (which is OK) but because they have trivia nights and that's a lot of fun. It feels like a pretty laid back neighborhood bar. They have the obligatory pool table in the back and a fairly open floorplan that gets you from the front to the back of the house pretty easily. The bar isn't all that long but that's OK. It's nice to step off the N and into a warm bar and just chill out.
Times visited: 3
Stopped in with a friend for a Guinness and to check out The Smoke Daddies. Typical Irish bar with a good selection of beer on draft including Guinness (obviously), Murphys, Newcastle etc. Ordered a Guinness and the bartender puts the shamrock in the top which I have never seen (even in Boston!). One of the best Guinness I have ever had and The Smoke Daddies where awesome. Atmosphere was a mix of blue collar and neighborhood folks stopping in for a quick drink.
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My boy Jason L hit it on the head. The shamrock in the Guinness is just the touch that puts Blackthorn a cut above a lot of places. The quiz on Monday nights is a lot of fun. There is just the right balance between a competitive spirit and playful banter. I Often have to sneak in and try take the best small team prize by cobbling some friends together, but it's always a good time. Props to Thomas the shamrock man, and Stan the Quiz maestro. He runs one of the top Brainstormer's I've been too.
********update*********
They now have Leinenkugel beer on tap. It's one of the specials during the Monday quiz. $3 pints....nice
I love the Blackthorn Tavern for many reasons. It is an unusually large space with plenty to do. This is a great place for a small or large party of any sort. There is a space for a DJ, band, dance floor, pool table, darts, and an outdoor open back patio area with tables and benches for the smokers. They have bands blaring out live music on Sundays!
Great place in the Inner Sunset to grab a drink or stay for the evening.
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This place should be called Sybils. Or McSybils. Or O'Sybils.
It is another in a long line of Irish bars that dominate the Sunset area, but it has such a split personality that I can't really tell what it is.
Yes, there have been times I have entered this establishment to be greeted by a bunch of rowdy young Irish lads ready to throw down over a bowl of Lucky Charms......okay, fine, over a game of darts and a pint of Guinness but whatever!
This is also the bar where my ex boy toy used to meet his overly paranoid dealer for "business transactions" many years back. Paranoia + crowded public drinking establishment = one shady dude who might just share that same split personality.
I have seen this place on a mellow day when the patio out back was full of jovial college kids cutting class and drinking and chain smoking under the sheer enjoyment of realizing for the first time that a. they could do so without detention and b. that this city really does sell fake IDs that actually work.
I have been in here when the hardcore drinkers were out and the Irish lads were no match for them should they get in the way of another stiff drink.
I have seen hippies, trivia night addicts, drunks, busy nights, slow night and everything in between. I have had good nights and bad nights and nights that should never be spoken of again. I have had good service and bad service, strong drinks and weak ones.
What I have never had is a sense of what to expect when I walk in the front door and saunter up to the long bar before finding a seat at one of the tables opposite (you have to be crazy to battle the old timers and Irish for a seat AT the bar).
Sybil might like this but, after many interesting encounters, I will stick to a bar with one personality.
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Thomas is an awesome bartender!
Generous pours... mondays are pub quiz at 8pm.
Cool dark plenty of cubby nook seating for chillin with friends.
They have the best guiness pour, in my opinion.
He makes a clover indentation in the head of the beer.
makes me feel special. Darts and Pool! local take out is cool to bring in.. irving has tons of great fooderies...
Oh yeah, STAN the Master of quizzery, is the man!
Great daytime barkeep that was an Irish chap... very happy, talkative, and kind. Bought us a couple rounds... and gave us barbecue. Played some pool, watched some TV. Great real neighbourhood bar.... awesome place to go and hang out, or just sit and sulk on a grey day.
I started going here bcause my friend Jordan plays keys in a band that is awesome fun.... I have a lot of friends that go, and wednesday nights are a real treat and fun night to come home from my gig... walk in there and know that I will be welcomed to a place called home.
Less a star cause, yeah.. it's a real dive. No trying... they could refinish the floors, sure. Whatever.
this place is mediocre at best...
you can always get a seat because no one really comes here
they have cider
and thats about it........
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I am still unsure why Sunset only has Irish Pubs - do people think you have to give the excuse of being Irish to feel ok about drinking during the day or in excess? I wish there were less of them around here, not to knock the Irish but just for some variety.
Anyway.
Blackthorn.
Definitely authentic Irish considering everyone in there had an accent and by 5pm everyone was already "shit faced" and in fact the surley part-owner of the pub almost got into a fight with another "friend" of his at the bar. They tussled a bit and then made up and hugged - in true Irish fashion - all with out spilling a drop of the $3 tall tulips of Pilsner Urquell they offer.
Will I go back there? No.
Will I end up there some night? Probably.
I just dont see much of a difference in these pubs. Till I find one I will be mostly drinking at home or travelling outside of the fog belt for my spirits and brew.
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Blackthorn Tavern. It's made of wood, good pool table, patio out back. I'm pretty sure that every time I'm there, I'm the only "yank" in the place, which is a mixture of good and bad feelings.
Good place to grab a drink at lunch, or while other people are at work, or going to school.
Useta love this place. If you want a joint to just pound beers and smoke pot in the back this is your place. Apparently plenty of winter sports there as well. Good rowdy fun with occasional great evenings when the music is jumping, like when Culann's Hounds is playing and the folks are doing Irish country dance. Stay away if you can't handle a good time much like Sunday pub afternoons in a bad part of London, where they talk with funny accents.
A side note: The pub quiz is totally irrelevant and should be banned - it's just for med school wankers with zero personality coming from Nonesuchtown, Nowherestate. You people should stay home and sip wine coolers and play board games or something. You fill me with inertia.
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I use to come here for Wednesday night pubtrivia. The drinks are CHEAP and Natalie is the best bartender. The jukebox is filled with U2 and other UK groups. The trivia is your basic general round, music and then the picture round. The crowd is an interesting blend of Irish men who drink a whole lot and UCSF doctors/med students.
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I guess this place recently tried to convert to a sports bar. I think they're doing a pretty good job, tons of tvs placed strategically, good beers, not too crowded. And FREE BBQ. When we went in they were placing free cut up sausages on the bar as one would peanuts or pretzels. Free meat! Four stars!
Pub Quiz is every Monday night at Blackthorn Tavern - no skills required, I'm a pop cultural moron and I still have a good time. You can win free drinks (up to $50 worth) and they do have great beers on tap: Boddingtons, Harp, Bass, Guinness and discounted Miller/Pilsner Urquell (as it should be). You're SOL if you're drinking something other than beer.
Alas, under new management Natalie has disappeared, the new PubQuiz DJ just doesn't rock (bring back Mark!) but the place is a bit cleaner and at least you don't stick to the seats anymore.
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I usually get a bass ale it just so happens I always seem to get there at the right time "Happy Hour" the pint was 2.50 which is a very good price as you bass ale aphites know. The only time I have been in there when there were more than a couple people was a Sunday afternoon they had food and it was fairly lively music and some sort of dancing. I never eat the"FREE" food at bars horrible past experiences preclude me from doing so. I always get a woman bartender and she is always sweet and European. A perfect place to have a quiet pint in the early evening
Ah yes, the Irish bar in the Sunset were you can go to watch hippies spin dance. HIGH FIVE!
So, we've never been there before, and it was my birthday, so why not? We open the door and get slapped in the face with patchouli stank, pot smoke, and some pretty decent jazz.
We push our way through the pale spinning granolas to take refuge in the completely empty area around the pool table. Sweet. Time for drinking! I just tried a completely new thing for me... a SF Black and Tan. Guinness and Pear Cider, sounds weird, but it was tasty and sweet! Like Guinness dessert. They also pour a decent REAL black and tan, once you can flag down a bartender.
The bartenders seemed nonexistent, and the bar wasn't that busy. So it took forever for each round.
Then the inexplicable happened....
"We can't make a Surfer on Acid, because we don't have Jaeger."
WTF?! WTF?!
We finished that round and left, after having to push through rows of the spinning granolas and their patchouli essence.
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I'm sorry to see the poor ratings as I think this is a fun little dive bar that offers a lot of things to do - pool, darts, dance to bands, smoke in the back patio, drink in the front bar. It is never too packed but always a decent size crowd. It is a good spot to go in the Inner Sunset for a pint after sushi at Goemon or Koo or walk in the park.
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After catching a performance of the BOAs at the Eureka Theater, we drove down to the Sunset to meet up with a bunch of my sweetie's friends at a local bar.
We found miraculous parking, which was amazing, since my friend Rolf and I usually have to make several trips around the block before procuring a decent spot. And we walked down to the bar, after directions. For the amount of time I've spent here and down at the canvas, one would think I had known this place to exist.
Wrong.
It was hidden, with a nondescript sign. And the sad thing, is that I've walked past this establishment many times, since a friend lives down the street.
Upon entrance, the waves of "divebar"esque characteristics oozed into my work attire and skin. I had come straight from work and straight to the Eureka theater, so I may have been a little formal for this place, a bunch of locals in jeans and less attitude. Dark, with a bar on the right side and the left stacked with bar tables and stools.
Everyone else was having beers, but I've never been one for that bitter yellow stuff.
"A midori," I shouted over the din to the bartender.
"What?" She shouted back, "Oh, wait, we don't have that. What else do you want, honey?"
I ended up with an over-sweet appletini ($6), which my sweetie likened to NyQuil. Blech. But after several long draws from the green tinted glass, I was feeling a little flirtatious and then it became time to play pool.
The cool thing about this dive bar, was the pool table, set in the middle of a large open area and directly across from the restrooms, which may prove smart, since beer seemingly runs through faster than water. There is a small backroom, which I avoided, since I felt there were more teeny boppers present than the 30-something crowd I was with.
We left, happy with the warm conversations with good people and $6 shorter in cash, since the bar won't ring up your tab on plastic unless you have a minimum of $10. Good to know.
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What a fucking kip. Going back here tonight for the first time in months I remember immediately why I like to pass it by. Shite service and an awful atmosphere. A rubbish sound system cranked up that little bit too loud for any comfortable attempt at conversation.
I waited 25 minutes to be served while drunken regulars got their shouts in around me. It's all well and good to put those hard months and years in becoming a regular where everyone knows your name, but seriously they should just put a sign up saying "if we don't know your name don't bother trying to order".
Pubs like this give "Irish bars" a bad name across this country. I'd rather go to a local dive filled with bums and alcoholic Vietnam vets and a jukebox full of Lee Greenwood, where at least there's a smile from the bartender and prompt delivery of a bottle of High Life.
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Stop #1 on last night's Sunset Pub Crawl.
A pretty ordinary pub/dive in every sense. Lots of Irish accents to be heard, and plenty of wall decorations to remind you its Irish (like the posters of every movie ever set in Ireland). Pool and darts in the back, though what's with the pool table being in front of the dart board? That just seems like a useless and/or dangerous setup.
Place was quite packed at 10 on a Saturday, and they had a live band which opened up with Velvet Underground (nice!). Other than that, though, definitely the least interesting bar of the evening. They used to have pub quiz here but not anymore...too bad, could've gotten a bonus star for that.
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Worst and most awkward time I've ever had at a bar, EVER.
Went there last night by myself. It was fairly crowded but it seemed to be a whole bunch of people from the same crowd. I tried to stick it out, but after about 20 minutes of being hassled by one of the patrons i decided to leave. as i was leaving, a nice guy started to try to talk me out of leaving, and i was just like, great where were the past 30 minutes.
it was very gross. my drink sucked. people were cliquey and those that did talk to me only insulted me the whole evening and seemed to be strangely vested in making me feel like shit for no reason. oh and some girl and her man were practically screwing each other at the bar the whole time. real cute.
Thank god i stopped by Fireside on the way back. Much friendlier, laid back crowd, and they don't try to scare away the new kid in town!
I'm willing to give this place another chance but NOT EVER GOING HERE ALONE ever again. christ!
My favorite bar in the city. Worth taking the N Judah to get there.
I can't really pin point the exact reason why I love this bar so damn much but I do. Been going there for about 5 years now and each and every time I go, I run into some crazy ass shit!
The bartenders could care less about you, big boobs, no boobs, you are a boob, they don't care.
The outside area is filled with yummy looking people, on most nights.
And the live music has never failed me. Ever. The night that Johnny Cash died, a cover band played all his greatest hits. What a night!
I suggest dinner at Park Chow and then drinking all night at the Black Thorn.
This bar holds special memories for me because on a fateful night almost seven years ago, I met my hubby here. We did body shots of Patron and he almost got into a fight with some guys that were blocking the dart board. Ah, old fashioned romance at its finest...
We've been back several times and whether it's a sunny Sunday afternoon with a live Irish band or a packed Saturday night with the 'set kids, it's always a good time. Plus, it will always be "our" bar.
Well, it's a Sunset Irish bar, which is its own animal. In that context, it's probably my favorite Sunset Irish bar. Good beer selection, the people tend to be friendly, and the back patio is a nice touch, especially when it gets too crowded inside.
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I live in the neighborhood and heard that the Blackthorn is under new ownership. I stopped in last Sunday and it was very busy, and had a great crowd of people. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves and the live music was a great alternative for a Sunday afternoon. The 4 bar tenders were very attentive and the drinks were reasonably priced. Live music, great atmosphere, friendly bar staff and customers what more could you want in the neighborhood. Looks like it will be a great happy hour spot (near the N) and a great choice for live music on the weekends. Folks, it looks like the Blackthorn is making a come back. I highly recommend trying it again.
Just saw this review & had to pony in on it.
The Blackthorn has two specific crowds, the Irish including Irish - American patrons(the curse), those of you who might recognize them as the drucken hoard, but really whats an Irish Pub with out drunk Irish peeps?
Then theres the local American patrons, who like me generally come in on Monday, Wednesdays & Saturdays.
I would be one of them, but have no doubt I am 100% IRISH born & raised, but like many peeps I do not like 21 to 25 drunk Irish guys(generally), sitting or staggering beside me.
I do not personally know all of the bartenders, Monday night Natteli, Wed Night Thomas, Saturday Night Thomas & Ursula.
All very proficient Bar Tenders, I know all three can make a appletini as my girlfriend drinks nothing but them.
Yes I miss the Quiz but I heard it costs $300 to host it that can be steep if its a slow night.
Favorite night to visit is Wed Night, I'm a huge Funky Blues & Jazz fan & my favorite bartender is working, for those of you who have problems getting your drink the way you like it I dare you to challenge Thomas, you can tell he has experience behind the bar & you won't find any drunk idiots on his shifts, he doesn't stand for them.
Besides after 11pm the place is hoping with folks actually dancing to the tunes.
Saturday night Ursula & Thomas work together, the bands are usually good & service from both impeccable.
I'd like to add, This is an Irish bar, Cocktails as such are not the biggest sellers, Beer, Wine, whiskey etc are the staple diet here, but if you go in during the day or the nights I mentioned you can go wrong.
Top Marks in my humble opinion.
Much better right after they open than at night. Once this place fills up, forget about it. Of course, that's really more the neighborhood's fault than the bar's, but oh well. Nice vibe and super nice bartenders, however.
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Edit: My favorite bartender is not even there any longer, so chance of getting a good BM here might be even smaller than before. Owell - at least know they don't use a mix.
As a general bar, Blackthorn isn't very special at all. The main reason I am writing this review is to include my review of the bloody mary's the bar tender Natalie makes. It was a tradition of some friends of mine to frequent the Blackthorn for Monday night quiz. Sadly, it is now canceled because the owner of the Blackthorn doesn't seem as if it's worth it. Well, now Monday's will be as dead as every other night. Sad!!!
On to my review of Natalie's Boody-
*****Bloody Mary Review********
I would say, Natalie makes one of the top 5 bloody mary's in the city. She get the perfect amount of Worcestershire sauce to really give it a good sweat taste, without being too overpowering. Every time I go, I crave getting one from her. However, keep in mind, as with every bar - the difference in bar tenders can make the quality of a bloody be night and day. I have also had AWFUL bloody mary's from others that serve drinks at the Blackthorn.
Read some of my other Bloody Mary reviews at:
http://www.yelp.com/li...
Sure, this place in close to me, but the service here is horrible. The bartenders seem more eager to serve their already too drunk to be served friends than those waiting five minutes for a pint. If you're a single girl out on her own, avoid this place, as it's usually full of fully drunk guys looking for some action. They did upgrade the TV's here recently, but I'd rather pick up a six pack and watch the Giants at home the haunt this place.
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This place on a Friday night was pretty packed. Packed with a crowd that had an Irish tint to it and the Irish band playing was amazing, full of energy, and didn't play once, but after a beer break, a second time they rocked the crowd.
Be sure to grab a cute Irish girl and have her show you how to romp around the dance floor in a gleeful but almost about to fall on your face after two black and tans kinda way. Make sure to have them make your black and tan with Boddington's ... it's also on tap.
Monday's are Quiz night, loads of fun because sometimes I actually get smarter when drunk. Or is it I just think I'm smarter?
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UPDATED REVIEW PLEASE READ: Since my original review the Blackthorn is under new ownership, and believe me it's a big improvement. The bar looks great, renovated and with a revived outdoor area for sunny summer days, and the staff here are friendly and fun. They often have barbecues on weekends and overall, this place is well worth hanging out on a lazy weekend day or happy hour. Most of the reviews here are pre-new ownership, so go check it out for yourself, and I guarantee you won't be dissapointed!
Cute bartender and boddingtons on tap... do you need more.
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Dark, and the bar is big. Patio out back for smokers and on weekends bands may play. I especially enjoy the Johnny Cash tribute band every now and again. This is a great place if you want to enjoy the real pub atmosphere, with plenty of Single Malt Scotch selections.
Almost 4 stars. I agree with some of the other reviews about the great music on Sundays and yes, sometimes it has a barebones college bar feel to it. All ages hang out in here and it's a decent place. Knocks on the bar: short staffed for bands--one bar tender was nervously pouring for 70 people. And they only have two darts, but hey, you can still play.
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