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Categories: Dive Bars, Social Clubs
Neighborhoods: Civic Center/Tenderloin, Nob HillMon-Tue. 3:30 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Wed-Sun. 9:30 a.m. - 2:00 a.m.
"I am a lucky lady- I've been to many bars throughout several states. I've been from fancy-shmancy to full-on-dive, favoring the latter to…" read more »
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I've been visiting Ha-Ra, and Carl, for the better part of 10 years. A few years ago, Carl told me that he was "on Yelp". I looked up Ha-Ra and there were a couple of reviews. Now I'm blown away that Carl has generated so many reviews!
So what's my $.02 Ha-Ra? I love it! It's a piece of realistic, non-touristy, social history in wildly popular, ever trendy, and over priced Bay Area. Every time I'm in S.F. I make it a point to come by Ha-Ra for a few drinks, which is more often than you would think for somebody who doesn't even live in California. Carl makes this place, without question. But Ha-Ra does have an interesting history in itself. Started by Harry and Ralph. Ask Carl to show you the bullet hole in the ceiling for starters :)
Now if you're looking for a Hanger 1 Martini, or a Mojito, or some other fancy drink, this place isn't for you. If you're looking for a hipster/trendy bar, look elsewhere. If you want a live DJ and a dance floor, keep looking. If you're offended easy by a dirty joke and a sarcastic sense of humor, PLEASE DON'T GO THERE!
However, if you want a decent selection of beer, past your typical Bud/Miller selection, for a reasonable price then this is your place. If you're up for a few drinks with patrons that are real people, who aren't trying to pretend to be something they're not, pull up a bar stool. If you want a shot of whiskey, or tequila, with your beer you've come to the right place. If you enjoy conversation with a colorful bartender, who's got a history as interesting as the bar itself, this is your bar.
Some people call this a dive bar. I call it a real bar.
I guess I'm just not as amused by filthy bars and alcoholic bartenders as much as other people. I kind of like drinking out of, you know, clean glasses and stuff like that. That being said, Carl is somewhat amusing. He's got a lot of stories to tell and it's funny how beaten down by life he seems even when it's only like 7PM.
I wish Ha-Ra Club and Carl the best but I don't think I'd ever choose to come here when there's so many other great bars to go to.
Aaaaaah, the Ha Ra. Why don't you just change your name to Ca Ra in honor of the man, the myth, the legend - Carl?
In an age where young, hip bartenders are muddling their way to cult celebrity status around San Francisco, it leaves little room for the old school, curmudgeony types like our boy Carl at the 'Ra. He's a straight shooter who isn't afraid to tell you to "fuck off" if you're acting like an asshole and he'll always steer you in the right direction when it comes to your drink order. If he doesn't like it, he'll tell you, "it's crap!" If he approves, chances are he'll crack open a beer of his own and stop what he's doing to tell you some dirty jokes. Without him, I don't think there would even be a reason to visit.
Don't expect a fancy library of malt whiskeys, fine scotch or trendy vodkas... head in expecting to drink well cocktails and Miller High Life (served in champagne glasses, on request). Carl will probably get pissed off about having to wash those glasses afterward, so expect to be the recipient of a few four letter words before he actually breaks out the stemware. It's all part of the fun, though.
Carl says to me "I got my Viagra mixed up w/my Ex-Lax. I don't know if I'm coming or going."
If I wasn't already married...
Carl loves me for some reason. He insists that he's seen "pictures of me on the internet." I didn't ask him to explain.
One night I sat right next to Exene Cervenka before X played (a killer show) at GAMH. I was too fangirl meeped out to talk to her.
God help you if you play Johnny Cash on that jukebox.
Dive bar does not cover the description of this place. It's more of a cannonball! Upon entering we were greeted by the funniest bartender I have encountered in my drinking career. He says to our crew, "You guys better be drinking Budwiser's or shots because the taps are all dead." After hearing this myself and the three other chaps I was with kinda glanced at each other with the same thought in our mind "Do we really want to do this?" I'm so glad we did!
We sat and our bartender extraordinaire (Carl) was able to extend the drink menu and rustled up some Miller High Life's from the back for our drinking pleasure. Of course we had to request the appropriate glassware for the 'champagne of beers'. Even though Carl made sure to call us several derogatory names, sure enough he obliged the odd request.
About an hour after what was supposed to be a one and done beer visit, all three of us were now the only patrons left in the bar 2 shots and 2 'champagnes' each deeper.
Why you ask? Carl! He's like my cranky old grandfather only way funnier. He told us dirty jokes, ripped on each and every one of us, and swigged shots of Cuervo every 10 minutes. Even when we decided to leave and go next door he closed up the bar early to have a beer with us there. I don't even remember the name of the next place we went because the Ha-Ra was that good.
Beware of what your getting yourself into. If you want clean glasses, a working restroom, and an attractive crowd the Ha-Ra probably isn't for you. If you want inexpensive booze and entertainment in the form of San Francisco's crankiest bartender (he was really voted this by a magazine) Carl will take good care of you.
We stumbled in here on the tail end of a night spent teetering back and forth with old and new friends alike, and you know what? Fairly appropriate as night-enders go. It's a thin reed of a bar, a small shotgun dominated on one side by the bar itself, and the host behind it, who on this occasion met us with this greeting: "I hope you like Budweiser, 'cause the taps are dead." He was awesome.
Once he explained that he wasn't, in fact, kidding, we took him up on taking on a High Life (he had a few stashed) and immediately razzed Carl about his distinction as the crankiest bartender in San Francisco. I could see how that might be true, but if your mileage may vary, he couldn't have been cooler when we popped in. Of course the fact that many of us (including Carl) were about three quarters in the bag and were encouraging of his litany of jokes no doubt helped us fit in a little. Regardless, in a pinch? I'd pop back any day.
The ultimate in dive.
Carl (aforementioned crotchety bartender) is a personal hero. Last time I came here with two gentlemen friends after blowing half a paycheck on one round of drinks at Bourbon & Branch (which don't get me wrong, I also love) the place was dead, so Carl gave me money to pick 10 songs on the jukebox, then proceeded to reel off a list of songs I was not allowed to choose. I wish I could remember more to warn you against, but after a few rounds of cheap whiskey all I've got for sure is NO BOB DYLAN.
A Tenderloin institution not to be missed.
Carl the bartender was voted by the Guardian as the crankiest bartender in all of SF for '09. His quote in response to this honor? "Fuck off."
Add in some dark colors, pitch-black corners, a bathroom that hasn't functioned in at least 6 months, a listing in book of SF dive bars, cheap cold beer, mis-labeled taps, a juke full of jazz and classic standards, a pool table, a liquor selection that's as dusty as the bartenders, and a hefty side of sharp, sarcastic wit, and you have yourself a winner.
This place has been bringin' the dive since 1947, and I don't see it stopping any time soon.
One day a magical little gnome said come to my magical little place......he spoke and I listened.
This magical place was full of unicorns, leprechauns and jackalopes. I was catapulted back between today, yesterday and tomorrow.
Is it clean? Absolutely not. Is it dirty? Eh, not especially. I would compare it to your favorite pair of shoes you just can't part with. They have been worn, they have walked these streets down and back again. They have traveled miles but they are comfy as heck and you'll be damned if you throw them out. They are not replaceable!
Ha-Ra is that place. It's been around a long time. The photos are nostalgic, the bartender reminds you that they aren't there just to make you a cocktail, they are the bar. Carl is the bar! This place is seriously old school. You don't walk in and order some fancy drink, you come in to chill out on a bar stool, listen to some Jazz and put some hair on your chest. Last time I was there they had a Noir book night. Noir!! What's even more SF than the institution that is the Ha-Ra, Film F'ing Noir!
This magical place called and I answered....
$4.50 beers with a nice selection: PBR, Stella, Prohibition, etc.... Ha-Ra.
Pool table with lots of elbow room... Ha-Ra
Chill bartender dude who I pattern my wardrobe after... Ha-Ra
Perfect for happy hour... Ha-Ra
Holla!
The greatest bar in SF, hands down.
Carl is god of bartenders, but unfortunately, few (save for that %$#@! at the Owl) are made in his image. If you don't like it, stay away. Don't bring 20 people here at 1:34am expecting a friggin' red carpet.
I end all nights out in SF at this place, and not just because it's stumbling distance from the crash pad. There is a new-fangled computer jukey with all the bells, whistles, AND lights, sure to be the bane of Carl's shift until he takes a bat to it. Speaking of music, if you hear Journey emanating from the bar as you walk by, keep walking. It means that Carl is in front of the bar, dancing with a "lady", and you will NOT get served. This is an easy rule of thumb, so don't bitch when you go in at 9:30, and he says the bar is closed, while he soft-shoes a little too close to the mirror. Pictures of the club in it's heyday, and former Champs from the Bay adorn the walls, the drinks are stiff and cheap, and Carl is better than TeeVee anyday. The Men's room is almost always locked/broken, but due to the low ratio of female to male in the bar, you can always just use the always unoccupied Ladies' room. That's all the secrets I'll give out. Go down and see if YOU can handle the Carl.
Highly recommended.
Carl, keep being you.
I don't understand how anybody could have a bad time in this place. Ok, maybe I can. If you have a bad attitude, or think you're cooler than thou, Carl will put you in your place, and you'll leave with your tail between your legs, and/or a bad attitude about the Ha-Ra.
I always thought it sounded like an Asian joint, but Ha-Ra stands for Hank and Ralph, the two guys who started the place. I like that it's still in the family, and that it's really the same way it was years ago.
It was noon on a Sunday when we ventured in here (scandalous and sacrilegous, yes, but hey, that's us). We ordered our usual--beer with a shot of fernet, and although they don't actually carry fernet, Carl gave me a shot from his own personal stash. Such customer service.
He also bought six songs on the (amazing) jukebox for me, and he called me "adorable."
It was a little hard for us to leave, but there are many dives in this city. And only so many hours in a Sunday. But this will be a stop on our adventures, for sure.
True story: I once went to Ha-Ra sat down and ordered a Boont, Carl went to the Boont tap and poured it for me, I paid, started drinking it and realised it was an Anchor Steam? Next I ordered a Prohibition, Carl went to the Prohibition tap and poured but it was far too light for Prohibition... because it was an Anchor Steam! A moment later my wife came over and ordered a Liberty which also ended up being an Anchor Steam.
Story #2: I once fixed the men's room for Carl and drank for free all night.
I wish I still lived in the Tenderloin.
hysterical!
brilliant!
no mas
CARL.
Yes. Yes. YES!
I had to shower immediately after leaving this bar.
CARL.
Dark and Divey. I like this kind of place. I liked it so much, it spawned a whole tour of TL bars. Only saw Carl for a second as it was his day off, he was just dropping something off. Within the short time, he was able to pop off a couple of rude comments.
I would not go with a large crowd. It is more of a place where you go when you don't what to run into people you know. Go with a friend or two, drink up, have fun.
This wonderful experience:
Saturday 4p
This isn't a bar you're supposed to like. It doesn't like you, probably, because you're probably a douche. Sorry, but it's true, you're probably corny and self-obsessed and the Ha-Ra will light you up for that.
But if you can chill in a dive bar with some dignity, appreciate the old days when your bartender was your friend and not your slave, you like a dirty joke and a simple drink, you might get along. Helps if you know detective novels, '50s TV, and ask first before playing the jukebox or a game of pool.
This is my bar and Carl's a friend. Because I am not a douchebag. If you are, go to hemlock - Carl is not kidding when he tells you to go to the Hemlock. Or slide next door to Whiskey's.
This is not a spot for pretense. If you're not bringing any in, stop by. Put your hat on straight and use your inside voice. And tell your girl to flirt with Carl.
And it's not the '20s, dude, it opened in '47.
Hoorah for the Ha-Ra. This is some classy shit right here.
My friend Nat and I celebrated our birthdays here last week, as we figured we could probably have the place to ourselves. We started by coaxing the proprietor, Carl with some birthday cupcakes and easing some quarters into the jazzy grimy jukebox, and things quickly descended into confused debauchery. Carl bestowed each of us birthday girls with warm shots of Cuervo as the bar sang us a discordant round of "happy birthday."
Noteworthy moments that I faintly remember:
-the other birthday girl took her first shot, then ran to the bathroom to immediately puke up half of her decadent steak dinner. It should be mentioned that she felt much better after her regurgitation, and had more room for alcohol.
-Carl turned the music down to announce to everyone there that the guy who just sat at the corner of the bar was a slimy rat bastard who owed him $80, then promptly shuffled out from behind the bar to throw him out.
-I ordered a vodka and soda and was given an MGD (the High Life!). My friend, Connor, seated next to me received half an MGD. Carl had already drunk half. Connor knocked it back all the same.
-Uh, cupcakes.
-When a dozen young people walked in looking for some sort of scene, Carl told them that he only had Corona and besides, they weren't welcome there and might as well leave.
-Carl graciously thanking my purty little lady friend and I for having our birthday celebration there. He did seem honored. And drunk. This was before he started stripping, which caused Connor to spray MGD out his nose.
-He kicked us all out at midnight all the same.
So now Nat is 21, and has a decade of confusion and self discovery and bad sex and good sex and college and student loan repayment ahead of her. I just turned 29, and am able to appreciate how young I still am but am grateful that, unlike when I was 21, I'm not broke, I'm not dating losers, my bra fits, and I have a very good sense of who I am. And, no offense Carl, one thing I am NOT is a High Life kind of girl.
But if it's free I'll still drink it.
_____________
Relatively irrelevant edit that I still felt the need to post (thanks SheRat):
Originally introduced as "Miller High Life Genuine Draft", the "High Life" part of the name was soon dropped. MGD is actually made from the same recipe as Miller High Life, with a different treatment. (Wikipedia)
things i love about this place include:
1. Carl the bartender. he gave me books to read when i was broke and is perfectly grumpy when i want to hide inside this bar and listen to hank williams or the kinks. he is a legend! just don't play johnny cash on the jukebox and you just might get along with him alright. and he most likely won't remember your name. get over it.
2. i mentioned the jukebox. it is perfect.
3. quiet pool table. never a line.
4. old black and white boxing photos on the wall.
5. listening to stories from the old men and the tired after work crowd at the bar. quiet, friendly people.
things i don't like:
1. always out of Jim Beam
2. dirty bathrooms
BUT! this bar is wonderful and its good qualities far outweigh the bad. it's definitely the kind of place you go to unwind. if you are high energy and loud, in search of a boisterous stupidly drunk crowd this is probably not the best place for you. it is the dive bar for the person who sees the dirty romance in calmly drinking at a bar and being served by a sassy seasoned bartender.
First stop pearl burgers at 9:30. 2nd stop HaRa to come hang out with carl and eat the burgers.
Love it.
Now pass the fries dildo breath!
know this at ha ra or die.
1. there is no mens room. the womens room is unisex. The mens room has…
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The night I went to Ha-Ra was epic. Epic in the sense that I got so drunk I don't really remember much of it. But what I do remember is the surly, drunk bartender who started off friendly but when we started asking for drinks that he couldn't make, got a bit out of hand.
Us - We want to have a shot, what can you?
Him - Anything
Us - Sambuca?
Him - No.
Us - Chambord?
Him - Nope, don't have that.
Us - Fernet?
Him - No.
This went on for several rounds and the more we asked that he didn't have, the surlier he became. I distinctly remember him stating, "C'mon ladies, I don't have all day". As we looked around the bar, we failed to see anyone actually waiting for a drink. Finally we asked, what do you have? His response, what you see. We ended up with shots of Jameson. After our shot he started yelling at people to get the hell out (it was 11:30 pm) and that the bar was closing.
While I was amused by the bartender I doubt I'll go back again...but fair dos for people who enjoy it for it's small choice and small crowd!
When I've gone there by myself or with a male friend the bartender was a total ass. We played stuff on the jukebox that he didn't like and he unplugged the jukebox and wouldn't give our money back. That sucked.
On the other hand, sometimes I go there with a group of people for a literary meeting, and when we do that he's nice to us, probably because he likes one of the females in our group.
One good point about the place is that it is almost never crowded. Honestly, I don't know how they stay in business.
Carl does not take cards, nor does he take any lip. He says he's been at the Ha Ra since '92. It's quite possible that he means 1892, but nevertheless, he's a funny, old codger who will make your stay memorable (to say the least).
This is an OG Dive Bar. It's actually written up in The Best Dive Bars of San Francisco with 9/10 dive stars. It's been there since 1942, and I'm thinking it probably hasn't changed much. There's not much goin' on in this place, but a wacky old man, a juke, a pool table, and some crazy CRAZY regulars.
The Ha Ra is to SF what the Smoke Shop is to Seattle. Real Deal Dive.
If you're good to Carl, he might pour you a watered down shot or two..
Top shelf 'Montezuma Gold', of course!
You guys hype Carl up too much. I went in expecting to be harassed, abused, and insulted. I got nothing but a nice attitude and good conversation. My friends and I went across the street bought food, and brought it back to eat at Ha Ra. We ordered some rounds, played whatever we wanted on the juke box, and played some pool with no complaints. We even ordered a round of Irish Car Bombs, which they made to our liking, with no quarrels.
I think this is a great local bar, where you can go and just relax and have a drink. No nonsense, just the way I like it.
Pirate Pub Crawl bar #6
The barkeep so didn't even care that we were pirates. And didn't offer Irish Car Bombs. But did have Guiness. And somehow we blended into the crowd. That's saying a lot, considering I had an enormous hat and parrot on at the time.
I needed help finding some place to drink; Drue came to the rescue and provided me a list of great places close to where I was staying. I decided on one that she said was on Geary and Van Ness (can't remember the name now) but when I saw the Ha-Ra on my way there I knew I had to get off the bus and go in and check it out, she did speak highly of it after all.
I walk in and there are two drunks at the bar, the bartender, a nice looking pool table and myself, I think this is going to be interesting. I belly up to the bar and the bartender shuffles over to me and takes my order, "one tall Stoli tonic please" "that will be $4.50" score cheap drinks! A minute later my drink is delivered, a nice stiff stoli tonic just the way I like 'em.
The bartender comes over and I ask about the boxing memorabilia on the wall and he explains the story to me. Ralph, the Ra of the Ha-Ra, was a professional boxer before going off to the war when he came back he realized he was 'too long in the face' to box any more and decided to open up a bar with his brother(?) Hank, the Ha of the Ha-Ra. It was a great story and I was informed that the bar is now own by one of their sons, it's nice to see a bar like this stay in the family. I really love places that have that old school charm to them and the Ha-Ra clearly had that.
The bartender asked where I was from what I was doing there and I explain I'm visiting from Seattle checking out the dive bars in the Tenderloin, he gives me some suggestions and hands over a copy of San Francisco's Best Dive Bars book to check out. I soon realize this isn't Carl that I read about in the yelp reviews so I ask him 'are you Carl' he laughs and says 'no he's the pleasant one Jerry' so while I didn't get berated by Carl I did get a cocktail poured by one of San Francisco's original bartenders so that was cool.
I finish my drink and decide to head out, I thank Jerry and ask a little bit more about the places he suggested, both allowed smoking which is a no go for me so he threw out a couple more ideas and I was on my way...
Five stars for being among the best of what it is - a genuine SF dive bar and an enduring institution. For those that confuse dive and non-dive bars, keep in mind that this is the kind of place where the bathrooms probably don't work, the bartender will serve you when he damn well pleases, and any drink with more than two ingredients will be sneered at and probably denied. You can order your fancy bullshit drinks down the street at Swig or the Ambassador.
This place generates a usually pleasant but inconsistent crowd. Most nights you'll be served by Carl (see any other review) and some nights it will be Jerry, the slower-paced day guy. There is occasionally another fill-in bartender - you'll know her when you see her. They have a great juke box, a serviceable pool table and they'll play your sports if they can get the channel.
I have a lot of "friends" who won't come to this bar because of the haphazard bar service, limited drink selection and overall scuzzy atmosphere. But it is those deficiencies that maintain the Ha Ra's reputation as one of the least pretentious bars in San Francisco. You don't come to this bar to pick up women, impress your date, or to increase your ridiculous hipster street cred. You come to this bar to drink and relax.
I love the Ha-Ra. Every time I've ever been here, I've felt like I have the place practically to myself. No one's ever playing pool, and sometimes there are a bunch of regulars talking to the bartender, but other than that it's pretty quiet and a great dive.
There are seemingly about 10 taps, only about 4 at any given time are hooked up. The bartender is always drunk and grumbly, but he'll give me a couple bucks and ask me to play something good on the jukebox.
The jukebox, by the way, is great! If you were my friend visiting me from out of town, and you wanted to sit down and shoot the shit in a great dive, I'd take you here, no questions asked.
Carl: Yes or no?
Me: What am I saying yes or no to?
Carl: JUST ANSWER YES OR NO
Me: Yes then
(Carl then pours himself another beer)
This place is the ultimate dive bar with a true character serving the drinks. I went in here one night with some friends to get a few beers and it was deserted on a week night, although Carl the bartender was clearly bent on getting drunk and having a good time regardless. We were limited to Prohibition Ale (fine with me) because "the others are no good tonight unless you like piss". He kept giving my female friend money for the jukebox, and then would berate her choices at the top of his lungs. He kept pouring beers and "forgetting" who they were for, so he would pass them on to us. This place is awesome, if you can catch Carl on a night when it's not busy you will definitely get a few stories out of it.
Have you met the elderly, psychotic owner/operator of this hole? I think I'm in love. He will yell at you, he will call you names for picking what he considers to be "crap" on the jukebox, he'll lock a bathroom or two just for the hell of it. He likes to threaten patrons that he'll close the bar early and drink prices are arbitrarily assigned at his discretion, and vary from person to person. He actually charged Matthew R $11 for a well drink on Friday night. That's ok. We can be just as underhanded and sneaky as Old Guy can be. We also have the advantage of good mental health.
This place rocks and I don't care what anyone says. It smells, it's all run down, and Old Man behind the bar just might really go off the deep end one day and take us all out with the gun I imagine he has stowed behind the bar. Until that day comes, you can count on me being back. A little piece of backhills insanity right smack in the middle of San Francisco.
Lady Pestlebottom and I came here for one brief round on Saturday night, and were treated to compliments and free shots from the infamous Carl. He delivered on everything I had expected - berating juke-box selections (and rightfully so), insulting patrons, and attempting to procure Lady Pestlebottom's telephone number.
The drinkery itself seems to have been recently re-decorated, with fresh red paint and some new-fangled lighting fixtures which detracted from the dive-bar atmosphere. But I did enjoy the old-timey boxing photographs and the painted-on bricks.
Carl told us that we were "the only people who make sense around here." Then he poured three shots of tequila and drank with us. Though I'm strictly a whisky man, I know better than to refuse a free drink from Carl.
There were several hipsters in the place, much to Carl's chagrin. He rolled his eyes and drank shot after shot trying to ease his pain. There were worse things yet to come, however - a group of about a dozen fools dressed as pirates invaded, and we thought poor Carl would blow his top. I feel somewhat guilty for having left at that point, but the pirates were too much for Lady Pestlebottom and I too.
And to the pirate below I say: Carl implored somebody to end his life as a result of the pirate invasion. In jest, of course... I think. And I did not say he "offered" Irish Car Bombs, I said some douchebag asked for them, a request which was met with Carl's usual disdain.
Ha-Ra is great if you like bars that are empty except for a guy who's talking to himself while playing one of those computerized poker machines and a bartender who thinks it's a pain to refill your drink, especially since a shot of whisky with a beer is like, so complicated. I know that long sentence sounds condescending but I actually like Ha-Ra for that reason. It's sorta awesome but also sorta weird that more than half of the liquor bottles are empty and/or covered in dust. You will probably be unable to get a complex drink here (but if you're at Ha-Ra you don't want that anyway).
I'm also into the location because a lot of times "friends from college" or something will call me up and be like "OMG come party on Polk street with us!!!!" and then I do but I get bored or anxious so I take off and find Ha-Ra and drink by myself and stare at the cool photos of "the good ol' days" that adorn the wall.
And hey, hey, hey! They have a pool table (I suck at pool).
Let's see... what else? You can grab a stool at the bar or you and your friends can grab a table. The table setup is cool because it's just a cluster of tables, so you can easily move them around if your party of 4 becomes a party of 12.
Oh and also: the jukebox is on point.
This is the only bar in the world where people intentionally come to get harrased and put down by an old codger. Nowhere else will you every willing let yourself be called "dildo-breath" each and everytime you order a drink. Dive bar supreme! Drinks are cheap, but limited to what Carl will make for you. And, P.S. don't you even dare play any Johnny Cash unless you want to get thrown out.
In truth, Carl has a fluffy teddy bear side, that come out a bit, but for the most part, be prepared for some of the funniest insults, most racist jokes, and be prepared to feel the full flavor of Carl's anti-semitism/hate of New Yorkers. I am not even Jewish nor from new York, but boy oh boy was he laying it on me.
Gotta love this place, the only problem is that is all this bar has going for it. You can get your drunk on cheaper at other places, but no place like this will give you the sheer entertainment factor from being verbally abused.
Two gin & tonics on the cheap on an empty stomach, two dollars and twelve songs on the jukebox, and a tight pool table, and I'm a happy little monkey.
This place is really a pugilist's paradise from a bygone era. The boxing motif is not overwhelming, however. It feels more like it's part of the bar than tacked on like a theme restaurant. I love the jukebox! Normally, I'm a punk / country jukebox kind of guy, and my heart melts a little for some quality hip-hop, goth, or industrial, but this jukebox has soul, and scads of it! Very little "modern" music, just excellent selections from decades ago.
I do regret that I didn't get the Carl experience, though. Will have to come back.
our friends from sf took us to this local, hole-in-the-wall dive bar. they raved about it during our walk to the spot, going on and on about the infamous bartender (carl, i presume), whom we missed that night cause apparently he got really drunk the night before (one friend was there to witness it all) and wasn't able to tend that evening.
so, we had a substitute bartender that night who was really friendly. i asked for a white russian which she didn't know how to make, but quickly looked it up and made the drink for me. it cost $4, and tasted pretty good, so no complaints there. their drinks are about $4-5 each, which is awesome. they were having a slow night when we went though and were out of most taps, (they only had about 4 to choose from), but it doesn't seem like that happens often and none of us were bothered by it.
the place was pretty empty when we first entered; plenty of room at the bar or individual tables. there was a pool table too, and a great jukebox. according to our friend, he's inspected every jukebox in tons of bars up and down sf, and deems that this is it. for $1, you can play 5 songs. they have a great range, from "mafia hits" to the rolling stones to johnny cash.
within the hour, the place filled up pretty quickly. people were sitting at the tables cause the bar was occupied (we sat at the bar, of course), and some guys started playing pool. ladies were milling around the jukebox and danced and sang to the songs.
i'm disappointed that i didn't get to experience the notorious carl, so it will be on my to-do list when i go back up! apparently, he gets drunker than most guests and is known to chuck money at customers, give your drink to someone else (and tells you about it), and asks the girl you brought with you if she fucks on the first date. probably not for the faint of heart, but great if you want to up the interestingness of your night.
What a great little dive. It's close to a bunch of bars and great pizza. Tons of room to carouse around. I found money in my purse this morning so I assume the drinks weren't very expensive.
I'm totally crushin' on Ha-Ra.
It's dark, it's smelly, it's cheap, and one day, I could very well be...home.
When I'm wrinkled and old, in about 4 more years, I will live at this bar. Sit and order nothing but Stella, tell long-winded stories about "the good old days" to no one in particular, and hobble outside to smoke the occasional Virginia Slim Menthol. After hacking my tired lungs out, I would return to my bar stool, pop a laxative, and mutter something funny to myself. HAHAAHa!
I hope Carl the bartender will still be working at the Ha-Ra when I move in.
I want to marry him.
A dark red bunker for the drink on Geary Street. Do you enjoy being served the drink by a crusty old man wearing the cap he bought at Jersey Boys? Walk then, like a crusty old man, fast as you can, into the Ha-Ra.
[[SF/X; Frank Sinatra. My fickle friend. The Summer Wind]]
There isn't a tacky fake boobie beer poster to be seen here. No horrible sports memorabilia, no NASCAR crap, just framed b&w pics of old boxers with spitcurls. A windowless hole with a Formica bar top. A cheap cabinet holds spindled Sidney Sheldon and Danielle Steele paperbacks. Did I mention that this place was a dark hole? It is. And the lighting is shitty. Only 3/4 of a restroom worked.
I FUCKING LOVE THIS PLACE!!!
The bartender said filthy words! He had a very gravelly voice! Ha-Ra is awesome! And---and---Stella AND Newcastle---and---whoo...spazzing out here...anyhow, he seemed to know that the crowd was going to change and for the worse! He yelled something like "How does everyone feel about becoming disenchanted with The Ha-Ra?!?" and not two minutes later a pile of about eight Marina creeps oozed in off the street! Is he part of some Douchebag Early Warning Network? Was he a magical crusty precognitive? How DID he know?
I went to a good five more bars the first night I found myself in the Ha-Ra and it was mostly downhill from there. Did I mention that I was very, very drunk? I think I was.
What a nice smelly bar. Me and a drinking buddy I just met, possibly a Yelper based on his alcohol tolerance and cynical nature, guzzled at this joint and gave the old bartender a laugh or twelve. I asked Mr. Surly if he was that guy they talked about in the Yelp reviews and before I could finish my question, he yelped "No".
I bought him a drink and we three toasted to good 50's movies and the Band. I don't remember leaving, which is a sure sign of enjoyment, and lost my new drinking buddy. I caught up with him at another joint but the magic we had at the Ha-Ra was gone.
The nuts and bolts of a Tavern; I enjoyed myself and I think you will too.
Neighborhood: Civic Center/Tenderloin
Category: Dive Bars
Neighborhood: Civic Center/Tenderloin
Category: Bars
Neighborhood: Civic Center/Tenderloin
Category: Bars
Neighborhood: Russian Hill
Category: Dive Bars
Neighborhood: Civic Center/Tenderloin
Category: Bars
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