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Hole In the Wall Saloon
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 12 pm - 2 am
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Music:
- Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
50 reviews for Hole In the Wall Saloon
Review Highlights
"Bartenders were very friendly."
(in 9 reviews)
"The pool table is also brand new and, I must say, a..."
(in 6 reviews)
"AND we drank them under a giant glowing penis."
(in 3 reviews)
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50 reviews in English
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Review from Tara L.
11/27/2011
You remember that little game where everyone yells "penis" to see who has the biggest balls (pardon) to yell the word the loudest?
Well, that game manifested into a bar. Welcome to the penis jungle.
After dinner, the crew was up for a quick drink elsewhere before heading back to the hotel. Now where would one turn to when in need of a suggestion of somewhere to go, within certain geographical and financial constraints? Well, Yelp of course.
While the rest of the block was a bit dead on a week night, we moved forward, past the reefer scented doorway. What we experienced next was definitely moving. And memorable.
Sure, many boast about having a large penis. But, Hole In The Wall has one of the biggest penises I have ever seen. And it was green! It was as if the Jolly Green Giant got snipped and mounted, all for the glory of the bar.
Why, hello there.
A quick look around lead to the discovery of more penises. (I wish the plural of penis was peni, don't you?!) Penis, penis everywhere. Penises with faces, penises exploding, penises on bears that prevent forest fires...you name it!
I know a great drinking game that we could have played. I spy the penis. That would have been great fun.
So, maybe we didn't quite fit in here. (I was without my leather chaps.) But, no one in there cared. Sure, maybe we cared that they may have cared...but they didn't.
We made sure to get a quick drink and a round of shots was every bit worth the $21 dollars shelled out for five of them. Say woooord!
If you like peni (it's my review so I can make up words) you may want to give Hole In The Wall a poke. Think of it as a penis museum if you will - you must approach it with great respect.
Oh, and make sure to tip your bartender. I would hate for the big green penis hanging above to get mad at you.Listed in: My Golden Guide to San…
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Review from Joe S.
San Francisco, CA
12/9/2011
I liked the old location better the roughed up floor the dripping candle on the bar the MEN only in the bar made it a GAY MAN's bar....now its a clean sterile version of its former self, the street art posters are behind plexi glass, the floor is some fake crap, no dripping candle wax, and CHICKS with TARGET shopping bags are what you will find in this place ...its NOT the GAY MEN's bar it once was.
Stay home to get yourself drunk rather than see straight drunk chicks in this place since the straight boys they want will NOT touch the chicks that come into this place. -
Review from Kristin M.
Washington, DC
11/8/2011 3 photos
I believe in rating businesses on how successfully they pull off whatever it is they're purporting to be. Expensive, frou-frou places better have some damn good frou-frou food and someone refilling my water glass after every sip. Dive bars need only have cheap prices, legit character, and something interesting on tap.
Hole In The Wall, as far as I can tell, is successfully pulling off being the gayest gay bar that ever gayed. Hence the 5 stars.
From the giant, green, blacklit penis hanging over the bar to the walls covered - every inch - with phallic imagery to the poster of Smokey The Bear ejaculating by the bathrooms, this is a place that is clear about who its target demographic is. Now, obviously that's not the entire gay contingent - this black-painted, light-string lit, dark and divey joint isn't for everybody, but it definitely has a distinct personality. And I love how fully that's embraced. REALLY fully. Just ask Smokey.
Now, I and the group I was with (other Yelp Community Managers - yep, Yelp led us here...oh, the importance of labeling businesses properly...I went ahead updated "bar" to "gay bar") stuck out like sore vaginas, not just because we were primarily girls, but also because we were dressed for going out. The dress code at Hole In The Wall was more grungy jeans, t-shirts, some no shirts, etc. However, despite us CLEARLY being more spectators than participants, no one gave us the stink-eye or seemed to care - which I really appreciated, and which I wouldn't have blamed them for.
Everyone was just having a chill, relaxed time playing pool and hanging out, and left us to ourselves to bask in our poorly concealed ignorant amazement. The bartender was friendly, too, and our kamikazes were huge, strong and $21 for the 5 of them (insert joke). AND we drank them under a giant glowing penis. Like I said, 5 stars. -
Review from jim b.
Somerville, MA
1/26/2012
Probably my favorite gay bar in San Fran. I didn't have the pleasure of visiting the old location, so I can't compare. Nice and dark, with lots of personality. My only gripe was that while it was a nice place to be a good chunk of the time, there were several nights where I trekked all the way over there and found lots of straight ladies hanging out with their gay bois in it. Totally crushed the vibe, unfortunately. Lots of straight ladies (seemingly) reviewing it on Yelp too. I don't get it and don't care for it. I couldn't imagine setting foot in a lesbian bar, it just isn't respectful.
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Review from Rybone X.
San Francisco, CA
1/22/2012
This place make you fill like your at lacast ....
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Review from Sam A.
Santa Fe, NM
10/27/2011
My new favorite bar in SOMA. Great drinks and atmosphere (that might scare some people off, but I loved it). The artwork on the walls was entertaining. They have pinball!!! Bartenders were very friendly.
I'll be back. Don't ever change! And I like the new location. -
Review from Helen L.
10/6/2011
I remember when this place was located on the 9th Street (where Wicked Grounds is now). My first time there, I sat in the back where I was greeted by a wall of Polaroid penises. It's hard to forget these things.
I like this location. It feels bigger, though not by much. I've only ever been here with co-workers for happy hour or in the day during an event, so I don't know how it gets when the freaks come out at night. I do know they make yummy Bloody Marys from scratch...or at least they did when on 9th Street. The bartenders and bar-goers have always been friendly and welcoming, even though I'm, well, female. I've always had a good time here! -
Review from Clint S.
Chicago, IL
11/16/2011
Not sure why this place is rated so well. Patrons were rude, place is dirty and smells, bartendars were just "meh" and the bathrooms were disgusting even though they look like they were just re-done a couple years ago, but re-done cheaply. There is so much crap on the walls and hanging from the ceiling that it just looks and feels like a junk yard and kinda' grossed me out.
Yeah, I know it is SOMA and bars are expected to have an edge to them, but this place just reeked of desperation. -
Review from Luke M.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 7/21/2011
I maintain that this is a great place to drink every once in a while...like when you're crawling the Folsom.
You do need to be in the mood for sleaze though. And you also need a group!
Hole in the Wall was called by a friend from New York "The second scariest gay bar in the world." It lost the top spot to some joint clinging to the underbelly of Amsterdam.
Well done, San Francisco.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/7/2010
A cool bar of friendly folk covered in sweet nick-knackery. Good pool table with enough room to… Read more »
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Review from Doug S.
6/30/2011 2 Check-ins Here
5 stars -- easily.
This SOMA bar caters to the alternative, middle-aged, blue collar working gay man. It's for leather daddies, bears and twinks alike. Welcoming, easy-going atmosphere with patrons and bartenders that harbor no attitude.
The atmosphere is pretty damn awesome. You can spend an hour just looking at all of the lights and pieces d'arts. Check out the dragon that canvasses the entire ceiling of this place -- complete with lighting effects. Pretty dang cool, right?
The music here is one of my favorite things about the Hole in the Wall -- they play lots of the alternative style of music, heavy on the early 80's British punk scene as well as the newer alternative music.
Plus -- when's the last time you sipped your cocktail while sitting in a barber chair? Oh, "never" you say? Well, you can do precisely that here at the Hole in the Wall.
Cigarette smoking is on the front "porch". Smoke your weed out in the street. -
Review from Lauren S.
Stockton, CA
5/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
Had an interesting night with some friends after looking for places in SoMA with no cover or crazy line...so here we were.
This place is pretty dark and the lights and metal make it look really cool...and the pool table seems like it's pretty nice as well. On Saturday night, it appeared I was the only woman in the bar...and well, that's alright sometimes but sucks when you like girls ;) Bartender was kind of an jerk when I was just trying to joke around and talk story.
There's the red light that gets spun around...I still don't quit get it but I'm also pretty sure that I do.
The drinks are really stiff here and pretty affordable as well. So there's that. mmmm vodka vodka vodka cranberry....Listed in: You...I wanna take you to a…
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Review from Éric T.
Long Beach, CA
Can we please talk about the chalkboard walls in the bathroom and the batshit insane light fixture they have hanging off the ceiling? What are they, christmas lights? And is that a bike up there?! They have light fixtures with chains attached to them that the bartenders encourage you to swing while you order a drink at the bar and those electrostatic orbs that you see in those lab-fantasy porn flicks....classy.
I had a blast. I wasn't even trying to be cute and I had two dudes buy me a drink. One of them even shared his stash with me and served as our guide for other bear bars in the area. Granted, the clientele here isn't a s pretty as your Castro bars, but dudes here are fucking REAL. They're not clones or drones or Imperial Guards, but they'll do.
Scope out a good spot in the bar and enjoy the people watching, cuz it'll be a doozy. Also, enjoy this bar because unlike its neighbors, there's no cover charge. Holla!Listed in: I Need A Drink, Dammit!
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Review from Evan M.
11/16/2010
Stumbled in here over the weekend with a group of girls I was with and immediately upon entering I was blown away by terrible B.O. Then saw a bunch of petite men without shirts and knew it was time for me to turn around and head for the door. Definitely wasn't my place to be.
I stayed outside with part of my group as they were unable to stand the stench.
I've been to plenty of gay bars, but this one was easily the worse and the smelliest. -
Review from Dave d.
San Francisco, CA
7/5/2008
Not my scene... Having said that, the staff were all super cool. and that crazy instalation light thing is awesome!! There was also some kind of shirtless, drinking game with a hanging starboard running light that I did not understand at all, but I guess it was a big deal to those in the know.
I am glad that the owners finally got this place open, it is a real victory for SoMa nightlife, regardless of who's scene it is. -
Review from Ramsey D.
San Francisco, CA
8/13/2009
So it all started with a conversation with my Yelp buddy, Jason C. He liked my review of this sweet metal bar in Oakland called Godspeed and I asked him if he knew any cool metal bars in the city. He responded that his favorite was a spot called the Hole in the Wall Saloon and that I should check it out. This review is dedicated to my friend Jason C..... sneaky bastard.
I'll begin by saying that I didn't want to know too much about the place before I went, sort of to create my own experience. I briefly glanced over the Yelp reviews and saw that someone said it's a "gay biker bar," but I thought they meant it in the derogatory way, like how Zeitgeist tries to be a biker bar but the only "bikers" are actually bicyclists. I thought they meant like a pseudo-biker bar, which I could totally dig. Boy was I in for a surprise.
Sure I noticed the rainbow flags outside, but I didn't even think twice about them because it's San Francisco. I saw that it was really, REALLY dark inside-- like the kind of dark your eyes need a minute to adjust to-- and I thought that was awesome. So I walked in with 100% confidence, like I've been there a million times before, and ordered a beer at the bar. I thought to myself that the decor is so cool. $3.75 for the pint, not too shabby. I took my beer and found a seat in a dark corner by the pool table, where I could observe my surroundings because I already felt oddly out of place.
I saw a sign next to where I was sitting advertising a promotion in which shirtless guys get 50 cents off any drink after 8pm on Thursdays. "Oh, that's... kinda metal... I guess." I looked around... "There sure are a lot of guys here."
Then it hit me like a 12-inch cock across my face: This is a gay bar. Not just a gay bar, but a gay biker bar. The flags, the drink mat with the rainbow, the questionable artwork, the name of the bar itself-- I just walked right into the bear's den, all by myself, a lone 'cub'. Me and my baby face defenseless in the dark corner, staring up at the twisted metal dragon with the trippy lights hanging from the ceiling, asking myself, "How could I have known?"
Clearly I'm sending the wrong message, I don't know how obvious it is that I'm actually straight in a crowd like this one, though I was probably half the age of everyone else there. My plan was to keep cool, finish my beer as quickly as possible and go grab a beer somewhere else. I wanted to chug my pint, but for some reason my throat wouldn't open up enough. It felt like a looong beer, though it was sufficient time to admire the atmosphere. This is definitely the sort of bar I'd like to hang out at all the time, just not this one right now because I'm not a fifty-something gay biker.
I finished the beer and moved on, nearly tempted to grab a rainbow condom on my way out the door. Cool scene, I'd definitely recommend it. I don't think I'll ever forget my experience. Thanks, Jason. -
Review from Ryan G.
San Francisco, CA
4/4/2008
Not sure how we ended up at Hole In the Wall, but we had a great time. Bar has character, little bit grim, some attitude, stiff drinks, dark interior and interesting wall ornaments.
After a few to many heavy Belgian beers at City Beer Store's weekly Thursday event, we wandered around the corner to see find our transportation. Not wanting to end the magical Thursday, wanted to continue the weeknight's drinking mayhem. Not like I have to wake up tomorrow and be alert for work on Friday. Wandered in to Hole in the Wall, a bit hesitant since we stuck out like sore thumbs. At least in my mind, since all eyes landed on us and the music stopped when we walked in.
Oh well. Straight to the bar for some drinks! Few conversations, couple games of cheap pool, and a lot more beers completed the night. Did someone grab my ass.... -
Review from SheRat R.
San Francisco, CA
3/20/2007
Women who feel the need to "squat, hover, pee" at this place should either get the hell out of it or use the troth. Or the sink. Or go back to the Marina where they belong. I've been coming here 10+ years and if you lift the seat up when you're through, no dude will bother putting it down to piss all over it. I can tell when another chick's been in the bar cause there's piss on the seat.
I hear my first home away from home in SF is moving, which is sad. 10 years ago this month I was hit over the head with a Budweiser bottle in the back because I kicked some nellie ass and he was none too pleased having been taken out by a small child like me.
John Michael (ex-bouncer, RIP) rode the guy's ass up and out and he never returned.
I love the Hole. This is a place you can go to cry into your beer at 6am on Sunday morning. No one will notice you. -
Review from Mortimer P.
San Francisco, CA
8/14/2008
O Woe is me! The last truly sleazy homosexual bar in San Francisco is now sterile, gleaming, and certainly too large to be called a "hole in the wall." I don't mean to insult the proprietors of the establishment and all the hard work they've obviously put into the new location, but regrettably, this is a place that Mortimer Pestlebottom can no longer truly call home. Without the dark, grimy, gay Dickensian feel, the charming mirrored trough, the ubiquitous old man in the barber chair, cramped quarters and ribald activities encouraged by such an atmosphere, this is not the Hole in the Wall I know.
While it does retain fractions and hints of its previous incarnation, I cannot accept this new high-class tavern in place of my old beloved Hole. I may attend from time to time, as they do have my favorite ale on tap now. But the magic is gone.Listed in: The Places I Go Out
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Review from Matt W.
San Francisco, CA
12/4/2007
Wow, this place is downright dirty. There is a wall of body odor that hits you as soon as you walk in. Everyone seemed friendly though.
I kept wondering if this was some sort of "Cheers" for the unshowered. Like maybe this is where the gay homeless people go over a long day of panhandling and public urination to relax and spend their hard begged for change. -
Review from Ryan J.
San Francisco, CA
1/8/2008
Honestly, I was afraid to go into this place. I would walk by here on the way home from work and there would be these freaky old men leering at me as I strode past. The guys weren't bears exactly, and they didn't look like leather daddies. Instead they were troll-like and...unclassifiable? But the other night I went there for a drink with a coworker and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised.
No, it wasn't filled with a gaggle of hot boys, their shirts off, bodies glistening; the trolls out front having been placed there to keep the secret twink stash intact. But the people were genial, seemed to be having a great time and really looked like they were all friends. The bartender was funny, nice and poured the drinks RIDICULOUSLY strong. And they're cheap too!
I would definitely go back. -
Review from Cade P.
San Francisco, CA
1/26/2009
4 STARS!
Why? Because I think I had a good time... I can never quite remember. And the past couple times, I did not lose my cell phone. Thank God for small miracles.
A place like this will never get 5 Stars. Puhleez.... anyone who seeks out a bar like this doesn't want to see that it gets 5 Stars. So the next best thing is 4. -
Review from Corey F.
Portland, OR
11/21/2008
Mad Max meets Pee Wee's Playhouse interior for sure. The bartenders were friendly and upon discovering it was our first time in the Hole (just doesn't sound right), shots were offered on the house.
Drinks were standard fare, the crowd was a good mix of intergenerational SOMA peeps and the bathrooms were clean. Yes.
Good place to grab a drink and have a conversation if you don't want a late night.
We got Hole's history from the bartender and while it may not be as sleazy as the old place they have done an amazing job putting the place together. The giant light and metal sculpture spanning the ceiling is insane. It prompted me to ask if the owners had been to Burning Man. To which I was told, "Burning Man copied us." I love it. I wish I had known about this place when I lived in SOMA. -
Review from B.dot P.
San Francisco, CA
8/24/2006
Oh man, i seriously LOVE this place. THE epitome of a dive bar. Scandalous antics in every corner, cheap strong drinks, naked people!
As a girl, the bathroom is a little work, squat, hover, pee. But if I miss a little (very drunkenly), the smells in the bar will cover me. Great music, weird things on the TVs and when the bell rings, dial-a-shot baby, dial-a-shot. -
Review from Drew D.
San Francisco, CA
7/26/2010
I can't believe i have lived in San Francisco for 10+ years and somehow never set foot in this bar until Up Your Alley yesterday. I had SUCH a good time here, maybe too good a time. ;-) Cheap drinks, sexy friendly funny bartenders, arousing crowd.
And the icing on the cake is that, in my uber-revelry last night, I forgot my bag with my jacket, orange jumpsuit, handcuffs, phone, and keys. Oops! I had stopped in earlier today and they looked and couldn't find it, but tonight Larry checked again for me and sure enough he found it! And he wouldn't even take my thank-you $ reward; said I should buy some more drinks with it, there or anywhere else. I will definitely go back. -
Review from Randy F.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 6/26/2008 1 photo
Awwww, it's a bouncing-baby-bar. A brand new, tricked-out Hole in the Wall. The owners jumped through many hoops and spent a fortune to get this place open, and I applaud their hard work and efforts to make this place as true to the original Hole in the Wall as they could....sans dirt, dust, cobwebs, scratched up plexiglass over the artwork, homeless folks, and that unmistakeable Hole-in-the-Wall-smell. (Unfortunately, sans some of the artwork that couldn't be moved and the motorcycle above the pool table as well. And...no more giant memorial candlewax mountain. Also missing are the backlit red wolf's eyes.)
Yes indeed, the new Hole looks like...well, the old Hole. Painted black throughout, all the old prints and pictures (including the Polaroid collage of buttholes and penises) are on the wall and brand-new plexi covers all the artwork. The new bar is a gorgeous solid slab of redwood. The pool table is also brand new and, I must say, a pleasure to play on...and the floor is an exquisite work of art laid by my friend Lenny, and is much nicer than the painted plywood floors at the old Hole.
The original Hole had an old piss-trough with a urine-splashed mirror hung above it at penis-viewing level, with only the weak green neon light of the old Heineken sign to light the view, and one toilet, exposed to the urinal area...yes, delightfully disgusting. Women used to post sentinels outside the bathroom entrance so they could hover 3 inches over the sopping wet toilet seat. The new Hole has two sparkling new giant bathrooms. It's a huge leap forward for sanitary reasons.
The new Hole is next door to the Powerhouse. This creates a great circuit for SoMa revelry....Chaps II, The Lone Star, The Powerhouse, The Stud, The Hole in the Wall, and the Eagle, all within an easy walking (stumbling) distance from one another. Hooray for leathermen!
Look around and see what a sparkly-clean, new Hole in the Wall looks like. Drink a beer in homage to the old Hole....the new Hole has several on tap....and remember the good-ol' days at 289 8th Street.Listed in: My Favorite Gay Bars, Excellent Roadhouses
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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6/26/2008
It's difficult to write this update through the tears and the 1,000 pieces of my broken heart...the… Read more »
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Review from D. E.
Emeryville, CA
9/1/2008
Hole was the best bar in the city, hands down. Anyone who found it "rough, unwashed and tweaky" should stay in the Castro and give us a break. Trust, we didn't notice you there, as those who frequented the Hole didn't look at your designer shoes before they grabbed your crotch. And the Hole was welcoming to ANYONE. Yes, they've had to ban me on several occassions. Yes, they allowed me back, only for me to get banned again. That was the fun of the Hole. A gentle "Get out of here before the cops get here. Don't come back for 3 months..." No mean stuff. No ego. No cool factor. Best staff/owners of any bar. Perfect.
I havent been to new spot yet, but will make a point of going soon. I heard it was "still the Hole- just different" Hmmmm.
If you need ego stroking, save your $$$ for the next circuit party. -
Review from Nikke G.
San Francisco, CA
8/26/2008
So it must have been a very very Funday Sunday for me to think that tagging along and dropping by this place was a brilliant idea.
I will say first off this is not my scene, but that's why I *heart* SF . . . there someplace for everyone.
The Scene (I witnessed): grabbing, juggling, pulling of an FTM's nether regions, a spanky scene and some HEAVY petting.
Atmosphere: The ceiling decor and lighting is akin to what the 50%-75% off table looks like at the day after Christmas sale at those Holiday Village stores that sprout up out of nowhere right around Thanksgiving. Not sure if this is a good or bad thing....umm.
Booze: I will say though that the tequila was served properly in a chilled glass. First time that's been offered to me in SF. Kudos to the bartender. -
Review from E.Mo. ..
SOMA, San Francisco, CA
4/18/2006
Kitsche, neon, bound-N-gagged teddy bears, big drinks, and even vintage porn on the tube. What more could you ask for in a dive bar. THE dive bar. It don't get much divier than this.
Never drink without a buddy. -
Review from top b.
Lafayette, CA
2/21/2008
Well, I tell you, this little place is becoming a steady favorite. First of all, anyone is welcome, which makes it pretty cool. Yes, it's a dive, but it's one of cleaner ones - I suppose. I've not smelled anything foul in there at all (have you even been to the Edge??!!)
You can go on a Sunday afternoon and it's a laid back chilled out place with a lot of cool people willing to chat, play pool, or whatever. Or, go on a weekend night, weeknight, or whatever. You can park out front at night...meters are wicked expensive otherwise. There are a handful of bike spots out front. I suggest you park on Folsom between 8th and 9th where there are no meters and it's relatively safe. If you are visiting the city from the burbs or out of town, just remember not to leave ANYTHING openly visible in your vehicle...never hurts tobe careful. The Civic Ctr Bart is around the corner.
Back to the bar..it's not even close to scary in my opinion, but hey, I ride a Harley. I don't always look the biker part, though, but I always feel fine in this place. I love the helmet discount...hang your lid on the hook above the head, and you get cheaper drinks! Very cool. I've been groped in the back by a wacked out dude, but brushed it off and had no other real problems at all. The people I chilled with in the back were very cool - Howdy, Mike! - and I was happy to share some nature with them. The friendly and wathcful bartenders have always been very cool with me.
It is an interesting place with plenty to see. I have an aging hippy streak and I really love the retro rock posters that are likely originals from back in the day...also dig the man art, and the wicked, wicked dragon monster that runs the length of the shotgun bar ceiling! killer art, man!
It's an interesting place at first, I guess...not overly welcoming to strangers. I think that's because a lot of stuff goes down in the place, and their radar goes up when strangers come in who obviously look like strangers. Once you just chill and introduce yourself to the bartender, things loosen up quickly.
It's safe, as much as any bar, but tthere's virtually no outside view other than the camera they have fixed on the front sidewalk.
My parting comment is that it's way, way dark inside. It's another world in the middle of a bright sunny day! Give it a try! -
Review from Gourmet G.
San Francisco, CA
7/11/2005 1 photo
Five stars for the shady factor might make sense if shady was a factor worth rewarding. This aptly named (talk about truth in advertising!) dark, dirty gin joint is possibly the oddest gathering spot in San Francisco - men in three piece suits can be seen standing side by side - or hand on crotch - with spiky-haired skateboarders in baggy pants. The farther back you venture, the more bizarre the crowd gets - don't be surprised to see a naked body or two (that shouldn't be) lurking in a corner. That whisper in your ear more likely will be an offer to sell drugs than an invitation to dance. A pothead and tweaker's paradise, all else enter at your own risk (as long as you've gotten your shots).
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Review from Flip C.
San Francisco, CA
6/21/2006
Gross.
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Review from Gil S.
1/28/2006
Dark cramped gay techno punk bar with lots of clever blinking light technology in a burning man mad max blade runner liquid sky kind of way. Feels like a future past, Soho New York circa 1982. A guy here thought I was cute and decided to plant a big wet one on me. I'm not a gay guy, though, just play one on TV. Enough said.
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Review from Robert P.
San Francisco, CA
6/7/2007
I like dirty bars. If you don't believe me, look at my review for Rawhide. But this bar, not so much. I don't really know what it was about it that made me feel uneasy, but I wasn't impressed...or that comfortable for that matter. It smelled like God knows what, it was a tad bit too dark, and the people creeped me out. I don't think I will be coming back here, nor do I think I will be missed.
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Review from Jade L.
San Francisco, CA
9/14/2007
I have not been here in a long time, but usually end up here for some reason when we have a girls night and don't really wanna be bothered by creepy men. It's a gay biker bar, a true dive in every sense. The bartenders are actually super sweet, and once one of them even chased down a guy who tried to steal my friends purse! There is a wall in the back that has polaroids of men's butt-holes. It's hilarious. The drinks are cheap, the music loud. I pop in here when it gets too crowded at the Cat Club.
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Review from scott r.
San Francisco, CA
2/16/2008
what a great place! it is a biker bar with really nice bartenders and the other patrons of the bar just look scary, they are really nice though!
we were on a bar crawl of the SOMA area. i had a drink and a soda, you know, keeping hydrated to avoid massive hangovers, hahaha. anyway, the drink was great and the soda was quite possibly the best soda ever. they use so much syrup.
anyway, this place had a really nice look to the inside. it had all these lights and gadgets and shiny things hanging from the ceiling, and a billion posters and pictures everywhere.
the bathroom, well, i was told to avoid that, hahaha. i have heard some things about it that make me wish i went in just to see if they were true, lol.
anyway, i would highly recommend this bar, but only if you are a homosexual or are ok with being around rather standoffish, or biker type homosexuals. if that doesn't bother you, or seems kinda sexy, then by all means, this place is for you!
it is in SF, there is no parking. take the bus or walk. it isn't too far from the Civic Center BART and is very close to Lone Star and the Stud. Everything was really well priced, i had no complaints. -
Review from Tom R.
Telluride, CO
4/11/2010
Fun, comfortable and good beer! The people watching is good too. Probably not a place to meet your folks.
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Review from Nicholas H.
San Francisco, CA
7/25/2007
What ever you do don't have a few drinks and stumble into this place. We felt uncomfortably uncomfortable. I don't understand how this place has any more than 1 star. Believe me don't even think about going to this bar!
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Review from Michael D.
Baltimore, MD
12/9/2007
Well Matt W, what can we say, the joint's a dive. Each to his own.
I fly in from Baltimore every couple months and first night, every time I hoof it over to the Hole and, for me, it's like "Honey I'm home" [Hi Christopher]. Place can have some great sounds. Lots of interesting folk -- if any gay homeless guys want to spend their hard begged change here -- no skin off my back.
However, I have noticed that the management enforces a few minor rules -- including booting anyone who blantantly hustles the paying customers for free drinks -- that sort of thing.
I've meant great people in this place -- we come from all over and all walks of life -- but truth is, your right -- if you don't think you'll fit in at a dive -- you might not want to make the Hole your home. -
Review from Poochie M.
San Francisco, CA
9/30/2007
I still don't know what that thing on the ceiling is but I like it A LOT!
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Review from Justin N.
San Francisco, CA
6/13/2009
The name says most of it. What it doesn't mention is the only two snacks are long sticks of beef... and nuts. Symbolism accomplished. That should cover it.
