Inner Mission Tavern
3349 20th St
San Francisco, CA 94101 (415) 648-4104
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 5:00 p.m.-2:00 a.m.
Sun 4:00 p.m.-12:00 a.m. - Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: No
- Parking: Street
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Music: Juke Box
- Best Nights: Fri, Sat, Thu
- Happy Hour: Yes
- Alcohol: Beer & Wine Only
- Smoking: Yes
- Coat Check: No
54 reviews
Neighborhood: Marina/Cow Hollow
"YES!!!! Monaghans!! A Cub's bar! A fricking Cubs bar!! In the city! I have been looking for this place awhile. I guess it took me longer…" read more »
67 Reviews for Inner Mission Tavern
though I appreciated the smoking when it was allowed, now my clothes don't smell SO bad after hanging out here..
And going outside to smoke isnt so bad, right?
anyway... been my local bar for years and honestly has the best pool tables in the area.... rad owners and nice locals
if only they served whiskey....
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As of the beginning of May, the Inner Mission Tavern is no longer a smoking establishment. This may come as a loss to those holdouts who believe that one should be able to smoke in a bar, but ultimately, it is the bar owner's prerogative, and they chose to nix the smoking.
With any luck, this won't hurt the bar at all. There's plenty of room to make your way outdoors for a nic fix, and once you've satisfied that, plenty of room to meander about inside and figure out where you left your tasty and refreshing beverage. I was unexpectedly pleased at the selection of beers on tap-- several of which I hadn't heard of. I only had the chance to try one, a black ale, before needing to call it a night, but it was fantastic. I hope this is indicative of the rest of their selections.
Based on this brief visit and experience, I will happily return to Inner Mission Tavern, to try their pool table and a few more pints. I'll even hang out with friends outside while they smoke.
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Went for happy hour and stayed way past it. It was my buddy's birthday and the 4$ 20 oz. Prohibition and Big Daddy went down very nicely. One of the bar owners is named Dave and and he was very cool. Very cool regulars who are just interested in a good time. They have an interesting selection of Beer from all over. They don't have a hard liquor license, which probably saved me from a truly hellacious hangover this morning. I also have respect for the Pool Table and Pinball in the back of the bar. Nice people. Good spot. I'll be back.
The perfect Mission bar for people who don't necessarily like the Mission. Total mixed crowd without a hint of pretension. Lots of friendly regulars, a great juke box and really nice owners. If you have a bad time here, you might want to look within.
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If you take a look at me you would (for the most part rightly) assume I am one of *those* Mission hipster types, what with my vintage clothes, and my indie-label fashion, and my big white sunglasses and my BANGS (see: my review for Zip Zap Hair: http://www.yelp.com/bi...)
But the fact of the matter is, I kind of hate the Mission. Like, I obviously love it and I obviously know it has some of the best bars, but when I am completely honest with myself I have to admit that most of the bars on weekend are TOTALLY CROWDED WITH DOUCHEBAGS. And I don't just mean "Ugh stupid weekenders from the Marina polluting my dive bar with their Clinique 'Happy' and their popped collars." I also mean tight-pants and dudes-in-low-v-necks-with-scumstaches and girls-with-bandanas-and-vests, all-cooler-than-thou Mission types. Yes, that's right, I'm even forsaking my own ilk, those with whom I am supposed to identify. I ACTUALLY KIND OF HATE MOST OF THEM. At least when they're drunk and jostling me and taking all the tables. I HATE EVERYONE.
Look, I'm not a misanthrope. I'm quite charming and fun (references submitted upon request.) I try to do the whole crazy, loud, over-crowded thing on the weekends, but the truth is that the very thought of the Elbo room makes me want to puke on myself sober.
Yes yes, when it comes down to it, I really prefer to be a true elitist and only hang out with my well-selected group of friends, getting drunk while actually, like, talking and stuff. Oh, and if I can have a cigarette inside with my brew or glass of wine, that's kind of awesome, too.
Enter Inner Mission Tavern. It's kind of hard to find, which I think is why I like it. One night I was taking some friends there and forgot what corner it was on. We made the best of being lost in the inner mission by buying tall cans and wandering around, jumping onto things. When we found it, we already had a pleasant buzz and were greeted by a friendly bar keep, some good tunes, funny 80s music videos playing on one TV and some sports on another, and a table where we could sit and get drunker. I have heard that it can get crowded sometimes on weekends, but I've never seen it get too bad. You can usually find a seat, pick a beer from their AMAZING selection from all over the world, or a glass of wine from their small but rather well chosen wine selection as well. And even have a conversation without yelling!
Non-smokers beware - this bar does allow smoking.
Smokers - rejoice! You're not a leper here, my friends!
And for those non-smokers, when it's not too crowded the smokiness is not too bad (I DID quit for a spell so I DO know what it's like to not have smokiness around, thankyouverymuch.)
Oh...or on second thought, maybe you non-smokers would find this place really intolerable...and uh...yeah...maybe you should tell your friends not to come down here tonight.
I hear there's some Soul Night at the Elbo room....
*tries not to puke*
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I would have rated his place 5 stars had there not been smoking inside. I'm not a smoker, and I am not used to bars being filled with a lot of smoke, or a cloud of it, if you will. So my eyes hurt a little. I noticed a girl smoking outside the bar last night when walking by, so some people, even smokers(?) may agree.
Other than that one detraction, this is a great neighborhood bar. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable and poured me a taste of the local beer without my even expecting it when I asked about it. The jukebox was fun and not too hipster. It was even slightly nostalgic what with some Journey thrown into the mix.
And they have two, count them, two, pinball machines for $0.75 per play. I would suggest the Attack from Mars one not because it is more fun, but it is a lot easier to rack up points and get free balls to continue playing with. I scored 600,000,000,000+ points, which I kept calling 600 Trillion in my beer-excitement. Only later did the killjoys tell me, "no, that's 600 Billion." They were just jealous and had trouble breaking my score.
I wouldn't call it a Dive Bar, like it is listed. It's nicer than a dive: it has nice accents and wall paneling, and a great mirror behind the bar with the drinks listed on it. It's from the 1880's, apparently. What dive bar has such class?
Despite the smoky atmosphere, I would come back when in this part of town again.
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A great neighborhood bar that didn't lose its charm when Thieves Tavern moved out. Good pool tables, decent pinball, an excellent beer selection, and a mellow local crowd makes Inner Mission a perfect place for a quiet drink or twelve.
This place is why I love the mission and sf. And I don't smoke (cigarettes). I did not like the smoke but will tolerate it to drink my new favorite belgian been Affligem. OMG, have YOU had this delicious beer? This corner bar is beer only folks, with a mellow vibe- hard to find these days in hipster haven. Will go back soon.
**Update** I got a message from the owner that as of May 1st the bar is going smoke free!! Yay for me, but I'm sure the smokers will be pissed as this was a secret place to smoke.
I love this bar. I used to live around the corner, and would go every chance I got. Now I live a little farther away, so I have less chances, but I still try my damnedest to get over there, drink a Stella, play a game of pool, pump as many quarters into the killer jukebox I possibly can and smoke inside! I wish I were better at Pinball, or else I'd never leave.
The only thing that's missing is hard liquor. They're only beer and alcohol, but it's OK. David, the bartender, the atmosphere, locals, smoking! and the fact that I've never waited for the bathroom make up for it.
Yay Inner Mission!
King Leopold, the butcher of Congo, apparently didn't think much of his native Belgium and its people whom he referred to respectively as "small country, small people." But I bet even he would have conceded that Belgians make some strong tasty beer. I recommend the Affligem. No too cool for school bartenders here. David is good peeps and knows his beer. Ask for a recommendation. 2 pool tables, 2 pinball machines, decent jukebox, usually not too crowded. You will appreciate that most bars don't allow smoking when you have to go to work in the same clothes from the night before, however.
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I had a serious case of deja vu when i walked in here. I felt as though i had been here before.
Yes...I understand that it used to be Thieves tavern...but i don't ever remember going to Thieves.
I don't know. There isn't anything that wowed me about this bar. Maybe that's the sense of deja vu. It felt like every other bar I've ever been to.
Why four stars then Lauren? Well...its not a bad bar. Its a beer bar. It has a decent selection of beer. It has a pool table. It has bathrooms. It feels like a lot of other mediocre bars that i have spent many hours at before....so why not four stars. I didn't hate it. But id rate it above average.
Its also nice to head into a smoking bar every once in a while. Don't get me wrong...I'm glad these are few and far between...but every once in a while in California, on a cold night...its nice to not have to step outside and freeze my tits off.
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This tavern is the best thing that could've happened to us. We LOVE owners Tom and David and the regulars are quickly becoming our good friends. The fine beers and the cozy setting make this place feel like home sweet home.
What a fun experience.
Great beers on tap and even some hard to find ones in bottles, a fantastic selection of cds on the jukebox including ones that bar regulars seemed to have made for the bar, and most of all a FANTASTIC bartender named Dave. Seriously, that was damn good service, and some good chatting.
I'll definitely come back, especially since parking was such a breeze.
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Love the bartenders.... and the beer selection. Delierium tremors on tap along with Chocolate beer, Chimay, and a large ever changing assortment of brews for great prices makes this place the one to go to for beer lovers. They will even let you bring your pooch in. My doggie highly recomends the wheat beer and won't drink anywhere else. The only resaon they get 4 stars is it can be smokey sometimes.
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I love this bar. I love this bar far more than I should. Tom and Dave and wonderfully gracious hosts and the beer selection can't be beat. Try the Affligem. Do it. You won't be sorry. (Although if you are drinking it all night, you might be sorry later)
The only thing I don't like about this bar? It's right between the BART stop and my house and it's not possible to walk by without walking in. Sure, I could walk down a different street. But those streets aren't home to Inner Mission!
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Great beer selection, adorable bartenders, fabulous jukebox, and decent pool tables and pinball for your hipsters. I've lived here long enough to see that spot on Shotwell and 20th go through 2 changes of ownership, and the space improves each time. This time is no exception. Plus, the Japanes Hitochino white ale is to die for!
I'm changing my rating to 5 stars for changing to a nonsmoking bar and for the owners' happily babysitting my spouse at least twice a week these days. The holdout smoking bar numbers are shrinking by the day, but I'd like to think demand is too and this scrappy little place will endure.
As for the spouse, well, it's always reassuring to know that they are well taken care-of at the local watering hole so if you need to sit this one out, they'll barely notice. Dave may not have signed up for that role, but he's taken it on with gusto and I couldn't be more appreciative.
I guess I better swing by again soon and show my appreciation more overtly. Just go drink there already.
Huge beer list, including my favorite, Chimay (red, white and blue!!). $2 beer nights, and pool tables. They could use more seating, and the smoke can be overwhelming and stick to you when you leave. Other than that, I'm sure to hit this place up again.
5 stars all the way! What more can I say that hasn't been said in these hallowed reviews. I will always make a beeline to this place afterwork and try to be the first one there at the DOT of five o'clock. That way me and Dorchester Dave (the barkeep) can shoot the breeze while he discusses the latest selection of beers. I always drink the Meteor by the way. They've got pool, pinball, and you can smoke till you're blue in the face and then keep smokin'. There ain't no other place like it.
So much better than its previous incarnation as thieves. Good riddance, I say. Viva Inner Mission!
And if you're really lucky, you will get treated to Dave's rousing, singalong rendition of Styx's "Come Sail Away". Then and only then my friends, you know you've arrived.
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I'm more of a beer drinker than a mixed-drinks, drinker, so I enjoyed this place very much. Sort of randomly ended up there with some friends and had an awesome time. Some of the crowd was....ehh different, but the people were pretty nice over-all.
Tom and Dave are awesome. They are all about getting the best beers. Seems like everytime I make it in, they have many new selections to try out. I guess that is why, I usually end up walking a crooked line out of there much later then planned. Inner Mission is a family, and a very welcoming one at that. If you are in the neighborhood, you must drop in with a good thirst and plenty of smokes. Oh, and if you see the girls playing dice, don't think you can take em on.
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Awesome beer selection, and you can smoke inside! Only reason for not going five stars here was because the crowd isn't always a great fit for me, but I suspect that'll change as it catches on.
A smelly smoking bar, older crowd, rude pool players, and ridiculously dressed bartenders.
no thanks.
Unfortch, this place undoes everything i like about the Inner Mission.
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I have a new motto.
Always trust a blond man pouring you beer in a kitten T-shirt.
Yes, I said blond! Blind men don't wear kitten T-shirts.
Besides having some kick ass bartenders, you can smoke to your hearts content and also get second-hand smoke at the same time!! And you can drink tons of beer and get really drunk and stumble around a lot because the bar is extremely spacious!! And you can even pretend you are good at pool and then play a stranger and suck really bad! Because really, you suck at pool!!
Oh, and this would be a great place to relax and chill and talk with an old friend or even somebody you just met but wouldn't mind boning later. You can actually have a decent conversation because the music is good and not too loud!
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There's a chill, unpretentious, un-hipsterified, local bar tucked away on a residential corner just a few blocks from my house.
Interesting people hang out there. Interesting people work there.
The soundtrack is good.
AND IT'S A SMOKING BAR, TOO.
Quitting smoking sucks.
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Minus one star for being a smoking bar. I don't mind a cigarette with my vodka soda as long as the butt is in my mouth and I'm EXHALING smoke, not inhaling someone else's sloppy seconds.
This used to be Thieves Tavern, and the locals were just as rude then as they are now. I used to live around the corner and therefore spent a lot of time at Thieves. Now that it's Inner Mission, not a lot has changed. Think large drunks rudely pushing and shoving their way around a tight, low-lit bar with a pool table and what would be ample seating if there weren't so many folks packed in here. On a high note, if you fancy yourself a looker, it's not hard to find yourself in the fortunate position of "prettiest girl in the whole bar" here- this is not really a see-and-be-seen sort of establishment.
The bartenders are friendly, efficient, and mix a strong soju and soda. It is important to know that they only have beer, wine, and soju. So if you're looking for liquor, you've come to the wrong place. The proximity to such Mission district greats as Los Jarritos (down the street) and Taqueria CanCun (down two blocks and over one) mean you can get really plastered and then stuff your face with greasy mexican food. Not that I would. I am a lady, after all.
I wouldn't go out of my way to come back but it's a great option should you find yourself in this sleepy corner of the Mission and in need of libation. I hear they have lots of beers but I tasted some of the wine and I'd skip that and go straight to soju. I'll follow matthew capital r's lead and simply end my review with ZANZIBAR!
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Friendly bartenders/owners (a good combo from the patron's POV) serve a wide variety of beers in the fun glasses that were made for them. I've never been at night -- just the afternoon -- so I haven't been there for the peak "scene." The pool tables occupy a lot of space in this kinda small place, but the old-world bar and big windows make up for that. Oh, and it's smoky, but on purpose.
The Inner Mission tavern has wainscoting! If you live in the mission and you're a drunk with an eye for victorian architectural details this should be your new spot.
This is a beer/wine/soju only place; However, the selection of beers is extensive and well chosen, and the bar staff is on top of things. Pool tables and pinball machines. comfortable seats too.
It also gets loud enough on friday nights that even though the jukebox is blaring you can only hear the basslines. If you're just learning to play bass this would be a good place to hang out too.
However, the area around the bar will get crowded, and the locals are too cool to say 'excuse me' when they shove past you. Can you blame them? My parents say 'excuse me'. Government clerks say 'excuse me'. Plus there's nothing in the phrase 'excuse me' that indicates whether you're sincerely apologetic or you're just going for irony so its usefulness is limited. I don't know where I'm going with this.
I totally see Bucky's point about how hard it is to wrap up a review sometimes. The Inner Mission Tavern has good beers and wainscoting. ZANZIBAR!
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this place is awesome so don't ever come here it is MINE ALL MINE.
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Hello to all!
As of May 1st, 2008, Inner Mission Tavern is going NON SMOKING.
Definitely one of those shoot me in the foot for not knowing about it sooner kind of places. The people were chill, the bartenders were cool, and the beer selection was awesome. Some of the beers on tap were Affligem, Big Daddy IPA, and Paulaner. They have two pool tables and a good selection in the jukebox.
It's just a super comfortable space... especially when you don't feel like being elbow to elbow with everyone else in the bar as tons of places are in the Mission on a weekend night. Whiz is also nearby for any french fry lovers after a couple drinks like me!
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UPDATE- 9-21-07
My love for this place grows. The bartender/owner has made an effort to remember our names and greets us like regulars. The best part is he's like a sommelier for beer. He always recommends something for me to try out and I have to say he has some of the best beer in the city at the best prices. Sigh...I could go for a beer right now.
---------------
I spent an evening here drinking some good beer and having some even better conversation, when I was hit with a severe carne asada craving.
I'm Mexican and I don't want to perpetuate any kind of stereotype about Mexicans always wanting to eat carne asada. But it's the truth for me, especially while hanging in the mission drinking. I know I don't speak for all my gente- there are 6 members of the raza who would rather eat carnitas.
I didn't want to leave my spot at the bar but the craving was fierce. I got up and asked the bartender where he thought the best taqueria was, he told me and then said I could go ahead and bring my food back and eat it there. Pinche hell! I had the best carne asada torta ever, all in the comfort of a great bar. And if I smoked I would have lit up right there because it was that good and they would have let me.
VIVA INNER MISSION!
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The owners are awesome, I love the regulars, delicious beers, ATTACK FROM MARS PINBALL!
And smoking. This is definitely my new spot.
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Thank you Yelp.com!
I'm on a month-long road trip and during the first leg of my venture (from Austin, TX to L.A.), I discovered that my companion Jen was a devoted user and contributor to the website. I'm on the solo leg of my journey and in San Francisco for a few days and armed with little to no local knowledge. A few hours ago I got a mean thirst for a good beer and decided to dig one up on Yelp.com....
The Inner Mission Tavern came up first and foremost, and I'm glad it did. It's the last day of the Labor Day Weekend and so it was dead when I pulled up at midnight. But what I got was conversation with all 5 people who were in the bar and after 4 people left, I got a half an hour of genial, intelligent conversation with the owner, Tom.
With the hipster tendencies of the Mission neighborhood this bar has ever reason to be pretentious and unfriendly towards strangers, but as I've implied, it was everything but.
I'll sum up the Inner Mission Tavern in one word - grounded.
It's a place comfortable being itself - and I don't know about you - but that's what I want in a bar. I'm in town for a few more days and I'm definitely coming back.
Oh and yes, the beer was great, and the owner knows the ins and outs of each brew behind the bar.
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When I arrived, I was very confused if I was still in the Mission. The lack of hardcore hipsters and condescending scenesters made me really happy! The place is more laid back than the obnoxious bar attractions along Mission and Valencia. If I lived around the block, I would swing by for a beer everyday. There's a great selection to create a daily rotation without repeats for over a month.
And yes, they serve Jinro soju mixed drinks. 'Cuz they have a liquor license but not hard liquor. I like how soju slips by as a non hard liquor, but it penetrates deep man!
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After reading about this place on yelp I had to check it out. Not only because of the beer selection (which is amazing), but because of the hospitality of the owners, who are two of the nicest people you could ever meet. They know their beer, they'll let you try stuff out and they are great to converse with.
It doesn't seem like there are too many places like the Inner Mission Tavern. I'm going to make it a point to visit frequently. Great beer and great company. What more could you ask for?
I CAN NOT EMPHASIZE HOW MUCH I LOVE THIS PLACE.
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Stadium seating for pool + belgian beers + the Nate Dogg and Warren G. regulating on the jukebox= fantastico.
Seriously, not getting stabbed by a pool cue is enough to come back.
Minus one star because of the smoke (sorry Ange!)
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I felt like I was back in Europe with my swanky specific-to-the-beer glass o' brewski and cig hanging from my lips.
Great little spot with pool tables and a very relaxed atmosphere. Varied crowd keeps it interesting. And the right prices.
Plus due to location, you can get drunk and then pick up a hooker right down the block. One stop shopping man. Score.
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You're not going to find a better bar in San Francisco, period. I was there Saturday night for several hours with friends and in walked 15 UC Berkeley students. I asked 'em "what's up, you guys rode BART over here?" One guy said "yeah, there's no where in Berkeley that's even close to as great as this place." Nuff said on that front.
As a San Francisco native I take very serious pride in making sure there are more than enough awesome places in THE CITY to hang out. Well this one's at the top of the list. Dave and Tom are fantastic owners, friends, conversationalists and people. It's not unusual to find yourself laughing so hard you're crying, and the regulars at the bar are extremely down to earth, real people who aren't checking their lipstick every five minutes, shimmying up their skirts, re-greasing their hair and popping their collars.
Know before you come that it's a mostly beer and wine bar. They also make Soju cocktails that rock, but if you don't like beer or wine, you probably won't drink much here. I'm not a huge beer drinker myself, but I love the Affligem, and the Sessions beer. If you don't know what you're into, just ask Dave or Tom and they'll undoubtedly point you in the right direction.
Bottom line: Just go, and then thank me later...
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Awesome bar. Was taken here by my friend who lives in the mission and I was pleasantly surprised. The beer selection was great, including lots of belgian and german beers that you don't usually see at a bar. Also, like others have said, the owners are incredibly friendly and nice. There was pinball, pool, and a jukebox. Just a great place to hang out. There is also smoking inside, so that can be a pro or a con for you depending on your preferences.
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Gets pushed to 5 because Dave the Early Bird Bartender is so great. He actually remembers my name. In addition, they have PINBALL!!!!!
And Pool.
And Great Beer Selection.
And a Great Juke Box
And a laid back atmosphere created by Dave, the good beer, the cool music and the folks who hang out here, a lot of whom seem to work around here so people are relaxing after work with a cold one. At least that is what I do - but I'm an early bird.
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