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Li Po Cocktail Lounge
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 2 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:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Dive-y
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
206 reviews for Li Po Cocktail Lounge
Review Highlights
"Daniel makes a killer Mai Tai too."
(in 23 reviews)
"Order the "Chinese Whiskey."
(in 6 reviews)
"2) Sweater Funk- The bay area's sunday nite FUNK PARTAYYYY."
(in 6 reviews)
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206 reviews in English
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Review from Alison A.
2/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
Delightfully divey. I came for the infamous Mai Tai, consisting of 3 different kinds of rum, the "special Chinese liquor," and pineapple juice.. It was the kind of drink that's tastefully misleading. I felt that thing within an hour. I stay wary about paying $9 though, but still it's pretty good. The bartender that evening was really friendly and nice too.
I took a nod (much like other Yelpers have said) from Bourdain's The Layover. Glad I did.
I'd come back. Woo!Listed in: I Left My Heart in San…
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Review from Trevor S.
Santa Rosa, CA
2/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
Saw this place on THE LAYOVER, and then accidentally found it walking through Chinatown. We sat down to a Mai Tai and the last quarter of the 49er's-Saint's playoff game. Not sure what the place is really like as the atmosphere was poppin because of the game.
The drinks were strong and the bartender was funny. -
Review from Rebekah T.
San Francisco, CA
Bourdain gets down. After the SF show we took note and followed his crawl to Li Po. You order the Chinese Mai Tai, that's the THING and it's exactly the K.O. you hope for. The place is just as packed as you expect. It's good.
So that's it. Best "High" Chinese Mai Tai for $9.00 and a fun night out. http://www.yelp.com/us... -
Review from Joel F.
San Francisco, CA
2/7/2012 2 photos
I'm not sure what ancient artifacts were hanging from the ceiling in this strange bar, but I loved them. But, they weren't nearly as impressive as the Mai Tais, made with special "chinese liquor". I could have done without the $9 price...it's a little steep for Chinatown...even bud light was $4.50. I went here on a Friday night at 9p, and the place wasn't too busy. Perfect pre-drinking bar before I night out in North Beach due to (a) it's good location (b) mellow vibe and (c) Mai Tais that sneak up on you --- quickly
-
Review from M S.
San Francisco, CA
1/15/2012
Style: Kung Fu Hustle meet Marylin M. meet Andy Wharol.....pretty Kitsch but cool
Service: very rude waitress earns the place 2 stars -
Review from Michael S.
Dana Point, CA
Having some SUPER STRONG Chinese Mai Tai's , this place is a Legit Chinese Dive Bar.....
A must see when in San Francisco's china town.
It will actually be featured on upcoming Layover show in SF. -
Review from Stewart B.
East Bay, CA
1/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
We were recently in SF for the day and decided to recreate Anthony Bourdain's Layover San Francisco. So we decided to stop in here and get a Chinese Mai Tai.
We had never explored dive bars and Li Po did not disappoint. Total dive with cheesy Chinese decor. Awesome!
We only had one Mai Tai each and that was enough. Pretty strong and tasty. Not sure we would go out of way to come here, but if we have out of town guests and visit SF this will definitely be on the list. -
Review from Mike G.
San Francisco, CA
1/30/2012
I'm sorry. Huge fan of Anthony Bourdain, but the owners got a hold of that video of him coming here and thought of the amount of business they will get from it. The point is that their "Chinese mai tai" is a joke. Sitting at the bar watching the Bar tender make these things and she is pouring max 1 shot per 2 mai tai's and charging 20 bucks.
Next stop...somewhere else.
The sign on the wall describing these things screams "ill get ya drunk!" Turns out it's just a whisper. -
Review from Alexander R.
San Francisco, CA
12/23/2011
Friends are like it's time for Ch-ch-ch-change. So I'm like let's got to Ch-ch-ch-Chinatown! This dive is kinda' creepy on the left side but that's the reason to rave it up here.
We got our sugary drinks and had a blast with the staff and the other young ones who poured in through the door. Happiness in others, happiness in a glass, that's what it takes for met shake my ass! Romance could be better but that's 'cause I got bad habits of selection.
Serious though, I loved it here enough that I know goin' back will be a let down.
Li Po Cocktail Lounge deserves to be on the wall of fame for my nights of massive insanity, dig? -
Review from Brian B.
South San Francisco, CA
I saw this bar on Anthony Boudain "the layover" I decided to try it out when my buddy flew into town from Denver. The inside of the bar is really cool. It feels like a bar in Hong Kong or Shanghai. I tried the infamous mai tai, it was really good! I just had one and I was little drunk. This place is fun. My friends and I had fun at Li Po. I went to go back soon!!!
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Review from Dev N.
Honolulu, HI
1/25/2012
It's GOOD!!! Go there. Had the Chinese Mai Tai... Strong! Needed to chase it with a Tsing Tao. Friendly staff. I sat there for an hour, maybe around 3 in the afternoon, pretty much all the patrons that came in saw the place from Anthony Bourdain. In fact if I had heard one more person mention seeing it on tv I was gonna drink myself to death. But, awesome place. Definitely stop in if you wanna get a little tipsy. Good booze, good people, what more can you ask for?
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Review from Douglas D.
Chinatown, San Francisco, CA
1/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
Two words Mai Tai's!!!!!! Prices are steep at $9 a piece, but a buzz is guaranteed here. Get some!!
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Review from Vicky L.
10/25/2011 3 Check-ins Here
While on one of our dinner dates, Sara P. and I decided that it would be a tremendous amount of fun to take a Friday evening bootcamp class at the Chinatown Y, then get drunk afterwards. If anyone knows the definition of random (and fun), it's us.
So we ended up at Li Po, where two rounds of $9 drinks, an apathetic bartender who didn't know how to make the drinks but took out his glasses, squinted at the menu, and made some STRONG drinks for us, and some really awesome 80s and 90s music later, we were pretty sure that if we didn't leave, we wouldn't make it back home.
But that's what friends are for, right?Listed in: Oh Hai Chinatown!
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Review from Sara P.
San Francisco, CA
10/24/2011
Oh my.
I don't even know where to start with this one.
It has a certain je ne sais quoi...
After sweating out the week, Vicky L. & I decided to go on a Chinatown bar crawl. When we first walked in, it was packed with Marina-ish types. Thankfully they left after a little bit.
We headed towards the back and snagged a booth. There is a really creepy booth in the back we called a rape booth...it would be perfect for that.
The drinks were strong. Strong is probably an understatement. I had 2 drinks and had a good buzz.
It's a great place to start the night :)Listed in: SF Lovin'
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Review from Jim B.
San Francisco, CA
12/29/2011
Thia place reminds me of a crummy bar you might find in Wan Chai in Hong Kong. Always fun to see who the hell is in this place, as the interior decor hasn't changed for years and years and years. Not much reason to stick around here for more than an hour or so, sadly...
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Review from Matt C.
12/7/2011
came here on a friend's recommendation while visiting SF for the first time.. one of my favorite bar experiences of all time. the place has a very 'different' but awesome vibe.. somehow a combination of punk rock, 'cheers', chinese restaurant, dive bar, and underground opium den. very hard to explain, but if you've been there, i bet you know what i mean.
the mai tai's (which i was told is their signature drink) are unbelievably good and deadly strong.. seriously, approach with caution. we stumbled upon the path to the basement, and cautiously went down the stairs, not knowing what we were about to find, as it feels like an area that was left open on accident.. but instead, we found a band playing some really good and interesting music to about 12 people. awesome. prices were good and all the staff and clientele we talked to were really friendly and laidback -
Review from Mrs. C.
Blackhawk, CA
Me and my friends always hit up this dive bar first when we visit Chinatown. The bartenders are aways friendly, providing us with fresh popcorn (sometimes burnt!) to soak up some of the alcohol.
"HI JACKIE & WINNIE!" :) -
Review from Michelle W.
San Francisco, CA
12/20/2011
Sunday Night FUNK Party in the Basement? HELL YEAH
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Review from Rylan C.
8/11/2011
I guess this place just wasn't my cup of tea. However, I could totally see why this place is very cool to some people. I went to this place to see a show in the basement which was really stuffy and claustrophobic. The service wasn't even that good at the bar and the cocktails weren't that great.
Interestingly enough, I did have a great time here but it was mostly due to the people I was with and not the establishment. I even remember saying throughout the night that this place made me feel dirty. -
Review from Nancy C.
7/17/2011
The interior looks just as crappy as the exterior. What I did not expect is the clientele that this place attracts. When I was here, this dive was overrun by hipsters and drag queens. Seriously, it was like a crazy mishmash of Urban Outfitters, neon wigs, hooker heels, dirty hair, and the air was heavy with the scent of smugness and sweat. Apparently, the downstairs of this place is the hot place to be.
I'm not even a drinker but the mai tai's here are amazing. I couldn't even taste the alcohol in it and I'm very picky with drinks. Seriously, try the mai tai. -
Review from Joanne S.
San Francisco, CA
7/10/2011
HA
This place reminds me of any one of those stereotypical Disney Channel/Original Movie scenes where a sweet little old Chinese lady tempts you with a fortune cookie and consequently turns your world upside down. Maybe some mix of Freaky Friday and What Women Want.
Except this time it's a feisty middle aged Chinese lady and she's pressuring you into some hangover-in-a-gulp mai thais.
Came here for a birthday party so I can't assess the regular crowd, but this was my first bar in Chinatown and it was a nice switch up of the regular going out scene. The downstairs basement feels like a frat basement (really dark, some random couches which might have been placed there or there just wasn't space upstairs) and is the perfect place for impromptu dance parties with some hip but anti-top 40 friends. -
Review from Sin F.
San Francisco, CA
10/3/2011 1 photo
This place is rad!! Been here a handful of times and always loved it. Beer selection is no big deal but they make an excellent Singapore Sling. I've usually been too intoxicated to really measure the price to value quotient but I'm satisfied. I love the cave-like feel and look of both the outside and inside. I love to go with my friends and get that booth that's all covered and secluded near the stairs to the bathroom downstairs. This place is rad!!
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Review from Wayne N.
Green Brae, CA
9/8/2011
I have been there twice now, and each time I met a different bartender. The first bartender was an older gentleman name Peter. He was a really friendly & easy going guy. I really felt welcome because of his peaceful demeanor!
The second time I went there, was earlier today! Today, the bartender was a sweet gal named Jackie. She was super friendly also!
The bar's decor seems like an old 50's diner that has seen a lot of parties; with a few chinese decorations thrown in there too :) I think it is charming in a non-pretentious sort of way, which I really appreciate. They have cozy booths for small groups of people and high bar stools like you'd see at a classic milkshake joint from "Leave it to Beaver". Oh, and the parking there at night is easy!
In terms of clientele, I might suggest meeting some friends there the first time, unless you feel like meeting some random locals; which can be fun too :) Any way, the people that work there are cool, the bar is cute, and you don't feel like you are in a frat-house marina/northbeach joint at all. -
Review from Esther G.
Miami, FL
10/13/2011
Li Po is so mysterious, in a totally accessible sort of way.
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Review from Ben B.
San Francisco, CA
2/15/2011
This place was hilarious. The decor is very Chinatown, but the big bartender with a huge beard is clearly not. Hence, hilarious.
Important things to remember:
The Pacman machine has a start button, don't just keep giving it quarters thinking it will eventually let you play a game.
The bouncer has hilarious and disgusting stories if you get bored of your friends.
The gin and tonic was mostly gin. -
Review from Lara Y.
Artesia, CA
3/15/2011
Mai Tai's! Kinda pricey but very good! the long island was good too!
they have booths in the back where you can sit and just hangout. Downstairs they have dodgy restrooms but whatever. and if you walk around the corner, there's a dark room where a band was playing, literally, an underground band!
this is my kind of bar.. friendly people, good drinks, and a chill atmosphere. so much better than that snobby ez5 bar.
head to sam wo after. :) -
Review from Jin C.
Richmond, CA
8/18/2011
Call me a nut, but i'd take a rustic, old school, worn down, dark looking.......elegance over the pretentious, overly classy, shiny bar/club any day. I only been here once for a Sweater Funk night that goes on every Sunday. The scene was funkalicious and people were here purely for the music and the vibe. A genuine good time at its best. I wish they would have it on a Fri or Sat night so that I would have more opportunity to go, but I guess a great thing is always hard to get. The bartender was friendly and always had a smile on her face....everyone had a smile on their face. Another example of what funky music can do!!
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Review from Mike L.
12/4/2010
From the outside, this place is somewhere nondescript - not that it's plain or blank on the outside, but it's got a design and decor that you would pretty much expect to find in Chinatown. There's a sign outside that reads out the name, but otherwise, you can't really tell what lies beyond the doors until you actually get inside.
Once you do cross that threshold though, you find yourself in the middle of what you would imagine a typical Chinatown dive bar would look like. Kind of dirty, yet homely sort of feel, relatively cheap drinks, Chinese alcohol galore, Tsingtao in hand, and a Buddha statue behind the bar. Yup, that's right...a Buddha statue hanging out behind the bar, watching you as you order yet another round of drinks.
The bar definitely has an aged look and feel, with the worn vinyl booths, and the aged appearance of the walls. Obviously, the place has been around for a number of years, like the rest of Chinatown, and you kind of wonder what kind of characters and people this place has seen pass through after all these years. There's a dimly lit, narrow little booth that's tucked into the wall towards the back, and you start to think of the types of people that might have made that their regular table.
Awesome little place in Chinatown to grab a few drinks, especially if you're in the mood to try your hand with something like Chinese whiskey. I had a fun night chilling with friends, enjoying a few rounds, playing cards, and having a good time. The Chinese Mai Tai seems like their specialty, and one of my friends really enjoyed hers. Even if you're a guy and you're curious, go ahead and order it...the Buddha statue won't judge. -
Review from Jack L.
Las Vegas, NV
9/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
What a cozy and friendly little place! I was happy just to find a parking spot but it was a nice, clean place with a TV with sports and great drink options and specials.
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Review from Adam D.
3/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
Pros:
* only bar I've been to in SF with an HSBC across the street (my bank)
* Pacman table gaming system
* PBR
Cons:
* Reeks of cigarettes
It really depends on what you're looking for. If you're heading from SOMA to North Beach then I guess it's along the way but there are better pit stops. -
Review from Mr. C.
Oakland, CA
1/31/2011 4 Check-ins Here
I love Li Po. I've had one too many drinks here one too many times. Usually pretty quiet, except for the one time I was there and a (no joke) busload of people from Santa Cruz came stumbling in on a pub crawl.
What I really like are the Mai Tai's, even though I'm adverse to 151 in most any other circumstance. Yeah, they're pink and look a little foofy but they pack a solid punch.
-2 stars for how cold it is when you sit near the door.
+1 for Jackie because she's awesome. -
Review from Maxwell M.
Sacramento, CA
9/18/2011
Exactly what I was looking for yesterday afternoon while shopping in Chinatown. A friendly bartender served me a cold beer at a relaxed bar top. I'll go back next time I am in the area.
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Review from Mikey U.
8/2/2010
*review for SweaterFunk*
I WANT to give this spot 5-Stars for the SweaterFunk dance party alone, but my big-boyness won't let me rave about a place that made me perspire that much.
SWEAT, much. Thankfully the FUNK refers to an illmatic hip-hop soundtrack rather than odoriferous aire.
Set in the low-ceiling'd basement with no windows and a solitaire electric-fan struggling to cool the room, SweaterFunk felt like one of those "below the radar" gigs: once a month on the last Sunday(?), an anti-"ultralounge" decor, music more rhythm than rhyme, and a patronage/vibe that brings all its heart to the dancefloor. 30 minutes of a hyped dancefloor in a stifling hot room, walking out into the deserted Chinatown night was a refreshing breath of air.
We didn't stay very long (it being the end of a long, lush Pride weekend), but its definitely on my list of "must" for hip-hop, dance, and good vibes...
_____________________________________
I'm very self-conscious, but it was so hot in there, even I rocked down to a tanktop.
*farmer tan shame* -
Review from Bernadette A.
Fremont, CA
1/19/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I never would have guessed this place existed right smack dab in the middle of Chinatown!
I wish I took pictures but the place was so jam packed that I could barely breathe.
We went in a Sunday night, which was apparently "sweater funk" night. There is a dance floor downstairs which I heard gets hot and stuffy as soon as the break dancers let loose.
I didn't have anything to drink here since I was the DD but I heard their Mai-Tai cocktail is nice and refreshing. They have a good selection of Chinese liquor and beer. The bar is cash only but that shouldn't be a problem if you hit up the ATM beforehand.
I will say the crowd is a good mix. I think I saw every spectrum of clothing that night. I would like to come back when it's slow, then I can really take in the essence of the bar. -
Review from Beth D.
San Francisco, CA
2/28/2011
I love this bar. I've been here on a dead Sunday afternoon and again during the Chinese New Year Parade. The atmosphere, decor (and sadly bathrooms) are exactly what you'd expect in a dive bar. For the full Chinatown experience drink their mai thais (3 kinds of whiskey including 151!) and some Chinese whiskey, which tastes like jager and bourbon mixed together. I noticed the price of the mai thais varied depending on who ordered and which bartender we got. Even the signs on the bar conflicted, some said $9, some said $10.
On my first visit I didn't realize there was a back area with booths, which is great if you're there with a few friends. You will probably make some new ones too, like the gaggle of gasians screaming "TWINSIES" who made me take a picture with them because we were all wearing red plaid shirts. Fun place, but don't come here for beer because it's all $5 whether you order a Bud or an Anchor. -
Review from Amanda B.
San Francisco, CA
8/3/2010
A friend of mine turned me onto this place and it was love at first sight. I can't imagine a more charming dive bar absolutely slathered with character. What a perfect place to take someone who is new to the city.
There's not much of a scene here, either, which is exactly how a dive should be. It feels almost as if you're discovering someplace wonderful for the first time. Every time I've been here it's nearly empty, just me, a friend, another couple at the bar, and the sweet, quiet bartender.
Belly up to the bar and have a shot of Ng Ka Py. You won't regret it. -
Review from Eddie S.
San Jose, CA
8/30/2011
I came in here with some friends looking for a beer after a major walk around the city that included lots of the typical tourist spots. It was around 7pm on a Monday and we were the only ones there. The bartender was so incredibly nice! She gave us a tour of the place, hooked up free credits on the jukebox, took photos with us and even let us try some of the Chinese Liqueur that goes into their world famous Mai Tais. Speaking of the Mai Tais, if I had a running list of the best drinks I've ever had, this would rank somewhere near the very top. At $9 it seems expensive at first, but with all the booze in this thing its really worth it. Plus they are insanely DELICIOUS! We drank 3 a piece and had a pretty amazing night afterwords.
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Review from Richard N.
Walnut Creek, CA
2/21/2011
I'm a fan, not of the bar, but of the event they hold in the basement. It's hot and sweaty and awesome. Sweater Funk is held every Sunday night in the basement of this dive bar. Located in the middle of Chinatown, if you get there a little early, it can be hard to find parking. After all the shops close, you can pretty much park right outside. The bartenders are pretty laid back and make decent drinks (a little overpriced). The security guy was awesome, hung out with us before we headed downstairs for the festivities.
The music is AMAZING. If you're tired of listening to the mainstream hiphop/rap/club banger/house music at the typical clubs, PLEASE COME TRY THIS PLACE OUT. They play funk and soul music that will cleanse your audio palate. It gets PACKED. Body up against body. That's the only downside, other than that and the fact that its on a Sunday night (for us working people) I pretty much love this event. No cover. No need to be on the guestlist. The crowd is really MIXED. Younger hipsters, older folks, people out the cuts. -
Review from Kira W.
San Francisco, CA
4/25/2010 ROTD 9/13/2010
I love happenstance. Here's a Tsingtao toast to fate's crafty ways!
A year ago, a random night of barhopping in North Beach and Chinatown lead me to discover Li Po, a bar that my Grandfather was once part owner of--only my Dad had forgotten to tell me! "What?" you say. Exactly my point! Life never ceases to amaze me. Anyhow, let me paint a figurative picture for you, ala 80's Golden Girls style...
Picture it. San Francisco, 1939. The Chinatown nightclubs had officially taken off with all its glamour and zest for living it up! We're talking hot babes in skimpy outfits and tap dance shoes, men in dapper suits, lots of drinking, gambling, and of course right in the middle of it all, was my Grandfather. He was quite the Ladies' Man, so I'm told. Sort of a Chinese baller from a bygone era. He was such a frequent customer at Li Po that he decided to buy into the whole scene.
Walking though the arched rock facade of the doorway, it is more than easy to imagine what it must have been like. It hardly seems like a moment has past in its deep-seated red and gold flecked existence. I'm sure that many a big gambling games have gone down in the darkened booths that are so well hidden in the back. Perhaps it was even frequented by rebel gangs like The Tong, back in the day. The dimly lit Chinese lanterns hide a lot of history--who knows what else my Dad "forgot" to tell me!
Once a dive bar, always a dive bar! These days, Li Po's basement holds Free Sunday 80s Funk shows and also a bit of Punk and Rock. The relic of a bar upstairs is an intriguing mix of older Chinese men, hipsters and bar hoppers with 2 things in common: a yen for good, strong drinks and a place with character. You don't have to go very far inside to realize this is the Real Thing. From the timeworn wraparound bar to the gold alter quietly swirling incense into the air, everything about their decor says "Authentic."
Don't be afraid to take a dive into a little history with a bar that doesn't try to be "Chinese themed." It just IS!Listed in: A Hapa Girl's Asian Side
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Review from Ivy R.
4/16/2010 4 photos
Weird is an understatement when it comes to this place.
My husband and I were walking across the street looking for something to eat and he just started walking towards this place like it was a magnet drawing him in.
I said initially"I don't know if we can go in there."
There was maybe 5 other people in here and we happened to sit right next to the drunkest one.
Actually the bartender tried to get us to move away from him but we know how to handle drunks. Especially small old ones. The bartender finally just told him to leave, and he did.
The juke box is freaking weird. Another patron came in and was trying to get some music going and it was not happening.
The bartender just stood there with his arms crossed shaking his head. He never said a word or explained how this juke box could possibly be a time portal to the worst 80's music you have ever heard.
We only had one drink because we were starving. My Gin & Tonic was really strong. I pussed out and put some water in it. Then my husband finished the rest.
The bathrooms, one labeled "Woman" in Sharpie on a piece of cardboard, duct taped to the door. I really didn't want to get a good look at the place but it was dark and scary in that bathroom.
This place is just one of the most unique bars I have been in. Weird might be the better word. You just need to go and sit and take it all in because you will never forget it.Listed in: Hidden Gems
