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Thieves Tavern
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 12 pm - 2 am
Sun 10 am - 2 am
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Music:
- Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Mon, Sun, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Dive-y
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
187 reviews for Thieves Tavern
Review Highlights
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"i love that there are 2 pool tables and a jukebox." In 50 reviews -
"Free waffles with whiskey whipped cream." In 9 reviews -
"I don't even miss the Hush Hush." In 10 reviews
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186 reviews in English
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Review from yeeman n.
Updated - 3/15/2012
Third time's the charm! Thanks to Liz C. for telling me that the bacon Bloody's are only on Saturdays.
OMG soooo good. Rob, creator of the BLT Mary is chill and friendly, the bacon and produce is from Whole Foods, and the Mary is spicy!
Heaven on a Saturday morning.
Come early though, they WILL run out of bacon.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/4/2011
TWICE I've come to try the famed bacon bloody mary.
TWICE I was denied! WTH?
Grrrrr... i can't be… Read more »
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Review from Liz H.
2/27/2012 1 Check-in Here
Looking for a chill place to drink near 16th & Mission but not quite in that hustle bustle? Thieves Tavern is the place to go. Just a few minutes from the 16th St. BART stop, the bar had enough of a crowd to feel happening but wasn't so packed I felt trapped (I went on a Friday night). The crowd is pretty hipster but we are talking about the Mission.
They appeared to only have three beers on tap but they were Anchor Porter, Chimay & Sierra Nevada so that wasn't too bad. The rest of the bar was drinking tall PBRs, so more draughts for me! My date and I both ordered Chimay but the keg was almost out. The bartender poured about 90% of the second beer before it ran out but still only charged us for one beer! Thanks!
Other highlights include: open seats at the bar, pool table & photo booth. -
Review from Mike L.
2/26/2012 1 Check-in Here
I went there to hang out for a friend's birthday, it was fun.
The only reason I don't give it 5 stars is because
- It's a cash bar (no credit)
- In that area it's hard to find parking Thursday to Saturday night.
But overall it was fun. The well drinks I ordered were $5 each, decent price and had a decent amount of liquor in them. There are two pool tables in the back that are coin operated. There was also an arcade game with some 80's games on it (including King Kong, Pacman, and Galaga on it).
It's a chill dive-y bar with decent ambiance, and the music isn't too loud that you can't think or talk to other people. -
Review from Rohit U.
Washington, DC
5/21/2012
Love this place. Mellow vibe, great bartenders and excellent beers on tap. My fave so far is the Heretic ale. I interacted with three different people during the evening, all of whom are cool. I am definitely coming back.
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Review from James T.
San Francisco, CA
2/24/2012
Great Pub. As serendipity would have it, last week I poked my head in to have a pint of Anchor's Steam while I waited for some friends to arrive for our dinner reservation. The bartender was nice and welcoming and the prices were generous. I didn't get a chance to try their drink specials due to time constraints, but I'll definitely be back here with some friends.
The place has plenty to do when you're not drinking too. Pool tables, Galaga and comfy seating. The PBR was ever-present, as it should be in this area, and the selection of beers on tap were at par. Other people who've encountered this bar claim that it is night and day depending on which night you go, but I will return and reserve the final fifth star to see how it fares on a weekend night when it will undoubtedly be packed. -
Review from Jane K.
11/12/2011
What's the best way to wake up on a Saturday morning after late night? With a BLT Bloody Mary and a free waffle covered in whipped cream and maple syrup. Duh.
Thieves puts other bars to shame, boasting not only an awesome take on one of my very favorite cocktails but super friendly bartenders, friendly patrons, a photo booth AND pool tables. Perfect bar in a bottle. I even scored a freebie this afternoon as a welcome to SF after a several month-long hiatus in NYC.
The Bloody is made with a perfect combo of tomato, Worcestershire, horseradish, seasoning, a skewer of cherry tomatoes smeared with cream cheese, charred bacon and even a whole leaf of lettuce.
While I rarely go here in the later evening time, I could - and have - easily spend all day at this dive on 15th and Guerrero. -
Review from Andrew W.
San Francisco, CA
9/23/2011
Honor Among Thieves : The 10 Commandments
1. I am Thieves your King, you shall not have other bars before me.
2. You shall not take the name of Thieves in vain.
3. Remember to keep holy the King's day "Bloody Marython" Sunday.
4. Honor your neighbor of devoted thieves.
5. You shall not be judge.
6. You shall not expect unfriendly service.
7. You shall not expect overpriced drinks.
8. You shall not asked for 'ridiculously' named drinks.
9. You shall not act under false pretense this is more than your bare-bones Mission dive.
10. You shall not set forth without cash.
Thieves Tavern is King.....they're one of the few left that remain true to the drinker. -
Review from Christopher J.
Berkeley, CA
2/28/2012
I work nearby and love visiting this place. Usually, the prices are right and the staff is friendly.
The gentlemen who served us until 5PM was quite friendly, serving us the Old Style and Jameson as the listed special. However, once he left, a young woman took over and the experience changed.
She began by ignoring us for 15 minutes. Then I asked for the special and she was very rude, making it clear the special had switched to Corona. I asked what was wrong and if I'd done anything to anger her and she barked at me saying "her mood was none of my business".
I will still go here, since most of the staff is friendly, but would leave immediately if I saw this woman behind the bar. -
Review from Matt J.
San Francisco, CA
11/8/2011 5 Check-ins Here
There are plenty of bars in San Francisco, but not many like Thieves. A great selection of whiskey and beer, good pool tables, and pretty great music. Rarely crowded, a pretty mixed crowd, and not overrun by any of the normal Mission types (hipsters, walnut creek dwellers etc.). It's overall a really solid dive bar.
I mean, there's really not much you could do to improve it. Maybe clean up the bathrooms? -
Review from Kelly S.
7/27/2011
People in Austin are snotty about Austin. People in SF are snotty about SF. Both parties are adamant that their city is the best. "Austin? In TEXAS? Never!" or Texans "California? The LEFT COAST? Never!" But sitting in Thieves Tavern, I had this moment where I felt like I was in Austin... in San Francisco. Of course, the bartender lived in Austin so that's more than likely why it was so awesome :)
There are three things you need to know about this spot:
A. Bloody Mary with bacon, cream cheese, cherry tomatoes and a huge leaf o lettuce
B. Free waffles with whiskey whipped cream. FREE
C. Jameson and a PBR is $7.
Oh and bonus! A rad jukebox. Come here on a Saturday morning, grab a bloody and a waffle and listen to the sweet croonings of Hall and Oates. It's basically heaven with a little bacon thrown in. -
Review from Kevin T.
9/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
After all the great things I heard of this place, I REALLY wanted to fall in love it.
Cool bartenders, a couple of pool tables, and a bunch of cozy nooks to creep into and drown your worries away with the help of a great selection of brew available on tap.
What's wrong what all that?
Simple, this place gets PACKED. You're just as likely to find seating as you are to find Paris Hilton with her legs closed. Not happenin... -
Review from Jean Y.
I didn't know a bloody Mary could taste so good. Cream cheese, bacon, and tomato on a skewer with a large leaf of lettuce.
First round - $6 each. Second round - $5 each. Binge drinker's discount?
The sweet smell of butter wafting from the waffle maker made the drinks even better.
If I lived closer, I'd come here every weekend. -
Review from Kevin L.
10/20/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Awesome little place a quick jaunt from the Castro. Drinks are nicely priced here, where a draft beer and a rum/coke will only set you back $8.
Lots of little booths on the side and a pool table in the back. Never too crowded and not loud enough to not hear your drinkingmate.
Photobooth by the door! -
Review from Kristen W.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 8/26/2011 70 Check-ins Here
1 year, 52 yelp check-ins, 1 world series win, hundreds of tall PBRs and countless indecent photobooth poses later, i'm still smitten!
the blt bloody marys and free waffles are just the icing on the cake; the real draw is the amazing crowd that this neighborhood gem attracts.
friendly patrons, affordable booze, ample jukebox options, and charming bartenders. what's not to love?1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/25/2010
this place has randomly become my go-to neighborhood bar.
bartender jay is like "alice waters meets… Read more »
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Review from Mayra L.
10/17/2011
I finally came here for my friend S. birthday. Soooo much fun.
We were THAT group, you know the ones wearing party hats and yelling "birthday persons name insert here" at the top of our lungs and singing for a very lovely lady who we were all happy to celebrate for.
The bar was great though, 2 large pool tables, booths, interesting crowd. They housed a huge group of us + a Costco birthday cake with no complaints and we had an awesome time.
The drinks were nice and strong, reasonably priced and the location is cool, off of the craziness of Valencia st, but close enough where we could have gone there if we wanted too. It was a really really good experience. I'm really excited to come back again :) -
Review from Tara H.
9/14/2011
This is a great neighborhood bar with all the trappings of a good one: booze, a photo booth (also broken when I went there last, is there a photo booth sabatoger out there?), a smattering of afternoon drinkers, and a subpar bathroom that makes you rethink your potty emergency. It's up there with the 500 Club, a standby bar closer to my casa.
Chill atmosphere, and since there isn't anything too hot happening around the bar itself, you're much more inclined to sit and stay a while. I've been again and again and will likely keep coming back. -
Review from Sam W.
Santa Rosa, CA
11/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
Probably not a destination bar, but surely on the way to somewhere else, drop in for a couple. The staff are really what makes this place awesome, it was jam packed and there was only one tender. He announced to everyone hes trying his best and hopes to get everyone drunk Asap.
The problem with this place is just the people... the barrage of fucking bicycles out front was absurd. I know its San Francisco, and for how much i fucking hate cyclists, i should really just stop going there. But that can't be avoided, so ill just continue to hate on any pedal powered object and fagwads who ride them.
Drinks are decent prices and theres good specials now and again...
Enjoy all it has to offer, just expect more hipsters than anyone ever needs in one place. (more than zero)
Coors original is available, so Thieves Tavern earns itself a mention based just off that. -
Review from Holly S.
La Crescenta-Montrose, CA
10/20/2011
I came here on a Tuesday night a couple months ago and I am so happy to write a 5 star review for it!
The thing that really stood out for the night was the service from the bartenders, particularly one funny-haired man named Jay. I was with a decent sized group and there was no fuss about us. I even got a ginger ale for my non-drinking friend free of charge.
Another friend accidentally knocked over my three quarters-full beer later in the night and Jay graciously came over and helped us clean up, made a few jokes, and got me a new drink. So nice and unnecessary.
They also have good drinks, a jukebox for entertainment, and just an overall welcoming ambiance (minus some of the disturbing artwork on the walls).
Very happy with my experience :) -
Review from Lizzie G.
7/13/2011
Bacon in a drink... only in the USA.
The Jew in me is crying.Listed in: San Francisco a London CMs…
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Review from Damien S.
6/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
You'd have to imagine the defining elements of Thieves came from a circle of friends halfway through a handle of Evan Williams and/or a bag of lawn clippings.
"Let's put a photo booth in there."
"Yeah, yeah. And let's, um, dress up that old bitch Bloody Mary with a head of romaine, jerkified bacon, grape tomatoes and..."
"Cream cheese!"
"Yeah, cream cheese."
...
"And waffles."
"Free waffles."
"Free fucking waffles."
Pair that stoney conversation with a couple of pool tables, chipster (chipper hipster - you heard it here first) bar staff and $5 PBR/Jameson combos, and you've got where I want to drink.
See you tomorrow, friends.Listed in: San Francisco
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Review from Tran C.
San Francisco, CA
11/11/2011
The best part about this place is the pricing for drinks. The seasonal beer on tap is $4 a pint, and PBR tallboys are $3, how awesome is that for San Francisco??
The seating at the front feels a bit crowded, and the bathrooms are pretty clean. The back of the bar has a couple pool tables, and is well lit - easy place to relax, grab a bar stool, have a few drinks, and catch up with a friend. -
Review from Rachel F.
6/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is my kind of place.
Incorporating different facets from some my favorite bars from back home, Thieves Tavern is a true neighborhood joint. Great music, friendly bartenders who have no problem doling out shots -- dangerooouuuss! -- a pool table and a setup conducive to group conversation and fun.
No, I didn't get to try the waffles. No, I didn't get to try their supposedly amazing Bloodies. But I'll be back to do both of those things, most likely. More than likely.
Bonus points for the photobooth and also, the borderline inappropriate channel advertising adult notions/toys as entertainment. There's something both fantastically cliché as well as hilarious about that.Listed in: Dive-ish bars?, San Fransisco, baby!
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Review from Him S.
San Francisco, CA
1/27/2012
The staff is awesome both very friendly but not so hip that they don't forget what their job is. It's very clean but still has that nice divey atmosphere that we all love.
The draft beer selection is not great - but hey the free toasted cheeses's make up for it (if you're nice;-).
If you love good Scotch, Burbon, rye etc this is your place - they have a big selection -
Review from Austin C.
5/30/2011
"I don't drink Bloody Marys, I eat them for breakfast."
-Chuck N. -
Review from Nathan K.
San Francisco, CA
7/10/2011
I just got back here from this bar. It's on the corner of 14th St. and Guerrero St., not far from the big Safeway and Market St. It has two pool tables and I wanted to play but my friends didn't seem to be in mood, just want to sit down and enjoy stiff drinks.
Basically, we came here for some alcohol and we did. A friend got us Pabst beers and I hadn't drank that for a long time. Looks like it's back in the picture. The taste was alright, just another piss beer. Then, we had some stiff drinks and apparently, they are into whiskeys now and we had the rye whiskey one, forgot which brand. The taste was much stronger, sipped slowly down our throats and it was a smooth one. So, we chilled and used sign language to talk (we are deaf).
We talked about lots of things like how one friend likes being a daddy. He's got a one year old son. They talked about motorcycles as they had one themselves and were discussing on a route up hwy 1. Mostly, I listened and also watched the Giants game on TV, lincoeum was pitching and they won it 3 to 1 over N.Y Mets.
Whiskeys were $7 each, beers $4. Cash only. Service was friendly and bartenders know how to say thank you in sign language.
Will come here again and play some pool! -
Review from Jimmy S.
Concord, CA
1/17/2012
Have a great time here every time I come! but watch out people here can be too worried about their "image" they don't enjoy it when your dancing and singing along too your favorite jam off the jukebox. Besides that the drink are cheap and the pool tables slant too the left!!!
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Review from Ashley S.
Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco, CA
1/8/2012
I LOVE pizza! I've never had bad pizza! But this is good! Great locations. Ethernet good bars! Mmmmmmm
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Review from Sara G.
San Francisco, CA
6/28/2011
Best place to throw yourself a shindig!
I had my going away party here last night and I have no idea how I'm up right now and functioning. I really have to hand it to these guys, I had about 20ish people here on a monday night and Oliver, the bartender was a complete doll! He made everyone feel so welcome and didn't even break a sweat with all the drinks he was slinging! Pool table + photobooth + juke box= high bar entertainment value. And to top it all off at the end of the night there was NO screaming "LAST CALL!!!" Just a polite, "gotta go kids"!
Thanks to Oliver and Thieves Tavern I had the best last party in SF a girl could have. -
Review from amanda v.
San Francisco, CA
4/9/2011
Jessi is my new favorite bar tender!
Have you noticed that there's a lot special nights or days at bars that involve meat? Well at Thieves on Sunday's from noon to Five you can power up on the salad of all Bloody Mary's. Jessi makes totally Vegan Bloody Mary's that really kick you in the ass, they are spicy!
She uses all kinds of toppings, which is the best, even pickled okra and beans, pepperoncinis, and of corse celery... she might switch it up on you who knows. There's always a pita and hummus plater and think this weekend she's adding baby carrots to the dipping try.
Plus she always has a big smile to greet you with, which is a nice change.
As far as Thieves Tavern, it's a chill place, they have TV's and a digital Juke box. There's a pool table which is my favorite part. The whiskey selection is awesome which is to be expected at a thieves bar.
Always cool patrons there as well. -
Review from Nicholas F.
Oakland, CA
3/20/2011 21 Check-ins Here
This is now my neighborhood bar, having recently moved just around the corner from it. Most nights, having it close by replaces the need for late night TV, because I get a kick out of observing the drunken shenanigans occurring outside it from my bedroom window.
It's your classic hipster/dive bar (one of the most popular drinks served being the ubiquitous tallboy PBR), but that doesn't necessarily mean it's come directly off the hipster/dive bar assembly line... It definitely has its own distinctive character. That's certainly helped by the bartenders and the care they take in keeping you happy and entertained.
The jukebox is fun... I'm always amazed at how often I get to hear something by The Knife there. That goes a long way in making any place feel like home to me.
My first time here was during an unofficial Yelp event with Eryka V and crew. I enjoyed it that first time, and now that I live just a hop, skip, and stumble away, I'm happy to call it my neighborhood hangout. -
Review from Rebecca P.
San Francisco, CA
4/12/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Am I the only one that uses the photo booth here? I like sitting in it after I've had one too many and my lazy eye's come out to play. Seriously, I've taken so many atrocious pictures here that I swear will never see the light of day but my boyfriend insists on sticking to the refrigerator.
Thieves has other things going for it though, like good whiskeys and cool bartenders. Great neighborhood bar.Listed in: Mission: Get drunk.
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Review from Nick B.
5/17/2011
I wasn't expecting much when going here. It was a Sunday morning, dimly lit, not too many people inside. An imposing bartender greeted us.
Me: We need six bloody marys.
Barkeep: I make my bloody marys one way. Spicy. With bacon. And cheese. And tomatoes and lettuce. I make no substitutions. Do you want them?
Me: Yes.
Barkeep: That'll be 60$.
We paid, but then he offered us 5$ off if we chose a few songs from the jukebox. I took my five dollars and threw it in there - as soon as Rocket Man came on, the barkeep was our best friend.
Those bloody marys were amazing. Possibly best I've had. I think he used barbecue sauce amongst many other ingredients, and he fried up fresh bacon to put on a skewer. Awesome. We were all in heaven.
To top it off, as we're drinking and enjoying the place (more people started showing up, btw) he comes over and asks if anyone wants free waffles! So he goes behind the bar and whips up some waffle batter and proceeds to make his guests waffles, with all the fixin's at the end of the bar. Pretty friggin' cool.
Overall, I had a really fun time here. Location and slight grimey feel to the place dock it a star, but I'll bet if I go a few more times and have similar experiences, I'd re-rate this place at 5 stars. It's a nice find. -
Review from Emily D.
6/5/2011
Bigger than Whiskey Thieves (but a shoebox is bigger than WT) and pretty freaking cool.
Also $4 rum and diets? NICE! -
Review from Jay H.
12/27/2010 1 Check-in Here
Part of the Trio of whiskey bars and I have to say...the nicest.
They have a nice bar, nice tables and pool tables! I watched basketball on tv and the bartender was quick to serve and super chill.
I got hit on by a super drunk dude which was more funny than flattering considering he was WASTED beyond belief. Still...what lady doesn't love the attention of the male persuasion?
I dig it...need to roll out here way more often. -
Review from Anna G.
San Francisco, CA
12/13/2010 1 Check-in Here
The bartender bought me a drink because he liked my jukebox selections.
This place is pretty sweet.Listed in: I live in the Mission
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Review from ruggy j.
Updated - 7/31/2011 7 Check-ins Here
Who am I kidding? This is the best bloody mary in the entire city! No matter how much another bar or restaurant raves about their own version, it just doesn't hold a candle to Thieves (yes, even the goods at Zeitgeist!). If you're not spending your Saturdays here, you're missing out!
Listed in: Dive Bars, Mission Bars, Bloody Marys
3 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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7/23/2011
I'm not sure if it's the usual rotation or not, but I've been to Thieves plenty of times on Saturday… Read more »
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Review from monica c.
3/4/2011 8 Check-ins Here
Love that this place can pretty much be anything you want it to be.
Super chill whiskey + cheap beer bar? Yup.
Cozy little tables with cute lighting? Sure.
Crazy schwasted barflies trying to pick up anyone/thing in sight? Definitely.
Insta dance party in the back to the rockin jukebox? Oh yeah.
Seriously, their jukebox is out of control. -
Review from Eric H.
San Francisco, CA
1/10/2011
Pretty friggin' awesome local watering hole. Bartenders are super friendly, drinks are reasonably priced and stiffly poured. I've had the bartenders give me change to pick some music for the juke box (which has a wide variety of songs) - GIVE me change...not make change for me, by the way.
Now I'm not a huge whiskey or beer drinker, but they always have some kind of combo special for a good shot of the brown liquor and a PBR - $7, I believe. Good stufff. :)
Amenities: 2 pool tables, booth and bar seating, juke box, photo booth, 2 flat screens and a projector screen.
Very solid overall!!!! -
Review from Bethany M.
San Francisco, CA
11/30/2010
Walking down 16th, I saw a chalkboard sign somewhere that said Hot Apple Cider on it. (Or I imagined it, we haven't really worked that part of the story out yet.) So when we got to Thieves Tavern to meet some friends, I was inspired. Sadly, they don't have hot apple cider there. But the bartender offered instead to make me a hot whiskey sour. From scratch. Oh la la.
Important to note here that I don't drink whiskey, with the rare exception of a spiked hot cider. I don't like it. I loathe it, even. But I appreciated his offer of another hot beverage for sure. And when I asked what kind of whiskey he'd make it with if I let him choose, just waiting to hear something disgusting that triggered my gag reflex and motivated my stagnant brain to figure out what the hell else I wanted to drink, he said Makers. Awwww. My grandma drank Makers every day and it's my Dad's favorite too. SOLD!
And you know what, it was really good. Only $6 for a freakin pint glass full too. I like inexpensive.
A few minutes later, I realized I was in a whiskey bar. I had no idea. Heh.
The bartenders were great, very friendly and eager to provide personal, knowledgeable service. This non-whiskey drinker would gladly go back. And order a whiskey drink no less. -
Review from Ben B.
10/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
Stopped in here for an after work drink with my sister. Great feeling to the bar. Not overly crowded, good vibe, nice bartender and great selection. They have a huge variety of single malt scotch and have the entire Anchor Steam line on tap. I wasn't there for any of the free food being discussed in other reviews. But they were showing every sporting event that customers wanted and it was fun to just hang out and talk or join into the games.
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