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Toronado
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11:30 am - 2 am
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Music:
- Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Tue, Wed, Thu
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Dive-y
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Miranda m. said: "Fun dive bar with great decor. My favorite thing about this place is small fake fireplace and the giant wooden bigfoot. When you walk in, it feels like you have been transported from the city into a little cabin lodge up in the…" read more »
1136 reviews for Toronado
Review Highlights
"Love it with a sausage from next door."
(in 49 reviews)
"The beer selection here alone is amazing."
(in 254 reviews)
"barley wine festival (come early and prepared."
(in 23 reviews)
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1136 reviews in English
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Review from Juanita D.
Los Angeles, CA
2/8/2012 1 photo
Coming from LA, bars... even so called "dive" bars can be filled with pretentious people.... not here though!
It was my first time in SF and was staying in the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood. I was looking for some cool bars to hit up while I was there and found this little gem on New Years Eve. I mean.... $4 beers, rare ones that you usually can't find all in one spot, how could I resist?! (fyi: this place is CASH only!)
I chose to order:
-Allagash White
-Dogfish Head 120 minute (wow!)
-Pliney The Elder
This place is what it is. A bar. Don't expect a bunch of done-up snoots, just down to Earth, REAL people looking to have a good time, throw back some drinks or just get smashed. I love the Mom & Pop feel of this place. It's hard to get the bartenders attention though, especially when it's busy.... so definitely know what you want to order or they will leave your sight in a heartbeat.
Everyone keeps talking about the sausage place next door, but I chose to grub on some pizza at Mythic Pizza which is on the opposite side of the bar. (some of the biggest & best pizza I've had, but I'll save that for another review)
Whether you live here or are visiting from out of town, this is one of those MUST GO to bars in SF, you don't want to pass this place up! Prost! -
Review from Juan Camilo R.
San Francisco, CA
2/8/2012
This place is beer-lovers heaven,
Don't s:
- Order stella, budlight, Miller, etc, etc...
- Said the music is too loud
- Try to engage in a learning experience about beer with the bartenders
Do s
- Open mind to try many different types of beer
- Check out their seasonal specials
- Read the board listing the beers
- Try one of their many hand pump beers
- Engage in a conversation with the Tamale Lady
Cheers! -
Review from Matthew M.
San Francisco, CA
2/8/2012
My favorite place to grab beer in this part of town. Huge selection from all over the place and all served in the correct silly special glasses. As it is a bit of a beer snob place and it's in SF it's understandable bartender might be a little snooty. And there was an asshole bartender there, guy with glasses and shoulder length dirty curly hair who refused to give more than one word answers describing the beers. For someone who can afford to sample all the beers, cool, but for those of us on a little budget it's nice to know what we're getting.
So in summary amazing place but why do they employ a jerk to work behind the bar on slow nights who won't discuss the dozens of beers and is an ass to customers who don't know him besides. So unless I want a specialty beer i'd go somewhere else now cause normal beer is cheaper other spots around especially during happy hour -
Review from Lorrie M.
1/30/2012 1 Check-in Here
This is one of the more fun bars I've been to in SF that is much more laid back, more casual, and you can bring in your favorite sausage dog from next door to feast on while you enjoy a deliciously well priced beer from the extensive availability on draft or a great deal of variety in the bottle.
The bartenders are friendly and the local regulars are even friendly. They will not hesitant to strike up a conversation with you at the bar or recommend their favorites. There is a TV so you can catch up on the game and other big action that is happening and the menu is pretty self explanatory although you may have a hard time trying to figure out how to pronounce most of it.
They are CASH ONLY just like the sausage spot next door, but it's well worth your cold hard green backs for a refreshing taste of something out of the ordinary. -
Review from Alasdair C.
1/30/2012
Cheap. Dirty. Excellent beer. Close proximity to sausage. Killer jukebox.
Love this place.
Favorite bar in SF.
Go here. -
Review from Vickie Z.
San Francisco, CA
2/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
Great beer! Got drunk that's all I can remember :S
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Review from Josh T.
Miami, FL
2/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
Awesome diver bar with a killer, affordable beer selection. What sets this bar apart is its amazing patrons. We sat down with a local and were serenaded with tales of San Francisco's heydays. Do not miss this place on your trip!
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Review from Julia N.
2/2/2012
This place is panic-attack-inducingly crowded, and the bartenders are straight up jerky. Good beer list, OK, but it's 2012! Craft beer is everywhere, and there are a lot of places where you and your friends can drink Deschutes and Russian River without having to worry about being squashed by 282394904 aspiring beer geeks or harangued by a gross John Waters moustache. Not worth it!
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Review from Neil A.
Montara, CA
2/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
I can't believe I haven't reviewed this place yet..... I've been going here a few times a year for about five years. This is definitely one of the premier places in SF to grab a brew. Prices are good and the selection is great but unfortunately you HAVE to be a regular to get decent service. The owner's wife has started to recognize me and the dude who looks like he's straight out of a Dr. Seuss book has lightened up on the attitude on my recent visits. I have some friends who are brewers in various local brew pubs and showing up a couple of times with them has helped in the service department. If you like a great brew and want to down it with a great sausage this is the place to go. Order your food next door at Rosemunde sausage grill and enjoy a beer or two at Toronado while you wait.
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Review from Erin H.
1/11/2012 1 Check-in Here
Dirty, dive-y, and perfect.
Simple bar, amazing tap selection, and they even have happy hour.
I ended up here on a Monday morning during the holidays. This was our first stop on what was to become the best day of drinking in SF of my life. Pliny the Elder on tap for $3.50? Shut up. No way. Russian River's Pliny & Blind Pig first thing in the morning calls for absolute perfection.
Oh, and cash only folks. Get used to it. You're paying next to nothing for an impeccable beer selection. -
Review from Gretchen B.
San Francisco, CA
1/21/2012
Excellent beer selection.
The bartenders here can be short if you're not ready to order, but they're also super helpful if you need a beer recommendation. I came in on a post-work Thursday, was able to find a seat at the bar and even sample a few beers before my friend arrived.
The music is a little loud out front, so we went next door to Rosamundes, grabbed a sausage and found a seat in the back. It gets crowded later, but is still a great place for happy hours and anytime you're craving a good beer.
You'll also always spot the tamale lady here! -
Review from Burt T.
San Francisco, CA
2/5/2012
Very loud, very grimy, music very punk rock, but the beer selection is awesome! Came here to show my friend the crazy beers.. first round was on him he bought it forgot to tip the bartender (looked like ms. daisy) and she was like: do you stiff all ur bartenders or just me?? LOL my friend had had it. gave her 3 bucks i was laughing.. needless to say we left. I will be back for the beers... but my friend.. i think hes done.
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Review from Phuong M.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 1/19/2012
Two things if you come here:
1. Don't even think about ordering Stella.
2. Don't complain about lack of seating.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/27/2011
My buddies moved in around the corner, so i find myself here a non-insignificant amount of time now.… Read more »
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Review from Russell I.
Modesto, CA
2/5/2012
To make it simple, this is the best bar in the world. Great bear. Amazing Jukebox. Maintains some of the atmosphere from when the Lower Haight was a bit edgy. Great sausage dogs next door. Bartenders are just surly enough to be fun but are easily won over. One of the few places in SF where people are friendly without being scary.
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Review from Matthew V.
North Hollywood, CA
1/17/2012
This is the best beer bar I have came across in San Francisco. Large selection of beers from local breweries including Russian River, Lagunitas, and He'Brew. Good selection of Belgium beers as well including beers from Chimay. Pliny The Elder is poured there! There are draft and bottle menus. They sell 3 liter bottles!
Prices are very reasonable. Pints during Happy Hour are $4 dollars. After Happy Hour pints are $5. Prices are much more reasonable compared to the Monk's Kettle.
The bar allows food from outside to be eaten at the bar. Lots of food places nearby so you can grab a pint and eat at this place.
The crowd is cool. Gets very packed! Easy to spark a conversation among the crowd. I met several folks in IT who I exchanged contact info with. Seems to be a good place to network with IT folks.
When I visit San Francisco I'll definitely visit again. Good selection of beers and reasonable prices. And, its very close to Union Square and SOMA. Decent walk from the hotel to there. -
Review from Chris D.
San Francisco, CA
1/27/2012 1 Check-in Here
Best Beer Bar In the City, U will find everything in beer.
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Review from Jefferson S.
Winston-Salem, NC
1/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
Toronados! F--k yeah!!!
This place rocks in so many ways, it's hard to describe.
Great, great, great beer selection. Loud music cranking at all times. Sausages next door.
I am a huge fan.
5 stars for a perfect, loud dive bar. -
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 give it a pint, or 2.....
Total dive bar in the heart of the Haight. A huge selection of beers on tap at reasonable prices. I'm jealous that I don't have a local pub like this near home.
Another plus, the smell of sausages cooking on the grill next door at Rosamunde's. -
Review from Erin L.
1/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
A must visit for any beer lover. It's dirty and dive-y and I love it! If you think that Budweiser and Miller a great beers then this isn't the place for you as your tastes aren't sophisticated enough to appreciate the variety of brews here. There are probably 50+ brews on tap.
We saw a few dog visitors in the bar. You can bring your our food in. Usually crowded. Cash only. -
Review from cole m.
Point Loma, CA
1/16/2012
Great beer selection. I always judge an establishment by how many of their beers I haven't had before. On this current trip, I was loving this place since I hadn't had about 60% of the beers listed. I had the Monkfish Trippel and the Green Lakes Ale by Deschutes, amongst other beverages. Both were pretty darn tasty. It is also nice being able to bring in food from other places next door.
The bar could use a little bit of a makeover; it has that quintessential "dive-bar" feel. The one in San Diego is much cleaner. -
Review from Chad P.
LONG ISLAND CITY, NY
1/4/2012
This is a beer drinkers beer bar plain and simple. If you're coming here because your company co-ed kickball team decided to have a pub crawl in the city...well this probably isn't the place for you. This bar is and should be for the craft beer drinker. Pliny the Elder on tap...hell yes, Dogfish 120 on tap for $5 bucks!, oh dear lord.
Bottom line, this is a down and dirty beer bar. If the only thing you take away from this place is that your panties got in a ruffle because you "thought the bartender was rude"...well...at least your kickball team won right? Now move along and find yourself a Stella. -
Review from L H.
Los Angeles, CA
1/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place is awesome!!! I live in Downtown L.A. and I would make the drive up to San Francisco just to come here. There are beers here that are incredibly hard to find all under one roof. The Crowd is Relaxed, and so is the ambience. Beers are reasonably priced 4+ but you cant go wrong with any of them. Overall one of my favorite places. OH! a word of advice. CASH ONLY!!!
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Review from Josh M.
Atlanta, GA
1/2/2012
Wonderful beer bar in the Haight. This is a tiny spot and it gets pretty cramped during the peak hours, but it's definitely my favorite place for beer in San Francisco. Good variety and very large list of superb beers with prices that are stellar for this city. You'll never find a beer on tap that doesn't impress you -- if you don't enjoy a beer that you get, it's probably because you're just not a fan of that style in general.
Some of the other reviews complain about the bartenders being rude, but I haven't had that problem. I have noticed one or two times when the bartender has snapped at someone else at the bar who was doing some minor but agreeably obnoxious thing (I think the guy was waving at the bar tender for a long time... just obnoxious enough for the reaction to maybe be justified but just minor enough for it to maybe be unjustified). In general though it's far from being a visit to the Soup Nazi, and after 6 - 10 visits I never had any issues with the service. I would even say most of the bartenders are friendly... in their own unique way.
The only thing keeping this place from getting five stars from me is that it is dive-y enough inside for it to actually detract from the experience. In short, try not to get wedged near one of the bathrooms, and plan to stand for at least 75% of the time unless you go during slow times. -
Review from housephiliac h.
West Hollywood, CA
1/3/2012 2 Check-ins Here
the perfect bar for beer enthusiasts ! no joke. never have i seen a list like that at the prices unimaginably low. No BS barkeeps, rockin music.. people just mellowing the hell out.
cant wait to go back everytime when i'm in town. fuk-a-Monk! -
Review from Monica S.
12/20/2011
If you've read the other reviews, you know the drill: order yourself a delicious sausage next door (meaty or vegan), saunter up to the bar, and worship at one of the best beer temples in San Francisco.
All of the drawbacks are out in the open: the bathrooms are dingy, the bartenders have some snark, and at most hours you'll be packed like sardines against the rest of the crowd. I suggest relieving yourself ahead of time, dusting off your kindergarden politeness skills, and coming during an off hour, so that you can treat yourself to one of the most diverse selections of beer in the Bay Area.
This is an excellent place to try out varieties of beer that are absent at most other bars (e.g. I tried my first lambic here) and to familiarize yourself with new brewers from this area. At its best, Toronado is like a daily beer tasting festival. At its worst, it is a difficult place to grab happy hour brews with your ten closest coworkers. But if you love beer and want to exercise your adventurous tastebuds/liver, Toronado is worth it. -
Review from Ashley C.
1/20/2012 1 Check-in Here
Walls well decorated with bumper stickers and other things to read. They have a butt loads of beer but no Guinness, they did have another stout that did tasted similar. Very grungy, just the way I like it!
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Review from Spenser C.
San Francisco, CA
12/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
I had great beer here! The had Pliny the Elder, one of the tastier beers I've had.
Come here for the beer, but don't expect to find a place to sit. It's pretty crowded at night. Come with cash! They don't take plastic. -
Review from Paul C.
San Francisco, CA
12/19/2011 4 Check-ins Here
My favorite bar in Lower Haight. The only problem is that sometimes they just jammed and you've really really got to try and get yourself noticed. And of course the somewhat usual "cash only" thing.
But love the ambiance of this place. And of course the beers--great selection and they are good about seasonality. Just this weekend they had a slew of Christmas ales that I hadn't seen at a number of other places in the area.
Probably my favorite thing about Toronado is that they're open early. This is the kind of place where you can get a drink at Noon--and some days (for better or worse) you just need that! -
Review from Mike H.
12/5/2011
Outstanding beer selection. Good vibe for drinking, early and often. Plenty of room to talk with your group or someone else's. Sticky floor? I don't care. Crowded tables? No problem. Would I go again? Sure, though not my first choice on the block.
Empties and bricks strewn about? A bit surprising. They come with the territory at any popular bar, but after an hour? Um, I don't think you're doing it right.
Disgusting bathroom. I wouldn't recommend Toronado to any women with a small bladder. I've smelled few places worse, most notably in 2003, in an area of rural China where they didn't have modern conveniences....like electricity. -
Review from Heidi M.
San Francisco, CA
12/19/2011
Fantastic beer selection. Probably the best in SF. I especially love going around the winter holidays and in the summer when they have lots of seasonal selections.
Yes, it can be crowded as hell. Get there earlier or wait patiently for a table. It's popular for good reason. I just don't get the reviews that complain that the staff is pretentious. They've been anything but in my experience. They love beer and are happy to share their knowledge with you. Any time I've asked questions, they've been happy to make recommendations and let me try a sip before I order. I've learned to just listen to the bartender when I am not totally sure what I want - their suggestions have turned me on to so many delicious beers. Yum. -
Review from Kelly B.
Kings Beach, CA
12/18/2011 1 photo
We went here for my boyfriend's birthday and had a great time. Toronado is an awesome dive bar with an extensive draught beer list.
If you're adventurous, order some Underberg from behind the bar! -
Review from Julie L.
Boston, MA
12/20/2011
This is probably my favorite beer bar in SF. The best selection of beers and amazing prices. The staff may not be overtly friendly, but they're always been willing to field any questions I have about new beers and give me a taste. What else could you want?
Go to place for Russian River beers (or any local Norcal beers) as well as a standout Belgium selection. Even got to taste the elusive Pliny the Younger during beer week last year. And definitely check out the Barleywine Festival - cannot be beat. Be prepared to go early, stake out a space/placemat, and sample some crazy strong beers.
And of course, being able to bring in outside food - so great - especially when there are so many great options closeby. -
Review from Charles S.
San Francisco, CA
1/18/2012
My Favorite place in SF , Bring cash , make any selection and you cant go wrong. Lots of food nearby , YOU should come by during the day on TUESDAY's to get the burger next door @ ROSAMUNDE ,
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Review from Tom R.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 10/17/2011 10 Check-ins Here
This update is past due.
The last few times I've been to Toronado the overwhelming bathroom smell that prompted my last review has disappeared. I don't know what the problem was or what they did to correct it but I've been back three times in the last year without bathroom funk driving me out.
Come back to San Francisco's original beer parlor.Listed in: It's all about the beer
3 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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6/13/2010
Toronado is a world famous beer destination. Everyone that likes beer in The Bay Area and beyond… Read more »
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Review from Kasie V.
San Francisco, CA
11/13/2011
This is a really though one. It should be a slam dunk 5 star review. This bar, in my opinion, has the best beer selection in The City. I live half a block away. I mean, this SHOULD be my neighborhood staple.
Lawd knows I have tried many times to make this place my neighborhood staple.
The problem? Pretty much every single person that works there (bartenders, door guys, whoever) are pretentious DBs... except for the pretty little Ailene (?) lady. She's the only nice one. If she's not working, don't even bother. -
Review from Gertrude G.
San Francisco, CA
1/3/2012
Great beer selection. They always have something new that I haven't had before. I really like this place. Unfortunately they also have a notoriously rude staff. Fortunately, I've only watched it and not been the focus of it.
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Review from Ralph D.
Fremont, CA
12/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
I can't recommend the Toronado enough. They have one of the best selection of beers on tap in the entire bay area... and that is saying a lot. It gets very crowded, so not too good for groups unless you get there early.
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Review from Bea L.
San Francisco, CA
11/20/2011 2 Check-ins Here
LOL
Love this place, sure brings the truck driver in me to play.
There are pieces of toilet paper scattered on the floor, an average of five chicks at any given moment (they don't usually stay long unlike me), the guy at door has a super poker face but will tell you his whole life story if you lit a cigarette next to him (the short one with the cane and a black hoodie-I think it's his uniform, never saw him wear anything else).
The beer selection is just Muah! (all the other adjectives are taken by all the other reviews. I'm just leaving an interjection). -
Review from Albert H.
10/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
I've lost count of the number of times this place has been recommended to us ... we finally wandered in on a slow Monday night.
It's cash only, there's no kitchen ( there are plenty of places to grab a bite to bring in on the block ), and don't forget your ID like the couple that showed up a minute before us. The doorman ... okay, the bouncer ... isn't taking any nonsense.
What's inside? Beer taps. Lots of Belgians, an excellent selection of local brews, a smattering of other things. For some reason, despite a long tap list the night we were in, they didn't have a single dubbel on tap. All the beers are reasonably priced for what they are, though some of the stronger ones are served in small portions. They have two beer engines, serving properly curated local beers on cask.
The bar staff was happy to recommend something nice when I asked for a sour beer that wasn't Rodenbach ( which they had on tap ) - ask a serious beer question, these guys know what they speak of - at least on my visit, I found the guy behind the bar reasonably friendly.
It's not a big place; there's a small back room with some table seating. The night we were in around 9pm, it was possible to get a spot fairly easily, and by the time we left an hour later, spots at the bar had even opened up. The crowd was pretty mellow - a bunch of couples and small groups enjoying beer. The table next to us was a flock of programmers getting drunk and discussing coding standards.
The rumors are true - if you are into beer, you have to see this place. I wasn't sure how it would compare to the Rose and Crown down in Palo Alto ( much closer to home for me, R&C has food, has IMO an equally awesome tap list ), but I left impressed. -
Review from Lee C.
Pasadena, CA
10/2/2011
As if you don't already know, this laid back hall is a beer lovers paradise.
An amazing assortment of beers (as well as patrons) make for a fine way to sip away a foggy S.F. afternoon.
Service is better the earlier you go and so are the characters posted up at the bar. Be patient and friendly, and chances are you will be rewarded handsomely by the staff.
If you have never been here, you are missing one of the best beer spots known to mankind. Make it happen!
