Looking for a chill bar to hang out? A no frills bar with a light theme to meet up with friends before your dinner or your next activity? Then this place is a good spot for you! This bar inside the movie theater has themed drinks and the bartenders are helpful. Upstairs even has a couple of pinball machines to fill up your time too. There's seating for maybe 20 people so this isn't a huge place but it does work a simple bar that'll do the job. read more

Speakeasy Inside Alamo Drafthouse Cinema. Great Spot for Solo Time, Dates, or Groups. Bar & High Table Seating. Laidback Ambiance. Expansive Menu, Especially for Beer. Affordable Prices. Free, One & Two-Hour Street Parking As Well As Paid Parking Meters & Garage. See Below for More Info: Speakeasy Inside Alamo Drafthouse Cinema: Despite being a born and raised city kid, I was first introduced to Bear Vs. Bull after an alumni dinner by a fellow Bruin. The speakeasy is inside Alamo Drafthouse. You walk through the doors and go straight until you get to the bar, located on the right. Laidback Ambiance: My favorite aspect of Bear Vs Bull is the laidback ambiance. There is chatting, but people are on the quiet side. Great Spot for Solo Time, Dates, or Groups: Bear Vs Bull is a nice option for solo time, dates, and groups. For those trying to spend some time on their own while out on the town, Bear Vs Bull is an incredible option in the city to do so as it is welcoming and people will not stare at you for enjoying your company. Bar & High Table Seating: Seats surround the u-shaped bar. There are also high bars in the perimeter for two-to-four people. Expansive Menu, Especially for Beer: Bear Vs Bull has an expansive drink menu consisting of beers, wines, cocktails, and liquor. They even offer non-alcoholic options, which is great for non-drinkers or if you are taking it easy. Affordable Prices: Another perk of this hidden gem are the affordable prices. For instance, I bought a beer and non-alcoholic beer to $15, pre-tip. Drinks start off at $6 and go up to $18 for the specialty cocktails. Free, One & Two-Hour Street Parking As Well As Paid Parking Meters & Garage: There is free, one and two-hour parking around Bear Vs. Bull. Please look at the sign to ensure there is no street-cleaning and learn what the specific parking limit is for the block where you park on to not get a ticket. There are paid meters around the Bear Vs. Bull perimeter and a parking garage two streets over, which you enter on 21st Street between Valencia and Barlett. read more

Bear Vs. Bull - Non-Alcoholic IPA ($6) & Tart Beer ($9) - Beer Bar Near Me - San Francisco, California

This bar and lounge, inside the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema New Mission, is dimly lit in a purplish and reddish hue and full of character, with quirky artwork on the walls, portraying of course the bear and the bull. And what did we get to drink... the bear and the bull. The Bear was pretty much a fancy old fashioned, while the Bull was a paloma. The drinks were made well, pretty good for theater cocktails. We both wanted the Southside Slugger, but they were out of this on a Saturday afternoon when we visited. It was quite a wait to order from the bar, with one bartender and just a handful of visitors, but service was professional. They also have plenty of options for beer, and a bit of seating for enjoying some drinks before or after watching a film at the theater. read more

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This bar inside the theater is so cool! Lots of space, speedy bar staff, music, a lot of pinball machines upstairs! And their Buckwheat's Martini has a BOMB pickle in it. Like seriously such a good pickle. It's vinegary, spicy, and super crunchy. I'm in love read more

If you haven't stopped into Bear vs Bull before or after one of your Alamo film viewings, you're doing it wrong! Sure, you can get all your food and drink at your seat, but you're missing out on a companion beverage in this cozy little space. Bear vs Bull is great if you get to the theater a little early, maybe are waiting for a friend, or have some time before your next destination after finishing a movie. The staff is all super friendly and will serve all your cocktail, beer, and wine needs. Pro tip: you can also apparently (I've witnessed but not have done it myself yet) get some food too. I know I could use a little extra buffalo cauliflower in my life! read more

This is a bar inside of the Alamo Drafthouse cinema! the ambiance is cool and they have a variety of drinks including mocktails. i got the Mission Secrets Mocktail and it was great! read more

Bear Vs. Bull - mission secrets - Beer Bar Near Me - San Francisco, California

Tucked inside the best movie theater in the city (Alamo Drafthouse) is one of the best cocktails bars in the Mission! Bear Vs Bull is definitely not one to miss, even if you don't care to watch a movie. Once you enter the theater, go straight past the ticket counter and you'll be greeted by large bear and bull statues on your right. You'll then find yourself bathed in the soft reddish light of this cool, modern, intimate bar. The atmosphere is fantastic, with a great balance of excitable buzz and subdued "lounge-ness." Having been here more times than I can count, I can safely say I've enjoyed all the cocktails on the menu! Personal favorites are the Shanghai Bastard and the Cool Jerk, but you really can't go wrong. There are also a surprising number of beers on tap to accommodate most tastes, and they even have a few frozen drinks for those seeking extra refreshment. The other great thing is you can bring any drinks and food you order here directly into your theater, so there's no rush to finish up if you're heading into a show! While service can occasionally be slow (usually only 1-2 bartenders and a couple dozen thirsty patrons), Bear Vs Bull is absolutely worth checking out! read more

good drinks! busy evening but the bartender was as attentive as can be and very tasty cocktails

Yesssss I loved this place. Came on a random Tuesday and it was nice and quiet - very intimate setting with low lighting. Very large bar and some table and booth seating as well. A cute date spot before or after a movie or separately! read more

Bear Vs. Bull - Beer Bar Near Me - San Francisco, California

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On 4/20 we went there to hang out before a movie and the bartender wouldn't acknowledge we were even standing there 8 feet away from him waiting for him. He was busy with another customer looking at each other's phones. Waited a good ten minutes and just decided to cut our lost time and go do something somewhere else until our movie started. The ambiance was kind of sad. It was getting dilapidated, and they weren't trying very hard to keep it looking like they cared much about the bar. I couldn't speak of the food either since we couldn't get service in the first place. Very disappointed that we were being ignored, and treated like we obviously didn't matter. read more

This bar is good. It's inside the Alamo draft house movie theater. They have a great tap selection and solid mixed drinks too. Great atmosphere and service as well. But when it gets busy it can be hard to get attention. Welcome to a busy bar, right... that said it is a great place to kill a little time before your movie starts. I recommend it. read more

Bear Vs. Bull - A great IPA at a table beside the bar - Beer Bar Near Me - San Francisco, California

Good drinks and nice dark atmosphere. A little pricey but expected with the atmosphere and location. The only thing that I did not like is that they had trouble activating a physical gift card that I purchased from there. Not sure if I want to go back... well at least not with my gift card. read more

Horrible experience w the bartender photographed. He was racist and told my friends and I to "kick rocks." He proceeded to call us derogatory names and put us out while other patrons sat comfortably in their chairs till they were done with their drinks. I don't know how someone that works in hospitality thinks it's appropriate to communicate with someone that way but my friend and I weren't even disrespectful towards him for him to react that way. He got upset cause we asked if we could get one more round before they closed. He expressed that the bar was closed so we dropped it and he just kept going. Absolutely disgusted with the treatment here and I suggested you all avoid this bar at all costs. They do not deserve your presence, attention or money. I moved here from NYC and have never been treated with such disrespect. read more

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My group of four was looking for another bar to hit up. I took out my handy Yelp app and found Bear vs Bull. Looking around, we couldn't find the bar until we realized it was inside Alamo Drafthouse. We stopped by on a Friday night or I guess technically Saturday, December 16th around 12 midnight. I don't remember much about what we ordered that night as I left to go to the restroom and came back to a four drinks on the counter. (We were seated at the bar.) I was done drinking by now, so I only sipped whatever cocktail was handed to me. It was a fine cocktail, but since I didn't want to drink, I never finished it. (I pawned it off on someone in our party.) I didn't realized this until we got here, but I've been to this bar before. About mid last year, I came with a group to watch a movie and we started off at this bar. I believe there were three of us for the bar portion. We got here on Saturday, June 24th around 3pm and grabbed a table. We ordered: Black sands smash citra ($8), Bruery mischief golden ($7), Cocktail - Far Eastern Nitro ($12), and a Whiskey - Jameson ($9). If memory serves, I was the one who went for a jameson and a beer. It was a fun pre-movie drink. Actually, since service took a while in the theater, a friend kept sneaking out to grab drinks from here during the film. So I got to sip on shots of jameson without much of a wait. Cool, chill bar. And kinda hidden away as it's in a movie theater. I liked the dark vibe and atmosphere. Most importantly, it kept me liquored up during movie. Definitely deserves 4 stars just for that! read more

Bear Vs. Bull - Bruery mischief golden ($7) - Beer Bar Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Love the ambiance here! Perfect place to get a drink before heading in to your movie at Alamo Drafthouse. FYI you can bring the drinks you order here at the bar in to the theatre. The drinks are definitely on the pricier side, but I guess it's expected given that it's in the theatre. If you have time to spare for a cocktail either before or after your movie, I would recommend stopping by! read more

Bear Vs. Bull - Waiting for our movie to start - Beer Bar Near Me - San Francisco, California

The Bear vs. Bull bar is dark and pretty. There's a large selection of beers and cocktails. I expect the name of the bar is off-putting to anyone who is familiar with the cruel history of "bear baiting." It seems like an odd choice. read more

This bar was inside of the Alamo Drafthouse - New Mission. It was a small bar that was mostly dark and low lighting. There was an upstairs that had a handful of arcade games (mostly pinball). I ordered the Edge of the Solar System ($10) which was a stout beer. It tasted like Guinness but with coffee in it and I thought it tasted good. If you like stout beer then order the Edge of the Solar System. Good place for drinks and might as well catch a movie, too! read more

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This is great bar inside the Alamo Draft House. The place to go for an adult drink before or after a movie. They have very good beer list. Nice place to hangout to wait for a movie to start. read more

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Love that it's dark (although it's kinda hard to see the chalk board from across the bar, dark). Love that they have a great selection of craft beers (just had another winner from Fieldwork, called Raspberry Parfait). Love that you can take your drink to go with you into your film. They also have some clever cocktails. New for us this time around was the "Cool jerk" with one of my favorite rums (plantation pineapple). Their "White Russian" made with rum, nola coffee liquor and a liquid squeeze bottle labelled "caucasian" had me smiling. Love that fancy piña colada too, even if it costs and arm and a leg. Speaking of an arm and a leg. $5 for topo chico? After my Austin trip, I was craving some real bad, but it's $2 max everywhere you go. $5 seems a little steep. read more

We had once before and loved so we took our friends there. It was his birthday and his wife is pregnant so we all ordered drinks and both of theirs tasted like they were virgin. He politely asked if there were booze in them because they both tasted virgin. We all tasted them and they both tasted like zero booze. When he asked the bartender he rudely said that he had drank too much and couldn't taste the booze. The bartender offered to remake the drink and it was perfect with booze and everything! But then he charged us which was odd since our first drink had no booze. This was odd but we paid and then the man next to us at the bar yelled he was the bar manager and there were no free booze. He had 4 drinks in front of him and never introduced himself. Overall horrible experience and service. Zero stars, would not recommend. I hope someone besides the "bar manager" can help turn this space around! It was a fun spot before. read more

It is difficult to find a decent bar in the Mission that isn;t overly packed after work. This bar is located INSIDE the movie theatre. There was a LONG list of beers on tap, and several cocktails on tap. It was VERY dark inside and right before the movie it did get momentarily crowded. All in all a cool little find in the Mission. read more

After finishing a late dinner nearby, we were looking for some classy drinks. If it wasn't for Yelp, we would've never found Bear Vs. Bull, which is tucked way deep inside Alamo Drafthouse. The bar was very dark and about half of the seats were full. A bunch of 30-somethings (us) got carded and that made us feel good especially since we were there to celebrate one person's aging (birthday). My drink, the Far Eastern Nitro Gimlet was good but not great. All the drinks were priced average for SF. Bear Vs. Bull is a pretty average spot of drinks in the City. I don't think I'd be particularly excited about going there again. read more

Extremely quiet on a Saturday night. Located inside the Alamo Draft House, so maybe it is not as easy to find? We got bored after getting a drink and left :/ read more

This is the standalone bar inside the recently opened Alamo Drafthouse Cinema. Rather than just servicing the theater, it appears to aspire to be a destination unto itself. We dropped by the bar while waiting for our screening room to be cleaned. There wasn't too much time before our show, and we were eager to explore the rest of this newly renovated theater, so we only stopped by long enough to order our drinks. Like the theater, it seems that the kinks are still being worked out of the operation here. We tried to sit at the end of the bar, but we were initially confused because it was being used by one of the staff to stack used drink glasses. After confirming with the bartender that it would indeed be okay to sit in this area, we grabbed some seats. The original staff member continued to stack some additional glasses next to us, which further confused us: I would expect there to be a dedicated bar area for bussing glasses that is not where patrons are sitting. In any case, the bartender was extremely friendly and promptly took care of our drink orders. I opted for a cocktail, Remember the Mile, while my girlfriend went for tea. Both were quite good! After taking care of the bill, we then rushed off to catch our screening that was about to start. There appear to be no restrictions on moving around the theater with drinks, so we were able to take our drinks with us to our seats (which have tables for holding drinks and food). I plan to come back here soon, so I can try out the rest of the drink menu and actually enjoy a drink in the bar itself. read more

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This place is hidden and you definitely need a GPS to guide you right outside it!! Trust me... that's the only minus But I loved their drinks, great friendly bartenders, very intimate setting and nice ambience. Get their Whiskey cocktails... read more

I loved this bar even though I was probably (DEFINITELY) too far gone to be hitting up a bar. But my friends wanted to hang, it was Thanksgiving, I was easily convinced though I said I'd only get a water. And I did get a water... but I also got a drink. the drink was great and the only reason I didn't finish it was because I was already maybe one (or infinity) substances too many in. It's inside a movie theatre which is super cool, the lighting is sexy, the seating is hot, the bartender was super nice even though we definitely stayed past closing. I'd totally come back again when I'm better terms with some semi-sobriety. read more

First and last time here! Was initially pretty excited to check this place out but left after 5 mins because they have racist staff. We as an Asian group came here to celebrate my brothers 21st and was welcomed at first by the friendly host who checked our IDs. Shortly after a white male staff from no where faced our direction and yelled at us for being "stupid and not responsible" for ordering a round of shots in front of all the customers there. Very rude and unacceptable, everyone turned and looked at us. This guy should be fired!! Made us feel very uncomfortable, we canceled our order and left immediately. HIGHLY NOT RECOMMENDED!!!! Would give negative stars if I can read more

Great beer list and drink menu conveniently located in the lobby of of the Alamo drafthouse. I could see coming here for drinks even if you're not seeing a movie. read more

There's a reason why this place is so quiet on a Saturday night (3/26/22). It's small, dark, and located inside a ghetto theater. Worst of all, some of the worst customer service we have ever experienced, particularly coming from the RACIST white male bartender who screamed at us for ordering Jager shots. Come on, man, you were not even serving us, keep your mouth shut and do your job and mind your own business. Come here if you'd like to experience some unsolicited anti Asian hate from an establishment that is pro KKK. For the record we were not doing Jager bombs - not sure what he was spewing about, but he can kiss my behind read more

Really cool setting with great drinks! One of the drinks (Grousin' Around) came with the biggest ice cube I have ever seen. There's only 2 bartenders though, so it took a while to get our drinks. Other than that, my boyfriend and I really enjoyed having our pre-dinner drinks here while we waited for our dinner reservation :) fabulous way to start off the weekend. read more

Bear Vs. Bull - Beer Bar Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Had drinks before we watched our movie on a Friday night. It was started to get a little packed. If you go to this bar you're better off watching a movie here too. Met up with some friends. My friend couldn't get a drink because her license expired 4 days ago. They don't play here. The fish and chips was good. They have a decent selection of food and drinks. The lighting is pretty dark though. I really like its connection to the movie theatres. It gives it an added plus. Great place to go for a date. read more

A real gem in the Mission District! This place is almost like a speakeasy, it looks super classy, craft drinks, and very dim lighting. I was bar hopping in the area and found this place on my google maps. I decided to check it out. I almost didn't find it because it's inside the theater. You have to walk in all the way down the hall, past this sort of bookstore looking place. Then, you'll see a bull and a bear statue, which is where the bar is. At first it was weird walking into a theater to find this bar, but the building is beautiful. Gorgeous decor and beautiful paintings as you walk through the hall. I really like the ambiance of this place. It was super chill and the drinks were delicious. The bartender or mixologist (I do respect this craft) made us feel super welcomed and really took care of us! He was super helpful and knowledgeable about the drinks and what we would like based on our taste. My bf and him really got along because they're both Dodger fans in Giants land. Anyway, really cool place to impress a date and for a romantic setting. I would have drank more, but has to head out already. I will return when I get the chance. If you're in the area, it's a real neat place in Mission District. read more

Low key bar tucked away in the theater. We found this place on a late Thursday night after El Techo had closed and was surprised it was still open even though the theater was closed. There were several beers on tap and plenty of seating. The bartenders were friendly and even though we sat at the bar, they never pressured us to order more drinks. Great location for a chill night. read more

Cool bar hidden inside of this theater. The atmosphere and decor are great including the drinks. My only complaint was the difficulty of getting a drink here. I understand the whole craft cocktail thing, but the bartenders didn't seem the most attentive to everyone's needs. The menu here is pretty diverse, having cocktails on tap, frozen drinks, and cocktails made to order. They also had a large selection of beer so there really was something to please everyone. Price wise, the drinks were about average by San Francisco standards for cocktails ranging from $12-$15 (blended drinks generally costing more). The drinks here were pretty strong. I personally really enjoyed the Nitro Gimlet, it was strong yet smooth. The bar seems like it goes through spurts of people coming in as the theater lets out shows. So I guess that can dictate how busy it gets. Overall a cool spot worth checking out though if you're in the area. The drinks were great. read more

Amazing. Good chill music. GREAT DRINKS with fresh ingredients. Very fun staff. Not a club vibe, more of a ritzy cocktail bar. read more

Bear Vs. Bull - Beer Bar Near Me - San Francisco, California

What a place! I felt like I walked onto a movie set circa 1940. Not only was this a fabulous looking place the bartender was very nice and explained a number of specialty cocktails they had listed. Great vibe, great cocktails, great bartender. I have been back twice more and still received great service. read more

Yesss I love this dive bar!!! The area can be super bougie, which is cool, but sometimes you just want to relax with a friend, have a drink, and let loose. We stopped by here for some bar hopping and ended up staying here for the rest of the night. The drinks were good, cheap, and strong. The ambiance is super cool. The people around were chill, nobody is all up in your space or anything. Honestly what more can I ask for?! I'm definitely coming back here to wrap up a night out anytime I'm in this area!! Love ittt. Cheers. read more

Jesus! Seriously you will meet the messiah (Jack that's you) here, ok I'm kidding. BvB is a fun place. Red light special vibes that gets you in the try something different mood---the cocktails are unorthodox like boxer Emanuel Augustus. You've been warned, drinks are potent---smooth and deadly (all that prettiness has hidden strength behind it). Will you are amazing, John you are too and Mike who's Colin Farrell's long lost brother is what makes BvB the place to escape...Jack well we know everybody celebrates you in December and you're our savior ;) Visit to stay because the staff will more than gladly serve up cheers! read more

You would not expect a bar this fantastic to be located in the same building as a movie theater. Bear Vs Bull is a delightful place to stop for a drink, and believe it or not, they make an incredible piña colada. If you look at my reviews, you'll note that I am definitely a beer guy, but this drink really knocks it out of the park. My girlfriend always orders the delicious frozen coconut beverage, and I have been fortunate enough to steal a few gulps. It is also worth noting that this bar does a great job in the beer category as well, with many local selections on tap. In the back of the bar there is a staircase that leads to a handful of pinball machines and arcade games, I always appreciate a place that gives me the opportunity to play some pinball. One other convenient thing is that you can snag a beer or a cocktail here and carry it to the theater with you! read more

Bear vs Bull is the bar inside the Alamo Drafthouse, which you can go to regardless if you are watching a movie or not. I really love their cocktails. They have a few cocktails on tap, which I love all three of them. My favorite cocktail has to be the Great Silence (mezcal, Campari, orgeat, lime). The smokiness of the mezcal and the bitterness of the Campari really compliment each other. A lot of the wines seem a bit overpriced, but you can find some in the $10-$12 range. Same with the beer, but most of their beer is large format. They do have an interesting list of boilermakers (beer+shot). Check it out and try to catch a movie while your at it. The cocktail menu is slightly different in the theater than in the bar. read more