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    Blue Mermaid

    3.5 (1k reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Order Blue Mermaid Takeout or Delivery

    Blue Mermaid Photos

    BLUE MERMAID ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

    Recommended Reviews - Blue Mermaid

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    Chocolate Cake**
    Tracy B.

    I always love coming here. It's my husband and I favorite spot. Brian is always our go to server. He's always very attentive. Food is always amazing. And outside seating is the best!

    Crab Louis***
    Jade C.

    It's the perfect restaurant nestled in this area if you don't want street food or something incredibly touristy. This place has been kicking for over 10 years and hasn't changed much. It's adjacent to the boutique hotel and has both indoor and outdoor options for dining. Service needs an improvement. Quicker with refills, side requests and bringing the check. We had to ask for drink refills about 4 times, and we were only there for less than 45 minutes. And they weren't busy. Clam chowder is where it's at. Opt for the chowder flight if you like clam chowder.

    Confit Butter Chicken**
    Shannon B.

    We had a family (2 parents, 1 college student) vacation stay at the Argonaut in late August 2025 and the adjacent Blue Mermaid was a welcomed option after our long day of cross-country travel for late lunch upon arrival in SF. Other than convenience, the plusses were friendly service and tasty dishes. We enjoyed some SF waterfront classics like Dungeness Crab Louis, Fish & Chips, and Crab & Corn Chowder, as well as a surprisingly authentic Indian butter chicken with a bone-in chicken quarter that was perfectly rendered and fall-off-the-bone tender. The negatives were a few, which was why we never ate there again during our week here. The location on Fisherman's Wharf means you get some annoying and LOUD competing music from across the street (alternating buskers using amplified streel drums, bad karaoke, and strangest of all, a pantomime of live 80s saxophone solos), so dining in the otherwise lovely courtyard was a no go. The prices are ridiculous compared to many other more pleasant places where you could try some of the same dishes. The booth was a bit grimy and did not live up to the menu price point. I'd say if you are staying on site and just don't have the energy to venture elsewhere or order takeout delivery from any of the 1000s of alternatives, then Blue Mermaid is alright. With a credit card rewards program like AMEX Fine Hotels, you can at least apply your daily credit to relieve some of the sticker shock.

    Eggs Benedict, Sautéed Spinach, and Eggs Any-Style*

    I honestly would never have eaten here if it weren't for the credit I received for staying at the hotel. The food was bland and the pricing ridiculous. For a $45 credit I couldn't reliably feed myself and my wife. We resorted to doing 1 entree and some sides. The eggs Benedict was bland and lacking flavor. The potatoes were also tasteless. The other thing on top of it the high prices was the additional fees and the tip they expected for a to go order. For those wondering San Francisco started forcing an additional charge called an sf mandate to pay for healthcare for the workers. But the expected 20% minimum tip was just dumb to see. Overpriced food, bland tasteless food, and the expectation to tip on to go orders is what you'll get when you eat here.

    Chicken Sandwich*** Take out - the salad is covering the extra sauce and oil drippings from the sandwich.
    Monica W.

    I ordered take out from the Blue Mermaid since I was staying at The Argonaut Hotel for work, and the limited service, due to take out, was friendly and pleasant. I ordered the Chicken Sandwich with a side house salad. I'm a little conflicted on how to rate the meal because the salad was great with fresh mixed greens and veggies, and the chicken sandwich was tasty with mint yogurt, tender pieces of spiced chicken on toasted sourdough. The reason I'm conflicted is while the sandwich was flavorful, the chicken was drowned in the yogurt sauce, and the sourdough was drenched in butter (and/or oil?) so much so that the sandwich was dripping sauce and butter. I ended up with 3 stars since I wouldn't order it again because the sandwich was just too heavy and oily. Fyi, the salad is covering the drippings, and I couldn't eat the other half of the sandwich in the picture.

    One/Two Eggs Any-Style*
    Catherine S.

    Was staying at the Argonaut and stopped in for lunch on my arrival day and breakfast on my departure day. This had to be one of the best sandwiches I ever had. It was so satisfying! I only ate half because it was so big and finished the other half later in my room. The breakfast was average. Staff was friendly. Lunch and morning environments were both busy but the overall volume of the restaurant was on the quieter side.

    Menu
    Katie C.

    We decided on Blue Mermaid after sightseeing around Fisherman's wharf. The staff and our waiter were both friendly and personable - telling us their favorite things on the menu. I was surprised by how good the food was considering the restaurant was pretty empty at 7pm ~ maybe it was off season and a Thursday? All the dishes we had were great - the mermaid burger, scallops, lobster ravioli. There drinks could be better thought - they seemed watered down and overall not good. Would come back for food but skip the drinks.

    Walter L.

    We picked Blue Mermaid for dinner. The space is stylish, the menu looked great, and the food delivered everything we ordered was tasty and we left happy on that front. I'm taking off one star for the service, though. Even with the restaurant nearly empty, things were slow and not very friendly. It was a chilly evening, so we asked for a patio heater. The first one wouldn't ignite; they tried a second also a no-go. We then asked about the nearby fire pit. They got it lit, but it faded out after a minute, like the propane tank had run out. Meanwhile we were still cold, and no one offered to move us closer to the only working fire pit, even though there were open tables right by it. Little details didn't help either utensils were dropped in the middle of the table instead of being set individually. Overall, I'd still recommend Blue Mermaid for the food and atmosphere, but don't come expecting attentive service on a cold night.

    Restrooms
    Miss F.

    Very nice place. The salad was delicious The atmosphere is calming and pleasant Restrooms were clean and safe

    Blue Mermaid Burger
    Althea L.

    Location is amazing, by the beach. We were seated within a minute. Not too crowded or loud. Upper-scale bar vibes. Place was clean. We got fish and chips and the wagyu burger. Food was great. The fish was flaky in the inside and crispy on the outside and they had malt vinegar :) the burger was perfectly cooked, juicy and flavorful. They even had milk, for my kid :) our server was nice and got our orders. The beer and lemon wedges took a while but our server was busy, so understandable.

    Richard H.

    While working here I was fortunate to have a cup of chowder and the Garden Greens salad with chicken. Both items were perfect and the salad was a generous portion in which I had what remains packed up to be eaten later. My only comment is I wish they offered a Dungeness crab sandwich since after all the restaurant is located at Fisherman's Wharf. Otherwise it would have been a five star experience.

    Chef Amod Singh
    Ruchi S.

    My husband and I heard about this restaurant (in the Argonaut hotel) and its chef-Amod Singh-and decided to give it a try while visiting SF. As soon as we got there, we met the chef and asked him to go ahead and do a tasting menu for us...we were in his hands! He not only went above and beyond our expectations, he created several unique vegetarian and non-veg courses for both of us! The manager, Tony, was also so friendly and hospitable and did some wine pairings for us as well. This restaurant is nautical themed and looks fairly casual, but the food we ate here deserves a white tablecloth setting...! We started with an amazing amuse bouche with tuna tartare for me...the presentation was so beautiful, and the flavors were mind blowing!! Then we had a "flavor bomb" which is a small, crisp Indian puri filled with a delicious tamarind spiced water that explodes in your mouth. Next came a scallop curry for me and a veggie one for hubby...oh my goodness, the scallops melted in my mouth and the flavors were so rich. Next course was a lobster tail with hints of Indian flavors...again, just too good! As if we weren't full enough, the final dish was a twist on chicken biryani...and again, super flavorful and super moist chicken. I cannot begin to express how incredibly delicious ALL the courses were...and to top it off, the presentation of each course was masterful...truly a 5 Star dining experience! We were entirely too full but shared one dessert called Mango Variations...believe me when I tell you that it's nothing like anything you've had before! The mango flavor was subtle-not overpowering like many mongo desserts-and all the different elements of crispiness, mousse and gelato melded together so perfectly! We had to give Chef Singh a standing ovation at the end...it was the MOST amazing food experience we've ever had, and I am a HUGE foodie that's eaten at many restaurants across the globe! This chef deserves a Michelin star for sure! I wish we lived closer so I could eat here again, but I will definitely be planning another SF trip just to eat his food again. We both felt very lucky to have found out about him and to have experienced his amazing food! Bravo Chef Amod Singh!

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    3 months ago

    Great atmosphere food good portions smaller than you would expect for USA but service good ideal location could not fault it

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    8 months ago

    Great staff! Great food! Love the chowder bread bowls and any eggs Benedict. Nice atmosphere too.

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    Blue Mermaid Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Blue Mermaid

    I see that Takeout is an option for the SF Restaurant Week menu here. How do I go about ordering it online during the SFRW timeframe?

    Good evening Please contact the restaurant directly at 415-771-2222 to place an order for pick up.… Read more

    Does this restaurant have delivery services or provide take out?

    Hello, Olive R! We sure do offer take-out. Please feel free to contact us at your convenience at… Read more

    Is the restaurant open?

    Hi, Madison! We are thrilled to share that our restaurant will be reopening its indoor and outdoor… Read more

    Is this restaurant open?

    Hi Rena, Unfortunately, we have not yet reopened the restaurant. Stand by and stay safe.… Read more

    Are you open? Your website says closed but someone posted a review 20 days ago! We have to have your chowder before we leave SF.

    Hi Lana, Thanks for inquiring, but, unfortunately, we have yet to reopen. Hopefully in the near… Read more

    Do they have gluten free and soy free clam chowder?

    Good Afternoon Cindy, We have a Manhattan Clan Chowder which is gluten free and soy free. It is a… Read more

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    The Showdown - Boston 3 Way

    The Showdown

    4.2(126 reviews)
    0.9 miNorth Beach/Telegraph Hill
    $$

    Visiting from TX and found this place by accident. It reminded us of our hometown hang out spot…read more Everyone made us feel welcome as soon as we came in. Not just the bartender but the manager and the locals hanging out. The drinks were great and the company even better. They gave us some amazing recommendations for some local restaurants and they were all perfect! We will visit again if we ever make it back to San Fran.

    I recently came to this bar with a few friends. One friend was a bit intoxicated and wasn't allowed…read morein, which was fine and not an issue AT ALL. While we were outside, we made friendly conversation with a bartender. I overheard another bartender come out for a cigarette and call him by name, so I jokingly used his name while asking if we could come in. At that point, the bartender became extremely aggressive, got in my face, and said, "Say his name one more f*cking time," repeatedly. I was genuinely confused and asked what she meant. Shortly after, a friend who was already inside came out simply to check on us and see why we were still outside. The bartender then told her to "get the f*ck out of my face" and instructed staff not to let her or us in, even though my friend hadn't done anything wrong. It was so confusing and extremely inappropriate. The behavior was unnecessarily hostile and disrespectful. This bar does not treat its customers with basic courtesy, and that bartender showed zero professionalism or customer service skills.

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    The Showdown
    The Showdown - Strawberry lemonade boochcraft and delicata squash rings

    Strawberry lemonade boochcraft and delicata squash rings

    The Showdown - Pineapple Margarita

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    Pineapple Margarita

    The Lucky Spot

    The Lucky Spot

    4.6(16 reviews)
    0.8 miNorth Beach/Telegraph Hill, Russian Hill

    Just popped into The Lucky Spot in North Beach with some buddies for drinks to watch Sunday night…read morefootball, and it quickly became our new favorite hangout spot! This place has that perfect North Beach neighborhood bar chill and welcoming vibe, like a classy dive where you can watch the game or just chat for hours. The cocktails are next level: tried a few that tasted like grown-up root beer floats and Orange Julius vibes, super creative and balanced without being too sweet. They've got solid classics too if you're not feeling adventurous. Walls are covered in cool local SF photos and art that make it feel proudly San Franciscan. Only street parking available but there's plenty of bus lines that drop you off in ths neighborhood & there's no food served onsite, but they brought in complimentary Golden Boy pizza for the game watch party which quickly went into my stomach after downing a few cocktails. Staff was friendly and on point, and it's great for locals or anyone wanting elevated drinks without the pretension. Perfect pre-dinner spot in North Beach or for a full night out.

    LOVE THIS SPOT! From the cleanliness, location, ambience,…read moreand overall customer experience - this is now my go-to spot for watching sports, date night, night out with friends, and even a solo hang. I feel right at home when I step into this bar. Plenty of space and a huge bonus: dogs are allowed! Do yourself a favor and go visit one of the best bartenders in town, Ali. If it's your first time, it won't be your last.

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    The Lucky Spot
    The Lucky Spot
    The Lucky Spot

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    Petit Lil’s - Look for this sign.

    Petit Lil’s

    4.7(53 reviews)
    0.7 miRussian Hill, North Beach/Telegraph Hill
    $$

    This place is on the martini trail for a reason! Try the junipero martini! I get it without the…read moreolive juice as I don't like my martinis dirty but if you do, I've heard they are great! My absolute favorite thing is that you are welcomed with a glass of mumm bubbly. I hope they never get rid of this. It really makes this place stand apart from all the other options in north beach and makes you (me) feel special. Everyone who works there is also so nice. Everytime we've gone we've been so warmly welcomed and had great conversations.

    My friends and I totally stumbled upon Petit Lil's after a dinner nearby, and the holiday vibes…read morewere immaculate! With giant ornaments, Christmas tree foliage, pretty lights, and a movie projected onto the wall, the atmosphere was lively, fun, and cozy. As we briefly waited to be seated, I was pleasantly surprised when someone brought out glasses and poured us some complimentary champagne (and later refilled too!). We ordered cocktails at the bar and indulged in the oyster jubilee (buy 6, get 6 free from 10 pm to 1 am). The oysters were pretty fresh. The Pomegranate Nice with non-alcoholic gin instead of non-alcoholic tequila, Negroni Sbagliato, and Blood Orange Gimlet were solid. I didn't love the Aviation though because it was a bit heavy handed on the violet liqueur. But overall, I really loved my experience here!

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    Petit Lil’s - A talk about housing in SF.

    A talk about housing in SF.

    Petit Lil’s - Ambiance

    Ambiance

    Petit Lil’s - Junipero Gin Martini

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    Junipero Gin Martini

    Tony Nik's Cafe - Cocktails, bartender's recommendations

    Tony Nik's Cafe

    4.3(343 reviews)
    0.8 miNorth Beach/Telegraph Hill
    $$

    Such a fun place to grab a few drinks and truly unwind after a long day. This was my first time…read morevisiting, and I can confidently say it will not be my last. From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere immediately stood out. The vibe is relaxed yet lively, making it a great spot whether you're stopping by casually or planning to spend a few hours enjoying yourself. The overall energy of the place made it easy to settle in and enjoy the evening. Everything felt welcoming and well put together, from the ambiance to the music and crowd. It's the kind of spot where you can have great conversation, laugh, and completely decompress without feeling rushed. The service was excellent from start to finish. The staff was attentive, friendly, and consistently checked in without being overbearing. Drinks were made well and delivered promptly, which really added to the experience. Overall, this is a great place to relax, enjoy well made drinks, and soak in a fun atmosphere. I would absolutely return and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a solid spot to unwind and enjoy a great evening out.

    Tony Nik's isn't just a bar, it's basically a North Beach time machine. I first walked through its…read moredoors in the late 1990s after moving to San Francisco, but the bar itself dates back to 1933, opening right as Prohibition was ending. It was founded by Anton "Tony" Nikitovich and quickly became a gathering place for the neighborhood's Italian and Croatian communities, where people came to swap stories, argue politics, and enjoy a stiff drink after a long day. And honestly, that tradition carried on well into the years when many of us became regulars. I hadn't been back for a few years until recently, when I decided to stop in again. The bar wasn't overly busy, but a handful of neighborhood folks were sitting at the counter, trading stories over their drinks. It felt instantly familiar. Not much has changed since the early 2000s when I used to come here regularly, and that's exactly what makes Tony Nik's special. Step inside, and it still feels like a mid-century film set: tufted leather seating, a long wooden bar that's seen nearly a century of San Francisco history, and that iconic neon sign glowing outside. While much of the city has reinvented itself again and again, Tony Nik's somehow held onto its soul. It's a grown-up bar without being stuffy, no loud club music, no trendy gimmicks, just well-made cocktails, a classic jukebox, and an atmosphere that feels earned rather than manufactured. The bar stayed in the Nikitovich family for decades, and the current owners were wise enough to preserve both the name and the vintage character Tony originally created. It's one of those rare places that reminds you what North Beach used to be, and, thankfully, still is.

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    Tony Nik's Cafe - The Champagne of Beers

    The Champagne of Beers

    Tony Nik's Cafe
    Tony Nik's Cafe

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    Legacy North Beach Bar - Fortaleza Blanco w/ club soda ($18) + Ginger Beer ($6)

    Legacy North Beach Bar

    3.7(24 reviews)
    0.9 miNorth Beach/Telegraph Hill

    Apparently North Beach is the best 'hood in the city for nightlife...right now…read more IF I was still in my 20s, I would start the night off at Monroe for Battle of the Decades where drinks start at $1 at 5 pm and increase by $1 every hour until 10 pm. Nosh on zucchini fries at Original Joe's before bar hopping on Grant Ave. IF you like a diverse crowd with DJs spinning hip hop, a visit to Legacy is mandatory. We did a little weekend day drinking at Legacy and when we saw customers sporting their Frisco gear, we knew we were in the right place! Sorry but it's Frisco, The Sco, or The City, it's NEVER San Fran. For those who disagree, tell that to Mac Dre, Too $hort, and the Hells Angels. Plus, Herb Caen eventually took back his "Frisco" stance. Anyhow, after Legacy, I would move on to watch the midnight ballerinas on Broadway and end the night smashing faces with a Golden Boy! A slice of clam & garlic OFC. O T H E R N O T E S * Friendly staff. * Low-key, locals bar with lounge seating, vinyl lined walls, TVs, and projectors for game day. * No HH specials. * Crisp sound system with DJs spinning hip hop on Fridays and Saturdays. * Dog-friendly but obvs wouldn't bring my dogs here when it's crowded at night. * Clean restrooms. * Cc's accepted but there's a discount if you pay cash.

    BFF wanted to stop her after dinner for her 50th birthday…read more I mean I grew up in NB my entire childhood. Love it love it love it but after COVID-19. Nothing has been the same. People are a bit rude and raunchy and don't respect the area for what North Beach stands for. Being in your 40's, it ain't the place really to be. To let loose, gotta have some drinks and blend in. It was bedtime for me. Still had to get home to our kids on the other side of the town way South. Music was cool but wasn't all that. Just came to celebrate and have fun, we did just that.

    Photos
    Legacy North Beach Bar - Espresso martini with cacao nibs

    Espresso martini with cacao nibs

    Legacy North Beach Bar - Empress Gin and Tonic

    Empress Gin and Tonic

    Legacy North Beach Bar

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    Blue Mermaid - seafood - Updated May 2026

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