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    Buddha Lounge

    4.1 (377 reviews)
    InexpensiveDive Bars
    Open 4:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)
    Updated 3 months ago

    Buddha Lounge Photos

    Business Info

    BUDDHA LOUNGE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Divey
    Casual
    Juke Box

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    Recommended Reviews - Buddha Lounge

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    Reviews With Photos

    Michael T.

    Great bar in Chinatown. Great atmosphere and good service. Wish hours were longer/earlier but I highly recommend

    Inside
    Sarah Z.

    Yassss love this dive bar! Super quick, no fuss situation here. Vibes are great and surprisingly the space felt pretty clean LOL. Definitely a great add to anyone's bar hop itinerary.

    Virginia A.

    Cool little intimate bar in china town! We stumbled across from it since it was near our stay! Service was good. The bartender was attentive and quick! Prices were amazing! I don't think they sell food.

    Beer and Jameson combo
    Mike P.

    One of my favorite dive bars in SF. I love going through Chinatown bar, eating and bar hopping. This is one of the spots I always stop by. Small bar but the lighting and decor on the walls provide a great vibe once you walk in.

    Little Buddha Beer!
    Gil G.

    This place screams China Town, bar keep was awesome, they have little Buddha Beer there, the place was slow at first on a Saturday night but then as the night grew older the people poured into the small space. Great times great spot to check off the list if you're visiting.

    Montage of images from Buddha Lounge
    Ed U.

    As a local resident on the verge of fossilization, I'm embarrassed to admit that I had not patronized this longtime Grant Avenue bar until quite recently. I've passed by it a multitude of times but always assumed it was for loud tourists. However, the atmospheric rivers in January led me to the Chinese Mai Tai at Li Po Lounge across Grant (review: https://bit.ly/3PDtdRE), so naturally... It was a matter of time before I tried this spot to make the inevitable comparison. I stopped by at around 5PM on a Thursday, and there was just one young guy at the bar finishing a beer. The daytime bartender was Annie, and she told me business has been really slow since the pandemic despite the renovation they've done recently. As I listened to her, I ordered the $10 Chinese Mai Tai (photo: https://bit.ly/3XonJfs). It was more straightforward than the foamy version Li Po produced and also two bucks cheaper. I asked Annie what made it uniquely Chinese, and in response, she gave me a complimentary shot of an herbal liquor called Tzepao Sanpien Jiu (photo: https://bit.ly/42STdvu). Tasty with a kick. Time Out mentioned a splash of Three Penis Whiskey imported from China, but with that name, I'd rather not know if that was in there. COCKTAILS - 4 stars...a solid mai tai with a unique twist AMBIANCE - 4.5 stars...the bar is looking good and modern now SERVICE - 4 stars...Annie was great company...no one else came in though :-( TOTAL - 4 stars...you need to stop by when you're in Chinatown RELATED - Exploring Chinatown? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: http://bit.ly/2WoF1Z2

    Inside
    Ultima M.

    Located in Chinatown I came here for a quick drink during Chinese New Year festivities Bar is clean, nice decor and well stocked and was playing good music. Bar is relatively small but it wasn't an issue. I ordered my go to...margarita Drink was good. Cool spot to chill for a quick minute.

    Buddha Lounge Mai Tai made w Wing Lee Wai
    Randy S.

    San Francisco, Chinatown. August 2022 Grant Ave in Chinatown has two designated San Francisco Legacy Business dive bars right across each other on the corner of Washington St. Buddha Lounge is the more inviting and friendly of the two. The first thing you'll note is the place is brighter and cleaner than you might expect. The televisions and digital jukebox, plus a few regular customers at the bar give it a more inviting normal atmosphere. You have to get buzzed for access through the gated door leading downstairs to the restrooms. The bartenders pay attention to you and they and the regulars are friendly enough that they'll know your name before you leave. The Chinese Mai Tai here is Hong Kong's Wing Lee Wai liquor in a glass filled chimney glass, topped pineapple juice and a float of Meyer's Dark Rum. Strong and tasty, but safely, not as lethal as the one across the street.

    Lucky Buddah beer
    John R.

    As a native San Franciscan this is definitely one of my favorites. You come for drinks and stay for the show. Mok the bartender is a legend. I've never seen a bartender work the crowd better. The drinks are amazing and you always need to drink a lucky Buddah beer. If you've never been your missing out. I wish I could give a 6th star.

    Yummy Mai Tai
    Jean C.

    So we stopped in here before a show at the Great Star Theater around the corner. This place just called to us. This bar is so freaking clean. From floor to ceiling spotless. Everyone was so nice. We chatted with everyone at the bar. But the best part is Delicious, the bartender, the legend, the myth, the man! My face hurt from smiling and laughing so much. He is freaking hilarious. And he is a really good bartender. His drinks are spot on, keeps the bar clean, entertains everyone. After our show we went back to the bar just to be in his prescence. I wrote him a little love letter before we left cause he is really special. A special human being. Great bar. Great time. Great people. Enjoy.

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    5 months ago

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    5 months ago

    I've spent over 20 on the jukebox and the bartender skipped my songs and turned off the jukebox

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    3 months ago

    Our waitress was AMAZING. She was super sweet, made a great drink and ran that bar by herself! What a great bar!

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    1 year ago

    Fantastic bar in Chinatown. No frills but great ambience and fresh cocktails! Never disappoints!

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    1 year ago

    I loved this place! The bartender was amazing! I however not like the music .. lol but I paid to play some of my favs.

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    Page 1 of 10

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    Sweetie's Art Bar - Bar

    Sweetie's Art Bar

    4.1(171 reviews)
    0.7 miNorth Beach/Telegraph Hill
    $

    Randy and Amy were great! Fair prices and quick service. My group and I had an absolute blast…read more Lovely environment, clean bathrooms. You will surely have a good time if you decide to stop by. Definitely a north beach staple.

    Omg how much fun was this place. I just did another review about a bar, and it was a bit boring. We…read morearrived here before they opened, one bartender for the evening! Crazy right! This is definitely a neighborhood bar cause everyone seemed to know each other. Everyone walking buy was waving to others, even an ex coworker back in the day, I saw... it's been 20 years. This place feels like a speakeasy but with none of that other stuff. All the walls are covered with stuff, lots and lots of stuff. The bar itself looked like it sat maybe 10 people at most. The place didn't feel that big. They do have a pool table and a couple of cute places to sit and have an intimate conversation. They have a parklet and a couple of tables right in front. People were nice but you can tell this place makes strong drinks, they were all pretty tipsy. They do have food, but it's very minimal, and yes it was again just the bartender having to deal with everything. They had small bar items, a small little kitchen, with an oven to make pizzas. They have a great drink menu, the specials are on the board. I had their basil daiquiri and let me tell you! Yum!! It was perfect, had great flavor. Just the right amount of sweetness, made with love. Whenever someone thinks of daiquiri, they think of a mixed, slushy, drink with whip cream.. this is an original daiquiri This place was reasonably priced, about 10 bucks a drink! Crazy for the city.. been paying $18-$20 for a cocktail! My favorite part was the Buddha! You have to come in and immediately rub his belly!

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    Sweetie's Art Bar
    Sweetie's Art Bar - Inside

    Inside

    Sweetie's Art Bar

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    Li Po Cocktail Lounge - Mai tai

    Li Po Cocktail Lounge

    4.0(841 reviews)
    0.0 miChinatown
    $$

    The first time I came to Li Po's was for Halloween in 2024. I didn't eat enough before coming here,…read moreso this was my final bar of the night. Flash forward to now. I finally made a comeback over this last weekend when I went with a group of friends after dinner nearby at China Live. I saw a whole new side to the bar. Previously, I didn't realize that they have a basement section, which in my opinion is worth checking out and way better than staying on the first floor. My group headed downstairs as soon as we entered and lined up to buy drinks. I ordered one of their infamous mai tai's, the same drink that pushed me over the edge a couple years ago. It was just as sweet as I remembered, but since I'd just eaten, I didn't feel jittery or like it was too much at all. There's just something about being served a cold cocktail in a paper cup. I have no complaints. It was filled to the brim with the frothy drink. I hope using disposable cups makes the staff's cleanup faster and easier. I'm really glad i visited this familiar yet transformed haunt with a different group of friends in a new year. It was so good to be back.

    This lounge is one I would take my friends visiting from out of town. Give them a sense of San…read moreFrancisco throwback, nostalgia, and one of a kind bar in the City. Known for their "patented" chinese Mai Tai, it's a go to drink to try while hanging out in this hideaway lounge in the heart of Chinatown. It can get a bit crowded, but it's a great place to lay low and take in the vibe. Mai Tai is a tad pricey but it's a deal if your not there often, or be it a one time experience. No frills, expect no updated modern chic vibe, its a bar in Chinatown.

    Photos
    Li Po Cocktail Lounge - The entrance

    The entrance

    Li Po Cocktail Lounge - Entrance

    Entrance

    Li Po Cocktail Lounge - Downstairs bar

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    Downstairs bar

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

    Tony Nik's Cafe

    4.3(343 reviews)
    0.4 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.

    Photos
    Tony Nik's Cafe - The Champagne of Beers

    The Champagne of Beers

    Tony Nik's Cafe
    Tony Nik's Cafe

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    Buddha Lounge - divebars - Updated May 2026

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