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    El Rio

    4.1 (811 reviews)
    Closed Closed

    El Rio Photos

    EL RIO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Divey
    Loud
    Live music
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - El Rio

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    M T.

    Was asked as soon as we came up to the bar if we were gay. They told us that we aren't welcome to this establishment because we aren't gay and we came on a party bus. Front door also states welcomes all people and genders, sexualities and races.

    Elmer G.

    This past week we visited El Rio. This is a dive bar located in the mission district. Surprisingly this was my first time ever visiting, as I have lived within the neighborhood for almost 30 yrs. We met friends at El Rio for drinks as KQED hosted trivia night. The bar does not serve any food, it's strictly for drinks. There is a back patio that makes you feel at home. The patio has tables to sit at and a small stage area where the DJ does their thang. If you put together the awesome vibe and the back patio along with friends to hang and have good drinks I can honestly say it was a pretty fun night. Our group "Los Enamorados" won 2nd place during trivia, we ended up grabbing a free KQED grocery bag and a tequila shot. After trivia, the DJ started throwing some good jams out and the crowd started dancing. Fun, relaxing night filled with laughs.

    Big Gay Sports Sunday
    Blair P.

    Big ups for the outdoor patio area; it's big, now with awnings to protect you from the rain, and a stage for the DJ. When a party is going on with an outdoor DJ, this is the place to be. El Rio hosts various fun queer parties; check out their IG for event details. Mango is a fun one for the female-leaning peeps. For some events they have food, but otherwise you can only get snacks at the bar, like popcorn. Their cocktails and beer options are nothing special.

    Hella generous pour of Hendricks...until I spilled the entire glass. = / ($10 cc minimum + dog-friendly patio)
    Cherylynn N.

    We were next door at Mothership's patio when we heard 90s music jammin' from El Rio's patio. Closed our tab and scurried over to El Rio.  Except when we got there, the bartender told us Bingo Night is starting in several minutes (so the music will be cut). *WHOMP WHOMP WHOMP* "SO, that one time I gave my taxi cab driver a BJ...."  - Bingo Caller  Dayam, this ain't your grandparent's bingo...and I'm here for it! So, we stayed... I got so excited for the storytelling that I spilled my Hendrick's in the process and nearly fell... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Even though we didn't come for bingo night, the storytelling did NOT disappoint. Neither did the friendly bartender, chill [small and distanced] crowd, and awesome dog-friendly patio with secluded nooks...SO much better than Zeitgeist! OTHER NOTES: * El Rio has been open for nearly 44 years! * Super nice masked bartender (he was by himself). * It's a dive bar so PBRs and wells, though they do have some top-shelf selections. They're known for their bloody mary.  * One hella generous pour of Hendrick's, one Fernet neat, and one soda = ~$25 (pre-tip). * Crowd: On a Wednesday evening, it was a mixed crowd of 20-30 somethings. * EVENTS:  --Bingo nights are every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month, from 7 PM - 9 PM.  --Live music on weekends; sometimes there's a cover charge. --Salsa Sundays. * Rotating local food vendors. On the night I visited, Tex's BBQ was selling link plates ($10) and rib plates ($12).  * Photo booth in the patio. * Clean restrooms with TP for daaaays.  * $10 min. for cc's.   * Very difficult metered and residential parking so Uber/Lyft there.

    Abigael Osana T.

    Heard so many good things about this place on social media so I HAD to come here to see for myself!!! We went here for the Queer as Fourth day party. El Rio EXCEEDED my expectations! I was expecting a regular degular experience but omg this quickly rose to the top of my list for places to party! I've never felt so safe in a venue! Bartenders and the crowd were super friendly! The music? 12/10!!! I can't wait to come back and this is definitely gonna become a staple for me and the homies ;)

    Juan V.

    This place is a good bar with good drink selections. There is also lots of room in the back of this bar. A cool place to go.

    a street corner with a colorful sign
    Trisha T.

    Came here yesterday for the RnB and Ribs event and had an amazing time! The drinks are well priced but I'd have to come back to try their cocktails as we only had beers. The back patio is huge and they had great djs playing on the outdoor deck. As an added bonus, there are several restrooms throughout the bar!

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    Fun venue indoors and outdoors catered to lgbt but everyone is welcome. Great latin events.

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    Page 1 of 21

    El Rio Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - El Rio

    Do they accept credit cards? A bunch of the photos have signs saying cash only? [Edit: answering my own question. Was told Cash Only at the door]

    We sure do!

    Is smoking still allowed on the back patio?

    Nope - smoke outside on the sidewalk!

    What times do they start charging a cover fee, and how much is it?

    I've only seen a cover when they have a live show. They start charging shortly before the show starts.

    View All 8 Questions

    Review Highlights - El Rio

    Then later on at around 8pm there is this big guy with the headband who does the free BBQ, with some awesome wings and vegetables.

    Mentioned in 22 reviews

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    The Knockout SF - Bar

    The Knockout SF

    3.9(315 reviews)
    0.1 miBernal Heights, Mission
    $

    A True Mission Gem -- Gritty, Loud, and Full of Heart…read more Caught Star Belly Bug here recently and had an absolute blast. If you're looking for a venue with soul, personality, and a healthy dose of weird -- The Knockout is it. The Scene: This place screams underground SF in the best way. The walls are plastered with stickers from hundreds of bands, artists, and regulars that have come through -- it's like a living punk flyer wall. Dim neon lighting and vintage touches give it a divey charm, but not in a try-hard way. The Virgin Mary painting above the bar and eclectic photo strips tucked in every corner add a little extra mystique to the already vibrant decor. The Music: Star Belly Bug was killer -- great sound for a small venue, and the energy was contagious. The stage is super intimate, so you're right up close with the band, no matter where you're standing. The Knockout clearly supports local and underground talent, and it shows in the diverse lineup and passionate crowd. The Bar: Drinks were strong and reasonably priced (especially for SF), and the bartenders were cool and efficient even when things got packed. There's a solid cocktail list on the board, but also plenty of cheap beer and no-nonsense options. Vibe: Inclusive, weird in the best way, and 100% authentic. This is the kind of place where you can dance, lose yourself in the music, and just enjoy being part of the scene. Zero pretension. Lots of regulars. Great people-watching. Whether you're coming to catch a band, dance your face off on theme nights, or just grab a stiff drink, The Knockout delivers the goods. A Mission must-stop.

    Nice place to play - very cool people, sound man knew what he was doing, helpful and got a good…read moretone. small place - but 40 people feels like 100 so I don't mind. Place was clean, I don't drink alcohol but some folks loved the drinks and they had some new alcohol-free options which I appreciated. Than you guys! one thing to consider if your'e a band playing here, parking is tough and unloading becomes a little dicy when double parking. Ended up having to park 4 blocks away.... that said, would play it again. cheers!

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    The Knockout SF - Shoegazey photo of the excellent watermelon mezcal paloma

    Shoegazey photo of the excellent watermelon mezcal paloma

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    7 Mile House - Ube Hot Chocolate (spiked, of course)

    7 Mile House

    4.2(2.2k reviews)
    3.0 mi
    $$

    The last mile house that is only in Brisbane, still close to Cow Palace, never far off. The last…read moremile house that last for over 168 years is an amazing sight, with many stories of old to tell, along with survival stories like COVID that 7 Mile House stronger and better than ever. Used to serve anything that's both American and Italian, until Vanessa had made it into a family run small business restaurant which was absolutely welcoming for both locals and tourists alike since 2004. It's the only reason I come to 7 Mile House during Asian History Month that aims for Filipino fun. My specialty drink: Ube Colada (non-alcoholic). I want to try the Lambanóg, but it's few years late and I wouldn't mind since I prefer any drink that's zero proof. This creamy purple smoothie is so refreshing, I wouldn't mind getting a brain freeze. Main course? Actually, I take something out of the lunch menu, which is Beyond Burger; pickles at the top, lettuce, tomato, and cheese; old school American style with a plant based patty! I eat the fries first since they're fresh and chewy. Wish I stick around for an appetizer or a salad; but given that there's several people dining indoors while few of us outdoors, I'll have to pass. Before I walk a couple of blocks toward 7 Mile House, I noticed the gas prices for both gas stations are just as high as near my neighborhood. I'll be wondering how long will a famous family run restaurant can go an extra mile before it runs out of steam. My best bet is that we must support each other as local communities, just like how the 7 Mile House of today had kept us together for generations.

    To go order! Had the…read moreadobo and it wasn't as vinegary as I expected. But the flavors were nice and very filling. Thank you for the thoughtful packing. The chicken pesto sandwich was dry with little pesto... so stick to the Filipino plates :) Friendly service; Street parking Thanks!

    Photos
    7 Mile House - The cheery section of the interior.

    The cheery section of the interior.

    7 Mile House - Crab, avocado salad with olives

    Crab, avocado salad with olives

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    El Rio - musicvenues - Updated May 2026

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