When I moved to SF in the beginning of 2022, I was struggling to find a new barber. I've tried many locations around FiDi where I first lived, but none of those places cut my hair the way I liked. My coworker recommended me to try Machete Barber Shop, and when I went for my first appointment, Rafael was extremely welcoming and friendly and gave an overall great vibe. Rafael listens to what you want, and asks questions to make sure that he has a good understanding of exactly what you're asking him. He also takes great care of each of his customers and remembers what style they usually go for, so when I go in and ask for the regular, he gives me exactly the same thing every time. Also, when I tried going for a new look and growing the front of my hair out, Rafael gave input for how to cut it so that it grows out well. I recommend Rafael to all of my friends, and I've been convinced to be a long-term customer (he's been the only barber I've gone to for the last year and a half). read more

Rafael is a really nice guy and excellent barber. Nice shop, too. He really cares about giving you the cut you're looking for. Great fades and straight razor work. I highly recommend him. He adds lots of nice touches that really elevate his services (e.g., hot towel, lather, and a straight razor to line you up nice and tight). read more

Look no further than the BEST barber in SF. Words cannot describe how awesome Rafael masters his showmanship. He's read more

Machete Barber Shop - Again... I highly recommend Rafael as one of my best/ favorite barbers EVER! He truly knows how to take care of his guests. - Barbers Near Me - San Francisco, California

I was staying in the city and looked on yelp for a barber this had the best reviews. I arrived at the barbershop and barber was on time. Best to book online, very easy to use website. Barbershop is very clean and he paid attention to detail. You won't be disappointed. read more

Machete Barber Shop - NEW LOCATION - Barbers Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I've been going to him for over two months for a shadow-fade cut, I used to go to the cheap $10-20 barbers but now remain here due to the level of detail and quality of the cut, warm lather, and good conversations. R's also a big sports guy. ATM on-site. Met Rafael in the midst of the pandemic right when the barber shops started opening up. Great humble and personable guy with great cuts. Even with months of being cut off from operating a business, he had a great attitude about it about being fortunate enough to spend time with family and not to having to close down for good. Unfortunately my most recent encounter I've slept through my 1-hour appointment block and hadn't called him until hours later to reschedule a same-day appointment. He hadn't called me to check-in to see where I was and took the L. When I called back an hour later Rafael was still as chill as he normally is even though I wasted an hour of his life waiting for me. He didn't any grudges and on the phone he could still joke about it haha. The same day, Rafael was just as friendly and professional and was able to provide the excellence of service in my 30-45 minute cut. He didn't hold a grudge for missing the appt and said luckily he had no walk-ins during that tie or he'd be a little down ha. He even had a mask on [sept 2021] as I came in, what a professional. I ended up tipping the price of the missed cut cause that's the least I could do for sleeping through an appointment, otherwise I'd feel guilty if I hadn't owned up to it. Thanks R for the continued good conversation and cuts! read more

Rafael is the best, been going here for almost 5 years now once a month and highly recommend!

I've been getting my haircut with Rafa now for about 3 years. He consistently does a great, top quality job. He takes his time. And he finishes with old school razor clean up and a hot towel. He's been my go to barber now since I'm very picky with who cuts my hair. He won't disappoint. read more

Rafael is very easygoing and extremely talented. He is communicative and attentive to your needs and gives his full attention. Also, his skills are peerless. A flawless but. Tell all your friends. The real deal. read more

Finding a new barber is hard, lots of trial and error, lots of ok haircuts, etc. Fortunately I didn't have to go through many before finding Machete. Rafael is a master of his craft a 10/10 experience. Communicated well, heard what I was asking for and delivered. Had a good conversation with him and left with a fresh quality cut. Thanks Rafael, I'll def be coming back. read more

Upon moving to SF over a year ago, Machete has been my go-to one and only barbershop. Rafael's barbering is artwork. He is also a great conversationalist with energy, great stories, good wisdom and an all around solid human being. read more

Had to leave another review because this time i decided to change it up a bit and I was realllly nervous how this cut would look on me but as usual Raphael took care of me and everyone's loving the new cut. read more

Machete Barber Shop - Barbers Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Seriously, VERY cool place. Needed a haircut and found this place. Talk about luck! R was amazing. Not only professional, but personable too. Haircuts and barbers are a very personal matter. But if you find yourself looking for someone and you're in this area, I can't recommend him enough. read more

5/5 would recommend! If I had shorter hair, I'd totally go here! But today, I'm writing this review on behalf of my s/o who got his hair cut by Rafael a few weeks ago. I was there for the entire experience and I have to say, I'm really impressed by Rafael's expertise and attention to detail! Appointments were super easy to make with the online scheduling tool. Rafael was very friendly and started on time. You can definitely tell that he takes his time with each haircut, tailoring the cut to fit every client's hair type. He also doesn't skip steps or tries to take shortcuts (like the hot shaving cream) which I haven't seen other shops in the east bay use. read more

Been coming here now that my other guy is always booked. I like the online reservation system that always guarantees me a time. Shop is clean and the guys are always professional and courteous. read more

My man Rafael is the BEST! I would look no further and am glad I've found my barber in this city.

Rafael is amazing. I've changed two looks with him and he always does exactly what I want. I recommended him to everyone from my friends to my doctor! read more

Machete Barber Shop - Barbers Near Me - San Francisco, California

I've been getting cut by Rafael every since I moved to SF about 2 years ago. He's a genuinely nice guy and a really great barber. He used to work at another shop until he opened up Machete Barbershop earlier this year. When he told me he was opening up his own shop, I happily followed him to his new place. It's been awesome to see someone open up their own business here in SF and to have the chance to support them in their growth. I've sent a few co-workers to get cut by him and they've all been really happy with the experience. Side note: If you're black and you're wondering, "Can he cut black hair?". The answer is yes! Non-black folks might laugh at this, but the struggle is real. Not every barber knows how to cut both straight hair and black hair. Overall, I'd definitely recommend you check out Rafael's shop! read more

I've been getting haircuts from Rafael for the past 2 years (previously he used to work at another barber shop just down the street) and he always does a great job - definitely takes his time and he's a super chill guy to chat with. Haircuts aren't cheap here (40 bucks), but that's about standard for the area. Surrounding neighborhood is a bit sketch, but I suppose it adds to the overall experience :) read more

Rafael was very attentive and very personable. He gave me a great haircut and even surprised me with some hot lather and razor shave on the bottom of my neck! What a treat! He also gave us some great restaurant recommendations that were spot on! Highly recommend! read more

I just move to San Francisco and I was lucky to fiend this place ! Rafael is pure talent ! He's so friendly and honest if I have 10 stars I will give him 11 ... he's job is soo clean and he really know what he's doin!! Y a la español! read more

Rafael is a great barber. He's consistent, extremely attentive and is always in a great mood. I had to knock down 1 star as I've had a poor experience with his other barbers. Stick with Rafael and you won't be disappointed. read more

Amazing work, John really hooked it up. My husbands best cut hands down. We will be returning with friends and family.

100% recommend! Just moved from out-of-state to SF and found Rafael who is a highly skilled barber. You can visit his website and make an appointment so you know your spot is guaranteed. Give it a try, you won't be disappointed! read more

I have been getting my hair cut by Rafael for a few years now, just about every ten days or so. The cut ,style and fade are always on point. Rafael is no run of the mill barber. He listens and cares about his product and takes his time. It is apparent in the detail of his work. Always a pleasure. read more

I think enough can be said about Rafael by simply looking at all those 5 star reviews. The fact is Rafael is a master at what he does. From the moment you walk in to the complainants you get walking out you know he perfected his craft. I 100% recommend him to anyone who's looking for a barber. read more

I've been going to Raf for about 3 years now, so I was beyond excited for him when he opened up his own shop! From tapers to shadow fades, to bald fades, Raf has never disappointed me. You'll become a regular as soon as you get your first cut here - if he's busy he always tells people to go to the previous shop that he was with. Just shows how good of a guy he is. I recommend booking in advance on his website. read more

Rafael is awesome. After moving to SF from NYC I had a hard time finding a new barber that I liked. Tried a number of different places before coming to Machete and I'm glad I eventually did. Rafael is an awesome barber. He's really attentive to what you ask for and is really personable and easy to talk to. He takes his time and never makes you feel rushed and always gives an awesome cut. read more

I've been getting my hair cut by Raef for nearly a year now. He's a nice, genuine guy who knows what he's doing. Definitely recommend!

When I first moved to the Bay, I went to over 10+ barbershops... until I met Rafael! Not only is Rafael one of the most talented barbers I've had the pleasure of being around but he treats you with respect, and the upmost customer service. Machete Barbershop is truly one of a kind... From the hand made furniture that Rafael created, to the relaxing feel of the shop you are in for an A+ experience. Tell him Sean sent you! read more

Shop is always clean, which speaks volumes right there. Definitely recommend Rafael for your tight, detailed fade-- or any other barber cut for that matter. Outstanding work everytime. Friendly & absolutely professional. read more

If you are downtown and you need a precision fade or cut, go see Rafael. He is friendly, checks in with you to make sure you really like your cut. Takes his time to get it right and walks you thru the process. Sweet neck trim with a razor to finish up leaves you fresh. We chopped it up for a while too.. great guy, great shop, great service. I'll definitely be back soon. Thank you Rafael read more

Rafael has been my barber for over 3 years starting back to when he was working at a previous establishment. When I heard he opened up his own shop I knew I had to follow him there. Rafael is an amazing barber who puts a lot of passion into his work. I've never had a bad experience coming to him for my haircuts and would recommend him to anyone. He's a great guy to chat with and provides great customer service! Definitely check out his shop if you need a cut. read more

Met Rafael when I moved to the bay 3 years ago... and he's the man! Best hair cuts around, takes his time and truly cares that you're getting what you want. A++ service! read more

I was first introduced to Rafael in late 2016. For the last 2.5 years, he's been cutting my hair. What I really enjoy about his work is his commitment towards excellence. He takes his time and genuinely enjoys what he does for a living. You can't really go wrong with someone like that. read more

The fact that every single Yelp review at the time of this posting is 5 stars speaks for itself. I've been getting my hair cut by Rafael for about 3 years and have never had a bad experience. He takes his time, is very laidback, and is extremely accommodating. I look forward to having a beer and shooting the shit with him every time I come in. He gets super busy so be sure to book on his website well in advance but his skills are well worth the wait. On occasion, I've had to go to a different barbershop because I tried to book last minute and the results are just not nearly as good. Rafael is friendly, hardworking, and does a great job. read more

Best cut of my life. I feel like a million bucks! Rafael is an excellent barber. Fine attention to detail, finished the edges with a razor, warm towel and great conversation. Will most definitely be back. Thanks Rafael! read more

I saw this shop on O'farrell and told my dad who was visiting from London to check it out . He could not stop talking about the amazing experience he had with Rafael. He had a beard trim and haircut and said the time and attention is second to none ! It's going to be his first stop on any trip to SF ! Neighborhood Gem!!! read more

I been seeing Rafael for over a year now, when I heard he had left metropolitan barbershop to peruse his own thing I was happy that he was still in the city! He's gives me the best fades and always get compliments on them. He's super detail oriented and takes his time that's what I like about him. Glad he's still in SF. read more

Rafael has been cutting my for over three years. He pays close attention to detail and it's always nice catching up with him. I've moved out of the neighborhood but continue to come back for a great cut. read more

I've been to a lot of barbers in SF and Rafael is by far the best one I've found. A lot of barbers can't cut asian hair right but Rafael is great at it. Echo the sentiment that he's always in a great mood too. Definitely recommend Machete to anyone looking for an awesome cut! read more