Interesting bar with decent beer selection! Pool tables and pinball machines The bartenders were friendly and we really enjoyed their dark beer I love a place that has so much atmosphere. Sure the bathrooms look a little crazy but overall it was still clean. They're right next to a place that we saw band play live so they pretty sure wish I lived in San Francisco! read more

See all

Checked out another dive bar in the Civic Center area. It wasn't that good but the prices were cheap for around here. Route 101 kind of looks sketchy from the outside. Just relax because it also looks sketchy on the inside. They have basic beers, cocktails, and things. Best thing about it is that it's cheap. It's hard to find cheaper around here. The bad thing is that it's kind of limited. For sure not a whole lot to choose from. It's about $8 for a basic cocktail, so that's really not that bad it seems. This is a typical looking dive bar with tons of crap on the walls. Also a few crazy patrons at the bar. There's a few who are cool and not creepy however. Has kind of a dirty feel but it's actually pretty clean. It's one of the cheaper places to have a few. There's no food but people bring in stuff. read more

Route 101 SF - Whiskey - Dive Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

We sat there for a few minutes and the bartender came up to us and said he was late to work and didn't have anything ready to make drinks... said the others didn't "set him up..." only offered canned stuff. Didn't even have ice up front. Told us to go to another bar that's more prepared for customers. I'm glad he was honest but how are you gonna blame other people when you were late to work... read more

One of my top places to go when I want to play pool, but would rather avoid competition/pool sharks. You'll mostly find regulars, which seem to be pretty rad people. Drinks are cheap & strong, & there's even a small dance floor. If your out of town friends want a true local experience, bring them here! read more

This used to be my local haunt. Tonight as I was getting ready to attend a concert at the Regency Ballroom I stopped in for a beer. After waiting for a ridiculous amount of time the bartender tells me "We're not gonna serve you." Mind you, this was after telling another couple before me to go look for another bar. I've never witnessed this kind of discrimination before. Whomever owns this dive really should check themselves before they go into ruin. Also, the cockroaches running around on the floor don't help. read more

went here before an event next door on Sat 4/12 to grab a drink, bartender totally ignored us!! Never came to ask us for our order!! Super racist!! read more

Went in with a few friends before a show at the regency. The bartender asked for our ids and then immediately said "we aren't serving this here" No explanation. No reason. We are local to the bay. The bay is about inclusion and kindness and this wasn't it. read more

Super rude, denied our whole party. Looked at our id's and said "we're not serving you, goodbye!" Absolutely trash bar read more

Great bar, they make the best martinis. They should be known for them Alex S can rock the drinks. We were traveling for a show at the Regency Ballroom, and we were walking from our hotel. The travel was four blocks. We hit a few bar on the way, the best martini was Route 101 but only if Alex s makes them. Can't vouch for the rest read more

Man don't I just fleeping hate Nick. His drinks suck, his tattoos suck, but his pastrami sandwiches are mean as can be, for an Italian that is. Alex on the other hand... just lovely. He makes the best martini. Great glasses. Great face. Bod is pretty good. Bit of a tummy. Like it when he wears shorts. And I like it when he makes me a vibrator. Best drink in the city paired with nicks pastrami sandwich. Real great group of guys read more

Everything about this bar was 10/10 but homie alex with the glasses is hands down the best bartender i've had the pleasure of meeting! Would recommend this bar to everyone who is in SF read more

What's up yelp nation, I'm back again with another hot review! Route 101; wow what a ride am I right? This place has pool, it has pinball, and let me tell you this friends route 101 has CLASS. Their prices are fair, the drinks delicious. But the big sell here is the barkeep; a 5 star man is an understatement. He was friendly, flirty, and fun. If you have the pleasure of finding yourself at the route 101 watering hole, get ready for the ride of your life. Drink up me hearties, yoho. read more

Drinks served quickly, punk bar nice atmosphere and crowd was cool. Had my first old-fashioned w/ friends before seeing The Damned at the Regency. Will go every time there's a show at Regency. Weird that The Damned audience was hella blue jeans and t-shirt crowd. C'mon bay area the crowd at that show made me question just how gentrified we've become... read more

Dive? You betcha! Expensive? Have any of my SF peeps been to Marina lately? Prices there are double for a shot and a beer! This is type of neighborhood place I love. Odd or not San Franciscans stick to their neighborhoods because we all have restaurants, grocery stores, and bars in our neighborhoods we love or grow to love quickly. Glad I found this place again! Anna is an asset and doesn't overcharge. Good change! read more

See all

Went in on Tuesday and gave $100 bill to bartender for drinks he charged me around $35 or so and didn't get my money in returned.

Man this place sucks Alex and Nick idk which ones which but they don't know what beer is? Come on it's a bar am I right? No food which sucks too! I also came in and asked for 6 lemon drops for me and my friends on a Saturday night at 9 and they wouldn't even make it like for real? read more

Route 101 is no dive by any stretch of the imagination. They have clean stools - and plenty of them, by their well-stocked bar - a charming, self-referencing mural, and at least one pool table, plus at least one TV. This bar is a narrow space: larger than their outside suggests, there's room to relax on a couch, play pinball, or enjoy one of the many beers they have on tap. If you stop in right after lunch - especially on a weekday - don't be surprised if you're the only one there. (Be sure to visit when they have drink specials.) My accomplice and I each took down Irish car bombs ($7.50; cash only, with an ATM nearby) and kamikaze shots prepared by John, the friendly barkeep. Nothing like midday drinks, eh? read more

See all

What a fun bar! Pool tables in the back. Friendly bartender. Good prices. There was an old heavy metal band playing at the Regency Ballroom next door so that added to the fun atmosphere. read more

Came here during the Super Bowl before a show we were attending next door and the bartender asked us for ID then responded "not serving you, goodbye!" We were all extremely confused and asked for clarification and bartender was so dismissive and rude. Went to BevMo across the street to spend half the money we would have spent here. Sad because we wanted to support a local place. Don't go here, not worth the money. Bartender should be let go, so disappointing. read more

I LOVE route 101! Alex is so attentive to everyone that comes in, he really cares about everyone that comes in and makes sure everyone is taken care of. Serene is also a fantastic bartender and is so sociable and kind. This is one of my favorite bars in the city. 11/10 if you love good music and playing pool. read more

Went with my girlfriend to get some drinks. The environment is nice and the service and drinks were great. Fun place to go before a concert at the Regency. read more

Eh. This dive bar wasn't awesome. And as dive bar goes, paying $5.50 for a bottle of Lagunitas is pricy. Am I crazy for thinking that? Bartenders aren't the friendliest, fellow patrons range from some local loons to reflecting the neighborhood with some upscale patrons. A friend brought me here to watch the Warriors and I asked for not crowded and it wasn't crowded, so there's that. A few pool tables in the back and cash only makes this a better spot for the regulars, or if you randomly meander in versus a destination one stop shop. read more

My BFF and I had each had a stressful week so we decided to decompress last night with cocktails and a cheesy movie. Before heading down to 1000 Van Ness we parked our behinds on a couple of bar stools at Route 101. Last time I was there was almost 6 years ago when I was pregnant. I hasten to add that I only had 7-UP...my baby daddy drank beer while I looked on with envy. Anyhow, last night we only had about 30 minutes before the movie so we were in shot-slamming mode. The bartender raised an eyebrow at us but we paid him no mind as we plowed through 3 shots apiece. The bar is just as I remembered it...low-key, comfortable, completely lacking in pretense. And the perfect place to catch a nice glow before the show. read more

This is a good place to stop and be a real person. I like the place. I like the customers. You feel very at home here, and even thought it is a bit rough around the edges, it's a good place for people with good taste in divey places. They have cheap Bud. They have pool. It's a good crowd. The biggest draw are the pool tables. They have a nice back area with two tables and good space. It's a really chill spot to come with a bigger group and be able to still have individual conversations. It's been here for years. People keep coming back. read more

We actually stumbled upon this place as we were dining across the street at Alborz. Can I just say that we love Trey the Bartender. My goodness, he's a hoot-and-a-half! We're in town because my husband is having open heart surgery at Stanford, and we decided to make the most of our time before life changes. Trey lent an ear and made us feel relaxed and just so much better with his positive energy. He actually drew a caricature of us! Like, who does that?! Awesome bartenders named Trey, that's who. It's a total dive bar, but worth it. We'll definitely be revisiting when in the area. read more

See all

4 stars for being true to the genre. Isn't Van Ness technically part of Hwy 101? Hence the name? I agree with everyone below, I would only add that it gets an extra star because they serve hot dogs, pretty much on demand. They used to be $1.00 but now they've gone up to $2.50 but the bartender correctly points out that they are bigger than they used to be. I like to go to the gym, work out hard and come here for a beer and dog, figuring I'm breaking even for the day. read more

Hey you have to review dive bars with the fact that it is a dive bar in mind. So you can't give them low marks for being dirty, etc. So that's why I'm giving the 101 four stars. I've seen that sign forever and last night had to go check it out after a random Of Montreal show I saw at the Great American Music Hall earlier. As the sign says, they have a big tv and pool table. The crowd was an interesting mix of folks but everyone seemed cool, even the guy with tattoos covering his face. I found Southern Culture on the Skids on the jukebox which impressed me since I used to see them play in dumps and barns in Alabama in my college days. At least go once! read more

Route 101 SF - the legendary sign - Dive Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

I seem to come here about once a decade. So I've been here twice. I noticed a few changes. - there was an eJukebox advertising Tailor Swift - Poweraide was behind the bar not Gatoraid Um....I think thats about it. read more

I have been wanting to check this place out for quite some time so when I was invited to meet some people there I jumped at the chance. Route 101 is not what I expected it to be. For one thing it is not a dive bar; it's a sports bar, it's a neighborhood hang out, and they have a couple of serious pool tables in back. It's a decent place but there's nothing divey about it. From the outside it looks like it's going to be small but it goes way back. The beer is $4.50 which is a little too much for this kind of place and the whiskey neat I ordered seemed a little skimpy; maybe I've been spoiled by heavy handed dive bar bartenders. The staff is friendly but the regulars seem a little douchey. The honest truth is that while it's pretty good bar there are so many bars I like better within a short walk that I probably won't be back often. read more

Maybe the bartender wasn't expecting two wide eyed Asian alcoholics to stumble into his empty bar at 3pm on a weekday, but that's indeed what he got. And what we got is an attitude so ambivalent, indifferent and, in a way, sorta "angry", that all I really wanted to do was just stay awhile and drink, just to take the edge off. So that's what we did. I usually don't drink shots (by choice), but the surly bartender John (note: actually a nice guy once you get to talking with him) made us the nastiest tasting Irish Car Bombs we ever had that I ended up having to chase the nastiness down with a Kamikaze. To John's credit, he kept emphasizing the fact that he doesn't do the whole "college thing" (read: shots), and I kept on emphasizing the fact that hey, neither do I, but my friend was the one ordering and paying (p.s. thanks Dave H!) Overall, if you do come here, for the love of God (and baby Jesus) don't do shots. Instead, have a beer, play pool and ask the bartender how his day is going. You'll be fine and boozed up in no time. 2.5 stars read more

One would expect that a bar taking on the name Route 101 would honor the tradition of this fantastic historic stretch of West Coast road (registered in the 20s, if I recall correctly) that takes you through so many interesting places. One would think they would have some memorabilia or photos or sense of history waiting for you when you walk in. Sadly no. This place would be better named "VH1 - I love the 80s" since it more closely memorializes mullets, couches upholstered in rec room brown patterns, kegs of beer that taste like they are relics stocked up on in that decade and Spuds McKenzie. The place is large and in addition to the couches I would highly recommend not sitting on (they look like they have been collecting spilled drinks and bodily fluid since the 80s) they have a few TVs, a few pool tables and a whole lot of people hanging out talking about the latest tragedy in their lives and how great a year 1988 was for fashion. Oh, and, so I have been told, it is pretty easy to have sex in the restrooms here so I would refrain from sitting on the toilet seats as well....they also look like they haven't been cleaned since 1982. read more

Pirate Pub Crawl bar #5 This bar is more hoppin' on a weekend night, especially if you bring 15-20 pirates (and a few wannabe's) with you. The bartender eyed us with a slight bit of disdain, but kept the drinks a-flowin'. In my book, that'll do. read more

I'm bumping this place up a star! Why?!?! They have Magners Irish Cider!!! ....and the bartender asks you if you want it on ice! Boo-yeah! read more

I generally go to bars with two missions in mind: socialize and drink. The socialization agenda met with great fanfare. I caught up with some good friends while I was there. I met some new people who regaled me with great tales of fetching their own personal blender so that Bill Cosby could have his fruit smoothies. The drinks... well... the drinks were just bad. Everything tasted dirtier than normal for a dive bar. I started with a Gin and Tonic. Not very good. So I switch to beer. Two different beers from the taps tasted stale. PBR in a can? Just right. Stick to things in bottles or cans at this place. Oh yeah, they did play "Hot For Teacher" on their big screen TV. Bonus. This video is clearly superior to A-Ha's "Take On Me". read more

If you like dive bars, this is a good one. They serve hot dogs straight from their microwave (which is exactly how dive bar hot dogs should be prepared). Hot dogs help when you've had too much to drink by either helping your stomach stay down or come back up. Good drunk pool in the back. But watch out for my pool sharkin' brother because he's not as drunk as he pretends to be. You see the caption says Pacific Heights? Since when did Pacific Heights have dive bars and weekly hotels? It's not Pac Heights, it's the 'Loin. read more

The Route is my local dive bar. Its a cool place to go if you don't want to wait in line for a drink and you can always find a place to sit down and relax. The bartenders are friendly and they have a great jukebox. The people in this place are usually pretty random. An example: Have you ever been on the 38 Geary bus? I was on one time around 5:30 after work on a week day. And this INSANE drunk wreck of a woman was stumbling around in the front talking mad sh*t to anyone and everyone coming on and off the bus. Slurring her words and spinning around every which way. "Yo b*tch what the f*** mothaf***er". Anyways I saw her at the Route one night calmly sucking down a drink at the bar a couple of seats away from me. I really got a kick out of that. The only down side is the bathrooms but what do you expect from a dive bar? read more

You know that video game machine that sits on the bar, that has a whole bunch of games including the one where you find five little differences between the almost identical photos of naked ladies? We know it simply as "the game." Well, I went into the Route the other day, and learned the hard way that they have taken "the game" away. The machine is still there, but has been stripped of erotic options. I'm done with this place. read more

Walking into this bar is like walking into Tree's Lounge. I half expected Steve Buschemi to sit down in the stool next to me. While not quite as gritty as the bars Bukowski frequented, this bar bounces between being truly divey and a little lounge-esque. There is a nice array of couches, and some good pool tables, but place itself, well... maintence isn't really a priority, but I like it that way. And I still don't understand my friends' growing interest in having sex in the bathrooms of dive bars we frequent. Maybe I'm just a little more dsicriminate with where I'll have sex in public because the tiny, grungy bathrooms here certainly did not seem arousing to me. Then again I probably shouldn't talk. The girl I ended bringing to the bar was married and had her husband meet with us all. At least I didn't catalyze a divorce this time. read more

I recommend this bar if your looking for a mellow place to just hang out and chat with some friends or a date. It's just simply a bar. It has a couple of pool tables but I have never played while there. The bartenders remember my drink every time I walk back in. They remember my name and has a Cheers feel (with a SF vibe). Often this is where I go after work and hang with a date or friends and sit on the couch, watch the game and enjoy some drinks. The only negative part is the music at times can be somewhat loud. You could ask them to turn it down or up if it's a particularly cool song. read more

Love this damn bar. Love it for the simple fact that it's a dive bar, it has pool tables, serves Stella, and the music selection on the juke box is good stuff. It's a dive, but it's a fun and friendly dive. read more