Imperial stout was the bomb. Back it up with a Pilsner on tap. I know. Extreme. But I came for the food and the kitchen is closed for ???? I won't Holt it against them because it seems like the place I would love to hang in. Especially when this holy crap got Asian babe parked her A}^%}%{%SS next Yo me. Anyway. Cashed out after 2 beers bee cause I need food. Try again later this weeek. read more

I came here twice last weekend while I was in San Francisco. I really really liked this bar. I'm not a fan of places that get too crazy or too loud. I just wanna order a drink, sit my ass down and hang out with my friends with no hassle. They have a bunch of tables and plenty of seating. They also have a pool table if you're into that. I found the Street Fighter 2 arcade machine to be a bit more appealing. This place isn't expensive either. Or it might be, I wouldn't really know in comparison to SF prices. Because Miami nightlife is crazy expensive. But I thought the prices were great anyway. I would definitely come back here. read more

Possibly the most perfect place in the entire world. I said POSSIBLY! It is my right to arbitrarily assign stars!!! But seriously: this is my kind of bar. A bar in an alley where you come to DRINK, watch crappy television and if you come here during the day, to eat fried foods. Blissfully empty before & after the Yelp party, the perfect respite for the overwhelming yuppie-ness of Yelp (sorry, i love you, but it's the truth), I was so happy to come in Tempest, to the land of bad lighting & imperfect drunks, watching poker games on the Travel Channel. They stand out amongst other shitholes because they have entered the modern age and accept plastic. And you can smoke, which is the best accompaniment to whiskey, soda & bitters that a girl could ever ask for. read more

I'll never, ever go back. This place is a tiny, dingy, dirty, hole in the wall in the middle of a dark alley. Had I known this I would have not walked down it alone! I passed one too many crack smokers for my taste. I just didn't feel safe, even once I got in the bar. I only came here because a friend "rented" it out for his birthday. And the bar double booked! So we had to share it with another party! I hope he got a refund! Plus, everyone was smoking INSIDE. I thought the law in CA was the opposite? I came home smelling of smoke. I was too tired to shower, so I had to change my sheets the next day obviously. Pain in the ass. The bartenders were pretty crappy, very unattentive and a bit bitchy. I love hole in the wall bars, but this is like 10 steps below one. I'll never go back, for ANY reason. Even if my friend rents it again for his birthday. He'll get a card from me instead. read more

Four visits to the Tempest. Four near fist fights. Four stars. What I love about this place is that everyone is welcome; you just need to not be a jerk. My 4 near-fisticuff-misses all went down like this: I accidentally bump some standing at the bar. They turn around and give me the "WTF" look. You know the one. Like when those ganstas roll by Ice Cube's house in Boyz In The Hood. So at this point, the situation can go one of two ways: 1. I give the look right back and promptly get my ass kicked. Or 2., I turn on my Minnesota charm and apologize profusely. So each time I, of course, go with option #2 and each time I make a new Tempest friend. One guy went from about to punch my face to giving me his card and telling me about his burgeoning music career. As for the drinks, the menu is solid and there is always a shot-and-a-beer special. There is good food next door and a pretty good number of tables to enjoy your PBR and tater tots. So if you are looking for a no-frills dive-y joint where you can enjoy a beer, come as you are to the Tempest. And don't be a jerk. read more

To the management. You recently fired a good bouncer due to a bad yelp review. I personally go to tempest all the time and really enjoyed the work the bouncer did. I like the new latino dude too but it's messed up to fire someone over a silly yelp review. This review will turn to 5 stars if you respond. UPDATE: thanks for the response read more

My favorite bar to go to with my coworkers. Cheap drinks, lively atmosphere, and the food next door at The Box is delicious!! My favorite has got to be their perfectly crisp and flavored Garlic Fries. Not to mention that this place has free food on Fridays, and this place def gets poppin' when there's local sports on! Interesting crowd I must say... pretty diverse? I'd say lots of bike hipsters and white bearded dudes. Conveniently located near the downtown SF area in borderline Union Square/SoMa district. Downside? Located on a crackhead street that may be a little sketchy at night and I've seen a guy get into a fight with a crackhead hobo outside. My friend's car got broken into the next street down at the beginning of this year. Do not leave any belongings visible in your car... even if you think it's not valuable, one man's trash is one man's treasure!! read more

Not really into dive bars, but this one is worth a visit. Gets loud and crowded but great beer selection and drink specials. If you work in the SoMa area, this is the place to go after work! There's a pool table, was also really digging the music selection last night, and you can BYOD (bring your own dog!). I mean what's not to like. AND not to mention the food selection outside - the potato skins with quail egg and pork belly are a must.. along with the burger. Definitely recommend this place! read more

I was just informed that as of 1/1/11, they no longer allow smoking at The Tempest. I'll update my review once I've checked it out! Good news! read more

I don't know what more you could want in a dive bar. Nice bartenders, tv's in most directions, solid beer + shot deals and a couple mixed drinks as well, huge beer menu with great prices. Andddd amazing bring in take-out food from Boxed Lunch right next door. Perfect spot to watch a game or catch drinks and a bite before show at the Mezzanine (which we did). We came here on a Saturday night and it was definitely a lively crowd. Would come back! read more

It's hard these days to find a cheap place for a drink in San Francisco, so I was thankful to stumble upon the divey vibes of The Tempest. Obviously, nothing can truly be divey these days, but I still appreciated the lower-priced drinks, the loud but chill atmosphere, and the lack of Edison lights. read more

I don't know if its because I have become older and crotchety, but Im starting to hate every bar out there as well as the patrons. NOT the case with Tempest. This place is rad and unpretentious. This place is what a bar should be...a great space to grab a cheap beer, bullshit with friends, maybe shoot some pool, and have a good time. read more

I still dont understand why certain bars insist on having such bright lights, its just plain eerie. If they toned down the flourescents this could be a 5 star establishment for the following reasons; The place lacks any sort of pretentious qualities Good drink prices Free pool (play fast, no chitchat between turns, the locals get restless when made to wait) Free jukebox (songs skipped at the bartenders discretion, but hey, you didn't pay for the song!) Food in the daytime A wide variety of characters, some pretty damn enthusiatic about their 49ers(or really drunk...not sure which) Semi hidden location, yet not "cool" enough to ever become a place for the hipsters Suprisingly clean restrooms for a dive establishment Cool stuff to look at (bikes suspended from the celing, a bar table full of plants(?), neat fixturing, horrible furniture etc. Bartenders who know who was there first, even if someone tries to cut you off at the proverbial pass. I'd say check this place out, you might like it.....but I'd prefer to say you'll hate it, so it can remain as it is. read more

Tempest is one of the best dives in SF. I don't drink much anymore but love coming here for lunch and to catch up with friends after work. The crowd is an amalgamation of SF techies, construction workers, transients from a nearby convention, etc. Everyone can appreciate the good food though. Cheap beer if you're into that. The casual vibe makes it good for grabbing a quick lunch or a small group get together when there's friends coming from out of town. Fairly fast service during lunch but Box Kitchen is a little slower dinner time. The bar food is really good, not bougie, and high quality and distinctive unlike bland bar food at other places that tastes like Costco ingredients repackaged and served to you. Ranch Wings - Five full sized wings covered in ranch. Probably my second favorite wings in SF. Juicy and tender on the inside, nice and crispy on the outside. A decent amount of spice and tanginess. Comes with a small carrot salad. Falafel Wrap/Salad - Crispy, fresh falafel, perfect texture - not too dry, not too moist, not too oily. There's such a variety of textures and flavors in the wrap and it all comes together - hummus, yogurt, feta, fried chickpeas. Box Burger - Crispy shallots add an interesting crispy sweetness. The burger itself? Indulgent. Fatty. Perfect. read more

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You look like you'll get shot here. But I don't think any bullets will be wasted. This place is the definition of a dive, hipster, trendy, too cool for school, bar. I went here for a couple of quick drinks before heading out for dinner. The place was packed, but it's also small. Tucked away in an alley, it was hard to get to for me since this was the first time visiting SF. Drinks are craft and local. Didn't try the food, but my friend swore by it. There was a fight that broke out in front of the joint, probably about who is more underground... it was broken up quickly. I would go back and would like to have spent more time here. It's an interesting crowd and I'm intrigued. read more

I love dive bars. I love dive bars with drink specials (like a "Beam and Pabst back" for $5). I love dive bars with drink specials and locals who ask me what I'm writing in my notebook. I love dive bars with drink specials and locals who ask me what I'm writing in my notebook and then don't get freaked out when I reply, "I'm calculating exactly how many days I've been alive." I love dive bars with drink specials and locals who question me without being frightened of the response and then start a long and friendly conversation about time and location and the lives we've lived. I love the Tempest! Why am I not there now?!? read more

I've been here once but it was an epic experience. After ordering food next door at Eat Box, I took a seat at the bar and immediately noticed the $5 special of whiskey & a beer....bam! Money be tight these days so happy points for that. You can bring the food in from next door and eat it in the bar. They are owned by the same folks. One of the owners was pouring that night and he turned out to be a pretty awesome dude. He was friendly, attentive, and welcoming. After exchanging some life stories I felt very comfortable in an otherwise janky ass 'hood. Now, I've been coming to this part of town since I was about 5. My Pops used to take me to watch horror & action flicks at the old St. Francis Theater on Market (yes, my Dad was an amazing guy). So even with drunkards & crackies about, I am not the least bit uncomfortable walking around. But be warned outlanders, it might seem unpleasant so just focus on getting to the Tempest and/or Eat Box and you will enjoy yourself immensely. It was super-crowded by 8 on a Friday night so be prepared to wait a little bit for a seat to open up. read more

Low on money but need to get your drank on? Tempest welcomes you in. One of the cheapest dives in the area, with so much character. Pool tables, great music, good people (if my coworkers are there, which is 99% of the time.) The bar crowd is a trip, from motorcycle guys to men in suits to construction workers- Tempest has a little something for everyone. Especially if that little something is called booze. read more

This place is exactly what was needed when we were soaking wet, starving, and in need of good booze. Honestly too - the deals are great and the bartenders were super kind. Any time I'm in San Fran, you better believe I will be visiting here read more

Great spot to watch a game with an awesome food counter next door! The chicken sando was amazing. Not your typical chicken sandwich - it had a lot of unique flavors and textures. Tempest also has some pretty great beer specials. read more

I only recently discovered that the restaurant, where I sometimes grab a meatloaf sandwich or fried chicken for lunch, moonlights as a really cool hole-in-the-wall bar. I'm into it. The bartenders are super cool, and they make a really good, strong cocktail. Plus, I always like a place that let's you smoke inside...it's the principal of the thing, really. The best news is: since it's just a few blocks from my office, I think I can make it my new favorite happy hour spot. Maybe if I'm lucky, I'll get to check out the occasional local band too, like I did the other night. Good stuff. I've had nothing but good experiences there - and always meet really interesting people when I go. Cool place, indeed. If you're cool, you should check it out... But, really, only if you're cool. It's a somewhat obscure spot, and I hope it stays that way. read more

I think I'm coming to the sudden realization that the way I feel about a place can easily come down to my experience waiting for the bathroom. There is one men's and one ladies' room (both well lit and clearly marked) outside of which becomes quite a nice place to chat up some folks and see wonderful displays or kindness and chivalry (i.e. "why don't you go next?" "No, please, by all means, you go ahead..") It was such a beautiful experience. There were remnants of free food by the time I got there, but it seemed to be the kind of place where no one would mind if you rolled in with your own bucket of chicken (or burrito bar). Drinks are priced to keep you there as long as possible, and the vibe is chill and holds you in like a not-too-floppy beanbag. I wouldn't be surprised if there are a lot of babies being made as a result of this place. There is THAT much love in here. It's fertile and potent. read more

I came in on a Friday night around 6 and the place was packed. I like the mixed crowd here. A lot of fun and interesting people to meet. 5 dollar Jameson will turn your night from "Just one drink..." to 3 maybe 5. Next thing you know you're drunk texting all your friends how much you love them and spending 30 minutes in the bathroom taking a shit...a shit load of selfies. Don't sit next to the pool table. You'll get hit with the cue stick several times. Ouch! read more

Tempest - A bathroom selfie is a must here... - American Near Me - San Francisco, California

Tempest is a cool divey bar you should check out if you find yourself wandering through San Francisco late at night. When you first walk in the space is huge and if you go on a good night it will be packed with other patrons. Don't worry there was enough room available to actually make my way to the bar and order a drink. My friend and I immediately walked up to the bar and took in the specials that night. They have a ton of CHEAP drink prices if you're looking to not spend a lot of cash. They have anything from $2 - $7 listed, which is pretty damn good for a big city! Also, they have a ton of beer and shot combos for $5. Can you say #winning? The bartenders were pretty cool and friendly. I couldn't leave the place without trying the Box burger next door (literally) and garlic parmesan fries. That burger was just heavenly! I definitely recommend trying it before you leave or taking it to go with you to eat at home. I believe you can place an order and they'll take it to the bar for you, but don't quote me. It's about a 10-15 minute wait, but it's definitely worth it. Tips: - $10 minimum on credit/debit cards. - An endless amount of Uber/Lyft drivers are in the area if you're trying to get back home. read more

I'm not going to lie, I like cigarettes. Well at least I love the thought of them and occasionalyl I do indulge simply b/c I can. You can smoke @ The Tempest. I don't mean outside in the cold just to get your fix, I mean indoors while chatting it up with your friends and enjoying a PBR and a shot of Jim Beam for $5. (that was an all night and all day special FYI) I appreciate The Tempest because it has random objects hanging from the ceiling. For example, I think I saw the largest disco ball ever in full effect while an old bicycle hung two feet away. All I'm saying is The Tempest is not where I want to be when an Earthquake hits. I just know that that disco ball will find a way to kill me. I think I had a dream last night about that scene in Indiana Jones where the boulder was chasing him, except replace the boulder with the disco ball and Indy with me. In the end the Tempest is a great place. Divey for all intensive purposes but big as hell. Which says that I can easily get tanked and still have enough room to pass out with out inconveniencing anyone. read more

In December i took a road trip to SF with my buddy Being from San Diego, we look for good craft beers, but we also like dives. And this is a dive The bar had a mystery bottle shot that was super cheap (i dont remember, but i do remember getting a few shots) The drinks were cheap The food at the little place next door was bomb We had some amazing convo with the locals We met a guy named Alpine Joe from our nexk of the woods who gave everyone (not me...i dont do this thing) some of the green right outside THe pool table patrons were white drunk chicks This bar pretty much had everyone that doesnt wear suits for a living drinking together Probably my favorite dive that i went to Oh and some guy outside gave us a riddle. IF we solved it, he would give us a dollar. IF not, we buy hims a drink No one solved it It was an easy answer We were drunk read more

Tempest is the archetypal SF dive bar: it looks as though it's been around since the beginning of time, it has a pool table inside and thirty bikes chained up outside, and will serve whatever you want for reasonable prices. They always have a couple Recession Specials (pint of something cheap and a shot of something cheap) going on -- I was very pleasantly surprised by the pear-cider-and-vodka-for-$7 combo I got the other day. The place is reasonably spacious by SF standards and has a bunch of tables scattered around for you to enjoy your food from the hole-in-the-wall kitchen next door. Dunno if the guys at Eat Box are actually affiliated with Tempest, but they might as well be because $6 chicken wings and $4 beer is a match made in heaven. Protip: if you come here for, say, a "Twelve Drinking Days of Christmas" night after your company's fancy-dress holiday party (because you might work with some people who are jerks and would pick a place like this for that day), expect to feel awkward when you're the only one in a suit. Come on any other day when you're wearing jeans and a t-shirt and you will be right at home. read more

Dive bars? yes please... And this one lives up to all my expectations... Pool table that is sometimes free? Check. A possessed jukebox that is always free? Check. PBR on tap? Check. Jim Beam shot and a PBR for 5$? Check. Old men always drinking at the bar with a random assortment of young, old, and interesting thrown in? Check. Bathrooms that you could have sex in and also are a decent place to pee? Check. Cool, no-nonsense bartenders who will also play poker with you and win your money from you without batting an eye? Check. TV's that play sports and old Twilight Zone episodes? Check. A bar that's always a sure thing? Check. Yup, I love me the Tempest. read more

Soooo. I came with 6 friends :) ordered a drink and chilled at the bar, I wanted the same bartender that I had my drink first ordered from bc I like when people take care of me bc I tip FAT. Both the guys were really rude I don't know what their issue was but I was letting it roll off my shoulders. My friend ordered a drink and there was a minimum to use a card.. No big deal so she said ok ill order two he said that still wouldn't be enough, so she asked me what I wanted and I asked for my drink. We got the drinks she paid but realized she didn't get her other drink just mine and hers so I asked where is her other cran vodka he said my drink and hers were $15 and I was explained that he had said it was 3.. Totally miscommunication ... He threw his hands up to make fun of me, my jaw dropped I couldn't believe it... It was so out of pocket dude had a serious issue with me for no reason... So I did what any girl would do ;) I poured my drink out on his bar , I got kicked out and it was great bc in the end he still had to clean up the mess.. Who's laughing now prick! The place is chill tho , bartenders had something wrong w then and took it out on me.. Hey you give and you take right? read more

Came here recently with a few friends and we ordered some Mai Tai's. It wasn't bad, had better but it was decent here. The atmosphere wasn't bad, actually quite a friendly crowd. SERVICE: SUPERB PRICK BARTENDER. My friend and I barely go to bars so she asked the bartender if signing the receipt meant the tab was closed, he looked at her with a smirk and said rudely, "yeah its obviously closed when you give this back to me". He immediately looked at another customer then said "the fuck?!" outloud. The guy was worth $0.00. Save your money and go elsewhere. read more

Hidden on the corner of a small street resembling an alley, but this place serves amazing food. Ate here a couple of years ago and brought a couple of first timers. We got there around 11:15 on a Thursday and the place was empty, so my friends kinda looked at me wondering if this was legit. We ordered the Cuban appetizer croquettes which had ham, cheese, mustard and dill pickles-they were amazing. We also had burgers and BBQ brisket sandwiches. My friends raved about the food and by noon the place was hopping, so good thing we arrived early. Glad it hasn't changed over the past few years. Will be back! read more

The owner/bartender/chef (renaissance!) teaches his son chess at the bar before it gets busy and there are only a few patrons. How CUTE is that? I'll do a SCOTCH game and a RUSSIAN defense, no skip the vodka and straight for the scotch. The bar is not for the prissier side of me (what?! Queen's gambit declined?!), but if you need some grease, libations, and chess tips, the Tempest is your place. read more

This one was a tough one because the drinks are really pretty bad, but hey, it is a dive bar after all. There's also a pretty interesting mix in the crowd here. The food however is surprisingly great! The meatloaf sandwich, corn dogs, mac and cheese egg rolls, and Mexican street corn are all worth a try. And it's kitchen is open late, so that's a bonus. read more

The tempest is a proper dive bar and not your wanky little pretend dive bar, the people are gritty, the drinks are strong, and the PBR/Jim Beam special for $5 will sort out a wide selection of ills. Unfortunately this place is so gritty they still smoke in there which makes for a very uncomfortable night if you are a non-smoker. I think the bar tender might be going a bit senile, when I ordered my PBR/Jim Beam special he set me up with the requisite pint of PBR and an empty shot glass (which I assumed would soon be filled with the appropriate spirit). I waited politely for a few minutes and saw the bartender had moved on to other patrons, so i asked if there was supposed to be a shot in my glass, to which he replied that there had been a shot. Well I begged to differ and one of the locals sitting beside me backed me up that the shot glass had been delivered empty, and he filled it up while still eying me suspiciously. read more

Tempest is definitely a hidden gem. You have to literally walk through a couple of alley ways to get to this place. Once you finally get there, you'll be so glad! They have really great deals on drinks, and if you're looking for PBR on tap for just $2, you're in luck. Also...they have food, and it's around the corner. Try the burger with a side of fried pickles. You will not regret this choice. The bartenders there are also great! Eric is the coolest guy ever. I love coming here after a hard day at work, away from the standard touristy bars around Union Square. At times it can be really chill, other times it's crazy and packed! No lie. Come here and you won't regret it! read more

Now, I'm not a regular bar goer. But when I do venture out, I want a place where I can sit, drink beer and talk to my friends, and dive bars tend to be my jam. If that place has good food or good music, bonus points. The Tempest hits on all of those points. Their beer list is diverse and affordable (and they even have PBR for lightweights like myself), and the Box Kitchen, which is next door, has killer gourmet food. This place doesn't act like it is too cool for you, which I love. A fun crowd to drink with, and just a great bar. read more

This place was a title loud for my taste but this dive bar has a lot of character. There is plenty of seating, pool table, TVs etc. 3.5 Stars Drinks are affordable. My female friend ordered us Midori Sours, and let's just say that they were the strongest Midori Sours I ever had. My male friend later ordered us a rum & coke and although he said he watched the bar tender pour a lot of liquor in it, it was pretty weak. Maybe the bartender liked my female friend and loaded up our drinks ;] . TIP: To order food you have to go to the window outside. THE GARLIC FRIES were so yummy! I would have liked to try everything else but I don't have the metabolism of a 14 year old boy. read more

Realizing that I hadn't eaten all day I rolled up to Tempest to give it a shot. Ordered the wings next door, sat down at the bar and got a boilermaker, and got out my notepad and pen to do some work. Within five minutes someone sat down next to me and started chatting about writing, technology, carpentry, and pool (all good topics for a Friday afternoon). I got my wings and continued to chat, enjoying the vaguely Boston feel of the place. After a bit the first guy left (not without buying me a beer!) and said goodbye, seeming to know the name of nearly everyone there. About two minutes passed before another stranger who works a vineyard sat down and began chatting to me about wine and the owner of the place and how they go way back. What was to be a quick late lunch turned into four or five hours of getting to know great people in a cozy atmosphere and watching a few real pool sharks. Everything was cheap, I spent less than $20 over the course of the afternoon and was perfectly happy with two boilermakers, wings, and a bottle of my favorite beer (weinstephaner for $4, are you serious?) All in all, you gotta go if you haven't been. Perfect if you're working late at TechShop. -Cd read more

Ended the night here. God bless the Tempest. Wouldn't make my best friends girlfriend a yuppie drink. Thank you...really, thank you. True dive, gotta love it. read more

My favorite spot to watch the GIANTS WIN. Always stop at the Box Kitchen (next door) for the most amazing burger and garlic fries. If you like IPAs, the Heroine IPA is where you can get the most bang for your buck. Delicious AND only $5 for a 7% brew! This place can get rowdy during games, but only in the best way! read more

Tempest - Baseball, brew, burger. - American Near Me - San Francisco, California