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    The Buccaneer

    3.8 (249 reviews)
    ModerateDive Bars
    Closed 5:01 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)

    The Buccaneer Photos

    THE BUCCANEER ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Bay State on draft
    Cheryl C.

    Stopped into this dive bar on a Saturday at 6ish and was just what I wanted-chill atmosphere UFC fight was on dark and cool inside. Good conversation with Damien the bartender and other patrons. Pirate themed. From like the 60s or 70s so it fills the dive bar desires

    Cuatro Viente Buccaneer Fun
    Juana S.

    Review for Tuesday Night Service: Pleasant and fast. our drinks were well made; not as stiff but still decent. They have one pool table. I felt cozy in here :) Few regulars and regulars doggies too! Cuatro Veinte Diez

    The Buccaneer - San Francisco
    Mark D.

    I was working my way up Polk Street. I stopped in and had a drink. I can't say that there was anything that stood out about the place. But it was an ok spot to stop for a drink. It's a bar like so many other bars in San Francisco. Handy if you are close to it. Even though, I gave them both three stars, I preferred Shanghai Kelly's. It had a bit more flair to it and felt more open.

    bartender extraordinaire

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    6 months ago

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    4 years ago

    Cozy little dive with a quarters table and laid back environment. Bartender was chill.

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    Page 1 of 7

    Ask the Community - The Buccaneer

    Review Highlights - The Buccaneer

    I'm in the Buc twice a week, minimum, since it's my neighborhood bar, about a block from where I live.

    Mentioned in 47 reviews

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    Li Po Cocktail Lounge - Mai tai

    Li Po Cocktail Lounge

    4.0(841 reviews)
    0.9 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

    Buddha Lounge - Enlightened!

    Buddha Lounge

    4.1(377 reviews)
    0.9 miChinatown
    $

    When in Chinatown souvenir shopping stop at this little hole in the wall bar that serves really…read moregood martinis !! Small space but cozy (some might call it divey) but clean! The bartender engaged in fun banter and he had a good diverse playlist. There are 3 TVs playing football with 4Niner fans cheering and repping the bay! Too bad they lost to the Seahawks! We then proceeded down to the other fun spots!

    Buddha Lounge is a hidden bar nestled on the corner of San Francisco's Chinatown. It's right across…read morethe street from Li Po Cocktail Lounge which is a bar that people will usually hit up together because they're so close. They both also serve "Chinese mai tais" which is a mai tai with rums and some baijiu (Chinese liquor). I ordered the Chinese mai tai here after just having had one at Li Po. While the one at Li Po was on the sweeter side, the one here was a lot stronger. I watched the bartender as he made the drink and I could tell the percentage of alcohol in the glass was way higher. I knew it would be potent and it definitely tasted so. This bar serves "Lucky Buddha" which is essentially beer in a unique Buddha bottle. When we came here on a Saturday night the music was playing loudly and it had more of a loungey and clubby vibe compared to Li Po. It had a more modern interior and had bar counter space where people congregated. If you're looking for a lively vibe with a cool history this is a great spot to go.

    Photos
    Buddha Lounge - Outside

    Outside

    Buddha Lounge - Renovated Bar

    Renovated Bar

    Buddha Lounge - Bartender's Specialty

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    Bartender's Specialty

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

    Tony Nik's Cafe

    4.3(343 reviews)
    0.8 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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    The Buccaneer - divebars - Updated May 2026

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