One of the very few live music bars out by the beach. The bartenders are friendly , easy going and drinks are well-made. I've seen some great new bands out there too. There is a local Crew and usually people from out of the area. Just curious to see what's going on out by Ocean Beach. It's got a chill SF beach vibe. read more

On Friday 2/20/26 I stop by it had very time since I've been near sunset. I met the most fun big personality bar tender (Danny)we have a musician friend that we both know that was nice friend! Danny is amazing really nice smile. Spectacular bar tender. I had awesome time Danny makes you feel very welcome! read more

Fun dive with a good ambience. Also has a huge fireplace which I thought was awesome! Service was good and friendly.

I don't feel like I'm in SF in the best possible way. Live band, cool people, what more do you need?

Taking the N-Judah out to Ocean Beach, I find myself walking south on the paved walkway along the Great Highway trying to avoid zealous joggers and bicyclists. Not easy given how rude some people like to get. By the time I get to Taraval, I'm ready to make a left and head back into the city. However, before I set off on my journey back, I sometimes make the very first stop available right here. But only after 3PM because that's when they open. It's a surprisingly large space for a tavern, but the wood paneling, brick fireplace sometimes with a roaring fire, and overall old timey vibe make it feel cozier. I'm usually on the early side, so it was just me and the lone bartender. I've ordered the $12 Mama P's Shaken Pina Colada which always surprises me to see a tiki drink way out on the edge of the Sunset (photo: https://yelp.to/b7CA2mNjqu). It's a mix of Malibu coconut rum, cream, and pineapple juice shaken and served over ice. Simple but quite tasty even on a brisk day. Recently I took advantage of their holiday menu and ordered the reassuring $12 Nutty Hot Chocolate with Baileys and Frangelico (photo: https://yelp.to/TuOAbfOK3M). My one takeaway here is that it's definitely a locals' hangout, so when they trickled in, I felt very much the outsider. If I came later for an event, I would think that might offset that isolated feeling. DRINKS - 4 stars...not the best tiki cocktail I've had but I like that they make it AMBIANCE - 4 stars...cozy, vintage feel offset by the exclusivity vibe from the regulars SERVICE - 4.5 stars...the bartender is always cordial TOTAL - 4 stars...a nice find way out west RELATED - Exploring the Sunset? Here's a collection of places I've tried and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2EI8eIJ read more

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We arrived a little after sunset (5:45ish), pulled up a booth, had a refreshing (& affordable $7!) beer, and rolled out ~6:30 when they were getting started with (free! with prizes!) bingo. We considered staying to play, but had a date with dumplings in our tracks :p There were a few doggos in the bar, including one who had their own seat at the bar and was maybe the cutest thing I've seen all week (: The seats at the bar had one hook per seat to hang a jacket or bag (big plus/thoughtful consideration in my mind). Seems like plenty of events throughout the month (posted some photos of flyers hanging on walls as of 11/11/23). Bartender was friendly & efficient, with a good memory. Fun lil neighborhood watering hole! We'll def be back for bingo the next Saturday we catch a sunset at Ocean Beach. read more

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Love the riptide. Wild that even after the fire, they were able to rebuild it to the same specs, and charm as the original. Whether it's the open mic nights, karaoke, or just a random night out, it's always a good time. Only downside if it even is one, is that you are at the edge of town. Makes it only reasonable to start, or end your night here read more

A great local bar with an awesome sense of community! I came here on a Wednesday night for the open mic night to support my friend's last performance. It's a small bar just a few blocks from the beach and has a fun beachy vibe to it! Will definitely have to come back again! read more

The Riptide - Pubs Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Remarkable surf dive with a collection of regulars that includes possibly former/current IRA members. Unionists/Monarchists/Ranger supporters are tolerated too, as far as I can tell. Diverse offering of entertainment options from DJs spinning classic reggae on vinyl to live bluegrass. The riptide's got ever what you want and nothing you don't need! https://youtu.be/yp2VkpAd9Sk?feature=shared read more

Friendly and cozy neighborhood joint w live music, open mic, etc. What's not to love?

Had a blast at this place. My brother brought us here while we were visiting. We got to enjoy bingo night and had alot of fun. It was cool to learn about how they burned down an were rebuilt. If I lived in the area I could definitely see myself coming here alot. I especially enjoyed how we could get a pizza drop next door and eat it while drinking. Definitely a place to visit. Service was great and the bartender was very nice. read more

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Rude staff, especially Jeanne! Very slow service! Go to Flanahans on Noriega instead!

It's a dive bar. Inside seats and outdoor area to hang out..mostly standing room outside. Lots of street parking. Drinks poured easy and service is fast! Good place to casually hang out at. read more

Fun Hangout! Bingo was alot of fun and love the fireplace. Neihhborhood gem. Willgo again! read more

I just moved to the sunset. And this bar is a five minute walk from my house. We stopped by on a bingo night after a beautiful sunset stroll on the beach. Everyone was ridiculously friendly and there was an awesome welcoming vibe. Who knew that bingo could be so fun?! Two whiskey sodas, and a Tito's soda was $21. $7 a cocktail? YOU CAN'T BEAT THAT. I took a bunch of photos of all the various theme nights they host. I am definitely coming back! Open Mic Monday's Karaoke Tuesday DJ every Friday Bacon Bloody Marys and Live Band on Sunday *Also note this bar is dog friendly. read more

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RIPTIDE has been around for decades. The quintessential SF Ocean Beach surf bar. Funky, Friendly, Fun. Definitely a Local hangout but new faces are welcome. Full bar. Some top shelf I'd you want it. Prices reasonable. Parking can be tricky. DON'T park illegally down here. read more

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Neat little neighborhood bar that attracts some amazing, young & talented musicians. A friend of mine brought me here to see a band he was considering joining as a guitar player. The crowd was chill, and they have a good selection of beers that were not all just IPAs - which is a disturbing trend in many bars today. Not this place, I have choices of beers. I'll be back even on nights without live music. read more

Oh I forgot to mention the lady who goes around with boot always has a smile on her face! The DJ has great support. Can DJ Damon do his 80s jam more than once a month ? read more

A friend of mine loves this place + all it's divey-ness. Unfortunately, I didn't get to experience the divey-ness because of it being closed due to COVID. However, they are doing cocktails to go and have outdoor seating. The outdoor seating is built as a parklet, which I'm always a little skeptical about because cars are still zooming by. However, on Taravel where The Riptide is, the street is closed so no worries about a car zooming by. But I still wasn't too comfortable with their outdoor seating arrangement. They have walls on 3 sides of their parklet and a roof meaning less airflow. I imagine it being because they're in the Outer Sunset and well it's cold there! But the tables overall were spaced out well and it looks like they have a smokers area too. So we decided to pay with Apple Pay and grabbed our cocktails to go and walked 2 blocks down to the beach and enjoyed the evening. The cocktails were either strong or I haven't had a cocktail in a while (likely the second). But well-priced. Service was at a window and she was super kind and didn't rush us at all. Would come back. read more

The Riptide was exactly as advertised - a great local dive bar. We had an outstanding time at the Rip's open mic. The host, Charlie Kaupp was very cool throughout the show. This is a local bar and obviously a local favorite. The place was full and bar was busy, best to arrive early if you want a table before the music starts. The sound system was perfect for this venue. Vocals were clear and up front in the mix. The performers get two songs and/or 10 minutes and that's our only complaint. Some of the musicianship was professional quality and we would have enjoyed them as a featured act or an extended set. The service staff was excellent and people appreciated the bar specials. BTW, the beach is only a block away for sunset views. Side notes: Bring your pipes because the crowd may erupt into a spontaneous sing-along when asked. (Because we all sound better when y'all sing along.) There are eateries on the block and we saw people bring food into the Riptide. Overall a great night of music and socializing. read more

Best bar with an ocean view! Never a cover, live music on weekends with daily events.

Dude. I destroyed the Riptide. Number one out the back door in a fresh and clean environment. By the end of the night, some savage left a bloody maxi in the jawn but I was done pooping by then. read more

I LOVE this place on a Tuesday night when KJ Eileen is doing karaoke night! Great vibes! Love my bartenders Molly and Dugi! Just crazy how this is the liveliest place in the city on a Tuesday all the way near the beach! read more

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Yelp needs to remove anti-vax lunatics from review sections. They will ruin the app. The Riptide is a beloved San Francisco institution and deserves our patronage and support, especially since building back after the fire. read more

I don't drink often but once in a while I will stop in for a scotch on the rocks. Here is my take on The Riptide: Good service (thanks Michelle) for sure. Clean and fairly well stocked. Very divey but that's okay with me. Big projection TV screen set up and good music. $9/single of Macallan 12 and you're gonna wanna just get it neat and ask for a cup of water with extra ice because on the rocks it's less than a single lol. My double felt more like a single at the end of it. Huge downside: Cash only. ATM in the joint but a $3 surcharge. Upside: next to public transportation and of course Brothers Pizza. read more

The Riptide - Double on the rocks - $18. Regrettable lol. - Pubs Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Our FAVORITE dive bar in the Sunset!! My partner and I come here all the time, the bartenders are the BEST we loveeee Tara, Natalie & Molly!! The fellas are great too and the pours are always perfect! The ambiance is so cute if you're looking for a fun beach themed bar and the crowds are always fun. Entirely recommend! read more

The bouncers here are great. They are friendly and will tell you what night it is--bingo, karaoke, country, etc. I usually come here after eating some pizza next door to use their bathroom and drink a quick beer. read more

I can't believe I haven't written about The Riptide yet! I feel so lucky to have this as my local bar, and I was heart-broken when it was burned down by a fire that started in a neighboring shop. The owners, Les and David, have done an outstanding job bringing back the homey, nostalgic feel of the original Riptide while adding some updates. The fireplace survived and is still a great place to cozy up when Karl the Fog is out and about. The drinks are cheap and generous. There is usually a special going on, and themed events like Bingo (the BEST) and karaoke (the WORST...in a good way). If you make it out the Western Edge of the World (aka the Sunset), make sure to add a stop at The Riptide! read more

First time here and I have to say I absolutely love the vibe here. Pricing is reasonable, staff is friendly, it's pet friendly, and it is also a perfect place to enjoy a beer and watch the sunset with friends! The only drawback is that there are no heat lamps at the moment, so dress warm! We all know how this area gets when the sun goes down. With that in mind I definitely recommend this place! read more

Riptide has long been on my bucket list of bars - both for the location and the rapturous descriptions from friends. When they suffered the fire, I gladly gave, even though I'd yet to walk through their doors. This month, I finally made it, albeit during COVID, but still had a fine time. Their outdoor setup is safe yet cozy with its views of Ocean Beach's dunes. Prices are fair and staff are friendly. Tunes are playing over a sound system. It almost felt normal! When we're through this mess, I can't wait to walk through Riptide's doors, sit near the fireplace and enjoy some fine live music. read more

Have been coming here for years - friendly people, good drinks, a lot of variety day to day, often live music/free food, and good prices. One disagreement with a comment below - MUNI doesn't go AWOL here any more often than elsewhere in the city; I depend on it. Go ahead and grab the L-Taraval to get to Riptide, keep a taxicab return as your plan "B" if needed. read more

Such a cozy neighborhood bar. Great service and bingo was a lot of fun. Drinks are reasonably priced and they allow you to bring food in.

This place is must go local bar especially for Bingo on Saturdays. The vibes are always good, bartenders are efficient and have great recommendations. The bingo host is hella fun and they provide jello shots when calling 69 on bingo. It is dog friendly and you can bring pizza in from next door. The prize box is magical too if you win, but I cannot let the secret out. You have to go and find out for yourself. read more

If you're looking for a friendly and welcoming, yet wonderfully divey bar out near the ocean, you're going to want to head to the Riptide. After a day at the beach or if you're out in that general vicinity, you really can't beat it. They have live music, bingo, strong drinks, and dark decor. I was worried for a while that they wouldn't open after the fire, but they did and they're just as glorious as ever! The bathrooms are about as clean as you could hope, and everyone is surly in that wonderfully dive bar way. You don't feel unwelcomed, you just know your place as you warm your way in. This is a great place to hang your hat for a while. Parking isn't too bad around the block, either. Might take a second, but you won't be far away! read more

My husband and I just stopped by this bar randomly and are so happy we did. We parked right in front of it and had ten minutes to spare while waiting for our take out across the street. I saw someone carrying a few beers from the door window and thought, "hey! Let's go support them and buy a drink for my mom (to go), who was waiting in the car!" It's honestly so refreshing to see such warm smiles during this horrific pandemic we are facing. The guy who greeted us and took our order and the window was super friendly and had such a positive attitude. Really easy and fun to chat with while we waited for the Bloody Mary. If you're in the area, stop by and support this neighborhood bar! Ps - this bar is super fun and I came here before COVID. Can't wait for it to reopen. read more

4 mile quarantine loop down to the ocean. Perfect day thanks to Riptide. Drinks to go with straws!! read more

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I came on a Tuesday night after work. I walked up to the bar and waited. And waited. And waited. The female bartender did not approach me even after we made eye contact. She kind of looked off and mumbled something to the bar-back. The bar-back saw me. Said nothing to the bartender. There was no one else waiting for a drink and only a few folks seated at the bar. She leapt up to serve a couple who approached the bar a few minutes after me. I thought, there's no way and no reason she shouldn't serve me. She must have... not seen me? Tried to give her the benefit of the doubt. But an older gentleman seated across the bar saw me. We made eye contact. I shrugged and smiled. He waved the bartender over, whispered something and pointed toward me. She said something back to him. Slowly turns with a hard eye roll that I couldn't miss, and drags her feet over to me. She approached me in a way that assured me she knew I was there the whole time. I ordered for the group of volunteers I invited to the bar who were seated at the table. I won't go into the details of how she took my drink order. I'm really puzzled. Was it the way I was dressed? Too formal? Ms. Bartender, I was respectful to you. I didn't wave you down. I paid and tipped. I live in the sunset and I will never invite friends to join me at Riptide as long as you're serving there. Usually don't write these things, but as a local and someone who's never been so poorly served and welcomed into an establishment, had to write this for others. read more

Cute little retro bar near ocean beach. The service is horrible. In particular a person named " Tara". Even though she watched me walk in, it took her 20 minutes to wait on me at the bar. Rude and cold as ice despite my generous tip..which I regret. She had a group of friends at the end of the bar, that had her entire focus. The bouncer told me that she has been a problem. read more

The riptide is a truly amazing local bar. When it burned down two summers ago, it was truly a tragedy. Thank goodness that the owners were able to raise the funds to rebuild - it's so good to have it back. The best part about the riptide is that it is totally un assuming. You can be anyone, be going for any reason, and feel at home here. Yes, there are hipsters, yes there are surfers, yes there are punk people, yes there are old men, yes there are your classic day drinkers, yes there are students, yes there are nerds - really - you do fit in here. Other things about the riptide that are great: - They serve free food during their happy hour (5-7 weekdays). No it's not fancy. But really, who doesn't love chips with nacho cheese sauce out of a crock pot? - The beer is not $8 or $10 a pint. I think it's like $6 for a Lagunitas. - They have both light beer and craft beer. Again - you DO fit in here. - They have a fireplace. Yes, you heard me right - a fireplace. And no, not a fake one - the real kind that you put wood on. And yes, you can sit next to it. - They have a TV and you will find your local sports fan friends there at the appropriate moments. Cons: - uh there really aren't many - It's too clean since the remodel? - Verizon doesn't get good service inside? (this might actually be a pro - who wants to get a phone call while enjoying happy hour anyways?) - It's kinda small? Love the Riptide. read more

The Riptide - First week back at it! - Pubs Near Me - San Francisco, California

Easily the most fun & social bar on the West Side. Where other bars cater to narrow segments of the population, The Riptide pitches a 'big tent' (so to speak ;) for any & all thirsty wanderers. Whether it's Open Mike Mondays, raucous Friday happy-hours, Bar-Bingo Saturday nights, Country-Western Sundays or any other time, The Riptide is an *outstanding* place to take the pulse of SF's biggest beach-side community - while imbibing good, strong, reasonably priced alcohol, of course. Recommended! read more