Best barista I've ever met in my whole life. I will come back over and over and over again.

Good vibe. I tipped the bartender 60%. Then found out the first round was supposed to be on the house and he would definitely charge the next drink. Uhhh read more

Came here for a business event. Love the space big enough to host 40 people. Has a pool table and interesting hunter style decorations with taxidermy animals mounted on the wall. Definitely has the old American vibe with modern neon lighting down. Staff were really helpful. Their Moscow mule was pretty good. read more

See all

I was here for a private event recently, a cozy space for a gathering. Ambience was welcoming, it's on the corner so lots of natural light in the daytime. Cozy intimate lighting after dark. Well-stocked bar. There's a pool table but we covered it for the food. A nice event space and I'd go there for a drink any time if I was in the area. There's a little stage with a projection screen too, that's unique read more

The Royale - Our private event in the late afternoon. - Lounges Near Me - San Francisco, California

The bartender here Sunday April 12th was so weird she was either on mushrooms or something but made this whole bar all about herself weird as f. I don't know how hard it is hire a professional. She is so phony and obnoxious. No understanding of hospitality and money making. sad. read more

We hosted our welcome event (night before our wedding) at The Royale and had the most amazing time! The owner, Will, was an absolute legend. From the time we inquired about the space to the day of the event, he was incredibly kind and helpful, and just exuded positive vibes! He went out of his way to make sure our night was perfect and that every guest had a blast. Our party at The Royale was honestly one of the highlights of our wedding weekend and I'm SO glad we found this spot. Can't wait to come back for drinks again soon! read more

Loved visiting this bar! Such a fun and lively vibe. Their drinks were top shelf, and very good! The bartender was very attentive and friendly. I had fun exploring this bar with a friend. We also went to the second floor which had additional seating and open windows. Very pretty views and they even have a photobooth! Makes for a great souvenir/memory. I will definitely be back! read more

See all

This is quickly becoming one of my fave spots to grab drinks with coworkers on a Friday. It has a cozy feel to it and a diverse crowd. The bartenders are nice without attitude and there is a pool table we usually spend an hour on. The location is great as well, right on the corner and close to food. Oh and live music later in the evenings Pros: solid drinks, cozy, pool table, diverse crowd and nice Bartenders Cons: only one pool table read more

The Royale - Lounges Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

What a lovely night at The Royale! The live music was fantastic, the bartenders were friendly, and the drinks were great. The vibes at this place are immaculate. It's a great spot to unwind and I'm definitely gonna come back! read more

The Royale - a bar with a disco ball in the middle of the room - Lounges Near Me - San Francisco, California

DO NOT COME HERE AS A WOMAN/FEM. The Royale has the worst customer service in San Francisco and misogynistic employees. I WOULD NOT FEEL SAFE RETURNING. The bartender Aaron was very rude to me and my sisters, as well as, the security guard. Aaron used profanity and flipped us off. Word for word, "F*ck you" while holding back violent impulses. I hope management will consider the comfortability of its customers before opening its doors again. Extremely disrespectful behavior. read more

We were visiting from South Florida and happened upon this bar around 6pm on a random Tuesday. I wasn't sure what to order from their signature cocktails menu however I ended up settling on the trustee "best drink ever" and it did not disappoint. In fact, I wanted to order it again, but I made myself go for a trippel. We met a lovely long time couple from the area who said it's also their regular bar and that confirmed to us that it was a solid spot. it got more busy as the hours went on and then we left for Indian food a block away. Will definitely be back when they have live music Thursday-Sunday as I now have a family member living in this area. read more

It hurts me to write this review, but I just had one of the most painful experiences I've ever had on a night out in San Francisco. One of my friends reserved this space for his birthday party. He made sure to have everyone who was going to be at the party RSVP. He gave us the password for the party. We arrived to the venue around 9:15 PM and found a long line. We were confused but joined the line. Everyone in the line was confused as well. Eventually we learned from those at the front of the line that there was no more capacity in the space. So we would not be able to get in until some people left. We were fine with this and decided to wait. Multiple times, the bouncer came outside to yell that we needed to "clear the sidewalk" and that "we were breaking the law by blocking the sidewalk because people would not be able to walk down it." Nobody was trying to walk down the sidewalk, and the only people blocking it were those who had just arrived. Then, a curious thing happened. Some people in line behind us approached the door and seemed like they were going to rush it. Then, they began lining up opposite of us into a second line. Before we knew it, they were all let into the party! One of my friends approached the bouncers to ask why they were let in, while we were made to stay outside. He said "They are here for the birthday party." We were also there for the birthday party. We told the bouncer this, but he kept saying, "We are at capacity. We aren't letting anyone else in until people leave." This was strange to us, since they had let about fifteen people in already, after they'd told us they were already at capacity. Here's the worst part: our side of the line was full of mostly Black people. The other side of the line was full of mostly White people. I was so disappointed to experience this. I have never experienced something like this in San Francisco before, and I've lived in this city for over a year. I and my friends decided to go to another bar down the block. While we were there, we were informed that three of our friends, who decided to stay in line and wait, were admitted into the club. We were so excited! We went back to the club since now we were certain that they hadn't met capacity. When we arrived at the club, we were met with yet another line! After waiting, we finally arrived to the front door, where the bouncer asked for our IDs. One by one, we presented our licenses to him. One of my friends, who is 27 years old, presented his license. The bouncer accused him of presenting a fake ID. My friend said "This is not a fake ID. I am 27." The bouncer said, "I am going to have to get my manager." The manager came out and told him, "This is a fake ID. You can't come in." My friend decided to leave. My friend was Black. I would never spend my money here. This is the worst experience I've ever had at a club in San Francisco. No one should spend their hard-earned money here. This place should be ashamed of itself. read more

It's hard to overstate how terribly this place handled a private party for my friends. Both management and the security were involved. The night was arguably muddled with racial disparate treatment--letting some folks in and not others, using the lie of capacity as a justification, and getting angry when asked to explain why. I was personally denied entry because my ID "looked fake." I am a 27 year old black man with a full beard and mustache. I was in line with other similarly aged people. My friends were able to vouch for me. And I had been waiting for over 40 minutes to get in. When I asked the security bouncer why he thought my ID was fake, he got angry, yelled at me, shut the door, and said the place would be closed if I argued with him. No apology was given and a number of friends were never let in (most of whom were black). As we waited in line, however, it was nice to see all of our other friends inside the club through the glass window having a good time--with ample room to spare. read more

Love The Royale! Cool spot, I don't know why I've never been here before. My friend was dj'ing here so I knew it was going to be lit. When you walk in, it's an open space, pool table for the sharks and plenty of room. I haven't been upstairs though I don't doubt the view from up top is cool. Bartenders are attentive. Love the vibe here. Go check them out and don't wait like I did. This will be a go to bar now for sure. read more

Slipped in here for a night cap with low expectations and was pleasantly surprised. The bartender (Rob?) was friendly and poured a non-stingy double, the ambience was relaxed with a pool table and friendly regulars. To top it all off, there was a live jazz trio that was goooood. read more

Great place with music a few nights per week. Excellent vibe and nice bartenders. And pool

I'm very terrible at remembering names until I start to become a regular.. Lol. I live fairly close to this bar and glad I do! I love the Radeberger from here which is about $7 and a steal. Draft beers always gets me a little woozy. On the few occasions I've been here, there has been a live band playing Jazz music. Who doesn't love booze and a live band? I know I do. This establishment is a great place to grab a beer and catch up with some friends. I wish they sold/offer peanuts or something to off the taste of alcohol but no worries because there's a store on both side of the bar. read more

Like the other reviewers. The bartender with the long hair was extremely dismissive and rude to my friends and I. I came in asking for the bathroom and was met with so much attitude that I wish I just left there. My friends experienced the same condescending behavior that it kind of ruined the birthday we were celebrating. Ambience is okay, the other bartender saw our frustration and was really sweet with us. It seems like the overall vibe here is snobby, from the bartenders to the customers. Also not a fun place to play pool unless you want to be hawked and judged by wannabe "pro" players that bring their own pool stick and gloves as if it's a billiards tournament. Not a good place to enjoy some music without being judged. read more

I'm impressed this place has managed to keep 4 stars. If you comb through the reviews you will a repeat issue of a rude bartender to busy talking his friends and treating the customers like they are bothering him. That is the exact experience we had when we entered. My husband and I were waiting for a table at a restaurant and stopped in for a drink beforehand. It was still pretty early in the evening and the bar was slow. The bartender was clearly hanging out serving a group of his friends and ignored us. My husband asked a question about a drink and the bartender was super condescending. The couple next to us also noticed the rudeness and said something to us. Definitely wouldn't go back and definitely wouldn't recommend it to anyone. There are plenty of other bars where the bartender isn't a snobby jerk. 0 stars is unfortunately not an option read more

Update: seeing only desserts on the wall menu now. no more foods? A pint of Guinness and three Coronas came out to $17. But, one Chimay (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/PDhkPTeEjGRgqvVyl3Wbzg?userid=09T1oyi6c-9lvyt7gQCD2w) was $7.50. They also serve food here - and not finger foods either, but pot pies and such. Definitely a bit above average pub fare. It could be a bar, a lounge or a cafe. Kind of odd, but it works. On a previous visit, the largest wall had human cardboard cutouts, each wearing a different version of "The Loin" and other neighborhood motifs. On the last visit, those were no longer there, but pieces of paintings remain. There is a pool table (75 cents per game). Went here for a monthly free comedy event - "Monday Happy Hour Comedy" (http://www.yelp.com/biz/monday-happy-hour-comedy-san-francisco). read more

See all

This place, which had been reserved for a joint birthday party that required RSVPs and a password, stopped letting people in who had RSVP'd and who did know the password as soon as the folks at the front of the line for entry became mostly Black and Brown. They said they "reached capacity" and that there was a "miscommunication" as to whether the bar was able to fit 120 people or 200 people. We continued to wait, hoping some people would exit and we would be allowed in soon. As the Black and Brown folks in the front continued to wait in a line that was no longer moving, a second line was allowed to form on the other side of the door. The people in that line were mostly white or white passing. They let them in in groups of two and three, overall letting another 10 to 15 people in from that second mostly white line. When asked what the difference between the two lines was, we were told those people in the second line were there for the birthday party inside. So were we, as we'd said multiple times, and for which we were clearly dressed (it was a themed party). Having been told over and over we wouldn't get in, we--the large contingent of Black people at the front--left. About ten minutes after that, we were told via text that everyone in the then (finally?) mostly white line was let in. When a group of friends went back, a Black man who is 27 going on 28 was told his ID was fake and so he could not go in, functionally rejecting the whole group yet again. I can't comment on the inside of this place, having never been allowed in. I am also not claiming no Black people were let in: they were, in small numbers overall and when they were the only one in the larger group of non-Black people they were with. And I assume the Black bouncer who spent the night yelling at the door will say he couldn't have behaved in a discriminatory manner because he is Black, and that the white owner will claim he couldn't have behaved in a discriminatory manner because, look! He hires Black people to work the door! What I do know is that when it looks like an unwritten policy of not letting too many Black people into a place at once, it probably is. Don't spend your money or waste your time here. read more

This is my go to spot in SF when I visit. Live music is always on point. I love the beer selection & friendly bartenders.

The bartender was amazing. Great friendly customer service. We were all out of town and even made me drink unique to my satisfaction. Chill atmosphere and great Beaty music. It was only Wednesday as well so I was really satisfied. read more

The Royale - Specialty drink with tequila - Lounges Near Me - San Francisco, California

Poppin bar with live music and a pool table! Downstairs can get pretty crowded, but there's an upstairs where it's less crowded (tables, better for 1on1s and groups that wanna sit) and you get a view of the downstairs! read more

Visited during my stay in San Francisco and it was a great place to hang out. I'd come here again during my next visit.

Overheard at Cafe Royale on Christmas night: "Just because it's Christmas, doesn't mean I'm not going to be an @$$hole!" These were the words that greeted me as I stood at the bar waiting to order a drink. There were two men behind the bar and both were looking off in the direction of the front door. They looked tense and bit puffed up as if ready to pounce. I followed their gaze to a fairly disheveled homeless man standing some distance away. He didn't appear to be saying anything, and neither did he smell. However, he must have had some prior interaction with the bar, I would think, given the barkeeps' reaction to him. The tough gaze of the 'tenders made the man leave after only a few minutes. As the man left, the taller of the two employees said the words above. I sort of felt like I was in "Martini's" in the film "It's A Wonderful Life" after Clarence grants George's wish to no longer exist and all the people in town have become harsh and uncaring as a result of his never having been born. With no other distractions to deter him from serving drinks, the tall one turned to me and took my order. Perhaps he was still a bit perturbed at having to deal with the homeless man for he was curt and severe looking as I asked him for a glass of red wine. The wine came in stemware dirtied with either a lipstick or finger print around its rim. I quickly asked if I could, please, have a different glass as the one I'd been served was, unfortunately, dirty. Without a word, our man poured the contents of the dirty glass into a clean one and served it to me. His manner was so off-putting; I was glad to leave the bar and rejoin my friends. Lest one think that my experience was totally negative, I would like to compliment the space itself. The bar is housed in a lovely, older building. It boasts a charming tiled floor, stately columns and a seductively dark upstairs area overlooking the main bar. Rotating art adorning the walls and a Mac-driven music selection keeps things interesting. If one doesn't mind a bit of crabby and inhumane behavior from his bartender and would like to spend time in a no-frills bar space with charm, then this is the spot. Sadly, I don't think it will be mine. read more

I came here late on a Friday night for drinks on my brother's 40th birthday. Unfortunately the band was wrapping things up but the drinks were very good and the service was nice as well. Looking forward to visiting again sometime soon. read more

Super low key spot with good vibes. They play dope old school rap. A good amount of a Tribe Called Quest. Drinks are pretty solid.

This place is a gem of a spot. Stumbled in here on a whim, and glad we did. Will is the owner as well as the bartender. He has a warm and welcoming personality (so does his staff), and knows how to whip up some killer cocktails at a non-pretentious price. The fact that they are dog friendly is awesome. They also do free live music Thursday -Saturday and will let you bring in outside food to munch on while you enjoy a cocktail and the music. Definitely plan on coming back. read more

We were doing a semi STAYCATION-(oh, dont ask about the Giants game on Thursday or we will show you our LARRY BAER seats video). GO GIANTSSSS!!! (Sorry, I digress)..... So, stayed at the COURTYARD, and lucky for US this was the closest bar. I was worried that it was a "DIG THAT CRAZY SCENE JAZZ" bar, but THANK GAWD it was good NORMAL, VERY COOL, funky (vs that maniac shit that I have to pretend I "get"). Liked the band-was SHOCKED, but I did! Cool, funky, great bass..worth checking out. Bartender was cool, security guy was cool. We liked the feel, felt VERY COMFORTABLE. I was the assistant manager of the GRAD IN CHICO in the 80s. I'm sure that doesn't mean SHIT to most people. But I am picky as HELL about places I give my money to. I'm also hyper aware of where I can relax and chill, or where I'm going to feel like I'm just some old bitch ( which I am, but I A FUCKING FUN OLD BITCH, DAMMIT!) So- places I ACKNOWLEDGE ON YELP-much to ABs distane- I DONT SAY SHIT ON YELP UNLESS ITS SPECTACULAR. OR shitty beyond comprehension.... AGAIN, I DIGRESS So, went back the SECOND (spontaneous) night, after our SECOND (spontaneous) Giants game. I went to this bar twice- TWICE! I live in Napa. Not in SF I feel like I could show up in a month and WILL, the bartender , would be happy to see me What a GREAT GUY. REALLY FUN! LOVES DOGS (my first judgement on ALL people), patience of a SAINT with the problem people, super fast on drinks, aware of ALL empty glasses Anthony, security, was also SUCH a sweetheart, steered all the creeps away. Brendan,was thrown to us old bitches late in the evening and was also just a doll. SERIOUSLY-this is SUCH A GREAT BAR!! Whoever the owner is, please feel assured that the men running your show are really STELLAR . THANKS YOU GUYS-you really made our weekend fun, safe, hilarious, etc. WHOEVER OWNS THIS PLACE- pay these guys a LOT- I will be back, and sending people your way. read more

It's time to throw these guys some love. I live close by and there are a lot of bar options in the neighborhood, but this one hits a sweet spot that makes it useful for a lot of different purposes: The live music, when they have it, is usually no cover and always decent. The bartenders are friendly, make sure they get you something you like, and offer solid drinks and an excellent beer selection for a very reasonable price. The atmosphere is pleasant and invites relaxed interaction either with the people you brought or the other patrons: There's no sense that they're rushing you or trying to make you order more drinks faster than you want them. Diverse seating options for diverse situations; it's one of the few places in the city I can enjoy solo, on a date, with a friend for a chat, or with a group. There's a pool table and they allow dogs. All in all I'd say it's the antidote for the divey/bougie schism overtaking the neighborhood bar scene. I'll keep coming back. read more

Been here once, the vibe was more bougie than what I'm used to. Side note- It's a bit misleading when other yelpers say that this place is a "dive bar"... I wouldn't mind coming here again if my group suggested it, but this wouldn't be on my list of go-to bars. read more

We had originally planned to check out Aces to kill some time waiting for our dinner reservation, but instead opted for Royale because it looked like the ambience was a bit cooler and more vibey when we walked by. While that was the case, unfortunately, the sole bartender that night was sort of a d!ck. They acted like we were such a bother to them. Couldn't feign a smile or a half way decent or pleasant attitude at all. They made us feel unwelcome. Kind of put a bit of a damper on our date night. What a bummer. We probably won't be going back. Note to management, impart the importance on your staff about treating your paying customers with a little bit of respect and being nice even if they have to fake it, or maybe hire nicer bartenders. read more

This place is awesome. I like the red velvet decor and the music is mellow. The bartenders are cool and I can talk about tattoos with Dan. monthly artists rotate though and I usually enjoy what i see. Recently, they've been adding more food things to their menu. They have free jazz on Sunday nights and I have seen quite a few things ranging from bands to open poetry mics to foreign film to stand-up comedians. Check it out if you're in the area. Luckily for me its less than a block away. read more

The Royale - a night shot at the bar. - Lounges Near Me - San Francisco, California

Cool little spot away from most other options with live music and decent drinks. What would be super clutch is if they got an AC unit. They have to keep the door closed so the live music doesn't piss of the neighbors (my guess) but it makes it pretty sweltering in there. read more

Absolutely electric atmosphere. The Photo Booth really makes it pop. Ask for Steve he'll make your night!

I'm going to give this place the benefit of the doubt. Went here for the first time the other night. I was shocked when told by the bartender that they were about to close (it was just past 11pm.) I know now that they close at midnight on weekdays, but I still find it strange the bartender was unwilling to make one of their cocktails for my friend at that point. I liked the overall vibe and could see going there and hanging out a lot if I lived around neighborhood. Very relaxed and low-key; pretty good selection of beers. I think my next visit here will be the test to tip my star one way or the other. read more

The cocktails may not be the best, but are by no means bad. Sufficient beer selection at quite reasonable prices. A local joint where people actually know each other, which is extremely rare in SF. Very friendly bartenders. Live music. read more

See all

This is a review based on a corporate holiday part we just had here. Will was so easy to work with from the very start- figuring out pricing, bringing in catering and even creating a signature drink that went with our company mascot/colors. The venue was clean and very nice. They let us bring in our own decorations and were more then accommodating when it came to us playing our own music and using the TV to project our logo. During the event Dan & Will not only made great cocktails but I also received multiple compliments about their service-how nice and friendly they were. I really appreciate how hard they worked to make our event run smoothly, and how professional they were. Thank you again for every thing! Everyone had a great time :) read more

The Royale - Lounges Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

I was probably not cool enough to drink here. But they tolerated me anyway. Frankly, while the people in there were much cooler and somewhat than I am (I'm not even a native although I'm in SF all the time) the drink menu is refreshing. They produce really good variations on very classic cocktails. My friend sipped manhattans and I downed both a dark and stormy and a a gin and tonic. Strong, good, cool vibe. They have music live music but it's quite enough for conversation the rest of the time. read more