OUTSTANDING SERVICE FOR TOAD HALL Last nite me and friends went out for a few drinks trying to go to other bars to only stay at this Bar ... Not Packed, Not Loud, in fact we were the only ones there but none the less outstanding Bar service by Bar-Tender (John) he made sure our drinks and Stay was Great. Plus he was a little eye candy for me. But loved my stay here, this is one of my favoritest Bars in the Castro. We just had Jager Bomb shots and I was having shots of Jack Daniels. Loved my time there. 5 Great Stars! read more

I liked it - feel like it's staying true to itself. I used to love the Bar on Castro (love, love, love) and then it moved to Church, and let's face it it's just not worth the walk. I used to dance my ass off at Jet and now it's the sub par Trigger. I used to have sweet dreams about Badlands (it was some of my most fondest memories) and now it's way too full, and with the wrong crowd. Oh and not to mention the Cafe is still closed. Needless to say, I really like Toad Hall. The drinks were solid, the bartenders really really awesome, and the music was spot on. read more

I LOVE TOAD HALL!! I was very excited the first time I went there and got 4 (strong) gin and tonics for $9.00! There might be other places in the City to get heavily intoxicated until 8:30 for $9.00 but I don't know about them. (EDIT: Toad Hall has stopped their 2:1 drinks... now they are buy one get one for $1. Not as good a deal and not much better than other places in the Castro.) Every time I have visited, weeknights, I have always been able to find somewhere to sit with my friends. But, goodluck on weekends, it's very crowded and not many seats. The music is entertaining and every song is accompanied by its music video on screen. There is a mini stage and plenty of room to dance. The DJs are usually nice and will (almost) play whatever song you request. The bartenders are nice, the bathrooms are clean, I love the water décor behind the bar and the patio is a nice escape to get some fresh air. There is even a mini bar on the patio. Castro bars tend to be crowded, humid and very loud. This place is sooo much better. Go to Toad Hall and take advantage of their 2 for 1 drinks! You won't be disappointed. read more

Went here on a Saturday night, empty and bad music. Only two people on the dance floor for the hour we were there. The bartender was super friendly though and the drinks were okay. It was pretty empty so we were able to get drinks right away and a table. Just grab a quick drink from here and then quickly move on or skip this place all together. read more

I was pleasantly surprised by Toad Hall when I went on the opening night for happy hour. I think it was a Thursday. They did a great job with the space they had, and an even better job on the out door patio. I only wish it would stay open at night. I hear music permits are what hold it up from being open at night. It is a lot like Badlands in the sense that they have the same owner, but it does have it's own uniqueness. I am glad there is another new place open in Castro, and it shows progress and change for the community! read more

Toad Hall is a new Castro Bar. A good 5 or 6 years ago The Pendulum closed. The renovation span over several years and they even changed the look and the name about halfway through the construction. The bar is pretty large and similar in style, look and tone to Badlands. Toad Hall has a reasonably large back patio with an additional bar. Even with lots of people smoking out there, it really didn't seem to get that smokey. Unfortunately their happy hour is only on well drinks (no call drinks discounted or 2 for 1). read more

I'm so hoping this place finds it's groove, because there is a lot to like about it. The decor is definitely a bit more upscale than your average Castro bar, but is not overdone. The back patio is very well designed and my fav spot of the place (even though I don't smoke). And like the owner's other bars the drinks are strong, reasonably priced, and the staff is attractive (without being clone-y), reasonably diverse, and ridiculously nice. Admittedly I'm a bit biased towards the staff because three good friends work either here or across the street at the owner's other property - but they really are gold. Now, since I actually do care about a place like this having success, I'm going to put on my marketing hat and talk about what seriously needs to be fixed to avoid failure. I am not the first one that refers to this place in its current state as "Baby Badlands" or "Badlands' Waiting Room" - and that's, unfortunately, a recipe for failure. Badlands is a unique success and I do not think it is capable of becoming a franchise for many reasons. This place needs to find its own groove, its own regulars, and come into its own as completely independent from Badlands, or it will most definitely fail. Here's what needs to be fixed (in order of priority): 1) Get good independent DJ's from across San Francisco spinning there on either regular or random nights, let them bring their own playlists and their own style, and just turn 'em loose and let 'em go. On nights when you can't get a live DJ, get your DJs to make pre-mixed sessions to run through the night - don't play the same video tracks played over at Badlands. Or heck - let your staff program a playlist on non-DJ nights. Admittedly, it seems the owner has gotten part of this message - last Saturday the DJ was really moving with the crowd and it was quite good. The hip-hop seemed a bit forced at the end, but, in general, it felt like the DJ was being let loose, which often doesn't happen at Badlands. 2) Take that damn dance floor OUT. It is too small and looks absolutely ridiculous in that space. This place seriously needs to be a lounge bar. The dance floor makes it obvious there's an attempt to replicate Badlands - and that will be its undoing. 3) Turn the volume down on the music to about half of what it is now. Again, there is a sore lack of a truly nice, upscale, friendly LOUNGE bar in the Castro. The rest of San Francisco is full of these types of bars and they do very well - but they ain't gay. Why can't WE have one, too???!!! 4) NO MORE MUSIC VIDEOS. Use the video screens to play cool loungey visuals or visuals chosen by the DJ. The best use of this I saw was on girls night at the Lookout on a Thursday - lots of cool old movies and foreign films (even some TV shows) playing in the background to go with the really eclectic music. It created a totally cool and hip vibe - and so very different than Badlands or any other typical 'stro bar. 5) Take out the tables, put in banquettes, sofas, etc. along the walls. Again, this place seriously needs to be an upscale lounge. It has so much potential as this given the quality of the staff and the great space - and especially how miserably Trigger delivers on what "upscale" should mean in the 'stro. 6) Upgrade the alcohol behind the bar. Get some higher end liquors. Yes, you will need to diversify your stock and that will increase costs and you might have to increase drink costs to be a bit higher than Badlands, but you won't have to overprice them (like Trigger or Lookout) and you'll satisfy what a lounge crowd is going to want - to call their drinks. I really don't want to see this place fail. It has so much potential and I do love the staff and, in general, the crowd here. But this place should not be only 3/4 full on a weekend because everyone would really prefer to be at Badlands. This place needs to get its own devotees. I hope to become one. And if the owner reads this and wants to pick my marketing brain a bit further on how to make this place a bang up success, feel free to e-mail me :). read more

Ive only been here once, and had 2 drinks... I dont remember much after that. Prior to that, I remember it looking a lot like a revamped Badlands (Everyone compares EVERY bar to Badlands), and thats not totally bad, or totally good, its just very....regularly typically gay. Part ultra lounge, part bar, part patio drinking. The usual. What set this place apart was that it wasnt as crowded as other bars Ive been to, and those were on weekdays. So for me, someone who likes to have a drink, and socialize on a Monday night, its not too bad. I give it 4 Stars for atmosphere, and drinks that made me forget the night, and its missing that final star, only because there was nothing extremely inspiring about it. read more

It's my favorite place for happy hour. Very nice, low-key, great drinks and bartenders! When the sun sets however, make sure there isn't a bachelorette party there if you'd like to meet boys...they seem to have these events frequently. read more

I have only been to Toad Hall once for a Happy Hour birthday celebration. The two for one drink special was awesome, and the outdoor seating was great! I went with a group of people that I really like and we pretty much kept to ourselves, so I can't really say much about the crowd or the vibe here, since we kind of took over the back patio. Overall, the staff was friendly and the booze was flowing steadily so I don't have any complaints! I will definitely go back. read more

Awesome happy hour! drinks are the cheapest Ive seen in a while. Cute patio. Fun music videos but no one was dancing. Only one bathroom.=( Parking sucks around here. read more

Great time last night! It was really busy but the Asian bartender with the tattoos got me my drink orders in less than a minute. Plus, he was SUPER cute so ... definitely going back. :) The outdoor patio is great - we need more places like this in the neighborhood. You can get your dance on if you want, but if you want to hear yourself think, the patio is where it's at. Fun night over all. read more

My partner had his phone lifted and then we found the guy using it. Don't take your valuables in. Keep your stuff in your front pockets and be alert not flattered! read more

I'm kind of surprised how much I like this place. If Badlands and The Mix had a baby, it would be Toad Hall. Which isn't too surprising given that the owner of Badlands also owns Toad Hall, and the Mix's owner helped manage the renovations. The inside has more of a sleek Badlands vibe with rainbow waterfalls behind the bar, cocktail tables and chairs sprinkled throughout, and a DJ booth and dance "area" that's really too small and limited to be used. The outdoors has wooden tables and stools, and really feels like The Mix with plastic surgery. It's covered by a retractable awning to make it usable even when it rains. Most of my friends smoke, so that's where we hang out -- but as a nonsmoker, it's one of the better ventilated areas for me to be able to hang out with my friends when they smoke. Surprisingly, the cocktail hour goes relatively late (2 for 1 until 8:30), and the prices are pretty competitive (wells are around $4.50, depending what you get). My issues with Badlands has always been that it's too dark and hard to see, and too many guys cop an attitude there that I don't see when I see them elsewhere. Fortunately, Toad Hall has escaped both of those drawbacks. Overall, a nice hangout spot. read more

Those cheap drink specials posted on their outside window might look attractive though you may need to pay with exact change to get them. My partner and I were overcharged after being told the sign that brought us in only applied to a different day (despite not being marked as such). We complained through the bars web site. Our complaint was recognized in reply as valid with no effort to reimburse. We'll go elsewhere next time, you should too. UPDATE: After our yelp posting we received a 2nd email, this one sent by the bar manager offering us reimbursement and a free drink along with an apology and a promise for better "sign management" in the future. One star changed to three for perceived sincerity; better late than never. read more

I went here with my friend once.... We hung out in the patio. It was a lot of fun... The disco ball is a ncie touch and there is plenty of room to mvoe around. Now where are those cute straight boys? read more

2 for 1 happy hour from 3 to 9? check. Sweet tea lemonade? double check! (cause they're 2 for 1. get it?) read more

Nice heated patio area in the back, which gets really crowded after... well, 5:30. So come early if you're planning on seating somewhere. Gets really loud too. The happy hour is very cheap too (2 cocktails for ~$6), drinks are kind of crappy though, but when I need to be drunk early for cheap, I know where to go! Castro-style music. read more

Good sized back patio with it's own bar, decent music, and moderately large space. While I personally don't always like the music there, my buddies often enjoy the pop BS that can often be found here and in Badlands. So, if you're wanting to hear some Britney, Beyonce and the like - this is your place. If you like house - it will likely annoy you. I'm going to rant on this bar instead of all of the other bars in the area (such as Badlands, the Mix, etc.) because it's newer, and they should know better - take plastic!!! Using cash ALL of the time is just cumbersome, and it's proven that people will spend MORE on their card they they will while using cash! This is a newer facility, so they should def step it up! Overall, it's a great stop along bar-crawls, and they have a great happy hour for all of my fellow cheap ass drunks! read more

This is rare---a gay bar where you can converse with your friends without increasing voice decibels, find a table to sit, and where guys are fully clothed! If this wasn't at The Castro, you wouldn't be able to tell that this is a gay bar. We came here for a breath of fresh air coming from Badlands and I was so relieved that I wasn't sweating like a pig here! The gay boys here looked very dapper, not as flamboyant and outrageous like Badlands. The best part of the night was seeing 2 men in their birthday suits outside of Toad Hall, balls and penises hanging out, hairy assholes, and lanky legs. I couldn't help but stare. No I'm not a pervert, but you don't see that everyday, only at The Castro! I guess it's legal to walk around naked at The Castro as long as you don't have an erection. So you exhibitionist boys, don't think or erotic, sexual thoughts or else you will get arrested! One more thing, we didn't have to pay for cover charge! Up one star! read more

Apparently this is not a very friendly place! My daughter has a hip problem and had to sit down to rest after walking a distance, which may be a block or more. The MANAGER, of all people pushed her violently to move her away. How can this happen, this should not be allowed to happen! This is a public place of service after all. I'm very upset about this kind of behavior! Especially coming from a "professional" bar keep. I would appreciate a response from any employee, owner, or MANAGER! read more

Stopped by last Sunday not long after the bar opened. Only a handful of patrons at this time, however, bartender (with the short close cropped beard) was too busy texting to notice we arrived. Eventually he walks over and not a sound from him as he looks at us. Not a "hello" or "what may I get you?" -- nothing. It seems as if we had bothered him by coming even in. We ordered 4 drinks and headed outside to the patio. Came back 10 minutes later to order another round and again, bartender totally focused on his texting. Being totally ignored by this loon we left. It's shame as even though we live in the area we will not be back. read more

I don't support bar owners who don't support the community. Guys who leave storefronts empty for years, don't need my money. Plenty of other place to drink in the neighborhood. read more

Hey Toad Hall, I still love your cheap drinks and your lack of cover, but your Saturday night DJ-ing needs a refresher course. Why do you play two to three songs by the same artist in a row? I love Ke$ha and Rihanna and Brittney and Gaga, but I don't want to be bashed in the head by a triumvirate of their tunes. Just hit shuffle. It's not too difficult. Also, remixes are great when they make the song better or more danceable, but its sort of silly to play remixes that just elongate the song and add nothing but cheap bass thumping to its aural aesthetic. Yes, I still shook my groove thang, but I got bored by the predictability of the music selection. read more

I have been coming to this place since I've been of age to drink and I have had more good times then I can count but, It's never occurred to me to write a review until today... When I got the worst service I've ever gotten at a bar. ESPECiALLY at a gay bar. In the midst of Sunday drinking with friends we wondered over to Toad Hall around 4pm because we all remembered having these amazing Baileys jello pudding shots. To our disappointment they weren't available so we had to come up with some other options to continue tying on a tight one. I approached the bar and noticed some signage for a bottle of champagne for $15 and thought it would be nice just to buy a bottle for my friends and myself. So, (because it was ridiculously cheap and I knew it was not likely to be a #1 option I asked the bartender what kind of champagne) he immediately snapped back with "I don't know it's cheap. There's a line" ummm excuse the fuck out of me but you are in the service industry dude! And I did not say any of the following: "is that $15 champagne as cheap as the Tijuana facelift you evidently had.. Because they missed your turkey gobble" "Is that $15 champagne as aged as you are" "which is a bigger joke that $15 champagne or the fact that you're 60 and in a muscle tee?" Immaterial superficialities aside.. I knew that I was not getting a bottle of Krug or Tattinger or fucking Cristal but this is San Francisco. Sue me because I ambitiously and evidently very stupidly hoped to pay a 400% markup for possible bottle of trader joes featured cremant. I was elated at the prospect actually.. And my elation turned to intrigue And God forbid my intrigue turn into an inquiry. I am a bartender as well and I would be told to leave immediately if my boss heard me speak to a guest that way and as well I should. In conclusion I surmise that the amazing times had at this bar were due to the company I kept. Maybe the service was good before and maybe not so good but it fell to the background and allowed me to enjoy the experience I was having with my friends where as this experience in particular, drew all of my attention to the fact that I was being spoken to an unthinkable manner in the context of "service" I hope the bartender puts the 50 cent tip I left him towards a shirt with sleeves. read more

Normally a fan of toad hall, but today while there, the patio bar restroom smelled horribly of stale beer and even more stale urine! :( PowerWash please!!! read more

Been here a few times, drinks are always super strong (almost too strong) but the crowd is just right. Hipper younger people and great music. Never had to wait in line to get in this place! read more

Sucky music played too loud to boring patrons. I really WANT to love it since the renovation is so beautiful, but no.

This place has gone down hill. Our last visit was Sunday, June 28th. The whole bar smelled like sewer inside, especially strong walking past the restrooms to the patio, just unacceptable. The service was slow and it wasn't busy. Not the place to go anymore. read more

Came here for a quick drink last night and loved it. I was the only female inside but everyone was super welcoming, the music was awesome and the drinks were good (drinks are on the strong side - yay!). read more

Two for one drink specials, I am in! Across from Badlands is this great bar with even greater cocktails. I never thought of myself as someone who would or could drink so much in one evening, but it happened here. I wasn't expecting a two for one special, but I jumped in thinking "great I will only have to buy one drink". The drinks were really good, and big, and the music was great so we got a second round-that means we were up to four drinks each. After some good conversation and more good music, we got another round. Six drinks later we finally moved onto the next place, but always recommend making Toad Hall your first stop. read more

Yay for Toad Hall!! Like others have mentioned, it's very similar to Badlands in that it's set up a lot like it, and they have awesome drink specials all the time. It also has an outdoor patio with another bar for smoking or chilling outside on a warm afternoon. The bartenders are AWESOME -- so friendly and attentive (and of course adorable for the most part). The bathrooms are unisex which I actually like -- my BFF Jason and I can go pee together, yay! Always a positive vibe here. Less crowded than Badlands too. read more

Staff is incredibly rude. I was out with a couple of friends and on our last round of drinks, the bar staff neglected to inform us that in 5 minutes they would kick us out of the bar because they were closed. The sale of liquor in San Francisco ends at 2am, however, there is no legislation that states liquor sold prior to 2am cannot be consumed past the sale of liquor. Terribly run business and rude employees. read more

Toad Hall is my favorite bar to go to in the Castro! Great music! Good vibes! Friendly staff! Can get packed, especially on a Friday and Saturday night, but still a great bar with a back patio for fresh air! read more

I really tried to like this place. It's nicely located right in the Castro. Id really like it to be a bit better. There's times I've gone it's been quiet, times its been annoyingly loud with hipster overflow from Badlands. read more

Arrived around 10pm on a Thursday night where the first bar was occupied wtih a big group ordering. I moved to the next bar and the bartender walked over to tkae my order. As soon as I was finished, he was abck in front of the large group, preparing to make 6 mixed drinks and 4 shots. Another bartender asked I had been helped, when I told him what I had ordered, the first bartender started yelling at me that I had given him the order, not the new bartender!! He was screaming at me! When I told him that he was going to be awhile with the other group, he insisted he could multi-task and I underestimate him. He then proceeded to scream at the new bartender. When the beers arrived, the new bartender profusely apologized and I told him that it's obvious at Toad Hall that they are all about the customer experience (very sarcastically). I asked to speak to the manager and he told me that the first bartender is the manager. Sum it all up - the Asian-American guy at the first bar inside the front door is also the manager, so he's allowed to scream at customers and get away with it and scream at the staff and get away with it. It was obvious he was trying to protect his tip, not his customer base. read more

Came here late on a Sunday night (Labor Day weekend) with friends. I got their current special, strawberry vodka with 7-Up which was really good (and strong) for only $6! We all had a great time dancing and I loved the mix of music that they played. It's a fun vibe and definitely a great value. They have plenty of seating too if you're not into dancing. read more

Good happy hour deals and pretty neat hang out spot. The lady bartender that usually works the patio bar is really nice!

I've only been to Toad Hall Bar once so take my review with a grain of salt but the staff was incredibly unfriendly. We arrived after 1AM and the bar was fairly empty. My friend who wasn't drinking was sitting at the bar and was asked to move. There were plenty of available seats at the bar so I'm not really sure where the request came from but I didn't read too much into it. Later (around 1:30AM... when the bar has even less people) we were all standing next to a table and I (being lazy) pulled out a stool from the table. It couldn't have been more than a foot from the table but I was asked to put it back shortly thereafter. Both requests came with a bit of attitude but I'm not sure why. Ah well. I'll go back again and give a second chance. read more

Two for one happy hour!!! Oh so dangerously fun! Love the space and room to dance your lil behinds off.