Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Trad'r Sam

    3.7 (1.1k reviews)
    InexpensiveDive Bars, Pubs, Tiki Bars
    Open 12:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)
    Updated 2 months ago

    Trad'r Sam Photos

    Business Info

    TRAD'R SAM ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Divey
    Loud
    Juke Box
    Good for groups

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Trad'r Sam

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Interior
    Phil N.

    10/25: I first came here in 1993. It has not changed. They've dusted the cobwebs recently and added others. This is a vintage divey tiki bar that has been a work in progress since reopening. Drinks: They are fun. They are priced like Trader Vic's, they at not Trader Vic's. Homework: Need to take a bartender class or at least consult the internet on what, say, a tequila sunrise is. It's kind of a homey bar. Dogs allowed, off leash, on bar stools. Homework: Cute but Consult the Environmental Health code. Sorry, I am sentimental about this place. Continue the come back please.

    Monica M.

    Trad'r Sam's is a local neighborhood tiki bar that has been around for decades. With their speciality punch bowl drinks, Jell-O shots, and tiki bar decor, for a moment, you're transported to another place entirely. The drinks are good and strong, and clientele seem to mostly be from the local area. Service was quick, and staff attentive and friendly.

    Brad P.

    I lived in Singapore for 7 years. Tonight I dropped in for a drink with my son. Cass made us the second best Singapore Sling I've ever had. Top two including the legendary Long Bar in the CBD. IYKYK.

    Linda Y.

    A fun little tiki-themed dive bar in sleepy Outer Richmond! Definitely feels like a lot of locals hang out here. I came here with a group of friends on a Friday night and it was packed. We got a bowl and some individual drinks, and the price was cheap but the drinks ranged from decent to pretty awful tasting lol. My pina colada really was just sugar milk. All drinks were very sugary and I feel designed to get you druuunk. The bowl was enjoyable though!

    Cleaned up since before COVID, without losing its gritty charm. Cheerful service, which was not always the case. If you want an excellent tiki cocktail, hit the Trader in Emeryville; If you want a great tiki dive bar, hit this Trad'r.

    Chi-Chi

    Came for the Super Bowl show and ordered a blended drink that was so good! Leo was the bartender and he was so nice to me which was great since I came by myself. I felt so welcomed and there were ample seats for everyone to watch at the bar. Great time!!

    Sam's Planter's Punch
    Katie R.

    One of the best priced bars I've been to in a looooong time. We came in on a Saturday afternoon with a big group and were able to take over a whole section of the bar. Since it was the middle of the day, the tiki vibes were felt a little less, but the tiki drinks were flowing. There was only one bartender working, and he was such a trooper. The menu is huge and didn't come with descriptions of each drink, so we had loads of questions for him. He was also happy to make us off menu cocktails that we requested from showing him the recipes. They had football playing, but were also happy to turn the music on for us since it wasn't that important of a game (no one local). I don't love super sugary drinks and since the ingredients weren't listed I went off menu, but did taste a few of the tiki drinks and will definitely be ordering one of those banana ones next time. It was dessert in a glass without the intense sugar flavor.

    Jenny L.

    Travis makes the best drinks!!!!!! Accommodating and friendly! Brings the good, aloha vibes (: Very happy we stopped by :D

    Sahridaya N.

    I must admit I dropped by only cause I was in the neighbourhood and the prices caught my eye but I'm so glad I did. We came by on a Friday around 5pm and ordered 3 drinks - White Russian, Pina Colada and a Boozy Banana-Chocolate ice cream shake! They were all delicious and spiked appropriately to make you wanna go for another round. The place is pretty small but has great tiki bar vibes. It had around 5-6 people when we got there but I would imagine a whole lot of people at night so might wanna get here early if you are looking for tables. It's a cash only place but they do have an ATM inside. The menu is extensive and has a whole lot of interesting things with no explanation so I would suggest you go with whatever you heart is calling out on that particular day ;) Fantastic prices, great cocktails and fun little tiki vibes - definitely coming back with more friends.

    Paolo B.

    After a brief stint of being closed, Trad'r Sam has reopened with a remodel and refresh, and probably some of the most affordable drinks the city has to offer. They're famous for their scorpion bowl and other booze filled bowls that are all around $20. For $20, after drinking one of these, hopefully shared with someone, will do the trick. They are all blended to order, and come with long straws to sip out of. We got the tidal wave, and it lived up to its name. Other spots I've gotten bowls at in the city charge $45-65 and sometimes even more, and none of them compare to the flavor of Trad'r Sam. So for a third of the price, it's really hard to beat. Most beers and shots were under $10. Most of their cocktails are around that price as well, so value here is real good. There's plenty of TVs and self seating so good for small to medium sized groups. It is cash-only, so make sure to hit the ATM beforehand or use the one they have there.

    Montage of images from Trad'r Sam
    Ed U.

    Right in the nick of time came my 6,800th Yelp review milestone, and I'm handing it to this legendary vintage tiki bar out in the Richmond that I just tried yesterday. The Chronicle reported its demise a few weeks back due to a family legal dispute. I just figured that meant it was permanently shuttered. However, I read an update a week ago that it had reopened, so I decided to take the trek. Make no mistake. It's still a dive but in a good, unpretentious way. The rusted neon sign is still the same with the lightbox on top advertising "Polynesian Drinks" (photo: https://yelp.to/yZSAjqYcRC). Dominated by the horseshoe bar, it's not a big place with a few tables around the perimeter. The decor was surprisingly somewhat muted for such an old-time tiki bar with the palm tree lights the loudest feature inside (photo: https://yelp.to/NwHySuSg7N). The most impressive element was the huge cocktail list, three menu pages worth with reasonable prices. Jeff was manning the bar, and I ordered the $10 Pina Colada (photo: https://yelp.to/823PPinGsA). It was quite a delightful mix of rum, pineapple juice, and cream of coconut, perfectly blended. I was chatting away with a couple of local guys around my age. Not gay, just funny. They kept asking me about restaurants and bars I could recommend in their neighborhood. As you can imagine, I couldn't shut up. I think I kept them entertained, and all of a sudden, I ordered a second libation, the $10 Mango Madness, which featured mango purée mixed with tequila (photo: https://yelp.to/hpCG86g9KA). Quite delicious. What was I saying again? OK, I gotta run, but I'll be back. 6,800 reviews, baby. COCKTAILS - 5 stars...the tiki drinks were delicious, voluminous and relatively cheap AMBIANCE - 4 stars...not quite there decor-wise but improvements are planned SERVICE - 4.5 stars...Jeff knew how to mix and blend TOTAL - 5 stars...welcome back, Sam RELATED - Interested in tiki bars here and everywhere? Here's a collection of bars I've patronized and reviewed: https://bit.ly/3SpoS3c

    Shannon W.

    12/2/23 is this still the same tradr Sam's?! I'm Joking the interior looks very much updated, drink menu is still the same. I got the Pina colada today

    Bloody Maria, Mai tai and a dude.

    See all

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Eric L.
    4
    29
    66

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of . ..
    0
    12
    2

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    28 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 3

    7 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Raphael R.
    125
    20
    18

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 10
    Thanks 4
    Love this 11
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jenny L.
    155
    76
    144

    8 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 9
    Thanks 3
    Love this 9
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 1
    Love this 9
    Oh no 5

    3 months ago

    Great bar! !! I always love coming here as my "go to" place on my way home from work. Cass is the best bartender!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Don't fire Leo, he's okay at best. Great drinks medium service, and a best friend forever

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    8 months ago

    First time checking into trad'r sam and Travis is the man! Drinks were really good customer service is top notch!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Great everything -the intimate seating ozone you tore out. but for the love of Christ put exhaust fans in the bathrooms.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Bill F.
    1
    71
    27

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jose G.
    302
    29
    38

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 28

    Ask the Community - Trad'r Sam

    Does the bar have new owners since it reopened or just a new look and the sign fixed? TNX.

    Kind of ...complicated. Same owners but the day to day management has switched to a different member of the family.

    Hi there, I came on a Saturday close to 2pm and the bar was closed. On Yelp and goggle maps the bar reads the hours opening at 9am. Do you have new updated hours?

    The bar opens at approximately 3pm every day

    Do they have poke on the menu?

    No food. Drinks only.

    View All 5 Questions

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Dive Bars 60,467 times last month within 10 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    TONGA ROOM & HURRICANE BAR - Tonga Rolls

    TONGA ROOM & HURRICANE BAR

    3.4(3.3k reviews)
    4.2 miNob Hill
    $$$

    Kitschy and expensive, but my wife and I had fun at the Fairmont Hotel's Tonga Room. Strong,…read morefruity tropical drinks, live "yacht rock" music, moody lights, and a light and sound show reminiscent of the Rainforest Cafe, all add up to a great place to start or finish an evening date night. We visited on a Saturday evening in May, not an optimal choice as the place was full of prom dates and wedding parties. Our original table was directly beyond the dance floor so all we could see was various couples swaying to the band. The server was kind enough to move us to a table with a view of the pool and band. The food isn't much to get excited about here, but we were hungry and ordered a couple appetizers. Quite pricey, I mean, it's the Fairmont Hotel, plus there's an additional entertainment fee when the band is playing. But hey, Anthony Bourdain actually liked this place. I agree, it's worth experiencing. PS - This was the second time I've been in the SF Fairmont Hotel. The first was Feb 1988. I was attending a conference with several lady friends, we walked by the hotel and discovered that Lou Rawls was singing in the Venetian Room. My friends finagled the staff into giving us a table at the back for the show. They loved it, but I was young, and bored, and left after a couple songs. I went to a nearby bar, had a couple drinks, and then meandered back to my room, alone. So much for my carefree bachelor days.

    I was able to celebrate my birthday here. The vibe and experience is definitely like Hawaii. We did…read morethe poo poo platter as well as two drinks the Golden cup and then we also did a Kahlúa pork plate and it was very filling. Service was pretty good and the ambience definitely felt like I was back home. Definitely would come back here and celebrate my birthday again. Thank you for letting me spend my birthday with you guys.

    Photos
    TONGA ROOM & HURRICANE BAR - Decorative sculpture.

    Decorative sculpture.

    TONGA ROOM & HURRICANE BAR - Lomi Lomi Salmon Poke

    Lomi Lomi Salmon Poke

    TONGA ROOM & HURRICANE BAR - Lava Flow- alcohol free

    See all

    Lava Flow- alcohol free

    Pacific Cocktail Haven - Silk Street: Song Gin, amaro, jackfruit-coconut cream, sudachi, longan, pandan - Perfectly balanced, not too sweet

    Pacific Cocktail Haven

    4.5(763 reviews)
    4.2 miUnion Square
    $$

    My wife & I visited SF for the 1st time & stayed at Hotel Emblem next door. We noticed so many…read morepeople coming in to this place we decided to look it up & see what the fuss was about. Seeing that it was named one of the top 50 best bars in North American, we had to check it out! We came in a Thursday night in mid-April about 9:45 PM. They have security outside thar checks IDs & also manages the queue in case the bar gets too crowded. We had no issues getting in, but there were zero indoor seats available - both the bar & table seating. Thankfully, they have a really cozy & well-lit patio area. The waitress let us know that even the outdoor patio has table-side service, so we made ourselves comfortable on the outdoor bench & within seconds she had brought us waters & cocktail menus. Weather outside was really nice, so I'm glad we actually sat outside. Each cocktail is $20, which definitely is a little steep, but I think the creativity, quality, & prestige of being named a top 50 bar supports the price. Each part of the menu is organized by liquor ie whiskey, vodka, brandy, gin, etc. We tried 4 drinks total. I only took menu photos of the pages we ordered from but they have a lot more selections. We ordered the Kung Fu Pandan, Silky Street, Rice Rice Baby, & Tropical Gangsta. We had some favorites over others, but all were very well crafted! The drinks came out pretty quickly considering how busy it was. The only hiccup was our final drink took quite a while. Turns out the ticket machine malfunctioned & deleted orders put in & caused a back-up. The waitress was so apologetic & ended up comp-ing 2 drinks, which she definitely didn't have to but it speaks volumes to the high standards they hold themselves to & their customer service. Overall, highly highly recommend checking this place out for a fun night out or post-dinner treat! Glad we made the decision to stop in!

    The cocktails here are always so tasty. I love the vast menu and the Asian influence on their…read moredrinks. Street parking but can walk from the Ferry building or other bart stops with enough resolve lol. Bathrooms - 2 single occupant bathrooms in the back. Always clean and big spaces. Service - friendly and attentive. They kept the drinks and water going consistently! Make sure to bring your physical id! They check at the front~

    Photos
    Pacific Cocktail Haven - Envy in bloom

    Envy in bloom

    Pacific Cocktail Haven - Full moon

    Full moon

    Pacific Cocktail Haven - Still gets me

    See all

    Still gets me

    Li Po Cocktail Lounge - Mai tai

    Li Po Cocktail Lounge

    4.0(840 reviews)
    4.5 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

    See all

    Downstairs bar

    Trader Vic's - Lettuce Cups

    Trader Vic's

    3.6(1.3k reviews)
    10.5 mi
    $$$

    Had a great experience at Trader Vic's. The service was outstanding and the sunset views made the…read morewhole evening feel extra special. The food was top notch highly recommend the miso salmon, which had a really nice kick of spice. The potatoes, however, were a bit bland in comparison. The drinks are super creative definitely get the Smoke Show, it's a standout. The mai tai was just okay and a little too heavy on the ice for my taste. Overall, great vibes all around and a spot I'd happily return to.

    Not what I was expecting…read more It's been a little while since I have been to Trader Vic's. And especially this location. I will say 3 nice things about this experience. The location is gorgeous! The last time I was here it was at night. This was an afternoon visit and it was still a beautiful view of the water. The food is amazing! Great flavors and wide variety of selections even for the time we came which was in between lunch & dinner. The portions were a good size. The overall look of the restaurant is very well kept together. Very well themed and sits perfect with the Hawaiian esthetics. Okay there are my three nice things. Let's get down to business because this is where the experience lacked. SERVICE! We came at a time where we didn't know they stopped serving lunch (The in between I mentioned earlier), which was not a problem. Our family knows how to pivot and adapt to situations. What I didn't like was that our server made us feel really unimportant. Let's start with the greeting. It was ready to order? As if we were a burden. It wasn't busy at all. 2 people at the bar, a couple opposite of us in the bar area (yes we were placed in the bar which is fine, because the dinning room is being set for dinner service at 5), and a gentleman to the right of us. Clearly not busy. We finally get our food and we are missing a Tuna Poke. We asked the food runner where it was and he said this was all that was on the ticket. Okay that's fine. Can you send our server so we can get it taken off our bill? The server/ bartender never came back to check on us to see if everything came out until we were almost finished. By that time we had empty drinks for our entire meal. And we asked for refills and our check. We get the check and sure enough the Tuna Poke was on the bill. You know the one that the food runner claimed wasn't on the ticket. This place (due to the standards I have always experienced going to ANY of their locations) my family should have been taken care of and treat like guests instead of burdens or even forgotten in an empty bar seating area.

    Photos
    Trader Vic's - Well-stocked bar included local rums

    Well-stocked bar included local rums

    Trader Vic's - Koans Puffer

    Koans Puffer

    Trader Vic's - Bumbu Hunter

    See all

    Bumbu Hunter

    Trad'r Sam - divebars - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...