Haha always a good time at trader Sam's! Be aware there may be some college students REALLY enjoying the karaoke music but you'll have fun all the same. Tasty rum drinks and cute seats labeled different Hawaiian islands :) read more

Trad'r Sam - a baseball game being played in a bar - Dive Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

The bartender was exceptionally rude - we came with three people and one had a a Canadian ID and he refused to serve us even though that ID has worked at every bar in the city for two years - he was so exceptionally rude and disgustingly called my friend "sweetie". Ew. Just to say, we'll never be back ever again read more

Stumbled in here after having dinner nearby. It's a hole in the wall/locals hangout; the kind that has sticky floors, and wobbly barstools. However, it wasn't intimidating as most locals bars are. Everyone seemed either friendly or so smashed that they didn't bother us. We had several rounds of drinks. The only caveat - they only take cash (but there is an ATM in the bar). Don't be afraid to give it a try! read more

My kinda dive. Covid-compliant. And Angie is a gem. The place has outdoor seating and the drinks are good. It's a nice place to unwind after a days work or a day at the beach or the park. Great on the weekdays but does get packed on Friday nights/ saturdays. read more

Warning: don't go here if you don't know how to have a good time, cause Trad'r Sam's is for good times only! Every time I come here, I have the best time: the bartenders feel like good friends, the drinks are awesome (especially for the price y'all) and the jukebox uses the AMI music app, so you can add music from your phone. This place is truly a hidden gem of good times, good vibes, new friends and fun. Shout out to the lovely lady bartender who gave me a hug last night - you're beautiful and I love you! Also the bar is dog friendly which is a huge plus in my book read more

Trad'r Sam - Dive Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Drinks 3.5 Out of 5 Standard Tiki bar. A variety of drinks, but nothing extra special. I usually get one of those Scorpion bowls with 2-3 other friends to share. I dare you to take on one of those bowls yourself! Ambience: 3.5 Out of 5 Can get tight in this space when it's crowded. If you come with a group, definitely have some come earlier to grab a spot. Cool neighborhood dive bar with pretty great crowd without the pretentious people of the Marina and newcomers of the city. Service 4 Out of 5 Bartenders are chill, good recommendations most of the time. Standard stuff Overall 3.75 Out of 5 I've always had a good time at this place as a starter place for bar hopping down on Geary. Prices are great and chill vibes. Bring cash! I can't remember if there's an ATM in there. Worst case there are a couple bank branches on this street. read more

Large drinks. Friendly atmosphere. Old school decor. Visiting San Francisco and decided to visit one of the oldest Tiki bars. Not too noisy. Not too big. Like your favorite neighborhood watering hole. read more

I would give 0 stars if I can. The bartender said my friends "state issued ID" wouldn't work since it's not a drivers license, and also denied a friends ID since he's from saipan, claiming it's not a part of the US despite it being so. Very racist bartender. read more

The white male bartender with a bun and a beard has been extremely rude and condescending when I have come two separate times. I frequent this bar with my friends and have always had good service from everyone except him. It feels like he has an extreme power trip and gets off on being exclusionary and racist. He turned away my friend for not having a US driver's license (even though he presented a legal passport as ID) and also turned me away for not having my driver's license (even though I showed my state-issued ID). I'm not sure if there are laws against this because I have never had an issue at any other place, but it seems like he just did not want to serve a larger group. We felt extremely unwelcome and disrespected, would not recommend giving them your business. read more

With Christmas just around the corner, what can $14 (or less) get you these days? A) A cozy Mrs. Roper snuggie. SEXY. B) A CHI-CHI-CHIA Homer Simpson Chia Pet. CUTE. Ok, not really. C) A Scorpion Bowl from Trad'r Sams served in an ultra-tacky setting with wobbling sticky tables, a Golden Girl's meets run-down Cheers ambiance, and some patrons you would think just came from a used RV convention. YEEEE. The snuggie may keep you warm and a chia pet may double as an imaginary pet but nothing beats a bowl of liquor filled with copious amount of cheap rum and artificial fruit juices that will send you both on a euphoric and sugary high. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/loo6obEjNPGZwOJfhKTKNQ?select=74lqW_BoE6xxkKdwBqKC8A To be shared among four lushes or two super lushes (*raises hand*), the Scorpion Bowl will start off by making you grin, giggle, do the wave/the snorkel/the side-step/the fist pump (depending on what track is playing), think everyone is hot (even the guy at the end of the bar with a hairy pot belly and two hair follicles to his name), see transcendent lights before finally passing out cold. What's guaranteed? A "dig a hole and crawl into it" embarrassing night followed by a FML the next morning with a possible bowing to the porcelain throne. Just don't say, I didn't warn you. I know what I want for Christmas. YEEEE! P.S. - Don't even think about giving a big tip to the burly or your Scorpion Bowl will be topped off with extra shot or two of cheap rum. read more

Trad'r Sam - We had to call in reinforcements to helps us finish this DEATHLY scorpion bowl. - Dive Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

I'm sure this review doesn't matter. The owner won't care. And the people who like this place won't care, but I have to share my experience. My beau and I are tiki lovers. We have been to Smuggler's Cove and Forbidden Island. We didn't expect the same experience but we were in the area so we thought we would try it out. This place is cash only, but they have an ATM. It's not a big deal. I sat at the bar. I asked for a menu. "I don't have a menu but I have a drink list," said the surly bartender. I thought they were synonyms. I guess not. Then he says, "nothing fancy until after 6pm." It was 5pm. I don't know what this means. We looked at the menu. My beau asked, "Is a Captain's Grog to fancy?" The bartender replies, "do you even know what a grog is?" "Yes," my beau replies. The bartender was so condescending. We've had several grogs at many locations, such as Trader Vic's where some of the most famous Tiki drinks were invented. "I'll make you a grog, I guess," he said. It turns out that "grog" at Trad'r Sam's means "made with a lot of 151." I ordered a Mai Tai. It was called a Mai Tai, but it wasn't like any recipe I've ever had. I'd rather just have a mix from the store. Actually, I'd rather just do a shot of 151. It would have been faster. The police came in while we were there to look at the liquor license. "This thing is worth more than the bar," said the officer. I believe it. "What does your jacket mean?" asked the woman with the cocker spaniel sitting next to my beau. "Are you a three star surgeon?" Is that a real position? Three star surgeon? I'm sure if it is, it would be on a track jacket. (It's actually a German football patch.) The woman would not stop talking. She was clearly hitting on my beau. She clearly was drunk. And she clearly didn't understand that two dudes walking into a bar in San Francisco could mean they're not into chicks. "I can't drink those things," said the woman. "I'd be on the floor." I didn't think she was a lightweight but it was about 2 oz. of Bacardi 151. My beau started playing with his phone which insulted the woman. With a huff she said, "oh, so sorry to bother you." The woman left. The regulars conversed. Some older dudes came in and talked to the bartender and drank Pacifico. "What's your name?" asked the woman as she returned to the bar. The guy gave her his buddy's name and his buddy slugged him on the shoulder. The guy then walked over and shook her hand. "I'm Liza." With z, not Lisa with an S, 'cause Lisa with an S, goes "sss" not "zzz"? I wish. She probably never even heard of Judy Garland's daughter. I chugged my drink. My beau drank half. The bartender said so-and-so better get there before 6pm or he's closing the bar. He clearly had better things to do. I did too. We left. I don't mind dive bars. I would have been all over this place in college. The drinks are cheap and for $14 you can get trashed on a scorpion bowl. However, I'm so said that the spirit of tiki is dead in this place. There wasn't anything fresh, tropical or tasty about the drinks. The bartender was a jerk. Steer clear, my mateys. Here be dragons. read more

Trad'r Sam - Dive Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Corey was a cool bartender, my friend and I were being indecisive but he took time to explain the drinks and we got to taste a few. Would come back, drinks were pretty cheap. It's definitely a dive bar, but a tiki dive bar. read more

Trad'r Sam - Blue Hawaiian and hurricane - Dive Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

OK, I have to bump it up one star. Any place I consistently leave in such a hazy booze induced mindset has got to be doing something right. I still don't like the crowd. The guys are all meat heads although for some reason they seem fairly cordial for once, letting people through the jammed to the max bar. I wouldn't go there to meet new people, but if you've got a crew that's down to get hammered on a budget, then step on up. Last night I must have had about 1.5 scorpion bowls, some sort of vodka "fizz" or "mist" drink, and a shot deemed a red headed slut. I do not recall going home and I woke up, fully clothed including shoes and jacket, under my covers. Score, I made it home! This place is gonna kill me some day, or land me in jail at the least. Now if you'll excuse me I need to go throw up for awhile. read more

A classic Tiki Bar in San Francisco. It's a must for the experience. A local dive as well.

Unfortunately I didn't get any picture this time around... Space: The door to this tiki bar is pretty small so it's pretty easy to just pass by without noticing it. However, when you walked in, it's more spacious than it appears from the outside. There are seatings by the bars as well as a lot of little alcoves along the wall. They range from a 4 seaters to even 6 seaters easily. Service: The bartender is really nice and they made your drink relatively fast. Drinks: If you appreciate sweet drinks like I do, this is an amazing place. We ordered a Hawaiian Sunset and a Lava Flow to start off. I like the LF more just because it went in the blender unlike the HS where it's just a mixture of alcohol. Then we went on and ordered a Lover's Cup (bowl drinks). Even though it said for 2 people, it's huge! I saw a group of 4 people sharing it and felt that it's smarter that way because we didn't finish it. The drinks were amazing and pretty affordable (for the size and the alcohol contents that it came). Bathroom: One all-gendered bathroom. Clean. Music: I went on a Thursday night and they put on 90s throwback music which I appreciated! Would definitely go back. read more

Trad'r Sam - Dive Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

The bartender was rude to us as soon as we came in. He clearly did not want us to stay in the restaurant. He denied my friend's ID because it is not a U.S. ID. She has never had this problem before. He was derisive and came off as sexist: When my friend asked if she wouldn't be able to be served there because of her ID, he said, "No, sweetie" and turned away immediately. Beyond that condescending comment, he was completely unwilling to engage or be welcoming. Advise that others look at the reviews because there are several that comment on racist, sexist, and rude behavior from the bartenders. Terrible experience. read more

Finally got to check out this spot! My friend was right.. Come early otherwise this place get super packed and you'll be standing for the entire night. We got here around 10pm sharp on a Saturday and there was barely any seating except this corner by the ATM. Fortunately we were only a party of 4 so we got cozy just fine. We started off with the Tidal Wave and got their classic Scorpion bowl later. Both bowls were pretty good and for $14 each, not a bad deal especially because you're sharing with others. Plus it WILL get you drunk! They'll make the bowls in front of you by blending a bunch of ice with a ton of colorful liquor that turns out nice in the end. I don't know if they ran out of garnishes but I was disappointed they didn't bother to add any more frills when we got the Scorpion bowl :/ throughout the night we were able to move to a more comfy spot with a couch but even then an upgrade on their furniture would be nice. All in all, I would come back here. Cheap tropical drinks and shots (less than $9-$10 for an individual drink; $14-$16 for bowls). Some downsides of the bar are that there is only one bathroom for men and one bathroom for women. The variety of music played was very random and we had to shout for conversation, but otherwise I had a good time! I've been to nicer tiki bars but this one's a good choice if you're looking for good drinks with a cool dive-y ambiance. read more

Trad'r Sam - Tidal wave $14 - Dive Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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The furnishings are worn out and gross. There is outdoor seating that clearly stated "no smoking," but when we were there on Friday night 2/18/2022 around 8pm, a woman was smoking openly at one of the outdoor tables near the front door so unfortunately we were subjected to vile second hand smoke. So the business tolerates smoking when it is supposedly not allowed. The bar tender was slow and inattentive to incoming guests (too busy chit chatting with seated customers). We had to wait several minutes until we had to look for him. There was a bothersome overweight old white man sitting at the same outdoor table where the woman was smoking who liked to make unwelcomed comments. Birds of the same feather I guess. Time for this place to go. It's weird a place like this exists in San Francisco. This place belongs in a bad horror movie. read more

They are known for their scorpion bowl and bring a group to share it with because it would be wise to do so! There was nothing special about the taste for the scorpion drink nor was it spectacular for their decoration of the bowl, which was topped with slices of oranges, cherries, and umbrella toothpicks. We got another bowl that was entirely blue without the foam. Warning! It was filled with alchy flavor, tasted and looked like AMF! If you still want to try it, by all means, go for it. The theme of the decor and with their drinks was hawaiian and tropical. They blended that theme with a bit of American style to it. It is fun to drink the bowls as a group and a great place to stop by if you are planning to barhop for the rest of the night. read more

Trad'r Sam - Scorpion Bowl - Dive Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Me: Scorpion bowl extra strong please? Bartender: Are you sure? It's already made extra strong. Me: Yes please? I don't like fruity drinks, but I'm here so I need to get a scorpion bowl! Bartender: Why don't you try it the way we make it and if you want it stronger I'll make it stronger. I look at the two friends I'm with and see that they think my suggestion is a bad idea. Me: Okay. If I want it stronger then I'll let you know. Good decision cuz I had a nice buzz after I drank the bowl. Felt like I was back in Hawaii! Hehe! read more

Trad'r Sam - Scorpion Bowl - Dive Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

I loved the vintage decor and ambiance. I didn't catch the bartender's name, but he was really kind and recommended us some of their famous "bowls". They're really strong, but if you share the. With a few friends, memories will be made for sure! read more

What a dive bar!! This place has history and drinks that serve a punch. Sure it's small and a bit grungy but the history, friendly bartenders and local patrons make it all the more charming. Definitely hitting this ice up again especially on our next tiki bar crawl. read more

Hmm...local neighborhood tiki lounge with an amazing selection of boozy drinks, ranging from giant punch bowls to share with friends, to ice cream dessert alcoholic drinks, and a random assortment of drinks with super cool names. ****CASH ONLY**** Seating can be tough as the bar is not too big. They have several small booths that gets taken up and occupied early. So i would suggest heading there right after dinner. Like i mentioned above, they have lots of drinks to choose from, though none of them have a description of whats in them on the menu...so haha good luck? We ended up getting two bowls, Lover's Potion and something Volcano. The lover's potion was definitely more heavy with alcohol, though to be honest, both mainly tasted of fruit juice. So..be warned. You'll be consuming a whole lotta sugar, and less alcohol. Not sure if the individualized drinks have alcohol to liquid ratio. Nonetheless, definitely a fun place. They have a juke box. read more

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The bartender was great and the Banana Cow was very yummy! However, while I liked the murals, I found the decor kinda lacking.

I don't recommend this place! Go to somewhere else. I went with my wife and some friends yesterday and even before entering the bartender yelled at us asking for our documentation and while we took our wallet the man just wouldn't stop shouting while some people laughed at us! And even after we gave him our IDs he made my wife speak loudly about her information in front of a bunch of people (making understand that she had a fake document)! We were so embarrassed that we decided to get out of there. Never again. read more

I hadn't been here in a few years but I did not realize that I should've lowered my expectations to nil... the 4 person scorpion bowl I had ordered was left at the bar with zero garnishes & a couple of chewed up mismatched straws on the side.... Looks like a bowl of cream of wheat but tastes like a tiki drink.. Will not be returning. read more

Trad'r Sam - Cream of wheat bowl - Dive Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

NOT WORTH IT. tradr sams used to be the most vibrant, fun, divey bar that you could goto in the richmond district. since " new management" it is HORRIBLE. no decor, the bartenders are the most stuck up people you will ever meet. you can pay money to play music and they will go on their machines and SKIP your songs if they dont like them. Ive contemplated writing this multiple times as a regular and after 7 consistent HORRIBLE experiences I will unfortunately have to find a new bar. save your money and time. ALSO if you have a new id refrain from coming here they will publicly humiliate you and accuse you of being underage,thanks "alex" read more

Old school tiki bar/dive with a "time-has-stopped" charm to it. Trad'r Sam is a great spot if you're fan of big scorpion bowls and other tutti fruity drinks with lots of rum. Otherwise it's pretty run of the mill selection of booze but the folks behind the bar are nice - but if anything really swamped. Took quite a while for the first round of drinks because they were so backed up making big bowls of boozy island concoctions. Definitely a locals bar with regulars. Place is a little run down but adds to the charm of the space. Lots of kitsch all around. Not the most efficient spot for drinks but Trad'r Sam is a fun spot to visit. read more

The scorpion bowls do the job very effectively and they have a juke box. *Chefs kiss*

The decor isn't how it used to be which kinda kills the vibe, and the drinks just don't taste the same :(

Place is a lil run down but the drinks are really good and really cheap. I tried the King Louie, which is a drink made out of ice cream...Never heard of such a thing and it was friggin delicious and still boozy. It was the perfect mix between not being sweet but not too sweet and yet still being able to taste the alcohol, which is my preference for all cocktails. Only downside to this place is that its cash only. read more

As a typical girl who enjoys fruity alcoholic beverages, Trad'r Sam is my all time favorite bar. Most of the drinks can be shared in groups of 4 or more. The best one- you guessed it- the scorpion bowl! Caution: All the drinks are fruity and creep up on you, so make sure you pace yourself through the night. I also recommend the volcano, which can serve 2-4 people, depending on your tolerance level. The bartenders here are really friendly and are quick to whip up your drinks. A great place to stop by if you are in the Richmond district. PSH, hell even if you're not, try to make your way over to this place. Remember to bring cash as it is cash only! read more

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AHHH Trad'r Sams and their $14 bowls of a sweet, frozen, slurpee-like concoction that hides the very hint of alcohol (in the case of The Scorpion bowl Hella Sexy style, it's 151 we're talking about). You can easily down this baby like nothing, but be careful: the likelihood of suffering from an intense brain freeze and having the alcohol creep up on you is very high. Buy bowls with caution. On another note, Trad'r Sams is a great pub if you and your friends are looking for a place to drink that's relatively cheap. The bowls are big enough to share and you will definitely get your money's worth here. One bowl is good for about 3 to 4 people to share. Only downside is the place is relatively small and packed on most days so it may take a while to get a table or somewhere to sit. read more

Trad'r Sam - Dive Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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This place is pretty chill. It was easy to find parking the night I went, and wasn't too crowded. I think I would've given them 4 stars if it wasn't for the smell of piss you can't get away from. It's super potent the moment you walk in, and pretty bad almost everywhere but to the right of the bar. I was surprised that people were so drunk they couldn't smell it but we definitely did, we were suffocating. The drinks were pretty cheap though, and I love their ice cream drinks! The Grasshopper is a mint chocolate chip drink that reminds me of thin mints. The other drink I had was the.. Tahiti.. or Tahitian? I can't quite remember what it was called, but it had coffee, hazelnuts, and chocolate, and it was the perfect way to end the night. My other friend got the banana split which had a strange aftertaste, soo.. that was a no go. But the pina colada my other friends ordered was pretty decent. Overall, I'd recommend trying the ice cream shakes. They're the way to go! If they ever get rid of that strong piss smell that wreaks of porter potty, I'd probably come back again to try all their ice cream drinks :p but I'll wait it out for a bit till I can breathe. read more

Trad'r Sam - The grass hopper (minty) and piña colada - Dive Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

I have never been to a worse bar. To start with it's extremely grungy. Dive bar is generous for what this is. I was out celebrating my birthday and one of the girls I was with told me how great this place was. Boy was she wrong. The menu is just drink names and some flavors. I typically like vodka or rum and I told the blonde bar tender that. She starts asking if I like strawberry banana I say no. She again repeats the same thing. She's very rude and my bf surmised that she was very likely drunk. The rest of the party also wants to know what's in the drinks. She said I'll have to go behind the bar abs get you a list of ingredients. States she can't help us and makes me feel terrible for simply asking what was in the orange cream sickle. My bf orders an Irish coffee (hot) , she states she needs to brew the coffee and that's totally fine. The girl who recommended this awful place gets the wrong drink and then my boyfriends drink was blended. And it tasted nothing like an Irish coffee either!! Oh and to top it all off my orange cream sickle was just a very bad blended screwdriver. If I could give zero stars I would. read more

Cheapish drinks for SF (5-6$ beers, $10 cocktails). Very divey vibes. Staff is hit or miss, some are friendly some are rude. Whatever you do do not come here after work with a backpack you will get yelled at for it read more

A great neighborhood bar that happens to be tiki themed. Cash only, good prices, strong drinks, fun divey kitschy decor...only sad I don't live walking distance away. The menu doesn't say what is in the drink so unless you know your tiki drinks pretty well it's a bit of a choose your own adventure, which made it fun for us. :) read more

You can bring in food. The staff and the customers are very friendly. The decor is quite rustic.

We just came here on a Sunday at 1:30 to grab a beverage before catching our flight home... Google hours says it opens at 11 and yelp says it opens at noon... And yet here we stand outside the front door, which is padlocked shut... so all operating posted online must be incorrect? read more

The extraordinarily rude bartender made my friend and I feel like we were bothering him when we ordered drinks. Won't be going back.