I was in serious need of a bloody Mary (you know how it is sometimes) and my friend suggested Zeitgest. Apparently they have won several awards for them so I couldn't turn him down. Although the place was busy, we had no trouble getting up to the bar to order. The Bloody Mary was spicy (as others have said), but I didn't find it too overpowering. Walking outside we found that the back patio was packed. They have a few long picnic tables and we had to cozy in with some loud strangers. I couldn't help but listen in on the conversation next to us. But the folks were amiable and were happy to make a joke with us. Even the tamale lady was wandering outside serving people. I'll definitely be returning for another Bloody Mary soon. read more

I think it's pretty backwards that they don't allow dogs here. They have a huge outside area and a well trained, 8lb Pomeranian should be allowed to simply sit there. We were kicked out promptly after ordering our Bloody Mary's by a short Hispanic guy with slicked back hair. It's just weird and awkward.... I've literally never been to a bar in SF (even one that serves food) that didn't allow a tiny little amazing dog to be there in his bag which he blends into completely. Zeitgeist would be one of my favorite bars if they allowed dogs, plus it would be an amazing vibe overall. But nah, fuck Zeitgeist. Won't be back. -Koda the Pom read more

Zeitgeist - Koda the Pom was here. Fuck the naysayers. - Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

This place has gone DOWN HILL real quick. I came when the first opened on a Sunday. There was LITERALLY 2 people in the whole patio, and this patio is huge. Some guy sat me in a corner on a bench with no table and not at a table. I thought this was just protocol to order and then get seated. They bring me my beer and I ask him when I can be seated at a table. He said "we save those for other people, 2 or more". WTF!! The patio is literally empty. It's not like people are lining up outside. There is a thunderstorm happening. They make people eat on a bench with no table because they come alone???? And because I said "wow, really". I'm the rude one, lol. I would think they would be a little more considerate to locals who are trying to support them through this devastation. NOPE , I will pick a different place to go. Very disappointing to say the least. I've been coming to this car for almost 30 years. My old band sticker is on the old register that they display. read more

Zeitgeist - Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

I admit that my first visit to Zeitgeist wasn't wholly great, but that was years ago. Its what I thought of as an entry level Mission bar and it lived up to idea complete with port o pottys and combined with the unfortunate act of stepping in someone's pool of vomit I would venture to say it was not a good first experience. Fast foward to the present - I think its an awesome bar with a phenomenal bier garten and fun staff plus $4.50 Red Stripe and $6 Duchess. Done and done. read more

I was torn between a 4 and 5 and I'll explain why. The geist has a rep for douchey doormen, and apparently everyone who frequents this joint, as you will if you stay for more than a month in the city, has been thrown out. It's almost like a rite of passage. The volume can be unbearably as can the wait for a bathroom on crowded nights. Now, however, I go there a crap ton, they just remodeled, and it's a freaking staple of the community in the Mission and all us hipsters, so the five stands. Alright, onto the good stuff. The new remodel for starters: pass-thru windows to the outside patio, which is a one of the iconic draws of coming here especially in the good weather days (huge, tons of tables, but totally packed when sunny, loud ass music), roomier interior with more access to order at the bar and still let people pass by, two sets of taps holding upwards or 20+ beers each, Giant fridge holding the few contained in bottles, and the remodel is still underway. A pool table, amazing burgers at the back window, also serves veggie friendly burgers. Pitchers by the pound for a reasonable price. Any day is a crap shoot depending on the weather. There exists no sign with a name to help you on your journey to find Zeitgeist, simply look for the red & black bottom to a white apartment building in the crack of the 101 exit onto Octavia, and a teal Donny Darko Bunny Skeleton Head on the Duboce side of the wall. So come here and chill, daytime nighttime, it'll keep you there for a while and you'll probably bump into someone you know. read more

This place used to be so good... I have pictures from a few years back where all of us look like we're having such a great time. We're eating, drinking, laughing, being young... It really happened. There are pictures. And it's been gradually downhill since then. Earlier this month, it may have finally hit bottom. I couldn't get served. Or, rather, I "got served", in the sense that I didn't get served. The place was only half full and yet, standing at the bar for 10 minutes, no one would serve me a drink. The elderly regular next to me, so drunk he couldn't manage a complete sentence, had no problem getting two drinks in the same time. As for me, the bartenders kept looking away, turning around, and otherwise ignoring me. Was it because I was dressed up after work? Clean? Polite? Sober? Conscious? Who knows? I gave up and left. Maybe there's a reason the place was only half full on what should have been a busy night. read more

Probably my favorite bar in the City since it's right by MUNI, never crowded enough that I don't have patio seating, and their beer selection is functionally as good as Toronado's. I was there last night and tried a coconut IPA, Big Leaf Maple, and an oatmeal porter. One of the few places in the City that has Death n' Taxes on tap, so there's a solid option for all your dark beer lovers. And all the beers are between $4 and $5, and during happy hour, it's all slightly discounted, so nice craft beers at rock bottom bar prices! Props to the bouncer as well. I had left my ID at Burning Man, but I just explained it to him and he waved me through. #burnerproblems Close enough to the Mission to stumble there for burritos or Indian food as well, so all your needs are met. And as Nique F. reminded me, Zeitgeist rolls out its own burgers and grilled cheese sammiches, so you can stay here for your vittles too. read more

One of my favorite bars in SF, although its cash only. -Large outdoor seating area - great selection of beers on tap - fantastic bloody Mary's (perfect for Sundays) -super chill atmosphere and pool table inside Love this place- great place to grab a beer read more

Sepultura and Slayer all night. Amazing beer selection. Laid back patrons. Knowledgeable staff. Great decor; crazy shit everywhere. Didn't try the food. Can't wait to go back! read more

Always a good time here. Food is decent drinks are good. Garden is a lot of fun any time of day

Zeitgeist is one of my favorite spots in SF. I think they did a great job with reopening since COVID. I was impressed by the amount of cleaning/attention to detail they had. However, the hostess (female, long brown hair) was very rude and condescending from the moment we got in line. She made several passive aggressive remarks and it made for a bad experience. May think twice before coming again just because of that. read more

Divey biker bar vibes with tons of great outdoor seating. Perfect for a warm day. Lots of beer options on tap, but be careful because it's cash only. Occasionally they will have live music on the back patio. I'd definitely say this is a place better to visit during the day than at night, but I'm sure both would be fun. read more

You either always start or finish our night at Zeitgeist. The beer garden/patio in the back is a blast. You never know who you are going to run into and meet. It almost seems like a foreigners bar somewhere in Europe. Zeitgeist is never the go to place for the night, but is always where the pregame starts, or is the final stop of the night. Would recommend to anyone in the mission, looking for a laid back place, and for anyone who is trying to meet fun people read more

This review comes after my 3rd visit. Zeitgeist is a true punk bar. I haven't been to many, but I'm not surprised people have complained about rudeness and roughness. If you've ever had any punk people in your life you know it ain't roses and sunshine! Their beer selection is fantastic, the biggest reason why we keep coming back. Never tried their food so I can't speak on that. Just know what kind of place this is before you come. Don't expect a white cloth, prissy, gentrified San Francisco bar. A bunch of punk rockers enjoying their local dive bar read more

I've been going to Zeitgeist for almost 5 years now and I can honestly say it's gone extremely downhill. It used to be a chill bar full of metal heads and locals just looking to hang out and drink. I never had an issue with service or drinks. I've heard stories about the rude staff but I had yet to experience it for myself. I went today with my friend and I saw that they had a board with a list of "new and distinct" beers. I decided to try one of them. The way it was worded on the board was "Omission Pale Ale / Hoppy Caramel Flavor!!! $6/bottle" My friend got in line to order it along with her drink and the bartender with shoulder length scraggly brown hair (looks like it has never been washed) and full sleeves of tattoos, was inexcusably rude to her. I also heard him say something rude to the girl in front of us. She asked him a question about a beer and he replied with, "NO!! If you know what you want I can help you." Anyway, my friend asked him for the Omission and he said "which one?" And she turned to me and asked me to point to the board to show him, so I did, and she told him it was the one in the bottle. For no reason at all he started screaming as loud as he could, "PALE ALE???? Fucking idiot!!" The people in line next to us were just as shocked as we were and one of them turned to me and said "it's fine, don't worry about it", and have me a reassuring pat on the shoulder. I understand that it was a busy Saturday at 6pm, but there is absolutely no excuse for such rude customer service. This guy needs to go through a customer service training session again. If you can't handle the Saturday rush, don't work the hours. Not everybody is a fucking beer lord, so obviously there will be questions and confusion when you're being a dickwad. We didn't tip him a single penny. He didn't even deserve the payment for the beer. I'll probably never return to Zeitgeist. It used to be one of our favorite bars but it slowly dug its own grave. EDIT: I forgot to mention that they have mice running around inside and outside the bar. This includes inside their kitchen. The entire 5 years I've gone here there have been mice, which means that they also aren't taking their public health obligation seriously. Just sayin'. read more

My buddy from college said " Let's go to Zeitgeist." I had no idea what he was talking about. I looked it up on yelp on saw the reviews. I was expecting to hate it because of all the hipster warnings. I hate hipsters more than anyone, they're like the new wigger, its so sucky. I got there around 4:00 pm Saturday. The door guy kinda had a chip on his shoulder, or maybe he was stoned, I couldn't tell. I ordered a pitcher of Sierra Nevada and caught up with an old friend while I waited for my homie to arrive. We head outside, and it's a vast patio, kinda oktober fest mixed with troma film kinda vibe. Very eclectic crowd, not hipster nation, which made me feel better. Strong smells of ganja filled the air. I looked at my pitcher and all the drama free smiling people, while the sun shined. I finally found an AWESOME spot in SF. My boy arrived shortly after, and we proceeded to drink pitcher after pitcherof Stella for $13 a pop. The prices here rule fo SHO. I didn't really get an asshole vibe from any of the bartenders. One guy was talking shit to everyone who ordered Bloody Marys (after he'd make a round, some J A would ask for a single one, slowing down the drink making process), the other was telling people to step up if they want to order. Things that people should be called out on. No biggie. Towards the end of the night one marina bro was about to beat the shit out of this much smaller indian fellow, for nothing. It was so pathetic to see this 6 foot 2 marina douche try to threaten this guy who was 1/3 his size. Such a call for a marina sinking. We summoned Aaron Rowand from the Giants commercial and said " We got your back." I felt like their was a good crowd here that night, no drama, no fashion, just mellow peeps. And the bar food we had hit the spot. I really was amazed at how great Zeitgeist was. I'm hittin' this place up often before SF cools down later this year. read more

I completely second everything Chelsea T. wrote. Incredibly stuck-up and rude employees. The cook straight out refused to cut a burger in half after we requested. Another friend got in trouble for taking out her camera. Apparently you aren't allowed to take pictures at this place. Maybe they're breaking some sort of building code we're not aware of and they don't want anyone noticing? I have no idea why we can't take a picture of ourselves having fun. The food was pretty cheap but not anything special and way too salty (all six of us agreed) and my home fries were burnt and inedible. read more

Stop #5 on our journey took us to Zeitgeist which is a killer bar with a large outdoor area out back. I'll get back to that soon. After spending some time in Dolores Park we figured it was time for some beer. Our host told us about Zeitgeist and especially about the large patio area. The weather was still close to perfect so we made the walk over. We got there early enough that there was no line at the door to get in, not too much of a line at the bar and within a few minutes of getting out back we were able to find seats at one of the picnic tables. Picnic tables are a great idea for a bar. We ended up talking with a bunch of cool people. If you happen to be in SF when the weather is nice check out Zeitgeist. read more

Zeitgeist - Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Kayla B is out to lunch. Punk bar? Really? Hang here often, mostly 80s and 90s rock. Good people. Great beer selection. Be yourself and don't settle for phonies like Kayla B. read more

Zeitgeist - Rocking in the free world! - Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

What can I say about Zeitgeist, can't stay away from it when I visit San Francisco, great beer selection and cool crowd.

Hey to all the people who are excited for the patio to be open post-quarantine! Listen up. You will stand in a line. You will be excited to be somrwhere social (finally). You get in. You'll stand in line waiting for drinks and a place to sit...surprise!!! You get told to take your food and your cases of Truly and WhiteClaw and LEAVE. It's bullshit. Stick to drinking in peace at home. Not worth it. Never worth it. Stay safe SF. read more

No frills punk bar with an amazing beer selection. I went for beers with some friends and we all had something different from the food menu. The burger was absolute fire. I'm wanting another one while I type this review. My other friend had the California burrito and loved it. Good service good food cold beer. read more

This is hands down my favorite place in San Francisco. It's right off the 101 if you're coming from the South this is a great first stop to get you in the San Francisco state of mind. As some one who doesn't live in San Francisco this place embodies what I perceive to be the spirit of San Francisco: alternative, open-minded and up-beat. It's challenging to surmise what it's like to sit on the park benches in the outdoor patio, which rests under the freeway and feels like a biker bar dipped in the attitude of Haight street. The patrons consistently encompass the most diverse group of individuals I have ever seen at any establishment and the music matches the distinct character of the patrons. I came here the first time as a beer nerd and was certainly not disappointed. They have an outstanding beer selection. The last time I went I did not order my go to Death and Taxes but instead after a taster from the bartender I ordered the Linden St. Hop Candi XPA. Dare I say it was one of my favorite beers (if not my favorite) of the entire trip up north, which puts it up against Pliny the Elder, Little Something WIld and a few other great ones. It had a light body and hop dominant flavor profile that made it so drinkably delicious I order two more. I also tried the Speakeasy Talulah, which was a good balanced IPA, but did not make me as happy as the Hop Candi. My last tips are: it's cash only, the burgers are good, and so is the Bloody Mary. read more

Zeitgeist - The front door - Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

This is the closest to drinking beer in someone's back yard that you'll get in a bar in San Francisco, I think. With a large outdoor seating area covered gravel and and weathered grey picnic tables, rows of hanging bicycles show evidence of popularity with local bicycle messengers. Back in the day, Veteran's/Arrow cab drivers would start and end their shifts here but I suspect the advent of in-car GPS systems have ended that practice (and thank god - now we just have to worry about stoned drivers!). Lots of motorcycles, too... you can get a pitcher of beer and I think they serve some kind of dead animal-based foods but it's not the kind of place to visit for the food. This place is only fun if you're going there to meet people you know -- it's not really a talk-to-strangers kind of place since everyone else there seems to be with people they know and want nothing to do with strangers. It's also not a place to go when it is rainy, cold or foggy out -- that makes it a downright miserable beer drinking experience. Personally, I prefer the Eagle - cheaper beer, better motorcycles and more friendly strangers. read more

This hipster beer garden is a wonderful slice of hipster society! The tap beer menu is ridiculously extensive and is sure to please everyone. I found several kolsch and pilsner options that tickled my fancy and I even made a mental note that cider options are available too. The outdoor biergarten patio is a unique hangout area containing a broad sea of picnic tables. The picnic tables are a great way to strategically belly-up to a new group of folks to mingle and make friends with. Once we found a vacant end of a picnic table I found that patrons were very friendly and courteous when asking to sit down near us. The overall low-key, friendly, and courteous vibe makes this place a-ok with me! An outdoor grill serves up food. I'd like to go back and check out the food menu! Dinner plates remind me of an old fashioned Midwestern grilling cookout. read more

I didn't try a cocktail but once I do I'll come back and update. The beer list was pretty good, the service was efficient but not overly friendly. I went on a friday evening with friends, the place was very busy, but nothing unusual for the day/time in the city. I liked the ambience and the vibe of the place. read more

I had been a vegetarian for 6-7 years and not eaten red meat for longer than that. The Zeitgeist cheeseburger with jalapeños was my first burger I consumed in almost a decade. There were no words. Love this spot though -- possibly one of the best bloodies I've had and it's great for day drinking. You can always find a spot in the sun outside. read more

Zeitgeist - Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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One of my favorite bar spots. They play good heavy/classic rock and metal; you seriously can go from DLR Van Halen to Slayer to Bon Scott AC/DC like that. The vibe of the place is really divey which is awesome. If you fancy a smoke, guess what, have at it! The only gripe that I have (which is why it's not a 5 star), is that the bartenders are terrible at making mix drinks. Example(s), my favorite drink is a class 101 Tom Collins. On 4 separate occasions I've asked for one and they give me a big ass glass of gin (or vodka) with a splash of soda water, not even stirred up. So yeah, good music, outdoor seating, good beer, have a smoke and have fun! read more

The food was good. But the service was terrible. I was sitting in the middle of the bar with my drink right in front of me. The bartender kept yelling at me to move my drink out of his "workspace". Then after I moved it as close to me on the bar as I could, he started stacking cups in front of me, nearly knocking my beer over. There was nobody else at the bar...... Managers, please educate your bartenders that they do work in the service industry. read more

I love Zeitgeist and I come here often with friends. The bar has a great vibe and there's always a great selection of beer. I would give this place a 5 star review but some of the bartenders just have way too much attitude for my liking. Maybe that's intentional since it's a neo-punk spot, but it doesn't feel like it. I'll still come back here just wish the customer service was better. read more

Terrible reception. I arrived with a party of 7 for a birth celebration. After allowing all my friends in the bouncer gets an attitude with me and barks that patchouli isn't allowed. I wasn't even wearing any. I argue that it was my dr bronners peppermint soap and it's scent stays in my hair for days because I have thick dreadlocks... so he rudely tells me to "get the fuck out of my bar hippy" Well we take the party to another less snooty bar and have a great time... read more

They have a very nice, picnic-esque sitting area. If you feel like going to a bar in the middle of the day, this is a good place to go. Like my friend Crystal said, "It's like a family reunion every time you go here." Very true. The patrons are pretty friendly and helpful especially when you lose your liquor right in front of them (bad experience yet, I'll still go back and order a soda instead). It used to be a biker bar, but now a lot of bike messengers hang out here. They pour the drinks really strong here especially for lightweights and rare drinkers like me. Don't say I didn't warn you. If you order food though, you might be waiting awhile cuz the guy next to me waited a very long time for his burger. Oy. This a great place to go, especially on a nice, sunny San Francisco day. On a cold day though, it's dead and VERY cold on the back patio. read more

Zeitgeist - outside patio - Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

I came here strictly for the bloody mary, and I must say, its unlike any bloody mary's I've had. I'm always up for different variations on bloody mary's but this wasn't anything I would consider good. I love horse radish, pickled stuff, and tomato juice, but this bloody mary was just EGH. Barely drinkable. Maybe it was just a bad night? who knows. My gf likes to try my bloody marys, even though she isn't a fan of it, and this was undrinkable to her. Other than the BM, I thought the place was pretty cool. Lots of beer on draft ,pitcher, pinball, arcade, 1 pool table, 2 bathrooms, outside patio, SF interesting crowd. Overall a place is a 3, my drink was a 1. read more

I've been here twice, once when I was pretty drunk, another while being pretty sober. This place is so hipster, I couldn't tell one apart from the other. So much plaid, cuffed pants, denim, pointed black ankle boots, and raybans everywhere. The security guard was disguised and was wearing hipster attire as well. It's a pretty chill place at end of benches outside and rock music playing really low in the background. It's not really my scene. The outdoor part is pretty much where all the smokers go. It's a big cloud of smoke. I'm not a smoker and I'm not really fond of the scent. I don't think I will return. It's not for me. They do have arcade games and a billiard table and they also sell food read more

Really fun spot! TONZ of beer selections. My favorite was Damnation. Nice open outdoor area. Cool bartenders. My girlfriends and I kept wanting to come back but we never got around to it. We were on a tight schedule but we all agreed this was our favorite spot on our trip to San Fran. Really chill spot! And surprisingly really nice and big bathrooms. I know that's kind of weird to compliment the bathroom but for chicks that usually have to wait forever to use one it's refreshing to walk into a large nice clean one. Especially at a bar ;-) read more

Zeitgeist - Great beer selections! - Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Zeitgeist has been a staple of my experience as a Bay Area resident. It's a landmark location full of memories throughout my life's timeline. The drinks are stiff, the vibe is always positive, and the food hits the spot. My favorite memory, probably many people's favorite memories, was getting tattooed at the neighboring shop and grabbing drinks at zeitgeist after. I will always love zeitgeist! read more

Disappointed day at zeitgeist. I have an emotional support dog. And I know what everyone is thinking reading that, "emotional support." But I have been through some Shit and went to the doctor and an emotional support is the way to go. Don't judge! If a dog makes you relaxed and happy Would You take that over pills?? Regardless, the dude at the door harassed and made me feel horrible for having a dog. He asked "is that a support dog or pet?" I said "pet" confused on why I'm being harassed. My "pet" is my child. So I'm used to people Saying "Pet, animal, etc." he said People with disabilities know if their animal is a pet or an animal. Okay, Sure. But in reality, not really. Our "pets" are our "animals" and "child". He screamed, offended, yelled, and humiliated me. Made me feel weak, stupid and questioned on why I have an "animal" with me at every establishment without question. This man continued to go on, (screaming mind you), on how he knows the rules more then me. Wow. Okay. I just wanted to have a beer with my Husband, at my (was favorite) bar. Didn't realize that having A therapy dog was a threat. Well I called the mayors office and will be taking further action, I also have a picture of the man In Question. If he is screaming at me, imagine screaming at others. Especially since It is illegal to question and harass those with a legal therapy dog. Geez. Pretty disappointing. read more

Awesome burger. Great staff. Great patio. Very welcoming for recovering alcoholics like me.

It's a great place if you like to drink with a little outdoor biergarten-like area, but definitely a no-go for smoke-averse people like me. They have a nice selection of beer, and they have food too, if you ended up going there as part of your bar hopping routine. I just get a headache from cigarette/pot smokes so this place isn't for me, thankyouverymuch. read more

So, seeing that I live around the corner, I frequent this place a lot. Great outside space, great selection of beers on tap, and the bartenders even let me do a little tasting when I have no clue what kind of beer I want. The only thing is the freaking woman that checks ID stares at me for a good 2 minutes before finally handing back my ID. WOMAN, I come here all the time!! I know Asians age well, but shit! Live a little! Let the business thrive!!!! read more