Top Rated Nightlife in San Francisco

This historic bar is full of stories, character, and charm. Once a place Jack London himself would frequent to drink and write, the story is that the famous author borrowed his college entrance fee from the bar's proprietor. The small bar still features a slanted wooden floor and charred walls leftover from the great San Francisco earthquake of 1906, which took its toll elsewhere in the Bay Area, too. Its name derives from the old days when it was the only bar at the Port of Oakland. Each day, as laborers would take the ferry to San Francisco and back again, this was the first and last chance for the working man to grab a drink. The bar serves only beverages and distributes literature on its history.

In an area known for wineries and wine bars, Solano Cellars is a mecca for Bay Area oenophiles who sit at the imposing wood bar and sample a dazzling array of wines from around the world. A staff of refreshingly unpretentious wine experts can guide you through the selection and help you find just the vintage you were looking for. The shop attached is tiny, but what they do not have on display can be fetched from the seemingly bottomless wine cellar. To enhance the wine, an ever-changing appetizer and dessert menu, designed with wine in mind, is offered. There is a strict prohibition on cell phones.

Step inside this apothecary-themed bar and try some of the wildest and tasty cocktails you can imagine. The term the "Devil's Acre" was used to describe a dangerous San Francisco neighborhood in the 1880s and the bar pays tribute to the name by showcasing antique pharmaceutical decor. The drink menu features 1880s recipes as well as unique originals. Adding to the apothecary theme, the bar lets you order a drink mixed with one of the eight "remedies," like herbs that are suppose to be a "stress soother" or an "immunity tonic." Try to find the staircase in the back so you can head down to the hidden basement bar.

An airy, multi-level hacienda, this cigar bar could be set in Cuba. Mostly preppie types crowd the 850, enjoying hand-rolled stogies and Mojhito (an authentic Havana rum, mint and sugar cocktail), a drink guaranteed to complete the illusion that you are in the Gulf of Mexico. There is even a patio lined with palm trees for those who, on an off chance, want to seek a little fresh air. There is no cover charge. Please see the website for further information.

Should you be in the mood for hearty, meaty German food in substantial portions, stop by Suppenküche. This trendy, casual restaurant serves brunch and dinner. Reservations can be made for parties of six or more. Big, wooden beer hall-style tables and traditional, seasonal decorations will have you thinking you've been transported to a family-run inn somewhere in the Bavarian countryside. Grab a stein of lager (or maybe even a boot!), pull up a chair and revel in the vibe. Dozens of German and Belgian beers are available on draft and in the bottle. The kitchen serves up old favorites like Kartoffelsuppe and Wiener Schnitzel. The wait staff is quick and friendly. See the website for the menu, beer list and complete glossary of beer terminology.

Cafe Van Kleef is located right in the heart of Oakland's Uptown neighborhood. The theme of Van Kleef is unconventional and all about the quirky artwork everywhere. The specialty at Van Kleef's is their Greyhound - a drink of vodka with grapefruit juice, which you can watch them squeezing fresh at almost any given point during the night. On most nights in the week, the bar plays live jazz music. Certain nights come with a cover charge so be sure to check details before you head here.