Haight Street Bars

Perched across from Kezar Stadium, former home to the 49ers, Kezar Pub stays true to its roots with an unbeatable dedication to showing every NFL game, plus a whole lot of rugby, soccer and even Gaelic football.

Like the runaway kids on the streets surrounding it, this club feels a little bit lost in the Haight. Even still, it fills a hole for live music and dancing. Just beware of the not-very-neighborhoody drink prices.

A true gem, not just for the Haight but for SF, this craft-cocktail bar and gastropub offers some of the city's most inventive cocktails, a top-notch beer list and food that's adventurous yet approachable. Come early in the week to avoid crowds.

Billing itself as a Victorian punch house, this place has the largest rum collection in the country. As such, tropical drinks are a specialty, but the beer choice is solid and affordable, too.

English Premier League and Gaelic football are reliable draws to this Irish pub. It's one of the neighborhood's most spacious bars with a long front bar for your Magners and Guinness needs and a narrow back room with table service and so-so pub food.

There's nothing particularly notable about this place, and that's why its regulars love it. Prices are good, crowds are rare and the lived-in feel is well-earned--the bar has been around since 1926 and in its current location since the '70s.

This bar's mixed-but-gay-leaning crowd is always friendly and the drinks are wickedly strong and unbelievably cheap.

One of the city's most beloved brewpubs, Magnolia offers 10 stellar house brews (including a handful of cask ales) and a full menu of manly fare, like sausages, pork chops and burgers.

A block north of Haight on Divis is this hunting-lodge-themed dive, complete with taxidermy and hipster kids with a keen radar for $2 Tecate.

Both men on the prowl and women who wish not to be preyed on should be forewarned: the ratio of men to women in this somewhat generic Irish pub is about 9:1. The prices aren't bad, though, and there's usually a free bar stool on non-game days.

Punks with cheap beer on their breath, cigarettes on their lips and Suicidal Tendencies patches on their jackets stand guard outside this bar as if to warn passersby that this is not your friendly neighborhood bar. Still, it's a Haight Street institution and you might want to go in just to say you have.

Quirky in the best way possible, this dim bar with wacky decor is never short on something (or someone) to look at. Bartenders are friendly and helpful and seating options are plentiful.

The ultimate beer bar, Toronado offers more than 100 choices--from Belgian sours to locally brewed IPAs and everything in between. Surly service is pretty common, but they'll let you bring in Rosamunde sausages from next door, which guarantees a happy crowd.

Mad Dog makes for a great game-day hangout with cheap beer and recently upgraded TVs, visible from virtually every nook and cranny of the bar. Soccer games (even the way-early ones) are shown live and they also let you bring in outside food.

Nickie's not only offers food (somewhat rare among Lower Haight's bars), but they offer damn good food. Mac 'n' cheese, wings, fried chicken and pork sliders are the perfect accompaniment to beer and a game.