Shotwell's

All the basics and a beer menu spanning nine countries beckon at this intensely low-key hangout in the Mission.

by Lorraine Sanders at Citysearch

This bar has changed names and owners several times in recent years, but a cadre of neighborhood regulars keep coming back to get their daily suds free from the see-and-be-seen atmosphere of trendier establishments lining nearby Mission and Valencia Streets. The present version retains the watering hole's charmingly dive-y vibe, but widens its appeal. Pleasant signs announcing happy hour specials mark the entrance, while the orange glow from antique lighting fixtures inside and the lilting script of the seasonally-changing beer selection written on the mirror behind the bar liven the drab putty and pea green hues of the walls. A pair of flat-screen TVs, two pool tables and pinball machines occupy those with competitive spirits, while a few wooden tables offer seating opposite the bar. In lieu of hard liquor, a menu of wine, sake and soju cocktails quench the thirsts of the non-brew crew.