03/25/09

Soak in all the atmosphere of city

by partaaaay

You can almost hear "Hey Jack Kerouac"... when you grab a seat by the upstairs windows.  Enjoy the excellent food, vintage wine.

Soak in all the atmosphere of city as you sip your fav cocktail and be at your most bohemian best.

Relax, enjoy, take a deep breath, and be thankful you live in San Francisco :)

08/22/06

A must if you're in North Beach

by lemonpixie

Vesuvio is one of the best bars in Sf. It caters to a wide array of different people. It's full of history, great social scene, and very awesome drinks. They don't skimp on the quality of their alcohol. Try and go up stairs to the "John Wilkes Booth" its got waitresses who are highly attentive evenm if the bar is full to the brim with people. If you're in North Beach you absolutely must go!

• Pros: Knowledgable staff, and overall a feel good place
• Cons: Sometimes too crowded

07/04/06

Phenomenal bar ambiance

by daughteire

I love this place. Every dusty, dirty corner of it. Wonderful. And full of charm. Remember to bring your own food, though--all they've got is alcohol. So if you're hungry, bring in a couple of sandwiches from Molinari's Deli down the street.

• Pros: Fabulous ambience
• Cons: No food

10/22/04

Two-tiered North Beach bar brimming with bordello-style character.

by Contributor

The Scene
A gaslit candle chandelier hangs above a mirror-backed bar, where a black cat statue is startled stiff. Jazzy art posters fill nearly every square inch of the walls, while couples spanning several generations buzz over a Van Morrison soundtrack. Next to the bookshelf littered with Cuban literature, a wood staircase winds toward the balcony. Upstairs, tons of tables and a couple of coveted booths overlook the first-floor action, while windows rising from the floor offer views of the North Beach strip.

The Draw
This spot is steeped in Beat history and emits a bohemian vibe. It's a prerequisite on any classic SF bar crawl, yet manages to eschew tourist trappings. Pitchers of the 10 tap beers are available (including Chimay), making Vesuvio an ideal place to commune with friends. It's this welcoming art-house allure that has made the destination a city favorite since 1949.

02/19/03

Awesome bar

by vandana_nair

Great ambience, service, and drinks (website, too). All in all, a great place to hang out. And if you get a chance, stop by the neighbouring "City Lights" bookstore as well.

06/12/02

The Classic

by deviantcat

This place stills rules the Beach! The staff is great but the place itself IS San Francisco. Ask the waitress to run the slide show for ya and you won't be disappointed. They also pour a fine Guinness.

05/17/02

Jack Kerouac fans unite

by jeremyreed_citysearch

Situated next to City Lights Bookstore, this bar has been a literary scene for decades. Read Beat literature and you are more than likely to stumble across a reference to this watering hole. Take the chance and climb the spiral stairs, and enjoy a drink upstairs. The bartenders are wealths of knowledge -- just make sure you rub them the right way. If you run into a bartender named Mike, it is always good to open up with talk of the Giants or Paul Westerberg. That works better than 'hey, hey, hey, you behind the bar -- over here.'

• Pros: legendary bar
• Cons: gets crowded