Geary Club

So, I must admit I’m not sure this place is actually dog friendly but it’s in the Tenderloin (is anything not ok here?) so I’m going with my recommendation here. 

This is a great place that attracts the local and industry crowd. You are not going to run into your Ghirardelli Square tourists here. You will, however, often get to meet some interesting and friendly locals. It’s an industry hangout so it’s also a great place to find out about SF and where to go since the people who work service jobs seem to know everything. 

I must also admit I did not experience the classic Geary Club before it got renovated. I have heard that it was the dive-iest of dives but they preserved the experience in the photos on the wall in a cool way that is respectful of the previous owner and legacy.  

The place is very easy to miss as it is just an unmarked doorway. The “new” Geary Club has a surprisingly good whiskey selection. There are actually a few hard-to-find bottles in that rack. 

The bar has a great vibe, super friendly bartenders, and I think you get a feel for the truer SF in a place like this.