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Best Happy Hour in San Francisco

Find the best happy hour restaurants in San Francisco, CA. Scored on what actually matters.

By DineSpin Team·Updated February 2026·10 spots

Finding the perfect happy hour spot in San Francisco can feel overwhelming—there are hundreds of options, and not all of them deliver. We’ve done the legwork, considering everything from vibe to value.

Whether you’re a local looking for something new or visiting for the first time, these are the happy hour spots that consistently impress.

Recommended:

Best Happy Hour in San Francisco

1.

Zaoh

88/100

Zaoh is a highly-regarded Japanese restaurant in San Francisco, celebrated for its remarkably fresh and well-presented sushi at unbeatable prices. While generally offering friendly and efficient service, occasional long waits and a cozy, sometimes noisy, atmosphere are noted.

Pro tip: Zaoh remains the best sushi in town at unbeatable price range!

🍽️Food90

The sushi and sashimi are well-regarded for their freshness and quality, with many diners highlighting the excellent preparation and presentation.

Sushi is fresh and the plate presentations

👋Service85

Service is generally described as friendly, attentive, and accommodating, though noted a significant delay.

Service is always great

Vibe70

The atmosphere is often described as cozy, intimate, and relaxing, though some find it lacks excitement or can become loud.

Cozy and quiet

💰Value90

The restaurant is frequently lauded for its reasonable prices, especially during happy hour, offering outstanding value for the quality of food.

Unbeatable price range!

📍 1555 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94103, United States
4.3$$San FranciscoJapanese
Ideal for
Sushi enthusiasts seeking fresh ingredientsDiners looking for good value happy hour dealsCasual meals in a cozy setting
2.

Ember Grill

88/100

Ember Grill is a San Francisco burger joint celebrated for its excellent, fresh burgers and sides like onion rings and fries. While generally known for friendly service and good value, diners should be aware of potential wait times and the restaurant's challenging location.

Pro tip: Possibly the best onion rings I've had in my life. Almost every other burger place here just uses frozen ones and they all taste the same, but these guys' onion rings and fries are amazing.

🍽️Food92

Burgers are well-regarded as outstanding, with fresh ingredients and well-prepared components like onion rings and fries. The quality of the meat and toppings is frequently highlighted.

This cheeseburger is incredible

👋Service85

Service is generally described as friendly and prompt, with staff noted for being welcoming and helpful.

Service was impeccable

Vibe75

The atmosphere is described as having a chill vibe, suitable for enjoying food and conversation.

Catch a vibe at the same time

💰Value80

Prices are considered reasonable, especially for the quality and portion sizes offered, with a notable happy hour deal.

Very reasonable prices

📍 670 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA 94109, United States
4.4$$San FranciscoBurgers
Ideal for
Burger enthusiasts — first-rate quality and tasteDiners seeking fresh, made-to-order sides — celebrated onion rings and friesValue-conscious diners — reasonable prices and happy hour deals
3.

Sakesan Sushi & Robata

75/100

Sakesan Sushi & Robata is a San Francisco establishment known for its fresh, creative Japanese cuisine and excellent, attentive service, particularly noted for its value during happy hour.

Pro tip: Outstanding service and sushi was incredible! The happy hour menu for sushi and appetizers was a great deal!!!!

🍽️Food85

The food is generally known for being fresh, creative, and delicious, with many dishes, including sushi, sashimi, and specific items like Ankimo and Gyutan curry donburi, receiving positive mentions. However, some diners found certain sushi items gummy or the rice to be old.

Very fresh and creative specialty fish dishes

👋Service85

Service is frequently described as first-rate, friendly, attentive, and superb, with staff noted as being the best. However, there is one mention of slow service.

Customer service was top-notch, very friendly and attentive!

Vibe85

The atmosphere is consistently described as lively, attractive, modern, and entertaining, with unique seating options like traditional Japanese booths and music videos adding to the ambiance.

Amazing vibe, delicious!

💰Value80

Diners frequently highlight the good prices, especially during happy hour, and consider the food to be a good value for the city.

Very good pricing for the quality of food.

⚠️Heads Up
📍 1400 Ocean Ave, San Francisco, CA 94112, United States
4.5$$San FranciscoJapanese
Ideal for
Happy hour dealsCasual sushi dinnersGroups seeking a lively atmosphere
4.

Marina Sushi Bar

76/100

Marina Sushi Bar excels at fresh fish, creative rolls, and friendly service with strong happy hour pricing.Regulars remain loyal; management responds professionally to issues. Best for group celebrations or quiet weekday dining, riskier for delivery orders.

Pro tip: Fresh sushi, great value happy hour, but noisy weekends.

🍽️Food78

Solid consensus on fresh, quality sushi with creative rolls (Spider, Dragon, Kit rolls celebrated). Consistent recognition for ingredients and presentation. However, recent outliers report disappointing quality, cold food, and rushed execution suggesting inconsistency or delivery issues.

The fish is VERY FRESH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

👋Service75

Mostly excellent service across 11+ explicit mentions, with staff described as friendly, attentive, and accommodating. Two recent incidents: DoorDash order mishandling (resolved positively by restaurant) and slow delivery (20-min wait noted). One 12-year-olddiners mentions severe service failures (late seating, missed orders).

Outstanding service that made us feel at home

Vibe73

Atmosphere described as beautiful, cozy, fun, and family-friendly in quieter hours. Friday/Saturday nights become loud, rowdy, party-focused (sake bombing culture). Recent remodel improved inviting feel. Not ideal for quiet conversations; better for group celebrations.

Felt like a family restaurant where everyone really cared

💰Value72

Mixed perception: Happy hour regarded as first-rate value ($60 for 2 people w/ drinks, appetizers). Regular pricing criticized as expensive relative to portion/quality by some ($80 for 2, $60 for 3 rolls + gyoza). General consensus: good sushi, fair-to-good value for Marina neighborhood pricing, but not cheap.

Top-notch food for low prices

📍 2020 Lombard St #2809, San Francisco, CA 94123, United States
4.4$$San FranciscoJapanese
Ideal for
Group celebrations and sake bomb outingsHappy hour deals (weekday lunch/early evening)Fresh sushi enthusiasts on quieter evenings
5.

Sake Bomb

78/100

Sake Bomb is a San Francisco sushi spot well-regarded for its fresh ingredients, unique creations, and reasonable prices, especially during happy hour. While generally offering good service and a pleasant atmosphere, some recent signs suggest a decline in food quality and inconsistent preparation, compounded by defensive management responses.

Pro tip: The fish is incredibly fresh, and the quality is amazing. Highly recommend giving it a try!

🍽️Food80

The sushi and sashimi are well-regarded for freshness and quality, with many diners highlighting unique creations and well-prepared cooked dishes. However, some diners note blandness or a decline in quality.

The fish is incredibly fresh

👋Service75

Service is generally described as friendly and attentive, though some diners experienced slow attention or communication issues.

Staff are attentive and nice

Vibe75

The atmosphere is typically seen as cute, warm, and relaxing, though some find it drab or negatively impacted by takeout order traffic.

Cute little place

💰Value70

Diners often find the prices reasonable for the quality, especially during happy hour, though some consider certain items to be expensive or a poor value.

High quality for a great price

📍 2878 24th St, San Francisco, CA 94110, United States
4.5$$San FranciscoJapanese
Ideal for
Casual sushi outings with friendsDiners seeking happy hour dealsExploring unique sushi rolls
6.

Banh Mi Viet Diamond

95/100

Banh Mi Viet Diamond is a highly-regarded, family-run establishment in San Francisco known for its excellent banh mi. Well-regarded for the fresh ingredients, perfectly crisp bread, generous portions, and affordable prices, making it a top choice for a quick and delicious meal.

Pro tip: Amazing Banh Mi! Everything about it was amazing. The bread had a thin crisp with a nice soft inner.

🍽️Food98

The banh mi are well-regarded for their outstanding taste, fresh ingredients, and perfectly balanced flavors, with particular recognition for the bread's texture.

Amazing Banh Mi! Everything about it was amazing.

👋Service90

Service is frequently described as friendly, sweet, and welcoming, contributing to a positive customer experience.

The worker was sweet !

Vibe70

The atmosphere is consistently described as a small, unpretentious, to-go joint with limited or no seating.

No frills atmosphere (and service)

💰Value95

The restaurant is lauded for its generous portions and affordable prices, offering first-rate value for money.

Generously sized banh mi for $9.

📍 2906 Diamond St, San Francisco, CA 94131, United States
4.9$$San FranciscoVietnamese
Ideal for
Quick lunches near Glen Park BARTTake-out sandwich loversDiners seeking value
7.

Taquería El Farolito

88/100

Taquería El Farolito is a highly-regarded taqueria known for its excellent, flavorful, and generously portioned burritos, particularly the carne asada. While offering great value and a classic Mission-style experience, diners should be aware of the cash-only policy and some reported cleanliness concerns.

Pro tip: The carne asada supreme burrito was fantastic and by far the best burrito I have ever had.

🍽️Food95

The food is well-regarded for its delicious, flavorful, and well-seasoned meat, particularly the carne asada and carnitas. Portions are generous, and the overall taste experience is considered outstanding by many.

The meat was hella good

👋Service75

Service is generally functional, with orders taken at the counter. While some find it fast, others note long waits to order, and the cash-only policy can be an inconvenience.

Cashier takes

Vibe70

The atmosphere is described as a classic, old-school taqueria with a fun vibe, though some find the interior less appealing due to cleanliness concerns.

Fun vibe

💰Value95

The restaurant offers first-rate value, with large, tasty burritos priced affordably, especially by Bay Area standards.

Very cheap & great deal

⚠️Heads Up
  • Concerns about interior cleanliness and dirty booths. (2x mentioned)
📍 2779 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110, United States
4.5$$San FranciscoMexican
Ideal for
Burrito enthusiasts seeking authentic flavorsDiners prioritizing value and large portionsQuick, casual meals near BART
8.

San Francisco Wine & Cheese

88/100

This wine and cheese shop is highly regarded for its excellent selection, competitive pricing, and knowledgeable, helpful staff. While the physical location may be inconvenient for some, the overall experience is consistently positive, making it a go-to destination for many.

Pro tip: Great wine selection and everything you will need as far as mixers!

🍽️Food90

The establishment offers a sophisticated and diverse inventory of wines and spirits, with many diners highlighting the quality and sourcing of their selections.

Sophisticated inventory

👋Service85

Staff are frequently described as helpful, informative, and knowledgeable, with specific individuals receiving commendations for their outstanding assistance.

Supremely helpful and informative

Vibe80

The atmosphere is generally positive, with a well-organized layout and a clean environment contributing to a pleasant shopping experience.

Well-organized layout

💰Value90

Pricing is consistently noted as competitive and fair, with many diners finding first-rate deals and pricing that is often the best available.

Best pricing i can find

📍 141 1/2 Gough St, San Francisco, CA 94102, United States
4.9$$San FranciscoOther
Ideal for
Wine and spirit enthusiasts — extensive selection and expert adviceGift shoppers — staff assist with budget-based recommendationsBargain hunters — consistently competitive pricing
9.

Red's Place

88/100

Red's Place is a beloved, long-standing dive bar in San Francisco's Chinatown, known for its authentic atmosphere, strong and affordable drinks, and friendly, welcoming staff. It offers a genuine local experience, often compared to 'Cheers', making it a popular spot for both regulars and visitors.

Pro tip: Classic, down-to-earth vibe with solid, affordable drinks and friendly staff.

🍽️Food70

While not a primary focus, the bar offers a decent selection of beers and spirits, with some diners noting good cocktails and a willingness to accommodate drink requests.

Good drinks all-around

👋Service85

Service is generally regarded as friendly, welcoming, and efficient, with many bartenders highlighted for their helpfulness and positive interactions.

Staff is always friendly and fast

Vibe90

Red's Place is celebrated for its authentic, old-school dive bar atmosphere, described as cozy, friendly, and having a reliable local character, often compared to 'Cheers'.

Classic, down-to-earth vibe

💰Value90

The bar is consistently lauded for its affordability, with diners frequently mentioning low prices for drinks, happy hour deals, and overall good value.

Very inexpensive

📍 672 Jackson St, San Francisco, CA 94133, United States
4.6$$San FranciscoBar/Pub Food
Ideal for
Casual drinks with friendsExperiencing local Chinatown vibeAffordable night out
10.

Blooms Saloon

88/100

Blooms Saloon is a well-loved neighborhood dive bar in San Francisco, celebrated for its friendly atmosphere, generous drinks, and spectacular city views from its back deck. It offers a relaxed vibe with amenities like a pool table and is a consistent spot for locals.

Pro tip: Cute neighborhood watering hole with a pool table, small deck with an amazing view, friendly staff and a photo booth.

🍽️Food80

While the establishment does not serve food, it offers a good selection of drinks, including generous pours of scotch and various beers.

Good cocktails

👋Service85

Service is generally described as friendly and welcoming, with specific recognition for bartenders. However, there are isolated mentions of rudeness.

Friendly bartenders

Vibe95

The atmosphere is overwhelmingly regarded as friendly, relaxed, and having a strong neighborhood feel, often described as a classic dive bar with great views.

Awesome neighborhood bar

💰Value90

The bar is noted for its reasonable prices and generous drink pours, offering good value for money.

Very reasonable price

📍 1318 18th St #1320, San Francisco, CA 94107, United States
4.6$$San FranciscoBar/Pub Food
Ideal for
Casual drinks with friendsEnjoying city viewsPlaying pool

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