Vesuvio Cafe
Vesuvio Cafe
4.5
6:00 AM - 2:00 AM
Monday
6:00 AM - 2:00 AM
Tuesday
6:00 AM - 2:00 AM
Wednesday
6:00 AM - 2:00 AM
Thursday
6:00 AM - 2:00 AM
Friday
6:00 AM - 2:00 AM
Saturday
6:00 AM - 2:00 AM
Sunday
6:00 AM - 2:00 AM
About
This pretty North Beach bar is just as trendy as it was fifty years ago.
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The area
Address
Neighborhood: Chinatown
As the oldest in North America, San Francisco's Chinatown is an exotic experience. A unique neighborhood decorated with colorful shops, historic streetlights, hanging lanterns, and pagoda roofs awaits behind the stone-carved dragon gates. Feast on dim sum at the tea houses, or meet the locals who gather at historic Portsmouth Square to play chess or practice Tai Chi. Fish markets, produce stands, tourist shops, jewelry stores, fortune tellers, temples and restaurants come together to create a world unto itself in this historic neighborhood.
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Restaurants
3,729 within 3 miles
Attractions
1,117 within 6 miles
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
294 reviews
Excellent
168
Very good
91
Average
13
Poor
13
Terrible
9
Savannah G
Tucson, AZ105 contributions
Nov 2021
Super unique bar right next to City Lights. I loved all of the decor, and the upstairs space is a great place to hang out for a while. The drinks are so affordable here compared to practically everywhere else in San Francisco.
Written November 15, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
EconMom
Birmingham, AL10 contributions
Apr 2024 • Solo
Great atmosphere, great staff, and the opportunity to drink where the Beats used to gather. Lovely eclectic decor, nice beer and cocktail selection and friendly bartenders make it the perfect place to have a drink, especially after browsing books next door. Spending time here day drinking was one of the highlights of my San Francisco trip.
Written May 8, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JHugener
Denver, CO139 contributions
At the beginning of the movie, they there is an exterior shot of fictitious Cafe Roads -- which is actually the Vesuvio Cafe, on Columbus Avenue at the mouth of Jack Kerouac Alley (between Broadway & Pacific), next door to Citylights Book Store. Reasonably price drinks in a priceless atmosphere.
Written May 1, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Grazie
Ipswich, UK51 contributions
A favourite haunt of the beat generation and poets including the writer Jack Kerouac, across from the famous City Lights bookstore, this delightful bar exudes both history and charm.
A gaslit candle chandelier hangs above the bar which fronts a large mirror, coloured glass lightshades abound. The walls are covered in arty posters, writings and a well-stocked bookcase. Overlooking is a balcony with more tables and a pair of booths, one at either end. The balcony presents a great view not only of the bar and the eclectic mix of punters below but also of North Beach itself. The cafe, to give it is proper title, offers a good selection of ales, many from outside the USA, and a service second to none.
Understandably heaving at weekends and most evenings, the bohemian atmosphere can be more keenly felt over a quiet tipple during the daytime, though don't be surprised if you find yourself stepping out well into the night!
A gaslit candle chandelier hangs above the bar which fronts a large mirror, coloured glass lightshades abound. The walls are covered in arty posters, writings and a well-stocked bookcase. Overlooking is a balcony with more tables and a pair of booths, one at either end. The balcony presents a great view not only of the bar and the eclectic mix of punters below but also of North Beach itself. The cafe, to give it is proper title, offers a good selection of ales, many from outside the USA, and a service second to none.
Understandably heaving at weekends and most evenings, the bohemian atmosphere can be more keenly felt over a quiet tipple during the daytime, though don't be surprised if you find yourself stepping out well into the night!
Written May 29, 2005
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kpoland24
Latham, NY1 contribution
Jul 2016 • Friends
We were excited to come to a cute bar and have a couple of drinks with girlfriends... We were quickly disappointed. We sat at an upstairs table with a terribly rude waitress, short red hair who was very pretentious and made us feel as though she was judging our every move down to our pretty standard drink choices. When we were served our drinks, our Tito's and clubs were definitely made with well vodka and not very strong.. She also made us uncomfortable by immediately demanding payment even though we were sitting at a table and planned on getting multiple drinks here. Overall, pretty disappointing and we would not return.
Written July 21, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mikeymikeyuk
Cheam, UK450 contributions
Oct 2016 • Friends
I have been to Vesuvio a few times over my fifteen years coming to San Francisco. I work for a world class airline.
The attitude and animosity displayed towards my colleagues and I here at Vesuvio is completely unacceptable and quite frankly appalling.
The staff here are very rude...In particular one of the female servers that attends to the tables.
We are customers no matter which angle you look at the situation and we should have always been treated as such. Our behaviour was not uncouth & did not deserve the animosity we received.
I will make sure that my five thousand colleagues (approximately) know not to ever give your business our money. What a way to run a company. Shocking.
The attitude and animosity displayed towards my colleagues and I here at Vesuvio is completely unacceptable and quite frankly appalling.
The staff here are very rude...In particular one of the female servers that attends to the tables.
We are customers no matter which angle you look at the situation and we should have always been treated as such. Our behaviour was not uncouth & did not deserve the animosity we received.
I will make sure that my five thousand colleagues (approximately) know not to ever give your business our money. What a way to run a company. Shocking.
Written September 22, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kit B
London, United Kingdom12 contributions
May 2017 • Friends
As soon as the waitress heard our non-English accents she decided we weren't worth her time. Rest assured you will be treated based on what they judge their tip to be.
When we asked to pay by credit card (on a large bill), she replied: "if you must".
Plenty of nice bars in this area... may as well avoid this one.
When we asked to pay by credit card (on a large bill), she replied: "if you must".
Plenty of nice bars in this area... may as well avoid this one.
Written May 4, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Eddy W
Bunschoten, The Netherlands2 contributions
Jan 2014 • Friends
My name is Jeroen Willemsen, and tonight Friday 3 January 2014 me and my dad visited the Vesuvio for the third time. We arrived at the bar around 11:00 PM. We were served by a fat man, who has a black moustache / beard. At our second round, this bartender asked if the 8 dollars for two Budweisers was "all we had". I guessed I misunderstood him, and agreed with him. But when I ordered the same 2 Buds again, he begged again to give him some chance. We asked him what he meaned, and he explained he was hoping to receive some tips from us.
We left the bar immediately, acclaiming that this isn't the way to treat your customers. This guy became mad, yelled at us and said to "screw off". When we came back to bar to ask the name of the manager, glasses were thrown to us by this bartender.
DON'T GO TO THE VESUVIO!!!!
We left the bar immediately, acclaiming that this isn't the way to treat your customers. This guy became mad, yelled at us and said to "screw off". When we came back to bar to ask the name of the manager, glasses were thrown to us by this bartender.
DON'T GO TO THE VESUVIO!!!!
Written January 3, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robin A
Devon, UK200 contributions
Apr 2019 • Friends
So much of 'old' San Fran (as in, late 60s to early 2000's) has been wiped out, gentrified, or built over, and so many neighborhoods either gone or had the heart torn out of them ... If you're visiting SF and want to experience a little corner of the city that feels like it used to, make Vesuvio a destination, and take time to explore the area around it.
Vesuvio hasn't changed much. No, you won't find the latest whizzy cocktails, or pounding music. It will, however, deliver a glimpse of what SF was like when it was more creative, radical . . . more the SF you read about in Armistead Maupin. Talk to whoever else is in there, have a beer or two: help keep this institution alive. Then mosey up a few yards to City Lights bookstore (another institution), or down a few doors to the head shop. Then wander up Columbus a few blocks to North Beach, to Cafe Trieste for coffee. If you're keen, the Beat Museum (Alan Ginsberg, Kerouac et al) is a short walk away too.
You'll remember your visit to Vesuvio, and this neighborhood, for a very long time.
Vesuvio hasn't changed much. No, you won't find the latest whizzy cocktails, or pounding music. It will, however, deliver a glimpse of what SF was like when it was more creative, radical . . . more the SF you read about in Armistead Maupin. Talk to whoever else is in there, have a beer or two: help keep this institution alive. Then mosey up a few yards to City Lights bookstore (another institution), or down a few doors to the head shop. Then wander up Columbus a few blocks to North Beach, to Cafe Trieste for coffee. If you're keen, the Beat Museum (Alan Ginsberg, Kerouac et al) is a short walk away too.
You'll remember your visit to Vesuvio, and this neighborhood, for a very long time.
Written May 1, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TGT Travels.
3 contributions
Mar 2018 • Friends
I visited Vesuvio on my 17-3-18 ... And had the most unpleasant experience! The bar the decor & atmosphere is all good but the barmaids attitude is as ugly as they look . I usually pay cash in the U.S. so when it comes to tipping it easy but i ran out on my visit to this bar & had to pay by card ( 1st time ever using a card in the states ) & i thought that the tip was included in the service charge. Big mistake apparently so instead of informing me & having a quiet word to educate me that it does not include a tip they automatically assumed it was on purpose & refused to serve me & anyone in my group . Even after apologising & giving the barmaid in question $10 . They still refused to acknowledge me. So if you want s##t service & like paying for it i suggest you visit here & drink at the bar . But if you like good service with a smile & good attitude head up stairs & have table service because that waitress knows how to do it....
Regards TG No Tips 🙊
Regards TG No Tips 🙊
Written March 20, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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