Sweetie's Art Bar — Restaurant in San Francisco

This is literally the closest place I've found to the likes of "Cheers" bar on TV. It's tiny but the outdoor seating is poplar and the clientele are clearly regulars and live nearby. I met a friend there for drinks because 'it's where we go here in the 'hood' and he knew just about everyone in the place. The other guests were friendly and walked their bikes in or their dogs and the bartender knew what they would want to drink - that kind of place. Good vibes, base of Telegraph Hill just east of Columbus and just before Bay which is where the "Wharf" craziness begins. Oh, the drinks...

An island of soul in a sea of less, Sweetie's is a throwback to the SF I discovered and fell in love with back in the early aughts. Hidden in a quiet part of eastern Francisco St., Sweetie's is home to a collection of some of the best bar art, food, and convivalness in the city. If you're looking for a local haunt where you can talk with friends in a laid-back non-divey but still divey (in the best of ways and not in the worst) place, with some good food to boot, Sweetie's...

Part art, part bar, totally awesome. The pool table is free if you can make it on the list, and the atmosphere is welcoming and down-tempo. A terrific staff combined with a rouges' gallery of quirky locals make this a great place to experience the unique character of North Beach. In spite of its proximity to Fisherman's Wharf, the tourists rarely seem to discover this gem, so you can rely on it having a...