The Saloon

Billed as the oldest bar in San Francisco, The Saloon is a cash-friendly North Beach dive that has been pouring since the Barbary Coast days and still books live blues and jazz seven days a week. It is small, loud, and wonderfully worn-in, with afternoon and late-night sets so you can catch a band almost any hour. Bring cash, squeeze in early for the 4pm set, and do not expect anything polished, that is the whole point.