Black Horse London Pub

This is the best bar it’s so cool and tiny and you get beer out of a tub. If all bars were like this the world would be a better place.

Nice and small pub. The mood is very familiar and friendly, the prices are normal (or maybe a bit lower) like the normal in San Francisco. They have German beers too. Go in, drink a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale or a König Pilsener and enjoy the guitar solo of the boss! Cheers! 🍻

What a fantastic little bar. The owner buys only the finest beers & ciders from Costco and let's them chill in a grand old bathtub behind the bar. The smell of the place is fantastic and sitting shoulder to shoulder with other locals only enhances the brilliantly authentic and niche experience. Thus place is no joke and the owner is even a great musician.. ( would recommend a rendition of suspicious minds ) I have traveled to this place twice now from UK and would recommend to anyone looking to have a great night.

Literally the best time we had while visiting SF. Such a fun vibe, I always appreciate when people are willing to talk with you

James is a bit of a wanker but it’s a great pub, if you are visiting San Francisco… do not miss it

Randomly found this bar on Google map. It has no cocktail (only beer). When we got there it was full but it didn’t matter. This turned out to be one of the most AMAZING experience we had in the city. The owner, James, was funny and with great hospitality and talent (he plays guitar and sings). Cozy, nice, little warm bar. I am so glad I made a visit there and will definitely go back during my next visit.

It took a couple tries to get in, but absolutely worth the stop. The owner was very welcoming, personable and accommodating. Its a Saturday evening at about 8pm. James and Heather and the locals had us laughing til our tummies hurt!

It was an amazing visit. The owner is the reason why you should visit this place.

Another addition to the dive bars in the city. Tiny as can be, don't expect to get in here if there's three customers already there. Or do come in and stand shoulder to shoulder. Good drinks, good conversation with the bartender and other customers, expect to socialize a bit (you kind of have to since it's so damn small). We like to stop in if it's not too crowded (ie, only two customers already there). It's hilarious that we keep going almost as often as we stop in.

If you like having the freedom to turn around, this might not be the bar for you. But if you don't mind being stuck facing one direction for occasional periods, come on by. If I had one request to the management team: can you please serve Schlitz cocktails (a can of schlitz beer with whipped cream and a cherry on top)?

Talk about a dive bar! Came across this place on Yelp while planning for a cross city bar crawl. We were looking for a bar that was open early and when I saw the pictures of the bathtub I knew this would be a fun spot to throw into the mix. Flashforward to bar crawl day, our group of 11 walked into this tiny spot and took the place over - I don't think there was a single seat left! Sure enough the bathtub was there, and the drinks in it were the drinks available. No liquor, just the beers and seltzers on ice. We were helped by James and Zachary who were happy to chat with our wild group that was on bar 4 or 5 for the day. This spot is cash only, though they do also accept venmo!

Hole-in-the-wall, no frills, everyone is welcome, clawfood tub that serves as the cooler. Cool ass Pinoy bartender, pay with Venmo. This is the neighborhood bar you dreamed of!!!

Thanks James, for serving me after every bar in the neighborhood kicked me out! You're the best!

The best tiny bar in the Bay Area. Cold ones are chilled on ice in the bar bathtub. Small dogs welcome. Get your steps in on Union Street and walk there. Then have a beer and walk some more.

The smallest bar west of the Mississippi! This is a real neighborhood pub where you are forced to have a personality. Super friendly and a great selection of German beer that you don't find around town. Huge compliments to the owner James. You couldn't have a better tavern owner with a great personality and plays a mean guitar.

This is the Tardis of bars -- much bigger on the inside than the outside, both literally and figuratively. A neighborhood gem loved by locals and visitors alike (the sign outside reads "Tourist Trap"), it never fails to provide a wonderful time in the close-quarters company of friends old and new. What the modest space (9' x 17') fails to provide in terms of raw acreage is more than made up for by the warm, welcoming and humorous hostmanship of James the Publican, who serves fine beers out of an ice-filled clawfoot bathtub. If you haven't yet set foot in the smallest bar west of the Mississippi, do yourself a favor and teleport over today.

This place is amazing. The ambiance is superb. The energy makes me feel at home. I would come back 100%z

If you're passing by and find yourself on Union and Van Ness, please don't go here. It's one of my favorite small bars to hang at and they only want locals. Sorry.

This is the absolute best small bar with hometown feels in San Francisco! James is amazing and the regulars were so kind.

Had to try the smallest bar in SF. It's was great I could also take my dogs inside. The place is in fact very small. We got the last 2 seats just minutes after they opened. It was an experience for sure.

Smallest pub in San Francisco. Cool owner, nice variety of beer . Amazing atmosphere.

Not many bars in SF have character and I think this is one that does. For starters, this is the smallest bar in SF I can think of. If you ask me this place fits 12 people comfortably. You can cram in more but 12 is what I would do. Don't take that as a negative. It is an intimate bar setting and the owner is friendly and chats with patrons. The drinks are affordable and are usually found in a bath tub. This place is awesome. It has been around for a while and a lot of regulars from the neighborhood come here. It isn't fancy but it is a friendly and cozy place. I highly recommend Black Horse London Pub.

Cramped. Small. Beer in a bathtub. Bartender was a delight. A real San Francisco institution

The human being that built a bar narrow enough to touch each wall with their hands simultaneously gets 'it' and deserves a round of applause for goo d humor. I mean booz out of a disgusting porcelain bath tub that's never seen a scrubber just gives you a good laugh. Ah yes back to the hooch - to be specific Costco Kirkland brand seltzer and beer. The few perturbed 1 star Yelpists here are probably the kind of people that enjoy TGI Friday's for its 'consistency'.

The Black Horse might be my new favorite place in the world! I was in SF solo for a work trip and it happened to be my birthday. A couple of amazing coworkers were also in town so we decided to get saucy. We ended up at Black Horse and we had an absolute blast. Check out Jonathan T's review for a full account of what went down. This magical night was filled with bathtub beers, new friends, bar dancing, ice throwing, dice rolling, and even hula hooping! I got to shotgun a beer, wear a happy birthday sign the bartender cut down from the ceiling, and don her dope ass LA Gear pink denim jacket while I showed off my moves atop the bar. The memories I have are all amazing and I can't wait to come back on my next visit.

Honestly such a cute little gem! My boyfriend took me here prior to a reservation at a restaurant down the block, and this place really gives welcoming and cozy vibes. I love the decor (my favorite was the commandments hanging right behind some of the barstools)! James was super cool and chatted with my boyfriend about basketball while we waited for dinner to come along. The Lagunitas and Jameson we had kept us in good spirits, along with good company! Another great thing is that James takes Venmo! We'll be back whenever we come by this part of the city!

The Black Horse is not a gimmick. Yes, it's super small, but it's a legit bar that became one of my favorites in SF. I really loved that the atmosphere is really like a small house party, where it is encouraged to get to know everyone else. During the day, it's a great place to just shoot the s**t with the incredible bartenders. You enter the small space off Union St. and, well, almost immediately encounter the small wooden bar with a narrow wood bar top with a short rail, wood panel bar face, and a brass footrest. There are maybe 10 wooden barstools in the entire place. The beer comes out of the bathtub behind the bar. Old photos and soccer apparel cover the walls. There is an HDTV that hangs in the corner. The bottom line, it's like your drinking at your friend's home bar that could be in a garage, basement, or side room. The service is super friendly, the beers are cold, and the atmosphere is fun. I'd definitely recommend finding the Black Horse London Pub.

Maybe the best bar on planet earth. James is doing gods work. I have never had a tastier beer from a bathtub. Why aren't all pubs this good

We had a great time at The Black Horse London Pub! Great vibes and the owner- James is one of the most likable guys I've ever met. Now go get a drink!!

An extraordinarily perfect experience. Great team of bartenders, wonderful community, a friendly and inclusive vibe - GO THERE. Enjoy what's offered, don't complain, become part of the tribe. Really. You'll be better for the experience.

The most wild, scandalous, and this-stays-only-between-us-please memorable bar experience of life occurred in space no larger than a 2010 Toyota Camry (LX). Why? - I won a dice game of 1, 4, 24. (Buy-ins cost one dollar). And after I announced my victory, the bartender dropped all ten, hepatitis covered dollar bills on my face. When she ran out of money, she tossed a stack of coasters onto me. #blessed - If the bartender likes a patron, he or she may ask that person to dance on top of the bar. I had the opportunity to do so and got down to Michael Jackson (so stretch your calves and ankles before venturing out to The Black Horse). Also, if you stand on the bar you then the awesome opportunity to have ice thrown at you. *Pro tip: Hold onto one of the walls, so you don't fall. - It ain't up to code, but all of the beer sits in a bathtub full of ice behind the bar, and their selection varies every night. Bring cash because they don't take credit card. *Note: The convenient store on the corner has an ATM. - I saw my boy Scottie grind with the bartender. He asked for her pink jean jacket, so she sexily took it off, rubbed it in between her cooch, and handed it to him between her legs. He then put it on and looked mighty fly. They then danced together, and he looked so happy because the sista was stacked. She's pregnant now. - The bathroom has one magazine (ESPN), and it's from 2005. The cover page features ex-NFL running back Cedric Benson and words that read, "I'M NOT RICKY." I don't think anyone has touched it since that year, too. - A random happy birthday sign ran across the room, and the bartender cut down just for Scotty. - Slam a beer for only six bucks. - For about ten minutes, everyone left the bar to practice hula hooping out on the sidewalk. - There was a dude hugging a Taylor Swift cardboard cutout and taking selfies with it. lol. Sure, I may have contracted some sort of venereal disease or skin infection that night, but I would relive it all over again. The Black Horse welcomed me to its cozy, bacteria infested little home, and I can't wait to return see my weird family. And I wouldn't want it any other way. Wear shoes you don't love there. Trust.

Best friendliest coolest small pub in California with my favorite bartenders Cassandra and James.

My kind of bar. When a friend who lives in the area asked if we wanted "cool dive bar" or "cool cocktail bar," we selected "cool dive bar" and were not disappointed. When we arrived, we were unsure we were at the right place so called our friend: "Is the bar like really small?" to which she happily replied "it's the smallest bar in San Francisco!" This place had it all in a 7 ft by 19 ft rectangular room. 4 beers of the day, all bottled and served out of a claw footed tub behind the bar. An electric skillet fishing up bratwurst with sauerkraut. A dartboard that is only functional insomuch as there are less than 3 people in the bar. Great vibes overall. Cash only, women get the few stools before any men, and no cell phones allowed. Great place to experience what I can only assume is one of the most unique settings in the Bay Area. While I was skeptical about SF on the whole, my experience here topped everything from Lands End to Alcatraz. Come with an open mind, a couple of 20s and a willingness to chat with strangers.

Pre-Covid: It's just a thimble of a pub, no bigger than a college dorm room. I think it's the smallest bar in SF. There's a dart board, but if there's more than 5 people, you probably can't play. A local crowd loudly convenes each day after work into the night hours. Everyone knows everyone. There are a couple types of beer, they come from a tub under the bar. The bartender and owner are super fun and warm to strangers.

Best local bar in town! James the owner and Cassandra are amazing. Cold beer good times!

The most welcoming neighborhood spot. No frills just a great vibe and great people. Highly recommend!

This bar rocks. And I'm not just saying that because, thanks to 1-4-24,* I've almost always walked out of this bar with more money than I walked in with. It's really more like hanging out at a friend's place than a bar. It's tiny, just like all my friend's apartments. James is less like a bartender and more like my buddy who's just standing closer to the bathtub of beers, so he hands me one when I'm in need. I do have to pay him (and tip him) for those beers, but just like most of my friends, he's tossing them back too. Occasionally he'll just shotgun one because sipping is too slow. And just like most of my friends' places, we all want to leave when Ruggy shows up. Beer and cash only. ____________ *This is literally the only game I have ever been lucky at. I don't understand it, but I also don't want to question. If you don't know what 1-4-24 is, you better get over to the Black Horse and find out.

I'm tempted to give is a low rating to keep the crowds away - because the place can't hold them. The only reason I don't give the Black Horse 5 stars is because it is not for everyone - as evidenced by the occasional bad rating (though I can't figure out how someone who has never been inside has the nerve to rate a place). Small, cozy, tiny, or any other similar adjective will barely fit in the door. When we lived in the area, this was a regular stop for us. Now that we live out in "San Ramote", we only get here about once a month. It is well worth the stop when we are in the City. James (the owner) is great and the place is friendly. The beer selection is as small as the pub, but high quality. There is usually a Chimay or two on the list, another beer from Germany, Austria, or other beer making country. Sometimes he has another selection such as a hard cider on the list. There is also a cask ale on tap, something you should at least try (not carbonated, solid taste). And he has the proper glassware for each type of beer. Chimay should not be consumed out of your standard wedge shaped pint glass that most places use. The cheese plates are top notch. Yes, they are served on paper plates - but you don't eat the plate. For your money you will get two high quality cheeses (love the English Cheddar), a tasty meat (usually salami), some great bread, a healthy serving of chutney, some onions, and a sliced apple. Order the large plate and share, you may meet a new acquaintance. If you want wine, go to Amalie or The Wine Bar on Polk. If you want hard liquor, go back up Union street to any number of places. If you are looking for a place to be seen by the in crowd, go to Vessal. But if you want a friendly place where you can hang and have a conversation while sipping some quality beer, this is your place. Stop here on the way to the other places, you may never make it to where you were originally going. So Dee C., next time you walk by why don't you pop in. You might actually meet some real people and have fun talking to them. And given that you are female, you will always get a seat. But don't use your cell phone or you will be asked to leave. XMAS 07 UPDATE: Went there twice over the holidays. Good time had by all. On Christmas Day James served his special Glog - very yummy. We met 3 Kiwi's, a Texan cowboy, and several other new friends. Gave James a framed print of his place (uploaded here). It's now hanging on the wall behind the bar.

Great bar with a great owner. I typically leave long reviews, but I think the vibe of this place is to just come by and enjoy the moment. I will definitely be stopping by anytime I'm in the area to grab whatever $7 beer is in the tub. Cash only but he also accepts Venmo.

You won't find many experiences like this in San Francisco where you walk in and feel right at home. Whether it's your first time or you're a regular everyone fits right in and makes you feel right at home. James is a legend, full of humor and stories that will keep your night rolling. Don't forget to dip your head into the ice bucket to cool off and bring a few laughs.

Met the owner , Great place to hang with the locals and watch sports . Leave your attitude at the door . A very chill pub . We had a super fun time .

The Black Horse is such a lovely place to relax and have fun. I greatly appreciate all that James and his amazing employees do at this most unique and enjoyable pub. The Black Horse is a fabulous fixture of the neighborhood.

James is the best! Such warm and cozy vibes. Smallest bar I've ever been to but a blast

If you are in the know, Black Horse London Deli is the smallest bar in SF and around the world possibly. The King, James has run this place for a couple of decades, it is the most unique bar spot in SF, fits only 2 handfuls of dedicated patrons, a special brand of humans indeed, the service is unsurpassed. After shelter in place, James turned it into a gourmet sandwich and hot dog kitchen, this King knows how to cook as well. So all you peeps who uses Postmates, grubhub etc. This place rocks and the food he serves is just super delicious, end of story

Don't let the size fool you. A classic pub in the heart of SF. Thanks, James, for a terrific time!

Insanely small with all the charm of someplace ten times its size. The Black Horse London Pub is another oddity I check off my list of strange-yet-cool places I've visited in San Francisco. The size is what makes it unique and is also their selling point. The tiny bar can seat maybe eight people max. When sitting, your back is practically up against the wall. Your knees bump the bar. The stools are uncomfortable. The beer is literally a few canned selections served out of a bathtub. If all this sounds horrible, it's not. It's what makes this place fun. You can actually get to know your neighbors without shoving your way through crowds or getting mean mugged. It's small enough that the bartender will stop and talk to you. And on a good night, like the Tuesday I visited, they might even have a couple drunk dudes crammed in the back corner playing guitar.

It's like I'm starring in, "Being John Malkovich" as the place is so amazingly small. Stumbled into the Black Horse last night with a friend on a whim and really enjoyed my time there. For those of you who don't know, the beers are in a bathtub behind the bar, the place might seat 10 and it's an great no frills spot. Here's how my night progressed... 1. Ordered a PBR ($4) and bellied up to the bar 2. The bartender offered me some of his gummy bears and I kindly accepted. Pure gold. 3. Took a shot of Irish whiskey 4. Listened to two patrons play guitar in the back of the bar 5. Exited the bar My advice, is to experience this place ASAP. There are few gems left in this city and the Black Horse embodies what I love about the "old" San Francisco. It's also a great place to watch a soccer game on Saturday morning.

File this under Another Thank You To Yelp for finding me a cool place. I was out with my dog in SF and wanted to find a dog-friendly place to have a beer and watch the Chargers vs. Raiders game. And while the Chargers didn't deliver, as they were wont to do this season, the Black Horse did. Realize that the place is tiny. The Village Pub in Carlsbad can accommodate 18 people comfortably, and maybe 30 in a United Airlines level of comfort. Black Horse accommodates half that. But it's the friendly half. Bartender (owner?) James had 8 types of bottled beer available, all chilling in an old-house porcelain bathtub. I went for a Kloster Andechs, a German abbey lager I'd never hear of before, and kept coming back for more. The other 8 seats were periodically filled with locals and tourists, and my adorable Pit/Lab pup, The Wee Baby Ava, pulled up a spot in the doorway and greeted everyone who came in. But we're not just talking dog-friendly here. When one customer got a serious swerve going on, James not only summoned a Uber, but did it using his own account. That's incredibly kind. When in SF, I'll be back!

We were walking back to our hotel and someone inside this tiny little bar yells at us to come in and that this is the "smallest bar west of the Mississippi". We decided to stop in and grab a beer and we were glad we did. Very charming local watering hole, super friendly staff and patrons, and rotating selection of craft beers kept behind the bar in an old bathtub full of ice. Worth checking out!

This is what it is: a neighborhood bar that is to the point. Very few drinks available but not over priced. The drinks are all on ice and kept cold in a bathtub. The bathroom is small. The whole place is small. You really just cannot fit a lot of people here. The bartenders and owners are all awesome though. The owner will make men get up so women can sit down, which is so gentlemanly. They were all amazing to talk to. Everyone acts like family and friends here. I really liked it and would definitely go back if I'm ever in town. Just don't expect some amazing mixology cocktails happening here.

This is bar is like drinking in your best friends' basement when his parents are out of town for the weekend and his alcoholic father forget to lock up his good beer. What? Don't look at me like that. I know I can't be the only one who had this experience growing up. Words won't prepare you for how small this place is. You wouldn't believe me, so I won't belabor the point. Suffice it to say, it's small. Real small. But that's the appeal. There are all sorts of domestic and imported beers. While there, I drank an Australian beer (IPA; light) and some Eastern European beer (Czech? I can't remember; it was dark in color like a stout but it wasn't as heavy as a stout). Wow. I am overwhelmed by the usefulness of this review. Apologies. In any case, the beers are all in a bathtub full of ice behind the bar. Awesome. The owner/barkeep can give you great details about all the brews, but still. Bathtub. Full of ice. Win. Spending an hour and a half or so here made me feel like a bona fide San Franciscan. It was a terrific re-introduction to the city by the bay. I didn't see a Black Horse. I might have seen a cherry tree. Woo hoo. I definitely saw a Londoner. And, I was in a pub. So, I guess the name of the bar makes sense -- which is more than I am doing now. What am I saying? Uh, come here to drink beer out of bathtub and battle claustrophobia. A word of warning, though: resist the urge to do anything concerning the numbers 1, 4 and 6. Don't ask why or what, just resist. Trust me. My wallet is thinner for having stared into that abyss.

I've been to some small towns in my time. Places where your next door neighbor and the guy on the other side of town are the same person. Some would call it cozy or quaint, others claustrophobic. The Black Horse is unapologetically small. Its smallness is its greatest feature. Not that it doesn't have anything else going for it. The décor--mostly football memorabilia (soccer to us yanks)--is tacked up with no real organization or explanation. There's also a large flat screen TV that inexplicably played a poker tournament on mute the night I visited. Who cares? There's also a corkboard with small denomination bills from all over the world pinned to it. Like a small town, you get to know your neighbor. It's kind of unavoidable when you're so packed in that you're rubbing your goods and services against them all night long, and vice-versa. By the end of the night, you'll know what kind of cell phone everyone has in their pocket. Just like in those great small towns that cover the country, there are unwritten rules to obey at the Black Horse. The greatest of these, is that women have preference on the bar stools. When a lady comes in, she gets the stool. No questions asked. Drinks were nothing fancy. It's bottled beer + and cash only, at that. But it's all about community. And whether you're pressing the flesh with the guy next to you, or playing a spirited game of 1-4-24, it's definitely about the crowd (and being crowded) at The Black Horse.

The Chinese calendar has designated 2010 as the Year of the Tiny. Hence therefore twice removed, The Black Horse has been deemed bar of the year. If my room at the Harbor Court is a womb, then the Horse is the birth canal. Seven seats at a bar that's a Fat Albert away from the frame-adorned walls. Bottled beer ($5-8, cash only) served from an ice-filled bathtub in which you'd expect to wake up, sans kidney. Tips in a hanging pitcher and a corkboard loaded with tacked-on foreign currency, just because. The one TV on high is useless, as your face will be in the back of the head of the guy who's standing in front of you, just as the party-back of your mullet is filling the nostrils of the man standing behind you. Rest assured, assuming you're male, you will be standing. The first of ten Rules of the Bar mandate sacrificing your stool to any lady in an act of shotgun chivalry. The rules are enforced, much to the chagrin of two goobers who didn't want to move. Sorry Charlie! It's here I learned of a magnificent dice game called 1-4-24. And because you learn the rules when you manwich your way to your first beer at the Horse, I'll spare you the details. Go, drink, be born again.

Why 5 stars? Because I felt like I was amongst nothing but bff's. --- --- --- Yelp, you sonofabee. After walking around San Francisco by myself for a couple of days, I found my way to BHLP. Upon entering the threshold of the door way, I completely forgot that I was alone in the city and felt like a super regular at the local pub. I was greeted and treated so warmly while I was there, I am still kind of amazed by it. As I walked in, everything kind of stopped and everyone seemed to turn their attention to chatting with me. That makes me sound like a narcissistic blow hard, but who doesn't like that kind of treatment when you're riding solo? It is as small as others have pointed out. Including the bathrooms, I don't know if they could fit 25 people in there, personal space be damned. I feel like that kind intimacy adds to the charm. I asked about the 1-4-24 game that I read about, and was once again, they seemed to be at my service and dropped everything to bust the game out for me. It's a really fun and addicting game that's perfect for the bar. I recommend you all check out Black Horse for the rules and explanations. I'm sure you can google it, but why not add some adventure into your life and check out the ole' pub and learn about the way people used to before the internet? I had some good beer while I was there as well. I wish I could remember what they were, but nay. The selection was definitely quality over quantity. I'll be back during my next visit to SF.

This bar. My friends and i walked a mile uphill to get to this bar. Sign outside says deli, I was a bit worried; had I looked up a sandwich shop? I look inside and it looks like a hallway in a house, but actually. A hallway with a bar in the middle of it. It fit about 12 people. Ladies always get a seat first. Hurray. It was still bright outside, a unique change from the usually dark can hardly see what I'm drinking bars. Everyone seemed to know each other. Everyone was super friendly. James was a lit major. If you can guess the author or book the quote on the wall comes from, you get a free beer. There's about 8 different beers, 1 beer on top, and beers from a bathtub. Oh, and the bathroom is marked "WC" for water closet. It was kind of awesome. Anyone can own a bar, anywhere, if you have the right attitude. Def one of a kind.

New favorite sandwich. The pesto. Generous portions, warm items warm, toasted bread. Key takeaway: not too much bread! I like my sando's mostly turkey, some accompaniment with dressing, pesto let's say,. These guys get it right. Rolls for the sandwich's when sausage is the star( nice sausage selection btw) and sliced bread when the moment demands. Thoughtful New York deli balance. Go to place

Meet friend's here for the first time. The crowd was laidback and drinks were cold. The bartender was attentive.