Blondie's Bar

We really loved visiting and hanging out at Blondie’s! Michael was an incredible bartender and host — friendly, knowledgable and also a great DJ. We loved the music and the vibes. We’ll definitely swing by the next time we’re in town from the east coast. PS the flavor and generous serving size = worth it!

This place decided to kick a group of us out because we were there for more than 10 minutes and were too loud. Paid $10 cover to then be told to leave. Bouncers had a lot of miscommunication when one bouncer told us to leave and not come back, and then another told us to come back a minute later?? Really weird they kicked us out and not the guys that were touching my friends without their consent… I’ve heard of a lot of reviews from frequenters that the culture has become very cliquey and rude on the staff’s part. If you want a fun time, don’t go here…

Love this place in the mission! Best music and the cocktails are one of a kind! Went on a Saturday night and the DJ was playing a good variety of old school and new music! I want to come back on the Wednesday that they have the salsa band. I heard it was poppin!

Michael was the bartender on duty tonight and curated the most fire playlist. The music was so good I stayed for a second round. Cute bar, good specials for HH, mixed clientele, and pretty relaxed at 6:30PM on a Saturday. Glad I stopped in!

Ive been coming here for over 20 years, when Blondie used to dance on the bar. It had always been cash only, no prices ever listed on the chalk board, so I knew what to expect. What I didn't expect...they now accept credit cards. So I decided to pay with a credit card and was surprised to see an automatic 20% gratuity. When I inquiried about the automatic gratuity and if its posted, I was told it was posted. Well, its posted on a small board, not legible in the dark far from where I ordered our drinks. I wish I was advised of the automatic gratuity beforehand, not cool! I don't like being forced to an automatic gratuity, this has pretty much gotten out of control everywhere. Yes, I know as a small business credit card fees are a pain, but its the cost of doing business. Blondies...be more transparent!

If you love martinis, if you hate martinis, Blondie's is a good time. It's been my first stop of the night and my last. Staff has always been super friendly. Very fab!

Yummy drinks, friendly bartender, great live music.

This is a nice bar on Valencia Street. The atmosphere is very nice and the bartender is also cool. There are restrooms inside. A large variety of drinks is available here.

Room to dance room to sit. outdoor,indoor. If you're looking for something different Michael's working happy hour Fridays and Saturdays and plays up beat French music LEGENDARY VIBES

Extremely overzealous bouncers. I attempted to come here with a group of friends after dinner and drinks. It was a Saturday night and the place was packed. Despite the fact my friend, the birthday girl, had only had one drink, she was denied entry because she was "too drunk". The bouncers did not state how they came to that conclusion, and we left frustrated. We left politely but won't be returning.

It saddens me to write this post, because I used to love coming to this bar. The service was usually fantastic, and the drinks were always wonderful. That was ruined by an experience I had with the bouncer last weekend. When I go out, I'm known for wearing very sexy clothing. It's NEVER been an issue at Blondie's before in the many times I've gone beforehand. I was wearing a similar outfit, and the bouncer refused to let me in, straight up said "you're not coming in dressed like that." This was upsetting because first, again I've gone to this bar multiple times in similar attires and it's never once been an issue. And secondly, this is problematic because I was singled out. I talked it over with friends who have also been there, and they all pointed out that cis women have been allowed in wearing equally as sexy or even more revealing attire. This leads me to believe that beside I am queer and not a cis woman, I was singled out. I will not be coming back. To management if they find this post: please please please take this seriously. Dress code expectations need to be fair and equal across all patrons because if this bouncer treated me like this, he will treat others as such. I should not feel discriminated against like this.

Dear ADA community Please note this establishment denies entry of service dogs. I was inside and only stepped out to let my service dog relieve themselves. They were educated about the law and still refused.

If you come here. Please just order beer can or bottles, cause their cocktails sucks, ive never tried such a bad quality drinks. Their really made a high effort in make something this bad. The rest of the vibe is kinda cool, just be lucky with the music that theyre playing. Also the bartender was forcing me to tip him

Came here on a Friday night (date night) Drinks are expensive as heck.... $28+ and they just taste like JUICE!!! (I don't think there was ANY alcohol in it) What the heck! Refund please!

I'm not really a fan of going out in the Mission (I know I know....) but Blondies is probably the only bar that I actually like when my friends drag me out there. I like that there's a full bar and booths for people who want to sit and a pretty active dance floor and decent music for people who want to dance. But the best part is the drinks! Lots of different cocktail options and the portions are HUGE. Their martinis come with a giant martini glass filled to the brim plus more in a shaker!

I've been coming here for years. Lately I've been enjoying dance nights on Wednesdays. I love their martini's- great quantity and taste.

Our bartender last night was awesome! Super friendly and made delicious drinks. I hope you like martinis, this is the spot for them. There are plenty of sweeter options if that's not your thing though. I've seen two concerts here, a bluegrass band and a swing band. The audio is great, there are nice seats and space to dance.

I normally tip 20%, but automatically sliding that into the bar tab and then adding a line for an additional tip when service is subpar is unfortunate. I'll go somewhere else next time.

Pretty solid spot in the Mission! The crowd and vibe varies depending on the day you come, but we came on Thursday for some drinks and had a great time! The drinks were pretty good and great value - depending on what you order, you may get 2 drinks for the price of one! I believe it was cash only, but I've been seeing some reviews saying you can pay with card now. Also, if you come on the weekend I think there may be a cover (no cover on Thursdays) Great spot that I would definitely recommend!

The bar is advertised at opening at 2, but the bartender will keep the door locked and his headphones on until he wants to open up. It's also just off putting and weird to have a bartender wear huge studio headphones where he looks annoyed if you interrupt his podcast or whatever to order. Much better options in the mission exist, avoid this place

so much fun!! good music but weird dj (kept changing the song every 10-15 seconds). drinks were so yum (highly recommend the lemon drop). cover of $10 per person though which is not fun

Ive been coming here for years, when Blondie used to dance on the bar. It had always been cash only, no prices ever listed on the chalk board, so I knew what to expect. What I didn't expect...they now accept credit cards. So I decided to pay with a credit card and was surprised to see an automatic 20% gratuity. When I inquiried about the automatic gratuity and if its posted, I was told it was posted. Well, its posted on a small board, not legible in the dark far from where I ordered our drinks. I wish I was advised of the automatic gratuity beforehand, not cool! I don't like being forced to an automatic gratuity, this has pretty much gotten out of control everywhere. Yes, I know as a small business credit card fees are a pain, but its the cost of doing business. Blondies...be more transparent!

This review is somewhat strange: it is made from the point of view of a swing dancer (the dance party is held weekly). The bar itself has a cool vibe, offers good martinis (about $18), the bartender is friendly. The stars, however, reflect the place as a dancing venue. The dance party occurs every Tuesday form 6:30PM to 9:30PM and goes to live music (there is no cover). Format-wise, it is similar to the events in DecoDance bar on Wednesday - but on a better dance floor and with a band instead of DJ. The venue: this is a relatively small bar with a relatively large (for the bar's size) dancing floor, good for about 10 couples. The place holds multiple dance events on weekdays (and weekends, but I would expect the vibe to be different). The floor is of excellent quality, and the spills - an inevitable issue while dancing in the bars - are cleaned immediately, so you should consider bringing your good dancing shoes. The dancers seat everywhere: at the bar itself, in the booths, on the benches ringing the dance floor. The bar is within an easy walking distance (a block) from a BART station, and the neighborhood is clean (by the SF standards). The music: on my visit, SF syncopators were playing. The band was excellent, the sound level and acoustics just right. In other words, it was fantastic, a level completely unexpected from a no-cover event. When the band takes its breaks, some non-danceable music is playing . In my experience, the bar events in general tend to attract a relatively tight-knit crowd. This particular group appeared to me somewhat younger - and much less tipsy - than the one at a typical swing dance party held at the bar. Skills I have observed were mostly between high-intermediate and amazing. While the dancers were quite welcoming, if you are like me (a past-my-prime intermediate lead), I would recommend (as for any other bar) either bringing your own follow or investing into socialization. You will definitely need a partner at 6:30PM: many regular appear an hour or more late. Figuring out the bar patrons who came to dance was easier than usual due to the benches around the dance floor and the group tending to stand together next to the bar. Overall: if you are in SF on Tuesday and have your significant other in tow, highly recommended.

Hands down this is the best place for lemon drop and melon drop. My husband and I came here on Friday around 8 pm. Not a big crowd but did have to wait 5-7 min to get served. I have to say our bartender was so sweet and made a strong cocktails just what we needed. Haha Only downside is that it's cash only so be prepared to take enough for drinks. We did have enough but would have like to get more drinks but next time.

The size of those cocktails though!!! We came here on a boozy afternoon while bouncing around some different bars. It was basically the middle of the day on a Saturday so there weren't too many other people there. Hit up the ATM because it's CASH ONLY, then grabbed a seat at the bar. I ordered the blondie cocktail, and wow was that a strong drink. If you want a big drink where you can taste the booze, this place is for you! Next round I switched over to beer, a good choice since the boozy day had to go on. Bartender helping us was really cool and fun to chat with. Would come back here and probably try a different drink next time.

Had a catch-up session with a friend, and martinis seemed fitting. Blew my mind this is no longer a cash only bar, FYI they take credit cards. For sips we ordered a Dutch and the Almond Mocha. Both were absolutely delicious and satisfying. The martini pour plus the shaker is still my favorite part of the experience.

I love this spot. Been coming here for a long long time. Not as often as I used to since I moved out of the city. But whenever I can. Stopped on Thursday before going to a show at the Victoria. Margarita (the bartender) was super welcoming and an absolute gem! She was so wonderful and I absolutely enjoyed chatting with her. She really made my night after a very rough day. And as always the martini's were fabulous! Thank you Margarita for turning my day around! This place is truly special!

Yes we was there for Valencia st. Fair and went to meet friends for drinks there at blondies it was a cool ass bar happy hour drinks was cheap and good we had a great time will be back next time we are in the neighborhood

Overall mostly forgettable. SF is slim pickings when it comes to late(ish) night dancing spots and Blondie's is certainly emblematic of that paucity of options. To start with it has a $5 cover (for what it's unclear) and, once inside, it's cash only which is frankly ridiculous in this day and age. There is an ATM on the premises but which I wouldn't personally feel comfortable using. As a result, my friend and I limited ourselves to just a couple of drinks whereas we probably would have spent a fair bit more if they accepted card/Apple Pay - even if it came with a fee added on. Surely the owners realize that accepting cash only is hurting business, unless they're banned by Visa and Mastercard?! Another negative is that there are no prices posted so, in addition to having to figure out how much cash you have on hand, you have to ask the bartenders the price of every drink. That said, the drinks selection actually seemed pretty decent, albeit we couldn't sample much due to the aforementioned lack of payment options. The ambience was fairly mediocre, clientele were mostly extremely casual with kind of a college kid vibe. Perhaps most egregiously, everyone was ushered out the door and onto the sidewalk no later than 1:40am. Why do bars in SF even bother pretending they stay open until 2am?! The early closing here is so pervasive that it hardly feels like living in a city at all. I was all prepared to go in with a 1 star score but the people who work at Blondie's seemed pretty sweet and the DJ did play a few danceable tracks. I had subzero expectations going in, and it was marginally better than anticipated, but not by much. Highly doubtful I'll be back anytime soon.

This is the closest thing to a fun college bar that the Mission has. It consistently has people dancing to popular music on the weekends, and they also have live music on Thursdays. Their Instagram is great for keeping up with who's playing. The drinks are strong, although I wouldn't consider this a destination if that's mainly what you're looking for. If you're looking for a good time, though, this is a great spot. Just make sure to come early if it's the summer to beat the lines.

*** CASH ONLY!!!! *** Solid spot for a night out! Good music and bar. There was a $10 cover on a Friday night. A few security guards there when I went out and they had to break up a fight, glad they were there. There's a small stage for dancing and you can also vibe in a booth or on the level dance floor too. Additionally you can find a bar in the back! Hope you have a fun night out, just like me!

Great cocktails in the heart of Mission. Lots of selection on martinis and large portions. Go for happy hour. There's also music on most nights.

A bunch of us were out on the town for a friends birthday weekend. Someone suggested this place for dancing. While it wasn't the best dancing music the atmosphere was definitely that of dancing vibes. In this day and age, how cash bar still exists is a bit odd to me. There was an ATM in the back we had to make line in while people went to the restroom. We went on a Saturday night and this place was relatively full. Getting a drink was a bit of a hassle too. They had two bartenders, one that knew what she was doing and other one that didn't. So getting a beer took a while. We ended our night here and it was an alright experience.

Blondie's is my happy place! The bartenders are always friendly and sociable and they have a great spread of tasty non alcoholic options in addition to the usuals. The bar and the dance floor both have a row of seating around it and there are 2-3 booths as well as a little awning where you can people watch on Valencia or get a breath of cool air between dances. The dance floor is so smooth and never sticky, and the lineup of bands almost every night with a variety of styles is amazing!

Stopped by on a Friday night just for a shot. It was pretty crowded inside. Got a shot of bottom shelf tequila. Probably should've gotten better quality tequila because it burned a lot and the after taste wasn't great even though I got a slice of lime. Took the shot outside in their outdoor area. They fill the shot glass pretty fully. It gets pretty crowded inside, and they blast up the music. They check ID in the front.

Very small space. The booths look bigger than they are. It gets crowded in here sometimes. The martini was not for me. I hear the bartenders are nice people, but idk.

I've been to this bar multiple times, always had a great time. But the other night this guy at the bar would not take NO for an answer and kept coming on to me. I decided to go to the bouncer for help but instead he said I was being aggressive and got kicked out. As i tried to explain that this guy was harassing me and trying to take me home (after i stated multiple time i don't want to leave with him) the bouncer kept yelling over me.

I went here with a big group and was happy to keep the party going. Drinks are great and the portions! Plus, there was live music so it was great energy. I will say that there was only one bartender for the full bar (25+ people) so he was understandably stressed and a bit short with patrons, and hope they're able to adjust short-staffing accordingly. Cash only, as others have said. Divey and love it.

Great experience there, Jenna was the best, gave us tips for the city, great options for drinks, nice atmosphere.

One of my coworkers suggested this spot and he is possibly the best bartender in west LA. This is a dive bar by every definition of the word. I was taken care of by a friendly lady who was carrying the bar. Named Margarita When I ordered their cocktail I was shocked by a $21 price tag however unlike a bar in Hollywood where $21 gives you a very watered down whack drink I got 4 times what I would have got in Hollywood. This place is also cash. 10/10 5/5

Great DJs on weekend nights. Always a great fun and pumped up crowd! Drinks are reasonable.

Great place! Bartender was fun and knowledgeable. Had a custom martini - it was HUUUUGE. Very good, though maybe not amazing. But I chose all the ingredients so maybe my fault. Anyways we had a ton of fun and great drinks

You've got a bit of a problem with that smart ass you call a security guard. I was so tempted to put him in his place on SuperBowl Sunday- he repeatedly asked me if I was okay and if I could handle myself. It's been years since I had a drink and while I won't apologize for being crazy and excited about the Niners, I'll also be sure to never step foot inside this establishment ever again. I have warned hundreds of people to stay away from here- not the best idea to piss off a San Francisco native with a successful tour company.

Located in a lively area with overall good vibes. I go for the live music. Attracts a a nice crowd. FYI, cash only

Superrr good drinks omg. Prices are fair for the drinks but the beer is expensive. They had a DJ when we went which was pretty good but the seating was nice.

Followed a group here and I have to say, coming from LA, this was absolutely my first time at a cash only bar and I was shook lol Here I am absolutely cashless and I can't even order a drink! Hella sad. But, once I got a drink, I discovered the portions are great. The espresso martini was basically a double for the price of a single. Amazing. I did find it loud inside so I appreciate outdoor seating. It was also a little strange that at a certain hour they were like, if you don't go inside we'll charge you cover. Huh? I can't spend more $$ and drink outside? What a strange way to do business.

Love this bar but the security guard made me never want to come back. He kicked me out because my friend danced on the couch I literally did nothing. I asked him why and he went on a sexualized power trip and said it was because I disrespected him. I asked what I did and he couldn't name anything.

I just wrote a review about the bad experience I had at Casanova's across the street so I thought I would share my pleasant experience here. The security guard was lovely, the bar tenders were very sweet, and the drinks were amazing! Over all a great little bar to have fun, hangout or catch a quick drink!

Wow, this place is POPPIN.' Get here before 10pm to avoid a cover charge. I got to try the chocolate mint chip which also came with a refill and was massive! I've tried other friend's drinks and they were delish! I've heard they made it strong but mine tasted like straight-up dessert. The DJ was spitting some hits and the dance floor was bumpin'. This location closes at 2am so they cut the music at 1:45am. However, I would recommend late night tacos or pupusas that are open super late!

So it was my first going to this bar and I was told by the bouncer(heavy set guy) that I couldn't go in because I caused some situation before. I've never been been out in mission area before. I live in San Jose, CA so I was just laughing so hard. ALSO for my trans girls out there. THIS IS NOT THE BAR, this guy is transphobic. He took a look my ID and that's how it started. Also he called me HE in front of everyone. It made me feel in danger. Here's some inclusions trainings that you can take online: https://www.electives.io/lp/dei-diversity-equity-inclusion?campaignid=16907729405&adgroupid=136009137296&keyword=diversity%20inclusion%20training&device=m&utm_term=diversity%20inclusion%20training&utm_campaign=sem-trainings-na&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=ppc&hsa_acc=2591473331&hsa_cam=16907729405&hsa_grp=136009137296&hsa_ad=592942081104&hsa_src=g&hsa_tgt=kwd-304663287341&hsa_kw=diversity%20inclusion%20training&hsa_mt=e&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIrp2xx7vf9wIVRj-tBh1jDw-0EAAYAiAAEgIdmPD_BwE I was so disappointed with how poorly everything is handled and it tainted on how view bars in mission.

Been coming here for years, love the drinks, the ambiance, overall fairly good spot. Their claim to fame is the shaker cocktails that they give you which are about 2+ drinks in one. Martinis are the speciality though they do a bunch of stuff. I have noticed lately they haven't done as much live music, it's usually DJ shit but I could be wrong. Last 3 times I've been I've just seen the place packed to the brim and loud playlist jamming. Covers have creeped up I also noticed, which for no real live music I don't really get the need to add a $10+ cover. Call me crazy but the vibe is a little too busy for me now, I usually will skip this for Zeitgeist or Madrone. Madrone feels larger and has half the cover. Sound is better too. Crowds have gotten shittier in general in the mission too which doesn't help. 4 stars if they playing live music, 2 stars if not, so 3 stars essentially. Lower the cover, control the amount of people more. This place used to be less crowded than it's peers but not the case these days.

Really fun place with good cocktails and good music. I appreciate that they have a security man who ensures things don't get too crazy with some patrons.

I was not prepared for their martinis... can't complain about the fact that they're loaded with alcohol... so yeah, pretty strong drinks, a pretty chill vibe that elevates into a fun party throughout the night. Bartenders, the crowd, dj, everyone pretty chill and welcoming... must be back for another round!

Cocktails were good and the prices were steep but fair considering the amount you get per drink. Please keep reading. Looking back at the experience though, I feel a little ripped off. If you buy a cocktail you get a cocktail glass and a highball glass with a cocktail strainer. So purchasing one drink is like getting 3-4 drinks really. You carry two glasses with you and once your cocktail glass is empty your glass you pour YOURSELF more. I have nothing against self sufficiency but they SUGGEST tipping more than 20% for being served promptly. Yes I am being served promptly because after the first pour I am pouring my OWN drinks. This is Brilliant but lazy. So you got your drink(s) and now carrying two glasses there aren't many tables so be prepared be carrying them the whole time. When the glasses are full it's really hard to get into the music. If you drink slow, the drink(s) in the highball will get watered down. Another weird thing is if you come in on a night with a cover you are not allowed to go out and come back in. My friend who is a smoker (god bless her) just decided to leave early. We had fun and the music was good, but looking back, a few things were just odd and off and really not worth the trouble Also, Cash only.

Blondie's is 100% a great time whenever I have gone or walked by. There is no way that you don't go here if you are in the Mission. I have had FOMO when I don't go and have a blast when I do. From the fact that this place has cheaper cover than many of the surrounding places or even competing places when you are looking for good music, the vibes in here are always right. There are lines sometimes to get in, don't be fooled, it is well worth it. Once inside, you have to get to the bar for these martinis. The fact that they fill an entire martini glass and you get the remainder of the shaker of martini is well-worth the investment. Two of those get anyone in the perfect mood for the night. The music, whenever I have gone, has been superb. You will get a mix of songs from throwbacks to current billboard songs. You can tell who knows the true oldies, hahaha. Seating and space is tough in here as the bar is one of the more popular ones on the block, if not the most popular. However, that's not the point! Blondie's makes you want to get up and dance! Looking forward to another Blondie's night soon enough!

i used to really love going out at blondies, but the new security is extremely aggressive and the music has not been it lately. also, someone in our group was kicked out for wearing ....sunglasses??? we all left in protest bc that's insane lol. security was just on a power trip imo. won't be back unfortunately.

Justin is the best! We always have a great time stopping in for a drink. It's a cool vibe during the day with great drinks and great service.