Hi-Lo Club

We live in the area and had a spontaneous stop for a drink, we saw that there was a live band playing. Definitely glad we stopped by. The bartender was friendly and the atmosphere was very chill. I recommend stopping by for a drink or 2

The cocktail wasn’t really my favorite, but the location is good and the prices are affordable

I found this bar on a recent trip to San Francisco that was one block from my hotel. The service is really friendly and welcoming and the beers on tap are all American, I loved the easy drinking Truckee Blonde Ale from Fifty Fifty. The atmosphere is relaxed and sophisticated without being uptight. Soft lighting and rustic decor makes you feel at home and I felt really comfortable sat at the bar. It's a great place to meet people and enjoy some drinks. Being from England I was glad to meet a bunch of super friendly local people that gave me a lot of information about the area and places to see. I'm looking to come back to SF next June and will definitely be dropping in for a few beers. Cheers!

A nice, dark and boisterous place to stop in for a drink. I really appreciated that they had a cider on tap that wasn’t Golden State.

Cute spot, not crazy busy on a Saturday night, which was a nice change of pace for Polk. Drinks were tasty, will definitely go again

Bouncer not letting anyone in on a halloween night. Bar is 1/4 full and nobody being let in. Terrigle service, terrible communication. Youre a bar, you limit service. Whats the point of being open on halloween? Do you hate money?

Nice bar- great selection and good service. Fantastic location for hopping bars and what not

Friendly, low key bar with a great jazz trio on Sunday evenings. Love this place!

The ambiance is dark and candlelit, with a wooden interior. Relatively calm vibes inside. I made a joking comment that the bar gave me pirate vibes and would be a wonderful place to visit in Halloween. The bartenders were great. They weren't too chatty, unless you wanted a conversation. This is perfect for those who might be awkward. Additionally there are booths on the side you can sit at instead of at the bar Drinks were alright, then again, I'm not an alcohol aficionado so I'm not sure how the drinks were supposed to taste... they got the job done. My friends and I had fun, tried some new drink concoctions, and had a pleasant experience. We felt safe on a 9-10pm Saturday night as a small, all female group. Would come again, and definitely recommend to others.

I've been a handful of times over the years. I agree with others, it gets loud on busy Friday and Saturday nights but lately I've been dropping in early Sunday late afternoons for a tasty cocktail and terrific jazz band entertainment. Around 5 p.m. on a Sunday there is usually a small number of patrons so it's not too loud. The jazz bands that play are terrific. I'm not a jazz fan per se but I love the music and live entertainment. I've gotten the terrific bartender to make his riff on a green negroni I discovered at an unnamed restaurant recently (Mommenpop lime aperitif, gin and bianco bitters) that ends up more a white negroni but it is fantastic. All in all this is a great chill bar and I'm really glad it's there.

Unassuming, 'quiet' (at least relative to the other bars on Polk) cocktail bar. We saw this place on our trek from Bobs donuts. Bartender knew his stuff. Showed my friend the whiskeys on deck and was able to give a recommendation based I his preferences. He even shared his snacks! And regularly checked in on us. I personally love the sort of dim lighting, high ceilings decor. Feels more intimate. Recommend as a start or end to the night.

We came to grab a quick drink and I ended up getting the Sea Spritz which is the perfect drink if you're looking for something light. I always appreciate a bar with mixed seating and there's larger booths as well as high tables and the bar. The atmosphere is nice without being too fussy or loud. Perfect for date night or hanging out with friends!

Very dark ambiance if you're into that, with a rustic and almost broken-down industrial aesthetic. Quick bar service, and unique cocktails!

This blink-and-you'll-miss-it spot is equidistant from McTeague's Saloon and The Cinch but doesn't have the colorful spirit of either. I believe the vibe is intentionally chilly to match the nondescript, somewhat more upscale clientele who must demand having a neighborhood low-key bar on Polk. How else do you explain the dark lighting and lack of mood music? Jamie W. and I sauntered in here after a cooking class. We strolled from the Japanese Cultural and Community Center and entered thinking this unfrenetic vibe was what we wanted. Frankly, however, it was just too somnambulant for us, and the bartender was definitely not the gregarious type. He hardly said a word when he mixed the $12 cocktails, and the Pineapple Daiquiri and Spicy Paloma were a bit too sour for either of us (photo: https://yelp.to/xPEm6CxFgb). COCKTAILS - 3 stars...a rather sour libation AMBIANCE - 4 stars...evocative nightclub vibe without the music SERVICE - 3 stars...not much chit-chat even about their cocktails TOTAL - 3 stars...a bit more lo than hi RELATED - Exploring Russian Hill? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2IfTVOB

Nice ambiance. Good cocktails. Just around the corner from the holiday inn so a great option if you're not feeling the hotel bar.

I came here on a Friday night with a girlfriend and we really liked the vibes. It wasn't too loud or packed with people. The vibes were chill. We were able to get a table around 10pm and we had a great time. They were out of a couple of wines we wanted to we had to pivot. I would totally come back here again.

We came here on a Tuesday night after dropping our daughter off at a concert with her friend. We were hoping to have a lovely evening out while we waited to pick them up. The bartender (didn't catch her name since she never introduced , Caucasian woman with brown hair pulled back), was incredibly rude and short with us. I'm not sure if she was having a bad night or just didn't like the look of us, but when I asked for a particular type of tequila with soda and lime, she just huffed and said "well we don't have that here". When I asked her what they did have, she gave me a very short tempered list of things to the point where I just selected the initial one because she seemed so annoyed. My husband asked for a light lager, and she was like "yeah I have that," and pointed to a couple pilsners. She seemed like she could not be more annoyed with us. It's a bummer, because the ambience in this place is pretty awesome and it could be a really great spot. Service was just terrible and there was only one bartender on tonight. Btw, I don't lightly post these reviews as I work in the bar and restaurant industry, and understand how tough the industry is. I have immense appreciation for the passionate folks in this hospitality space. This bartender just wasn't one of them.

Great space but it's really ****ing loud. Tasty drinks. No napkins. Clean bathrooms. My partner says it's not that loud but it's still about a 4 star bar.

Decent bar. I thought the interior was the best part. It's dark and dimly lit inside which I thought was a nice touch. The service was alright and the drinks were ok too. Got the espresso martini. Was a bit watered down.

I wouldn't recommend this place.. I didn't realize that there's a minimum you have to tip for drinks? The bartender threw the card back at my friend expecting a big tip for spending $100 on drinks? Pretty rude, don't people tip is for good service? Definitely would not come here again. To add on, the bartender flicked us off.. here's the picture of him. Definitely putting this out there so no one ever experiences this.

Went here on a date on a random Friday. It was packed, loud, and generally what you would expect from a random bar on Polk St on a Friday. My date made it seem like week days are more mellow *shrug* would not recommend for a first date on a Friday ;( too loud to hear dude well and many a distraction of overly inebriated people. Mayyyyybe would have been a little more mellow/better acoustics for 1:1 convo in a booth, but he chose seats at the bar before I walked in. Nevertheless, 4/5 because the drink I had was good and if a bar is crowded it's doing its job *shrug* can't knock 'em for that. Based on the decor, I think the vibe is intended to be on the mellower side...but that's how Friday/Saturday bar scene goes

TL;DR - decor is amazing, drinks are affordable I love what I call "creepy" interior decor. Spectacular! The ceilings have a cool tile, the walls have a wallpaper that looks like it's peeling. They have an industrial look for sure. Honestly, I love the decor. It's awesome. This bar offers my favorite thing - a shot and a beer. Super fun. I also think their cocktails are great too! They have a good selection written on the wall. You can sit at a booth or sit at the bar, there's plenty of standing room too.

Saturday 9/3/22 -- I came here with a group of friends and we ordered about 5 drinks. My friend who ordered the drinks tipped $5 on card and $20 cash-- meanwhile the bartender threw his card back at him saying his tip was "weak". The worst service we have ever encountered at a bar! No wonder it was dead on a Saturday night and his drinks tasted like shitttt. Even the bouncer knew what was up and didn't side with the bartender.

I love this spot! The music. The dark vibes with the candles. The music. Cocktails handwritten on the board. Joe was welcoming and attentive - we will be back!

A really cute spot with old-timey wooden booths and interesting cocktails. However, the service is abysmal - hard to get attention from the bartender when they're talking to regulars, and they were unnecessarily rude to people in my party. (e.g. when asking for water, was met with lots of attitude - is ordering water at a bar not allowed?) Why work as as a bartender if you don't want to serve drinks?

I don't drink alcohol because I'm allergic, but the lovely bartender made me a delicious mint lemonade! My boyfriend got an old fashioned with mezcal instead of whiskey. I like this bar a lot because it isn't too loud and everyone was engaged in nice conversation. Really quaint bar on Polk compared to the rest!

It's a beautiful spot architecturally, and if bartenders who are indifferent arseholes is your thing, this is the place for you! Exhibit A (at least wrt tonight's bartender) for why the place was empty on a Friday night. P.S. How TF does wine from a tap come out corked? Not that the bartender isn't too busy chatting with the door guy to be bothered.

My favorite little cocktail bar in the city. There's something religious about the dim, cloister-like interior that makes you want to lean into an intimate conversation. The spicy spritz is my favorite cocktail -- get it for $10 at happy hour!

Went here on a Saturday night to grab some drinks before heading out to the bars. Had a very chill cool vibe, good mix of people & nice decor on the inside. More of a lowkey chill spot then turn up so nice to go here before heading out

Very cool vibe. Different beer and cocktail selection. Atmosphere gets better by the hour.

I really liked this spot. Dark, which I enjoy. Had a good conversation with the bartender and another patron while it was still early. Friendly service, good drinks - will definitely be back!

I have been coming here for years. The owners and staff are great. They do not carry the standard selections and the bartenders are always helpful in finding me something delicious to drink. They have an excellent selection of whiskeys and make specialty cocktails. Wonderful place with a great vibe and NO TVs.

A great, casual cocktail bar that would be the envy of most neighborhood bars. I sadly don't get out to Nob Hill that often. I work in SoMa, I have friends in the Castro and Excelsior, and as I live in Oakland, I generally stick to Bart accessible spots like the Mission. But I'm always impressed when I walk up to Polk. Hi-Lo keeps the positive impression up. It has a good vibe. Not pretentious, not divey, more comfortable. The kind of bar you could hit up anytime: after work, meet up with friends, take a date, or just kill time. With a high roof, wood floors, a classic bar and some intimate booths, it just feels like a bar you can just walk into whenever. Comes with a super nice bartender who was keeping everyone happy, too! While they have a solid draft and bottle beer (from Belgium, Germany, Japan and more) selection, me, my sister, and my friend all went with cocktails. On my Mezcal kick, I went with Besos Fatale, with mezcal, shrub and suze. It was smokey and smooth and I downed it pretty quickly. While we were there to catch up and enjoy a drink or two, I could definitely see this being a regular spot if I was in the neighborhood. For now, it will be high on my recommendations if I'm back this way.

I have a problem. Once I go out and have a drink or two, I want the night to keep going. After having dinner at a nearby restaurant and a round of drinks at a bar, my girlfriends and I stopped by Hi-Lo Club. We had been at a busy packed bar and wanted something chill. From the outside, this seemed to fit the bill. We walked to the back and grabbed a high top. It was Thursday, October 15th around 10pm. We ended up staying for two rounds. I got the Frisco Sour: rye, benedictine, fresh lemon ($9) both times. It packed a punch, but was refreshing at the same time. Even though I'm known for ordering dark and boozy most of the time, I do like having a good tart drink every now and then. So even though I enjoyed the bar itself, service was awful. The bartender was just plain rude. When one of my girlfriends went up to the bar to ask for a menu, he just rolled his eyes and threw the menu at her. Then when my other gf went up to ask for the bill, he just told her it was a $15 min for credit cards and walked away. I enjoyed catching up with my gfs here, but Hi-Lo, please lose the attitude!

The Hi-Lo Club is a casual bar with great cocktails available, and a really awesome, friendly staff. We were more than welcome to pick up pizza next door and sit in the parklet to eat while we had drinks along with it. I love that it's nearby and we'll hopefully be swinging by more often.

Him: Hey, let's meet at this bar Me: Ok, I'll wait for you inside Him: Meet me at the corner so we can walk in together! Me: Just meet me there ... red flag number 1 Upon walking in, the place was super dark, the bar was packed with customers, and the booths were filled by large parties. Luckily there was space in the dimly lit corner by the entrance. The crowd wasn't too diverse in ethnicity and age but no drama at least. I got a light beer which probably wasn't strong enough to get through the night. It was a bit loud so I wouldn't recommend going here for a date however, drinks with friends is fine. Him: The last girl I dated cheated on me so I got revenge on her Me: (AWW SH*T) ...red flag number 2 Bye.

Easily my favorite bar in my work neighborhood. Why they're awesome: 1) Open at 4pm for when you can't wait to grab a drink with a coworker, 2) the ambiance is exactly what I want in a bar-- beautiful but not overly precious, 3) it's quiet enough to have a conversation (honestly who enjoys screaming a conversation at your companion?), 4) the cocktails are TASTY and they have a great beer selection. Do yourself a favor, go here. Unless you're going to be loud.

If I could give it zero stars I would. Atmosphere was good, drinks were trash, and service was a sack of shit.

Hi-Lo Club is a great Polk Street haven. Somehow, every time that I have popped in for a drink, it's never been packed and I have always found a seat at one of their cute booths, or right up to the bar. The drinks are all solidly made classics. It's difficult to make a tasty martini, but all of the bartenders know how to make the perfect one. Overall, this bar is a great haven in the midst of an ocean of crazy.

I went to Hi-Lo Club with a friend on a Tuesday night around 8:30 PM. There were a solid number of patrons sipping away in booths and at the bar itself, but overall, it was far from crowded -- which is a great thing! I too enjoy my share of trendy, busy, and buzzing bars, but honestly, oftentimes I prefer a low-key place like Hi-Lo Club. (Granted, I've never been here for happy hour or on a Saturday night, so it might be quite busy then.) My friend and I approached the friendly bartender for a cocktail menu. I ordered their special of the night, which was a retro+classic Singapore Sling. My friend ordered a whiskey-based beverage, which was pretty good. But honestly, I truly enjoyed my Singapore Sling. It was so refreshing and well-made that my friend also ordered it for his second round (and I did too). In a city where I'm accustomed to ordering $17 cocktails or glasses of wine, the prices were relatively fair. The dimly-lit bar and speakeasy-ish vibe is perfect for a date or grabbing drinks with some friends to start (or end) your evening. Moreover, the seating (and actually, standing space) is ample. I'd definitely return here in the near future.

Let me first start off by saying, the inner fob in me kept pronouncing this place as "he-lo" like the restaurant Liholiho-- only backwards. After the bartender corrected me and I got over the humiliation, I mustered up the courage to order a drink. My friends and I ordered a round of their Czech Mule, which is their take on a classic Moscow Mule-- vodka, ginger beer, and lime juice. It was refreshing and not too strong. The drinks are priced at $11 each, which is slightly cheaper than most cocktail bars. The place itself gives off a Mid-western saloon vibe with its wooden fixtures, rustic walls, and dimly lit space. Also to note---at least for the men's bathroom--- there not's much privacy if you need to poo. A downside is their Cash Only policy--- which is such a nuisance because who carries cash nowadays?

Good spot, chill atmosphere, seems to be a popular place for first dates. Other than that bartender knows his shit and can make anything you request. Dark atmosphere, always busy even late. Thumbs my book

Happened to be in the area & stopped by for a drink before dinner. The bar is nice & clean. The bartenders were friendly & know how to make stiff, tasty drinks. I'd definitely stop back by for a drink.

I love the Hi-Lo club for many reason but, mainly it's the fact that I feel like I'm in NYC when posted up at the bar. It's calm, quiet energy puts me at ease and the patrons are usually people that appreciate quality cocktails and a great beer list. The vibes are great inside those walls. Recently, I popped in for a cocktail with some friends and ordered a couple off the concise list. The cocktails were perfectly crafted and super tasty! You can also order all the classics as the bartender will mix up anything old school or custom for ya. Great first date spot, great place to make your neighborhood jam or all of the above!

Came here because I heard the cocktails were on point, I ordered the Surfer Rosa but it was okay, not very memorable. Wouldn't recommend it. Otherwise there's a large selection of beers and the dim lighting and decor make it a good spot to meet up with friends or go on a date!

Visited on a Saturday night with a girl friend, the same night of Santacon. It wasn't busy like all of the other places so I thought it would be a nice place for a drink. Wrong. The bartenders were very rude as I ordered. I took one sip and ended up giving our drinks away and immediately left. Treat your patrons well, and maybe you'll have more business.

Pizza and beer in a heated outdoor booth? Yes please!! Yum! I will definitely return when visiting the city

Great little locals bar with amazing alcohol and beer selection on Polk. Their bottle count isn't obscene but what they have is great. All of my old favorites and some new. Incredible Belgian beer selection and choice Japanese beers that I've become obsessed over. I'll be returning again real soon!

super chill, low-key Nob Hill neighborhood bar. good selection of drinks. bartender is really nice and helpful. there's a good selection of bars along Polk with different vibes but this is the best place for a quiet beer or drink at good prices

Great "speak-easy" for weary travelers in search of adventure. Jack Kerouac would be proud.

tl;dr: good for drinking, bad for poo-ing This is a pretty nice bar, and judging by how the date of the couple on our left went, it's a pretty great date spot too . We ordered two black on the rocks (unlike harper & rye, these folks actually serve nice whisky) and a cider. Total was $28 with 20% tip, which is quite cheap. If you're a superficial man who likes to stare at himself in the mirror, the men's bathroom unfortunately doesn't have one. Also, while they have a urinal and a proper toilet, there is no door and no way to lock the restroom. In other words, if you decide that you really really need to empty your bowels, you're going to have to really really give up on your privacy.

1. I have a friend who always confuses Hi-Lo Club with High-Tide Lounge. They are VERY different. 2. Why is this listed as a dive bar? It's not a dive bar. I've lived in this stretch of Polk Gulch for almost three years. Somehow for the first two, I managed to walk right by Hi-Lo without really noticing it was there. It's mostly dark-tinted glass out front, with the side area where Iron and Steam does their thing during the day. When you walk-in, it's no longer nondescript. The environment makes me think of a bombed-out building in some European village during World War Two - believe it or not, I say that in a complimentary way. Perhaps, romantically, I think this feels like a place where a soldier would spend the night and feel a dark and quiet refuge from the war that will come again in the morning. Or maybe a place where the people from some French village come at night to try and carry on their antebellum way off life in the midst of chaos, knowing that one day this too shall pass. The walls are distressed, and there is limited natural light coming in from a skylight. The lighting fixtures feel impromptu - and, it is DARK once the sun is down. You gotta take a few minutes to let your eyes adjust. That said - the bar is beautiful, and they have an amazing selection of liquors and craft-beers. I'm not a cocktail guy, usually, but I love their beer list. It is a little heavy on the import-side, but that's fitting for the vibe. And back to the dive bar statement - this place is WAY too classy for that. The service is really knowledgeable, the products are good quality and I would rate the crowd as upscale but casual, good age-range, no fratty-douche bags. And, it's never loud or obnoxious. Not a bad place to go after a late dinner to have a quiet conversation with someone.

I love the vintage look to this place, and their strong cocktails. Polk street is kind of a mixed bag, but this is one of the good ones. Cash only is fucking annoying.

The Hi-Lo Club was one of my first introductions into the San Francisco cocktail scene, and if it's any indication for what's to come, I'll be damned if the Bay Area isn't one of the top cocktail destinations in the country (even if the region is renowned for wine first, and craft beer second). I pulled up a stool at the bar here after receiving a late night, last minute invite to Playland. After seeing the latter club's 2nd floor light show from a block away, I knew that Playland was NOT a spot to walk into with at least one cocktail in your system. Enter Hi-Lo... The ambiance inside is equal parts urban loft and classic speakeasy. An ol'-timey cash register sits behind the bar, and credit cards are a relatively new thing for this joint. Just the type of low-key place I was looking for. For a place that could be easily overrun by hipsters (and I caught a few out of the corner of my eye), or a bro crowd biding their time for the perfect moment to pounce into Playland, the clientele was diverse, unpretentious, and laid-back. The bartenders were quick and appear to know their stuff. My gin-based "20th Century" - with Cocchi American, crime de cocoa, and lemon - was a sweet-yet-tangy way to start the night, and with a $9 price tag across all of their signature cocktails, you won't go broke posting up here for a couple rounds. If you're heading out to Polk Street, chances are you've got some sort of agenda for your evening, and it's probably not a low-key one. Regardless, Hi-Lo Club is a great place to start - or spend - your evening out in Nob Hill.

Divey cool little spot on polk street with a surprisingly great cocktail program..and a strong cocktail as well! whoo...be careful there! nothing spectacular about the space and decor which is why I liked it so much ..that old school city feel to it ..not too mention the bartenders shirt that said **ck Ed Lee ...too funny.

Hi-Lo is very dim inside and makes for a romantic-esque atmosphere. They have the bar and a few booths inside. The bartender was super nice when I asked if they had a cocktail menu and attentive once I ordered and had my first drink. The cocktails are made to order and super fresh, they use fresh juices and herbs. The bar kind of looks like it is a dive bar from the outside but definitely feels like it is more classy than a dive bar but still has the chill ambiance, if that makes any sense. Super cool, super chill place. I will definitely be back for more cocktails whenever I am in the Polk St area.

Can't say too much for the drinks as this was the last stop on our adventure last night. This place was quite refreshing from the disgusting 'play house' down the street. Much more classy, and they have little booths to sit with your friends. We did order our friend, (21 birthday) a long island to end the night. Very Very strong, of course, we had to ask for a bigger cup to add more soda so she could drink it. I really liked the place because the crowd was more mature, and a nice establishment, which was also very clean.