Shotwell's Saloon

Dime a dozen bar for the Mission. Morning I could see sets it apart. Service was fine, always a bit of an insider vibe that runs me the wrong way fit even elite bars and speakeasies, which this is not. Nice quiet place to get a cold drink and relatively intimate conversation, but that didn't really make it stand out in the crowded SF Mission bar scene.

Cozy, low key bar in Mission, good selection of beers - bartender made us try a couple before taking the pick of draught beer. Tons of choices to pick from, decently priced too. Ambiance is dark and more like a sports bar with TVs around. What adds to the fun vibe is that there's $1 for games kept there - two pinball tables and a pool table. Bring your friends, grab a drink and play the games. Seemed full on a weekend night.

I've been a Shotwells customer for over a decade. They have a great selection of beer, a pool table, a conversational atmosphere, and great bartenders and regulars. If you live in the neighborhood, you owe it to yourself to stop by, enjoy a pint, a good conversation, and on a sunny day, be sure to sit outside in their beautiful parklet.

The only issue: no hard liquor. The place is very nice. Good for single women; ratio of men to women - 10:1

Isn’t this place the best place in the world on a Monday afternoon? I didn’t know about this place. Was just walking by this place and it just invited me in. It’s that good. I am glad I got to find this place.

Nice parklet/patio out front. Good beers on tap

Amazing bar with fun games. Trivia Tuesdays are a blast, with six rounds of fun hosted by Karl and the occasional guest host. Lovely crowd with amazing bartenders! Fully recommend!

My boyfriend and I had so much and really enjoyed talking with the regulars and the bartenders. Strong drinks, dim lighting and great service! If we lived in San Fran this would be our spot. Just want to say thank you to the owners & regulars for making us feel so welcome ! Love the laid back vibe, the owners who were behind the bar the night we went were so friendly, and went above and beyond (thanks for the band aid :) and all the advice !) Make sure you check this place out !

We stopped by this bar for a quick drink while waiting for dinner reservations at a nearby restaurant. Our server was polite and helpful, giving suggestions for draft beers and bottled. Drinks were also priced reasonably, especially for San Francisco.

I'm not much of a beer drinker, and I only drink wine with dinner. That makes me less than ideal as a customer at this century-old neighborhood bar. Even though I had been aware of its presence for years, I finally paid a visit on a quiet late afternoon. What struck me right away were the number of dog owners parked at the outdoor tables and a couple inside as well. I think its residential location away from the cacophony on Mission has something to do with it. Without the presence of mind, I ordered a tequila sunrise unaware they didn't serve cocktails. He politely explained they serve only beer, wine, and cider. In a failed attempt not to look stupid, I tried to recover by ordering the $8 Solid Ground Imperial Cranberry Cider as if I knew what it was (photo: https://yelp.to/Bk2R5PucQ5). I just figured it was on tap, so it must be cold and thirst quenching. It was with a hint of fruitiness. I decided to stick around for a glass of Prosecco (photo: https://yelp.to/naABERWtlW). Even with the exponentially increasing canine population, I found this hidden away tavern pretty relaxing and the bartender quite convivial upon engagement. Truth be told, this quaintly historic bar hasn't made my regular rotation, but it'll do in a pinch. DRINKS - 4 stars...refreshing cider and Prosecco if you're in the mood AMBIANCE - 4 stars...atmospheric neighborhood tavern SERVICE - 4 stars...quite friendly and unpatronizing TOTAL - 4 stars...when I'm not in a cocktail mood RELATED - Exploring the Mission? Here's my collection of places I've patronized and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2NHtst6

Met some friends after work and before dinner in this old-timey bar. Our party of four fit perfectly in one of the booths. I was pleasantly surprised to find they were serving mulled wine so I enjoyed a glass to warm me up!

First time coming out to this place and it was great! Went on a Friday after work and wanted to decompress after a heavy week before the holidays. They have great beers on tap and the vibes are awesome. Jukebox, pool, pinball can all be found here as well. Bar tender made the night awesome TY!

We came on a Friday night and appreciated that it wasn't overcrowded. Shotwell's feels like a neighborhood spot, where the bartenders know the locals. The place has a chill vibe, where you can drink at the bar, play pool or darts. This place also seems welcoming to people from all backgrounds, which is cool. I was not a fan of the strawberry cider as it tasted like cough medication. However, there seems to be a wide selection of drinks on draught.

We had a nice time, Cool spot and great beer selection, first time in SF. Definitely recommend, enjoy!

Shotwell's is one of my favorite places to bring a group of friends. It really gives you the feeling of a homey neighborhood bar, where everyone knows each other, the bartender is friendly, and there is a warm atmosphere that is due in part to the wonderful inviting decor. The drinks are not expensive, and you can get pitchers of beers to cut off some of that extra price. My personal favorite is their ciders, that they rotate once in a while, so don't be upset if your favorite isn't around anymore, you'll have to opportunity to try something different, and maybe discover your true favorite. There is no food here, but they encourage bringing your own food, which makes for an incredibly fun evening. My favorite activity at Shotwell's is their Tuesday Night Trivia Night. The host is always so hilarious and friendly, and makes the night very fun for everyone. The trivia night is also very quick compared to others, there is not much time in between questions, so you can be in an out in an hour and a half or less. So many people return for Trivia Night, making it a fun community where you can meet new people and reconnect with old friends. The prizes are free alcohol (who doesn't love that). My absolute favorite place, I look forward to going back every week.

Very cute and cozy bar on a nice quiet street. They only have beer and wine but a pretty stellar selection of it at that. Highly recommend!

We got 2 pitchers of beer and had a great time here. Great vibes and music. They have a few pinball machines, a dart board, and a pool table. They have both indoor and ourdoor seating which is nice. We played one game of pool which cost $2. Was well worth it! This is a great spot to hang out with your friends!

We were watching the warriors game elsewhere and needed a change of pace. (They weren't doing well in the first half.) My group of four decided to go to Shotwell's as it was close to our last stop. We dropped by on Saturday, May 26th around 7:45pm. It wasn't too busy from what I remember. We managed to find a table in the back by one of the TVs. I didn't take part in the ordering, but I ended up with a beer. By this time, I'd had a fair amount to drink, so I have no idea what beer it was. I just knew it came in a chimay glass. I'm not a huge beer girl, but it was easy to drink. (Beer lately has become my go to when my stomach can't handle any more alcohol, but I still want something to sip on.) Atmosphere wise, this place is your typical sports bar. Dark with lots of TVs. Had a good time with all the other basketball fans. Plus, they came back in the third quarter and won! Always adds to the fun and festivities when your team wins. Fun bar to catch a game. And I can't argue with a bar that brings it home. That's a winner in my book.

If you frequent the Mission, you should know that Shotwell's is an institution. My husband worked only one block away from the bar and we would meet there often after work with his coworkers. It's no frills, friendly bar, with a great location close to many great restaurants. We went just yesterday and they have set up outdoor tables that is complimented by the alameda it's located on. Important note is that it's a beer and wine only bar.

Pretty cool beer-only bar to sit down with a few friends. They have a pool table, juke box, tv's if you want to watch the game, and a decent selection of beers. There is a good amount of seating for small groups of 4-6 towards the back. The imperial stout the bartender recommended to me was pretty good. Dark, smooth, and just a nice coffee aftertaste. Drinks range from $6-9/per pint with a $12 minimum on cards. Very casual, no frills, and overall a chill place. 3.5/5, rounded up no complaints here for what it is.

Shotwell's has been my go-to when in the Mission! If you are like me, you like bars where you can sit and don't need to yell to your friends to catch up- Shotwell's is your spot! This bar is almost never crowded, though it has enough energy to make you and your party stay. No need to wait in line, get your feet stepped on, stand for hours, fight for bartender attention like many other SF bars. There's plenty of open seating, a pool table, friendly bartenders, good tap list... how can you not love this place?!

Excellent place for good cold beers and foreign imports on tap (some German ones). Owner told me owns the place since 2006 and has been around since 1891. Outside seats setup as well.

Super local dive bar to hang out in! Stopped in for a few drinks on a Tuesday night while visiting San Francisco. Locals were very friendly. Enjoyed listening to an impromptu guitar session :*) Drinks were reasonably priced and made just right. We took advantage of a competitive game of pool (which earned me a 1:1 challenge from a local) and the self serve Jukebox ("Sister Christian" still rocks it out). Overall, a fun little place to hang out, even on a weeknight.

Oh fancy Beer, How we have a on going relationship. Shotwell's had me covered. We went here to meet a co worker and their friends. It was a fun spot to hang out.. Even though all the seats were taken there was plenty of room to stand and have a brew or two or three. The place was cool and casual, and the staff was kind and hard working. It never took long to get a drink even though it was pretty packed. The music was loud enough to enjoy, but soft enough to have a nice conversation.. Keep the drink's a coming and they will keep coming back! Good Pub!

Cozy, low key bar in Mission, good selection of beers - bartender made us try a couple before taking the pick of draught beer. There's $1 for some games - two pinball tables and a pool table. Decently priced.

I had the impression there would be more selection, but I like the vibe at Shotwell's - super cute neighborhood bar, friendly bartender, divey but not gross and dirty. Though the menu was not extensive, I liked all the beers I tried. Plus, they have a pool table. Would definitely return!

What a nice neighborhood bar! A lot of the bars I've been to in San Francisco have a THING happening, but Shotwell's is a place for when you just want to enjoy some tasty brews with your pals and hang out chatting in a dark and cozy setting. There was a good line up of affordable craft beers with a handful on draught and many more in bottles. There are pool tables if you're looking to keep your hands busy with something other than beer, and the bar is dog friendly (though we sadly didn't spot any pooches on our visit). Shotwell's exterior is charmingly old-school and the interior is similarly designed with beadboard and dark wood. It's a place you want to settle in to. With the low prices it's easy to park it and spend the evening.

I said goodbye to the Bay at Shotwell's and I couldn't have been happier. Loved having last laughs with friends, actually being able to hear them talk, and securing a table without jostling crowds. The dim lighting with pool table in the background was a sweet bonus. And the bartender? Super nice. Thanks, Shotwell's. I'll be back again someday.

Shotwell's is a great neighborhood beer bar that is relatively low-key and has fantastic service. They have a lot of tables and bar seating so you can go with a group. There is a jukebox where you can pay to pick songs, there is a pool table, and it is a nice chill ambiance. They have a couple of TVs so you can catch a game, perfect. Shotwell's has a pretty solid selection of both draft beer and bottled beer. They also serve wine for the non-beer drinkers. If PBR is your thing they have $3 cans of PBR (not the tall boys though). It says cash only on the Yelp page but they take credit cards with a $12 minimum. The bartender working was really super nice, chatty, and very knowledgeable about the beers. Overall, Shotwell's is a super solid place and I'll definitely be visiting again.

Great service and cool atmosphere. No happy hour but Affordable beers and 3$ PBR ! Good music too .

Rounding up from 4.5. Great service, glad they checked vaccine cards closely. The beers are pretty good, but the best part of this place was the outdoor seating area. It is so lovely, with beautiful manicured trees and flowers lining the seats. I will definitely be back!

A great, dog friendly bar in the Mission. Great low key spot to hang out with friends and enjoy a beer! We were there on a Sunday night and I liked how it wasn't too loud or too quiet - we were able to have a nice conversation.

CHUMPKIN for the win! Young's Double chocolate stout plus Shipyard pumpkin smash! Nom nom nom

Reasons to go: - Trivia Mondays. Follow the trivia master on Twitter to get the special weekly topics. Recent ones have included: actresses that got naked to early in their career, Tim Burton. - Cheap drinks. I get my pear cider for $5. - It's even cheaper if you're 1st place (a free round) or 2nd place (50% off a round) at trivia. - Tamale Lady showed up just in time for trivia this week! Recently the normal trivia master's place has been usurped by either his roommate or the bartender. Neither of them seem to know how to speak into a microphone and speak way too closely to the input. Makes it really difficult to hear them. Still overall.. a fun dive bar to spend my Monday nights!

Cute divey bar. The place is tiny and fills up fast so make sure you get here early! It is cash only and there's only beer and wine. Ordered a Sangria, it is a little sweet so make sure that's what you want before you get it. Atmosphere: good for 20-30 year olds. Also a little older crowd with pinball machines and a pool table.

Any bar that has a sign asking patrons "No Fighting Please", is a-ok with me. It's my new go-to place when hubby is getting on my last damn nerve. Not as dive-y as I expected. Funky, yes...witness $2 Tuesdays for Labatts & PBR, but also catering to more um, experienced tastes with several Belgian/Germans on tap and in bottles. Chimay, Paulaner and the usual suspects, but also some new ones (for us, at least) including Maredsous 10 Trippel, a supercharged brew from the Duvel/Ommegang folks. Would love to see some of the excellent microbrew 2.0 Belgians (Green Flash, Lost Abbey) from San Diego in the mix...the only real local brew (Speakeasy's Big Daddy) wasn't available the night we there. Easy street parking is a plus. Ditto the chill rules about bringing your own food (mostly Mission burritos, judging from the yummy smells) and more importantly, your dog! Witnessed a sweet and well known pooch during our visit who received pats graciously and curled up under the table for a nap shortly after. Also dig the bar mascot, Shitty Kitty. The handrawn mal-adapted feline drinks wine, wears beer for deodrant, and judging from his shirt (see photo), thinks life sucks. Great vibe--we'll be back.

Shotwells is a fun and low key bar in the mission. I live just a few blocks away and honestly didn't know it existed. Just a heads up that they don't serve shots, or mixed drinks. Just brews and wines. With that being said, it is a pretty intimate bar with pinball and pool. If you are looking to rage go elsewhere, but if you are trying to kickback and have a drink and conversation with a friend, this is a great location and atmosphere for you to check out. One of the hidden gems in the mission.

A little on the emptier side when I stopped by late Friday night, but still a great ambiance. I looove the bartender here--he was super helpful and generously gave me plenty of samples when I couldn't make up my mind about which beer to get. They have arcade games in the back and a pool table as well. $1/game...what.a.steal!!

Thanks to some awesome SF friends, I was able to discover Shotwell's in the Mission district. I came here for a birthday event and they were cool with my friends bringing in cupcakes for her own party. This place is CASH ONLY and they have an old school cash register to match. I think this is kind of weird, but since they serve only beer, it makes sense unless you can drink 3-4 beers without getting intensely full. The value I think Shotwell really has is that they have a significant list of Belgian beers. I never appreciated this before actually having visited Belgium but they have such an excellent selection that I was surprised. They are also reasonably priced for what you can get here (factor in import fees, etc.) so overall a great thing for anyone who loves Belgian beers. The bartenders are very friendly and this place gets packed up on a Saturday night. Go early!

No frills sort of Mission bar that's cash only. I stopped by for a short time around 9pm on a Saturday and it wasn't crowded yet (except for the large group I was with). Once we left for the next place there were only a few parties remaining. I wouldn't really describe this as divey but it has that low key local pub sort of feel. The decor is dark with lots of wood and pretty clean. There's a few craft beers on tap, a few in bottles and also wine and cider. Depending on the beer, it'll cost you anywhere from $6 to $10, which is pretty typical. I could imagine this being a nice place to chill with friends for a quiet night. The bar is actually fairly spacious feeling with a decent amount of standing space available towards the back. They also have a pool table and pin ball machine to really give off that neighborhood bar feel.

Had a great double date night here playing pool after our original plans fell through. The game was pretty close as my gf and I are both newbies. Our boys tried to teach us as best they could but it so much fun seeing them squirm as we screwed it up royally for them. Final score 1:1 with a rematch scheduled to figure out the winner. Bartender is charming but the options are pretty limited for non beer drinkers. The wines are not great but the beers are apparently quite good. They also have trivia nights on Monday!

Upon getting off at the 16th and mission BART stop, we were thoroughly lost (our attempt at winging it) and found ourselves in a grotto of pizza joints and liquor stores. We walked a few block as directed by Yelp to arrive at this 4 star establishment. Definitely a very chill vibe with unique beers on tap and bottled. I got the allagash white (pretty girly choice) and my bf got green flash IPA. It seemed to be populated with locals, which was a breathe of fresh air. Bartenders were indeed very friendly (as seen on yelp) and there were pool tables galore. If you're in the neighborhood, I'd recommend stopping by, grabbing a beer with friends, and enjoying the crowd.

My roommates and I come here for our weekly pitcher on Mondays. The crowd changes from week to week, but the vibe is always welcoming, and our favorite bartender Sarah always takes care of us! All in all, a great neighborhood spot. Just note, only beer/wine/cider - no liquor here.

This place has decent beer, clean bathroom and nice staff. The pool table ate my money and the balls didn't come out and the bar tender only gave me a dollar when I ordered $5 bucks in. Hope it doesn't happen again since I come here often and spent a lot of money on beer. The previous time I came here the same bar tender assumed an Indian name was another person and they paid for their drinks on my partner's card because he had an Indian name as well.

I love this neighborhood bar! It's beer only, but it's good beer There's pool and pinball (careful, the pool players are good) They bartenders are great. They love the Giants and tennis The patrons are really just friendly and welcoming My only compliant is that they switched to a digital jukebox - now there are more choices and well, I miss the old jukebox, but the new one does have Rod Stewart's AND Neil Diamond's Greatest Hits....

I've been here three times and always leave disappointed. The beer is warm and the pool table takes up most of the floor space. I prefer dive bars nearby with more charm, like Uptown.

Its a fun bar, its a pretty cool bar. No doubt. But when you stop by at 11:15 for a night cap and are told its last call in a very unwelcoming manner, and then reminded repeatedly by the bar tender that she needs to close up for the night early (because its a dead Monday) and you and your friends are asked to gulp down your beers by 11:40 pm because its getting too "late" ... one can only wonder what the whole point of it all was. Maybe a great place for happy hour and prime time drinking, but not a place you want to show up for a late night tête-à-tête. Hours of operation : "A quarter before midnight".

Bartender is amazing, and THEY TAKE CARD, I REPEAT THEY TAKE CARD!!! This is the place you want to be, after work and on the weekend or even if you need a break to have a drink on the weekday. Also...pool table and pinball...you can't lose. ***THEY TAKE CARD***

Had a great time last night. Tasty sour ales and ciders. I'm now a fan of darts! I'll still play pool and pinball. Will definitely be back soon!

Fun place! Love the casual vibe, eclectic music mix and gilt-framed mirrors. Friendly bartender. The bf and I felt really welcome here and enjoyed our drinks. We'll be back.

What a great place for beer, conversation, and a couple games of pool. Cheap prices ($5-7 for a decent selection of draft beer, $1 for a game of pool) unpretentious attitude, and mellow, lived-in vibe. Be warned that late at night, all three street corners across from Shotwell's will have a lady of the night (aka hooker) standing on the corner - wearing the kind of clothes seen in Pretty Woman. If you get an Uber your driver may be harassed by the working ladies. Good for a bit of a laugh although it may make you uncomfortable.

One of my favorite neighborhood bars, perfect for an after-work drink with great beers on tap and friendly bartenders. Shhh, don't tell the tech bros, they'll ruin it.

This is one of my favorite beer bars. Their selection is excellent and their prices are low. To top it off, it's never super crowded or loud, so you can actually find seats and have a conversation! $1 pool table, pinball machines, and chill music round out the casual, divey atmosphere. One last thing: cash only!

So, I get it. You close at 2 am and, like many of us, you're eager to get home when the work day is over and, sometimes, you like to duck out a little early. The thing is, you don't have to be a dick about it. I went to Shotwell's with a few friends on Saturday night to grab a last drink before heading home. We arrived at about 1:35, ordered some beers, and sat down. About 5 minutes later, one of the bartenders yells that we have 10 minutes to finish our drinks. Literally, two minutes later, he yells that we have five minutes to finish our drinks (apparently, time flies at Shotwell's). Then he comes to our table and tells us to hurry up because he doesn't want to have to take our drinks away. Then about a minute later, he yells that we have "less than 60 seconds". So, we left. It was 1:47. Being yelled at to chug your $10 beer is really not the ideal way to end an otherwise pleasant evening.

Just a note... I was at the bar when the 'one star commenter' asked to use the restroom. When politely told by the owner, "The restrooms are for customers.", the man acted offended and said he'd been buying rounds of whiskey and had a receipt to prove it and then stormed off. Hmmm. Shotwells is a beer and wine bar, no spirits. The bar is also cash only. Please click on the funny button below. It still makes me laugh. :)

I am PISSED. Absolutely LIVID. Why, god, why? Why must I go on vacation (and not even a real vacation, as I don't think it will be very relaxing) RIGHT when I find my NEW FAVORITE BAR? After a long hike on the most perfect of days, a lovely friend and I stopped here to partake in the long-awaited post-hike beer. Granted, we may have not ended up here had our first choice been open (and although I want to try it, I'm glad it wasn't) but this is a place that I will be going to. A LOT. In case you don't trust me (and sometimes that may be true), here are my reasons: 1) They have what is possibly my favorite beer: Young's Double Chocolate Stout 2) A Boston Red Sox sign behind the bar. And a strong Massachusetts showing. 3) Free meat. Sake if you're not in the beer mood, great staff, spacious bar with pool tables, easy parking (or so I've heard)...what more could you ask for? If I could, I would live there...although the pool tables may get uncomfortable after awhile. Maybe I could work there?

The couple walking in front of me clasped each other's asses as I walked alone to Shotwell's; the art-deco double doors beckoning, a sign radiating the soothing word "beer" in a vestibule above the entrance. It was one of those evenings where I hoped it would stay dark forever, and (unlike The Mountain Goats in their wonderfully bitter song "No Children") I KNEW the worst wasn't over. My only hope of escape was to get completely anesthetized , totally self-indulgently polluted, entirely locked out of my own mind, in hopes that sometime after my fourth or fifth drink, I might be able to forget about the end of a relationship painful enough to drive me me towards the watering-holes of the Mission District instead of relaxing in the comfortable sleaze of my favorite Richmond district dive. It was one of those nights where as I sidled up to the bar, I had to do a double take. The man reflected in the antique back-bar COULDN'T have been me (sometimes I lie to myself, especially when I'm looking more disheveled than usual), but when he (as I did in that exact same moment) ordered himself an Almanac "Birre de Chocalat", I had to come to terms with the fact. I chatted with the owner (David, an incredibly friendly dude), who allowed me to sample Almanac's "Sour Chocolate Porter" (a fantastic note of bittersweet chocolate, a faint hit of hazelnut, and an aftertaste like a tart cherry pie) amidst the beautiful chandeliers, engravings, and authentic moldings from Shotwell's time as a gin joint in the early 20th Century. After a second beer (Magnolia Proving Ground IPA), a third (Anchor Steam), and a fourth (a Drake's Dennoginizer [Dennoginize me David!]), I began to realize that Shotwell's was a pretty fascinating cross-section of what San Francisco had become: North-Face wearing techies living for the weekend, service industry folks with tattoos, old punks, and writers carrying me away, the internet jukebox blasting punk and hip-hop, everyone drinking away the tension of the week. In so many ways, Shotwell's may be one of the most perfect bars in San Francisco: the people are friendly, the beer is good, the bartenders aren't assholes, and the music is just loud enough for everyone to get carried away in the atmosphere of a place which doesn't need to try to be trendy but succeeds through its timeless authenticity. That night (and maybe every night) it was just what I needed. I finished my beer, stumbled out into the night, and began the long trek back home to my district. Suddenly, everything seemed alright...until the hangover hit me the next day. Overall: Five Stars. A strong candidate for what I would make my local bar if I lived in the Mission. Extras: Accessible by all Mission Corridor Bus Lines (20th St. stop), the 9, 9l, and BART (if you don't mind a bit of a walk). Cash Only. Mulled wine and Sangria available.