The Plough and the Stars

This is a great Irish bar. The bartenders are friendly, the Guinness is truly a perfect pint, and they have lots of live music. I loved the look of the place, and the decorative details. Worth the trip. They don't serve food, but you can buy packages of chips or bring in takeout from one of the nearby restaurants across the street. We stayed for the Irish traditional music jam, and it was wonderful.

Absolutely love this bar. It feels like I’m walking into cheers! The Guinness pour is always on point.

Small but cozy pub with very attentive staff. Went for the live music, stayed for the drinks and good times. 🍻 No tickets but there is an entry fee at the door once the music begins. You can check the website to see a calendar of events and times. Definitely visiting again.

The bartender last night made the most delicious Irish coffee, he even made a fresh pot of coffee for me. Thank you 😊 💚☕️🥃

Excellent Irish bar that pours a proper pint of Guinness. Steel tip darts, pool and (often) live music as well.

There was an Irish quartet playing live music and it was nothing short of magical. Love this spot.

Stumbled in after dinner a few days ago to keep the after dinner energy going. $5 cover for 4 of us to enter since they had a band playing. We were totally sticking out like sore thumbs but didn't receive any looks or hate. Gotta love SF for all that it accepts. Funny juxtaposition that we ended up here and ordering tequila shots haha. Stayed for the band which was a vibe and totally not what you'd find in my headphones but keeping an open mind will ensure you have fun anywhere.

Went for the Irish set dancing on Thursday nights. Wooden dance floor, friendly bartender, no food served but they seem to allow outside food and snacks brought not only by us dancers. I cannot comment on their drinks selection because, surprise, I'm not drinking alcohol anymore but they have some good non-alcoholic options at the bar that I like, ginger ale or this sort of raspberry flavored soda water. I also love the pool table in front, I don't play, but it mixes up the vibe.

Best Guinness in the city! Full bar, and plenty of other beers on tap. Has one dartboard but needs more. One pool table as well. No idea why I can't uncheck "food" ... the P&S doesn't serve food, although you can bring in whatever you want.

The weekly Irish music session warms my heart. The bartender was friendly, helpful, came out to help me move tables for my friends who were arriving. I wish I lived in the City again as I'd go here often. We had drinks, all was good.

If it's pint of the black stuff you're after...look no further than The Plough & Stars.

Came in on a Saturday night because we were recommended this place by a different pub. Luckily for us they had live music, which I love. The band was great and definitely kept the mood up. The drinks were okay. Next time I gotta be specific with the type of whiskey I want....

An enjoyable place to get a drink, meet some new people, and play pool -- one of the nice things about this pub is the laid back atmosphere here where you can relax with plenty of space to walk around and casually play pool without there being much of a line to use the table.

Great Irish bar with sports playing. A fun post work vibe or post dinner! They have all of the essential beers including Guinness, of course. Only thing is they have no GF options other than one seltzer and wine.

Best Irish pub in SF hands down! A taste of ireland in the foggy city! Outstanding guiness pours! 1000/10!

A elite pour of Guinness and impeccable ambiance makes this hands down San Francisco's finest pub

They have the 2nd best Manhattans in the city of San Francisco. Trust me, that is a compliment.

I finally got around to discovering my little Irish local bar The Plough & Stars on a Sunday afternoon after the Inner Richmond's farmers market. A group of musicians near the door playing caught my ear. It was a beautiful four hour jam session; mostly for instrumental, violins, accordion, flute, all types of instruments. The bar is roomy, drinks are strong, and the bathrooms were clean. I'll be back!

Love this place!!! Best drinks on Clement!!! Laura is my fav bartender eva!!!!!!!!!!!!

Friends wanted to hang out here during the day for some reason. What a dump! Bartender was not friendly or welcoming and the place was just dark and nasty. Much better bars in the area. This dump belongs in the Tenderloin.

There are literally not enough things I can say about this bar. 5 stars doesn't seem enough, give them 500! Live music, good beer, great atmosphere. But what really makes this place special is the staff, especially Laura! What an absolute gem of a human being and amazing bartender. She should be in the official guidebook to San Fran. That's how much she rocks.

One of the finest pints of Guinness you will find this side of the Atlantic Ocean. Always a warm welcome and often a great crowd.

My Special Angel Katrina and I spent the afternoon in the neighborhood where I grew up the Richmond District. We decide to stop by Plough and stars. Plough and stars is one of our favorites. My angel had the empress gin martini. Since I was driving I decided just to have a Coke with no ice. Great Irish Pub. We've never been disappointed.

Good neighborhood Irish bar. Have a pint and a shot, shoot some pool, listen to some live music.

A nice mellow authentic pub that plays Irish or similar music nearly every night. No pretension just good beer and good music. There's a pool table in front and the stage is in back Most of the tables are long communal type tables which makes the experience more enjoyable imo. Definitely a must-do SF experience

My SO and I went this bar as a filler for time since the french restaurant was not opened yet. We sat at the bar and was quickly served by this Irish bartender.. he asked us what we wanted... my SO wanted the Jameson Black Barrel over ice.. then the bartender asked me what I wanted............. umm.. Jameson too then, he said no no, and points to another bottle in the whiskey section, GREEN SPOT - he says that's the best one out there! So I said okay, I'll try it. It's pretty smooth... then again, what do I know about alcohol? The bar is kind of dim with multiple TVs showing sports, a few regulars.. and there are tables for you to sit in the middle which he will still bring your drinks. There's a pool table and a stage near the end of the bar where the bathrooms were. I think live bands play there. It's a pretty neat little bar tucked in Clement Street!

Suggestion Box: Women's restroom: Please fix the toilet seat in the women's room. How about a couple of toilet paper hangers too - while you are at it? And, the door swings shut with such force, how about a wee look at that issue too? Be back soon.

I love The Plough & Stars. I live in the hood just a couple of blocks away and this is the perfect neighborhood Irish dive bar. Especially on a hot day, I really enjoy walking in, sitting at the bar and have a beer and a shot of Jameson. No food, no wifi (I some someone dinging the place on a review, are you kidding me?), this is a basic place, with a pool table and a stage for live music. Service is friendly, drinks are reasonably priced, and you will hear the Irish tilt in patrons and barkeepers' speech.

Best place in town for live Irish music. Service is not always overly friendly. And there is a funky odor to the place that's hard to ignore. The Guinness is good but overpriced. $7.50 a pint?? Anyway, come for the music.

Irish accents = big plus lotsa Van Morrison on the jukebox = big plus stage for live music = big plus laid back and mellow = big plus long bar = big plus nice staff = big plus When the Inner Richmond is cold and windy - and you're looking for a place of refuge to kick back, grab a drink, and catch up with someone - The Plough and Stars is a truly beautiful haven. Warm. Casual. Friendly. Drama Free. Only wish they had Crazy Love on the jukebox and that I'd been able to catch this place on a live music filled night. Next time. Trust

I'm always happy to find a new Irish bar, but the Plough & Stars is the real deal. What a beauty! - I spied it from across the street and was already smitten. Yes. Bars can be beautiful. Guinness poured right (A two-step process) and plenty of Irish ales on draught. Both Jameson's and Bushmills on the shelf, in their many tasty varieties. We were here to taste a pint or two and catch a little live music. Had it been Celtic music, my Irish-infused moment would have been totally complete, but it turned out to be some mellow country rock instead....Oh well. We spent a nice hour and a half chatting with some new-found friends over a few pints before heading home. But the Plough is now ingrained in my brain as a must-return spot.

Good spot - great during the day, it's a big open space, get a good beer and watch tv or hang out with your friends for some pool playing. I do love the live music on certain nights. Owen is a good bartender, pours a good cocktail and shot which is always nice. A fatty Jameson neat with a beer back - how bad could that be. Love it - especially daytime for a game.

I love this place. Been going there for almost 30 years ( since I was barely old enough to drink ). Love the Irish music sessions they have, very authentic. Very good selection of beer on tap. My only complain is that they dont serve food. its the only Irish bar I know ( including many Irish bars I have visited in Ireland ) that doesnt serve food. But that is not a deal breaker to me. Every time I come here, I feel like I am back in Ireland and that is why I keep commimg here

There is something about this bar that is makes it real special. It could be the music, it could be the dancing, it could be the free pool during happy hour. I think it's one of those things that you can't describe. A combination of everything. The bartenders are always welcoming, the place is cozy, with generous pours and great beers. An imperial pint of Guinness. It's like hanging out in your living room. I don't know. I'm just a guy. If I had the writing skills of Hemingway or Dostoyevsky I could express my feelings in words in a way that would make everybody appreciate this bar. But you just have to take my word, sophomoric as it is, for it. Come get drunk here, bring some friends, and you won't regret it. Thank you That is all

Magical place taste of Ireland without the air fare-if you don't feel it right away, stay for your second and then third pint/hour. One needs to listen to Irish reels and jigs for a bit before the old world feel sinks into your brain. Slow down, talk to the person on your left and enjoy. The music here is authentic Celtic. The staff here takes care of your orders . The owner and his family have been here for a couple/three decades. There is no rush to go elsewhere. If you are into Guinness, you are guaranteed to get a good pour here. Bars that serve it sparingly do not: a) pour it correctly and b) once tapped, the beer turns on you. Go to the Plough and Stars for the reel deal. PS- I know of four friends who have met their wives here.

Popped in here last night for the first time and was pleased to find a pretty awesome irish bar. They pour a great pint, have a good jukebox, and the place just feels comfortable. Would have been perfect were the place not taken over by some kind of stupid event by a bunch of USF kids. They were making speeches for some kind of student elections over the PA system, and actually had the balls to tell the people who were in the bar to be quiet so they could prattle on about their pointless elections. I'll be back, but hopefully there will be live music next time instead of some douchebag telling people in a bar to stop acting like they're in a bar. On a side note, the band that was warming up before the speeches started seemed pretty damned awesome. I'd come back just to see them play.

I think this place used to be on Geary Street. I was there in 1987, and told my Irish-American friend about it. He was just there and said it was a young crowd. He was the token geezer lol. It's a great place to bask in all things Celtic.

Good music, but the bartender ignored my requests for a second beer. I was not drunk or disrespectful. Served my friend but then turned her back when I asked for another beer. Can't imagine what I did to be treated like that.

Went on a Friday night for a traditional music session. From the outside the bar looks very inviting. But inside it's actually just a big open space with not too much character or not particular Irish decor. I was surprised they charged a cover for the music. It was not very busy so thought it might encourage more people to come out, but it didn't. The music was good though, and it was very easy to see it all, as the stage is well located. They don't serve food here which was surprising, but drinks are reasonable priced for the area and the bar staff are friendly.

Plough & Stars, what can I say other than you're the local watering hole where folks can go to drink on the cheap ($5-6 beers or $4 pints of Shock Top) and play pool on an old, slanted, stained table. Music selection, though, A+. Lots of early 2000s alternative rock and just classic stuff. Otherwise, strong, stiff drinks and dive bar vibe. Get your kicks with a game of pool or some darts while you knock a couple back and watch the Giants. $10 minimum on cards.

Pool table rocked my socks off Bartender was chill The owner from next door made an appearance and I gave him a celeb shot but he didn't take it and instead gave me a hit on the back so that there says it!!!!!!!! Also clean bathrooms thank you for keeping the ladies in mind :)

Carla D. noticed that in the Plough & Stars, there's an old-school poster of Guinness being poured from a bottle into a pint glass, and in the foam head forming in the pint glass, there's a smiley face, drinking the last drop falling from the bottle. So, in effect, the Guinness is drinking ITSELF. This is beyond cannibalism -- we couldn't even decide what to call it. What do you call it when you eat YOURSELF? WHY WOULD THE GUINNESS DO THAT?! Seriously. Think about it. Eating YOURSELF? That's f@#!ing messed up. Well, after our quartet of friends enjoyed a pint each of Guinness at the Plough last night, we came upon the answer: Guinness, when poured right, is that good. I understand where the smiley face is coming from. The Plough & Stars knows how to pour.

I came here on a Friday with my Yelp friend and real life friend as well Grace C. We shared an Uber and headed to this remote Richmond District Irish bar that I never had noticed before. Since this was a pre-dinner pit stop, I didn't stay long but we did each do a shot of Jameson before we left...$7 a shot. Pretty cheap for SF standards. They also had all the other standards like Guinness, Harp, Smithwick's, etc. There also was this big plate of cheese sitting on a table which seemed to be open to anyone in the room to try. I mean...I do LOVE cheese...and I love free stuff...but my common sense kicked in and steered myself away from indulging. Feeling good from my Jameson shot, we left while I indexed this location in my head as a very nice place to pre-game or post-game after a meal in this area.

It is a great night when you have a wonderful dinner with even more wonderful friends up the street and end your night reminiscing about 80s fashion and trends at this place. This bar has live music that is not half bad if you can hear it over the clamor and gossip of the friends you are with. They have the best Guinness I have tasted in the city in a cozy Irish bar atmosphere that is inviting to young and old alike. Who knew a.a. wore coke bottle glasses at the same time as Lisa W. and Carla D were collecting Garbage Pail Kids trading cards and My Little Pony crap?? They got nothin' on me and my high fashion barbies, legwarmers and feathered hair, though. You know you have reached the plateau of cool when you start imagining everyone in the bar with mullets and somehow it works on every single one of them!! That is what this bar will do to you, trust me.......

Hahaha. Oh dear. I love reading reviews from Americans who claim to know what a "real" Irish bar is, because they used to hang out with real Irish people. Classic! That said, the Plough and Stars is a decent enough spot. Great crowd, with a mix of young and old; Irish, American, and many other accents to boot. And the pint wasn't half bad either. Good live ceol as well, although getting served at the bar was a bit spotty.

Erin Go Bragh! Erin Go Bra-less. However you want to celebrate my heritage is A-OK with me! I take Paddy's Day pretty seriously, but get a little turned off by the wreck of a shit show that accompanies it. Who am I kidding, I live for it. But being a grown-up now with a big kid's job, I don't have the luxury of a day-after recovery period. Instead, I sit on the 5 Fulton with one eye open laughing at everyone doing the walk of shame in Kelly green. Andrew MacNamara and the Rogues performed at Plough and Stars last night. I'll take live Irish music over a soundtrack of T-Pain and Soulja Boy any other day of the year too. Oh and what good craic we had! The bar was hotter than a sauna, but no one seemed to mind. Except the dude who screamed "Welcome to the Bahamas!" when his friends arrived. The band was brilliant. We belted out some of my favorite ballads, including "Dirty Old Town," "Red is the Rose" and "Whiskey in the Jar." Plough and Stars has live music most nights of the week with a small cover charge. The staff had the patience of saints; these folks were all smiles despite the madness. The beers were reasonably priced and I must return to enjoy their perfectly-poured Guinness! (No glass on St. Paddys!) The bathrooms were IMMACULATE....how they pulled this off, I do not know. The Plough and Stars is legit. Any other night of the week it's pretty low-key....great spot for listening to Irish music, catching up with old friends and making new ones. You can bet your arse this lass will be back!

The Plough and Stars Definition (noun) 1 : "Home of traditional Irish music in the Bay Area" 2 : Neighborhood bar in the Inner Richmond that smells of Lysol, stale cigarettes and liver damage 3 : Where crusty patrons have been getting Irish jiggy with it over a proper pint of Guinness since (insert date here)

Even as Irish bars go, The Plough & The Stars is pretty Irish. Properly poured Guinness, wood paneling, Irish political posters, lots of celtic folk on the jukebox, bartenders with accents. Here are some useful things about The Plough & The Stars: They open at 4:00 or so. You may have to be patient because the bartender is hungover from the night before. They have a small stage where Irish musicians perform pretty regularly. In addition to all the folk music there's a whole lot of van morrison on the jukebox. The edge of the pool table on the north side is a little worn and sometimes your bank shots will bounce funny. I can't think of anything funny about The Plough & The Stars. It's a cool bar and my companions are cool people and I have no cause to mock them. The coolest thing about The Plough & The Stars is that I destroyed Nadja M. at pool here. Amir and Drue beat me and I beat Margaret T in a pretty close match, but this particular victory was cool as hell. update: Margaret has informed me that our game actually ended in a tie. Maybe my memory is just starting to go. I still totally kicked Nadja's ass though.

I have visited P&S on many different occasions; St. Patrick's Day (not a good idea), as the loner, quiet time with the woman, catch a show and just general debauchery with friends. Paul pours the best Guinness i've ever had, and i've had plenty. As the drinker, you have to understand that it's going to take longer here for the 'perfect pour'. Unlike other places, he will stop short at about 3/4 pint & let it sit for a minute or two before finishing it off. It's best had on a quiet night, with Irish folk musicians playing together. If you're lucky, Paul will sing "Danny Boy"...he's got a great voice. The bar/venue itself is large, tons of seating & a pool table if that's your thing. The jukebox, while not the greatest, reflects some decent tunes & Irish folk songs you won't hear anywhere else in the city. By far, P&S is my favorite Irish Pub in San Francisco. It beats Molly Malone's in Los Angeles hands down & The Field in San Diego is no match for Paul's true Irish Pub.

03.17.10 St. Patrick's Day Pub Crawl - stop one. Cover fee. Fail. It's also different prices if you just come in with girls, if you're a girl and a guy, and if you're just guys. Fail. It has absolutely NO air ventilation. I'm surprised the band still has the lung capacity to play. I couldn't even breathe. I was out of there after one beer. Because as I required it, at least a drink at each establishment.

I am a well seasoned and experienced patron of where lager and spirits flow. I consider myself a fair and educated judge of these dens of inequity. Now we must consider the Plough and Stars. I have been here numerous times and will be there again. The Ploughs strength, its saving grace is that they have live music every night- Bluegrass, Celtic, American Traditional is the mainstay. This fact alone makes me a patron. The space itself is comfortable, simply a long box- bar on right, small stage in the back and tables and chairs filling the rest of the large space. Now we get to why this establishment is poor. First let us address the olfactory qualities. Upon entrance your nose is filled with the regular aromas of a bar, but as you go deeper in the stale, grimy, vomitous stench grows and lingers like its own layer of smog. I imagine the Plough wants to be a neighborhood bar, so at a neighborhood bar I want to be treated, well like a neighbor, and not a faceless walking yet thirsty ATM. $5.25 for a regular pint, $6.25 for a Guinness, $7 for a shot of Jamie's. Absurd for a neighborhood bar. The Plough is the kind of place that only hires bar maids, which means they are more concerned with quenching the thirst of the eye rather than the pallet. Furthermore no one is very friendly here, just like they were interacting with the machine at the local B of A. In closing, I go here for the bands and the bands only. I will continue to go here for the bands and the bands only. Should you be looking for an Irish pub to grab a pint, you can amble a couple blocks to the Bitter End, better still there are a dozen purveyors of drink within a 6 block stretch, most of which will assuage your thirst in a more friendly and refreshing way.

I haven't had a drink here, nor have I been here at a time where the sun was down, but let me tell you I LOVE THIS PLACE!! I had to use the facilities like you would not believe. They let me & it was a fine facility indeed.

I just don't think, even if I had another long wait for Burma Superstar, would I make it back here. Simple breakdown: - The place smelled like a mixture of vomit and regret. - There was an annoyingly high concentration of sinn fein memorabilia. - The other patrons looked like they had been forgotten there... left by their parents 25 years ago while they waited for a table on Clement Street. A plus...? They had beer... on tap... and a decent selection of whiskeys... but that is basically standard fare.

Two things of note: 1. It's a bar that plays traditional Irish music. I had to resist doing a little jig on the way to the bathroom. 2. They have Kilkenny, one of my top 3 favorite beers that I've only ever been able to find in Europe. It's smooth and ambery with a rich foam head. Try it. Can't comment on the ambience as we were there at 7 PM on a Sunday, but it's spacious, authentic, and sports a great selection of beer. Isn't that all we need in a bar?

Yet another Irish Bar that I had an awesome time at... seriously! The live music is my favorite part! Lets re-enact a scene shall we? Man I met at bar (MIMAB): "can I buy you a drink?" Me: "Sure, buy me two if you feel so inclined!" MIMAB: "Awesome! 4 beers please" Bartender: "where are the other 2 people?" MIMAB and Me: "These are just for us, we like to have our hands full with beer at all times" Bartender: "In that case, 2 of these are on the house" WHAT WHAT!??? We get free beer just for being alcoholics??? SA-WEET! Later on that night: me: "LETS DANCE!!!!" (A sure sign I am hammered) MIMAB: "Do you even know how to Irish Dance?" me: "No, but does that matter at 1:00 a.m. when there is a fiddle involved?" MIMAB: "you're right! Cheers" See? Fabulous! Who wants to go back with me! I promise if you buy me beer I will Irish dance! :)

Irish bar with Smithwicks and a nice bartender. Not all Irish bars in town have Smithwicks so it's a nice find. Brought the lady here before a dinner date down the street and if you love divey vibes like we do, come here.

I have high standards for St. Patrick's Day. As a six foot tall Irish redhead it's required that I find a good Irish bar to hang out in. The Plough & Stars is as good as it gets. They poured a good Guinness, had Irish bands playing all night and had tons of friendly Irish people. This place was a refreshing change from the drunken hordes at Irish Bank or the weirdos at Irelands 32. I had an amazing time. I would recommend this place to anyone looking for an authentic Irish pub in the city. BONUS TIP: Nizario's Pizza is a block from the Plough & Stars (it's next to BuckShot on Geary). So if you need a quick slice to soak up the Guinness sloshing around in your stomach head over to this place. You can also bring your pizza into Plough without any hassle if you like.