The San Francisco Athletic Club
Permanently Closed
Sports bar with dozens of TVs, patio, shuffleboard, and great wings
Sports bar with dozens of TVs, patio, shuffleboard, and great wings
"This Lower Pacific Heights bar has more TVs than a Best Buy, and enough bar stools, high-top tables, and standing room to fit a few adult pickleball leagues. Unlike a lot of places in this guide, SFAC accepts reservations for up to 14 people. Which is great news, if you’re tired of getting a face full of armpit during an over-packed night at Bus Stop. So come here when you need to yell about bad ref calls with a group—on big game days, you can hear cheers and pained groans from down the block." - lani conway, julia chen 1, patrick wong
"A combination of more upscale environs than your average sports bar; tons of seating; a good, large food menu; and shuffleboard make San Francisco Athletic Club a bit fancier than most others on this list. Reserve a table in advance." - Dianne de Guzman
"First things first: It’s not a sports club, it’s a sports bar. And this Pac Heights spot has made the most of its outdoor space with a huge tented patio, allowing them to host live comedy, trivia, game screenings, and more. Find a picnic table and join the action while enjoying a refreshing Peach Fuzz alongside well-made bar snacks." - Vox Creative
"San Francisco Athletic Club crams about as much sports into one bar as you legally can. This place has more screens than a Circuit City circa 2002, and with that, they could easily get away with having nothing but big pretzels and some wings to mindlessly eat while you watch the Masters. They do have those wings and pretzels, but they’re on the menu next to some legitimately great fish tacos with guacamole and spicy slaw, and huge hot dogs wrapped in bacon and served with griddled onions and peppers. If you reserve a booth beforehand, you can also get a bathtub of beers at your table." - Will Kamensky
"Dubbed the unofficial sports bar of the city, this consistently packed destination draws fans of every team on any game day and features 28 TVs, so arrive early or reserve tables for groups; the bar is also known for its Irish Old Fashioned, an on-tap cocktail made with Jameson Caskmates Stout." - Vox Creative