Shovels Bar

If you're looking for a really chill low-key dive bar with attentive bar tenders and the best antelope burger in the city then look no further ! They also vegan chili dogs ✨️

One of the greatest bar in the area. Manager has so much knowledge and wisdom. Just go, eat, drink, listen.

Amazing food, with vegan options! A fine selection of drinks, good company, and friendly staff. It's always a good time to be had here, at Shovel's.

The bartender was very nice, It had plenty of space to sit and talk (at least on thursday). There is a pool table and dart to enjoy for free during certain hours.

Excellent food. Great atmosphere. Come during the day and you’ll find lawyers in suits from the nearby courthouse. Come in the evening and it’s basically Cheers.

A nice little dive pub. It's quiet even on major holiday weekends. There's a pool table and some damn fine Irish whiskey. Most importantly, the bartender is the best.

Great food, nice atmosphere, comfy couches and a gregarious bartender. We came to try it out for restaurant week and decided we'll definitely be back. The huge beer list and nicely curated whiskeys were a very nice bonus. Not quite a dive bar, not really fine dining but immensely comfortable.

Kelly has done a wonderful job revamping this place! The inside looks classy and comfortable and I cannot wait until it's open. Shovels has quite the whiskey collection, with a focus on local and unique brands, and owner Kelly is more than happy to chat about your likes and make recommendations that will introduce you to new favorites. She has a strong focus on keeping the venue welcoming for neighbors while making it a bit cozier than it was in its previous life. A lot of love - of the bar, the neighborhood, and California small brands - has gone into this establishment and you definitely want to go visit.

Best bar hot dog in the city. Burger is on par, but the competition in SF much steeper (translation burger is really good in a city of really good burgers). Great beer and liquor selection and a locals crowd. This is the go to spot in Civic Center.

Awesome spot!! Swanky little palace with an AMAZING whiskey selection and great food (for meat eaters and vegans alike!!) Jawaun was a great and super friendly bartender. We had an an antelope burger and vegan hot dog with vegan chili!! Sweet Happy Hour with $2 off the great draft selection and unique premium cocktails! Everything was delicious and everyone was welcoming!!! I'll be heading the spot anytime I visit San Francisco.

10/10 - excellent smash burger with a double Impossible patty (can be made vegan, or cow meat also available). Fries sold separately, but were crunchy, hot and fluffy on the inside. Beer selection better than a lot of pubs, got a good stout that wasn’t just Guinness. Decor is mood. The red booths would not be ideal for eating, but there are a number of two top tables, a four top or two, and the bar for eating meals.

This place is awesome! We were staying just a street away and I'm glad we found it! The hamburgers were delicious! Service was perfect, and we loved the vibes and atmosphere. We visited again on a Sunday and even though kitchen was already closed, we got some beers and had a nice chat with the owner who was extremely nice and helpful. We will definitely visit again when in the area. Greetings from Arizona!

Great bar under new management down in the Tenderloin. Come be part of the re-vitalization of this area by soliciting this local business! Great selection of food and drinks. The bartender we had (Sean) was great, knowledgeable, and poured some fantastic cocktails. The fried pickles and French fries we had were fresh, crispy, and flavorful. Didn't have time to try anything else on the menu but, will be back for sure! (PSSST...hey Feds at 450GG I heard if you show your PIV/CAC you might just get 10% off)

I went on a Saturday early evening and had a great time! There weren't a lot of other customers, but the food was great and the bar was very clean. I'll definitely return.

OK, hear me out. I needed to pee, couldn't find a restroom that wasn't "closed". Ended up, walking into Shovels. Decided to have a few drinks and let me say this place is a good time! Bartender super nice! Thanks for the good experience!

Great place to chill and relax, atmosphere is comfortable. There is couches and a pool table in the back. Everyone loves the fries.

Good little find. Drinks were made well and food bites were tasty.

Rebecca Oreamuno

Awesome spot!! Swanky little palace with an AMAZING whiskey selection and great food (for meat eaters and vegans alike!!) Jawaun was a great and super friendly bartender. We had an an antelope burger and vegan hot dog with vegan chili!! Sweet Happy Hour with $2 off the great draft selection and unique premium cocktails! Everything was delicious and everyone was welcoming!!! I'll be heading the spot anytime I visit San Francisco.

Christopher Pratt

10/10 - excellent smash burger with a double Impossible patty (can be made vegan, or cow meat also available). Fries sold separately, but were crunchy, hot and fluffy on the inside. Beer selection better than a lot of pubs, got a good stout that wasn’t just Guinness. Decor is mood. The red booths would not be ideal for eating, but there are a number of two top tables, a four top or two, and the bar for eating meals.

Isa Layton

This place is awesome! We were staying just a street away and I'm glad we found it! The hamburgers were delicious! Service was perfect, and we loved the vibes and atmosphere. We visited again on a Sunday and even though kitchen was already closed, we got some beers and had a nice chat with the owner who was extremely nice and helpful. We will definitely visit again when in the area. Greetings from Arizona!

Chris Schooley

Great bar under new management down in the Tenderloin. Come be part of the re-vitalization of this area by soliciting this local business! Great selection of food and drinks. The bartender we had (Sean) was great, knowledgeable, and poured some fantastic cocktails. The fried pickles and French fries we had were fresh, crispy, and flavorful. Didn't have time to try anything else on the menu but, will be back for sure! (PSSST...hey Feds at 450GG I heard if you show your PIV/CAC you might just get 10% off)

Abe

I went on a Saturday early evening and had a great time! There weren't a lot of other customers, but the food was great and the bar was very clean. I'll definitely return.

Herbert Rivas

OK, hear me out. I needed to pee, couldn't find a restroom that wasn't "closed". Ended up, walking into Shovels. Decided to have a few drinks and let me say this place is a good time! Bartender super nice! Thanks for the good experience!

Anthony Bustos

Great place to chill and relax, atmosphere is comfortable. There is couches and a pool table in the back. Everyone loves the fries.

T P

Good little find. Drinks were made well and food bites were tasty.

For bar food, this place is great! Chicken fingers were homemade & tender, delicious. Patty melt was fantastic. Great cocktails & beer. Max was fabulous. Nice movies on different screens / TVs on silent to enjoy. Good music. Nice vibes.

We came here for a few drinks before a gig recently, there was only one person behind the bar but he was SLAYING it! Phenomenal service , really friendly and quick. Really good food and a good choice of drinks. The atmosphere was cool as well, had a good rock vibe with just all around welcoming feeling. Will definitely return here again for a few drinks and a bite to eat. The menu had good choices and the prices were reasonable!

This place is cool as hell. The food is very good, albeit not exactly health food through and through. But very good. The atmosphere is second to none.

The best way to get a feel for any city is to explore its bars. San Francisco is the sort of city that's almost schizophrenic, so many different iterations of itself all over. For some, that's great, and others a drawback, but I love it. Shovels embodies that perfectly. From the exterior it has the feel of a real dive, almost sketchy, but like the city as a whole, looks can be quite deceiving. Inside, the bar has a throwback vibe that feels much more sophisticated than its exterior would lead you to believe. A well curated drink menu offers some impressive options, all very well made. Now, I get that a lot of bars don't want to mess with the added complications of serving food. Sure it brings in extra revenue, but also means more staff and a kitchen space that eats up already scarce square footage. Though Shovels actually figured out that really good food is actually a game changer. While I was visiting on a random weekday afternoon, multiple orders came in over the phone for pick up orders for food, meaning a mostly empty bar on a weekday afternoon, was bringing in more money than just the patrons inside. I had the fried pickles, which were the best I've had, and enjoyed them tremendously. I will be back, for sure, and suggest you stop by as well.

I was initially put off because the service was a bit slow(one bartender), and I was trying to get food for a show at the Bill Graham. But hot damn did they work it. I got the two patty smash burger and fries. YUM. They were out of beer we asked for but we still got good drinks. Then a shot in apology of our wait? That’s it you’ve won me over.

Food was good and fresh. Had a Cobb salad and chili cheese fries. Service was very good the bartender was very friendly.

Dorothy Bechler

I was initially put off because the service was a bit slow(one bartender), and I was trying to get food for a show at the Bill Graham. But hot damn did they work it. I got the two patty smash burger and fries. YUM. They were out of beer we asked for but we still got good drinks. Then a shot in apology of our wait? That’s it you’ve won me over.

1253v

Food was good and fresh. Had a Cobb salad and chili cheese fries. Service was very good the bartender was very friendly.

MBS Pellegrino

For bar food, this place is great! Chicken fingers were homemade & tender, delicious. Patty melt was fantastic. Great cocktails & beer. Max was fabulous. Nice movies on different screens / TVs on silent to enjoy. Good music. Nice vibes.

Josh Montero

The best way to get a feel for any city is to explore its bars. San Francisco is the sort of city that's almost schizophrenic, so many different iterations of itself all over. For some, that's great, and others a drawback, but I love it. Shovels embodies that perfectly. From the exterior it has the feel of a real dive, almost sketchy, but like the city as a whole, looks can be quite deceiving. Inside, the bar has a throwback vibe that feels much more sophisticated than its exterior would lead you to believe. A well curated drink menu offers some impressive options, all very well made. Now, I get that a lot of bars don't want to mess with the added complications of serving food. Sure it brings in extra revenue, but also means more staff and a kitchen space that eats up already scarce square footage. Though Shovels actually figured out that really good food is actually a game changer. While I was visiting on a random weekday afternoon, multiple orders came in over the phone for pick up orders for food, meaning a mostly empty bar on a weekday afternoon, was bringing in more money than just the patrons inside. I had the fried pickles, which were the best I've had, and enjoyed them tremendously. I will be back, for sure, and suggest you stop by as well.

Jamie Edwards

We came here for a few drinks before a gig recently, there was only one person behind the bar but he was SLAYING it! Phenomenal service , really friendly and quick. Really good food and a good choice of drinks. The atmosphere was cool as well, had a good rock vibe with just all around welcoming feeling. Will definitely return here again for a few drinks and a bite to eat. The menu had good choices and the prices were reasonable!

Michael Smith

Great food, nice atmosphere, comfy couches and a gregarious bartender. We came to try it out for restaurant week and decided we'll definitely be back. The huge beer list and nicely curated whiskeys were a very nice bonus. Not quite a dive bar, not really fine dining but immensely comfortable.

Great beer selection. Good burger. Nice bartender... area is a bit sketchy if you are walking.

Good beer list with a nice variety, thier rendition of poutine was tasty and a big portion, burger was well executed. Bartender was great and the overall vibe of the establishment was perfect for unwinding

It's a local pub with old-guard decor and staff, located just on the edge of the Tenderloin and walking distance from Hastings School of Law. Patrons range from button-down-businessmen to inner-city-denizens. Pull up a stool....order a pint. There's no telling who you're going to wind up talking to.....be they up-and-coming or down-and-out, you'll find an interesting range of opinions, outlooks, and life experiences. Prices for this neighborhood are a *tad* on the spendy side, but the beer taps are well maintained while the owner and staff are *fanatical* about the precision of their Guinness pour. No food, but management is carry-in friendly and there's a decent Chinese deli about 4 doors to the South. There's a quiet mix of eclectic elders during the day, and a younger crowd at night. Check it out if you're in the 'hood, but don't expect anything specific (other than a perfect Guinness pour, if that's your thing). It's different every time.

We stumbled across this bar while braving through the tenderloin and it was a sage heaven. The atmosphere was great and the bartender was filled with suggestions and was so friendly

Food was decent. Just had a grilled chicken salad. The bartender was a super nice guy. Have a feeling he's the owner. It's pretty casual. Overall I would come back if in the area again

Nice little hole in the wall. Food was delicious. Had a double party smash burger & fries. All around great burger. Drinks were pretty stiff, which can be good or bad lol. Service was a little slow being there was 1 bartender for about 20 people.

Great bar with class. Need to come back to try the Grass-fed burger. Good beer list , great cocktails. Happy hour 3-5 with $2off Drafts.

First time there. Impressive inside. Comfortable seating. Beautiful bar and even the ceiling is nice! Ordered the ham sandwich, which was reasonably priced and delicious! Definitely would recommend this place!

i came here to do some admin work/WFH and i’m glad i did! the burger i got was pretty good and i got the black garlic aioli that was pretty good too! i opted for the fried pickles instead of fries and i couldn’t even finish them all. would definitely come back

Cristo

Nice little hole in the wall. Food was delicious. Had a double party smash burger & fries. All around great burger. Drinks were pretty stiff, which can be good or bad lol. Service was a little slow being there was 1 bartender for about 20 people.

P Sand

Great bar with class. Need to come back to try the Grass-fed burger. Good beer list , great cocktails. Happy hour 3-5 with $2off Drafts.

Gayle Staleny

First time there. Impressive inside. Comfortable seating. Beautiful bar and even the ceiling is nice! Ordered the ham sandwich, which was reasonably priced and delicious! Definitely would recommend this place!

Daizy Blaze

i came here to do some admin work/WFH and i’m glad i did! the burger i got was pretty good and i got the black garlic aioli that was pretty good too! i opted for the fried pickles instead of fries and i couldn’t even finish them all. would definitely come back

Wanted to try their smash burger, but kitchen was closed, the hours on Google are wrong they closed at 8pm not 10pm.

Cliff Grader

Wanted to try their smash burger, but kitchen was closed, the hours on Google are wrong they closed at 8pm not 10pm.

Place looks great (owner change) but bartender ... 1st, heavy metal hard head banger rock playing for all of his 2 customers. 2nd, it's a beer whiskey place. I know. I get it. How about a Cosmo please. He ran away to hide by the ice machine and stock room (I could have walked behind the bar and made it myself). Hiding. If you don't know how to make a cosmopolitan "Cosmo" ask or use your phone. Don't hide and leave the bar unattended for 30 mins No my drink never showed up since I walked out. :-/

Came for dinner but good didn’t look appealing. Drinks and vibes were cool. Good place to get a beer and watch game but would eat elsewhere.

Not one for bars. So can't review! Met some good, friendly people barman included! He was knowledgeable re history of SF bars and provided good advice for drinks.

McArdle Hankin

Came for dinner but good didn’t look appealing. Drinks and vibes were cool. Good place to get a beer and watch game but would eat elsewhere.

I've eaten here 2 times and the food was alright. I'd give 4 stars but unfortunately BOTH times I went there the doorman(? Tall black guy) was trying to punk on people parked at the public meters in front of the restaurant. He was just being so disrespectful. The cars weren't the ”nicest" cars but they were just regular people, being polite and respectful, but one was having trouble starting, and the guy was telling them they gotta go or he was guna get them towed. Mind you, one was a paying customer. Because the fact that I've been down and out myself and dislike bully's I won't be eating here anymore. Shame cause they could really being going somewhere (food-wise).

Nice looking remodeled bar, but not in a great area. I was a Canadian looking for poutine, but unfortunately this didn’t hit the mark. Cheese curds weren’t fresh (no squeak, and melted in a way curds usually don’t). Also not enough gravy!

The poor bartender was obviously brand new and still learning offered to google how to make a martini why would they leave her alone? Not fair to her or the patrons

Bartender didn't ask for ID what if you are under age ? Food didn't order any because I didn't see much variety 😕. He charged me $20 for 2 drinks and he said he thinks it's $20 he didn't check he just said I think it's 20 so I paid and left....the place it was so empty when I got there.... tell me more if it gets better after what time and the days? I went on a Saturday night.