Trad'r Sam

music user

Truly fun local dive bar with a bunch of tiki elements and a strong drinks menu served up with flair and panache. The cocktails are enormous and powerful, as befits a tiki bar. Also great mix of drinkers here and thankfully this place has not become douchefied like so many other S.F. institutions

Deborah Jansport

Oh man. This place. Strong fruity drinks (go for the zombie if you want to get inebrieted quickly...like I did) and the bartenders are super cool. The tiki atmosphere is also really fun. I will be back!

D Cheh

No fancy decor but a friendly bartender and good drinks! There are no explanations on the menu but the bartender will assist in choosing.

N J (NJ)

rader Sam’s is one of those rare San Francisco bars that feels like stepping into a fully realized world rather than just another place to grab a drink. The immersive tiki décor, warm amber lighting, and layers of hand-crafted details give the space a cozy, transportive feel that immediately sets it apart from typical cocktail bars. It’s intimate without feeling cramped, with different pockets of seating that make it work equally well for quiet conversations or casual group outings. While the bar is clearly adult-oriented in terms of drinks, the playful tropical visuals make it approachable and visually engaging even earlier in the evening. The atmosphere leans relaxed and nostalgic rather than loud or chaotic, which makes it a great stop for people who value ambiance as much as cocktails. Accessibility is generally manageable with ground-level seating and open walkways, though tighter areas near the bar may require some navigation

Sean Grandin

Loved my experience here the cocktails tasted ok the Mai Tai wasn’t traditional but was ok I liked the zombie more. They typically blend the zombie but the bartender gave us the choice so we went with it on the rocks. They also take card now but charge a transaction fee.

Raechel W

Perfection. Honestly it's perfect It's a dive bar for deseres so much love. Theo is incredible. He is so comfortable to the point he literally chased away a guy who was beyond his limits. He reads people and services them pointedly. As a Florida native he's one of the best!!!! Love this place.

C Maneedul

Great dive bar with great crowds. Angie’s is lovely to us and her Mai Tai is the best! Be careful of the Scorpion bowl, it is waaaaaaaay too good.

Love this place! Bartenders are always super nice even when it gets a little busy, drinks are delicious, and the atmosphere is always a great vibe. Never had a bad time here!

Quintessential Dive Bar with Hawaiian theme, Huge drink menu and friendly neighborhood vibe.

Pretty chill spot, feels an indoor tiki lounge. The main bartenders are very friendly. They don’t skimp on alcohol in mixed drinks and they aren’t over priced.

Five stars across the board!!!!! I spent time in 2020 in San Francisco. I was new to the city and the family at this bar made me feel right at home they took me in like a lost little puppy and the owner of the bar. Who’s a beautiful woman drove me around with her boyfriends over to Sausalito and the Golden Gate Bridge so that I didn’t have to walk in put myself in a dangerous situation. I will always be grateful for everyone that I met in that bar, including the owner.

Better Mai Tai than Trader Vic’s. Cass was a knowledgeable bartender.

Drinks? So good. The pours at this place? So generous a single order could feed a family. Staff? Swashbuckling chilllers. Vibe? Never heard of tiki bars, we just like rum and our neighbor had a lot of free bamboo and we had extra little umbrellas from my daughters diorama project. Please never change.

Jophiel Angel Gordon

Quintessential Dive Bar with Hawaiian theme, Huge drink menu and friendly neighborhood vibe.

Wilson Porteus

Better Mai Tai than Trader Vic’s. Cass was a knowledgeable bartender.

Dallas Reeves

Love this place! Bartenders are always super nice even when it gets a little busy, drinks are delicious, and the atmosphere is always a great vibe. Never had a bad time here!

Luis Maha

Pretty chill spot, feels an indoor tiki lounge. The main bartenders are very friendly. They don’t skimp on alcohol in mixed drinks and they aren’t over priced.

Casey Meehan

Drinks? So good. The pours at this place? So generous a single order could feed a family. Staff? Swashbuckling chilllers. Vibe? Never heard of tiki bars, we just like rum and our neighbor had a lot of free bamboo and we had extra little umbrellas from my daughters diorama project. Please never change.

Trisha

Five stars across the board!!!!! I spent time in 2020 in San Francisco. I was new to the city and the family at this bar made me feel right at home they took me in like a lost little puppy and the owner of the bar. Who’s a beautiful woman drove me around with her boyfriends over to Sausalito and the Golden Gate Bridge so that I didn’t have to walk in put myself in a dangerous situation. I will always be grateful for everyone that I met in that bar, including the owner.

Chris Olds

This is a pleasant neighborhood "dive bar" with great bartenders, a huge drink menu and great prices. I don't go often, but every time that I have gone has been a nice experience and I've brought friends and family and everyone has had a good time. I highly recommend it.

First time here. Went on a recommendation. Great spot. Angie is great. Delicious drinks. Not overpriced. Will definitely add to my list of regular stops.

Such a classic dive bar without any of the pretension of newer ones. The menu is basically incomprehensible, as it's full of hilarious descriptions of the drinks instead of anything resembling reality. Cash only, lots of regulars, and a really nice vibe in the place.

There's a gender neutral bathroom but it's primarily for men. As soon as you walk in, follow the path to your left for gender neutral/ men's or to the left for exclusively Ladies. The men's restroom was adequately clean but there was some paper towels on the ground. Great for groups, the cobra bowl serves a good 4 people. It's only 16 bucks so it's easy to split.

This is a fun bar with a great atmosphere. Try one of the big bowls of liquor.

Marco Urias

There's a gender neutral bathroom but it's primarily for men. As soon as you walk in, follow the path to your left for gender neutral/ men's or to the left for exclusively Ladies. The men's restroom was adequately clean but there was some paper towels on the ground. Great for groups, the cobra bowl serves a good 4 people. It's only 16 bucks so it's easy to split.

coachlunk Rubio

This is a fun bar with a great atmosphere. Try one of the big bowls of liquor.

Justin Gies

First time here. Went on a recommendation. Great spot. Angie is great. Delicious drinks. Not overpriced. Will definitely add to my list of regular stops.

Becca Gomez Farrell

Such a classic dive bar without any of the pretension of newer ones. The menu is basically incomprehensible, as it's full of hilarious descriptions of the drinks instead of anything resembling reality. Cash only, lots of regulars, and a really nice vibe in the place.

Beware. My husband and his friend tried to get a drink around 4pm. They’re both here on spousal visas. The bartender asked to see their passports (obviously over 21 and unexpired) and then to check their visas, then would not serve them because their applications are in process. This is the normal legal process for a green card application but apparently this bar thinks it’s ICE and refused to serve them. Thought you only had to be over 21 to drink in a bar but apparently you also have to show your papers to people who don’t even understand the legal system. Beware of ICE at this bar, super creepy

Rachel

Beware. My husband and his friend tried to get a drink around 4pm. They’re both here on spousal visas. The bartender asked to see their passports (obviously over 21 and unexpired) and then to check their visas, then would not serve them because their applications are in process. This is the normal legal process for a green card application but apparently this bar thinks it’s ICE and refused to serve them. Thought you only had to be over 21 to drink in a bar but apparently you also have to show your papers to people who don’t even understand the legal system. Beware of ICE at this bar, super creepy