Phone Booth
1398 S Van Ness Avenue
(between 24th St & 25th St)
San Francisco, CA 94110 (415) 648-4683
- Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: No
- Parking: Street
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Music: Juke Box
- Best Nights: Wed, Thu, Fri
- Happy Hour: Yes
- Alcohol: Full Bar
- Smoking: Yes
- Coat Check: No
77 reviews
Neighborhood: Nob Hill
"Went here for my first yelp event this past friday. The bartenders are awesome. Super friendly and sociable. Megan is probably the best…" read more »
153 Reviews for Phone Booth
phonebooth. i always thought of you as my neighborhood bar, i'm sorry that i didn't put in the effort to make our relationship come to fruition. now that i am moving to the east bay, i can only express my feelings through the lyrics of james blunt:
Goodbye my lover.
Goodbye my friend.
You have been the one.
You have been the one for me.
So I was sitting in the 21st Amendment drinking mediocre beer and the person I'm hanging out with says, "lets go to the phone booth, do you know where that is?" I'm a little surprised because she lives in North Beach and I didn't think anyone outside the Mission knew about this place. It's on the far side of the mission and not on the trendy side of Mission St.
Not only do I know about it but also it's only a few blocks from my house. I wandered in there once and I got the feeling that it's a really clicky place and hadn't been back because while I liked it no one ever suggested going there.
The Phone booth is a cool little spot, it's small like the name suggests. There are plenty of colorful regulars, including a girl with elf ears. The beer is still only $4 a pint. Also they didn't even seem to get mad when my companion kicked the table and knocked all the drinks on the floor breaking the glasses in the process. They sprung into action to clean it up like it happens there regularly.
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God bless it, I love the Phone Booth. That there is a place in San Francisco where I can smoke, eat free popcorn, sing along to both Wham and Interpol and get my shit rocked for $3.50 a glass makes me believe in Jesus again.
The good news is this place is one of my top three favorite bars in the city. The bad news is it's everyone else's top three favorites. Don't show up here at Rock O'Clock and expect to do anything except share a stool with a cute and slightly smelly hipster in a scarf, otherwise you'll be wearing your cranky pants. That said, it's just a happy place to be.
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ME likey like. It's divey dive.
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Eww, smoking in bars... gross. I hate it when that smoke lingers on your clothes for days. And its hipster central! Its like American Apparel opened a dive bar.
Though not my scene, the drinks were pretty cheap, and if you smoke, own a bike, and refer yourself as a 'hipster', I can see it being a fun place to be. I'll take my fresh air over this anyday. *cough cough*.
I always wondered why people liked this bar when I passed it. After finally venturing in, now I see why. The perfect mix of low lighting, cheap drinks, and no frills--exactly what I like in a bar. And for peeping toms, there are two windowed doors looking straight into the girls bathroom...
I hate to take away a star from my favorite neighborhood bar, but I must be honest with my fellow yelpers.
I still love the bar, the jukebox, decor, prices, etc. but some of the bartenders are just not nice. I always order my drinks nicely, I always say "thank you", I always tip, so, why not a fucking smile? why not a "hey!"? or a "how are you doing?"? I exclude Martin (he's great!) and Sarah (she makes great Hawaiian Punch shots and always smiles).
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12/21/2007
My favorite bar! My favorite spot for Dia de los Muertos. Love the jukebox. Love the drink tickets.… Read more »
Overheard from the walls of this place in between songs: "Please redecorate me. I'm such a cliche. This is so embarrassing." *whimpers then a slow sob*
This evenings special was a Captain Morgans with Fresh Ginger. So, damn good! Mwah!
Comfy place. It's kind of like someones basement back in the Midwest that was furnished in the early 80's with garage sale clutter. Ew and homey at the same time.
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The jukebox is awesome, not to mention the cheap drinks ($3.50 for a whiskey and coke). Probably won't be coming back though, the smoke has gotten out of control.I hate the fact that people smoke inside of this place, and I can't seem to get the cigarette smell out of my hair.
My best friend's arm got fucked up by a crazy drunk who the owner's never reported so I've got some beef with this place. I thought it was homely, why it gotta get all nasty?
Other than that, man, I always have a good time here. Unlike other dive bars the wine isn't god awful, and I can even drink the beer from time to time. Best of all though folks is the juke box. I always learn something new, say a song, whenever I go here. Good selection, great customers who pick great music to listen too.
I need to go back, lest I listen to Lou Reed yet another millionth time in a row.
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You can smoke inside, but I don't smoke anymore.
Their drinks are strong and cheap, but it's cash only.
It's within walking distance of Amanda's apartment, but for the first 5 minutes, we weren't even sure there was a bartender on duty.
They have a pool table, but I'm sure if I asked to play they'd tell me to fuck right off.
Soooo...3 stars.
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Ok, Ok,
I've owed this place a review a long time ago. The Knockout is where I get my BINGO game fix. The Phone Booth is where I get my Naked Barbie Doll Chandelier fix. It was love at first sight. Not only is it a 3 minute stumble/ crawl from my house, but on any given night, this place is packed to the gills with a friendly, rowdy, sloppy bunch of lookers and ruffians.
This is where you profess your love and appreciation to your roommates and friends through drunken group hugs. This is where you help your friends pick up on other gals and guys, and no one is creeped out. This is where you can talk to your neighbors, crash in on their conversations and everyone will return the love back.
It's a rowdy oasis smack in the middle of a quiet yet shady mini hood of Mission. Oh how I love thee.
Btw, I'm starting this new bar game I'll call "Piggyback Pickup". It's where you notice your friends getting hit on, about to get a drink bought for them, and you quickly slip in and get introduced and wallah! Sympathy friend drink! Yummmmm.
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Stephie went to Phonebooth for her friend's 21st, because her friend was trying to get laid by a midget douche. Aren't the midget douches the worst? It seems the shorter you get as a douche, the more insulting it is to the senses. Anyway, some weird troll looking guy entertained her by barking nonsense and screaming at his dog, Joseph. Stephie, being a comedic genius herself, sensed that he was trying to be funny and appreciated it, because hanging out while your friend tries to get laid by a midget douche for her 21st birthday is pretty, pretty, pretty.... lame.
Stephie says don't bother washing your hands after the bathroom.
Mikey says, "what's phonebooth?"
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I'd give this local watering hole five stars, but the smoking inside made me only give the Phone Booth four stars.
It was earlier on Friday evening when I was there, loved the jukebox, and the bartender, who wasn't outwardly friendly, but did make a good vodka martini that I requested be extra dirty (pornographic actually, as I like to call them).
The crowd was mixed, both gay and straight, and many people sang along when their favorite song came on, including a rowdy rendition of "9 to 5" from Dolly Parton. Overall, this was a place that you really need to have some drinks at, it's that much fun. Just be sure if cigarette smoke bothers you, get ready to hold your breath.
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Gotta love everything about this local dive bar except the smoking.... is what it is I guess. Sometimes feel a little like I'm hopping in the water at fort point with a "heh is this a cool spot to surf" look on my face with the overly local feel, but great nonetheless.
I have always wanted to shmob down to Phone Booth - partially because I'm a masochist, partially because I identify socially with the urban "hipster", minus the PBR and the greasy hair.
Apparently, Phone Booth is decorated with hipster wallpaper and hipster lights because I blended in so well that every drunk girl with streaky hair and skinny jeans that came in while I was waiting for my drinking partner to show up managed to not only bump into me but pretty much sat right on top of me.
They pour a moderately OK Guinness - but who goes to a hipster bar for Guinness anyway?
Highlight of the evening?
The blonde-haired Scarlett Johansson-look alike who came over and said "Hi, you look like you need someone to talk to."
I grinned at her, inappropriate thoughts of gangbangs crossing my mind, and said, "Oh, hey, I'm just waiting for someone."
Apparently, *she* was the one who needed someone to talk to. Because she proceeded to tell me how she was from Santa Cruz and used to be a stripper but is now going to school to be a masseuse. She told me there's no money in stripping but I discovered that you can make $100 letting skeezoids from Craigslist pee on you. Thanks for that helpful bit of info, drunk stripper girl!!
Why do these people find ME in bars?
Yeah, no, I take that back.
Highlight of the evening?
Leaving and going to a different bar.
3 very reluctant non-PBR-drinking stars.
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Chicagoans: This bar is like a mixture of The Empty Bottle and Hungry Brain.
I came here on a Sunday afternoon and there was a great crowd. Mostly older men that didn't look like they'd hang out at a hipster bar. But they were sweet and the clientele changes the later in the day it gets.
Super cool bartender and even super cool-er Barbie chandelier. Good stuff on the jukebox. it was just my speed. Not sure if it is this cool on a weekend night, but I loved it.
I have to give this place 3 stars since I can't decide whether I love or hate this bar.
On the downside you can smoke inside, the bathrooms have windows the rest of the bar can see into, the bartenders have no problem telling you off, and the clientele is noisy and like to scream as they are exiting the bar which is almost directly below my window.
On the upside the bar is almost directly below my bedroom window, there is usually a ton of room to carouse about, there seems to be at least a bit of a crowd there every night, and the drinks are cheap.
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ME: "Operator, I'd like the number to the Phone Booth"
OPERATOR: "You'd like a number to a phone booth?"
ME: "No, it's a bar"
OPERATOR: "You'd like the number to a phone booth inside a bar???"
ME: "Sheesh"
DIAL TONE.
WIth that aside, this establishment lies in the top three of my bars of choice in the city. You can get beers in a can. A martini in the proper glass, and the usual fare with friendly tenders behind the bar.
It has a pool table probably not regulation size b/c of the small size of the room, probably the size of a large phone booth, haha. I've heard complaints from some girl companions about the peeping tom views of the bathrooms, i say, flaunt it bitches!
And then there's the smoke. I'm a weird smoker, i only buy packs when i'm in bukowski writing modes which is 3 or 4 months out of the year. People do chain smoke here, but usually not at the counter. But your clothes will wreak of parliaments, i say, smell it bitches!
There is the hip factor especially at party time on the weekends which can annoy. One insulted me, "what accent did you lose?". Hehe, good one, it's going in the script.
The juke is better than most with some electro and cheese metal, and the crowd can shake to it.
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With the sultry red lighting, Phone Booth looks a lot like a smaller version of The Attic, a Mission favorite of mine. But the scene here is a lot fringier, right down to the Van Ness & 25th edge-of-nowhere location. There were a few classy hipsters (myself included of course), but a lot of the patrons had taken the chain-smoking counterculture thing into the realm of sketchiness...at least that's the vibe I got. Oddly, the jukebox blared a hell of a lot of cheesy 80's music. I was too busy car-bombing my PBR & Jameson to determine what level of irony that amounted to. All told, it's worth having in your Mission bar-folio, but not going to be my first destination.
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I haven't been to the Phone Booth in over a year, but I absolutely loved it! The jukebox is unbeatable (they've got everything from Husker Du to Patti Smith to New Order). The crowd can be obnoxious, but that's pretty standard for a dive bar. I had a fantastic time. I don't actually remember the price of drinks :), but I think it was pretty reasonable. Can't wait to go back next time I'm in SF!
the phone booth is one of my 'safety bars.'
this means justin can walk to and from the bar. I will not condone bicycling under the influence, but I've had my fair share of riding with bubble-headedness. As said in previous posts, this is another bar with another great jukebox. It was here that I heard a song that really moved me and I haven't been really grabbed by one single song in a long time. So, I chasséd over to the jukebox and it turned out to be Ozzy! "goodbye to romance" was the title of the track. damn, if that didn't turn my day around, with a tag team of ozzy, whiskey and cigarette smoke, I had no hope. the dive pulled through and I strolled home happy as a clam. the only qualm I have with this joint is the space. not that I need a tremendous amount of space to get my drink on, it's inefficient for shooting some pool. they do, however, offer the short straw cue. but still... I can smoke and shoot a game without breaking focus. don't stop smokin' phone booth, you're one of the last of the chimney bars.
dear phonebooth,
you never ever let me down! cheap delicious drinks that get me plastered every time (awesome bloody marys), i often bump into random friends from my past, but even if i don't, i never fail to make new friends. everyone, is nice, interactive, drunk. free popcorn, at least one of the same bartenders since i moved to sf around 2002, some things in the mission keep changing but i'm glad i can always come here at the end of my night and stumble out nearly nauseous!
I went to Phone Booth over the weekend with a friend of mine after hitting up Truck earlier.
Wow, this bar is pretty cool. I haven't been to a bar in awhile that allowed smokers to smoke inside. I'm NOT a cigarette smoker, but for some reason the smoke didn't bother me, despite seeing at least 8 people smoking. Stangely enough the smoke kinda added to the cool vibe. Because it's smokey, if you were so inclined, I bet you could get away with smoking the other stuff here too.
I liked the music being played on the jukebox and the bartenders were real nice. I will go back again.
It seemed to be mostly a straight bar, but me and my gay male friend felt very comfortable. I prefer mixed clientele bars and this one worked just fine. Very cool and tolerant crowd.
Minus 1 star because I wish they had a dart board, since I don't play pool.
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My friends brought me to this place once when I was visiting. After that night I officially re-named it "The Stinky Cigarette." (And I smoke, so that says a lot!) The lighting is dark, which is probably a good thing because I'm scared to find out what it really looks like in there. And it literally is the size of a phone booth... it's amazing that the amount of people who go to this place can actually fit in there! On the plus side, the drinks were strong and cheap so you can't argue with that. When I went, a good time was had by all, but that can probably be attributed to the company I was with.
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Dark, narrow and has a pool table. Sounds like a nice corner bar don't it?
The things that separate this joint from the rest are the cool jukebox and a bartender who isn't afraid to tell you to be patient while she takes care of everybody in order.
The drinks are not expensive $3.75 for a well whiskey and soda. If for some reason I was ever in the area again I suppose I would drop by and possibly investigate the bathrooms which I hear are a full of notorious happenings.
And yes people smoke inside.
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A big group of us went here after the Super Bowl. It was crowded (but not too crowded) and some of the patrons were belligerent (a little too belligerent). Some perv was hitting on & arguing with my friend, which wasn't cool, but I was able to ignore that freak and listen to the many good songs available on the jukebox. Plus, the bartender periodically checked on us to see if we wanted drinks, which is pretty cool. The only downside (other than the perv) is that it was way too smoky, despite the big no smoking sign, but it's a dive bar so I guess it goes with the territory.
Also, they sell pitchers of PBR for $9. Mmmm, PBR...
I'm rating it 4 stars, because you can't ask for much more from a dive bar than what the Phone Booth has to offer. If I hadn't smelled like smoke/death when I left I'd rate it a 5.
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I had never heard of this place until someone from the neighborhood told me about this hidden little secret. Then the very next night I found myself there.
It's a small. It's a dive. It's dimly lit. There's a pool table in the back. $2 PRB on tap! Not a bad place to kill a few hours with friends.
Oooh, before I forget, there's some impressive kitsch artwork on the walls. Apparently I was so dazzled by the shinny coat of arms up on the wall that I totally missed seeing the Barbie chandler and the popcorn maker!
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Why is it every time I go to this bar, someone winds up making out on the pool table? I think that table sees more lovin than it ever does actual pool.
My favorite pool table pas de deux? The gay man/straight woman tango in which the gentleman in question lavishly twirled and strutted with his partner, and leaned her back onto the pool table (her legs went up in the air in a perfect "V" - water ballet style) before dipping her (nearly to the floor) in front of his friends and yelling to them "I can't handle this vagina!!!"
He said it with obvious enthusiasm. As in "Wow. This vagina is driving me insane with dance madness."
And that is why I love the phone booth. Also, the drinks are cheap.
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whoot!
what a grungy glamourous little place on a corner.
don't wear your best threads or you will hatin' life next time you try to wear your fave shirt and it *still* smells smoky after you've washed in in the hot-hots.
if you're out this way and feel like takin a stroll off mission and checking out the S Van Ness side of life, i'd suggest stopping in here for awhile, but not if you don't smoke- duh.
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Walking into the Phone Booth on a Friday night is like walking into a house party. You get the feeling you're going to know these folks a whole lot better by the time the evening's over.
But unlike a house party, the Phone Booth never fails to deliver an entertaining cast of characters. Wasted and chain smoking, they're looking for nothing but a good time. From jangle jammers to Joeffrey ballet dancers, they're all obliterated.
Go straight to the bar and order a few cheap ones. Drink 'em down and stay until late night oblivion.
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I love a good dive bar. Especially if Dolly is playing on the jukebox and PBR is on tap. I had a great time sitting at the bar, shooting the breeze with my friend, and people-watching. Bonus points for being loud, but not TOO loud.
I could live without the smokiness, but I suppose it does contribute to the overall atmosphere. I agree the bathroom situation was awkward especially because, when I went to use the ladies', there was a man in there who said "Oh, is this the girls' bathroom?"
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I can see the appeal, I mean, if it was my neighborhood I'd be down to go here on random week nights.
But I went on a Saturday night with friends and it was a tad far from me in the TL, and it was too crowded. Couldn't order drinks, couldn't sit down, couldn't get out! The door was blocked by morons who wouldn't move out of the way. I hate feeling trapped. Also, it smelled hot and funky. I ended up going home before my friend attempted to order me a drink. They stayed however and I guess had fun.
Just not my cup of tea for a Saturday night.
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Cheap beer, a chandelier made out of Barbies, laid back people. If you happen to have a birthday cake on hand, the bartender will provide you with a knife for cutting the cake. You can even smoke inside!
All in all this place would merit 5 stars but for the snarky person at the bar who mocked the fact that I used the word "like" in a sentence when I asked the bartender if I could borrow a knife. Please dude, I don't need your sass!
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Cheap drinks, awesome jukebox and a pool table... so what's not to like about the Phone Booth?
* Cigarette smoke. You forget how gross cigarettes are until the smoke gets in your eyes, and on your clothes... even one of the bartenders was smoking.
* It's cold. Maybe it was just a Thursday night thing, but both front doors were open and it was cold at the bar and cold in the bathroom -- which, by the way, is filthier than what you'll encounter at most gas stations.
I like dives, and damn if the Phone Booth doesn't have one of the best jukeboxes I've seen in all of the Bay Area, but I won't be going back anytime soon.
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this place is pretty damn mission, and pretty damn dive-y. they make the strongest drinks known to man that have been said to guarantee a hangover in me the next day. it can get pretty packed as the night wears on but this is generally a place i like to start my night. the jukebox is basically everything that is on my ipod so i always play a block of music for my friends and i while we have a couple drinks. its cheap, its fabulous and i won't be ashamed about liking it.
In the world of red-walled Mission Bars, this has always been the best of the best. It's one of those rare places that is good when it is empty or full, and the barbie-doll chandelier and celebrity photos can't be beat. I am a lighting snob, so the awesomely retro lights get major points with me, as well as always the right amount of votive action on the table.
It's a good bar to mix your gay/straight friends even though I think we should be in a world where we shouldn't have to CARE about that anymore -- but as any social coordinator can attest - there is a burden to keep everyone happy on their night out. I like to take my bridge-and-tunnel friends here earlier in the evening before hitting the tacos on Mission and then heading over to Treat Street Bar on 24th (or whatever they are calling themselves these days). On the weekends, it's a great way to show your friends a good mission bar time without encountering too much of that 16th Street/Marina Girl invasion type of thing. Maybe I'm getting old, but I see my married friends so rarely I actually do have something to say instead of screaming at each other!
The drinks usually pack a lot of vodka to the tonic, and as a "light" drinker, I have to give props to the bartenders to pouring not only a lighter drink for me but also charging half for it.
Be nice to the neighbors - this is off the main drag on South Van Ness - and I know I have a tendency to be a little too happy when leaving the place!
Finally, points for the excellent music on the juke box, although fat chance of hearing any of it after 8pm.
Awesome jukebox, dive-y with the double c's (casual and cool) atmosphere plus stiff drinks, full of locals and the bar tenders know how to make one of my favorite elixirs, captain morgan's w/ pineapple juice....shaken so it's nice and frothe......mornin'!!!!
WAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!
Hear that? It's the sound of legions of yelpers in their 30somethings bitching about teh hipsters.
I like the smell of second hand smoke, I think lesbians are the most fun to hang out with, and the bartender on Sunday nights has the most glorious moustache (I'm so jealous; my speckles of Native American blood make it impossible for me to grow much facial hair.)
Phone Booth, can you move closer to my place? I don't like walking drunk for ten blocks when I have to work in the morning.
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barbie lampshades cool
but dude you know how much illegal shit goes on right outside of this place?
the least you can do is make your restroom stalls over 5' high
or and removing the WINDOW- SEE THROUGH GLASS from the door would be a nice touch?
privacy whatt??
drinks are strong as fffuck... if u are into that sort of thing come here.
usually crowded believe it or not, hard to find a place to sit.
if i was drunk id rate it a 3.
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