21 Club (CLOSED)

Sick of the $12-cocktail tech scene? 21 Club is a reminder of old San Francisco. This hole-in-the-wall is on the main drag of the Tenderloin, and the crowd represents a cross-section of the city, from drug addicts to office workers and everything in between. There’s also prime people-watching out the (frequently cracked) corner windows. Head to the bar, say hi to Frank the beleaguered bartender and order a drink either stiff or simple—preferably both. The old-school mechanical jukebox covers all the classics, and Frank knows all the words. Visit the bathroom if you must.