A–Z

Tamales out of an insulated cooler at the BART entrance — pork, chicken, rajas con queso. The block is a four-minute walk from…

One of SF's Japanese-styled 7-Elevens, stocked with Japanese snacks and prepared foods.

Geary Street hookah lounge open until 2am every night.

Japantown karaoke lounge with a packed weekend list and a stubbornly old-school vibe.

Restored historic cinema with full food and cocktail service at your seat. Late shows most nights.

24-hour cafe with pastries, donuts, and breakfast sandwiches. Reliable for 3am fuel.

Palo Alto's holdout dive. Peanut shells on the floor, a stuffed gorilla in a cage, and a pool table that's seen things.

Multi-floor venue with a main stage, lower level with bowling and arcade, and a rooftop. Hybrid concert/nightlife space.

Downtown San Mateo cocktail/dance hybrid. Quiet on weeknights, packed Saturdays.

The legendary bacon-wrapped dog with grilled onions, peppers, and three squeeze-bottle sauces. Pops up on the BART plaza after…

Dive rock bar with a full kitchen (Overkill Grill). Great pool tables, burgers, and tots.

Excelsior pool hall with late hours.

Tight, ambitious modern-Japanese plates. Counter seats are the move; weekends run late.

Intimate jazz supper club with full dinner service and live music.

Castro-adjacent cocktail bar with a pool table and eclectic design.

SF's most famous 24hr donut shop. Home of the giant donut challenge. Open since the 1960s.

Independent Potrero venue known for catching bands just before they break out.

The Temescal outpost of the SF original. Tea leaf salad and the platha line are still the move.

24-hour Filipino-American diner inside Lucky Chances Casino. Silogs, kare kare, and halo halo at any hour.

Junk-shop maximalist Uptown cocktail bar with antlers on every wall. Famous for fresh-squeezed grapefruit greyhounds and an…

Mid-Peninsula's late-night café. Espresso, panini, and a covered front patio that works as a third place.

Downtown SJ's stubborn punk dive. Cheap drinks, sticky floors, and shows that don't soundcheck quietly.

Mission cocktail lounge with quirky vintage pendant lights and reasonable prices.

Castro Street Latin tapas with live music on the back patio. A staple of late-evening MV.

Full kitchen until midnight every night in the Castro, with a cocktail program.

Rooftop bar atop the Proper Hotel with 360 views, fire pits, and a polished cocktail program. More bar than restaurant after 10.

Intimate comedy venue with strong local lineups.

Rooftop Nikkei (Japanese-Peruvian) spot that transitions into club-adjacent vibes at night with a DJ.

Korean rice bowls served from a steel-cart kitchen. Walking distance from Smugglers Cove and the late government-shift crowd.

Larger comedy club in North Beach hosting touring headliners.

Downtown San Jose's elder-statesman dive. Vinyl seats, neon, and a juke that earns its keep.

24-hour gym inside the Marriott Marquis, open to the public. Clean, modern, with showers and a steam room.

Venezuelan-leaning all-day café that pivots into a late-night work room. Espresso and arepas after midnight.

Indian-fusion burritos and tikka masala fries from the Bay Area chain that started as a single truck.

Deco-style jazz bar with craft cocktails. Drinks-only spot with nightly live sets.

24-hour Denny's near SFO. Classic post-flight or post-3am breakfast diner move.

Long-running multi-room club with its own attached pizza place and a queer-friendly crowd.

Beloved Mission dive with pinball, a great jukebox, and a neon sign worth a photo.

Northern-Italian kitchen with a serious wine list. Late-evening pasta and tableside conversation.

Brewery-pizza beer hall in a converted Uptown dealership. Long communal tables, big patio, taps deep.

The Mission's taco-truck network. Al pastor and tripas after dark. Look for the truck around the corner from Pop's Bar and…

Decades-deep rock'n'roll dive with a tiny stage that's hosted everyone. Cheap beer, sticky floor, no pretense.

Three-floor arcade bar with pinball, classic cabinets, pool, and a DJ stage.

Cozy Castro Street Turkish kitchen. Late-evening kebabs, mezze plates, and Turkish coffee.

Tiny Montclair cocktail spot with a tight list and a fireplace-corner energy.

Long-running underground club with a loyal SoMa electronic scene.

Old-school Geary Boulevard pool hall. Classic felt, classic vibe.

Century-old Piedmont Ave creamery. Banana splits the size of small children. The 'Up' movie connection is real.

SJSU-adjacent 24-hour diner. Greek-Cal menu and the kind of post-bar booth you remember the next morning.

Wood-fired pies and big shared salads at Jack London Square. Outdoor seating with a view of the masts.

Library-floor café open into the small hours during the school year. Coffee, the occasional sandwich, and quiet.

Mission Street pizza and grill joint that stays open very late on weekends.

Hidden cocktail room behind a tailor-shop facade. Serious drinks, low light, low volume.

All-night halal grocery and prepared-food counter in mid-Market. Yes there's a kitchen counter, but the back-shelf groceries are…

24-hour halal market and shawarma spot with a rooftop lounge. Mid-Market anchor for late food.

The closest you'll get to NYC street halal in SF. Foam clamshell, mountain of chicken, white sauce, hot sauce. Quick walk from…

Hidden alley bar with a vinyl-record motif and a live DJ. Great cocktail variety.

Gatsby-styled two-room club with separate hip-hop and electronic rooms.

1883 saloon at Jack London Square with floors tilted by the 1906 quake. Cash-friendly, regulars-driven, the kind of bar that…

Long-running Oakland vegan truck. Loaded fries and seitan plates that change weekly. Pops up around Eli's and the Stork Club on…

Hotel Durant pub on the edge of campus. Sports, pub food, decent beer list.

Strongest late-night ramen option downtown. Multiple broth styles including a bonito-forward signature.

Closest 24hr IHOP for post-bar pancakes south of the city.

SJSU-edge craft beer bar plus bottle shop. Rotating taps, knowledgeable staff, growlers to go.

Uptown ramen shop with a tight broth lineup and bar seats facing an open kitchen.

Daly City Italian-American institution since 1956. Open kitchen counter, prime rib, and the corner booths fill early.

Detroit-style square pies with creative toppings. Late-night weekend hours in the Mission.

Massive Belgian-leaning beer list, a tree-shaded back patio, and live jazz late on weekends.

24-hour hospital and ER. Listed for completeness as a late-night critical resource.

Last surviving 1920s bait-shop-turned-bar in Temescal. Outdoor heaters, shuffleboard, cheap beer.

Divey live-music bar hosting local bands and DJ nights. Small but fun.

Hong Kong-style dessert cafe (cha chaan teng). Sesame and almond soup, mango sago, waffles until midnight.

Decades-deep SJSU-adjacent taquería. Famous for the orange sauce that fuels half of downtown's late-night decisions.

Crashed-plane themed tiki bar with fire effects and plane-seat bar stools. Gimmicky but fun.

Private-room karaoke in the Fillmore. Deep Chinese and English song libraries.

Iconic Chinatown dive. The Chinese Mai Tai is the signature, a high ABV rum punch in a unique room.

Hotel cocktail bar that doubles as one of downtown Redwood City's later-running rooms.

Polished but not stuffy cocktail room in Old Oakland's brick-lined Washington Street block.

Open 24 hours. Full Cal-Filipino menu plus a cardroom; the parking lot tells you which shift you're catching.

Upscale bowling and arcade lounge across from Oracle Park.

Manuel Martinez's Latin tapas room on Broadway. Inventive plates and a deep wine list.

Cavernous Uptown cocktail bar with two indoor bocce courts and a relaxed neighborhood crowd.

Moroccan dinner and hookah lounge with occasional live entertainment acts.

South Bay's all-night diner. Pancakes, hash browns, and patient servers who've seen everything.

Funky Mission dive with a jukebox, pool table, and friendly regulars.

Sprawling international buffet just over the SF line. Late-evening sittings, lots of plates.

Neighborhood pizza and delivery shop, reliable late-night fallback.

Live jazz nightly with an Asian-leaning kitchen. Cozy Hayes Valley setting.

24-hour Outer Richmond gym. Access-code entry, serious lifting focus, near the beach.

Late-night Vietnamese cafe with banh mi and tea drinks until midnight.

Hayes Valley dessert cafe serving bingsu, kaya toast, and mango sticky rice until 11pm.

Nostalgic 24-hour burger and pie chain. The Westlake location is a local late-night institution.

Library-themed cocktail bar known for punches on tap. Good for groups.

1956 downtown SJ classic. Bow-tie servers, open kitchen counter, late steaks and ravioli when the rest of downtown has shut.

Owl-themed cocktail bar with old SF charm and a private upstairs event space.

Critically acclaimed cocktail bar highlighting Asian-inspired ingredients.

Pupuseria with generous fillings and live mariachi on good nights. Weekend hours push deep into the night.

Private-room karaoke with a full bar. Half-off rooms Mon-Tue.

Two-story downtown cocktail bar with a packed rooftop. Strong list, sharp service.

Mediterranean restaurant with a full hookah lounge. Late kitchen and hookah service.

Stylish cocktail lounge with a resident DJ and moody ambiance. Open to 2am every night.

Downtown boba shop open to 11pm. Serves drinks in reusable glass bottles.

Well-stocked neighborhood 24hr convenience store. Grocery, frozen food, pet food, ice cream.

Chill Mission dive. Low-key vibe, movies on low volume, photo booth in the back.

Bowling alley tucked into the Presidio. Weekend hours go past midnight.

Longest-running comedy club in SF. Two-drink minimum, well-known touring acts.

Dance bar known for 90s and 2000s throwback nights. Thursday through Saturday only.

Upscale Mexican on Hamilton with a serious tequila program and a covered back patio.

Massive Japanese-style entertainment complex. Arcade, bowling, karaoke, and darts under one roof, open until 2am nightly.

Full-service 24-hour grocery on Market St. Pharmacy attached. The Castro's late-night reset button.

Downtown SJ food hall and bar block. Multiple stalls, multiple bars, big covered patio.

Downtown MV New-American with a covered patio and a late kitchen on weekends.

Bay Area's most-followed food truck. Filipino sisig in burritos, fries, and nachos. Long lines for a reason.

Purpose-built jazz concert hall. The Miner Auditorium has been praised as one of the best listening rooms anywhere.

Rooftop lounge with SF skyline views and a later-than-most closing time.

Sister bar to Haberdasher with its own tight list. Counter seats, attentive bartenders.

Widely considered one of the best tiki bars in the country. Deep rum list and a multi-level interior.

Castro Street Irish pub. Pints, footy on the screens, fish and chips you can rely on.

One of the latest Chinese kitchens in the city. Taishanese specialties until 3am every night.

Small izakaya with yakitori, ramen, and Japanese small plates. Late hours Wed-Sat.

Iconic 24th & Mission taqueria. Super burritos and al pastor that built the Mission burrito legend. Cash only.

Big-room EDM club with LED-heavy production and touring DJs. Thursday through Saturday only.

Classic Mission dive bar with a giant neon sign and a photo booth in the back.

Berkeley's oldest pub. Free popcorn, shuffleboard, darts, trivia, and a fireplace that earns the wait list.

Custom ice-cream cookie sandwiches. Late hours on weekends.

Tiki-leaning lounge in downtown San Mateo. Velvet, mai tais, the occasional rumrunner.

Hayes Valley chicken sandwich and burger spot with a sports bar side. Open late on weekends.

Steamed and baked buns — pork belly, curry chicken, BBQ — that built a following before the brick-and-mortar.

Legendary Fillmore music hall with chandeliers and free posters after the show.

Upscale pool hall with Diamond tables and a cocktail program.

Beloved intimate concert venue, consistently ranked among SF's best.

Living-room-meets-dance-floor: thrift-store sofas up front, DJs and dance floor in the back.

Large warehouse venue with multiple rooms. House and techno focus, with art installations throughout.

Open-to-the-crowd karaoke (not private rooms). Longtime SF institution.

Mid-size Uptown concert room programming heavy on hip-hop, soul, and Bay Area legends.

Two-story Stanford-tilted sports bar with a mechanical bull in the back room. It's that kind of place.

Downtown SJ multi-room nightclub. EDM and hip-hop dominate weekends; SJSU crowd.

Dimly lit vintage bar with a live Hammond organist most nights. A true SF original.

Day-to-night San Jose downtown room. Espresso early, cocktails and DJs late.

South Berkeley Irish pub with traditional sessions, indie shows, and a stubborn Bay Area authenticity.

Pink-lit Uptown rock club with a deeper history than its size suggests.

Two-floor Mission dance bar with rotating themed nights.

One of the country's oldest continuously-running queer bars (1933). Dance floor, drag, and packed weekends.

Downtown MV's longstanding brewpub. House taps and a covered front patio that fills early.

Mid-Peninsula sports-bar with pool tables and late hours when the rest of San Mateo has packed in.

Cash-friendly campus hot dog counter. Chorizo and kielbasa hit different at 1am.

Downtown SJ's neighborhood Irish pub. Imperial pints, fish & chips, regulars who know the bartenders.

One of the country's first brewpubs (1986). House IPAs, rooftop deck, burgers stay on the menu late.

One of SF's oldest bars. Premium whiskey flights at approachable prices, livelier than a traditional dive.

Wood-fired pizzas downtown. Crust is the star. Bar seats the move on weekends.

24-hour pharmacy in the Castro. One of the only after-10pm options on that strip.

Soft pretzels, hot dogs, and sodas on a folding table at the edge of Washington Square. The post-Specs lifeline.

Polk Street Chinese kitchen open until 1am, solid for a late group meal.

Chinatown classic known for salt and pepper crab, clams in black bean sauce, and boiled chicken with ginger.