Whenever I drink at The Little Shamrock, I become overwhelmed with a sense of history. Considering that it is the second oldest bar in the City, (and the seventh oldest in the United States, according to sloshspot.com) this should come as no surprise. Since 1863, drinkers have been coming to this legendary establishment and imbibing brew, wine and spirits to ease their minds. When you become ensconced in the old furniture and take in the dark wood bar, antique cash register and clock that reputedly stopped ticking at the moment of the 1906 earthquake, you get the feeling that the liquor bottles don’t contain the only spirits that occupy the joint, that the place is filled with boozy apparitions who do not wish to cross over into a phantom plain that may not serve alcohol.
Man does this place know how to party. The mixed drinks are strong, they have Guinness on tap and the Irish coffee’s are exemplary. It’s both neighborhood hang out and destination spot. It’s also a gamer paradise, with two sturdy backgammon tables, darts in the back room and an assortment of board games with which to play. If these don’t suit your fancy, bring in a deck of cards and settle in.
Located at 807 Lincoln at Ninth Street, there are few spots in San Francisco more perfectly situated. Across the way is Golden Gate Park with its many museums and amusements. The surrounding neighborhood is teeming with restaurants, cafes and shops such as Park Chow, Le Video, the Beanery, Tart to Tart and Naan n’ Curry. (It is lamentable that Irving Street lost Black Oak Books.) If you are a Muni rider, the 6 and the 71 pass directly by headed both east and west. So if it’s rainy or cold outside, step in for a little pick me up while you wait.
The bartenders are terrific as well. Drew, who has been an anchor at the “Shammy” since long before I can remember is a friendly and efficient professional. Look also for Tavahn, who is fast becoming a local legend. And keep your eye out for Val. He’ll be sitting at the bar in his inviolable stool, but chips in from time to time with odd tasks when the going gets rough. Between the three of them, there is more abstract music knowledge than an encyclopedia, so the tunes are generally good.
The Little Shamrock is in a building that also has a couple of apartments situated above. I have often fantasized about how great it would be to live just upstairs from one of my very favorite bars in the world. Though I don’t live in the City anymore, I think I’d move back if one of them ever opened up.
Maybe then, in a hundred years, I would be haunting the place.
Man does this place know how to party. The mixed drinks are strong, they have Guinness on tap and the Irish coffee’s are exemplary. It’s both neighborhood hang out and destination spot. It’s also a gamer paradise, with two sturdy backgammon tables, darts in the back room and an assortment of board games with which to play. If these don’t suit your fancy, bring in a deck of cards and settle in.
Located at 807 Lincoln at Ninth Street, there are few spots in San Francisco more perfectly situated. Across the way is Golden Gate Park with its many museums and amusements. The surrounding neighborhood is teeming with restaurants, cafes and shops such as Park Chow, Le Video, the Beanery, Tart to Tart and Naan n’ Curry. (It is lamentable that Irving Street lost Black Oak Books.) If you are a Muni rider, the 6 and the 71 pass directly by headed both east and west. So if it’s rainy or cold outside, step in for a little pick me up while you wait.
The bartenders are terrific as well. Drew, who has been an anchor at the “Shammy” since long before I can remember is a friendly and efficient professional. Look also for Tavahn, who is fast becoming a local legend. And keep your eye out for Val. He’ll be sitting at the bar in his inviolable stool, but chips in from time to time with odd tasks when the going gets rough. Between the three of them, there is more abstract music knowledge than an encyclopedia, so the tunes are generally good.
The Little Shamrock is in a building that also has a couple of apartments situated above. I have often fantasized about how great it would be to live just upstairs from one of my very favorite bars in the world. Though I don’t live in the City anymore, I think I’d move back if one of them ever opened up.
Maybe then, in a hundred years, I would be haunting the place.
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