The Geary Club

786 Geary St.
415-441-9336

I love the dives. Love them. I love places where I can go with the sole intention of drinking and without fear of jerk strangers talking to me. I love places where, if I choose to talk, I don't have to scream over music. I love places where I can indulge in said drinking at a very low price.

The Geary Club satisfies all of these desires and more. It is 100% bar - no, seriously, that's all there is, a bar. There is no dancefloor, there are no booths; there's hardly even room to pull your pants down in the bathroom. The bar has been around for over 25 years and so has its owner, June, who will concoct a good story when you ask about the obscene stuffed tiger's head above the bar. She also has the talent, if you ask her for an ashtray, of grabbing a piece of aluminum foil and making one for you, right before your eyes.

There are no beers on tap, but the standard bottles start at $2.50. Well drinks are the same price. New additions to the liquor cabinet include Ketel One and Bombay Sapphire "for the younger folks." Call drinks raise prices to $3.50 - ouch! The owner describes the bar as an "old folk's place, but at night the kids will get drunk here before going someplace else." I recommend staying at the Geary Club all night. There is a jukebox that plays sixties and soul (at a reasonable volume), and there are Megatouch thingies, if you're into that.

Me? I just love to drink. You can find The Geary Club between Leavenworth and Hyde on Geary. But keep your eyes peeled - the sign burned out years ago.

Layne Karafantis August 2004