Gino & Carlo Cocktail Lounge

After over 70 years, this quintessential North Beach sports bar feels more like a hangout for longtime residents who “go way, way back,” than just a place to grab a drink, shoot pool, and admire sports memorabilia and photos of Muhammad Ali or Frank Sinatra. On any given night, you may chat with a cop, a politician, a former beatnik, or a talkative Giants fan who has more stories than the great Herb Caen (who actually used to frequent this bar). And after all that chatting, you’re going to want to eat. Brave the line for a slice of Golden Boy Pizza next door.