Diners' Choice: Lively restaurants in San Francisco Bay Area

OpenTable

Updated March 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants that have the most vibrant bar scenes in San Francisco Bay Area? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Outer Orbit

5.0

5 (108)

$30 and under

Contemporary Asian

Mission District

About the restaurant

ATTENTION: 18+ on Thursday-Saturday.
Family Days are Wednesdays & Sundays!

Our specialty is Hapa-Hawaiian cuisine, representing a modern melting-pot of Asian cuisines. Signature dishes include our house-made Spam Musubi, guava wood-smoked Pig Melt, and Lilikoi Malasadas. Within our welcoming retro/modern space lounge you'll find an island bar and a rotating selection of pinball machines. Our beverage program embraces wine, sake and a large variety of craft beers including our personal passion, sour beers!

Outer Orbit is a unique restaurant focused on delicious food and a fun time. We're located in Mission-Bernal SF, across the street from neighborhood institutions Blue Plate and Emmy's Spaghetti Shack.
Are you in the neighborhood because of a live show? We're near El Rio and The Knockout!
For late night cocktails, we suggest The Royal Cuckoo.

Top review

AndyVIP

Dined on Feb 17, 2025

Fun atmosphere. Modern and delicious interpretation of Hawaiian food. Very well priced and enjoyable

Pizzaiolo - Oakland

4.9

4.9 (667)

$31 to $50

Italian

Oakland

About the restaurant

**Please note we are walk-ins only**

We at Pizzaiolo believe that the simple act of feeding people is at the core of what it is to be human. We focus on the ritual of taking life from the world around us and presenting it to you to sustain your own life.

When the day is done, the thinking that seems to matter most is that we are taking part in a web of human interaction. The food you eat at Pizzaiolo is 100% down-home human-made.

Top review

AustinVIP

Dined on Feb 15, 2025

One of our favorite restaurants in Oakland. Every time we go, Pizzaiolo always wows us with their food. They have a rotating seasonal menu, but if you are lucky enough to be there the same day they have their meatballs, you will not regret ordering them. So good! I always seek out less spirit forward drinks from their bar since they can be quite strong, but any server we have has been more than willing to help us out. And save room for desert - never disappointed!

The Club On Post

4.9

4.9 (45)

$30 and under

Californian

San Jose

About the restaurant

Introducing The Club on Post, a culinary gem nestled in the historic district of San Jose. Led by the visionary Chef Antonio, our restaurant embodies the vibrant spirit of downtown, situated amidst iconic landmarks like the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, California Theatre, San Jose Improv and SAP Center. With a prime location near major hotels and Cesar Chavez Plaza, we offer a haven for locals and visitors alike.

At The Club on Post, indulge in our culinary masterpiece, the signature Club Wagyu Burger, a testament to Chef Antonio's culinary prowess. Pair it with our renowned espresso martini, hailed as the best in San Jose, for an unforgettable dining experience.

Step into our laid-back yet chic atmosphere, adorned with welcoming Roman plaster walls, where every visit feels like a journey into culinary excellence and relaxation. Experience the essence of San Jose's dining scene at The Club on Post.

Top review

Karin

Dined 6 days ago

Delicious food, fantastic drinks and great service! All the best tucked away in downtown.

Mr. Tipple’s Jazz Club

4.8

4.8 (908)

$30 and under

Cocktail Bar

Civic Center / Hayes Valley / Van Ness

About the restaurant

***Best Jazz Club in the City, by San Francisco Magazine***
Mr. Tipple’s is a craft cocktail bar featuring live jazz.
-
Reservations have a 90min time limit from reservation time.
There is a $20/guest min for table service
Mr. Tipple’s heralds back to a 1950s NYC basement. Cozy. Dark. Boozy. The intimate setting features local jazz artists up close and personal. It’s a joint where you come as you are, hear great music, tap your toes, and sip a properly chilled cocktail.
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My name is Mr. Tipple. Just a simple and laughable bloke hailing from London. I run a recording studio. My friends joke that you’ll oft find me spinning cocktails, not reeling tape. After a few too many, I usually just sit back and enjoy the music, having forgotten to hit record. Regardless, the band is always jiving, the whiskey is always cold, and we’re having a smashing good time.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined 4 days ago

Perfect for a birthday celebration!

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Popular dish

Sui Gao Dumplings

Experience

Music Focused Preferred Seats

Experience

- Music Focused Preferred Seats - Center Section

O' by Claude Le Tohic

4.8

4.8 (482)

$50 and over

Contemporary French

Downtown / Union Square

About the restaurant

Located on the 5th floor of ONE65 San Francisco, O' is Chef Claude Le Tohic's inaugural solo venture after earning Meilleur Ouvrier de France, winning the James Beard Award for Best Chef in America and carrying the coveted 3-Michelin star rating at Joël Robuchon Las Vegas. Luxurious but not pretentious, O’ offers modern French cuisine with elegant and attentive service.

O' offers a 5-course Tasting Menu for $210, and a 9-course Grand Tasting Menu for $295. Optional wine pairings are available, along with a wine list of 1000+ selections from the USA and France.

Please note that 20% service charge (which includes gratuity) and 1% San Francisco Health Mandate is added onto every check.

Though dinner attire is always encouraged, we ask our guests to abide by "smart casual" dress code; no shorts, t-shirts, or sandals.

Top review

JenniferVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Fabulous dining experience. Food was beautiful and very good. The mignardise cart is not to be missed. Service was relaxed but elegant. The dining room and music selection were perfect for conversation and a wonderful evening. I’ll be back very soon.

The Red Window

4.8

4.8 (74)

$30 and under

Modern European

North Beach

About the restaurant

The Red Window that offers dinner, brunch, a Cocktail bar and an event space. Its menu is marked by innovation and intentionality, bringing a touch of modern European cuisine blends the vibrant flavors of Spanish tapas, the rich traditions of Italian cuisine, and the boldness of American culinary influences into a captivating dining experience to the San Francisco dining scene. The Red Window is distinguished by its remarkable Art and Décor, all meticulously crafted by the diligent work of local artists and designers. At the Red Window, dining is an immersive and positive experience that transcends the food on the plate. Whether indulging in brunch or dinner, guests are guaranteed an unparalleled and enjoyable experience.

Top review

Andrew

Dined 6 days ago

Perfect spot for large parties, we were party of 20 and everything was fantastic, service was awesome and staff is kind, creative drinks, tasty food, great vibe!!

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Experience

Sip, Smile and Save - Early Birds Special!

Experience

Brunch and Live Music

Roses on Adeline

4.8

4.8 (54)

$30 and under

Californian

Berkeley

About the restaurant

Where love for Food, Art & Community thrives.

Seasonally driven bar food & cocktails with an emphasis on quality and freshness, beer, wine & great vibes too!

Our menu features comforts & classics with a sprinkle of innovation and creativity.
Fresh, seasonal, local California fusion.

Top review

BillVIP

Dined on Mar 4, 2025

Can’t believe it took us eleven months to try Rose’s! What a great spot! Great vibe, delicious burger and Patatas Bravas. And, with only one server (Rose), the service was perfect. And we heard las nite, that they now have the liquor license that allows them to let people under 21 in to the restaurant. Bad news, because this place is going to get very busy soon…but we will wait our turn to come back very soon!

BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse - Brentwood

4.7

4.7 (50)

$30 and under

American

Brentwood

About the restaurant

Time counts at BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse. Since our humble beginnings back in 1978, we've continued to refine our brewhouse experience to make BJ's a place where you can make the most of any meal. We want BJ's to be a place where the moment you leave is the moment you plan on coming back. We pride ourselves in our craft and attention to detail. Our guests come here for our award-winning handcrafted beer. They come here for the Southern California twist we've put on the Chicago-style deep dish pizza. And they come here for our Pizookies®, our world-renowned dessert. But above all we know people come here to make their good times better. So in many ways we haven't just crafted a brand, but a mindset. And our guests are the reason for this. And it's because of them we're continually striving to make sure every moment they choose to spend with us counts. Welcome to BJ's, a restaurant with a Brewhouse soul.

Top review

Valerie

Dined on Feb 9, 2025

Very busy but service was still great. Nice, friendly efficient. Only negative would be it too long to get our cocktails however it was very crowded also large party in back room so it's kinda understandable :)

Wild Rose Eatery and Bar

4.7

4.7 (207)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Campbell

About the restaurant

The perfect place for your next event, a night out with friends or date night. Culinary Excellence and Sophisticated Craft Cocktails. Fun Nightlife and Late Night Food.

Top review

Joshua

Dined on Mar 12, 2025

Our Server Shawn was amazing & very helpful . Food, Service , Ambience was amazing will definitely be back .

Hops & Scotch

4.6

4.6 (88)

$30 and under

Gastro Pub

Walnut Creek

About the restaurant

Hops & Scotch is a Tap Room, Whisk(e)y Bar, Wine Bar with a Craft Food Menu. Built with the love of drinking.