San Francisco’s Legacy Bars and Restaurants
Learn More About the Legacy Project
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For generations, San Francisco has been home to a vibrant business community that occupies an essential place in the stories and rituals that define the city. At the core of these businesses are the bars and restaurants that for decades have attracted locals and visitors alike for a taste of the city’s unique flavors.
“Legacy Bars and Restaurants” is Heritage’s new educational initiative that invites users to experience the history of some of San Francisco’s most legendary eateries, watering holes, dives, and haunts. This online guide is the first of its kind to celebrate iconic establishments that contribute to the culture, character, and lore of San Francisco. Recent threats to local institutions like the Tonga Room, Tosca and Gold Dust Lounge underscore the need to develop new strategies for protecting places with intangible cultural significance. “Legacy Bars and Restaurants” documents the city’s vast culinary heritage and promotes businesses that do not necessarily qualify for formal historic designation.
Heritage has identified 25 restaurants and bars for the first round of the project, with over 100 establishments to be added over time. Located throughout San Francisco, these businesses have achieved longevity of 40 years or more, possess distinctive architecture or interior design, and/or contribute to a sense of history in the surrounding neighborhood.
For questions about the "Legacy" project, please email ldominguez@sfheritage.org. Know of a business that hasn't been included yet, but should be? Let us know!
Photo by Heritage staff. 
Photo by Heritage staff. 
Photo by Heritage staff. 
Photo courtesy of sanfranciscodays.com. 
Photo courtesy of javahousesf.com. 
Cartoon courtesy of javahousesf.com. 
View of Pier 40 (1934). Photo courtesy of the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.
Photo courtesy of Thomas Hawk on Flickr. 
Photo courtesy of Margot Hartford at sunset.com. 
Photo by Heritage staff. 
Photo courtesy of breakfastatepiphany.blogspot.com. 
Photo courtesy of David Gallagher on Flickr. 
Photo courtesy of David Gallagher on Flickr.
Photo by Heritage staff. 
Photo by Heritage staff. 
Photo courtesy of sfopera.com 
Photo courtesy of yelp.com
Photo courtesy of foodieforays.wordpress.com. 
Photo courtesy of bettycrockercookoff.blogspot.com. 
Photo courtesy of Renee S. on Flickr. 
Photo by Heritage staff. 
Photo by Heritage staff. 
Photo by Heritage staff.
Photo by Jeremy Brooks on Flickr. 
Photo by Eviloars on Flickr. 
Photo by Thomas Hawk on Flickr. 
New location in North Beach. Photo courtesy of sf.eater.com. 
Photo by Heritage staff. 
Photo by Heritage staff. 
Photo by Heritage staff. 
Photo by Heritage staff. 
Menu courtesy of Catherine Bauman. 
Photo by Heritage staff. 
Photo courtesy of oddbaseballads.blogspot.com. 
Photo courtesy of blogs.sfweekly.com. 
Photo courtesy of examiner.com. 
Photo by Heritage staff. 
Frank "Lefty" O'Doul (1949). Photo courtesy of the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library. 
Frank "Lefty" O'Doul and Marilyn Monroe (undated). Photo courtesy of Lefty O'Doul's. 
Photo courtesy of Lefty O'Doul's. 
Photo courtesy of Lefty O'Doul's. 
Photo courtesy of Lefty O'Doul's. 
Photo courtesy of Lefty O'Doul's. 
Photo courtesy of Lefty O'Doul's. 
Photo courtesy of Lefty O'Doul's. 
Photo courtesy of Lefty O'Doul's. 
Photo courtesy of Lefty O'Doul's. 
Photo courtesy of Lefty O'Doul's.
View from Mission Street (1985). Photo courtesy of the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library. 
Photo courtesy of the House of Shields. 
Photo courtesy of the House of Shields. 
Photo by Heritage staff. 
Photo courtesy of thehouseofshields.com. 
Photo courtesy of blogs.sfweekly.com. 
Photo courtesy of dwell.com. 
Photo courtesy of sfgate.com.
Photo by Heritage staff. 
Exterior (c. 1957). Photo courtesy of the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library. 
Exterior (1973). Photo courtesy of the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library. 
Menu courtesy of Catherine Bauman. 
Photo courtesy of the Old Clam House. 
Photo courtesy of the Old Clam House. 
Photo courtesy of the Old Clam House. 
Menu courtesy of Catherine Bauman. 
Photo courtesy of foodlibrarian.com. 
Postcard courtesy of Chris VerPlanck. 
Photo courtesy of pitch.com. 
Exterior (1986). Courtesy of the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library. 
Photo by Heritage staff. 
Photo by Heritage staff. 
Photo by Heritage staff.
Photo by Heritage staff. 
Photo courtesy of san-francisco.eventseekr.com 
Photo courtesy of tripadvisor.com 
Castro at 17th and Market streets, with Twin Peaks Tavern in background (1944). Photo courtesy of the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library. 
View of Twin Peaks Tavern from Muni entrance (1982). Photo courtesy of the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.
Photo by Heritage staff. 
Photo courtesy of sfwiki.org. 
Photo courtesy of Telstar Logistics on Flickr. 
Photo courtesy of Magerleagues on Flickr. 
Photo courtesy of Wild Side West. 
Photo by Heritage staff. 
Photo by Heritage staff. 
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Photo by Heritage staff. 
Photo courtesy of blog.sfgate.com. 
Photo courtesy of sf.eater.com. 
Photo courtesy of overprocessed.com.
Photo by Heritage staff. 
Photo by Heritage staff. 
Photo by Heritage staff. 
Photo by Curtis Cronn on Flickr. 
Photo by LCRF on Flickr. 
Photo courtesy of metroactive.com.
Courtesy of Chris VerPlanck. 
Courtesy of Chris VerPlanck. 
Postcard courtesy of Chris VerPlanck. 
Courtesy of flickriver.com 
Courtesy of tongaroom.com 
Fairmont Hotel swimming pool, prior to conversion (1937). Photo courtesy of the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.
Photo courtesy of the SF Planning Department. 
Photo by Heritage staff. 
Unnamed singer performs at Sam Jordan's Bar (1960s). Photo courtesy of the SF Planning Department. 
Left: Ruth Jordan, Sam’s wife, is seated third from the right. Right: Sam Jordan (at right) and family inside the bar. Photo courtesy of the SF Planning Department.
Photo courtesy of sfpalace.com 
Photo courtesy of sfpalace.com 
Photo by Heritage staff. 
View of the bar and painting (1935). Photo courtesy of the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library. 
View of the Palace Hotel (1951). Photo courtesy of the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.
Photo courtesy of blogs.sfweekly.com. 
Photo by CTG/SF on Flickr. 
Photo by Heritage staff. 
Photo by Heritage staff. 
Photo by Heritage staff. 
Photo by Heritage staff. 
Photo by Heritage staff.
First Cliff House (Built 1863). Photo courtesy of Golden Gate National Recreation Area. 
Second Cliff House (Built 1896). Photo courtesy of the Cliff House. 
Third Cliff House (Built 1909, photo from 1958). Photo courtesy of the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library. 
Third Cliff House. Photo courtesy of the Cliff House. 
Photo by Heritage staff. 
Photo by Heritage staff. 
Photo by Heritage staff. 
Photo by Heritage staff. 
Photo courtesy of cliffhouseproject.com. 
Photo courtesy of cliffhouseproject.com. 
Sutro Baths and Cliff House postcard. Courtesy of Golden Gate National Recreation Area. 
Ticket courtesy of cliffhouseproject.com. 
Menu courtesy of the California Historical Society. 
Photo by Heritage staff. 
Photo by Heritage staff. 
Photo by Heritage staff. 
Photo courtesy of purpleroofs.com. 
Photo courtesy of sanfranciscosentinel.com. 
Photo courtesy of misstracyjo on Flickr. 
View of the counter (1974). Photo courtesy of the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library. 
Customers enjoying espresso (1974). Photo courtesy of the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library. 
Corner of Grant and Vallejo (1977). Photo courtesy of the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library. 
Interior (1977). Photo courtesy of the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.
Photo by Heritage staff. 
Photo courtesy of mistersf.com. 
Photo courtesy of martinezfinecoffees.com. 
Photo courtesy of thebuenavista.com. 
Bartenders making Irish coffees (1973). Photo courtesy of the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.
Photo by Heritage staff. 
Photo courtesy of travel.nytimes.com 
Photo courtesy of blogs.sfweekly.com
Photo courtesy of thehotelutah.com. 
Photo by Heritage staff. 
Photo by Heritage staff. 
Photo courtesy of lonesomesurprise.com. 
Photo courtesy of saketvora.com.
Photo courtesy of newyorksocialdiary.com. 
Photo by Heritage staff. 
Photo courtesy of fleurdestone.com. 
Balboa Cafe (1987). Photo courtesy of the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library. 
