Whether you're due for a tax refund or facing a financial reckoning (or have put off the dreaded day by filing for an extension), a kitschy atmosphere and a strong Mai Tai may help you overcome the taxman blues.
Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top tiki bars in San Francisco, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of tropical oases in which to drown your sorrows or celebrate your bounty.
1. Smuggler's Cove
Topping the list is Smuggler's Cove. Located at 650 Gough St. (between McAllister and Ash streets) in Civic Center, this celebrated San Francisco institution from owners Martin and Rebecca Cate boasts four stars out of 1,671 reviews on Yelp.
They're the authors of a James Beard award-winning tiki cocktail book, and Yelpers praise the bar's rum drinks, like the Puka Punch and multi-person, flaming Volcano.
2. Pagan Idol
Next up is the Financial District's Pagan Idol, situated at 375 Bush St. (between Belden and Trinity places). With four stars out of 517 reviews on Yelp, this bar from the team behind Bourbon & Branch has proven to be a favorite for both its drinks and its decor.
This watering hole sports interiors inspired by the belly of a ship, as well as a smoke-spouting "volcano." Reviewers recommend the Mai Tai floats with house-made fresh orgeat syrup, or the Witch Doctor cocktail made with Jamaican rum, passion fruit and egg whites.
3. Tiki Haven
The Outer Sunset's Tiki Haven, located at 1334 Noriega St. (between 20th and 21st avenues), is another top choice, with Yelpers giving this jukebox-sporting bar four stars out of 169 reviews.
Reviewers praise its Fire Bowl blended fruity cocktails intended for a group. Although the bar doesn't serve food, it does have a vending machine with snacks for the peckish.
4. Zombie Village
Then there's Zombie Village, a relatively recent arrival to the Tenderloin (it replaced Tradition), with four stars out of 97 Yelp reviews. Reviewers praise the fun, detailed decor, as well as drinks like the Jamaican zombie, with grapefruit, lime and mango.
Head over to 441 Jones St. (between O'Farrell and Antonio streets) to see for yourself the vibe that Yelper Fazil A. described as "Pirates of the Caribbean meets Harry Potter."
This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.
