Tomorrow the San Francisco Giants and the Philadelphia Phillies arrive in San Francisco for three more playoff games that may decide whether San Francisco heads to the World Series for the first time since 1989 2002. Baseball fans should be glad to know that not only can you buy cheaper (and better) beer at Public House during the games at AT&T; Park, you can also carry it with you into the park via a “secret” back door at the restaurant, thereby avoiding the lines at the front gates. Tomorrow’s game starts at 1 p.m., and Public House will be open at 5 a.m. with coffee and pastries and a live KNBR broadcast (the bar opens at 6 a.m.). Below, some more tips and a few more ideas for watching the games a little further afield from the ballpark.
Wednesday’s and Thursday’s games are night games that start at 4:30 p.m., and you may also want to consider using Public House’s back door to the park so that you can get some grab-and-go food from Mijita taqueria or Public House to take in with you.
We’ve been hearing pretty mixed things about the food at Pedro’s Cantina, the giant sports bar/taqueria across the street from the park. But some other ideas for pre- and post-game drinks and noshes nearby: 25 Lusk, which just opened Saturday and has a fab downstairs lounge with fireplaces; District Wine Bar for some decent snacks, pizzettas and charcuterie; Marlowe, for their fantastic burger or roast chicken; the new and posh Alexander’s Steakhouse in the former Bacar space; or Orson is always good for a good cocktail and dinner at the bar, just up Fourth Street a few blocks from the park.
For those who’d rather avoid the shitshow at South Beach and save the money on playoffs tickets in case there’s a World Series around the corner, here are some good bars with big TV screens on which to watch the games this week. Remember, unless the Giants shut out the Phillies three games in a row, they’re back to Philadelphia this weekend.
Castro: Home, The Pilsner Inn, or Harvey’s
Cole Valley: Kezar Bar & Restaurant
FiDi/Union Square/Downtown: Barbacco, Royal Exchange, Union Square Sports Bar
Haight: Mad Dog in the Fog, Danny Coyle’s, Martin Mack’s
Marina/Cow Hollow: Bus Stop, The Republic
Mission: Elixir, The 500 Club, Phoenix Bar
Nob Hill: Nob Hill Tavern Sports Bar
North Beach: Boardroom, Columbus Cafe, Giordano Brothers
Polk Gulch: McTeague’s Saloon, R Bar
SoMa: Bloodhound, Zeke’s Sports Bar
Sunset: Blackthorn Tavern, Firefly Sports Bar
Western Addition: Madrone Art Bar
See any notable joints that we missed? Feel free to tip us off.
Earlier: Sneak a Peek Inside Public House & Mijita, Opening Next Week [Grub Street]
S.F. Giants Playoff Fever: Where Will You Watch? [SFist]
