Little Shamrock
Among the oldest operating bars in San Francisco is an Irish pub on Lincoln Way between 9th and 10th Avenues in the Inner Sunset neighborhood called the Little Shamrock, which officially celebrated its centennial in 1993. It is on a list of Legacy Bars and Restaurants created by San Francisco Architectural Heritage. Purportedly opened to service demand from attendees at the Midwinter Fair held in Golden Gate Park in the 1890s by Antone Herzo, then run by his widow Julie, the pub served beer, wine, and whiskey to a clientele that hadn't a taste for much else and even today, in an era of designer cocktails, little has changed in that regard.
Happy Hour begins as soon as the bar opens, at 3 PM on weekdays and 1 PM on the weekends, providing a very positive beginning to the day. During this jolly time which continues until 8 PM, well drinks can be purchased for $5, with other specials, like a $5 coffee stout, varying from day to day. The kitchen closed some thirty years ago, but if the free popcorn on hand is not enough to satisfy, customers are welcome to bring whatever repast they're hankering for to pair with their beer, whiskey, or drink of choice.
Frequently the site of rollicking dart and backgammon or other board games, this is not a likely meeting spot for quiet conversation. but louder forms of camaraderie and good fellowship or easy enough to come by. Cozy arrangements of furniture make it easy to feel at home, frustrated or abetted depending on your predilection for sports TV which is in ample supply. Call for 415-661-0060 if you have any unanswered questions.
Writer and bon vivant J. Eric Miller lives, loves, and laughs in San Francisco and its environs. Follow his further adventures at theupsanddownsofsanfrancisco.tumblr.com.
