We’ve all been there. It’s New Year’s Eve, and while you’ve made your resolutions and posted your annual recap on Instagram, your plans for the night are, well, pending. You want to have a good time — 2026 is your year, damn it! — but you probably shouldn’t start it by torching your checking account on a triple-digit cover charge or ticket to an overpriced event.
Luckily, there are other options. We found 23 bars that don’t charge a cover and are guaranteed to be buzzing at midnight. That means more money for cocktails, late-night snacks, and that sure-to-be-expensive Waymo ride home.
North Beach, Jackson Square, and Chinatown
North Beach — which The Standard has proclaimed the city’s best nightlife neighborhood — has dozens of bars and clubs, but most will charge for entry on New Year’s Eve.
Exceptions include Tony Nik’s Cafe (1534 Stockton St.). The cozy, candlelit bar will be serving its classic and contemporary cocktails from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. High Horse (582 Washington St.) will also be open without a cover from 11 a.m. to midnight, offering small plates alongside drinks.
In Chinatown, the newly opened Fahy’s Fog & Barrel (684 Commercial St.) will be pouring Guinness from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. The Irish pub has TVs and a pool table.
Marina and Cow Hollow
Horseshoe Tavern (2024 Chestnut St.) will be open from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. and will host a Champagne toast at midnight.
Nearby, Mauna Loa Club (3009 Fillmore St.) — a cash-only bar with pool tables and a jukebox — will be open from noon to 2 a.m. Another cash-only option, Sully’s Marina Lounge (2138 Chestnut St.), will also be open from noon to 2 a.m.
Richmond
Trad’r Sam (6150 Geary Blvd) is always “a party” on New Year’s Eve, according to staff. Open from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m., the tiki bar offers a wide selection of rum.
To the east, Lost Marbles Brewery (823 Clement St.) will serve sandwiches, pizza, pasta, and other platters, with a Champagne toast at midnight. Open from noon to 2 a.m., the brewpub will host a DJ starting at 10 p.m.
Farther west, Hockey Haven (3625 Balboa St.) will be a relatively low-key place to ring in the new year, though the bar is equipped with a pool table, TVs, and a jukebox.
Sunset
The Little Shamrock (807 Lincoln Way) is known for comfy chairs and backgammon tables. The city’s second-oldest bar, it will be open from 3 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Across 19th Avenue, Silver Spur (1914 Irving St.), an old-school sports bar, will be open from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. Durty Nelly’s (2328 Irving St.) will serve its first pints at noon — though the main celebration begins at 4 p.m., when revelers in Ireland ring in 2026. The bar will close at 2 a.m.
Divisadero and Haight
The Page (298 Divisadero St.), a cash-only dive at Divisadero and Page streets, will be open during its regular hours, from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m.
The Page is one of the Lower Haight’s most popular bars. | Source: Jesse Rogala/The Standard
In the Lower Haight, Nickie’s (466 Haight St.) will be open from noon to 1 a.m., serving drinks and bar snacks. In Haight-Ashbury, Zam Zam (1633 Haight St.) will be serving its classic cocktails from 3 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Mission
The Sycamore (2140 Mission St.) will have its patio open from 3 p.m. to 2 a.m., with DJs and drink and food specials. Teeth Bar (2323 Mission St.) will be screening the Cotton Bowl starting at 4:30 p.m. The bar, which has a patio, will close at 2 a.m.
Nearby, Bender’s Bar (806 S Van Ness Ave.) will open at 2 p.m. and close at 2 a.m., with a midnight toast of Miller High Life. A block east, The Homestead (2301 Folsom St.) will be open from 3 p.m. to 2 a.m., with free peanuts and a broad whiskey selection.
Downtown and SoMa
Irish Times (500 Sacramento St.) — which shares an owner with Fahy’s Fog & Barrel and offers indoor and outdoor seating — will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Golden Gate Taproom (449 Powell St.), a sprawling sports bar with video and table games and more than 100 beers, will open at 4 p.m. and close at midnight. The Rumpus Room (10 6th St.), a red-lit bar with a photo booth, will be open from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m.
While SoMa’s warehouses and nightclubs are expected to be busy, a more affordable option is Tempest Bar and Box Kitchen (431 Natoma St.). The brick-walled hangout will serve food, beer, and cocktails from 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m.