Li Po Cocktail Lounge
Chinatown, San Francisco
Bar in San Francisco, United States
Book with PearlWhy go
Li Po Cocktail Lounge is a Chinatown institution on Grant Avenue where the atmosphere; incense, dim red light, a Buddha shrine behind the bar; does as much work as the drinks. The house Chinese Mai Tai made with baijiu is the reason to visit. Walk-ins are easy, prices are low, it earns its place as a neighbourhood original rather than a craft cocktail destination.
About Li Po Cocktail Lounge
Verdict
If you want a bar that earns its atmosphere without trying too hard, Li Po Cocktail Lounge on Grant Avenue in Chinatown is worth your time. It is one of the few bars in San Francisco where the room itself does the work; dim red lighting, a vintage Buddha shrine behind the bar, a smell of incense that hits you before your eyes adjust. Book or walk in whenever you like; this place is easy to get into and that accessibility is part of the appeal.
The Drinks
Li Po is not a craft cocktail bar in the way that Pacific Cocktail Haven or Friends and Family are. The cocktail program is short, intentional, built around a handful of house drinks with a Chinese-American character that reflects the neighborhood. The Chinese Mai Tai; made with baijiu, is the drink most associated with this address, it is the reason to come if drinks are your primary reason for visiting. Do not arrive expecting an elaborate menu of rotating seasonal specials; the value here is in a small selection executed consistently. If cocktail depth and ambition are what you are after, ABV or Smuggler's Cove will serve you better on that axis.
Who Should Book
If you have been once and want to come back, the move is to go early in the evening before the bar fills up, order the Chinese Mai Tai, take one of the booths. Li Po works well as a first or last stop on a Chinatown or North Beach night rather than a standalone destination. It suits pairs and small groups better than large parties. For anyone planning a broader evening out, our full San Francisco bars guide covers the city's range well. If you are visiting from out of town and want to benchmark Li Po against bars with a similar sense of place in other cities, Bar Leather Apron in Honolulu and Jewel of the South in New Orleans offer that same quality of room-with-a-point-of-view, as does Julep in Houston for a regional-identity-driven drinks list.
Practical Details
Li Po is at 916 Grant Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94108, in the heart of Chinatown. Walk-ins are the norm here, no reservation required, booking difficulty is low. Cash is preferred at many older Chinatown bars; come prepared. For a wider look at the neighbourhood's dining and drinking options, see our San Francisco restaurants guide, hotels guide, wineries guide, and experiences guide.
Quick reference: 916 Grant Ave, Chinatown, SF, walk-ins welcome, order the Chinese Mai Tai, go early for a booth.
Planning details
- Location
- 916 Grant Ave, San Francisco, CA 94108
- Website
- atlasobscura.com/places/li-po-cocktail-lounge
- Phone
- +1 415 982 0072
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Li Po reads like a preserved corner of Chinatown. Opened in 1937 and largely unchanged, the room leans into its original condition: red lanterns, a low ceiling, amber-hued dim lighting and a Buddha shrine anchor the space. Decades-worn booths and a narrow bar create close quarters where bartenders and guests are in real proximity, and the interior feels lived-in rather than staged. Rather than chasing seasonal technique or rotating programs, Li Po trades modern polish for ritual, producing an intimate, warm, historic bar that feels authentically of its neighborhood and era.
Best For
Li Po works best for late-night, conversational outings where atmosphere matters more than showy mixology. It’s ideal for solo visits to the narrow bar and for small groups who want to sink into the long-leased booths and talk—especially once daytime tourist traffic thins. The lounge rewards low-key, unpretentious gatherings: after-work drinks, casual hangouts and anyone looking for a neighborhood room with a strong sense of history. Patrons come for the ritual of the place and the close, conversational seating rather than a changing cocktail program.
Venue details
Ambiance
Dimly lit with traditional Chinese lanterns, red leather booths, and a kitschy neon sign creating an authentic, nostalgic dive bar feel.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Format
At the Bar
- Bar Category
- Dive Bar
- Late Night
- Open Until 2am
- Music
- Indie
- Live Music
- Yes
Signature Pours
Chinese Mai Tai
Planning details
Location
916 Grant Ave, San Francisco, CA 94108 · Directions
Also consider
Also Consider
- ABV; Notable alternative
- Smuggler's Cove; Notable alternative
- Trick Dog; Notable alternative
- Bar at Hotel Kabuki; Notable alternative
- Evil Eye; Notable alternative
Bar context
Li Po occupies a different niche from most of San Francisco's better-known bars. Where Smuggler's Cove offers one of the most ambitious rum-focused menus in the country and ABV runs a full kitchen alongside a serious cocktail list, Li Po's appeal is almost entirely about place and simplicity. If you are choosing between them on cocktail program depth, Smuggler's Cove and ABV win without contest. If you want a bar with genuine neighbourhood character and a drink that tastes like it belongs to a specific block in a specific city, Li Po makes a stronger case.
Trick Dog is the right comparison for drinkers who want both atmosphere and an inventive cocktail list; it delivers on both, where Li Po trades ambition for authenticity. The Bar at Hotel Kabuki suits groups looking for comfort and accessibility in a hotel setting, while Evil Eye skews younger and more eclectic. Li Po is the pick if Chinatown is already on your itinerary and you want a low-cost, low-effort stop that still has a reason to exist beyond serving drinks.
On value, Li Po is hard to beat; prices are among the lowest you will find for a bar with this much character in San Francisco. The trade-off is a short menu and a room that can get crowded on weekends. Go on a weeknight or arrive before 8 PM on a Friday and the experience lands closer to what makes the place worth visiting.
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Li Po Cocktail Lounge guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Li Po Cocktail Lounge
| Venue | Awards | Booking Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Li Po Cocktail Lounge | No published awards | Easy |
| ABV | 2026 OAD Casual in North America Recommended2026 Eater San Francisco Best Cocktail Bars2025 OAD Casual in North America Ranked · #8522024 OAD Casual in North America Ranked · #8352022 North America's 50 Best Bars · #392017 World's 50 Asia's Best Bars · #452017 World's 50 Best Bars · #462016 World's 50 Asia's Best Bars · #142016 World's 50 Best Bars · #36 | Unknown |
| Smuggler's Cove | Top 500 Bars 2026 · #3142026 James Beard Award Nominees2026 James Beard Award SemifinalistsTop 500 Bars 2025 · #3292016 World's 50 Best Bars · #292015 World's 50 Best Bars · #312014 World's 50 Best Bars · #162013 World's 50 Best Bars · #302012 World's 50 Best Bars · #24 | Unknown |
| Trick Dog | 2026 North America's 50 Best Bars · #1002026 OAD Cheap Eats in North America Recommended2026 Eater San Francisco Best Cocktail Bars2025 North America's 50 Best Bars · #71Top 500 Bars 2025 · #1642025 OAD Cheap Eats in North America Ranked · #2402024 OAD Cheap Eats in North America Ranked · #2092023 OAD Cheap Eats in North America in Recommended2019 World's 50 Best Bars · #42 | Unknown |
| Bar at Hotel Kabuki | Pearl Recommended Bars | Unknown |
| Evil Eye | Pearl Recommended Bars | Unknown |
Comparing your options in San Francisco for this tier.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the signature drink at Li Po Cocktail Lounge?
The Chinese Mai Tai is the drink to order at Li Po; it's what the bar is known for and the reason most first-timers come back. The cocktail menu at 916 Grant Ave is short by design, so skip the deliberation and start there. If you want elaborate craft options with a rotating seasonal menu, Pacific Cocktail Haven is the better call.
Does Li Po Cocktail Lounge have happy hour deals?
Specific happy hour pricing isn't confirmed for Li Po, so don't plan around a deal. What works in your favour is that the bar is walk-in only and the drink program is priced to match its no-frills Chinatown setting; you're not paying craft cocktail bar rates here. Go early in the evening if you want space and a quieter version of the room.
Is Li Po Cocktail Lounge good for groups?
Small groups of two to four work well at Li Po, especially if you arrive early before the bar fills. Larger parties should think carefully; there are no reservations, the space is compact, the atmosphere depends on the room not being overwhelmed. For a big group night out in SF, Trick Dog or Smuggler's Cove offer more capacity and better logistics.
