The Chieftain Irish Pub & Restaurant Reviews

Best fish and chips this side of the pond, along with Kilkenny on Draught, you feel welcomed by the atmosphere and the friendly staff. Visited with other friends who tried other menu items and they were equally impressed.

What a wonderfull pub. Great music and great drinks. Unfortunatly we just ate but even when I looked around the food looked delicious. The bartender knew what he was serving!

Small Irish pub around the corner form the Moscone center west. The perfect place for Shepherds pie and a guiness.the. They also serve curry fries, malt vinegar with the fish and chips and assorted other pub grub, including darn good wings. Can't go wrong here.

We've been in this pub before, but decided to eat dinner there as it was next to our hotel and we were tired after a very busy day playing tourists. Typical Irish pub menu ... if you like that sort of thing you'll find something you love. Hubs was very happy with the beers on tap. I had a decent glass of wine. They make their own curry sauce and it was the best ever! I went for spicy wings, typical pub fare, but they were great ... the ranch was really good and came with a good helping of carrots/celery. DH's burger was fabulous; he loved it. Prices for convention area of the city were extremely good! We're in the city often (live South Bay) so would definitely come in again even if not staying next door. Oh yes, great service too. The Bartender was super friendly and helpful.

Close to the market street rush, a great place to have lunch with a Kilkenny and hamburger that made all the family happy. Service is great as well.

We walked from Bloomingdale building but don't walk after 5 pm- bit iffy area and get a cab across the street at the Intercontinental San Francisco. Good food and GREAT Guinness.

We walked over from the Intercontinental for lunch. As expected in an Irish pub the walls were wood paneling, creating a quaint, cozy ambiance. The menu includes typical pub fare, bangers and mash, fish and chips, Shepards pie but also includes salads, soup, chili, burgers and more. Our server was from the UK, quite friendly, fun to talk with. We ordered nachos and a Cobb salad to share and both were delicious. We returned later that afternoon for a drink at the bar before dinner. Nice casual pub to enjoy a drink and lively conversation!

Visited twice during our stay in San Francisco. Chose it because it had live music in the evening and was a nice non-touristy pub. Our first visit was on a Friday night and the place was pleasantly busy. The live music was not what had been advertised but was very good and we had a great evening. Dillon the bartender was friendly. On our second visit on Saturday night the place was surprisingly quiet. They had a singer/guitarist who was OK but we preferred the guys the night before. Also the bartender seemed to be put out that I didn't want him to hold my credit card behind the bar until we paid up and left. I said I would prefer to pay there and then and have my card back. The night before Dillon just asked for payment & my card when I asked for the bill at the end of the evening. We didn't eat there but the food that came out looked fine.

We enjoyed it, good food and plenty of it. The fish and chips were really good and the Chieftan burger. My husband had the Shepherds Pie, very disappointing, lots of potatoes and hardly any meat.

Visited here on NYE with family and found it to be cracking little venue, wasn't too busy but had typical Irish bar atmosphere. Guinness was exceptional

Stopped in for a bite and had the best burger I'd had for a long time. The chieftain burger is absolutely a must have. The meat is perfectly seasoned and the fried egg topped it off perfectly. Quick, friendly and attentive service. Would definitely visit again.

Friendly, warm Irish welcome, the Guinness is good, pub grub and shows UK/Euro football. What more could you want?

Went here twice during my stay in the nearby intercontinental hotel. The prices are reasonable for San Francisco and the food is good. I had the Reuben sandwich which was good. Only let down was the fries which hadn't been left in fryer for long enough.

This place had very authentic look. They had a few irish beers, nothing out of the ordinary. I had the corned beef and cabbage, it was good, however they used a lot of cloves (or some other similar spice) that was a bit overwhelming. That may be traditional, it just wasn't my favorite. Overall a good experience.

Went for lunch during RSA Conference. I had the corn beef and cabbage and my coworker had the fish and chips. Both meals were pretty unremarkable. Good service and nice cozy atmosphere.

We had arrived late into San Fran on a Saturday night and the staff at Parc 55 recommended this restaurant which was in walking distance of the hotel, oh my gosh I am so glad we listened. It was busy for being so late but we were able to be seated right away and there was a musician who was doing a lot of "oldies" good. Right away our beer was delivered along with a "hot toddy" for my daughter who had a sore throat so she says lets face it the whisky was good! I ordered the Irish nachis with lamb and I tell you the truth, the plate was over flowing and I ate it all it was that good! My daughter had a salad cause again the sore throat and her fiancé ordered the shephards pie which I tired and tried and he was very nice with sharing cause again they portion was large and oh so good. I thought the prices were good you definitely received what you paid for, highly recommend this place

Came across this place by accident on the way to somewhere else, and I am sure glad we did. The bartender, Dylan, was awesome and gave us several recommendations and places to go while visiting Sf. Unfortunately, the kitchen was closed during our visit, but the drinks more than made up for it. The atmosphere is certainly Irish and is a fine place to stop at.

Nothing fancy about this Irish pub other than it is a great place to go anytime of day. For this visit I had the Irish breakfast for lunch. Outstanding comfort food. They also have a good selection of single malts and Irish whiskey, and beer. Sadly, I had to return to the office. Hope to return again soon.

Solo traveler. Sat at the bar. Had a couple of beers and the Irish stew. Barman was very friendly and gave samples of other beers, which I asked about. Not too noisy. I would go there again.

We tried this place for dinner after flying in from Wash dc. Stayed at the Intercontinental Hotel next door. Good food. very crowed inside. it was a friday night. Very loud. not bad.

Nice staff, good ambiance, tasty food. Good range of sports available including the all important Rugby World Cup for October and November.

We happened into this pub for a beer and discovered the BEST Burger we'd ever had. The Chieftain was absolutely filled with fresh flavor with the thick bacon, grilled onions, and fried egg on top. Just excellent! We chose a side salad rather than fries and it was very fresh and flavorful as well. I highly recommend this pub for a great Burger and beer!

So glad we stopped by here for drinks. Great little bar, very Irish. Great beer selections, did not eat but looked yummy.

Just had a wonderful evening in the Chieftain. Went few a few drinks, there was a group of friends playing Irish tunes, then decided to stay for food. All in the best evening of our holiday, from the service to the food. If you have the time, trust me and visit. Thanks guys

I was in the City at Moscone for the American Geophysical Union annual meeting. My student worked crew on events and knew the area and this pub. So we went for lunch. First it is cozy and homey. In fact i apologize to the locals for filling it up. Food exceeded my expectations. I had hamburger and fries. The fries were perfect, like a well executed French bistro. Crisp double fried, and they were steak cut. Often i hate pub food because the fries are awful. Not here. And the hamburger was excellent. High quality meat. Very good service and the manager checked on us. Recommend this place and will come again

Good selection of beers, neighborhood like bar. The food is bar food, it goes good with the beer. There are plenty of places around for food, grab a pint here. The place is small and usually has a good crowd so it's tight.

I always like to find myself a local pub while I'm away & this one seemed ideal at first, the only downside is it depends on who is serving behind the bar. If you keep rattling the tips glass & shaking your head your not going to get one when I've only bought a drink or when I leave. Also ignoring me will result in no tip & no more cash from me, I will find somewhere else to go. As there is somebody pan handling for cash every few feet in this area I don't expect it from staff. With the right bar staff on you can't fault this place, it's a good atmosphere sometimes.

Thank you Dylan for the great service. We had a great time with the live music and great food and drinks. Would definitely come again :)

The Chieftain isn't a bib pub, but it's authentic and seemed popular. The food was good. We had Cobb salad and sausages and mash. Both were well presented, tasty and reasonably priced. The waitress was friendly and service was quick.

Highly recommend. Get there early before the evening rush. A good variety of pub food and the staff were excellent.

That's all I can comment on as I couldn't get anyone to wait on us. Didn't seem that busy at tables. Bar was busy but table service was not good. Finally left after a beer and went somewhere else

Excellent little pub just down from Moscone Center. They make a perfect black and tan and the food is very good. The chili and fish and chips were spot on and the service was excellent. It is loud so it was a bit challenging for a while but the volume dropped after the lunch rush and we were able to have a nice business working lunch. Good choice for the business crowd around Moscone trying to sneak away for a quick lunch and beer.

Stopped in barhopping with friends and we had a hard time tearing ourselves out of there! Bartender was top-notch and we made buddies all ends of the pub. Good cider. If I lived in San Francisco, this would be my regular spot.

Speed for dinner and a few points. Ended up being the owner's birthday so the whole bar sang happy birthday to him, to which he responded with "let's do it again tomorrow night." Good atmosphere, great Guinness, great irish stew. Solid place.

Arrived on Sat evening, while other places are closed.. This is a warm welcoming place, great large plates food ! Great selection of beers. Only down side is the bad acoustic... A bit loud voices and the music is in the backround and cannot cover it :(

Great food! The Irish Stew, bangers and mash, Irish grill were all great! Black and Tans to top it off. There was live music and the service was excellent! We had a hard time finding restaurants with good service in San Francisco on our trip, but this one was great to end our trip on!

My wife and stopped for dinner. Impeccable service, honest, good pub fare. A real Irish pub in the middle of San Francisco.

Found this place on line showing the Wales V England rugby six nations match within walking distance of our hotel ( The Hilton) . The pub was opening early & confirmed breakfast was going to be available but there would be a $20 per person door charge. The welcome & the food were good unfortunately England were not but I won't hold the Chieftain responsible for that ! I can recommend the full Irish breakfast & the Irish coffee 😉

We had meetings at Intercontinental hotel and a bunch of us stopped in to grab a quick bite. The server was a little surly and no attentive for being such a small quaint pub. The atmosphere was cool and nice because doors were open out to the street. The fish and chips were ok and the wrap was good. We waited far to long for the meal and one of our colleagues waited a half hour for here dish and we heard nothing from our server. I walked up to her to ask were her dish was and she gave me the it's coming and almost wanted to tell me to sit down..odd..15 minutes later she tells us It was burnt and it's coming..no refills offered,, no apologies.etc...nice place would never return.

Good food but the staff was extremely rude. Our group had four people and we were super easy, but both waitresses were just horrible.

great bar atmosphere, and a good place to have some basic but good food while watching a ball game or simply hanging out with friends. sadly, places like this are becoming too rare in Soma

I like this pub and watched the Super Bowl here. On my next work trip to SF I went here to watch the England vs France rugby. Very surprised to be charged a $20 cover to enter the place. Rugby is free to watch on TV yet a decision was taken to introduce a cover charge. $5 or even $10 may have been ok but $20 is just taking the mickey. Tickets to watch the match live at the Stade de France in Paris started at $17 to give a sense of how much of a rip off this was. Will be at a different pub in SF for future football and rugby matches.

The location seems to attract a weird crowd, and you'd better get there early if you want to sit down. Live music on a lot of evenings. Great hearty portions of tasty and fresh food; fish and chips highly recommended. Would suggest sitting at the bar for the best experience.

This pub is on the corner outside the intercontinental in San Francisco. Doesn't look great from the outside , not much better when you get inside. I sat at a wobbly table, ordered a beer and a burger. Typical Irish fair! To be honest the burger was ok, the beer was not, flat and lifeless! Toilets, only one of each? Not sure what happens if it gets busy. Poor experience all round, ate the food, left the beer, paid the bill and went to find a better location!

Visited the Chieftain for a quick dinner with friends. Small but cozy environment ! the staff are kind and friendly The food was okay! typical Irish food! Fried and cheerful Over all a great experience!

Food very good Irish Pub food and service was good. Beer selections adequate and draft was nice and cold. The pub is quite small and can be quite loud. My wife gives thumbs up on burger as she eats only no pink and that was what was served upon making that clear to server who may have been the owner. Would go there again.

Been here twice will doing business in San Francisco. Great friendly service and omg great pub food. Don't miss this great place.

Wanted to go there and watch the 6-nation England vs. France rugby game. Nothing fancy, have 1 or 2 pints of beer,eat a bite and enjoy a promising Crunch on TV. Surprise, surprise: entry fees 20 bucks! It ruined my day.

Being right opposite the Intercontinental in Howard St where we were staying, we dined at the Chieftain a couple of times. Both times the service was really good, the food was good value and they have some great beers. The servings are big and we didn't finish our meals either time so you won't leave hungry! $15USD is really great value for a steak when you come from Australia, so we were more than satisfied.

Four of us went here for food in the evening we got 4 steaks and the portions were quite large and the food was of a high standard. Very fair pricing which is not always guaranteed in san fransisco. Worth going!

My normal go to Irish Pub was closed so I went to this convenient to our hotel pub. They place is small but not crowded at 530 on a weeknight. Great selection of whisky and absolutely delicious Sheppards pie. Would be a great place to stop before or after a Giants game.

A great little Irish bar. Good beer selection and friendly service. Lots of options to mix with Guinness. Enjoyed wings and fries for food.

location, neighborhood bar, and great food and drink. The wait staff knew their beer and whiskey, and while there were tv's on, they were quiet and you could hear your table mates.

This is a great place to eat if you are in the area. The place definitely has an Irish flair, with great food, great waitresses and a very cozy atmosphere!

Stopped here for lunch during the height of the noon hour. Good burgers and beers. We needed to discuss some work but it was way too loud to carry on an in-depth conversation (it IS a pub after all - not a complaint, just a heads-up).

Great beers on draft, best lamb burger ever and awesome Wade behind the bar. Made us miss Ireland, we will definitely be back.

Just stopped in for a few beers... Place was packed! All the food that passed by, looked and smelled wonderful! But we were just passing thru..

The Chieftain is a perennial favorite of this local. Possibly the best bar food in town, welcoming Irish staff, cozy atmosphere. Don't miss the chips (fries) with curry sauce. The shepherd's pie is great, too, and Magner's cider served the correct way: over ice. Or a properly-poured Guinness. Great place to watch sports, and walkable from Powell Muni and Moscone center.

A local recommend for this pub with good beer and traditional pub food. Great atmosphere with live music and sport on TV's available for the enthusiasts.

This palce was packed to the brim - but the bartender was right on it and the corned beef sandwich I had was pretty good. They have Kilkenny on tap, which was why I went - if you haven't tried it, make the stop!

Terrible. They came out white and soggy instead of golden brown. To hungry to make a stink unfortunately...

Ok food, cozy atmosphere, good prices - such a relief from the extortion of the hotel just across the street. Good cocktails also.

We were in town for a conference, staying near the convention center. This traditional Irish pub was located literally a few steps away, but transported you to the Emerald Isle. Whether it was a few pints of Guinness or some fish and chips or Shepherds pie, everything was delicious and authentic. It was a bit noisy, but more festive than anything. Highly recommend!!

Great Irish bar close to our hotel and great service. The food was authentic and the cider's were delicious!

The Chieftain Is a really nice place to visit. Food and drinks both excellent. Great pint (or a few) of Guinness. The owners are very welcoming and strongly recommended! 🇮🇪

Top notch wings with legit bleu cheese. Authentic Irish feel with delicious draft beers. Great place to eat, drink, and watch a game!

After a hard morning shopping, we were in need of some good wholesome food and refreshment. I'm always a bit wary of Irish pubs outside of Ireland, but this was a great find. I'm also not a Guinness drinker, but had one of the great guest beers (can't remember which one) which went down a treat and the burger was cooked to perfection. Excellent pub, excellent beer, excellent grub ... what more do you need?!

I've been trying out the fish and chips at a few places in the area, and so far The Chieftain gets my vote as the winner. Add to that, reasonable prices and great service, and you get a place well worth the visit.

Only in Ireland do they pour a Guinness the right way, and at the right temperature. It's a process. You have to wait for the beer to fall out of the foam, and keep doing additional pours, and scraping off the top of the foam, until there is a full pint. And it should not be refridgerator cold. Chieftain is the first American pub I've been to that pours it right. It's cozy, bustling, and friendly. Great Irish Pub.

Nice little Irish Pub. The owner is the crankiest person I have ever know behind a bar. Terrible manner. Real shame as the Guinness was great. Would never go back. Wake up to yourself Rob. Quick way to go broke.

This bar is mainly for those who want to become regulars or for employees to have a lunch break or a quick drink during the day. I have been a few times there during my visits to San Francisco and loved it! Nothing fancy, warm welcoming and awesome drinks. Highly recommended.

If you are in the area and want GREAT food, walk in and sit down. Easy to find right on the corner of 5th and Howard. I had the Irish stew and my friend had the shepherd's pie both were very good. Portions are large and the price is good. Very close to convention center also.

Wow this was a great neighborhood local bar, right around the corner from the moscone center. The Guinness and shepherds pie were as authentic as the thick accented irish bar maids. it was a pleasant find in the heart of the convention world.

The wife and I grabbed dinner and drinks here on a Monday night. Parking can be tricky, like all of San Francisco, but it is easy to find. The wife ordered the corned beef which was advertised to have the vegetables cooked with the meat, which it was not, and the vegetables were essentially raw. She had to return the dish and tried the Irish stew instead, which was good but not outstanding. I had the special, a fried chicken sandwich, which came with add ons that the waitress assured me were not on the sandwich. (It seemed that the servers and cook were not on the same page as to what was offered that night.) The drinks were a little cheaper than many places in town but all they played was 1970s - 80s rock with no Irish music to be heard. I understand that you can't have live music every night but no Irish music at an Irish pub? You should be ashamed! Unfortunately, this place is nothing special.

Small Irish pub located near the Intercontinental. We stopped in for a drink after dinner one night. Great bar if you want to avoid some of the larger and less intimate pubs in the Union Square area.

The atmosphere was reasonably authentic, and the service was good, but when one of my favorite beers was found on the menu, but not at the tap, I was definitely disappointed. I really wanted a good corned beef and cabbage, but only got an OK one. Though the burger and fish and chips ordered by others got good reviews.

And certainly Irish judging by the accents. Good assortment of munchies, plenty of drinks. Friendly crowd. (Surprised by one very Irish guy jumping up for no reason and shouting "Go Eagles!) We'll certainly stop there again next time in town.

We were living in the hotel across the street but sometimes you just need something a little more ordinary than hotel food, and this pub fits the bill. Good service and ambiance, and a reasonable supply of beers too.

We were in San Francisco for a wedding and wanted to have an Irish breakfast. We found the Chieftain and could not have been happier. The Irish breakfast was great. The brown bread was excellent. The bottomless mimosa was wonderful. There was a lively crowd watching soccer while we were there. It definitely added to the festive atmosphere. We were really happy to find the place!

Stopped in for a beer. Great place...lots going on! Richard the bartender did a great job! I will come back again. Loved it

Nice little pub/restaurant, We stayed here in our first night in San Francisco (we arrived late in The hotel and a lot of local were closed). This local close at 02.00 a.m. But be carefull because The kitchen's open until 22.30-23.30. We took 1big portion of delicius hot wings, 2 hamburger and 2 chieftain nachos. The portion are quite big and we payd in total99$ with guarantee. Inside there is the possibility to see sport games on tv. Suggested!

We really enjoyed our meal in Chieftans, choosing to have chilli and fries and a burger. Also the beer was great. A lovely Irish pub with a good atmosphere. Would have visited again if we were staying in San Francisco longer.

Great service, food and beer. Couldn't ask for any more. Though it was nothing fancy it was exactly what I was looking for in an Irish pub.

This little pub is across the street from the Intercontinental hotel. A short walk for tasty food and delicious drinks. I tried the cottage pie. It was pretty close to what I experienced while visiting Ireland earlier in the year. My husband and I really enjoyed the atmosphere of the Chieftain. The servers were very friendly. We will definitely be back.

Being Irish, I always dread what version of Irishness is going to be articulated in Irish pubs, but this felt pretty authentic and didn't try overly hard to be Irish. It was mainly a good local pub with a flavour of Ireland. The food was typically pub grub, but it was good quality and tasty. Staff looked after us well, so comfortable in fact that we probably had a couple more drinks than we should have. Lovely place.

Just a short journey out of town but a real authentic pub. Staff on the ball, good range of beers and a good American menu. Enjoy its simplicity and locals in the bar. A very good ale house,

After a long day of walking, sweating, aching and sweating some more, the thing we needed most was a pint. I mean, food! The thing we needed most was a decent meal...with a pint. Or two. Thank goodness the Chieftain was within easy walking distance from our hotel, because our poor old bones were aching something fierce that night. After confirming our vaccination status, our waitress Marie told us to pick a table, then dropped off a couple of menus. First order of business were those pints (Guinness ($9) for him, Kilkenny ($9) for me). For dinner, I went rogue and ordered a Caesar salad ($11) and a side of their Brussels sprouts ($10), while my husband ordered the Full English Breakfast ($21). They weren't too busy that night. There were a couple people at the bar, and a couple groups spread out at tables within the dining room. We were huddled on one of the high tables, nursing our beers, when the first plates started to appear. I hope the picture of the Caesar salad doesn't freak anyone out. I didn't realize when I took it that the anchovies were so prominent, and it definitely made my husband twitch when he first saw it. Still, the salad was fresh and filling, and I did so love the bite of saltiness provided by the anchovies. Though, by the time I got around to cutting into the third one, the fishiness of it all did start to overwhelm. The Brussels were both crispy and perfectly cooked. They were served in a soy-based marinade, so they were very much on the salty side. I'm glad my husband was willing to share that side with me, as I was fairly well past my sodium intake for the day. We ordered another round of beers (another Kilkenny for me - I'm never going to say no to Kilkenny on tap, and that's a fact - and a Smithwick's ($8) for my husband) while we were polishing off our plates. My husband gave a thumb's up to the full English breakfast, though he was a little sad that the black pudding serving was so puny. Still, it was enough to fill him up and stuck to his ribs, which was what he needed. We don't usually visit a restaurant more than once during a trip - preferring to explore a city through their dining options as much as possible - but we very nearly went back for another round of food and beer before moving on to our next city. I'm kind of sad we didn't, honestly.

A hungry co-worker and myself stumbled onto this place for a late lunch. The food was good, served hot and fast. Waitstaff very friendly.

Had a couple of drinks and some food here food average but good would i return no simply because the servers where extremly rude maybe i got them on an off night but the place was empty

Great drinks, great location, great bar atmosphere near Moscone Center in San Francisco. It's open late so you can do post dinner drink near many hotels in SoMa area of SF.

A traditional Irish pub with a large selection of beers, ciders, whiskeys and other cocktails... Excellent dishes also like magpie or burger. Chocolate cake very good. Very reasonable Awards for the neighborhood. Very nice atmosphere.

The food was great. I had the corn beef and cabbage with a Black and Tan beer. So much food I left a full slice of beef on the plate

We were in San Francisco for my birthday and St. Patricks day. We googled nearby Irish pubs and The Chieftain came up. We actually bought a Yelp certificate which was a great deal $75 dollars for $100. Then learned that we had to use it all at once. Well we are planning on eating and drinking all day at this bar tomorrow. Pricing is great and the food and service are excellent. This is the iconic cheers/irish bar. I think we saw Norm and Sam in there and it was only Monday. Shelly waited on our table and we had a blast. It's right down the street from the Yahoo offices and was filled with fun conversations and locals who had obviously been coming there forever. We had a lamb burger which was amazing and are planning on going back tomorrow to use our Yelp coupon. We may have to drink a few more Guinness Stout's and maybe even a Single malt scotch (which they have a great selection of) to use up the $100 but had such a blast we look forward to spending the afternoon their. They also show all sporting events and that sometimes determines when they open. There was an England Rugby match on at 6:30 or 7am the next day and the waitress told us they would be open for the match. It's very casual and we would recommend it if you like a local Cheers bar experience with great food and excellent service. It's also right down the street from Nordstrom's rack and upscale retail stores. It's well worth the 2 block walk off of Market street. Enjoy ~:0)

Had a drink at an overpriced restaurant across the street and wanted some good food at a reasonable price in downtown SF. The Chieftain to the rescue! I use to eat here 15 years ago when I lived in the City. The place is still exactly the same with the same great food and of course great beer. The 5 stars go to the waitresses however. The place was packed and they served us as soon as we walked through the door and always checked back.

I've been lucky enough to hit this spot several times over the last 7 years when I visit downtown San Francisco. The inside is such an authentically decorated Irish Pub. It's a fun place to drink and grab a bite.

My husband and I were in town for the ADA convention and got away between classes at the Moscone Center to grab lunch at the Chieftain. What a great spot! It was a busy lunch service, but we didn’t have to wait long for a table, or to get our food. We both had the Caesar Salad. I had grilled steak on mine and my husband had grilled chicken. It was very good. I was so happy to see actual anchovies on my salad! So many places don't do that any more! The grilled steak was a tad overdone and looked like the diced-up remnants of a leftover piece of meat, but it was seasoned properly and tasty. The service was fast and friendly, and the atmosphere was busy but fun. I have no real complaints. If I find myself needing a meal at the next convention at the MC I’ll probably stroll down to the Chieftain again!

I was attending an after RSA show get together at the Chieftain Irish pub and was able to sample several of their dishes including their Shepherds pie. It had room for a good crowd but it was still had a cozy charm. They had good well brands for my Margaritas and a nice Patron. The next night I went back for a full Shepherds pie with diet Coke and lime as I had a working meeting. The wait staff and bartender were friendly and I bonded in one evening. There was a good crowd of locals that I met.

We stayed close by , and stumbled upon the bar. The food was authentic and the drinks were refreshing. I had Guinness and wings. . Our server Robin) was outstanding and served as our bartender. Great place for drinks and folk/ jazz music on the weekends.

Stopped in here for an early dinner with my partner. It was full of people getting drinks but my focus here was strictly dinner needs. Ordered the chicken burger and my partner got bangers and mash. I was very pleased with the quantity/quality of the food in relation to the price. The chicken burger was big to my surprise. A grilled chicken breast, with lettuce, tomato, pickles and onion, in between a buttermilk bun. If I came here again I would definitely grab a drink to watch a sports game. This place has a big tavern vibe with multiple televisions for your sport needs.

Its a nice corner bar. I watched the RWC here some and it was a great crowd, good food and good time all around.

As someone who was shocked at how expensive San Francisco is, I was pleased to find this pub across the road from our hotel. A beer will cost $8-9 which, when you're paying $3.50 at home, seems ridiculous, but it's in line with the area. I found the staff to be friendly enough, and the musician on the Saturday night was pretty good.

Live music on a Saturday evening, and a real neighborhood pub kind-of-ambience. Shut your eyes and the Guinness on tap will transport you to the Emerald Isle. The Shepherd's pie on the menu was delicious. Our barkeep Nathan was expert at managing the busy bar, and provided welcoming attention to his clientele.

Very crowded and noisy - the food was average, but they had Kilkenny on tap which was awesome. Bartender was great too.

I love this place. Really good atmosphere and good buzz in the air. Super convenient location close to all the action of Union Square and downtown. I love that parking is rarely an issue. The food is amazing, far cry from normal pub food. Delicious selections and not just greasy!! The Guinness chocolate cake is to die for!!!!

My husband and I were staying at the hotel next door, so we popped in here for dinner. We actually tried to go on a Friday night but it was too busy and we couldn't get seats, so we tried again on Tuesday about 5:00pm and it was mostly empty, but started to fill in over time. The space is small but has a nice atmosphere and is quite lovely with stone columns and wooden tables. The waitresses were friendly, the food and drinks arrived quickly, and they even packaged a desert to go for me. My husband had the fish and chips, which was very good. I had the chili fries and although they were good, I wish they had come with more chili - I still had fries on my plate when the chili was gone. Otherwise, no complaints; I would definitely try them again.

The place is really small, but has some great Irish atmosphere. The fish and chips are great. The wait staff was great and friendly. Recommend for good times and great Irish beer

We left our hotel and headed in the completely opposite direction from Chinatown, made a BIG circle, got frustrated, spotted The Chieftain . . . hallelujah! We were immediately greeted by our bartender (did not get her name, but she's a great gal from Australia). My husband and I indulged in a few beers and then decided to try a shot of 18 yr. aged Jameson ($24 a pop). She could have easily pushed two shots at us, upped her check average, but instead advised that we try one first and then go from there (we didn't care for it enough to have spent nearly $50). This left an impression on us both and we truly appreciated being taken care of and being cared for. Wish we were able to dine here, but it just didn't fit into our schedule. Next time!

Place was cute, staff was friendly. I ordered an Irish Rose...way to strong for a non-drinker like me :)

Just finished a fabulous meal with my family! I had fish and chips with a side salad. I have not had such delicious fish and chips since I was in Scotland. Must try! The fish will melt in your mouth and the chips were perfect! Homemade tarter sauce accompanied the meal. The side salad was just the right size with mushroom and tomatoes. My kids both had the Bangers and Mash which were also a big hit! They both said their meals were amazing! Large selection of beers and ale. Definitely ask for Marie! She was an awesome server! Our glasses were never empty! Food was served with very little wait. Very Impressed and will return!

We stopped in for a late supper while working an event in town. Great food and service! Perfect place to grab dinner and drinks to watch a ball game!

Loved the relaxed atmosphere and friendly staff. Food was as good as you could expect and the prices very reasonable.

Awesome food, great friendly service, great ambience, accomodating for the kids, overall excellent place to eat!

Visited a few times, wasn't very impressed and on more than one occasion didn't receive correct change. Food was okay but didn't feel very Irish. (My husband is Irish) was opposite our hotel so didn't have to brave the streets at night.

We had a good dinner here - walked into a modest crowd. Its not very big. It was one of several places recommended by the Concierge at the Intercontinental as a good place with modest cost. Our experience was consistent with other TA reviews.

Want a late night drink ? Your 5 star hotel not quite up to it? Go here! Usual pub stuff and a great bartender but here's the real surprise.......good quality red wine in a pub for very little money.

A great little hideaway during conference season - great staff, great food, plenty of games on the TV We hired the whole bar for a customer appreciation event on one evening and fully packed the place - a fantastic atmosphere and the Chieftain team really looked after us well.

I’m a huge fan of Irish food and this is some of the best I’ve had in a while. The restaurant was packed at 6 on a Tuesday which was surprising. We ordered a couple of the Guinness mixes. My husband did the anchor Guinness mix which didn’t mix super well but wasn’t bad. I had a black velveteen which was good though I wish the cider was strongbow. My family orders shepherds pie, Irish stew and bangers and mash. These were all good. The soda bread was great and the bread pudding was also very good. Finally, the two waitresses were fantastic. This is some of the best service we have received in Northern California. We never had to wait for anything. Overall, I would definitely recommend this place.

I stop at the Chieftan every time I visit San Francisco for work (I'm usually working at Moscone Convention Center, which it is VERY close to) and it has become a well-loved tradition. It's loud, it's noisy, it's incredibly Irish, and it's everything I want a pub to be. The food is outstanding (I recommend the fish and chips or the corned beef and cabbage) and the drink selection is superb. The service is fast and friendly, even when the place is standing room only, and I've never heard anyone say a bad thing about it. I highly recommend it if you are in the area and just need some soul-filling Irish vitals.

Had beers at the venue. Plenty of choice. A good vibe and staff were very attentative. Harp Later was a good drop of lager !

Great place and great service from staff from Ireland! Good breakfast and bangers n mash! What can I say...music and good beer as well!

A really good place to go for a quick drink or to stop for a few hours and a bite to eat. They have a good range of beers, a great selection of liquor for an Irish bar and a great menu. Staff were really helpful seating our large group of people. I have seen this place many times as I walked past but have never tried it before last week. I shall definitely visit again.

Great Irish bar. Outstanding atmosphere. Fantastic service. Fish and chips were not the best. A bit soggy and the chips / french fries soaked up a lot of grease.

Excellent beer, good chicken wings and nachos, the place get a bit loudy during a sport match but guess what, it's called ambiance :)

After a day of walk and sightseeing we stopped by for a drink and snacks. It did not disappoint. Great atmosphere and good food. We had a couple of appetizers and of course some Guinness. It was great the service was fast and we were really happy. Check out the Calamari!!! Super good.

When they say authentic, they mean it. The food is great and you'll think you've actually stepped into a real Irish Pub in Ireland. Very casual.

After a recent festival, I walked by this restaurant on the way back to my hotel. After a bit of time relaxing, my boyfriend and I wandered back to this restaurant for a late meal. We enjoyed the delicious wings and an order of the fish and chips, which also were quite good. Luke was our waiter and was very helpful in answering questions as we ordered a dessert of the chocolate cake and an Irish coffee. Based on the service and food, I would return here again on another visit to San Francisco.

We joined the queue for the 1130 early opening for the Rugby World Cup final and weren’t disappointed. Friendly, efficient service and the manager organised the seating well. Good view of the screens in quite a small venue. We enjoyed their take on Irish nachos (chips/fries as the base layer) and had a good burger at half time. Lots of others on fish and chips and burgers. The South Africans were probably the loudest but a fair number of kiwis and a sprinkling of Brits. Only two rest rooms but seemed to work. Good range of draught beers and a poster on the wall to describe your ‘Guinness top’ options.

In derie need of an Irish coffee. Low and behold I found this quint Irish pub. Nice clean atmosphere, and most of all Delicious Irish coffee's...

Awesome atmosphere, music & service. Food was great basic pub food at a very reasonable cost and you don't walk away hungry.

Decided to try this place on a whim as myself and a coworker are in town. We wanted a place to watch superbowl, get a few beers, and get some food. Place was packed when we walked in and I didn't think we'd get a table. Waitress found us one though. Waited on promptly by a really nice waitress. Took our beer and food orders and food was out in less than 30 mins. I had Irish chicken sandwich and coworker had lamb burger. Very good. No complaints at all. Great atmosphere and gorgeous woodwork inside.

Totally unassuming on the outside, but a great little spot. Bartenders were awesome... Went out of their way to introduce themselves. Had the Bangers and Mash to go and was not disappointed. Better yet, in a city with ridiculous food prices, this place was very reasonable. I don't think you'll be disappointed!

Came here on a thursday morning just as they opened. Had the pick of the pub, after 10 minutes the pub was near full. I ordered the irish grill and it was fantastic!! My friend got potato and leak soup, he asked for more soda bread and they obliged and assured theres plenty more if we want. The owner saw we were Irish and came over for a 5 minute chat and made us feel at home, a real gentleman. Sitting here now with a beatiful pint and a good atmosphere for a soccer match. More than 5 star!

It was a good fish n chip for the price; beer choice is good (and they have Guiness). So, for an irish pub style like, the place is very honest with moderate / good prices food. Expect around 15$ for a meal.

My mother always said if you can’t say anything nice don’t say anything at all well Mum wasn’t always right. Had the pleasure of visiting SF for RWC7s. Visited the Chieftain twice. First time Guinness good, staff polite until they threw a patron out at 4.30 pm owner rude and not sure of his problem. Stayed for one more. Not a good feeling. On the Saturday night a revisit having a bit of fun with the crowd from rugby, owner picks up half my Guinness and throws out, apparently not happy with tips. Caught up the next day with rugby crowd who told me they all left after because of personality issues.Cheitan says authentic Irish pub It’s not. Rob the owner needs to reset kpi’s

Stumbled upon this place by pure luck while in town on business. It has everything you would want from an Irish Pub. The corned beef and cabbage was as good as I've ever had. The service was excellent (to be fair we had the same server both nights, Sarrari who was awesome). If you're claustrophobic I wouldn't recommend it as it's a very small space that seems to always be busy. However, I highly recommend it if you don't mind being a little crowded.

It is located r.ight on the corner next to the hotel. I walked in and everything stopped and it got very quiet. After the shock of me entering subsided, I waited to be seated but felt that I was in the wrong place and promptly walked out

This place gets good reviews on Yelp! so we decided to check it out. The service was fast, friendly, and very attentive. The food was good all around. Best thing for me was finding Murphy's Irish Stout on tap and poured to perfection - delicious. Atmosphere was friendly and relaxed - what you would expect from an Irish Pub - except for one very drunk and loud party of 6 that only came in to get plastered. I had my 13 year old son with me so that was a little uncomfortable. Even though you can bring teens in to eat, it's not really a great choice for them even though they would love the burgers and fries served here.

Nice bar and the staff are very nice.food was lovely and came out quickly.would recommend a visit.its also a nice spot just to have a drink.

Excellent staff. Friendly and efficient. Food is great value for money with a pretty wide choice. Probably the most value for money evening meal in San Francisco. Well worth a visit

Popped in with a couple of colleagues. Lively atmosphere playing base ball on the many TVs . Great beer Sierra Nevada

Had a very nice Irish meal. Bangers and Mash was very delicious. My so had the Shepards pie that was great. Small pub atmosphere.

Rating is good rather than average but TP don't have this. This is the sort of bar you may think twice about going into as it doesn't look great. Inside it is fairly authentic with a good selection of drinks and a good bar menu. Staff always friendly every time I have been here and on Sunday night there was the added bonus of live music. So if you wander along and think on passing by because it looks a bit iffy, step inside and enjoy yourself.

Popped in here a few times whilst staying at the Intercontinental over the road. Great drinks and good service. Live music one night too.

Pleasant place to eat, drink, listen to music. American burgers with Irish beer is a great combination. The service was helpful, answer my questions, suggested meals. I also had a chance to taste a few samples of beer before I ordered. I didn't wait too long for my dinner. It came hot and yummy. It was quite a busy evening, however, when I finished my dinner the staff didn't throw me away from my seat.

This was the first place we ate in San Fran the atmosphere was great! It reminded me of watching Cheers! The bar staff and wait staff are very friendly. Drink prices are reasonable. The turkey burger there is soooooo good and so are the wings!

There was a lot of guys there. It was loud and rowdy with a popular UFC fight going on. We had a lot of fun. It is not very big so if you planning on going there definitely get there early.

Stopped here for dinner while on business. They were real busy, as it was St. Patrick's week. The selection of beer and whiskey was very good. The menu had an ample selection of Irish favorites and some common elements to keep everyone happy. I had the Lamb Burger, very good indeed and massive in size. Seating is a bit tight, and the bar reflects a popular social spot, a tad noisy, but fun. Certainly will go again on the next trip.

Loved this pub, as a travelling Aussie, we found 'home style' food. We had the fish n chips, steak and shepherds pie and it was all delicious. To top off the ambience, there was a small Irish group playing tunes and they were great. Really enjoyed the atmosphere and food at the Chieftain

Been here twice this week. Good beer selection but staff have a poor attitude. Still it's better than the bar at the Intercontinental Hotel for a beer.

what more can be said? they do have good grub, as pubs go, the service is friendly and the beer cold.

My wife and I visited the Chieftain on the evening of Sunday 17th January which was a short distance from our hotel when the weather was very wet. We ordered a bottle of Chardonay and some Soda Bread and butter, the latter which was fresh but very filling. For main course I ordered the fish and chips and my wife ordered the Shepherds Pie. My wifes pie was delicious with nice pieces of lamb mince, my cod was in 3 sections and was very good the let down was the chips which had obviously been left to one side and not reheated as they waited for the fish. Another good factor was that as we sat there there was music firstly from a fiddler, guitarist and pipe, who were then joined by a number of other musicians which made for a very pleasant evening.

After being here several times, I have noticed a few things - it gets crowded easy, service tends to be slow and somewhat unfriendly, it is a little expensive but the food is good.

Ate here on a whim while attending a convention across the street. Never had such good fish and chips, good portions too.

A great place to go for some really good Irish Pub food with generous servings! Service was excellent!

The place was pretty packed but we found two seats at a table with other easy going guests. The staff was friendly and fast, especially the lunch food arrived faster than I would have expected. The shepherd's pie was good and the beer what you expect.

This pub had a little more of a frat feel than that of a pub. It was pretty crowded and somewhat small. I didn't have any food, so can't advise on that. Crowd was friendly, irish beer on tap (of course!), so all in all, I was pleased.

20$ juste to watch tv, without any drinks included and no guarantee to have a table to eat something. This has a name : ripoff ! I off course didn't pay and found another bar close to the Moscone center.

Food average we had fish but it was very watery there is a new singer there but no as good as the previous one his choice of material was poor and not enjoyable we always pays 3 to 4 visits when on holiday but think next time give it a miss

Decent priced beer and okay bar food. I would return for a pint again. Seemed to have a nice crowd and a good pub atmosphere.

Very typical look similar to Pubs seen in the Emerald Isle. Expensive build out and the look of wood everywhere. Salmon for lunch was slightly overcooked, Shepherds pie, a traditional Irish dish was savory, comfortable but average. Irish stew, mostly potato and carrots included bits of beef and could have used more. An average place. Corner location, street parking, inexpensive prices. OK for lunch.

Solid Irish offerings - good Guiness and Fish n Chips. Friendly staff, good location, easy walking area. Small place, but big enough for some groups. No wait. Buffalo wings a bit hor for me, but fish and chips just right.

I just want to send out a huge thank you to mark! I had visited the bar and left my favourite sweater. I wasn’t from the area and was already on the move to my next location, not coming back to San Francisco. I contacted the bar and Mark not only found my sweater but shipped it to me. Thank you so much for your hospitality. I hope to be back to visit one day. Until then, cheers!

A little off the beaten track, when we first got there - we went early to watch the Liverpool FC soccer game - it was all locked up and looked a little scruffy. Once the bars were opened up and we went inside we were pleasantly surprised as it was actually quite nice furnishings and decor wise and the young man and woman serving were friendly and helpful. As we were finishing our drinks an older waitress delivered insult number one when we told her we were from Liverpool and she “joked” about counting the condiments to make sure we hadn’t stolen any. Even after we politely pointed out that we didn’t appreciate her comment she didn’t graciously drop it but tried to justify it by saying she had her bike stolen in Liverpool - while I’m sorry for her experience, I’m sure that happens in every city around the world. Just in case you think we’ve had a sense of humour failure, this stereotyping isn’t funny, is insulting and led to the headlines in the Sun (newspaper or more commonly known as rag) after Hillsborough that took so many years fighting for justice. During the day I realised I’d lost our driving licences and phoned the bar to see if I’d dropped them there. The staff member we spoke to said they weren’t there and we didn’t leave a number but an hour or so later I got a text to say they had been handed in. We were very grateful and headed back to the bar to pick up the licences. Sadly the person who handed them in hadn’t left their details so we couldn’t give a reward. When we explained to the Irish bar tender that we’d come to collect our licences and he recognised our Scouse accents he delivered insult number 2 and said he wouldn’t have bothered if he’d known we were from Liverpool. I don’t know about you but I don’t spend thousands of pounds and travel thousands of miles for my holidays to be insulted. It costs nothing to be nice and be kind. Maybe the 2 older staff who insulted us could take a lead from the lovely younger members of staff and if they can’t say something nice then they should say nothing.

Recently visited this Irish pub in San Francisco. Not a nice atmosphere in the place. Found the female English bartender not very friendly. I left and soon went to Johnny Foleys in Union Square. Staff there more friendlier. A better place to visit.

Would love to provide a review of their food and service but despite calling the evening before to check if they would be open early to show the All Blacks game we got out of our $12 uber to find that they were closed. Waited a while until a guy cleaning came out and said they wouldn’t be opening until 10am (3 hours later) - cheers