32 San Francisco Bars That Still Have Pool Tables

Despite the city losing many pool halls, these local watering holes keep the game alive.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 5:20pm by

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A bold, abstract silkscreen illustration featuring a repeated graphic of a pool table corner pocket in a grid of vibrant neon colors, conceptually representing the enduring appeal of pool in San Francisco's bar scene.Despite the decline of pool halls across San Francisco, a surprising number of bars have found creative ways to preserve the classic bar pastime of pool.San Francisco Today

San Francisco has been quietly losing pool tables for years, with the closure of iconic venues like Family Billiards, Whiskey Thieves, and Lucky 13. However, a surprising number of bars across the city's neighborhoods still offer pool tables for patrons to rack 'em up, from dives with tables tucked away in the back to bars with pool tables as a central feature.

Why it matters

Pool halls and pool tables have long been a part of San Francisco's bar culture, providing a social gathering space and a classic pastime. As the city has evolved, many of these pool-centric venues have shuttered, raising concerns about the preservation of this unique aspect of the city's identity. This story highlights the bars that are keeping the tradition alive, offering a glimpse into the resilience of San Francisco's local watering hole scene.

The details

The article provides a comprehensive list of 32 San Francisco bars that still have pool tables, spanning neighborhoods from the Mission to the Marina. These bars range from divey establishments with tables hidden in the back to bars where pool is a central attraction. While iconic pool halls like Family Billiards have closed, these remaining venues are ensuring pool enthusiasts can still find a table on a Tuesday night, even if they have to look a little harder.

  • Family Billiards, the oldest continuously running pool room in the city, is being pushed out.
  • Whiskey Thieves is gone.
  • The Wooden Nickel drowned in a 2023 atmospheric river and never came back.
  • Lucky 13 got bulldozed for condos, though it's now becoming a bar again.

The players

Saul Sugarman

Editor-in-chief and owner of The Bold Italic, the publication that produced this article.

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What they’re saying

“You can still find a table on a Tuesday night. You just have to look sideways into the back rooms of dives, behind the jukebox, past the dartboard, occasionally under a chandelier.”

— Saul Sugarman, Editor-in-chief and owner

The takeaway

Despite the loss of iconic pool halls, San Francisco's bar scene has adapted to preserve the tradition of pool, with a surprising number of local watering holes across the city's neighborhoods still offering tables for patrons to enjoy this classic pastime. This resilience speaks to the enduring appeal of pool as a social activity and the ability of the city's bars to evolve and cater to the interests of their communities.