Li Po Lounge, Chinatown
37 people recommendvia r/AskSF, r/sanfrancisco, r/bayarea30 comments cited below
The comments cited below are a sample of the full tally across 30 threads.
What people say, in short
Overall, people recommend Li Po Lounge, a Chinatown cocktail lounge, and some call it a dive. Several praise its Chinese mai tai, though some find the drink poor or underwhelming. One says the drinks feel pricey for the effect, and one says it works for a single drink though they would rather drink elsewhere.
Address
Li Po Cocktail Lounge, 916 Grant Ave, San Francisco, CA 94108
At a glance
- Best for
- Cocktails
- Opinions divided
- Yes
- Known for
- Chinese mai tai
The evidence
Every point below is paraphrased from a real public comment, ordered by how much the community engaged with it. Caveats and negatives are kept in — follow any link to read the original for yourself.
- Recommendsu/Darryl_Lict in r/AskSF · Aug 2026ambience
Calls it a genuinely divey spot with friendly regulars and well-known drinks.
- Recommendsu/Previous-Grape-712 in r/sanfrancisco · Nov 2024
Listed among the commenter's notable places, with no description.
- Recommendsu/maroongoldfish in r/AskSF · Feb 2025
Lists it as the second stop of their route.
- Recommendsu/phat_chickens in r/AskSF · Jan 2025
Lists Lipo Lounge among its recommended spots for visitors.
- Recommendsu/westlakesoup in r/bayarea · Apr 2024taste
Lists this cocktail lounge and says its Mai tais are strong.
- Recommendsu/Mysterious-Call-245 in r/AskSF · Aug 2026
Lists Li Po among three stops that would make a fun Bourdain-themed outing.
- Recommendsu/GideonWells in r/bayarea · Apr 2024
Lists it among vibey options and credits it with originating the Mai tai.
- Recommendsu/Ok_Industry5499 in r/AskSF · Jan 2026
Suggests Li-po Lounge as a bar option in Chinatown.
Show all 30 cited comments
- Recommendsu/cowgoesrowr in r/AskSF · Jun 2024taste
Recommends Li Po Lounge as a bonus pick for its well-known Chinese mai tai.
- Recommendsu/Hebrewhammer8d8 in r/AskSF · Jun 2026taste
Suggests Li Po, citing its mai tai and a dice game.
- Mixedu/wellvis in r/AskSF · Mar 2026
Good for a single drink, but the commenter would rather drink elsewhere.
- Recommendsu/Friskfrisktopherson in r/AskSF · Aug 2026
Advises pairing a Chinatown outing with drinks here; a positive pick.
- Recommendsu/EmphasisFew in r/sanfrancisco · Jan 2026
Recommends it.
- Mixedu/radgnarband in r/Tiki · Apr 2025taste
Wouldn't push its mai tai, calling the drink poor.
- Recommendsu/desertplatypus in r/Tiki · Mar 2026ambience
Suggests this old-school Chinatown dive near Pagan Idol as a stop.
- Mixedu/jewelswan in r/AskSF · Dec 2023price
Finds its drinks pricey for the effect but still likes stopping in on a neighborhood stroll.
- Recommendsu/joshuaxls in r/AskSF · Jan 2026
Lists this spot among suggested bars in North Beach or Chinatown.
- Mixedu/FionaApplin in r/Tiki · Feb 2024ambience
Drink was not great, but the lively little bar made for a good time.
- Recommendsu/make_chai_not_war in r/AskSF · Feb 2024ambience
Praises its dive-bar feel and says its Mai Tai is a known draw.
- Recommendsu/Senchent in r/AskSF · Aug 2026taste
Recommends Li Po for its Chinese Mai Tai as the first stop on a Bourdain-themed night.
- Recommendsu/disposable-assassin in r/AskSF · Jan 2026
Suggests Li-Po as one of two bars to try.
- Recommendsu/brthr in r/Tiki · Oct 2024taste
Recommends this Chinatown dive as special, especially for its signature mai tai.
- Recommendsu/American_Non-Voter in r/AskSF · Sep 2026
Suggests Lipo Lounge in Chinatown as an alternative direction to go.
- Recommendsu/Calimt in r/AskSF · Jan 2026
Lists this spot among options in North Beach and the edge of Chinatown.
- Recommendsu/ProfessorXWheelchair in r/sanfrancisco · Jan 2026taste
Says the mai tai here is excellent, while admitting the claim is unfounded.
- Recommendsu/imeanwhyarewehere in r/Tiki · Apr 2025ambience
Calls it a classic dive tiki spot, good for kicking off or ending a night out.
- Recommendsu/deadly_decanter in r/AskSF · Dec 2023price
Recommends this lounge for value on drinks, based on a past visit.
- Recommendsu/Brendissimo in r/sanfrancisco · Jan 2026
Calls the place a great spot, echoing the parent's suggestion.
- Recommendsu/simulmatics in r/AskSF · Feb 2025
Lists this bar as one stop in a North Beach and Chinatown bar crawl.
- Recommendsu/Haveblue1 in r/bayarea · Apr 2024
Strongly endorses this place.
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Freshness
Details last checked 14 Nov 2026. Recommendations reflect what people said at the time; confirm current details before you go.