The Royale

New favorite Sunday evening spot. And potential weeknight spot based on their calendar bursting with a spectrum of enticing events.
Was having a casual Sunday w/​my BFF. We spent a large chunk of the day drinking chai at a café, but the urge to hear some live music swept over us like the fog blanketing itself across San Francisco. We were determined to find some jazz. We came across this place on Unilocal,conveniently located blocks from my friend’s apt and knew we had to check it out.
So yes, older crowd. But that’s kind of what we loved most about it. First of all, it’s endearing to see a crowd genuinely enjoying the performance, bobbing their heads, tapping their feet– no twerking, no awkward dancing… a nice relief. Older people= more relaxed atmosphere, less pushy at the bar, no unwanted advances from creepy guys, potential exchanges of words of wisdom… over all mellow experience.
And we LOVE Dan the bartender. Hi Dan!!! He gave us such a warm welcome to this local neighborhood bar and made us want to be regulars. So we will be back! ASAP.

This is a review based on a corporate holiday part we just had here. Will was so easy to work with from the very start– figuring out pricing, bringing in catering and even creating a signature drink that went with our company mascot/​colors.
The venue was clean and very nice. They let us bring in our own decorations and were more then accommodating when it came to us playing our own music and using the TV to project our logo.
During the event Dan & Will not only made great cocktails but I also received multiple compliments about their service-​how nice and friendly they were. I really appreciate how hard they worked to make our event run smoothly, and how professional they were.
Thank you again for every thing! Everyone had a great time :)

Not worth the time… rude bartender waited @ bar and got no service but helped the people next to us… RYE down the street way better.

I came to this bar on a random night with coworkers over a year ago, and I keep coming back. The people behind the bar are real people, and clientele is pretty nice. You can usually get a swing at the pool table too. Upstairs is a good place to sneak away to do your own thing, and downstairs can be chill with live music or, if a Saturday, pretty packed. I usually ask for them to surprise me with a drink, which the bartenders are happy to do. Complimentary red licorice… if you dare. You can bring food in, too, if you want to drink wine and computer away after work.
Like full size candy bars on Halloween.

I love these guys. Period.
For anyone who has known Café Royale over the years, you’ll see how much the current 4 owners have done to the place, and the neighborhood. The community they have created over the past several years is amazing. All 4 owners bartend and they’re all ridiculously nice, intelligent and low-​key people. They’re no-​bulllshit kind of guys, which is what I love about them. If you come in and try to order a drink while talking on your cell phone, they may not attend to you right away, because it’s rude to be on your cell phone while trying to talk face-​to-​face with another person.
The Royale is an awesome, low-​key neighborhood bar with a great pool table, talented bartenders, and always good music playing.
Also, for anyone looking for a private event location, check them out. I hosted my wedding at the Royale last weekend. It was awesome. From the start the owners went above and beyond to make sure their involvement in my wedding reception was not the cause of any stress. They listened to my requests, moved tables around accordingly, helped get the caterers situated, and worked directly with my live music and DJ to make sure they had everything they needed. My fiancé (now husband!) and I opted for an open bar until we reached a certain $$ amount. They came up to me regularly during the night with updates on what our guests were spending, which was really helpful. At the end of the night, even the bouncer offered to help me as I struggled getting the left over cake into a box.
I cannot thank them enough for all of their hard work, and for helping to keep me sane during the planning process. ;) The Royale has always had a special place in my heart, and I am so happy we decided to host our wedding reception there. It was perfect. :)

Aw, the royale … I LOVE THEEEEEEEEE!
Absolutely one of my fave venues for live music in SF and will continue to be forever and ever.

I’ve been coming in for a while now and I can definitely say there’s no other bar like it in the city. They are close to downtown so it’s great for when you want a centrally located meeting spot. Everyone is super friendly and the bar owners are also dog friendly. keep in mind your dog should be bar friendly if bringing one along.
There’s usually nightly entertainment so check out their site for the calendar of events and they have monthly local artist exhibits.
Prices are right and the bathrooms are clean.
If you are adventurous try one of their specialty cocktails. 99 out of 100 people really enjoy them.
I know I’ll be back soon.

Mannnnn this place! Amazing DAN is a real talk straight forward guy! I was treated like a star! Will be back!

The Royale is a quintessential San Francisco bar! From the natural lighting through the ever changing local artist who is being promoted to the snarky and witty bartenders, it is the perfect bar to represent the tender knob neighborhood.
The owners, Dan, John, Jimmy, and Will, are each gregarious individuals who are always willing to have a chat about the latest SF trends, entertainment news, or existential crisis. Their goal: expand the family that is, The Royale.
The drinks are spot on… I am not much of a cocktail guy, but from my time in the industry, I can confidently say the boys know how to get drinks out to a packed bar. As for the beer selection, which is my foray, Jimmy is always rotating a different selection of the latest breweries in and out, while paying attention to what his customers are enjoying.
I would and will definitely come back to the Royale. Though, if I had to critique anything, it would be the person selecting the Thursday evening music. Who is that band and why have they not been taken out to pasture yet.

Unpretentious, spirited and cozy. It’s the perfect neighborhood bar. It has an excellent beer selection, and their cocktails are great! It’s honestly very unique and personable. On most nights, they have live music; others, they have comedy nights or other events. It has a pool table, an art gallery that changes every month, and an upstairs area. The guys working there are awesome, the type of bartenders that will remember you and keep it real. Love those guys. This place is, truly, an SF gem.

If you like going to a bar where the servers don’t know how to make drinks then this is the place. Maybe the owner shouldn’t be the bartender? If you don’t know how to make an Irish car bomb or a dirty martini then it’s time to get a new career. Overall horrible costumer service, and the only people who go to this bar are apparently his friends.

Bartender was arrogant and treated us like we weren’t worth the business. Asked for a drink and he acted like we were stupid. Not cool at all.

Bummed. Just bummed. This «owner» started judging everyone based on their looks and that’s when the LASHING started. My friend was asking about Irish car bombs and the owner looked at my friend like he was crazy. By the way. We are 25 yr old just wanting to find a cute lil bar and he started getting aggressive. So rude here. Just because we are «younger» than the 35+ crowd. It’s rude. Not the time for fun. If you want 60 yr old men and somewhat descent drinks.
Your spot awaits.

The most boring place I’ve ever visited. Music was very low. There were no snacks at the bar, need to buy it in a store and bring with you. Barman was not polite and didn’t pay attentions to our orders.

Will’s thighs are on fire. The drinks are made with alcohol, which is important for a bar. I’m a big fan of Jimi, too. His love for the Alkaline Trio makes me feel like I’m back in high school, which is good for my self-​esteem. Dan is a hardcore MMA fighter, so be sure to get him worked up. Jon is always very attentive and never loses focus. Some guy named Nick does a really good comedy show the first Wednesday of every month too. Go for that.

OWNER PlEASE READI’m giving it 3 stars bc the place it self isn’t bad the music which was soul was good the place has seating upstairs which looks down on the bar I liked that … But the bartender which seemed like a nice guy killed it. Being a business owner myself I’m only posting this bc the owner of the bar should definitely have a talk with his bartender about being appropriate with customers and what is and is not ok to say to customers!!!
THE BARTENDER was totally out of pocket
I arrived at the bar before my friends so once I got there I walked up to the bar ordered a drink and started to call my friends to see where they were … I ordered myself a lemon drop, while putting the phone to my ear i would have never imagined I was going to schooled by the bartender… Anyway after speaking to my friends I hung up and asked how much my drink would be the bartender proceeded to make me feel very uncomfortable going on to tell me that next time I order a drink try not to be on the phone bc it’s rude!
NOTE: At the time I ordered my drink I technically wasn’t speaking to anyone the phone was still ringing!. I was so shocked he made me feel so wierd I was by myself and he said it infront of the others who were standing at the bar!!! I Wow we’re not at a restaurant were at a bar with my music blasting and drinks and good vibes why go in do something so silly like that??? .i would agree if we were at a quite dinning room or a restaurant ordering my entire meal whole on my phone! It’s a lemon drop dude chill out!
Anyway when he told me that I told him I wasn’t on my phone when I ordered my drink I wasn’t talking to anyone he gave me this look and sad yea ok it’s just kinda rude when your on the phone and ordering a drink so I repeated myself once again to him and he said look it’s not a big deal just try to not be on your phone when ordering a drink!!!
I didn’t argue with him but I thought WHAT IS THIS GUY SERIOUS??? why is this guy alienating me and killing my first experience at this place by trying to be my dad telling me what to do??? I’m not being loud the BAR IS LOUD, it’s none of his business, and I said 2 words to u LEMON DROP u heard it clearly and my drink wasn’t wrong so what’s the problem? I didn’t say that I’m to nice but I’m sure somebody else would have told him off maybe he knew he could get away with doing that to a younger girl who was all by herself !
Anyway If you know anything about business it’s always guest first you idiot u don’t tell a customer what to do or what’s right from wrong unless their doing something wrong that’s directly effecting the business or surrounding customers it’s not like u didn’t get my order right!
I just thought that was so out of pocket! What kind of a bartender gives advice like that to anyone in a lounge/​bar be cool dude don’t let your position go to your head just bc your bar tending doesn’t make you the authority come on now don’t kill people’s good vibes and your tip man!!! I obviously didn’t tip him he was the rude one! He should have known his place get right man!
Lastly when my friends got their we took our business elsewhere. I can’t imagine how many people go in their and reach for their phones to call their friends I wonder if he sits their doing it to everyone that’s a perfect example of a power trip right there. And just to be clear I know what it looks like when some one is on their phone chatting away making a waiter stand there waiting to take your order and their all distracted now that’s rude this was nothing like that, that’s why it tripped me out to see this guy in some kind of a control mode. Hopefully he will bring it down a notch My friend and I won’t be back and if you continue to alienate customers your going to be told off or in cases like mine will simply never go back.

What a find. Great little down-​to-​Earth neighborhood joint, the kind where the bar tenders would remember you after only one or two visits. Attentive bar staff that knows how to mix a drink. Excellent old fashions my friends… excellent. Good live music (trends towards jazz I believe), that’s entertaining enough to keep your attention but not too loud that it demands it!
It’s dark enough to be romantic (nice little balcony to get away from the crowds) cool enough to be hip, small enough to be intimate, big enough to easliy find a seat.
Will head back for sure.

Good (and fairly priced) beverage selection. Nice jazzy band that plays Friday night. Bathrooms can be cleaned a little more (and the toilet paper roll needs some work… Like, it actually needs to roll). But, the bartenders are nice. Security is nice. There are hooks under the bar for your bag.
All in all — yes, do try it out!

The Royale is a hidden Gem of a bar in SF. Went here for a friends birthday and was amazed.
It’s not your typical bar but definitely well curated and has an occasional jazz band (phenomenal). Great for a super, super low key get together sans «turnt mode»
Only con: Parking is a pain in the arse. Unless you’re comfortable walking 6 blocks from Polk, you really have to shell out 15 $ for garage parking.

I’ve got to give it up I’ve got to give it up
That stuff
I’ve got to give it up I’ve got to give it up
That stuff
Tell my mama and tell my pa
That their fine young son didn’t get far
He made it to the end of a bottle
Sitting in a sleazy bar
He tried hard but his spirit broke
He tried until he nearly choked
In the end he lost his
Battle drinking alcohol
Ouch did I have The Royale Hangover after chilling out here to see my friend play music here. The Royale is a friendly neighborhood tendernob bar that is full of 20 and 30 somethings mixing and mingling… nice looking crowd.
Great selection of beers on tap, topshelf stuff, and mixed drinks… and lord knows I tried them all.
I would definitely come back even though the bartender was wearing a Dodgers cap… yeah like try bartending wearing a Giants cap in LA.