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San Francisco Lost: A Nostalgic Look Back
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items A personal journey through the San Francisco that once was. This list revisits beloved places and things in the city that have vanished or closed their doors for good. Very lucky to have experienced many of these places in their prime (2002-2012).
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Jack and Margaret Chang basically kept me alive in my early 20s. I would rank Jack's burger as my #1 favorite burger in all of SF. And their peanut milk was so good. And the stories about their peanut milk plastered all over the walls. They definitel...
KK Cafe - San Francisco, CA
There are so many things I could say about this place. My first San Francisco apartment was right around the corner. So many of my early core memories of SF revolve around this place. The owners and staff were the best. The combination of Korean, Mex...
Jasmin's Cafe - San Francisco, CA
This place collectively cured the Tenderloin's hangover on Sunday mornings. Will always have a special place in my heart.
Turtle Tower - San Francisco, CA
A great, shitty TL dive. This place was always the beginning or end of a long adventure.
Whiskey Thieves - San Francisco, CA
This place was truly a disgusting mess. And I loved it.
Place Pigalle - San Francisco, CA
This place was straight out of a movie or something. For sure one of the most unique bars on planet earth in it's day. One highlight I remember was ocassionally they would have really good, home-cooked Korean food that was 100% free. The mix of old K...
Yong San Lounge - San Francisco, CA
Christmas style all day. If you know, you know.
Green Chile Kitchen - San Francisco, CA
If we weren't eating breakfast at Eddie's we were eating at Blue Jay. I don't think they were trying to make this place a scene of any kind but it definitely became a local scene and place to run into people in the neighborhood. And it was just a rea...
Blue Jay Cafe - San Francisco, CA
I genuinely cannot believe that this place is gone. It was a go-to spot for so many people in and around Lower Haight. What else are you going to eat at the annoying beer place next door? RIP Rosamunde.
Rosamunde Sausage Grill - Haight St - San Francisco, CA
Virginia was actually our friend. Like for real. She got to know people. She remembered you. She had stories and jokes for you. She had gifts for you. Her life story is amazing. If you don't know it, I highly recommend reading about her. There is eve...
The Tamale Lady
Hard to imagine SF without this place. 💔 I guess I just thought it would always be there. I'll definitely miss waiting for my table next door at the book store with the cat.
Chow - San Francisco, CA
An extremely rare gem.
Divas Nightclub & Bar - San Francisco, CA
I would not have survived without this place. Cheap, quality NY/NJ style slices in the Mission, there really wasn't anything else like this in the city at the time.
Arinell Pizza - San Francisco, CA
This was the spot for margaritas and dancing.
Velvet Cantina - San Francisco, CA
This place was special to me because it was one of the first places I ate when I was visiting SF, right before I moved to the city. It was always a go-to dinner and brunch spot for me and my friends. Their build-your-own bloody mary bar was a bit ext...
Home - San Francisco, CA
Ok this one actually pissed me off. How could this place be gone? Is San Francisco really San Francisco without Elbo Room? I have heaps of memories from this place and that photo booth! It was actually a perfect place.
Elbo Room - San Francisco, CA
A Korean Mexican fusion spot that served cheap, delicious food in SOMA. I always got one of their burritos before a Giants game.
HRD - San Francisco, CA
So many things happened here. Live music, poetry, stand up comedy, rockabilly swing dancing. When I lived in the neighborhood I loved popping in to see what was happening.
Club Deluxe - San Francisco, CA
The epicenter of the indie sleaze era.
Cherry Bar - San Francisco, CA
Such a bummer that it's gone. 🙁
Lexington Club - San Francisco, CA
At least 50% of my clothes came from Thrift Town.
Thrift Town - San Francisco, CA
The indie sleaze uniform store.
American Apparel - San Francisco, CA
This place was a hub for the locals in the neighborhood. So many good times here.
Peoples Cafe, San Francisco
This place was very silly but I liked it for the cheap drinks, mario kart, shuffleboard, skee ball, and the random cult movies playing behind the bar.
Buckshot Bar and Gameroom - San Francisco, CA
The indie sleaze levels were so high in here, you wouldn't believe me if I told you.
Arrow Bar - San Francisco, CA
Legendary small music venue and bar. Many friend's bands played here. Miss this place.
Hemlock Tavern - San Francisco, CA
One of the only late night spots in SF at the time.
Sparky's Pizza & Diner - San Francisco, CA
This place was just really, really good. Another one that's hard to imagine not existing anymore.
Poleng Lounge - San Francisco, CA
Incredible memories here throughout the years. 💛
Esta Noche - San Francisco, CA
This location has been a million different things but I will always remember the years it was The Transfer. Fun fact: upstairs was the first cannabis club in the United States.
The Transfer - San Francisco, CA
This was a laundromat and a cafe. And, oddly enough, sometimes a stand-up comedy venue. Not really sure how to explain how culturally relevant this place was for young people back then, but it was.
Brainwash Cafe & Laundromat - San Francisco, CA
They were great neighbors.
Ziryab - San Francisco, CA
Terrible pizza, but great customer service, and very cheap prices. Perfect for an early twenty-something.
Pizza Pino & Kitchen - San Francisco, CA
I always enjoyed this gallery space.
FFDG - San Francisco, CA
This place hosted some of the most hyped up lowbrow art shows of all time. Such a scene. Apparently the owner is a huge grifter and scammed these well-known artists out of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
White Walls - San Francisco, CA
Great small gallery space. I always enjoyed the shows featuring local artists.
Receiver Gallery - San Francisco, CA
Really glad I got to experience this place.
Fleur de Lys - San Francisco, CA
Unparalleled collection of cult, horror, classic, foreign, and independent films. I discovered so many rare and impossible to find movies from this place. We've gotta bring places like this back.
Le Video - San Francisco, CA
One of the last Blockbusters I set foot in.
Blockbuster Video - San Francisco, CA
I almost completely forgot about this place lol - but a friend just reminded me. You had to be there.
Otis - San Francisco, CA