Pier 23 Cafe Restaurant & Bar
Pier 23 Cafe Restaurant & Bar sits right on the Embarcadero waterfront in the stretch between the Ferry Building and Fisherman’s Wharf, so it feels pretty central to the North Beach and Financial District side of the bay. The space is simple and a bit old-school: a narrow indoor bar and dining room that opens out to a large back deck over the water.
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Most folks go for the outdoor seating when the weather cooperates, with heaters and umbrellas helping when it is chilly or bright. It draws a steady mix of locals, office workers, and visitors who want a drink and something seafood focused without getting too dressed up.
For events, it runs like a casual neighborhood spot that happens to be on a pier. Live music is a regular thing, often in that late afternoon to early evening window, like the 4 to 7 pm sets for Dolphin Jazz with Michael Weiner or Samurai Gypsies, and shorter 4 to 6 pm sets like the Ned Boynton Trio. Expect small-group jazz, Latin, and related styles more than big amplification. The band usually sets up where sound still carries out to the deck, so people can listen while eating or just having a drink. Service is relaxed but used to handling a crowd, and the food leans toward chowder house and bar classics along with other seafood dishes.
The place has been family run for decades. Pier 23 was already a waterfront music joint in the mid twentieth century, and the current owners took it over more than 40 years ago and kept live music as part of the identity. That history is pretty visible in how the room is laid out and in the way regulars treat it more like a long-running hangout than a new concert venue.
Venue Photo
Location and Directions
Nearby Venues
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The Savoy Tivoli
1434 Grant Ave, San Francisco, CA 941330.4 miles away
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Otherwise Brewing
1402 Grant Ave, San Francisco, CA 941330.4 miles away
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Keys Jazz Bistro
498 Broadway, San Francisco, CA 941330.4 miles away