Hi Dive
Categories: Dive Bars, Burgers, American (Traditional) [Edit]
The Embarcadero & Bryant StPier 28 1/2
San Francisco, CA 94105 (415) 977-0170
- Hours:
Mon-Wed 11:30 a.m.-11:30 p.m.
Thu-Fri 11:30 a.m.-1:00 a.m.
Sat 10:00 a.m.-1:00 a.m.
Sun 10:00 a.m.-11:30 p.m. - Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: No
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Lunch, Late Night
- Best Nights: Wed, Thu, Sun
- Happy Hour: Yes
- Alcohol: Full Bar
- Smoking: Outdoor Area/Patio Only
- Coat Check: No
174 reviews
Neighborhood: Nob Hill
"This bar TOTALLY caters to my crowd. And by "my crowd" I mean the whorish 20 somethings who just want to drink and get their freak on like…" read more »
146 Reviews for Hi Dive
ive driven by this spot several times while cruisin the embarcadero~seen people go in/out & always wondered what the heck was in there...this past weekend i got invited for a lil bday gathering~have to say it was pretty cool~crowd/vibe was good...cheap beer...the group ordered sum grub/appetizers which made this bar complete~ it was at nite so i couldnt really c the view of the water...probably on a sunny day itll be a different story....
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It's a cool spot, but it's a misnomer - it's definitely not a dive, and it's on ground level overlooking the bay rather than on top of a building somewhere. The views are great though, and the crowd is an interesting mix, mostly people from surrounding businesses and tourists with a few randoms thrown in. The food options looked intriguing and there were a lot of seafood options for those so inclined, but a little pricey - maybe if it had more of a restaurant vibe they'd be justified, but it's pub-style service.
Overall, the drinks were a little pricey but they'll gladly do frou-frou drinks and the back patio was pretty awesome. Good overall layout too, lots of seating. I'll be back sometime.
3.5 stars.
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I happen to LIKE Hi Dive.
UNLIKE other bars that are in NO VICINITY OF PARKING SPACES ALSKDJF;LASKDJF, Hi Dive has a great selection of easily walkable lots that I can stumble to my car, hand my keys over to my friend that can't drive WORTH SHIT and get driven home.
When you walk in, you can immediately get a feel for the layout. There is a sweet view of the water (which is always calming), and you have adequate space to walk around and visit all your friends, and introduce yourself to new ones.
Like I did. To about half the bar.
The outside patio was a nice touch, because I like to drink AND kill my lungs are the same time. Sitting outside with the ever-wonderful Matt H., this guy comments on a curl on the back of my head, and flattens it out for me. ?? Thanks for um..touching me? And then his 6'8'' drunk friend comes out and introduces himself to me, and next thing you know I'm sandwiched between the two of them on the bench as they're belting out the lyrics to some Beatles song, asking if I can harmonize with them. I'm sorry...WHAT?! I CAN'T HEAR YOU BECAUSE YOU BLEW OUT MY EARDRUMS KTHX.
The bartender kept going around making sure my glass was full, up until someone closed out the bar tab, which means that I had to walk my happy ass over to a group of Rockstar teamsters from So Cal asking them "what they would describe themselves as", and TRY getting a drink from them. Apparently I'm not good enough to spend 5 dollars on a beer on.
Personable bartenders, easy layout, patio for us smokers, and a good space for some blonde, dockers wearing guy to keep eye fucking me all night. WTF?! Can you at least BUY ME A DRINK?! Which he didn't. THX.
Also, thank you Hi Dive for getting me so wasted that on the walk to Dada I managed to get a piggy back ride from about 7 different people, AND have a bag bitch. I win.
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Hi Dive is a really great bar for a lot of different reasons. First, it has a stunning view of the water. Second, unlike all the other establishments that share that quality, it's neither snooty and overpriced, nor grungy and disgusting. Third, it has great parking. Fourth, a menu of bar food that's entirely acceptable, if not extraordinary. Fifth, an outdoor smoking area (I don't smoke - but I am glad my friends who do have somewhere to bond, and since it's totally outdoors, I can even hang out there with them without developing emphysema. Sixth, Matt bought me a drink, and that never happens. Seventh, uhm . . . I am running out. At some point, a bar is just a bar.
I am knocking off one star only because the selection of locally brewed beers was lacking, so I ended up drinking Bud (which is brewed near Sacramento). If they'd get Trumer and Lagunitas in there, I'd give them a 5 :)
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$6 beer? Really? And I'm not in a ballpark. Has it come to this, where I can buy a six-pack of the same beer at Safeway as the price of one beer +tip in a pseudo-diveish bar? And not only that, but it's almost all men here. Including one guy who was almost my height and therefore tried to make me his drinking/tackle buddy for the night.
We can do better.
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Big picture windows, an outside patio, and bar food. What could be better?
It's hard to imagine what it was like when this was the seedy part of town, and fights were the order of the day in all the little waterfront bars. On a clear, bright evening before sundown, this place was jumping. There was plenty of light, and everyone was able to see each other across the room.
Most of the people here were professional-grade drinkers, and the bartenders kept up with the pace like real pros. I watched as one of them smoothly set up a six-pack of whiskey shots, and any time the other one walked by she made sure I still had a pour in my glass. She handed Chardonnays across the bar for $5.50 each.
I found my voice a little hoarse when I got home. I hadn't realized I was shouting to "converse" over the music.
I have heard that it's also a nice place for lunch.
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I think I'm going to start this review by saying that I..don't drink much. As such, bars are not places I frequent regularly.
Next, I am going to say.....why the hell are bars not places I frequent more regularly?!
As soon as I walked through the door it was loud, crowded, and incredibly awesome. Of course, the trip over was less awesome, due to the fact that I am a San Francidiot, and wasn't aware the even numbered piers and odd numbered piers stretched in different directions
I was told Pier 28 by the illustrious Jaime L., and as such, made my way from Market down the Embarcadero, because I'm a sado-masochist and walk everywhere, only to turn LEFT instead of right, toward Pier 39.
Naturally I get to pier 27, thinking I'm nearly there, only to find....wait Pier 29? WHAT THE HELL MAN, where's 28? I swear I thought I was in some kind of magic labyrinth and had to push a magic button or free my mind from the grips of reality to properly see this rumoured...Pier 28. Turns out I was just retarded. Go me.
I get Jaime on the phone, relay a message along the lines of "HALP AM LOST AND SCURRED", and tells me I went the OPPOSITE direction from where I should have gone, and I just needed to turn around, because even Piers are on the other side of the Embarcadero. Congratulations on being bad at life, Mr. H.
So I turn tail and start speed walking back toward the Bay Bridge, laughing at my own stupidity and stopping only to bust down a moonwalk and a bit of the robot when "Guy who has Michael Jackson blaring boombox on the back of his bicycle" guy rode by. On a side note, that guy is a fucking CHAMP.
Some not too soon time later, I finally arrive at Hi Dive. "Zack bar and grill, now serving leg jello!"
So here we are again, back at loud, crowded, and omgoshIneedtositdownbeforeIdie.
It's a comfy little place, and didn't take me long to find Jaime in the back with some people, including the incredibly fabulous Matt H. If you aren't his friend yet, fucking fix it, because you're doing it wrong.
Not only did he assist me in my "Hi I don't drink and don't know what to order" predicament, but he wouldn't even let me pay for it myself. What?! THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN IN REAL LIFE. So here I am with my Mojito. (Zack H. is not gay)
Really though, it's fun little place, and I met all kinds of Yelpers, which rocked much-ly.
I unfortunately did not order anything from the kitchen, so I'll have to go back and amend that so I can write a review to max potential, but based on cute bartender, good service, and great atmosphere, Hi Dive is well deserving of a 4 star review.
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Apparently "Warsteiner" sounds just like "pear cider." I guess so. 3 stars cuz the food was pretty mediocre and expensive but we were hungry so we scarfed it down.
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Real dive bars open at 6am and are frequented by Hell's Angels, and fights break out regularly where people get stabbed or shot. Mojitos are not served in dive bars.
If you think Hi Dive is a "dive" bar, you probably grew up in the suburbs. Of Sacramento.
Nevertheless, Hi Dive is a quirky place in a great location. The staff is terrific, and greets everyone like a favored customer. Nice touch.
Wide selection of spirits, decent food (best viewed as snacks to accompany your cocktails), loud and fun atmosphere. As many have stated, it's a really good place to go before a Giants game (10 minute walk up the Embarcadero to the ballpark).
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Oh yeah, this place....
Hi Dive is not as old-time, everybody-knows-your-name as I think they want you to think, but it does seem to fit comfortably next to Red's Java House just south of the Bay Bridge. I want to say it's been around since only the late 90's because I remember thinking it was cool to have a bar in an area that could really use one.
I have to say it serves its purpose. It's really loud in there, especially at happy hour, and pretty cramped. This nasty-looking Asian woman was staring a thousand daggers at me as I sat down. Oh wait, she's looking at the big-screen behind me. Go Giants! Yeah, it's kinda cramped in here, too. Or maybe she had cramps...six of one, half-a-dozen of another.
I ordered the $9.95 Downtown Burger, which they proclaim is Niman Ranch and comes free of charge, a lettuce leaf, a tomato slice and a pickle edge. Oh yeah, and fries, which were indeed "lightly spiced" as billed. Somehow I had a sense it needed some oomph, so I decided to splurge another dollar on sauteed mushrooms. Similar surcharges comes with cheese, avocado slices, caramelized onions, bacon strips or a ladle of chili. I thought it was a reasonable bar burger, unfortunately nothing like the masterful burger at Luka's Taproom across the bay.
The waitress was nice, and the bartender was particularly cordial,. He kinda looks like Chad & Jeremy, either one, circa 1965. But man, it's loud in here. And unless you're in the mood to buddy up with your co-workers to settle some unrequited feelings, well... Anyway, a convivial watering hole like this need a theme song like Cheers, don't you think? Here's my suggestion...
http://www.youtube.com...
Blown 'round by the wind
Thrown down in a spin.
You bought me beer
I thought that I had made it to the top
I chugged it all from my mug
Why did it have to stop?
You've blown it all Hi Dive
By cutting off my tab
Without a reason why
You've blown it all Hi Dive!
FOOD - 3 stars...passable burger...better with a beer
AMBIANCE - 3 stars...WHHHATTT?....WHHHAATTTTTT?
SERVICE - 3.5 stars...friendly...now what's your name again?
TOTAL - 3 stars...hell, it's cheaper than the Waterbar...without the aquarium
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Hm, I seem to have forgotten to review this place. I'm actually going again tonight so may have to update it since I went when they first opened, as well as several times afterwards. Mostly at lunch visiting friends who work out near Hills Plaza where I first worked too during the original dot.com boom.
Anyhow, I like this spot. The name may throw you off since it's totally not a dive and kinda nice inside. The old place was dingy so it's a huge upgrade from that. The food is pretty good here and reasonably priced. Not too fancy but not overly casual either - pretty much you can feel comfortable here very easily.
Of course you get different crowds depending on when it is - game day = Giants fans (or loser Dodger fans, ha!); weekday lunch and dinner = business crowd from offices nearby; weekends = ??? I always go on weekdays!
The only thing I don't like is all the plasma screens in the bar area, but then I don't like those pretty much anywhere unless I'm watching the World Cup ...(or porn) uh I mean news!
This place rocks. And ditto to the other reviews regarding the calamari - it was delicious!
I jog by this bar all the time and have always wanted to try it. Finally I had the chance!
I went to an after work happy hour at the Hi Dive and the place was pretty busy but they had great long booths against the window with such beautiful views of the bay. We kept reconfiguring the tables and chairs as our group grew and shrank and then grew again. The other patrons were super friendly and all were the after work crowd. Perhaps looking for something a little mellower than Americano. Hi Dive was the perfect place for the hot SF evening!
They had a very hearty drink menu and we all ordered the Bell Tower Lady. It seemed a bit pricey at first ($9-I think happy hour it was cheaper but ...hic! can't remember). It turned to be great value, the drink was a pint of Absolut Mandarin (not a whole pint of vodka you lushes), pineapple juice and sprite on ice. It was so refreshing ... I had four (now who's the lush?). But, alas, it must have not been too strong as I had no hangover the next day. :)
What an even better reason to return to this fabulous place! And I hear that Red's Java House next door has the best fish in chips in town. Gotta try that next!
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A great place for after-work drinks and snacks. Everyone is friendly, the drinks flow freely, and the view is great. I just wish it was closer to a muni metro station, so I didn't have to stumble as far after I'm done!
This place is quickly becoming my favorite " I-have-a-moderately-high-income-but-am-stayi ng-true-to-my-roots-and-not-becoming-a-yuppie-San- Franciscan" lunch spot.
With huge portions, semi-quality ingredients, down-to-earth servers and good company, you can't miss.
Because I didnt know any better this used to be where we would stop for cocktails and calamari. It's comfortable and cramped all in one.
I love sitting by the open windows and watching the people check their crab nets at the pier.
The last couple of times I've been here the drinks were not as strong as I remembered them to be. That sucks. The calamari is still really good and I love the servers!
In my quest to broaden my SF knowledge I now know that better drinks and yummier calamari at affordable prices do exist - i just need to venture out of my comfort zone a little.
Hi Dive - we'll be back but not for a while!
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Pretty decent food and drinks. Great views of the bay.
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i think i've been meaning to step in here for about ten years. i finally made it yesterday post giants game. good atmosphere, i really like the decor and giant windows on the water. nice service. very decent food. i hope i get to come back sometime and try an actual meal here. or come back at all since it took me so long.
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It only took me 6 yrs to find some tasty fish tacos in SF. Plus it is a great alternative to WaterBar, Epic, Gordon.....you get the picture.
Great find! My friend and I were walking embarcadero when we run into this place and went in for a beer. The view is amazing and the service friendly and personable. It felt a bit like Cheers, people coming in and out seemed to know each other and the owner. It just felt cozy and welcoming. We'll be back!
Its literal. High Dive a shed next to a sometimes smelly bay.
Why do I go? The drinks are well made, people are fun... even the smell of the dead whale nearby isn't so bad after awhile.
I grew up by the ocean and often craved simple, divey bars like this... as oppose to the upscale establishments that dots the Sydney shores.
Just what I needed on a super hot Friday.
Oh, and the calamari kicked ASS. Crunchy and not too chewy... perfect.
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How strange to go to a place I use to go when I rode Harley's! I forgot how much fun this place is and sitting outside on a nice evening is just great. The bartender pours some great drinks and if you are lucky you go with someone who is a regular and they take care of you ;-) (Thanks! S) The bar food is fine and the noise level is fine during the week, on weekends it is crazy loud. They have music on Tuesday nights and on the weekend's very fun and I am glad to see this place has not lost its charm.
It's a dive bar, and an OK one at that. Skip all the food, just go here to drink.
Patron & Maker's on tap?
Seriously? Let me tell you: the CO2 in that alcohol makes it go down a whooooole lot easier.
This place is great for a beer or cocktail (or 5) before or after the Giants game although it can get a bit crowded. The waitstaff is extremely efficient and always friendly.
The food is great although the appetizers are way better than the entrees. Try the fries (who knew Lawry's seasoning could go such a long way) or the calamari which is always super fresh and delicious.
But let's keep this our little secret...
Hey, they have Maker's on tap, what more do you need?
The Hi-Dive is definitely a good couple of steps up from a dive. It's definitely not fancy, but it's nice and clean with a cool vibe to it.
Great drinks, the bartenders are solid across the board. Most everything they make is very tasty and quite strong - nice pours here.
The F-line burger is delicious. And the entrees are surprisingly good. Normally wouldn't think to order fish at a bar like this, but their salmon and other fish specials are quite good. Overall, the food is definitely a big step up from what you'd expect at your average casual bar/restaurant type place.
Some nights it gets empty very early here, while other nights it is just insane all night long. There's really no telling, it seems sorta random. But you can usually count of a fun time here. One of my favorite bars in the area, but definitely more of a casual fun-time-in-the-neighborhood place than a "hey everyone let's head to this place" destination-type joint if you know what I mean.
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So we had a Client Appreciation night last night (04.30.08) we didn't have the bar to ourselves plus a Giants game had just let out, so it was a bit cramped. However, the staff was AWESOME and on it! Although a little tight and cramped, it still worked! The cocktail waitress that took care of me was Heather and she was AWESOME and HILARIOUS (Thanks!)! It's a cool spot to sit and chill, have a brew and some bar food especially when the weather is kinda yuck. Thanks again to the staff!!!
It could be the afternoon beers talking, but all I have to say is that I really fucking like this place.
The bartender maintains a great attitude even when they're slammed for lunch, which is as rare a find as a man who doesn't beat you when you don't fold the towels properly (heed my advice, ladies: fold them towels proper or you'll be walking away with two black eyes).
Cherish this place, my friends.
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Great dive bar and decent food, nice place to stop by after work or on the way to the game. sometimes gets a little crazy on thursday and fridays. love their daily special spinich salad (that happens to be their daily special every day!) awesome view of the water.
We stopped by here for some drinks and food. This place is a dive as its name suggests. The food was alright, I had the clam chowder. Others had burgers and fries. The fries were salted with lawrys. Drinks were okay. They had the mmadness games going on two plasmas.
The staff was super friendly and I sat looking out toward the ocean, awesome view. I think we were super annoying, and they dealt with us nicely. Great place to stop by after a walk along embarcadero or to go by to watch a game.
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Truth be told, this pace looks like a complete dump from the outside. And you know what? i like it that way!! It keeps all the posers out. :)
Hi Dive is actually a cozy little bar that's a) clean and b) stocked with the right alcohol. The Sapphire-Tonics are always always strong and they keep my top beer choices on tap. Aside from the booze, the food aint too shabby either. When i come for lunch, I ALWAYS get the Salmon Salad. It's filling but light enough so you wont feel like taking a nap after lunch. I've noticed that other items on the menu are hit and miss so i'll stick with my staple menu selection.
Minus one star for the NASTY bathroom. Why is the floor always wet?
This place is good for a drink. Great views of the bay make it worth it. Not sure about the food since I only got french fries but for a bar it was great.
Ate here for lunch today. Aside from a great bay view (you can't get much better), there is little else this place has to offer. It may be good for a beer or three while waxing poetic with the great view, but the toilet smells detract from the enjoyment of any culinary offerings they have.
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They got the name right...it's a bit of a dive. I didn't try the food, but was in here on Halloween for drinks with coworkers. I had shots and beer, so I can't say anything about the bartender, but the waitress was nice and the crowd was lively. There's a nice view of the water, but the place itself looks like it's ready to fall into the Bay.
First things first: As many other reviewers will tell you, the Hi Dive is not a dive by any means, lest that unduly turn you on/off.
I came here for a birthday party, and it was a wise choice of venue. It's a very informal mix of bar and restaurant, so it was easy for people to stand or sit, eat or drink as they pleased. They also don't waste the choice pier location, with a slightly deco-nautical theme and great views over the bay. The Maker's Manhattan was spot-on, but the Fish Tacos and Tequila Prawns, while tasty, were a little pricey for the portions. Overall, though, this should be in everyone's list of possible emergency drink stops when they're strolling the Embarcadero.
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A total dive bar look from the outside, but once you step in, it looks very contemporary... great big windows for the great view of the bay. Well i came here for my SFSU California food, wine, and culture class for a wine tasting event. Wow let me tell you.. i got so plastered.. i had about 6 glasses of wine... 2 glasses of chardonnay, 2 glasses of cabernet sauvignon, and 2 glasses of pinot noir..on top of the shot of Cazadores i had with my professor, one cup of stella artois, and a effen with tonic! GOD i was so plastered at 4 in the afternoon. It was great mingling with some class mates i've never met before. The appetizers were great... and let me tell you, the calamari if impeccable! Fried to perfection! Seasoned to perfection.... The fries were great as well.. i'm sure what it was seasoned with, but it was great.. and the dipping sauce it came with was stellar... it tasted smoky.. and it was tasted a bit spicy as well... like chipotle peppers.. I would recommend this bar to anyone if you were around the area.
ooo and make sure to check out the fine ass bartender... iono what her name is.. but damn she's fine... african american lady with nice skin and nice hair!
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This place has come a long way. I remember when it actually was a bit of a dive, and Reds Java next door was a step up. This is exactly the kind of 'on the water' lunch restaurant that i love. Not snooty and expensive like most waterfront restaurants ["The Waterfront" yuk!] and friendly staff and a wide variety of food choices. I just wish I would remember it more often. I've never had a bad meal there, and the bartender during lunch is very gregarious.
I wish I could convince people that it is a dive, and then maybe they wouldn't come here and make it crowded. The bartenders always seem swamped, so grab a table and order some of their delicious chips, salsa, fish tacos, calamari, you name it, and you'll get your drinks faster in the bargain. Convenient spot and pretty view of the Bay...I finally found a bar that both my boyfriend and I enjoy: scruffy enough for him, delicious food and decent wine selection for me. Great waitresses... I want one of their t-shirts so much. Maybe I could get a job there just for the t-shirt.
good burgers, nice staff. No need to dress up, good hang out sort of place. Probably worth avoiding around Giants game time, as it is right next to the stadium.
Different: 1 star
Intriguing: 1 star
Smart: 1 star
Funny: 1 star
Intriguing (part deux): 1 star
This is how I would describe my drinking partner at Hi Dive. Could some of this apply to this joint as well? It's possible, but I have no idea as I was too busy being intrigued (see above) to pay much attention to my surroundings...
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Best spicy fries and ship views in town!
This low down eating island in between the fancy Soma and Embarcadero joints sits well for a nice and chill beer and burger with some pals.
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Walked across the street for their hamburgers here and have to admit, although my hamburger came out well done (I can't stand gnawing on cardboard) and my french fries cold and limp, I'd probably go back given the proximity to my work.
Not to mention the waitstaff who are pretty cool and nonchalant. Plus, you get a view of the lovely bay and parking Lot 30.
My hamburger was around $10 and was large and stacked high with trimmings of lettuce and tomato and onion (I like them like that) so next time, I'll make sure to order it "medium rare" please and make those fries hot!
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