Public House

Public HousePublic House
Public HousePublic House
Bar, Eatery

24 Willie Mays Plz
San Francisco, California, 94107-2134
United States

(415) 644-0240 | map
publichousesf.com
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.13
Reviews:
10
Ratings:
24
pDev:
5.81%
View: Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by biegaman:
Photo of biegaman
Reviewed by biegaman from Canada (ON)

4.18/5  rDev +1.2%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3.5
July 2011.

Every city with a ballpark would be so lucky to have a place like Public House attached to it. Not that there's anything special about the place itself - although there is a lot of excitement around the place on game nights/afternoons - it's quite a typical sports bar except in one key way: its beer selection. You will find Pacifico and Bud Light, but you'll also find Bruery, Alesmith, Russian River, Ballast Point, Green Flash, Lagunitas, Mikkeller, Stateside, Port Brewing, and just about every other Bay Area and Californian microbrewery on a rotating basis. And not just flagship brands, they get in the seasonal and one-off releases too. 24 taps, 1-2 casks (a solid Magnolia beer being a staple there) and add to that a handsome lineup of 24 or so bottles. And it's affordable - pints are generally around $6 (cheaper at happy hour) with the most expensive ones only $9. (I had an 8 ounce pour of Older Viscosity for only $6!) Best thing of all: you can take them into the stadium with you! (I took into the game a 22 ounce Alesmith for only $8!) And given how much better (and cheaper) the selection is here versus in the stadium, I really recommend anyone going to a Giants game do this. (Note: the place get's very crowded around first pitch and you might wait awhile to get through to the bartender, so get there early!)
Aug 15, 2011
More User Ratings:
Photo of elNopalero
Reviewed by elNopalero from Michigan

4.41/5  rDev +6.8%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.75 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
Public House is attached to Oracle (or whatever branding might someday take over the Giants stadium in the future), with elevated pub fare and a killer tap list for a beer bar in the area. Expect to pay for it, though. Even if the beers are just slightly less than ballpark prices the selection is far better than what you’ll find in the park.
Jul 25, 2023
 
Rated: 4.13 by SimcoeKid from California

May 28, 2017
Photo of Covocali
Rated by Covocali from California

3.99/5  rDev -3.4%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 3.75 | service: 4 | selection: 4.25 | food: 4.25
Good bar food lots of TVs great beer
Jul 12, 2016
 
Rated: 4.22 by Avatar113 from California

Jul 11, 2016
Photo of Drewfer
Rated by Drewfer from California

3.98/5  rDev -3.6%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 4 | service: 3.75 | selection: 4.25 | food: 4
The best place to grab beers, heading into the Giants game
Sep 20, 2015
Photo of CarolinaCardinals
Reviewed by CarolinaCardinals from North Carolina

4.04/5  rDev -2.2%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 4 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Made a visit last night before the Giants and Cubs game.

The space was well mapped out but the ambience was nothing special.

The quality was good as the food and beer we had was flavorful.

The service was good. Our server was knowledgeable, quick, and friendly.

The selection was good as their was 24 handles in addition to a bottle selection that included Firestone Walker Anniversary and St. Bernardus ABT 12.

Food was good. The wings were tasty but expensive and the burger was delicious.

Overall it was a good experience.
Aug 26, 2015
 
Rated: 3.86 by Spaceman_Jer from Colorado

Jun 26, 2015
 
Rated: 4.25 by spark3148857 from Ohio

Nov 03, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by aoampm from Hawaii

Sep 10, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by little_star from Illinois

Aug 17, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by SanFranJake from California

Jul 31, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by GeorgiaBeerGuy from Georgia

Jul 18, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Clembo1957 from England

Jun 18, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by MrDave from California

Jun 09, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by largadeer from California

Jun 02, 2014
Photo of shangwang
Reviewed by shangwang from Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +3.6%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.75 | food: 4
Dropped in during a Giants game and was blown away. Couldn't believe how awesome the selection was and while it wasn't cheap, I was thrilled to try be drinking an Almanac Bourbon Sour Porter at a baseball game. Wait staff was great and a manager stopped by to chat for a bit and brought me a couple samples as we discussed how much we both enjoyed sours. Decent bar food and a great location. Awesome spot, wish we had the same connected to our ballpark in Philly...
May 17, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Ilovebeer1549 from California

Apr 13, 2014
Photo of TheSevenDuffs
Reviewed by TheSevenDuffs from Canada (ON)

4.41/5  rDev +6.8%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5
This place is an absolute godsend and a MUST visit if you are going to a ball game. The draft selection rivals most of the better beer bars in San Fran, featuring the likes of Almanac, Ballast Point, Marin, FiftyFifty, Russian River (Blind Pig) and others. Even the prices are pretty good, when compared to the options in the ball park. And the best part is that you can go in and out during the game to keep refilling the craft pints. I never thought I would drink a barrel aged barleywine at a ball game, so this was a truly unique experience.

As far as the bar itself, if you were going to go there on its own (and not just to bring a beer in to a Giants game) the atmosphere is decent but not spectacular. Very big and very corporate feel to it. Can't comment on the food (didn't even see a menu).
Aug 07, 2013
Photo of hesterbird
Reviewed by hesterbird from California

4.23/5  rDev +2.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
San Francisco is truly blessed to have such an impressive beer bar right in front of the Giants' stadium. I have been here a handful of times before going to a game, as well as several other times on the average weekday because, as far as bars in SOMA go, you cannot beat Public House's beer selection. The food is great as well, very fresh, elevated, pub grub, but it's not much of a bargain; make sure to catch their Happy Hour on non-gamedays when the Bar Food is half-off.

I have thoroughly enjoyed each of my visits to Public House on non-gamedays. There are two bars (one that seems to focus more on cocktails and another that holds their entire beer selection) and there are plenty of tables so I have never had a problem finding a seat, regardless of the size of my party. The walls are also lined with TVs and the staff will put on any game you'd like to watch. And when I say any game, I mean any game.

Public House's beer selection is definitely the biggest draw for me. They have 22 taps (two casks) and a very serious bottle list that includes all of the International staples (St. Bernardus Abt. 12, Saison Dupont, Rochefort 10, Sam Smith Nut Brown, Hitachino White, etc.) as well as quite a few hard-to-find Domestic bottles from Bruery, Allagash, Jolly Pumpkin...the list goes on. The taps seem to be rotated several times a week and will often boast a cellared ale or at least one hard-to-find gem. When I went in last week they had a Stone Old Guardian Keg from 2010, Dogfish Head Burton Baton, and Bear Republic's Tartare, just to name a few, all on tap. The staff at the bar is also very knowledgable about what's on tap and they never seem bothered when you ask for assistance or recommendations. Sometimes a beer at Public House can turn out to be more expensive than you'd expect (especially when it comes to the bottles), but I suppose that's what you'd expect with this kind of selection and being so close to the ballpark.

On gamedays, Public House is an absolute madhouse. However, it's hard for me to resist the temptation to poke inside for a second and grab at least one beer to-go. That's right. Any beer on tap or by bottle, they will pour it into a plastic cup for you to take into the ballpark. They also have their own private entrance to the ballpark as long as you already have your ticket. As I mentioned before, certain beers can be a bit pricey sometimes, but when you're paying $9.50 for a small Bud Light inside the park, I will gladly pay 6-9 dollars for a twelve-ounce pour of the good stuff before heading inside for the game. You just have to be prepared to brave the crowd.
Aug 22, 2012
Photo of flexabull
Reviewed by flexabull from California

4.36/5  rDev +5.6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5
What a cool place to go while at a Giants game.

Attached to AT&T park, right at the home plate entrance. Full of Giants fans, baseball games on a bunch of big screens, two bars, one large one with about 12 taps, then a smaller one with about 20 taps and a couple of casks (nice!).

Quality is top notch, lots a locals represented. I had a Blind Pig, and a one off from Bear Republic. I remember seeing Lost Abbey, Sierra Nevada, Iron Springs, Avery, Firestone (Parabola) among others...

Service was good, this place is packed and busy, but they managed to be fairly speedy and still pleasant. I enjoyed talking beer and baseball with my server.

Selection is great, there had to have been 30 something taps, the 2 casks, plus I saw a bunch of good bottles in the fridge.

Prices were on the high side, but considerably cheaper than in the Park. And here is the HUGE bonus, you can get any beer to go in a plastic cup and take it into the game. Can't beat sipping on something like a Blind Pig while watching a live baseball game.

Didn't try the food.

This place is great, hope it's around for years.
Jun 06, 2011
Photo of nataku00
Reviewed by nataku00 from California

4.28/5  rDev +3.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Went to a Giants game and made sure to be early to spend some time in Public House. This took up the old steakhouse space on the marquee corner of ATT park in SF and utilizes the space well, adding a second bar for their micro brew area opposite the main bar. I always liked this space for grabbing a drink prior to a game and I'm happy to see Public House having some interesting beers to drink prior to a game.

I was able to find some counter space and ordered a couple of beers and some pulled pork sliders. Beer was served in appropriate glassware based on watching the bartenders work for an hour, and the temperature of the beers I purchased were perfect. They also offered to sell beers 'to go', meaning they would pour it into a plastic cup that you could bring into the stadium, which is nice.

Selection was a good mix of American offerings, though it was only 12 on draft and a couple of a local brewery's cask ales (Magnolia). Bottle selection was more international, with over half being Belgian offerings.

The pulled pork sliders were decent, with a nice tang to the bbq sauce that it was mixed with and served on a nice toasty artisan bread bun. The lady next to me said she really liked hot wings and burger sliders she was sharing with a friend. Some of the sandwiches the wait staff were taking around looked like sizable portions and smelled great.

Prices were fairly pricey, but somewhat expected being in the corner of a MLB park. Spent ~$30 on the sliders and two beers (Allagash Curieux, and Stone Cali-Belgique).

I would definitely come back the next time I can make it out to a baseball game though.
Sep 01, 2010
Photo of cruzncomet
Reviewed by cruzncomet from Florida

3.45/5  rDev -16.5%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3 | selection: 4 | food: 3
I am not sure if I was a bit tainted, but my first visit was after I had spent the afternoon having lunch and brew at magnolia Brewpbub, but I wanted to finish of my Magnolia cask flight with the Billy Sunday bitter they had.

It was a great day so we did hang out outside, until the wind picked up. I did enjoy every beer I had that day, but was very unimpressed by the knowledge of the beers by the wait staff.

I have since gone back and was surprised on a Saturday afternoon, I could not order any food from the PH, but only from the Mijita and they also did not offer any table service. Very odd when Giants are on the TV, playing Oakland across the bay. I was happy about was the knowledge of the Bartender. He had an understanding of each beer I asked about..I really enjoyed the Stone Saison du Buff, and the Allagash Curieux, I had never heard of Allagash until then and I am now a fan for life...
May 24, 2010
Photo of Rzzzzz
Reviewed by Rzzzzz from California

4.44/5  rDev +7.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 5
Adjacent to AT&T Park, with a turnstile that leads into the park if you're holding a ticket.

Awesome craft beer selection--one of the best in the city. 24 tap (2 cask) and 24 Bottles...check the menu on their web site (above) for the current selection, word is there will be a lot of rotation. Draft selection leans heavily local. Bottles include beers from six of the seven Trappist breweries.

Nice sports bar layout, with TV's all over. A wall of kegs behind the center island bar make for a unique decor. Food options include PH's menu of upscale pub food, as well as a taqueria that shares space with the bar, with more reasonably priced food. http://www.mijitasf.com/ Tip: order at the taqueria and they will bring your food to you when its ready.

Best of all, if you get your beer in a plastic cup you can bring it into the ballpark. That's right, siddown and watch some Major Leage baseball while you sip on your Rodenbach Grand Cru. Prices are a bit steep, but still better than what you'll pay for lesser beers inside the park.

I was there on Opening Day and the bartenders didn't really seem to know too much about the beers, but I would expect that to change.

Expect it to be packed on game days. The layout can be a bit restricting when the place is full, which is why they now remove the stools from the center island bar on game days.

There is a small outdoor patio area in the front where you can enjoy some fresh air, sunshine, and a great view of the Wille Mays statue. What more could you ask for?
May 13, 2010
Public House in San Francisco, CA
Place rating: 4.13 out of 5 with 24 ratings