Li Po Cocktail Lounge - San Francisco

Good price, chill vibes, classic sf chinatown dive bar feel, strong drinksLi Po cocktail lounge is a nice place to catch up with friends visiting town if you don’t mind squeezing a bit inside

I was not familiar with this place but our friend was. What’s interesting is that it is in the heart of Chinatown and the clientele did not look like tourists. Also there weren’t any Asians there except for the staff. Nice atmosphere and music. I only ordered beer which served its purpose.

Li Po is definitely a unique and historic place. Be sure to take a walk around the place before choosing a place to sit. I sat at the front bar, which was inhabited mostly by tourists drinking the Chinese Mai Tai. I tried that as well, but it wasn't to my liking. Other people seemed to like it. It is a premixed cocktail from a keg and served in a plastic glass. Once I was served my drink and paid, I never saw the bartender again. I was solo this time, but I would definitely go again for a beer with friends and sit in one of the rooms in the back.

Atmosphere was that of a dive bar in Chinatown. If you like that, it was great. If you don't...not so much. Nice people and open late.

Super rude and greedy bartender. Short hair, older woman.Literally tapped my shoulder after her shift while I 'm enjoying a drink with my friend because she didn 't get a tip. I tip usually but in this case I don 't think she was entitled to one in the first place, she didn 't do anything extravagant or out of this world to warrant one. In addition, she was very intense. I ordered two mai tais and that was it. She said because I paid with a $100 bill I should give her the change. I threw a couple ones on the table so she would leave me alone. She was super aggressive and killed the mood. We were both left stunned. Her approach was absolutely something I have never experienced in my life especially in a bar?? Who told her that was okay. Even afterwards, she was like I hope you 're not mad when I was obviously pissed and told her Im done talking to her and would like to enjoy my drink with my friend.So weird. Never coming back. Which kind of sucks because I was so excited to visit this place for years because of Anthony Bourdain. I would recommend any other bar than here and if you 're an AB fan I promise there are so many other places in the city and Nor Cal you can visit to honor him.To the owner: teach your bartenders basic etiquette and manners. I get this is a dive bar but the nasty attitude was so uncalled for. Yikes!! There 's obviously negative reviews about this woman and they don 't care, they just rely on tourists to fund this place. There 's no integrity when it comes to customer service. BEWARE.After a decade, they’re relying on their very short “No reservations” buzz.I promise you the infamous Chinese mai tais aren 't even good. I could 've done this blind. Just alc watered down with cheap pineapple juice. BOO :