The Li Po is a delightfully seedy little lounge in San Francisco’s Chinatown that’s remarkably not attached to a Chinese restaurant. This section of the bar that’s shown in the photo to the lower right is the only part that’s not totally run-down & decrepit. Don’t look too closely at this part, either. Because when you first walk through the cavernous facade, it looks amazing, like a dive bar in a 1950’s Buddhist temple. Once you
turn the corner to the left, where the bar rail ends, so does the faded glamour. Beyond the bartender’s reach is a room like you’ll find in any other bar, with beer poster covered walls & fake wood grain formica topped tables & booths.
The signature cocktail at the Li Po is the Mai-Tai, made with some type of rose liquor. What this stuff is, is evidently an ancient Chinese secret, because no one seems to know. But it is fabulous looking, large & delicious, no matter what they put in it. All their drinks are generously poured, however, so you need not endure umbrella drinks if it’s not your style. Your beverage will still be plenty satisfying. Other good things at the Li Po include a jukebox well stocked with 1970’s classic artists, such as Neil Diamond & Tom Jones. The staff is typically pretty friendly, too.
The Bar Nun definitely recommends that you go during the afternoon, though. Stroll over after a nice greasy dim sum brunch and re/dehydrate. The bathrooms, located down a narrow, slippery staircase, are pretty heinous during the day, so later on, after much more use, I can’t begin to imagine how scrungy they must get. I also understand that at night, the scary scary basement frequently hosts live bands, which causes the Li Po to be overrun with hipsters, instead of the usual mellow afternoon barflies one generally finds there.
Once you’ve bravely trekked down the block past the crazy old man on the corner of Grant & Washington who constantly yells “Happy happy happy” while waving an immense sign informing passers-by about how W & the Dali Lama are war criminals, you’ll deserve that Mai-Tai. FP
916 Grant Avenue CA 94108
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