Vesuvio Cafe

Sitting right across the alley from City Lights Bookstore, this North Beach watering hole has drawn writers, musicians, and artists since 1948, famously serving as one of Jack Kerouac’s regular stops. The room skips pretension, pouring well-made, reasonably priced drinks surrounded by vintage memorabilia. While its storied past attracts plenty of visitors, it maintains an easy, comfortable rhythm where locals remain very much alive and well in the mix.