Aunt Charlie's Dive Bar

Aunt Charlie's Lounge, 133 Turk Street, San Francisco

Turk Street in the Tenderloin was once notorious for rowdy bars frequented by a mix of older patrons and younger ones. I recall one bar being so intimidating that I never went to the bathroom alone, wary of what might lurk in the shadows. These places were often pitch-black, particularly challenging after a few too many drinks.

​Aunt Charlie's Lounge, still standing from that era with its unchanged '70s decor, mostly attracts an older crowd now but maintains its reputation as a dive offering some of the strongest, most affordable drinks in San Francisco. While I have vivid memories of outrageous nights spent there, they're a bit overwhelming to recount, though it's clear Aunt Charlie's has seen plenty of good times and continues to do so.