San Francisco recommendation 6: Boho/louche North Beach/Chinatown
City Lights
Founded by Lawrence Ferlinghetti back in the Beatnik days--effing wonderful bookstore/publisher. Open until midnight. Go! 261 Columbus, at Broadway, North Beach http://www.citylights.com/
Vesuvio
The bar where the Beats hung out, right across Jack Kerouac Alley from City Lights. Open until 2 AM. Still has a great feel to it. I like to go to the cozy, loft-like upstairs seating area. 255 Columbus, North Beach www.vesuvio.com
Lusty Lady
Go to the peep show! The state’s only unionized, worker-owned peep show co-op, that is. This is not the Bada Bing; you will see many more tattoos and piercings than breast implants on these women. Open 24/7. Great for, um, research. 1033 Kearney, at Broadway, North Beach www.lustyladysf.com
Café Trieste
Another vintage boho/beatnik locale that still has a funky coffeehouse appeal and very good espresso. Corner of Vallejo and Grant. North Beach
Li Po Lounge
Dive bar with opium den ambiance. Old school. 916 Grant, at Washington, Chinatown.