Where to get a drink while watching your kids in San Francisco
Parenting is hard work. Drink responsibly while watching the little rascals. Here are the best places to do it.
By Jan Chong
I don’t want this to be the story that launched a thousand child protective services cases, but I can’t think of a time in my life when an alcoholic beverage looked more desirable than when I was chasing toddlers around the house. Obviously, we should indulge in moderation.
Parenting is just hard work. So here are my hard-won and personally-researched list of places that you can responsibly enjoy a drink with your kids in tow.
SF Zoo — Cafe Playfield and Elinor Friend Playground
Number one with a bullet, especially for parents with younger children. The Elinor Friend Playground is a great playground and the area is largely enclosed, making it hard for adventurous little ones to wander off. But the real highlight here is the small cafe adjacent to the playground which serves beer.
Admittedly it’s zoo beer, but you can watch over the playground from the cafe tables, making it the perfect place to grab a drink with a fellow beer-minded parent while still keeping an eye on the kiddos.
JFK Promenade Beer Garden
With the newly permanent car-free JFK Promenade in Golden Gate Park came the Golden Mile “No I in Joy” Beer Garden at the 14th Avenue East Meadow, just west of the Rose Garden! The Beer Garden is open on weekends from noon to 7pm and while alcoholic-drinks are for the over 21 crowd, the enclosed space features picnic tables and is kid-friendly. They also serve wine, if that’s more your vibe.
Park Chalet
Three entries on the west side — this is why your friends with kids moved to live in the fog.
Park Chalet has an extremely spacious and family-friendly outdoor seating area — fenced in, but with lots of space for the kids to run around — often with live music. They offer a full menu of beers, wine, cocktails, and food, with a lovely view of the western-most side of Golden Gate Park. This is the spot to take your in-laws on their first visit to SF, where the whole family can come, your relatives can see the sights and you can cope with booze. Afterwards, take a stroll and enjoy the tulip garden by the windmill or a walk along Ocean Beach. Park Chalet is also dog-friendly, so your fur-babies can come too!
Presidio Tunnel Tops Park
The City’s best new park also hosts a range of food trucks including, currently, Fort Point Beer and delicious craft cocktails from Rye on the Road. The food trucks are on the Main Parade Lawn, while the truly exceptional Outpost playground sits on the other side of the park — and it’s a bit of a hike between the two. Unfortunately, alcohol is not allowed on the playground, which makes it a less ideal drink and parent locale than some of the other options on this list — but I’m keeping it on here based on the strength of the playground alone.
Biergarten
Adding to the heavy beer-bias on this list, Biergarten in the heart of Hayes Valley offers a sunny space with enclosed fencing. Notice a theme? Keeping the kids from running off is half the battle, and there are some tasty pretzels to keep your hungry little one occupied. There’s less to entertain the tots here, so you’ll need to bring your own toys, but if you’re looking to grab a drink with a non-parent while still on parent duty, this is a pretty good option.
Spark Social SF
Moving to the east side of the city, Spark Social SF and the adjacent Parklab Gardens are excellent places to hang with slightly older children. Food trucks, mini-golf and if you reserve a fire-pit, your children will delight in throwing all sorts of things into the fire under the guise of making s’mores, while you sip a sangria or a craft beer from the Watering Hole Bar. Children of all ages are welcome on the mini-golf course, but at least one paying adult will need to accompany up to three kids. Spark Social and Parklab Gardens are dog friendly, but service dogs only on the mini-golf course.
The Ramp
If you are looking for sunshine, The Ramp in Mission Bay advertises itself as one of the sunniest spots in the city. Probably best for slightly older kids, given that the surfaces get a little sticky and you’re on the water — not the most relaxing place to chase a toddler. That said, there’s a lovely grassy area with corn hole and lovely views of the water. The Ramp serves cocktails, beers and wine. Note that the restaurant gets crowded quite quickly on game days, given the proximity to Chase Center and Oracle Park.
Jan Chong is an SF-based parent who is forever on the hunt for the best cocktail in The City.
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What we’re doing this weekend
A couple ideas that are admittedly not as kid friendly, but fun in the sun just the same.
How Weird Street Faire
The longest-running dance festival on the West Coast returns! 9 stages of music, dancing, costumes, and weirdness in downtown San Francisco.
WHEN: Oct. 14th noon to 8 p.m.
WHERE: Howard and 2nd streets, San Francisco
Bearrison Street Fair
This one’s not for the kids. Bearrison seeks to provide an inclusive event for all members of the adult LGBTQ+ community which promotes body positivity for all and builds a more supportive, welcoming, and inclusive bear scene by representing a diverse arena of cultures.
WHEN: Oct. 14th from noon to 6 p.m.
WHERE: 11th and Harrison streets, San Francisco