Authentic Maritime Dive | “Museum of Oddities” | Radical/Literary Haven
The History
Tucked into a narrow alleyway directly across from City Lights Bookstore, Specs’ (formally Specs’ Twelve Adler Museum Cafe) is a North Beach institution that defies the march of modernization. Opened in 1968 by Richard “Specs” Simmons—a merchant marine, union activist, and legendary neighborhood character—the bar has occupied a space with a colorful lineage. Before Specs, the building served as a Chinese Joss House, a mid-century fisherman’s social club, and “Tommy’s Place,” one of the city’s first lesbian bars. Specs designed the bar to be a “home for misfits,” and it remains a bastion of San Francisco’s fading bohemian and labor-centric soul.
The Vibe
Walking into Specs’ is like entering the hold of a vintage sailing vessel that has been decorated by an eccentric socialist explorer. It is dark, moody, and crammed with hundreds of artifacts that Richard Simmons collected or received from merchant sailors.
The Museum: The walls and curio cabinets are filled with everything from Northwest Coast indigenous art and maritime pennants to a stuffed mongoose fighting a cobra and the bar’s most famous resident: a petrified walrus penis bone.
The Spirit: It is a “no-nonsense” bar where conversation is the primary currency. There are no TVs and no Wi-Fi. It remains a union-run shop (Unite Here Local 2), reflecting the founder’s lifelong commitment to labor rights.
The “Big Table” & Nightly Sounds
Specs’ is as much a community center as it is a bar, maintaining traditions that have lasted over half a century.
The Wednesday “Big Table”: For over 40 years, every Wednesday night (approx. 6:30 PM), writers, poets, and artists gather around the massive central table for an open, informal session of storytelling and discussion. It was famously the haunt of the late Revolutionary Poet Laureate Jack Hirschman.
Nightly Live Music: While the music is often spontaneous or unamplified, you can catch nightly performances ranging from bossa nova and acoustic blues to intimate jazz trios. The sound is designed to complement the atmosphere, not drown out the regulars’ debates.
The “Only” Food
True to its roots as a classic dive, Specs’ does not have a kitchen. However, they have a singular, legendary food offering: The Cheese Plate. It consists of a hefty wedge of Edam cheese (cut from a giant wheel kept behind the bar), a pile of saltine crackers, and sometimes a few pepperoni slices. It is the quintessential North Beach “dinner” for many a starving artist.
Know Before You Go
Cash is King: Specs’ is cash preferred (there is an ATM inside/nearby).
The Address: The alley was renamed William Saroyan Place in honor of the famed author, but locals still look for the orange brick and the fire escape draped in flowers.
The Crowd: You will find an all-ages mix here—crusty locals who have had the same stool for 40 years sitting next to young poets and curious travelers.
Heritage Status: It is an officially designated San Francisco Legacy Business, now run by Specs’ daughter, Elly, and granddaughter, Maralisa.
Monthly jazz jam session led by multi-instrumentalist Smith Dobson and his quartet. Every first Tuesday 8-11pm at Specs! All musicians welcome, bring your instruments!
An open gathering of writers, poets, artists and more around the Big Table at Specs every Wednesday from 6:30-8:30pm! This more than 40 year tradition began with writers Jack Hirschman and Agneta Falk, and continues on with hosts Agneta and writers Byron Spooner and Judith Bernhard. Join us for drinks, laughs, good conversation and become...
Victoria Sol is a Cuban-American artist, vocalist, and songwriter based between Miami and San Francisco. She is currently collaborating with East Bay jazz musicians on a new project inspired by their shared love of improvisation, storytelling, and worldbuilding through sound. Come enjoy her folk/jazz set as part of North Beach First Fridays!
Mr.Lucky’s on-stage adventures have run from 1970s punk to new wave to poetry-performance; a beatnik combo; the jazzy Ring-a-Ding Duo (1981-‘83); and on into the martini-swilling Mr. Lucky ‘performance art’ (1983) that morphed into an off-beat jazz-eclectic creation called the Mr. Lucky Experience: re-styling the Songbook, creating live mash-ups (in 1993!)
Dave Easley is a Hawaii born, New Orleans based pedal steel guitarist. He’ll be returning to Specs for a special solo performance on Monday, March 9! Dave Easley plays the pedal steel guitar with a phrasing, sense of touch, harmonic sensibilities and sheer virtuosity that puts him in a league with the greatest musicians of...
An open gathering of writers, poets, artists and more around the Big Table at Specs every Wednesday from 6:30-8:30pm! This more than 40 year tradition began with writers Jack Hirschman and Agneta Falk, and continues on with hosts Agneta and writers Byron Spooner and Judith Bernhard. Join us for drinks, laughs, good conversation and become...
Wonderful Bay Area based vocalist and performer Valeriana Quevedo returns to Specs with her band for an evening of jazz, Latin, blues and songs from the Great American Songbook.
An open gathering of writers, poets, artists and more around the Big Table at Specs every Wednesday from 6:30-8:30pm! This more than 40 year tradition began with writers Jack Hirschman and Agneta Falk, and continues on with hosts Agneta and writers Byron Spooner and Judith Bernhard. Join us for drinks, laughs, good conversation and become...
James Gallagher is an American jazz drummer and educator from Northern California, currently living in Manhattan. He is a resident performer at the prestigious SFJazz Center. After attending Berklee College of Music in Boston on a scholarship, James returned to the West Coast, where he quickly began performing regularly around San Francisco with the top...
Live jazz with accomplished Bay Area based saxophonist and bandleader Danny Brown and his trio
An open gathering of writers, poets, artists and more around the Big Table at Specs every Wednesday from 6:30-8:30pm! This more than 40 year tradition began with writers Jack Hirschman and Agneta Falk, and continues on with hosts Agneta and writers Byron Spooner and Judith Bernhard. Join us for drinks, laughs, good conversation and become...
Sip n’ Sketch drawing class hosted by Pixar’s animation art director Deanna Marsigliese! All levels welcome BYO materials | $5-10 suggested donation Deanna Marsigliese is a Canadian born Animation Art Director & Illustrator living in San Francisco, CA. Specializing in storytelling through character design, Deanna has worked at Pixar Animation Studios since 2012. Her credits...
