Heritage Happy Hour: Mr. Bing's

Heritage Happy Hour: Mr. Bing's

Heritage Happy Hour is a convivial “no-host” gathering of heritage professionals, young preservationists, aficionados, friends, and Legacy Business cohorts interested in safeguarding San Francisco’s unique architectural and cultural identity. We get together on the Second Thursday of each month from 5-7 pm at a registered Legacy Business bar in San Francisco.

Mr. Bing’s Cocktail Lounge, commonly known as “Mr. Bing’s” or “Bing’s” is a bar located on the cusp of the Chinatown, North Beach, and the Financial District neighborhoods that has operated for over five decades. Prior to Mr. Bing’s, 201 Columbus Avenue first hosted an Italian speakeasy named “Zaza’s,” which operated during the prohibition era under the guise of a furniture store. In 1967, Mr. Bing’s Cocktail Lounge opened its doors for the first time. The bar was named after its original owner and founder, Henry Grant, who ran the bar from 1967 until his retirement in 2017. Mr. Bing was Henry’s nickname.

Upon Henry’s retirement the bar was sold to Jacqueline (Jackie) and Peter Cooper, both Irish natives. At first, the community disapproved of the change in ownership, but the couple made sure the spirit of Mr. Bing’s remains true to its origins. Mr. Bing’s has continued to remain involved in the local community through support of the North Beach Festival and local sports teams in the neighborhood.

Mr. Bing’s Cocktail Lounge was a notable favorite of the late Anthony Bourdain who featured the bar in his 2013 television show, "The Layover," and later listing Mr. Bing’s as one the essential dive bars to visit in San Francisco. The late Jack Dempsey, former World Heavy Weight Boxing Champion, was also known to frequent Mr. Bing’s.

Mr. Bing's was added to the Legacy Business Registry on March 13, 2023.

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San Francisco’s Legacy Business Program is the first-of-its-kind in the U.S. The program supports and promotes iconic, small businesses over 30 years in operation that are long-standing pillars of our communities and neighborhoods.

San Francisco Heritage (est. 1971), has protected the city in the face of rapid change by advocating for historic resources, hosting educational programming, and interpreting and preserving cultural heritage. The Legacy Business Program (est. 2015) provides marketing, business assistance, and specialized grants for local small businesses included on the Legacy Business Registry.

Host or Publisher San Francisco Heritage