SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF.--  Irish pubs are a plenty in San Francisco and especially popular during holidays such as St. Patrick's Day. The pubs grew out of the California Gold Rush. San Francisco provided the primary coastal route for import of goods before railroads were built, and so many immigrants launched businesses, including the Irish.  Here are some great Irish  pubs worth stopping by any time of year.

Chieftain Irish Restaurant & Pub
198 5th St , San Francisco , CA , 94103

Dubliner
3838 24th St , San Francisco , CA , 94114

Irish Bank
10 Mark Ln , San Francisco , CA , 94108

Johnny Foley's Irish Pub & Restaurant
243 O'Farrell St, San Francisco, CA

Kate O'Brien's Irish Bar & Grill
579 Howard Street (between James Lick Fwy & Malden Aly), San Francisco
(415) 882-7240kateobriens.com

Kells Irish Restaurant & Bar
530 Jackson St , San Francisco , CA , 94133-5131

Kennedy's Irish Pub Curry House
1040 Columbus Ave, San Francisco - (415) 441-8855 kennedyscurry.com

Little Shamrock
807 Lincoln Way , San Francisco , CA , 94122-2305

Martin Macks Restaurant and Bar
1568 Haight St , San Francisco , CA , 94117

O'Reilly's Irish Bar & Rstrnt
 622 Green St, San Francisco - (415) 989-6222 oreillysirish.com

O'Reilly's Holy Grail
1233 Polk St, San Francisco - (415) 928-1233  oreillysholygrail.com

The Phoenix Irish Bar and Gathering Place
811 Valencia St , San Francisco

The Plough and the Stars Irish Pub 
116 Clement Street at 2nd Avenue, San Francisco (415) 751-1122

Tiernan's Irish Pub at Fisherman's Wharf685 Beach St., San Francisco, CA
(415) 673-9700 tiernsans.com