Spec’s Might Be the Best Bar in the World

I honestly believe that Spec’s might be the best bar in the world.  I know it’s pretty heavy thing to say, but I’ve been drunk in a lot of places, and if Spec’s isn’t the best bar in the world, it certainly is in the running.  I got drunk there with my buddy Ken last night and I really wanted to write a whole thing today about why it’s the best bar in the world, but I’m too hung over, so instead I’m just gonna cut and paste the write up I did about it in my SF book and show you this picture:

As evidenced by the news clippings next to the entrance, much has been written about Specs. From what I gather, Specs Simmons (named for his spectacles) bought the bar with the money he made from the 60’s folk single 'œRidin’ the MTA' and decorated the bar with things he gathered during his travels as a merchant marine. How much of this is true, I don’t know. There are as many rumors about Specs as there are articles written about it. Simply put, Specs feels like a Tom Waits song. There’s crazy shit all over the walls, like photos of post fire/earthquake S.F., 500 year old Hindu art, and a an actual dead cobra and groundhog posed to look like they are fighting each other. The drinks are strong, the well vodka is bad'what else could you possibly want from a dive bar?

Specs Twelve Adler Museum Café (Specs)
12 Adler St. (Right next to 250 Columbus) @ Broadway
[North Beach]