Marlena's   

488 Hayes St
San Francisco, CA 94102
415-864-6672

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Though Marlena's has undergone only a few cosmetic enhancements in its years in Hayes Valley, its neighborhood has mutated from ugly caterpillar to trendy butterfly. Finding itself surrounded by pricey shoe stores and restaurants serving free-range frisee salads dotted with white truffles hasn't deterred this neighborhood watering hole from offering a down-home place for men to gather in big wigs and even bigger pumps (purchased at Payless, mind you, not down the street). Marlena herself presides over the bar and greets regulars and newcomers alike with warmth and style. Late on most weekend nights, the small stage comes alive with lip-synching performances ranging from the sparkling to the tawdry, and the audience often includes the Empress and Emperor of the Imperial Court, who make the bar their home base. If you're lucky, you'll find barbecue served on the back patio on weekends, too. Better still are some of the lowest drink prices in town, and smokers will appreciate an adjacent room when they crave a drag of a different kind. -- Brady Brundred