Just moved into the area. The Pint Size Lounge is the closest bar to my house. This place reminds me of my hometown in Cleveland. That's a good thing. Down to earth bartender and clientele. In regards to the 1 star review above. I just met the bartendress in question and witnessed her going way way above and beyond the cs of duty getting a drunk patron home. She personally drove the girl home. 5 stars. Boom.
Review Source:Love this little secret hidden on the west end of San Rafael.  The art alone can keep you entertained while sculling some pints of their small but solid collection of beers on draft.  (The clown  art work can be scary, so warning to all you coulrophobics!).
They have a pool table and big screen TV to entertain you, or you can hide in one of the dark corners for some privacy. Â Either way, great entertainment is almost guaranteed and if not, you can commandeer the digital jukebox and watch people's reactions to your selections (hehehe).
The worst bar experience I have ever had. Â My girlfriend goes to the bathroom after saying shes not feeling so well. Â The bartender furiously chases after her yelling " No, No, No....you're not f***ing puking in my bar. Â It's not my job to clean it up." Â When i calmly go to defend my girlfriend to resolve the situation I get verbally attacked by the bartender and some locals that are sitting at the bar. Â The situation quickly escalates, but could have been easily resolved. However, the bartender made no attempts to calm anyone down, instead she contributes by yelling at us even more. Â Not a good idea with a bunch of drunk males and no bouncer. Â While we attempt to leave the bar one of the locals came outside looking for a fight. Â COMPLETE MADNESS!!! Uncivilized, unprofessional, and unworthy of my time or my money. Â Never coming back again.
Review Source:Pint Size is weird - for San Rafael. You get used to going to places like the Mayflower, Flatiron, or (God forbid) Nickel Rose. All "safe" bars, nicely appointed, with stuff going on. Then, I finally - having walked by it dozens of times - popped into the Pint Size to check it out, and was hooked.
Marin has dive bars. Mattuccis, Trevor's to name a couple - but they're a different vibe. Always empty, with one or two sad drunks at the bar trying to drown their sorrows. But if you picked the Pint Size up and plopped it down anywhere in the City, be it the Haight or Trendyloin, it wouldn't be out of place at all. Dark and dingy, the pool table always in action, the jukebox belting out the tunes, and a surprisingly good beer selection.
Cash only, no booze license - just beer and wine - and the place can be quiet. (More indicative of San Rafael nightlife than it it Pint Size, methinks). All in all, this is my new go-to spot.
it looks like a dive, smells like a dive...so it's a dive...
pretty laid back without obnoxious people (at least not the night i was there). Â there's a jukebox, a pool table, and some creepy and random looking "art" on the walls. Â the clowns are kinda creepy...
pretty good selection of beers on tap too. Â not a bad place if you just want to throw back a couple in san rafael without annoying karaoke singers.
Pint sized it is not, and a surprising amount of fun it is (for a San Rafael bar that is). My friends and I were not quite ready to call off our Sunday B-day BBQ but had polished off the last of the chicken, quinoa and 2-buck Chuck and were in need of a good ol watering hole. Only problem? It's 9pm on a Sunday...in San Rafael...buh duh buuuum
We head over to the Mayflower which for no stated reason, is closed. In come Pint Size with it's nondescript and nameless facade, overshadowed by it's neon sangria bar neighbors.
Granted, when we first walked in we were the only customers, but as the night progressed, the bar was frequented by more Marin folks in need of a break from the rich life.
The rest can only be described in poem form...
The bar smelled a little like pee,
but made it slightly more "dive bar-y"
They had some good beers on tap,
and friend even got a Brazilian birthday dance on her lap!
The night was played away with a game of pool,
to which was followed by foosball which is always cool!
Oh little Pint Size,
you might be responsible for my demise!
Oh, Pint Size. It's almost always a bad idea when I end up here (my fault entirely), but you keep me coming back.
This place has the cool. I've been coming here on and off for over a decade, and they consistently have some of the best beers on tap anywhere in Marin. The dark red interior and curtain at the door make it feel like you should need a password to get in, and you can make yourself comfortable at the bar or one of the high tables if you're there with friends, or you can sneak off into one of the dark nooks and corners if you (and maybe someone else) want not to be seen.
The internet jukebox usually has something obscure but good on from the indie or hip hop world, or some gem of Americana from the past ironically played. Free pool Mondays, which is when I usually find myself there. The bartenders are helpful even if occasionally distracted, and the owner isn't hard to find or approach. The Pint also plays host to a number of special events such as DJ's, Burlesque shows and block parties.
I really feel like it's at kind of a lull right now, as the back patio is temporarily closed thanks in part to some idiot neighbors who complained after they moved in and discovered that a bar makes noise at night (gosh who knew? The Pint Size has been there for well over a decade, and it was the Copa before that for no short time, maybe they should have done their homework before they moved in). The place tries hard to be part of the neighborhood, setting up street fairs and hosting local events. I really like the place and think it brings not only a cool drinking spot but positive character to the community.
I'm creating this review based on one night-- but one that will forever change my perspective on San Rafael bars.
After a crap pint at Mayflower-- my group walked down the street to Pint Size Lounge. Behind the curtained doorway was a small but no-nonsense bar with a single bartender with a couple regulars hanging out. Bar highlights:
1. Only beer and wine are available-- but that's all I'm looking for-- so to us, it was perfect.
2. There was indie hip hop and rock playing alongside fantastic, interesting wall art up that was complimentary to the place (the majority of the clown paintings are on a shelf above the other art). I loved every song Charlie(sp?) was playing on the jukebox. But it wasn't so loud that you couldn't talk with your friends though-- also nice.
3. Plenty of comfortable seating for any size group. Everyone was pleasant and cool-- with groups at the bar and side tables playing pool.
4. There was no one jockeying to be seen, or being a drunken fool. It was perfect for hanging out.
It was EXACTLY the vibe I was going for. Charlie was a fantastic bartender-- sweet, accommodating, and knowledgeable. I'm definitely going back on her nights there :D
This bar is a oasis in the Marin bar scene that this former SF resident can escape to. Fantastic!
As long as I'm doing my little yelp-ish tribute to Marin, I should do one bar. Â The Pint Size is a pretty good bar--lots of good beer on tap, pool and foosball, a big outdoor deck for smoking, and a decent juke or possibly DJ kicking out some respectable jams. Â It's probably one of the few bars in Marin where people who were awkward in high school but are now hipsters or artists (read: graphic design) can go and have an enjoyable time.
The reason I only give it three stars is because I've never really had an enjoyable time there myself. Â This is possibly because I only got the first part of the formula (the awkward in high school part) down. Â I go here every now and then when I'm up in Marin visiting the folks but that's more because it's someplace to go nearby. Â I think the only time I had a lot of fun there was when a friend and I totally dominated on the foosball table all night, defeating any duo that dare opposed us. Â But the truth is that I can't take credit for that--my friend was the ultimate foosball master and he probably would have done even better playing by himself without me. Â So I can't give out any extra starts for that, now can I?
Perfect little dirty skateboarder lurker bar. Â Although it isn't dirty, just some of the locals are, but I like that. Â I used to come here frequently back in 2000 before I moved, but I'm back! Â
Nothing has changed except for the owner has a grey hair and a few more creepy clown paintings. Â
I was bummed to see the patio shut down, but hopefully they will work that out. Â Music is awesome and selected by the customers, bartenders are friendly, beer is cold and the wine glasses are BIG!
I hope they bring back karaoke night. I'm overdue for turning myself into the town jackass.
Congrats on the awesome turn out yesterday at Summer Fun Day. Â I think I was hanging around for 5 hours. Â I'm officially a lurker....again.
Great tap selection. Seasonal, micro brews that they're happy to let you taste. Art all over the place that's perfect when you're buzzed, but terrifying when you're drunk. Not sure what to think about the pool table. Don't remember if it's free all the time, but last time it was. Before we could get to it though, some guy walked in with his own cue and started playing - didn't buy a beer or anything. Then his obnoxiously loud friend came, and we left. But the bartender had given me a pint of barley wine (not sure if that was intentional or not), so it was time to go after I managed to get that down. I don't think the crowd is normally like that, but I guess at 6 pm on a Tuesday it is.
Review Source:Pint Size Lounge has quickly become the unknown awesome landmark of downtown San Rafael. Â The owner Adam was responsible for the West End Festival this past fall, and is leading the community not only in atmosphere, but his surrounding businesses in revitalizing the West End of 4th St. Â It is a Great Place, with great beer, internet juke box, and a good conditioned pool table and fusball table...Just Splendid!!!
Review Source:Best bar in marin. There. I said it. Good beer selection. I'm glad there is no hard booze there, makes out of control drunk people few and far between. The pool table felt is in good condition, they have a fooseball table, and it's always a cool crowd.
More of the rocker/rockabilly crowd, the jukebox has EVERYTHING and the owner is really cool.
Gabby H sounds like she's had some sort of deep seeded issue with clowns, but here is a hint... THE ART CHANGES ALL THE TIME....
Let's just get this out and in the open right now. -1 star for the clown pictures. Nothing personal, I just feel weird about it and have never liked them. Ok, thank you I feel better.
On to more pressing issues, the Pint Size is a small, cozy and friendly bar. There are many drink options to choose from (but no vodka....dammit) and all are well priced.
Leo is the best damn bartender San Rafael has to offer and I am sure that he may have a funny story or two to tell you.
For some reason, this bar never hit the right chord with me. It's dark, dank, sells a crappy selection of beer, smells funny and has scary clown pictures on the wall. Unless you want to have reoccurring clown nightmares, there is no reason to spend that hard earned cash here when the Mayflower is right down the street. But then again....maybe YOU like clowns.....
Review Source:Well I guess if I drink too much tasty beer and wine that night and do something stupid half nakedly sprawled across the pool table, that at least I'll be able to walk to Planned Parenthood across the street and get business taken care of bright and early in the a.m. Â
The scene at Pint Size is pretty chill. The people are always nice, the beer is always good and cold, and when I drink, I do like a little pool here and there. Nothing wrong with playing when you're horrible as long as you can drink just enough to take the pain of embarrassment away.is Dark, with local artists mad skills posted on the walls, this intimate San Rafael bar is centrally located and my bartenders are always great. My boy Leo rocks, Katie is fabulous, and the owner, Adam, has always been super cool. Flash artwork sometimes flanking  the walls courtesy of the fabulous Mr. Theo Mindell of Spider Murphy's tattoo makes me feel right at home.  I love myself a little bit o' old school rockabilly greaser: the pomp, the duck's butt, the folded up jeans with the rag out of the back pocket.  Brings back the old days to me, so familiar, and yes, I still rock my skinny black jeans, my high heels, and my red rag sometimes.
The back is closed due to San Rafael gettin' a little pissed about the fact that when we drink we get a little loud, but that's always to be expected. The jukebox plays everything from rock to hip hop on the weekends. The bar brings rockers, rockabillys, and a couple of hip hop crews out to mix, and it's fly to see some diversity for once in Marin. I'm just thankful that unlike a lot of other places, when I ask for my beer, I don't have to trip over some douche bag suit or some yoga gear wearing yuppie who's been wondering why my hair is pink and my tats are bright. Ahhhh, nice to blend in sometimes I must say.
I found myself in Marin last Friday, sleeping at my parents house and trying to avoid getting stuck there during a power outage so as not to discuss my failing life when all the lights and television and Internet went kaput.
Somehow, after a cocktail here and a burlesque show there, I ended up at the Pint Size where hundreds of clown eyes bore down on me from dust-laced antique picture frames.
The Pint Size is like a Lucky 13 or Zeitgeist, except the indie rock was popular eight years ago and the patrons are a little too yuppie, even with the temporary tattoos and white kid dreads.
I think my PBR was also a little passed its prime, or the pygmy bartender thought IPA could pass for Pabst, but either way, my drink was weird, and yes, I had two of them and then went and ate a pancake combo at IHop.
I had so much fun reliving my high school years (with a legit ID) romping around Marin parking lots and hitting the green in the car dreaming of chocolate chip pancakes that I think I'm go back.
No, I'm not gonna just move back home with my parents. I'm going to sleep till 1 pm, sneak boys into my room, fight with my dad over math problems, and refuse to talk about my day as I skulk into my room after dinner without doing the dishes.
*Down with the fucking clowns. Get a new Interior Designer*
I'm happy to go there to meet up with friends, but it's not a destination I'd drag people to. Â It's a cool little local beer bar. Â No liquor, only sake ... although they do some interesting things with the sake. Â Pint Size used to be a coffee shop and somehow still has kind of a coffee shop vibe. Â Funky velvet clown art on the walls. Â Occasional performances on the small stage, but so far nothing I'd go out of my way for.
Review Source:This is hands down my favorite bar. Â I have lived in LA, SF, Miami and traveled all over the world. Â The atmosphere is perfect. Â If you want to party you can. Â If you want to lay low and do your thing and not be bothered you can do that too. Â I have been going to the Pint for fours now and have not found another bar to match. Â I agree with another Yelp review that this bar could be placed in the Mission and fit right in. Â The Pint could be put in NYC or LA as well and quickly become the "The Spot." Â Outstanding beer selection. Â If you think you can play pool, The Pint Size Lounge will be a humbling experience. Â Probably see you there tonight.
P.S. I don't know what Scott D. and Shaun G. are talking about. Â The owner Adam is one of the nicest and most welcoming people I know. Â I bet these guys are pissed because Adam cleaned his pool table with their faces. Â Don't let these two illegitimate reviews detour you. Â The Pint is Legendary. Â Scott G. Â has four review - two of the establishments don't even exist, and he's claiming My Thai is the best Thai in Marin!!! Â Need I say more. Â I'm actually glad this guy won't be frequenting The Pint.
You'll thank me for sharing this hidden gem...
The Pint Size Lounge is gallons of fun!
My husband and I moved from SF to San Rafael in October, and haven't been too impressed with the bars in Marin. Pint Size Lounge won us over as soon as we walked in. The lighting is perfect, the art adds a really cool atmosphere, there is a fuzball table, a pool table, a patio and the juke box has an awesome range of music. We will definitely be back...
A true and honest 3 rating... Â (even though I am a gin and tonic gal). Â I love this place. Â My son turned me on to this place a few years ago. Â Walk in the door and immediately you are faced with a dilemma... Some of the best "kitchie" religious articles I have ever seen and on the right a wall full of clowns. Â Mind blowing... which way to turn..
Regardless of the date, time, year you go to the Pint Size the only way you could have a bad time is if you are in a bad mood.. Nice people hang there....
The Pint Size is a great bar, my friends and I always go there whenever we find ourselves in Marin. Adam (the owner) did a great job of designing/decorating the place, creates a great dark vibe that you find in many SOMA/Mission/Valencia bars. He also always has a great selection of (about 10?) beers on tap, there's always at least 2 that you'll see and say "Wow, They have $@*&? I need to have one of those!" They have a good jukebox, pool table, and back patio. If you want a cool place to hang out and have some good (and sometimes hard to find) beer, and happen to be in San Rafael, definitely stop by the Pint Size.
BTW... Adam is a cool guy if you get to know him... He just doesn't like to be interrupted or pestered... or asked stupid questions.
as far as I know this is the only bar in marin that could be plopped down in the mission and fit right in. Â I can see how it might be intimidating to certain types, but that's not such a bad thing considering all the bland, provincial watering holes and brewpubs in the area. Â and unlike say, the b street tavern, it never feels like spring break on a friday night. Â adam, the owner, is a cool guy. Â never seems to be very crowded, but that's probably because all the marinites are having cosmos at larkspur landing.
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