If you like colorful dive bars you'll love the Buddha Lounge. This heart-of-Chinatown bar is a great glimpse into Chinatown's neighborhood culture. Of course, most tourists shy away from what appears to be yet another dark, seedy watering hole, but it's really just a cheery neighborhood bar. Be brave. Step inside, order a drink, and pretend you're in a Charlie Chan movie. The best part is when the Chinese woman behind the bar answers the phone: "HELLO BUDDHA!" No cover.

Copyright: Excerpted from Frommer's San Francisco 2009, (c) 2008, Wiley Publishing, Inc.

Find Hotel Deals on Yahoo Travel»