We're resurrecting an old series: Weird Art in Bars, in which we explore the wacky adornments on the walls of the city's favorite and under-the-radar watering holes.

Anyone who calls themselves a San Franciscan knows Vesuvio Cafe is as much a part of the city's lore as Coit Tower or Sam's Grill are. This historic watering hole, founded in 1948, has quenched the thirsts of Beat Generation's greatest minds, from Neal Cassady to Lawrence Ferlinghetti to Jack Kerouac and even Dylan Thomas, no doubt fueling their brillance with strong drinks. The proprietors are not shy about celebrating the bar's Beat roots; its walls are covered with memorabilia from its famed patrons.

If you want an intimate time in the middle of bustling North Beach, make your way upstairs with a drink and chill out, read a book you bought from City Lights, and try to comprehend the legends who once sat there before you did. Another bonus: they're open every day of the year from 6 am to 2 am. Lightweights need not apply.

Photography by Joseph Schell

255 Columbus Avenue, 415-362-3370