Here's a fiscal tip they don't teach you in economics class: the best bar crawl in San Francisco costs $2.50.

That's the price of a Muni fare, and if you ride the K, L, or M lines, you're sitting on a subway map that doubles as a cocktail menu — one that won't destroy your wallet with $19 mezcal negronis.

We love a good San Francisco bar discourse, and the latest one making the rounds is simple: what are the best bars within a ten-minute walk of the KLM Muni lines? The criteria are excellent — cozy vibes, reasonable prices, good draft lists, no blaring ESPN. Basically, a place where you can become a regular without needing a tech IPO to fund your tab.

Let's run the line.

Starting out west, the Philosopher's Club is a half-block up Ulloa from West Portal station and has been pouring drinks since the Eisenhower administration. As one local put it, "Many good times at the Philosopher's Club" — though fair warning, the nearby food spots close earlier than you'd like, so eat first, drink second. Solid life advice regardless.

Hop on the L and ride it all the way to the ocean for The Riptide, a beach-adjacent dive that one SF resident called "very cozy, chill, down to earth." It's a longer ride, but that's the beauty of Muni — you're not driving home anyway.

Closer to the city center, Churchill near Church station is a smart stop, and the Castro corridor around Castro station is loaded with affordable, welcoming neighborhood spots. One local flagged Last Call as a personal favorite — "super cute and cozy neighborhood bar with good and affordable drinks."

The broader point here is worth celebrating: San Francisco's neighborhood bar scene is alive and well, and you don't need to Uber to the Marina or fight for a reservation at some speakeasy with a $22 old fashioned to enjoy it. Some of the city's best spots are quietly thriving along transit corridors, rewarding the people who actually use public infrastructure.

That's the kind of return on investment we like to see from Muni — even if the train is seven minutes late getting you there.