SOME MIGHT SCOFF at the idea of compiling a short list of San Francisco's best summer bars when San Francisco barely has the right to label its summer a summer. However, we do get the rare heat wave now and again, and we do have September, and on those occasions, we need somewhere to go. Somewhere to enjoy the experience of drinking to cool down, drinking as the sun sets, drinking while admiring the city view, or the surf, or the patio full of sexy, half-clad creatures. And thus we give you our top 10 favorites for the summer of 2005. A note to early starters: Not all these bars facilitate drinking in the noonday sun, so call for hours of operation.

1. It's our mission to expand your horizons; we know that. And yet it would be hypocritical to suggest we don't spend much of our own time lazing around on the patio at El Rio, attending Sunday's beer bust at the Eagle Tavern, or wedged in at one of Zeitgeist's backyard tables sucking down one (or two, or three) of the best Bloody Marys to be found within city limits. We know you've been there. In fact, we saw you there last weekend. But it would be foolish and wrong not to mention, first and foremost, these three SF standbys. El Rio, 3158 Mission, SF. (415) 282-3325, www.elriosf.com; Eagle Tavern, 398 12th St., SF. (415) 626-0880, www.sfeagle.com; Zeitgeist, 199 Valencia, SF. (415) 255-7505.

2. While we'd never be mistaken for healthy, outdoorsy types, many of us here at Bars and Clubs are rather fond of ambling through Golden Gate Park in fine weather. Especially because at the west end, flooded with sunlight, awaits the recently renovated Park Chalet, the quintessential spot for sipping a mint julep (or a house-made beer) on the lawn. Cozy up to one of the coveted Adirondack lounges on the grass out back and nibble sandwiches, pizzas, salads, and the like. This place rocks for families too – kids get to use their "outside" voices while Mommy and Daddy get schnockered. 1000 Great Highway, SF. (415) 386-8439, www.beachchalet.com.

3. Of course, nothing quite says summer like a cocktail on the beach. And while it may not have sand castles, or lifeguards, or Annette Funicello, when you're at the Cliff House's Zinc Bar – the preciously restored deco tile masterpiece with full ocean panorama – you're at the surf, without the muss of sand in your shoes. The mood is civilized, attracting daters and tourists alike, none of whom seem to mind that $6 cocktails are Dixie-cup petite. 1090 Point Lobos, SF. (415) 386-3330, www.cliffhouse.com.

4. Located on the outskirts of North Beach, Rosewood beams enough polish and class from its adorable, bamboo-lipped patio to light up even the most moonless night. Both indoors and out, the intimate, blush-tinted space is meticulously sleek – and the perky champagne and top-shelf liquor selections add an extra sparkle (the lemon drops and vodka martinis are of particular interest). Rosewood's properly attired clientele range from retro hepcat types to urban chicksters on the make, but a mellow vibe holds steady in the open air. Wed.-Fri., 5:30 p.m.-2 a.m.; Sat., 7 p.m.-2 a.m., 732 Broadway, SF. (415) 951-4886.

5. And now, reluctantly, we share a tiny, undiscovered waterfront gem with you – namely, the HiDive, where 20 or so tables line the wide, open windows, giving patrons a fabulous view of the bay from Pier 28 1/2. Feel like the captain of your own private clipper as you sip strong cosmos at the sleek front bar, or drink in ocean-bound steamers from a cozy oak-lined corner while diving into a rich Bloody Mary. Spicy seafood, hearty sandwiches, and salty wait staff help keep things afloat. Pier 28 1/2 and Bryant, SF. (415) 977-0170.

6. Which is not to say that a summer bar must literally be a watering hole.... Housing a café, a restaurant, a bar, and hostel-style lodgings within its four-story Mission District dominion, Medjool covers plenty of bases. And now, with the very recent opening of its spacious rooftop lounge, it adds one more to the list. San Francisco has its fair share of 360-degree-view, Top of the Mark-style drinking establishments, but the city suffers from something of a deficit in glamorously open-air rooftop bars. Perhaps that's because we also have something of a fog and wind problem. Fear not: On Medjool's plant-festooned deck, the heat lamp-to-reveller ratio is one of the highest we've seen. 2522 Mission, SF. (415) 550-9055, www.medjoolsf.com.

7. Some call it a gay bar, others think of it as the waiting room for Chow restaurant next door. Skirting the edge of boys' town, the Pilsner Inn maintains the easygoing – if cruisey – character of a neighborhood spot well into Saturday evening. We, however, most often find ourselves wandering Pilsner-ward after a nerve-sapping work shift, or on warm weekends when afternoon drinking on the greenhouse-like enclosed back patio seems by far the most appropriate activity. 225 Church, SF. (415) 621-7058.

8. In search of a starlit cocktail? No need to turn left at the planet Melmac. The front veranda of Zebulon, a cozy little SoMa café, has everything you need at down-to-earth prices. A kind of bastard stepchild to Belden Place, Zebulon has an unpretentious Euro-Cuban vibe that nicely suits its Natoma Street location. A novel draft beer and wine selection, plucky hors d'oeuvres (the "fillo flower" stuffed with fresh pears, almonds, and brie is a must), and luscious concoctions like the Caipiroshca (vodka and passion fruit juice) perfectly complement the live samba music and moonlight. DJs sweep in at happy hour (6-9 p.m.) with "smoky downtempo" and Latin grooves. 83 Natoma, SF. (415) 975-5705, www.zebulonsf.com.

9. So, a warm Saturday evening at the opera it is to be – yet you're haunted by the worry that you'll have trouble falling asleep. Fear not! Jade Bar, convenient to the opera house and other major venues of Civic Center highbrow-ness, offers a wide variety of pre-performance soporifics in a three-level setting of frosted glass and tinkling water that's like a cross between Skylab and a koi pond. 650 Gough, SF. (415) 869-1900, www.jadebar.com.

10. At Little Baobab the space is as tight as the name implies, but it's hard to quibble with the margaritas and other cocktails, flavored with ginger, tamarind, and hibiscus, lightly sweet and brightly tangy. Drink at the bar until the kitchen (serving addictively savory West African-Creole cuisine) closes, then move to tables or the dance floor – the DJ (Tues.-Sat.) gets rolling at 10. For the warm-blooded, seating outside offers fine views of the Mission nightlife drifting by. 3388 19th St., SF. (415) 643-3558.

Contributors: Marke B., Brigid Gaffikin, Lynn Rapoport, Paul Reidinger, and Karen Solomon.