Chockful of not only Beat Generation lore, exhibits but a valuable local history resource in general. Great staff, Jerry and Brandon (Nico still there?) and people-persons who can spin yarns with the best of em. Its a labor of love for them. They also have a tremendous selection of used, scarce and rare editions -- the best selection of Beat/Counter-Culture lit Ive seen. Veryinteresting exhibits.

My friend and I had a good time here. We both learned so much about the Beatnik culture. Besides having cool art, they have a great book selection as well. I highly recommend checking this museum out when in the area.

After visiting the City Lights Bookstore and Vesuvio Cafe, still hungry for litterary impulses, the nearby Beat Museum is well worth a visit. The museum will give you a good introduction to the Beat-movements and its authors. You also see period type-writers, posters and other artefacts giving a sense of the material culture of Beat. Its a relatively small museum with a good book and bookstore that also features used LPs.

Its a very interesting museum. Its very quaint, and theres a big focus on the history if the main authors of the beat movement; Kerouac, Ginsberg and friends. They have a lot of relics from them as well.

Was invited to attend a poetry reading by some incredibly talented vulnerable empowered artists!The museum was pretty cool but the bookshop was even better. Sorry no photos. One of those moments to be present. Super hip joint.

Valuable and important must visit. Excellent layout, info and original memorabilia. Period LPs and books for sale are a bonus. Cozy and casual setting -- very fitting! Plan to return next time in town.

This museum is awesome! Go and check out the art, history, and memories left by one of the most progressive movements in the 20th century. Visit it!!!

This is a cool little museum with a lot of beat history. I am not a buff on it, and I enjoyed the exhibits. There is a lot to read in there. Also, its in a book/record store which I thought was pretty cool. The guy behind the register that day was also really friendly and helpful, knowledgeable about the Bay Area, too.

My first time there to see the lead singer of the slackers Vic Ruggiero. The location shows character chill and simple. I like it

Very cool! A must do if youre in the area....educational and economical!

Small and charming museum that really sinks you in the Beat movement. From the reception and the small talk with the vendors to the long and interesting movie were pleasant and really transported me to a different place and time. If you are into literature and Beat Generation this is a MUST!

Good to have a spot that speaks of the Beat scene in SF. There are many photos & some artifacts, lent to the museum to display, however predominantly focus on both Ginsberg & Kerouac. Also has an interesting documentary that plays downstairs. Wish there was a bit more than photos that helped curate & linked together the writers of the scene a bit more. Staff are friendly & helpful. Dont forget to check out Citylights bookstore across the street.

Discovered this from Google maps. We checked it out and liked it. Worth a visit!

Also a book, record and art store. Highly recommended for free thinkers and historians.

For fans, its great, for others, its very nice to visit. Staff are super nice. Administration is $8 and if you are studend or teacher, you get a discount.

Totally hip! Beatnik heaven! Books, books, books and more!

Where it all began. Awesome birthplace of the most powerful movement that profoundly changed a major aspect of Americana and rock-n-roll. The owner was at the genesis is willing to share history with you. Books and memorabilia you wont elsewhere. Super friendly and into it staff. A must go to place in SF. Viva Led Zeppelin!

Wonderful place; funky and real. Just like the SAN FRANCISCO that I moved to in 1988!! I’ll be back to sit in the lounge chairs upstairs, draw zainy pictures and soak up the wacky BEAT vibrations of yesteryear!!!

I doubt this place can stay open for much longer! Enjoy it while you still can!!

Lovin it, its a bite of heaven for everyone who loves the beat generation and freedom, cultural freedom I mean, youre gonna love it, especially I did really appreciate the owners, they are pretty nice

Great museum for the subject matter. It really captures the story of the Beats, and gives a strong educational background to an artistic history too often glossed over and overshadowed by the counterculture of the 60s. All that information for a very reasonable price, Its definitely someplace Ill visit again.The store is very interesting and reasonably priced itself and worth checking out alone if you done have time for the full museum.

It looks like a garage. Some vintage goods look interesting but thats all.Therefore, if youre international traveler who dont know beat movement, there is nothing to learn.

Its a cute place to visit maybe once, but I would come again. Its nice to see how a poetry movement could spark something greater. The museum is modest and contains reproductions of newspaper clippings and so on. But there is nothing mind blowing about this place.

Great / small museum! Very inspiring stories about the beat generation and very friendly staff.

Great book selection with an alright museum. I felt like I read an entire novel after going through the museum. Come here to buy a book, but only go to the museum if youre really interested in the Beats. Not for your average tourist.

Perfect Beat Museum in the perfect location! Loads of information with great exhibits and an awesome gift shop/bookstore. You can easily see everything in under an hour and at 7$ you really cant beat it.Close to City Lights book store and Vesuvio, I highly recommend stopping by all three. Grab a coffee or something a little stronger at Vesuvio and enjoy!

Cool collection of artifacts from one of literatures most influential eras. Staff were friendly and helpful, tickets reasonable too...

Great place to come see the Beat happenings from the 50s and 60s

Fascinating period of San Francisco and the worlds transformative history

Amazing and well priced little museum- already being obsessed with san francisco for the counter culture movement i was intrigued and excited to learn about the beatniks, arguably the parents of the hippies. four stars only because i struggled to find information on the female beatniks- while they weren’t featured in the museum i had a really hard time believing there were not any female poets in the movement...

The cinema us fabulous.

Really cool place. There was an event there the day my friend and I went, 1000 poets. Unfortunately we couldnt go back to see it, but everyone was very inviting and cool about it. Highly recommended people check this place out. Also, entry is so affordable.

If you have any interest in the Beats and their place in culture, history & literature, the Beat Museum is for you. Filled with photos, information, art, artifacts and rare examples of books - the museum is small, but dense; you can spend quite a bit of time here. Start out on the 1st floor with general items and a cultural overview, then you go upstairs for more specific material on the core members.When you go back downstairs, theres a room showing a film about the Beats. The book store is excellent with tons of books by everyone represented in the museum, including some rare pieces in a case. But they also have a wonderful selection of general topic used books as well.If youre stopping at City Lights Book Store - this is just across the street and worth a stop.

Very cool, small museum for a couple hours often. Passionate and knowledgeable staff.

Great little museum and lively area

Cool little museum. The staff was so friendly. This is a great place to take teenagers who are interested in learning about the Beat Poets. Go to City Lights bookstore and check out Jack Kerouac Alley to round out the trip.

We found this place by accident. Lucky for us, there was a really nice guy working and he explained what The Beats were. An interesting part of History that I never knew I was missing out on. Cool books that you wont find anywhere else. Check it out for sure, ya dig?

Looks a bit like an addendum to a normal shop, separated by fraying curtains and a beat-up old movie theatre. That said - definitely worth a visit, unique artifacts, the video in the back was pretty interesting, some beat poetry readings. Spirit of the place is very San Francisco, and the older guy working the counter was super excited to have us visit.

Very interesting.

This small museum will appeal to people who feel drawn to the ideas that the Beat Generation embodied, and want to get a look at artifacts that document their role in American culture. There is an hour long film shown in a small, eight seat movie theatre on the life of Jack Kerouac. It was pretty engrossing, and just across the street one can continue exploring by visiting the City Lights Bookstore. It has an entire floor of Beat poetry and other works, plus places to sit and read. Jack Kerouac Alley is next door and has engraved tiles set in the ground with literary quotations.

Its small, but fun. If youre looking to kill an hour this is a great place to browse and when youre finished hit the book store across the street.The history is decent here and the staff is really knowledgeable and willing to answer any questions.

I love everything you have and how you do it!!!!!! Very passionate guy and it is so important to hold the beats alive

What a delightful warren to lose yourself in for an hour – if you’ve at one point been enamoured by the Beat

Fun experience. Very educational. You can always ask the counter guy about what is Beat or watch the film in their theater room called the Source

Best of the Beats..books..magazines..

The Beat Museum is a must see when in S.F. Its the COOLEST place ever. The owner and tour guide to all things Beat, Jerry Cimino, is eager to share his vast knowledge with everyone and anyone. Make sure you find him when visiting this unique museum and get the low down on the behind-the-scenes action of not only his comprehensive Beat collection, but also about filming the movie On The Road, and others. LOVE that the 1949 Hudson used in the movie was donated by the director to the Beat Museum. Awesome place!!! I recommend it highly...

Interesting exhibition about the Beat generation. Very informative, great place to drop by if you are interested in literature. Nice conversation with the guy running it.

Talk to any of the employees here for a fantastic conversation about the Beat generation, seriously.

Delicious food in a fun environment. Great service. Great cocktails.

Cool little spot in North Beach for books, vinyl, and so much more! I frequent here just to dig for vinyl. Overpriced but still great because theres nothing else around there anything like it!

Awesome place to visit if your in town.

Our 60s politics, art, music, and social change were brought to life. Well worth the trip.

It has everything you can imagine relating to any Beat personage you can think of. Plus a bookstore!

Its more like a hangout for me .

Great historical perspective

Loved the place and memories

Interested in Beat history, best place to visit.. Very interesting..

A small, intimate museum about an unknown but interesting subject. Staff is friendly and knowledgeable. Loved it!

Fight the tourists and hurry past the strip clubs to the tiny Beat Museum in North Beach. If you love Kerouac or old copies of Playboy, then youre in the right place. In addition to the museum, weekend walking tours, and events - like book signings - this place plays host to a used book selection (from beach-worthy novels to famous first editions), used vinyl records, touristy knick-knacks, and yes, vintage Playboy magazines. Admission to the museum is eight dollars each, but the storefront is worth a look itself and is open seven days a week.

Urban Intellectual wildlife refuge.

This is the home of all beat movement related stuff. It is not only a museum but a book and memorabilia store. You can find all kind of beat stuff here. Definitely a place to go

Great museum! I love beat literature. 10/10 would recommend

Learned more than I thought I would, and was thoroughly impressed!!

Absolutely fantastic, wonderful original pieces and displays! Whether a fan of Kerouac, Ginsberg, etc. A MUST VISIT!!!!

Interesting place to go, following your visit to the City Lights Bookstore. Its small but it has a lot of things you can relate if you are into the beatnick culture, many things belonging to the authors associated with the movement (a table, a car, etc)

Lots of cool memorabilia from major 50s movement in US. Inexpensive to visit. Friendly knowledgeable staff.

Very small but not too expensive and pretty informative

It is not a museum about beat music (60s)....

Great exhibits, 8$ per person plus a fun (& free) shop.

A truly fascinating and informative place to stop and marvel at if you have an interest in the Beat scene/movement. Original artifacts and manuscripts and a friendly and knowledgable staff who run it.

Fascinating for anyone with an interest in the beats. Low key, but that only serves to make the experience more authentic.

I didnt like the place because it is very crooked but they do have some interesting books about the Beat Generation.

If you want to learn all about Kerouac, this little museum is for you. Great bookstore

Movie Theater, multi floor museum and safe area

Interesting place. Fairly small with most of the space used for the shop rather than the museum. Even though this place is included on the GO Card, they gave me grief initially refusing to accept it. It honestly seemed like a way to get more money from those who would blindly accept what they were being told. Once inside, the place was a bit disappointing. The actual museum upstairs was pretty small with a decent amount of pieces but no real curation. I can see how a place like this might be interesting for those knowledgeable about the Beatnik generation but for the average person looking to learn a bit about it, it was a bit underwhelming with nothing really drawing my attention. Felt like a waste of 30 mins.

Its nicely done with beat

Worth the entry fee. I hope it stays open.

Nothing mind blowing about this space. Dont bring your kids there. The owner doesnt give a damn about them (his words) and will ask you to leave.

Very cool shop. I was walking by and was compelled by an intangible force to enter and explore.

Cool books

Awesome , thanks fellas

Very knowledgeable staff, and what an exhibit! So much history!

There is more to the Beat Generation than I thought!

It probably would have been great but we never got to go inside (said they opened at 10, we waited till 10:40, I guess they didnt want our money).

Interesting little museum

An absolute Treasure of a museum. You will be surprised at what you didnt know!

Go learn a little history after a stop at the book store.

Great spot

Very cool!

Great place for fans

Nice collection

Very nice place

Friendly staff.

Visited from the UK, highly recommended!