*If you play whistle, guitar, bodhran, or other forms of accompaniment
Plough and the Stars Irish pub
Session on Sundays and Tuesdays and the odd beginner session towards the end of the month. Info at http://pweb.jps.net/~jgilder/plough.html
*If you play a proper melody instrument or your name is Justine or Ted
An Bodhran pub on Haight street.
Sundays at 7-8ish to 11ish
Yeah, if you want to be scoffed at and verbally abused for playing whistle, not flute, hang out with MurphStout.
In Berkeley, on Sunday nights at The Starry Plough is a big, fast session in a noisy pub.
In Alameda, also on Sundays, at McGrath’s Irish Pub, is a small slow session. The people are very friendly and accepting there. Especially of whistle players. :roll:
You can call these places for the details.
Tony
sat in on the starry plough with my fiddle in hand whilst visiting CAL a few months ago and had a great time.
Is that San Francisco the independent republic, or is it the one in California?
AH! The “Peoples Republic of Cork” radio campaign when I visited Cork a few years ago.
Glad to know I am excused from playing a proper instrument. Cause if not, I can always bring the pipes instead. 
How about that session at Wilde Oscar’s on Wednesday? I think that is still going on, but don’t have the details.
Justine
Here’s a brand-new session to add to the list:
Every Tuesday evening, 7 to 9:45pm
at Fandango Pizza in Palo Alto
This is a “slow” session – just like a regular session only slower. Details at http://www.sfpipersclub.org/session.html
Sounds like the Starry Plough is still going strong then?
Met my whistling husband there back in 1979…he was one of the session players, I was one of the ceili dancers. 
New S.F. session…at The Liberties bar on Guerrero and 22nd.
Hosted by members of the band Cullen’s Hounds.
Wednesday nights around 8:30.
J.
Here’s a little bit more accurate description of the sessions at the Plough & Stars from someone who actually goes to them.
The sessions there are hosted by different people each night and offer a wide array of instruments and styles – all very “proper” for ITM. The space where the musicians play isn’t cramped and the pub is usually fairly quiet on session nights. People from all around the globe have visited and played in the sessions that have a reputation for being friendly and inviting.
The Plough & Stars is the best known traditional music pub in the city and has been presenting ITM and hosting sessions for 30 years now. The sessions are on Sunday and Tuesday nights with one slow session per month on the second to the last Tuesday, as well as a song session on the last Tuesday.
This one’s not going on anymore,
J.
The sessions at the Bodhran and Wilde Oscar’s are no longer going on.
J.
Well, you’ve got two more weeks to start a new session, get going! 
We’re waiting for you to come to town and start one. 
Anyone know of anything decent going on tomorrow night (Friday, June 9)? I’ve got friends coming in to town, and don’t know what I’m going to do with them. They’ve requested trad music (to play, or just listen), but I’m not aware of anything going on most Fridays. Any suggestions would be appreciated!
There’s always that session at Justine’s house, they make great brownies
What time does the Tuesday session at Plough and Stars start? I’ll probably be in the area for a job interview on September 4. How much of a hassle will it be to get there from downtown Oakland?