For many financial district guys, a trip to the barber shop means stopping off for 10 minutes on the lunch break at a place like the Original Palace Barber Shop on Mission and 2nd. Crowded with 30 year old hair products piled in boxes along the wall, and 60-something barbers who will quickly do their job while arguing among themselves in various languages, the place has the charm and sanitation of a college dorm bathroom. Oh yeah, and it has a wide selection of Playboy magazines. No wonder it’s always crowded. It’s the dive bar of barbershops.

But in San Francisco for every dive bar there’s gotta be a Bambuddha, and now the same holds true for barbers.

Sean Heywood and Kumi Walker, the two guys who opened MR. at 560 Sacramento Street say they’ve “created a barbershop where distinguished guys can be guys, and walk out looking and feeling sharp.” It’s for “real guys who want to enjoy themselves, get a quality cut and relax.” The website stresses that their services are exclusive, elite and sophisticated. Instead of Playboy and Brylcreem you get large flat screen TVs, a chic futuristic interior, and a beverage selection (including beer and wine.) They sell memberships, but also take walk-ins, so try it out.

If this thing catches on, the Palace guys might have to throw in some chips and dip with their cuts to compete.

• Details: MR. [mrthebarbershop.com]