Nightlife

1015-folsom1015 Folsom
Biggest club in the city

1015 is the biggest club in the city and 20,000 square feet and 150,000 watts can make for a good party► - check the schedule.   (see more)

111-minna111 Minna
On the edge of work and play

A lively calendar of musical parties and strangely compelling business events augment this downtown art gallery. (see more)

15-romolo15 Romolo
*Just* off the beaten path...

A slightly (!) chiller take on the Broadway scene a (steep!) stone's throw away, Romolo mixes full-service cocktails►, pub food and a lively atmosphere for good time in North Beach. (see more)

asia-sfAsia SF
Asian fusion :)

Smoking hot trans-gals► augment fruity beverages and passable food for a festive SOMA scene! (see more)

badlandsBadlands
Good times in the bad lands

The Castro's most reliably crowded bar, Badlands frequently sports a line down the block and typically hosts a cadre of chatters and smokers out front. (see more)

bazaar-cafeBazaar Café
Fresh music and eats

By refusing ASCAP music licensing payments, the warm Bazaar Café effectively guarantees its patrons previously unheard sonic experiences►. Quality varies - but with no cover charge and tasty food, it's a good risk :) (see more)

belden-placeBelden Place
French Quarter

One tiny block of delicious french restaurants adjoins Downtown, Chinatown and Union Square! (see more)

bill-graham-civic-auditoriumBill Graham Civic Auditorium
Making it, Big time

Renamed in honor of SF music mega-promoter Bill Graham, the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium is a full city-block and hosts the biggest musical performances in SF (capacity 7,000). (see more)

bimbos-365Bimbo's 365
Lounge par excellence

At the far end of North Beach, Bimbo's puts together a solid calendar of music►, parties►... and burlesque► (!) in a lounge-y atmosphere.  They also host a lot of private events, so definitely check the calendar. (see more)

bliss-barBliss Bar
Rockin' the Noe

A little too blissed out with the DJ to read the Noe Valley memo, this lively little bar can improve your sex life without hiking over to the Castro - and it's not even that little :) (see more)

blondies-bar-and-no-grillBlondie's Bar & No Grill
Everything but the grill

Pool tables, double-wide drinks, dj's, live music, outdoor patio - Blondie's Bar and No Grill is no classier (or hipper) than its name suggests, but hosts a reliably lively party! (see more)

boom-boom-roomBoom Boom Room
And we like the boom

Founded by the late blues legend John Lee Hooker►, BBR hosts a reliably good lineup that often results in dancing! (see more)

bottom-of-the-hillBottom of the Hill
Rockin the hill

Jam-packed with shows (6+ nights/week) and people, Bottom of the Hill burns hotter than most - arrive early or get tickets in advance. (see more)

bourbon-and-branchBourbon & Branch
Would you like to play a game?

A prohibition-style "speakeasy" with passwords, multiple rooms (not to mention secret passageways and exits), a massive drink menu and some serious bartenders► - B & B is carves it's own retro-niche out of the Tenderloin. (see more)

brunosBruno's
One stop party

Live music, dancing, alcohol and food in the Mission - what more do you need? (see more)

buena-vista-cafeBuena Vista Cafe
Caffeine + Alcohol = Sweet Fame!

While Buena Vista's much-touted claim to "America's First Irish Coffee" fails the obvious test for some (who brought the French kiss?), the cafe is uncommonly popular with tourists and locals alike. (see more)

burning-manBurning Man
Reality will return after these brief messages

No longer held in San Francisco, or even California (Nevada), the Burning Man festival is a big part of San Francisco life for many residents. The event is a week long and held on a dried lake bed - attracting upwards of 50,000 people► annually and otherwise defying brief description. (see more)

cafe-du-nordCafe du Nord
Better than it ever was...

6+ shows► a week in a subterranean Victorian speak-easy gone legit, Cafe du Nord is in a league of its own - check the schedule! (see more)

dna-loungeDNA Lounge
Where the wild things are

Starting with "Death Guild" on Mondays, the DNA lounge pushes SOMA through the week with performance, dance, and beverages in a large split-level venue. Bootie on (most) Saturday nights hosts a reliably packed party. (see more)

el-rioEl Rio
Mission houseparty

This Outer Mission domestic space turned jack-of-all-fun venue hosts live bands, djs, comedy shows, salsa dancing, margaritas, drag queens, backyard patio, pool table, barbecue, oysters, etc - best check the schedule, cash only! (see more)

elbo-roomElbo Room
Prohibition-era bar rocks on

With a bar downstairs and a stage on top (with dance floor) the Elbo Room hosts lively and diverse music within close proximity to other Mission night life. Check the calendar for upcoming shows. (see more)

glas-katGlas Kat
Great space - eclectic events

Operating as a club since 1977, the Glas Kat (formerly Trocadero) provides two levels/bars, a lounge, a restaurant, an indoor smoking area, a large dance floor, and gogo dancer cages hanging from the ceiling! Hosting everything from "Mr Maracas" Salsa dancing and lessons to "Bondage A-Go-Go: San Francisco's Longest Running Fetish Dance Club" to "Thai Acoustic Pop" it's important to check the schedule. (see more)

great-american-music-hallGreat American Music Hall
Party like a Victorian!

Built from the ashes of the legendary 1906 fire, GAMH is the oldest nightclub in San Francisco and hosts a full calendar of modern shows in a wildly ornate interior. (see more)

hobsons-choiceHobson's Choice
Rum, Rum, Rum away...

Pretty much the best spot for people-watching in the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood, Hobson's has a full drink menu - but somehow everyone ends up drinking rum punch.. maybe this is the "choice"? (see more)

kennedys-irish-pub-and-indian-curry-houseKennedy's Irish Pub & Indian Curry House

At the north end of North Beach (close to Fisherman's Wharf), Kennedy's vibes dive - but the selection of draft is strong and the kitchen is open until 1am :) (see more)

kezar-pubKezar Pub
Irish bar + baseball

On the edge of the Golden Gate Park and the Haight-Ashbury district, Kezar carves its own niche among sports fans and players in local sports leagues... it is reliably crowded► during Giants and 49ers games, but can get busy at any time. (see more)

latin-american-clubLatin American Club
Not your mother's margarita

Serious drinks and a warm vibe snuggle up together at this Mission hotspot - often crowded on the weekends and sometimes on weekdays too, the nearby Make-Out Room and Revolution Cafe offer alcohol at slightly lower voltages. (see more)

lexingtonLexington
Your Friendly Neighborhood Dyke Bar :)

SF's best (and only!) full-time dyke bar, "The Lex" vibes warm and home-y, has a great jukebox, and a pool table :) (see more)

li-po-loungeLi Po Lounge
Varied vibe, great decor

Li Po varies a lot by the evening - some nights it's empty except for the old fellas betting at the bar upstairs, other times it's jammed with hipsters. For a drink or two in Chinatown, drop in and test the vibe. (see more)

lower-haightLower Haight
Sonic delights, good times

A down home atmosphere with some of the city's best record shops, great murals, an active calendar  - the Lower Haight is possibly urban San Francisco's least pretentious (and touristy) neighborhood. (see more)

make-out-roomMake-Out Room
A room for making out

No guarantees on "making out", but this Mission classic hosts a reliably good time with a strong calendar of live shows and djs. (see more)

marina-districtMarina District
Easy delight

Good restaurants, nice boutiques/salons/etc, young outgoing folks and lively nightlife.. a straight Castro! Marina entrepreneur and former Mayor Gavin Newsom connects these dots. (see more)

mars-barMars Bar
Take me to your blender

A combination diner, bar, dance club with heated outdoor patio - Mars Bar fills its own martian niche. A little ways from the main centroids of SOMA-tic nightlife, Mars Bar can be a good place to get a late dinner and see what unfolds. (see more)

mightyMighty
Get down

Mighty hosts a reliably lively party with an amazing dance/watch► ratio :) (see more)

mission-districtMission District
Home of the hipster

Spanish Colonialism, Latin American immigration, future-forward/backward hipsters, innovative humanitarianism (Kiva, 826 Valencia & Mission Murals), boutique coffee (Philz, Ritual & Four Barrel), gourmet eats (Tartine Bakery, Pizzeria Delfina & Dynamo Donuts), not to mention burritos (Taqueria Cancun, Puerto Alegre & Farolito)... the Mission rides fearlessly along the cutting edge. (see more)

monks-kettleMonk's Kettle
Monks gone thirsty!

Offering a hearty selection of delectable brews and a kitchen that's open until 1am (limited menu after 11:30) - the Kettle is a low risk stop for anyone vibing pub in the Mission. (see more)

north-beachNorth Beach
No beach - but a great party!

The aroma of Italy still wafts through this old quartiere... now infused with teams of hard partying "youngsters" :) (see more)

operaOpera

The 2nd biggest Opera in North America (to the Met in NYC) - the season runs roughly from September until July. (see more)

pier-23Pier 23
Party on the Pier

The frumpy shack on the eponymous Pier 23 hosts diner food and drinks on the bay when the Fog relents and an active schedule of live music at night. (see more)

place-pigallePlace Pigalle
A bar with foosball

Cheap alcohol (beer and wine), pool, couches, foosball - the fruits of life! Throw some interesting art on the walls and the occasional concert► - all in a central location - dive bar nirvana :) (see more)

public-worksPublic Works
What the people want...

With a mission statement of "give the people what they want", Public Works defies self-identity :) (see more)

punch-linePunch Line

SF's longest running and only full-time (every night!) comedy club, the Punch Line combines all-star with newcomers in a relatively small venue... with good visibility (!) (see more)

rosewoodRosewood
Three for one

Just outside the Broadway tunnel on the Chinatown/west side of North Beach, versatile Rosewood offers a bar, dance floor and outdoor patio, along with a full bar and regular DJ performances. (see more)

rrazz-roomRrazz Room

An intimate upscale lounge in the Hotel Nikko with a full performance calendar, the Rrazz Room can be a good option - and, hey, maybe some dancing with Lil' Kim► :) (see more)

ruby-skyeRuby Skye
Explore your rhythm..

Big and glamorous with an often-packed dance floor and music trending electronic, Ruby Skye has been on the SF circuit for 10 years and is still going strong.  The performances between sets are often impressive - acrobats, fetish, fire, etc :) (see more)

somaSOMA
Play hard, play hard

Now a centroid of night clubs and home to the Folsom Street Fair, SOMA's historical edginess is rooted in the 1970s with a migration of sexually-liberated (primarily gay) folks from the Haight-Ashbury district. The devastation of the AIDS virus and the rise of tech-culture in San Francisco has diverted, if not lessened, the intensity of the area. (see more)

the-cafeThe Cafe
Trans-human

Bar, pool table, patio, dance floor►, music... check! (see more)

the-fillmoreThe Fillmore
The Dead, the Doors, the Who... and you?

The city's illustrious concert venue has hosted most of the best-known bands► since the mid-1960's and thousands of others►. It's prominence continues to this day. Live-music enthusiasts are well advised to check the schedule.  The only larger live music venues in SF are the Warfield and the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium. (see more)

the-independentThe Independent
Live music live.

This venue has been pumping live music into Alamo Square for 30+ years (previously as the "Justice League"). (see more)

the-rampThe Ramp
Come for the view, stay for the view...

Sitting on SF's last truly industrial waterfront in the Dogpatch, The Ramp serves diner food beside an expanse of bay, sailboats, massive ship repairs... and beer :) (see more)

toronadoToronado
Watering hole par excellence

With many dozens of beers on tap and in bottles combined with a lively scene►, Toronado is a must-visit for folks who like their barley and hops in liquid form. (see more)

trannyshackTrannyshack
Larger than life!

The inimitable► Heklina runs SF's best-known and longest-running drag show and still rocks her stilettos for a great performance! (see more)

vesuvio-cafeVesuvio Cafe
At the corner of Columbus and Jack Kerouac Alley...

A delightfully open split level structure, and colorful insides covered in original Beatnik party pics (just 50 years ahead of the game) combine for an excellent pint, or six :) (see more)

warfieldWarfield
Gratefully alive

A former favorite of Jerry Garcia and his Grateful Dead, this theater-turned-concert-venue is second in size only to the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, the Warfield's 2300 capacity often sells out (general admission downstairs and seating upstairs), buy a ticket ahead of time or be prepared to scalp. (see more)

wild-side-westWild Side West
More fun than a bunch of sweaty miners...

A pioneer chic interior unfolds into a beautiful garden out the back at this Bernal hotspot. (see more)

zeitgeistZeitgeist
A zeitgeist of bikes, beers and burgers

The biggest (and warmest!) of SF watering holes, Zeitgeist hosts a great sun-powered party► in the Mission and a prime spot to catch the Tamale Lady and her husky delights. (see more)