San Francisco Nightlife, Nightclubs, Dance Clubs, Gay Bars & Lounges
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BAY AREA EXTRAS: S.F. CITY GUIDE: NO LAST CALL!
BAY AREA EXTRAS: ° Single in the City ° Bay to Breakers ° Bay to Breakers 2002 ° Bay to Breakers 2003
OUT AND ABOUT: NO LAST CALL!
An inside guide with text and photos to nightlife, the locals "in" scene, clubs and hip bars and club
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Nightclubbing in San Francisco! Diversity not only describes the City, its neighborhoods and people, but its nightclubs, as well. In this town, you just don't step out the door and head to the nearest club. You first define your type of club, then head out. What you want to wear, what kind of crowd you want to drink, what you want to do (drink, mingle, dance, listen to music, etc.). Maybe grab a little food for starters. Most of the clubs enforce a pretty strict dress code. Jeans are a no-go (although fine for the restaurant/bars). Guys fit right in wearing either leather/suede or suit pants and a button down shirt. Ladies can always opt for the little black dress. Most clubs charge a cover. Some do not accept credit cards at the bar – good to know before you order drinks. For San Francisco on a more casual scene, check out our Pubs Guide. For where to hangy for Happy Hours, as well as which bars are best on which nights of the week, see our Bar Guide. "The Scene" Spend much time here and it doesn't take long to realize that the weather isn't the only thing that changes in a hurry. This "scene" moves all over town, starting here, going to a new place that just opened, back to an old original, back to the not-newly-opened-anymore spot, then onto the next new bar. The places try to attract the upscale local crowd, which must be a fickle lot because they move onto a new place about every six months. Here's the current scoop on what's hot, what was hot but still gets a crowd and what is likely to be hot in the future. While the places may seem to be scattered all over the city, they're only a 10-15 minute cab ride away, and some are even walking distance from one another. Still, we've provide links to maps to ease your navigation. If you want to be seen in San Francisco, Matrix (Marina District) is a place to do it. Dark and cool with hip music, couches and a unique fireplace, it's a real scene. It's also one of the city's few good Sunday night places. Unfortunately for guys (but not girls), the place got discovered quickly and is wall-to-wall men. If Merix wears out your welcome, walk across Lombard to Cosmo's (Chestnut Street).This is a real scene with one of the best crowds in San Francisco. Its best nights are Thursdays. Expect about 60/40 men/women. [MAP] Rosewood on Broadway (between Stockton and Powell) is another spot with mellow electronica spun by a DJ. [MAP] Near Union Square, the place to be seen is The Redwood Room in the Clift Hotel. The dramatic ceilings must be at least 25 feet tall and the Redwood walls give this bar a definite ambiance. It's one of the new chic "in" spots in town. This sophisticated bar also offers the feeling of being in a haunted mansion. Check out the "pictures" on the wall and you'll know what we mean. {MAP] For the heck of it, we're including a few of the past scene spots. There's Charlie's on Union Street, whose all-black dress attire and cool factor were the best in the city until it became fished out. It's ust around the corner from Matrix and other cool Marina District bars. The G Bar (California Street) preceded Charlie's as THE place.Then it died quicker than a crab at Fisherman's Wharf. It became so out that it's starting to be "in" again.[MAP] The Bubble Lounge, so named because it specializes in champagne, is dated, but some still call it home. In the Financial District, it has a high-class dress code and a low-class crowd. Restaurant/Bars: Broadway, SoMa One of San Franciscans favorite night pastimes is to combine dinner and drinks in the same place. As a result, several restaurants that have a thriving bar scene. Every city has a place that, if you can't quite decide where to go, you head there because something big and fun could happen. In San Francisco, that place is Enrico's. It's located on Broadway, just down from all the strip clubs. The food is good, conversation often better and the bar and outdoor patio are always packed. It's almost as famous for its mojitos as it is for the mingling. If nothing else, it's a good launching pad for other bars in the area: Romolo, a very dark bar around the corner from the bookstore; Glow, a good spot for a great meal or just a drink and The Velvet Lounge dance club.[MAP] Those seeking the "new city" should head South of Market (SoMa) and the Mission District. At SoMa, Momo's is a gleaming new spot right across from Pac Bell Park. It's obviously quite busy before Giants games but also gets a good drink-only after-work gathering (especially on Fridays). Across the street is Paragon, which is a bit more upscale. These places are also featured in our Happy Hours section. The Mission District has dozens of small (25-35 capacity) places that combine food and drink. Luna Park is one such example. It's a favorite among longtime locals who come for the outstanding food – especially the "somemores," the graham cracker-marshmellow-and-chocolate dessert that you mom used to let you make in front of a campfire. Other spots are Keur Baobab (at the "eats" and "bar" neon signs), Bruno's (live music), Bacar (a real "scene " and a downstairs wine bar), Butterfly and Walzwerek (with a tiny lounge in the back that serves strong East German beer). Places here tend to be trendy, but there's always a bar scene and if you choose to eat, the food is terrific. Butterfly and Keur Babob – you just gotta love those names – are the most popular. Butterfly's decor was described this way in the San Francisco Chronicle: "Built from the ground up in an old auto shop, Butterfly looks as shiny and new as Pac Bell Park, with brick veneer on the facade. On the inside, it looks like a hockey rink." It has live jazz, the cool decor and good food. It's a bit of a scene for local singles. Keur Babob has exotic drinks with names like Flamboyant and Magnifique. Before 10, people pack the bar and the sidewalk waiting for a table. After 10, when the kitchen closes, the bar-goers takes over the restaurant. If you feel the urge, there's the Oxygen Bar in the area. It's a peaceful place that offers an interesting drinking diversion. [SoMa MAP] Polk Street Bars, Russian Hill (Straight) [MAP] Shanghai Kelly's (at Broadway) is at the other end of the spectrum. It's a neighborhood Irish pub, as casual as Tonic is classy. Occasionally, it organizes bus trips to Giants and 49er games, where one price includes a ticket to the game, beer on the bus and the all-important seatmates. In between Tonic and Kelly's are a few bar-hopping spots. Royal Oak is what we like to call a "fern bar," meaning it has a lot of plants. It's a pretty friendly place and is second to Tonic in people-meeting potential. The Rex Cafe is a popular eatery with decent pub potential. The Buccaneer is a complete dive that occasionally goes off. In the mood for more dancing and drinking? Rouge is a red (rouge, really) lounge on Polk and Broadway. Don't be surprised if Harry Denton clears the top of the bar to allow for girls to perform a traditional little dance routine. For live music, locals and visitors-in-the-know head to the Red Devil Lounge. It's a red, devilish small bar with some kicking local bands.While on the subject of bands, by the way, jazz freaks love Lou's Blues Club in the Wharf (right next to the famous Fisherman's Wharf sign). The Boom Boom Room on Fillmore Street also has live jazz; warning, it's really loud. Dance Clubs The Hall of Justice (Divisadero and Fell). This is a cool spot, big-bar dance club. Everyone there is getting wasted and having a good time. [MAP] Harry Denton's Starlight Lounge on the 21st floor of the Sir Francis Drake Hotel is a dance club for an older (30s) crowd. It was once the old-timers martini lounge of choice.[MAP] Feel like dancing in a ski lodge? Sno-Drift Bar is like a ski chalet designed by George Jetson. It's located in a funky industrial area by Pac Bell Park. Thought the posted closing time is 4 am, it has ermission to stay open until 6 (If you happen to see a certain Oakland Raiders field goal kicker on the dance floor, watch out.) [MAP] Holy Cow (Folsom at 11th) has been here seemingly forever. It used to be THE place – half-gay, half-straight, good music and fun crowd. On occasion, it recaptures its glory days.[MAP] The End Up is so called not just because it's a gay bar because it's open late and everyone looking to be out late eventually "ends up" there. It has a small dance floor, fireplace and big patio with a fountain. Another late-night spot is 1015 Folsom – no alcohol but it's open until almost daylight. Three levels provide plenty of entertainment options. {MAP] Gay Bars [MAP] At Castro and Market, The Cafe pleases the younger (21-30) mixed gay crowd with dancing, a full bar, redwood courtyard/patio and no cover. The Bar (Market and 18th) has a "Queer as Folk" show on Sundays and DJs other nights. Daddy's is for the leather crowd and Pendulum and Badlands are other popular places in the area. Pendulum is mostly an African-American hangout. Badlands has gone to a LA-look and the tank-topped patrons eat it up. The Lush Lounge is a popular late-night spot at Polk and Post. – CLUB LOCATIONS - • 1015 Folsom: 1015 Folsom St. (415) 431-1200 .
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An
up-and-coming part of town is an area in Russian Hill on Polk Street
from Union to Broadway. It's anchored by Tonic on one end and
Shanghai Kelly's on the other. Tonic (left) is the coolest place
on the row, a low-lit hypnotic hangouti with an owner/bartender who
is usually wearing one of his many Aloha shirts. It has one of the best
crowds in the City – classy and well dressed yet far from
pretentious. 
Next
on the San Francisco Party Bus: Post Party!