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San Francisco Nightlife

Reviews and photos of San Francisco bars and nightclubs posted by real travelers and San Francisco locals.
Local Time 6:11 pm Friday, July 25, 2008
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Popular Nightlife (33) | Miscellaneous Nightlife Tips (117) | All Tips (507)
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Zeitgeist Bar: A great way to get in tune with the city
  • Tip Rating:
  • This place is my favorite bar in the inner mission. The people are cool and just great and the food and drinks are hefty . The food that comes out of that BBQ pit ( brisket, hamburgers, grilled cheese with carmelized onion sandwiches) are hearty and well worth the cheap price you pay. There's great music and did I say the drinks are big, strong, and cheap? The crowd is a mix of queer folk, straight, folk, biker folk, hip hop folk, punk folk, blue folk, striped folk, every type of folk, just buy a few pitchers of brew to share, a picnic table in the grand backyard, and yer sure to find a few friends before you leave :)
    If you happen to follow some of my tips you can eat at Paulines for dinner, then walk down a block to Zetigeist for a fun night of drinking and socializing with the locals, and then stumble home to your cozy room a block down at the Travelodge. Happy camping!!!

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  • Theme: People Watching

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    1015 Folsom ( Release & Spundae ): Old Faithful to the Electronic... (SOMA)
  • Tip Rating:
  • This is SF’s oldest, biggest, and most worldly known nightclub. With 4 to 5 different rooms, all with different genres of electronic music, from the breaks and Drum&Bass in the basement, to the 80’s flavor in the front room, to the tribal upstairs… and you can’t miss the main-room… that’s where the DJ is who you came to hear, right?

    Okay, this is the scoop… this is the place that brings in the big name DJ’s, so if you want to hear the like of Oakey, PVD, Digweed, Maas, Tiesto, this is where they usually play. It is big, it gets crowded, and it gets hot. If you are looking for a more “sophisticated” atmosphere, I would suggest Sno-drift or Ruby Skye. But the happening spots jump around the city from night to night. At 1015 you’re at least guaranteed something… I almost never go here, but I guess I am getting old, because now my friends and I say things like, “I remember what it used to be like, back in the old dayz, before they started doing bodily cavity searches at the door.” And now I prefer places with couches…

    club gear - no tennis shoes, but jeans are fine. usually about a $20 cover. and Free b4 10:15pm...

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  • Theme: Nightclub
  • Address: 1015 Folsom (& Fourth)
  • Directions: in the SOMA Dist.
  • Website: www.1015.com
  • Other Contact: www.spundae.com

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    Blondies Bar: How much faith do you have?(China Basin / Potrero)
  • Tip Rating:
  • For a party that keeps the booty shake’n all Sunday long. This is where all the kiddies come to worship the sun and the sounds of deep house music. Located at Kelly’s Mission Rock, right on the Bay in China Basin. It showcases two floors, both with sun decks that overlook the water. All the beautiful babies will be out flaunting their stuff for sure. And they even have a little “beach” there to sit back and relax and talk to those you just met.

    During the summer months, it is held every 2nd Sunday of the month. Get it? From about noon to 10pm. So if this is your scene, plan your trip to SF accordingly. Also buy your tickets online in advance or show up EARLY... otherwise you will not get it. 2nd Sunday Parties are popular to say the least.

    How hardcore are you? When do you want the party to start or end? Might I make a few suggestions? Saturday night, check out Sfstation.com and find out where your DJ’s will be spinning? There are always different clubs going to 4 or 6am. (Although drinks stop being served at 2am) Then as long as you have an open mind and tolerance for anyone, you can check out a SF cornerstone at the End Up. Primarily a gay and lesbian club, until Sunday morning, and lets just say, EVERYONE is welcome Sunday morning there. (6am to noon peak time). Then the 2nd Sunday all day long, before the after-parties at several other clubs. One of the mainstays is Spundae at 1015Folsom… this should give you 36 hours of non stop action to get a real feel of the flovour the City

    Club gear with no limit on how skimpy you want to go. This is a DAY party, so DON'T forget your shades - for many reasons..

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  • Theme: Nightclub
  • Address: 817 China Basin, San Francisco CA 94107.
  • Phone: 415-626-5355
  • Directions: In the China Basis, on the Bay behind Pac Bell Park.
  • Website: www.2ndsunday.com

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    Boom Boom Room: John Lee Hooker's voice still fills these walls.
  • Tip Rating:
  • This is the late John Lee Hooker owned joint. Live music 7 nights a week, anything from underground hip hop / jazz to some soulful rhythm and a whole lotta blues. Covers usually range from $5 to $10, but check website to see what it might be for your night.

    Stylish... the brothas out in full gear.

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  • Theme: Live Music
  • Address: 1601 Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA 94115
  • Phone: (415) 673-8000
  • Directions: in the Filmore District, Close to the Filmore Concert Hall.
  • Website: www.boomboomblues.com

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    Vesuvio Cafe: Da Beatniks (North Beach)
  • Tip Rating:
  • pic from www.vesuvio.com - San Francisco
    pic from www.vesuvio.com
    by Pounder73
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    "This world-renowned San Francisco saloon located in North Beach just across from the infamous City Lights Bookstore, was first established in 1948 and remains an historical monument to jazz, poetry, art and the good life of the Beat Generation. Vesuvio attracts a diverse clientele: artists, chess players, cab drivers, seamen and business people, European visitors, off-duty exotic dancers and bon vivants from all walks of life."

    the Vesuvio Cafe

    uhmmm... not naked.

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  • Theme: Eating and Drinking
  • Address: 255 Columbus Ave, SF 94133
  • Directions: Noth Beach
  • Website: www.vesuvio.com

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    Andrew Jaeger's House of Seafood - CLOSED: New Orleans Jazz & Seafood in North Beach
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  • Nawlins was briefly in North Beach - San Francisco
    Nawlins was briefly in North
    Beach
    by davequ, 1 more photos
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    CLOSED: Condor is now a "gentleman's"(?) / strip joint againA little New Orleans landed in North Beach in the Condor @ the corner of Columbus & Broadway in North Beach.

    UPDATE - CLOSED Fri 6/30/07I lucked out and was cruisin' North Beach last night when I popped into this place. Though the Condor has been around a long time inside at street level is a new place with good New Orleans-style food and live jazz.

    Jaeger family did seafood and jazz in New Orleans for decades and I think it's great they put one right in my favorite San Francisco neighborhood.

    Good food & atmosphere, done up tastefully inside with a mix of old-looking decor and live media.

    All the New Orleans specialties from oysters / shellfish, catfish, Shrimp Remoulade, gator sausage to the staples of Jambalaya & crawfish etouffee & some creole sauces to match. The inside is done up very well, and live music from Red Morgan & The New Orleans All Stars on the weekends. They stayed open and there was music until 2am.

    Since it's a strip club again, wear your lap-dance resistant / drip-dry shirts.

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  • Theme: Eating and Drinking
  • Address: Northeast Corner of Columbus & Broadway
  • Phone: 415 781-8222
  • Directions: Broaday & Columbus in North Beach
  • Website: http://www.condorsf.com

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    NORTH BEACH: On the skirts of North Beach (North Beach)
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  • I list these two bars together because they are just about across the street from one another and can be described in similar fashion. Both are one-room bars, with small dance floors and always have someone spinning. Some nights its breaks, others house, sometimes some funky stuff, and Rosewood has Hip-hop on the regular. It is a little bit dressier in the Rosewood, but not by much. Covers usually range from free to $10, and usually the bouncers will let you sneak a peak, to see if it is your scene. Usually a very unpretentious crowd.

    They are conveniently located within a 2 minute walk from inner North Beach, Close to Chinatown. And these close at 2am.

    intelligent.

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  • Theme: Nightclub
  • Address: 787 & 732 Broadway - North Beach Area
  • Directions: walk toward the tunnel on Columbus (between Stockton & Powell)

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    Buena Vista Cafe: Try the famous Irish Coffee
  • Tip Rating:
  • In Spanish, "buena vista" means good view and the location here high on the hill just behind Ghiradelli Square is indeed a good view. The place has a long bar that curves along the left side of the restaurant. It feels like it has a long history and a little internet research revealved that it's been around as the cafe since 1952 and even longer (1916) as the Buena Vista saloon.

    They are most famous for their Irish Coffee. Here's how it's made:
    (this is straight from their website and from watching the bartender make tons of them!)

    1. Fill the glass with very hot water just to preheat the glass, then pour it out.
    2. Pour in hot coffee to 3/4 full, then put 3 cocktail sugar cubes in glass.
    3. Stir sugar to dissolve
    4. Add full jigger of Irish Whisky
    5. Top with lightly whipped whipping cream by pouring gently over a spoon
    6. Enjoy hot!

    I thought it was great on a cool SF night!

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  • Theme: Eating and Drinking
  • Address: 2765 Hyde St (@ Beach)
  • Phone: 415-474-5044
  • Website: http://thebuenavista.com

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    Sony Metreon: We'll see you AT THE MOVIES!
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  • A couple of us lucky VTers had a chance to see the Pre-screening of the upcoming CHARLIE'S ANGELS sequel: FULL THROTTLE. (Thanks Annapet) at the Sony Metreon in San Francisco.

    The Sony Metreon is a prime entertainment destination in the city full of shops, restaurants, and home to the city's largest movie theater: The Loews Theater.

    Our friend, Annapet, got a group of VTers and others together for a night out at the movies.

    It was a wild ride during the flick but it's the company around you that really makes the difference!

    Cute and Casual!

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  • Theme: Family Spot
  • Address: SONY METREON 101 Fourth St. San Francisco, CA
  • Directions: Fourth St. at Mission.

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    Art / Theater / Concerts: Love Chaos and Dinner
  • Tip Rating:
  • Step into the private jewel box of the Contessa (Joan Baez was guest starring when we were there) and guests become her "jewels". Such is the unique handcrafted "antique spiegeltent" that houses the wild, crazy and fun night of dinner and theater. The audience becomes part of the show and each course of the meal is served by the talented performers. You won't be disappointed.

    Attire ranges from casual chic to very dressy. Some guests even dress in period costume for fun.

    The 4 course meal is served over a three hour span. The fixed price menu is $99 on Sunday and weekdays and $125 on Friday and Saturday. A $10 per person service charge is added, as well as any beverages or alcohol purchased.

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  • Theme: Theater
  • Address: Pier 29 on the Embarcadero
  • Website: www.teatrozinzanni.com

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