Live Music, San Francisco

If you're looking for some old school swing music or big band sounds, there's no place better than the Starlite Room. Sitting atop the Sir Francis Drake Hotel off of Union Square, the Starlite room is like stepping back into the 1940s.

The waitress, all stunning, wear glamorous evening gowns and the seats are all little banquets. The music is great and the crowd is dressed to the nines, sometimes in period cloths from the 1940s.

Weather your 25 or 75, you'll have a great time at the Starlite room.

Dress Code: You'll be comfortable in slacks and a nice shirt (men and women), but get into the swing of things and dress for an old shool night on the town.

Very Relaxed Casual bar. Upstairs is a concert hall which has some seriously good bands performing. Downstairs is your average bar with pool tables, dart boards and the likes.
It opened on August 2, 1973.

Dress Code: No Requirements.

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Biscuits and Blues is an outstanding blues club. It offers quality live blues acts. It’s a great place to listen to music in an intimate setting. They also offer Southern cuisine for those who want to add dinner to an evening of entertainment. The dinner is optional, as you can watch the shows without stopping by for dinner. But with the dinner option, you get a good seat and table as well as some good Southern cooking. On weekends they usually offer two shows, with the early one starting around 8:00 p.m. Dinner is only available for the early show. If you are planning on having dinner, it is a good idea to call for reservations. The club is located in the Theater District, which falls in transition zone between Union Square and the Tenderloin Neighborhoods. It is public transit friendly, as it is close to the cable car lines and is within walking distance from the Powel Street BART Station. Their website shows the up-coming acts.

Sadly this has closed.

This is a great little neighborhood spot. It hosts live music as well as poetry readings. There is artwork by local artists displayed througout.

There is a bar from which you can order light meals, sandwiches, salads, desserts etc.. and an eating area which is facing the stage.

There are also couches to relax and enjoy.

Very friendly warm atmosphere and just a cozy feel all around.

Dress Code: No dress code.

Great place to see a concert! I saw the Violent Femmes there back in 2000....they were excellent!

Cool, historic theatre, everybody that's anybody has preformed at the Filmore at least once...

Dress Code: Anything goes.

We had asked around for a chill place to go and catch some live music, with the condition that it was within walking distance or a short cab ride of Fisherman's Wharf.

Jazz at Pearls was the recommendation. We lucked out! The San Francisco Contemporary Jazz orchestra was playing, and we got a special treat when Jamie Davis got up from the audience and sang a few songs. There was a nice atmosphere, without being stuffy, and it was indeed a 5 dollar cab ride from the Wharf. We had a great time!

We only had drinks, but you can eat dinner there. They have a 8:00 and a 10:30 show. You likely need reservations on a busier night. We were there on a Monday.

Dress Code: Unsure

Out looking for a place to have a couple drinks near Fisherman's Wharf, the music called us upstairs to Lou's.

They had a great Blues/Rock band! What a lot of fun! Considering there isn't much else happening near the Wharf after 10, this is a great place to check out.

Dress Code: None

I really like this spot. It's in the heart of the financial district so it's a popular spot after work.

It's very chic, hip and lively. There is a piano bar and lounge as you enter. The dining room is located behind the bar and lounge down a few steps. However the entertainment can be seen from the dining room as well.

The food is good and not too pricey.

I would suggest though that you order some appetizers, have a few drinks and enjoy the show in the lounge. The Mohito's are to die for.

Dress Code: No dress code.

Last Day Saloon is one of the best underground live music venues in S.F. It has a great sound system, has some of the best local, and further afield bands filtering through every week, and has a great overall vibe.

Sat, April 24th Last Day Saloon's going to be filled with the soulful sounds of Hayley & the Vibe, Breakshop, and Funkanauts. Don't miss this night, Hayley & the Vibe's long awaited EP will be released and onsale. The music's going to be off the hook!

Dress Code: Anything goes, come on, this is San Francisco.

This cozy and intimate lounge has a nice blue decor, a pool table, and plenty of candles. If you don't want to sit at the bar, you can also go "upstairs" by the pool table where there are ample seats as well. There are live jazz and salsa bands on the weekends

Dress Code: Casual