Night Life
SAN FRANCISCO BARS
Madrone Art Bar
What on earth could cause a line out the door of a Western Addition art bar on a Monday night? A sweaty, sexy, throwback dance party that is guaranteed to improve your mood the moment you set foot in the door. Motown on Mondays weekly dance party vibe is so infectious, countless self-imposed weeknight curfews have crashed and burned within these four walls. “Madrone Art Bar is a full-on art experience. Paintings, photographs, mixed media, sculpture, video, film, design, fashion, music, spoken word, and dance share time with live music, DJs and specialty cocktails to round out this NoPa hotspot” – 7×7 Magazine. (MAP)
Hours open: 4 PM – 2AM every day
The Cat Club
Featuring two dance floors, a smoking alley, go-go cage, state of the art lights, sound, and video projection, along with nightly drink specials, the CAT CLUB has cemented itself as a true San Francisco nightlife destination. The parties organized here range from 80s and Goth to Hip Hop an Dubstep. You can keep up with their calender of events here. (MAP)
The Cigar Bar & Grill
This place offers an atmosphere low on presentation and high on relaxation. They offer an excellent section of cigars, wines and spirits. Inside, relax in a rustic environment, featuring welcoming leather couches, low lighting and wooden tables & chairs. There are indoor and outdoor pool tables. And great music. If you are into cigars and salsa dances this is the perfect place to meet friendly people and dance. Explore the cuban cocktails made by one of the best barman from South America. Ask them about their favorite drink and see is you can handle that! Go to their website to see working hours and directions. (MAP)
Tupelo at North Beach
If you’re into live blues, jazz and rock or anything that sounds good with a guitar, drums and a dazzling voice on the mic this is the place for you. Here you can have a good drafted beer for a reasonable price. Here is a link to their schedule or their menu to see if this works for you. (MAP)
Trick Dog, San Francisco
Now that the city’s rich again, there are lots of new cocktail bars, and top-notch, highly competitive ones at that. Which leads to crazy creative drinks, art-school menu designs, thematic decor—all of the peacock display that competition breeds. Trick Dog is a master at all that stuff, but it also has some of the sharpest, fastest, and most sophisticated cocktail slingers in the country, and despite all that it’s still a lively, fun place to drink. Here is their website (MAP)
Bar Zeitgeist
So while Zeitgeist staffers were recently named “meanest in the city” by the San Francisco Chronicle, we are among the locals who don’t mind the gruff attitude – especially since we all understand we’re drinking in a punk bar. Until recently, I’d never given much thought to the staff, actually. I’d been too busy drinking – and on a sunny afternoon, you can’t do better than a Bloody Mary at a Zeitgeist picnic table. Their burgers are killer too. (MAP)
Shanghai Kelly’s
Shanghai Kelly’s is a great spot to stop on a Sunday afternoon to watch some games and enjoy good company. There’s no food here, but plenty of icy cold beer on tap and a no-nonsense bartending staff. (MAP)
Bar None
Known as the Jaegermeister bar, is a place is always full of energy. If you like beer pong, skeeball and arcade games then this is definitely your place. (MAP)
Hideout
The Hideout at Dalva is a covert bar within a bar at the corner of 16th and Valencia. Once inside, patrons will find an intimate area with low round tables, a rich red banquette and friendly mixologists who take their craft seriously. The cocktails found here are of the highest caliber, made with top shelf liquor, freshly squeezed juices and infusions. Be sure to visit early to avoid the crowds. (MAP)
PLACES AFTER 2AM
Ruby Skye
No matter you are a seasoned nightclub enthusiast, looking to go out for the memorable evening, or wish to host a private event, Ruby Skye is available for all your entertaining needs. (MAP)
Public Works
Tucked into an alley at the northern edge of the Mission District — look for a Banksy stencil and a bunch of other great street-art murals on the outside wall – Public Works is a multi-use space that hosts art shows, DJ dance events, live music, and more on its two floors. It’s become one of the city’s hippest hangouts in only a short period of time, attracting diverse crowds that include queer party fanatics, electro-house hipsters, exploratory foodies, gallery crawlers, and other San Franciscans looking for the latest in artsy underground entertainment. (MAP)
Temple
Temple has 3 rooms and typically plays electronic music upstairs and hip hop downstairs.
N.B.! The club has a dress Code is upscale fashionable attire. Make sure you are not wearing: hats, sandals, sneakers, hard soled shoes and boots, ripped or baggy clothing and athletic wear. (MAP)
DNA Lounge
If your taste in nightlife trends towards the more casual, dive bar-esque and unpretentious side of things, this place is probably for you. Underground music, hipsters, and the feeling that comes with knowing you don’t have to get dressed up to go out, if you don’t want to, this is the DNA Lounge. Along with DJs and live music, the club hosts loads of other cool events, from burlesque shows, drag shows, spoken word events and more. (MAP)
The End Up
The End Up is everything frightened evangelicals in the Bible Belt imagine San Francisco to be. It is home to the superheroes, the uber-scenesters, and an assortment of the most interesting people in the city. It is where the locals go when they’re done closing up the other clubs, and looking for something to do. The music trends towards house but you’re as likely to find electro, nu disco, indie dance, and a little bit of everything else depending on what night, or morning, you show up. Regular parties are Thursday’s EDMSF, Friday’s Fever and Sunday morning’s T-Dance. (MAP)