Fun and entertainment San Francisco & Bay Area

A must in San Francisco with an extraordinary panoramic view of the city! On the 19th floor of the sumptuous Mark Hopkins Hotel (Intercontinental), 100 martini-based cocktails, with a jazz and blues concert background. On Sundays, an excellent brunch with champagne and music (prices are also high). This is where the wives of the sailors of the Pacific fleet used to come to see the departure of the ships in the bay when they were leaving for the war against Japan. Today, it is a famous place for marriage proposals.

This 1907 cabaret, a former brothel converted into a concert hall, is sumptuous with its tiers decorated with moldings. Throughout its history, it has hosted all the big names: from Van Morrison to Duke Ellington, including the mythical Grateful Dead, the emblematic group of San Francisco hippies. And, of course, many local rock bands. Be sure to check out the lineup beforehand, as many of the concerts are sold out!

This speakeasy opened in 1907, and has built a reputation throughout the last century as a must-see place for any night owl worth his salt in California. Renovated in 2015, it has a new look, while keeping a 1920's touch on the decoration side, thanks to a very nice dark wood bar, and decorations marked between the two wars. The eclectic program allows to gather a crowd of amateurs of soft music like jazz and folk. The dishes proposed on the restaurant's menu are classic and successful, enough to make a good dinner.

Located in the middle of nowhere, Bottom of the Hill is nonetheless a must for live music fans, who flock here every night to discover the new talent the owners have unearthed. In the past, the venue won the Readers' Poll Best of The Bay award for best rock venue for decades. Today, you'll hear everything from ska and hip-hop to rock and indie. Check out their website and you're sure to find music to your ears.

One of San Francisco's biggest nightclubs, it's been around for decades and still holds its own in the city's nightlife scene. The music at this club is eclectic enough to appeal to all ages of night owls. Lots of themed evenings, including burlesque shows, live music evenings, DJs... The venue is huge: two stages, seven dancefloors... enough to change the mood. Keep up to date with the website if you don't want to find yourself in the middle of a fetish party!

A relaxed atmosphere in this bar, which is not a trendy bar in Marina (no evening dresses and last night-phone). Relatively young clientele.

This small facility with a soapweed bar is actually one of the typical places of night at Mission. A young and artist, a relaxed relaxed atmosphere, old black and white films on old televisions and it's the mission underground that reappears. Happy hour from 16 am to 18 pm.

A charming little café where the local surfers come to enjoy the free Wi-Fi, with roasted coffee on site.

In this tiny coffee you will find fresh fresh fruit juices. Some tables outside, and some chairs inside: mainly to take.

The red window of this lovely café houses a few tables on the terrace where you can enjoy a drink in the afternoon. Just a short distance away from the Bandwidth streets of North Beach, Caffè Capriccio offers calm and quiet in the area. Free Wi-Fi.

Adjacent to the Foreign Cinema restaurant (see «Dining» in San Francisco), Laszlo Bar welcomes a different DJ every evening. A young and trendy atmosphere in a chic industrial setting. On the mezzanine, small tables and chairs ideal to take a look at the manga projections that move on the bottom wall.

Champagne lovers are here for a sparkling evening in an intimate and chic setting. More than 30 vintages served by glass, bottle or cocktails. A young and trendy atmosphere is not too late on the weekend because the tail is long.

This tea salon will delight amateurs caffeine in the area. A quiet establishment, slightly far away from the go-ahead on Castro. There are all kinds of delicious teas. A little expensive, however.

Popular coffee on Fillmore, Royal Ground Coffee serves as a café in the corner. It takes a few hours to surf the Internet (free) and take a quick break before continuing the day.

A trendy and very popular cafe from the locals who buy their favourite coffees locally. It comes from everywhere (coffee): Ethiopia, Kenya, Honduras, Brazil, etc. You'll only have an embarrassment of choice. All in a young, very new mission.

Tables on Greek kitsch columns, used books in free access and service very charming (even charming) are the lot of this cafe in full Marina. Many rooms come with free Wi-Fi around a cup of Chai Latte.

Founded in 1977, he is the oldest theatre troupe in the country to showcase gay and lesbian authors'pieces, addressing the problems of the LGBT community. This is how the— was the first American theatre to talk about the AIDS epidemic in the early 1980 s.

Brava for Women in the Arts: This is the full title of this arts centre that promotes the art of lesbian and colour women. In theatre, authors'pieces are staged and played by a troupe of women, whether homosexual or not.

This listed theater opened in 1926 and is part of the family of theaters designed by architect B. Marcus Priteca for the owner Alexander Pantages. The interior features a vaulted ceiling, while the façade is in the Spanish late Gothic style. It originally hosted vaudevilles. Then a $20 million renovation was completed in 1998 to allow it to host Broadway musicals in the best conditions. 2,197 spectators can be seated there.

Theatre known for its experimental parts and theatrical performances. Located in the Fort Mason Center, you will enjoy breathtaking views of the Bay, Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge. Two Pulitzer prizes have crowned the Magic coins.

Founded in 1981, the Lorraine Hansberry Theatre company stages plays by African-American authors. The theater's programming includes shows that introduce African-American and African literature, as well as the great icons of black music. It has survived many crises, starting with the decline of the African-American community, which now represents only 6% of the population of San Francisco.

The Art Centre, which includes a gallery, a literary lounge and a jazz room, Intersection for the Arts is also a theatre. The resident troupe Campo Santo plays pieces that try to illustrate and respond to the problems of the local community, often Hispanic.

The Golden Gate Theatre is an entertainment venue located at 1 Taylor Street at the corner of Golden Gate Avenue. It opened in 1922 as a vaudeville house and later as a large movie theater. In the 1960s it had a Cinerama screen, but by the early 1970s it had declined and was only showing blaxploitation films. It was restored and reopened as a theater in 1979. Today, this charmingly old-fashioned building hosts spectacular musicals from Broadway.

Opened in 1922, the Curran Theatre is one of San Francisco's largest theaters, having been able to accommodate 1,600 patrons since renovations in 2017. It plays the best Broadway shows, and you have to book months in advance if you want to secure a seat. Right now, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is playing and it's a great show! Before each performance, you can also participate in the ticket lottery for US$ 29 - a certain quota is set aside for the lucky ones!

Old films and documentaries for this mission cinema where many film festivals are held.

Independent films, foreign films and documentaries are regularly displayed in the Light, a renowned art and test cinema in San Francisco since 1967.

Founded in 1923, the San Francisco Opera is home to the city's opera and ballet. The season runs from September to June and the program is very rich. The architect Arthur Brown Jr, a former student of the Beaux Arts in Paris, designed not only the War Memorial Opera House, whose foundation stone was laid in 1931, but also City Hall, the famous Coit Tower, the Veterans Building, Temple Emmanuel, and the Federal Office Building. His acoustics were greatly improved in 1980.

It will take you dozens of minutes to detail the unlikely décor of this cocktail bar "in its juice". A place with character like few others in the Bay Area, where shops are becoming increasingly standardized. This bric-a-brac of memorabilia and statuettes of all kinds claims to be artistic, but is in fact a cross between kitsch and pop culture. It's funny and almost surreal. The clientele is relaxed and good-natured. Sit at the bar and make friends with your neighbor. Live concerts on weekends.

One of the leading clubs of the San Franciscan electro scene, in a refined decor that inspires... Three very design rooms: The Shrine and its white marble floor, Destiny Lounge, combining luxury and technology with its sofas, and Catacombs and its Buddha statues to dance in the heart of the temple! The whole place is sounded with Void, an excellent brand. An element that we like: the zero waste policy that applies (no flyers, biodegradable glasses, etc.). And if you like to play the game, you'll find seven vip cabins here!

This gay-friendly club has long specialized in hard rock. It's a shaker: music from the 1980s, goth, industrial, new wave, punk, dead rock and indie. Thursday is 100% 1980s, Tuesday karaoke. Two rooms with very different atmospheres and a cage for gogo dancingwhich is also used on Wednesdaysfor bondage evenings. Make sure you don't get the wrong day!

The place embodies the history of the Barbary Coast and Prohibition. Every night, artists take turns at the microphone for live concerts. On Mondays, it's open mics in town, a stage open to all. The rest of the week, the program revisits the roots of America, from bluegrass to country. Moreover, on Saturdays and Sundays, brunches are often accompanied by free concerts that add an extra touch to your quesadilla. Highly recommended to immerse yourself in the great American music!

Nice bar and restaurant facing the bay, in the new trendy district of Dogpatch. We fell in love with the location, because an aperitif facing the ocean is still a must on vacation. Go there around 6pm, when thehappy hour is in full swing and it's full of hilarious hipsters, and enjoy the terrace with your feet in the water! On summer weekends, concerts and salsa classes are organized, caliente atmosphere guaranteed! A fishing store in the 1950s, this indoor and outdoor bar with patio is a well-kept secret among the locals.

A concert bar run by volunteers and music enthusiasts since 1986! Shaky programming and trendy bands for this small venue that struggles to make ends meet, but is the pride of the locals. The Gilman is mainly associated with having been the springboard for the 90s punk revival led by bands like Green Day, Operation Ivy, Rancid, AFI and The Offspring. A must-see for any rock fan visiting Berkeley, you'll find good sound and a great atmosphere here.

This magnificent cinema opened in 1925 and was for decades the first cinema in the city, showing the latest releases. Then, falling into ruin, it was not until the late 1980s that it was rehabilitated. Today, it has been restored to its former glory and the non-profit association that runs it shows the great classics of Hollywood cinema. Perfect for an original evening, in a majestic context all in gilding. It was closed during the covid crisis, but should reopen shortly.

Gallery by day and club by night, it is the address not to be missed in the city if you are a fan of electronic music. A lot of big names have passed through here, even if we currently find more confidential quality djs at the turntables of this small and very trendy club with a sound system, Funktion One, worthy of the best Berlin establishments. Moreover, the club supports local charities, which is always a good point. A great address to try for party lovers!

Tupper and Reed has a subdued atmosphere, with a brick wall and leather seats, for a most charming decor. On the menu of this bar installed in a former record shop with a gothic decoration, cocktails that have the reputation of being the best in town, made with passion by barmen who work here as masters. If you prefer to drink on the rocks, the spirits menu is very extensive and of excellent quality. The nightly music selections range from jazz and funk to electronic and rock. Not to be missed for a night of drinking and style.

This chain created in 1966 by Alfred Peet has more than 200 coffee shops in 9 states. This Dutch immigrant from a family of coffee roasters settled in Berkeley at the age of 35, and set up this small coffee shop with the aim of highlighting his know-how and the quality of the coffee beans. The elder statesman and main inspiration for the giant Starbucks, Peet's Coffee & Tea now offers more than thirty premium coffee and tea products in their stores. Don't miss, behind the marble counter, the small museum of the brand with vintage coffee grinders!

A superb brasserie, where you can enjoy beer made on the premises, either indoors or on the wooden tables in the courtyard, under the trees. The converted former warehouse boasts high ceilings, which are the real attraction of the place, and which have made it possible to install a mezzanine, from which you can enjoy a cold draught with a view of Mission's youth. What's more, the burgers and fish & chips are more than decent for a pub! Perfect for an early evening in Mission, we highly recommend it.

This bar oscillates between dive bar and lounge, for its elegant and trendy decoration. Look up to the two rifles and the stuffed pheasant that taunts them... More atmosphere on weeknights than on weekends - Franciscans go out in livelier neighborhoods. Ideal for an aperitif. You can enjoy the very authentic juke-box, or the screens available for sports fans - well, they are not really necessary, but you have to deal with them as everywhere.

Located in the centre of Berkeley, this small theatre is one of the best facilities in San Francisco Bay. Always of excellent quality, the pieces are more contemporary than at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre.

Punchline is a club known for launching the late Robin Williams and hosting Eddie Murphy among other American comedians and actors. It all started in 1978 when it opened its doors in what was originally a dressing room for The Old Waldorf, an adjacent rock club. Originally founded by Jonathan and Anne Fox with Jeffrey and Patricia Pollack, the venue was sold to Bill Graham in 1980, who developed it into a stand-up hot spot. For bilingual English travelers and connoisseurs of American humor!

This bar was opened in 1997 by John Lee Hooker. Today it is the most famous place in the Bay Area to hear the blues. The name of the establishment is a nod to one of Hooker's most famous songs, Boom Boom from 1962. You can also come and sway to the sounds of boogie, groove or soul. Moreover, every 3rd Wednesday of the month, Soul Train Revival evenings are organized, named after the famous American TV show dedicated to this style. The front is very pretty. Notice to the amateurs of dance...

We come here to see and be seen. The glasses are very expensive and the decor is a little cold. Conclusion: a trendy place for the hors de towners, the people of passage to San Francisco.

The Tonga Room & Hurricane Bar, open since 1945, is the Fairmont Hotel's tiki restaurant and bar. Named after the Tonga Islands of the South Pacific, it has a kitschy La Croisière s'amuse feel. Imagine a desert island atmosphere under coconut palms, with straw huts, strings of colored light bulbs and an indoor pool. Not to mention a cyclone simulation with fake rain and lightning every quarter-hour... Live music every day.

A chain of fresh organic detox juices, this franchise operates all around the San Francisco Bay Area and in the city of San Francisco itself. Everything is fresh and prepared on site. You will have the choice between smoothies in all their forms to fill up with vitamins, iced drinks for the strong Californian heat, bowls for the greedy ones and some sweets (sandwiches, waffles, eggs) to nibble. Order takeout and sip your smoothie while walking around the UC Berkeley campus.

Aloha! Pagan Idol is a huge, spectacular Hawaiian tiki bar. Colored lights highlight the decor, which combines tiki elements such as totem poles, aquariums and gigantic plants behind glass canopies... It's almost an attraction in itself. Lean against the counter in one of the bars, or simply stand on weekend evenings when the bar is full, to sample fabulous cocktails where rum is king, including the famous zombie of course. Some are flambéed for added spectacle.