SF Night Life

[daveon]

Two months and counting and we'll be aboard the Sapphire for the California Coastal cruise. This is our first cruise... sooo excited.

 

I'm working out the "things to do" at each port and reporting back to our group (seven of us). For the first day/evening in San Francisco I've arranged a private tour during the afternoon followed by Alcatraz in the evening (tickets already purchased). However, I'd like to have some options available, assuming legs are still willing, for the evening. I'm thinking a few drinks, preferably where there is live music, would be ideal. Nothing fancy and we're open to most types of music (pop, rock, blues, country). In fact, stopping in at more then one location would be nice -- not sure if the waterfront area would accommodate this or maybe there is a strip/entertainment district we could taxi to.

 

I suppose with this being a Sunday evening our options would be limited but I'm certainly open to any suggestions.

 

Thanks

[russbma]

There are so many I would just google what you like to do

One down at the pier I asked the bike taxi to take me to the oldest bars and he did we would go in have a drink then he would take us to the next one

[Coreopsis]

Two months and counting and we'll be aboard the Sapphire for the California Coastal cruise. This is our first cruise... sooo excited.

 

I'm working out the "things to do" at each port and reporting back to our group (seven of us). For the first day/evening in San Francisco I've arranged a private tour during the afternoon followed by Alcatraz in the evening (tickets already purchased). However, I'd like to have some options available, assuming legs are still willing, for the evening. I'm thinking a few drinks, preferably where there is live music, would be ideal. Nothing fancy and we're open to most types of music (pop, rock, blues, country). In fact, stopping in at more then one location would be nice -- not sure if the waterfront area would accommodate this or maybe there is a strip/entertainment district we could taxi to.

 

I suppose with this being a Sunday evening our options would be limited but I'm certainly open to any suggestions.

 

Thanks

 

sfgate.com will give you a list of all the venues. North Beach is fun

 

http://www.yelp.com/search?cflt=musicvenues&find_loc=North+Beach%2FTelegraph+Hill%2C+San+Francisco%2C+CA

[daveon]

russbma, I like the bike taxi idea, might just have to give that a go.

 

Coreopsis, that's a pretty long list. Went through a few and as I thought, Sunday's not the best time for live acts. Will continue to sift through the list -- it still give me lot's of options though.

 

Thanks.

[russbma]

It is a lot of fun all the bartenders talk about how long the bars have been there and how many owners they have had, it is a good local history lesson

[Randy H]

Nightlife, particularly live music tends towards late in San Francisco... The classic entertainment strip was Broadway, and strip shows, and is not what it once was, and not a great place to go and can't be recomended.

 

We have lots of live music, most south of market. If you are able to stay out late, (shows typically start at 8:00, and go after midnight) Google Slims, Great American Music Hall, Hotel Utah, Connecticut Yankee, Bottom of the Hill, Cafe Du Nord, or the Boom Boom Room... This is not a complete list, There are others... You will want a taxi back and forth...

 

If a drink in a classic SF bar is what you are looking for, try the Buena Vista at the corner of Hyde and Beach, have an Irish Coffee... it was invented here, and its close to Girradelli square and the not that far from the cruise dock.

 

Randy

[Emperor Norton]

Nightlife, particularly live music tends towards late in San Francisco... The classic entertainment strip was Broadway, and strip shows, and is not what it once was, and not a great place to go and can't be recomended.

 

We have lots of live music, most south of market. If you are able to stay out late, (shows typically start at 8:00, and go after midnight) Google Slims, Great American Music Hall, Hotel Utah, Connecticut Yankee, Bottom of the Hill, Cafe Du Nord, or the Boom Boom Room... This is not a complete list, There are others... You will want a taxi back and forth...

 

If a drink in a classic SF bar is what you are looking for, try the Buena Vista at the corner of Hyde and Beach, have an Irish Coffee... it was invented here, and its close to Girradelli square and the not that far from the cruise dock.

 

Randy

 

Per the BV - the Irish coffee was introduced to America at the BV;) Also if you get one, don't stir it, sip it up through the cream.:D Near the BV is Fiddlers Green which IIRC sometimes has live music.

 

No love for Bimbos 365? The symphony has live music. Further the Tonga Room has a live band at night and sometimes I believe the Top of the Mark does as well.

[Bruin Steve]

If you want a real classic bar, here's my pick:

 

http://www.vesuvio.com/

 

This was the hangout of the "Beat Poets"...

 

Lawrence Ferlinghetti's City Lights Bookstore is across the alley:

 

http://www.citylights.com/info/?fa=aboutus

 

This is all off Columbus in North Beach...near Chinatown...North Beach, BTW, is not along the beach...

 

Also, take a look at these articles:

 

http://www.pubclub.com/sanfrancisco/pubs.htm

 

http://www.sanfrancisco.com/nightlife/marina.html

 

My 20-something year old daughter (who lives in the heart of the Marina District) will tell you that the Marina is the place to go for bar hopping...It's just a little to the West of the Fishermans Wharf area...

[Emperor Norton]

If you want a real classic bar, here's my pick:

 

http://www.vesuvio.com/

 

This was the hangout of the "Beat Poets"...

 

Lawrence Ferlinghetti's City Lights Bookstore is across the alley:

 

http://www.citylights.com/info/?fa=aboutus

 

This is all off Columbus in North Beach...near Chinatown...North Beach, BTW, is not along the beach...

 

Also, take a look at these articles:

 

http://www.pubclub.com/sanfrancisco/pubs.htm

 

http://www.sanfrancisco.com/nightlife/marina.html

 

My 20-something year old daughter (who lives in the heart of the Marina District) will tell you that the Marina is the place to go for bar hopping...It's just a little to the West of the Fishermans Wharf area...

 

It depends upon what type of bar experience you're after. Do you want the frat house experience with the odd hipster? Marina. Would you rather something a bit more upscale or kitschier? Top of the Mark or Tonga room at the top of Nob hill. Would you care for something grungier? Most things SoMA. Do you want a quiet old school speakeasy with possibly the best cocktails youll ever have? Bourbon and Branch (make reservations on line). The neighborhood is better slums and ghettos, but the speakeasy itself is very nice.

 

North Beach has a lot of different venues from sleazy on up. Comstock saloon is a nice place to stop for some libations.

 

The avenues have a nice selection of pubs frequented by locals and USF/UCSF students.

 

The BV is a nice bar in the fishermans wharf area, and Fiddlers Green is a great little pub.

[skandls]

My fav and we try to make it whenever we are in SF is The Saloon - supposedly the oldest bar in the city (it is no way a trendy place - much more a dive bar). Cheap drinks - usually some kind of live blues music. It is in North Beach. Small cover on weekends. Many interesting characters frequent the place.

[!David!]

My fav and we try to make it whenever we are in SF is The Saloon - supposedly the oldest bar in the city (it is no way a trendy place - much more a dive bar). Cheap drinks - usually some kind of live blues music. It is in North Beach. Small cover on weekends. Many interesting characters frequent the place.

 

Sunday night live blues bands 4-8 and 9:30-1 AM.

 

Also the Gold Dust has moved to Fisherman's Wharf.