San Francisco is a hip and vibrant city with an endless array of attractions. And with its diverse mix of restaurants, bars, and nightclubs that range from retro-themed live music venues to infamous historical saloons, the City by the Bay stays alive long after dusk.
The COVID-19 pandemic changed all that – but only temporarily. As of April 15, 2021, the government of San Francisco has allowed the reopening of businesses and activities such as live-audience performances, private events, dining, outdoor bars, and recreation, as long as establishments comply with the required safety protocols.
If you’re looking to shake off some of that cabin fever, here are great ways to safely celebrate the re-emergence of the nightlife in the Bay Area:
Have a casual drink
Start off with something local and familiar like a couple of amazing craft beers at The Brick Yard, a popular sports bar that serves excellent cuisine and exclusive cocktails. It sits on Union Street in the Marina District, a stretch widely known for its casual and collegiate vibe.
If you prefer something a little more traditional, you can get the best Guinness pint at The Plough and the Stars on Clement Street. Voted as the Best Irish Pub by the SF Weekly, this mellow pub plays authentic Irish music almost every night.
Give a toast to life and art
The new normal also means exploring the less familiar places to visit in the Bay Area. And there’s no better place to start than at Curio Bar and The Chapel. Found right at the heart of San Francisco’s bohemian culture, the Curio bar is a haven for the free-spirited artistic community in the Mission District. Aside from great drinks and food, you can also enjoy live local acts and the eclectic and mystical vibe of its art installations.
If you want something a little funkier, you can always go to the Kozy Kar Bar at Polk Street. In this retro and proudly naughty bar, you can have a nostalgic drink surrounded by stuff that made living in the 70s and early 80s notoriously cool like custom vans, eight track players, and waterbeds.
Drink to SF’s jazz and blues
Columbus and Broadway is home to many of San Francisco’s institutions, one of which is the world-renowned Vesuvio. This San Francisco saloon is where the Beat poets used to gather for drinks, and to this day, it remains a proud steward of jazz, poetry, and art.
If you want to hear San Francisco’s original jazz and blues, head over to Fillmore street, where real-deal live roots music remains uncompromised at John Lee Hooker’s Boom Boom Room, a sultry juke joint that pays homage to the old Fillmore clubs of the 1950s.
Show your pride
While the entire San Francisco is known for its LGBTQ-inclusive culture, the community’s epicenter is Castro Street. One landmark you have to visit is Moby Dick, Castro’s most enduring neighborhood bar. Serving drinks and lively entertainment for over 30 years, people always gravitate towards Moby Dick for its warm and welcoming atmosphere.
Support San Francisco’s Drag Queens and OASIS, the community’s favorite club at 11th Street, through their Meals on Heels drag delivery service. If you need to add a little sparkle to your event, this service brings you great food, drinks, and a drag performer right to your door.
Nightlife alternatives
Sometimes the usual bars and clubs can get tiring. Add a little variety and novelty to your Friday nights by checking out the following:
- Baudy Storytelling at Verdi Club
Sexual folklorist Dixie De La Tour curates these exciting live events, working with different kinds of storytellers to create a one-of-a-kind evening full of true stories of sexual (mis)adventures. - AsiaSF at 9th Street
It has everything – delicious CalAsian food, a hyped party atmosphere, and a show and service unlike any other place in the world. It is home to the famous “Ladies of AsiaSF,” talented transgender performers who give amazing hospitality and choreographed numbers you can never forget. - We the Players
Take theater to a whole new level with this group, who takes their plays to public spaces and invites you to engage with them. Their performances will take you on a literal adventure through San Francisco, where you’ll see the city in a different light.
The vibe at San Francisco’s nightlife haunts can’t be found anywhere else. If you’re looking to settle down in the exciting Bay Area where you’ll never run out of things to do, there’s no better time to close a great deal than now. Let the local experts at Team Hatvany show you the way. Call them today at 415.710.6462, or send an email to team(at)teamhatvany(dotted)com.