Live Music entertainment in San Francisco
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Levende Lounge
The virtuoso barkeeps at Levende are reason enough to work this slightly out-of-the-way spot into your evening plans. Genuinely creative mixed bevs are strictly top shelf; some involve freshly squeezed juices and exotic spices. Club-hoppers can claim couches and nibble on appetizers or get up and shimmy to down-tempo lounge grooves, world beats or old-school house. Some nights, live electronic ensembles meld unheard-of sounds.
Call ahead, though: it's often closed for corporate/private events.
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Café du Nord/Swedish American Hall
You never know what’s doing at Café du Nord, a former basement speakeasy, with bar and showroom. Rockers, chanteuses, comedians, raconteurs and burlesque acts perform nightly, and the joint still looks like it must’ve in the ‘30s. The hall upstairs features bigger acts, balcony seating and Scandinavian woodworking, but no booze. Tickets are available online. It’s sometimes closed for private events; check out the calendar online.
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Hotel Utah
Whoopi Goldberg and Robin Williams broke in the stage on the ground floor of a Victorian residence hotel in the ’70s, and now it’s a sure bet for indie-label favorites and acts you may only see in SF. The nonconformist streak goes deep here: back in the ’50s the bartender graciously served Beats, grifters and Marilyn Monroe, but snipped the ties of businessmen when they leaned across the bar.
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Savanna Jazz
The carpets are sticky, the lights dim, the drinks strong and the music hot at this midsized black-box showroom and bar. It’s mostly swing and bebop, and the wooden dance floor packs with cats dressed to the nines on Wednesday evenings for ever-popular Lindy-hop parties. (Other nights the dance floor is covered with tables.) Open-mic Thursdays and Sundays are catch-as-catch-can.
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Enrico’s
The last old-school swank joint on Broadway has a big, heated sidewalk patio (ideal for smokers) opening into a white-tablecloth restaurant and bar with swoop-back booths, high cocktail tables, and a baby grand piano. Musical bookings run the gamut from classical guitar to R&B, with local chanteuses singing the Great American Songbook other nights. Shine your shoes.
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Bottom of the Hill
Top of the list for seeing fun local bands, like punk-polka Polkacide and goth-psychedelic Bellavista, Bottom of the Hill is out of the way – literally at the bottom of Potrero Hill – but worth the trek for indie-rockers. Big smokers’ patio. Check the website for lineup and ticket info (if necessary).
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Rite Spot Cafe
Possibly so-called because it’s the only spot for drinks around here, the Rite Spot is a tiny dive-bar and restaurant. You never know who’ll perform at the nightly music shows (think quirky lounge, burlesque piano and classic jazz), but it won’t be mainstream, and won’t be too loud for conversation.
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Locus Arts
The young Asian-American nonprofit arts organization recently moved into its own digs, where it rocks the house with open-mic nights and guest DJ events. Programming ranges from emerging local artists like 8th Wonder to international acts like Beijing's punk-rock band Reflector.
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Slim’s
Big acts like Prince and Elvis Costello have played this midsized club owned by R&B star Boz Skaggs, and usually you’ll find damn good touring and local bands. Shows are all-ages, though shorties may have a hard time seeing from the floor. Come early for burgers and fries.
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Bimbo’s 365 Club
Rita Hayworth (aka Rita Casino) kicked up her heels in the chorus line at this vintage-1931 club, and Bimbo’s still plays it fast and loose with strong drink and live shows by the likes of Zap Mama and Sandra Bernhard. It’s not always open, so check the calendar.
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Make-Out Room
Velvet curtains and round booths add dusty swank to the evening’s entertainment, which ranges from improv to punk-rock fiddle to occasional minor celebs – sometimes on the same night. For lovers of the indie underground, the Make-Out’s a must.
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Red Devil Lounge
The up-and-coming and formerly famous (think Vanilla Ice and Sugar Hill Gang) play this narrow, intimate club. Your once-fave stars may have lost their luster, but console yourself with strong drinks.
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Café du Nord
The former speakeasy in the basement of the Swedish-American Hall rocks revelers with a cool, ever-changing lineup; check their calendar.
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