The Most Scrumptious Dance Clubs in San Francisco

Bootie Mashup: SF

★★★★☆ 4.1 (537) • $$

"Scanning through Bootie's pictures on Yelp made me nervous. I'm no punk rocker, mosh pit jumper. I'm just a retired party girl who now fist pumps while sitting my colossal bootie on the couch. Having to walk past junkies on the sidewalk and the Hell's Angels to get to Bootie made my granny panties bundle all up in a bunch.What da f*ck did I get myself into?THE.BEST.PARTY.IN.SF.It's no wonder that Bootie has a 4.5 stars overall rating on Yelp, has a Wikipedia page and has been voted as SF Weekly's "Best Club in SF" for seven years in row!I had the BEST grimy clusterf*ck time in my life on Saturday and I wasn't even drunk. Don't worry, Bootie is NOT a punk rock party as the pics make it seem to be.~ * ~ * COVER * ~ * ~*$10 before 10 pm*$15 thereafter*$15 (+$2 service fee) for advanced tickets which includes a line skip. DO this! It's worth every penny.~ * ~ * DRESS CODE * ~ * ~NONE. Dress down and leave your clear stripper shoes at home; you know, the ones that make your toes look like eagle talons because you'll be dancing the night and morning away (they close at 4 am).~ * ~ * COAT CHECK * ~ * ~$3 on the mezzanine level.~ * ~ * BARS * ~ * ~I lost count at 5 bars and it was quick to get a drink each time (2 minute tops).~ * ~ * DRINKS * ~ * ~Cash only bar (BOO!) with top shelf liquor at $9-$10 a pop. There's an ATM on both levels.Pro tip: The only exit leads you right into DNA Pizza which is open 24 hours: http://www.yelp.com/biz/dna-pizza-san-francisco#query:dna%20pizza%20lounge. Clever f*cks. ~ * ~ * STAFF * ~ * ~Rockstar staff! The awesome bartenders are fast and work their asses off to get you your drink stat! The security are thorough and diligent with making sure there was no lingering glass bottles on tables or on the floor.~ * ~ * MUSIC * ~ * ~Can I give 10 stars? The BEST music I've heard from a club ever and this is coming from a girl who would party 11 days straight. The DJs did an excellent job mashing up Rap with Rock, Old Skool and Top 40s, Hip Hop and Pop and EDM. Lady Gaga never sounded so good with Snoop Dog and will.i.am nor did Kid Rock with Taylor Swift.They need a new sound system though as the beats weren't very clear.~ * ~ * CROWD * ~ * ~Most diverse and non-pretentious crowd I've ever encountered: from punk rockers to bollywooders, hipsters to yuppies, nerd herds to frat bros, lipstick lesbians to ladyboys, and your international buffet of regular club goers (without the attitude).Everyone was there to dance their bootie off. I was just there to minimize my Yelp bootie.~ * ~ * DANCE FLOORS * ~ * ~*Main room plays Mash Ups all night with live Mash Up Band show at 11 pm or 12 midnight*2nd room/lounge plays EDM*3rd room plays Hip Hop and Old Skool tracks~ * ~ * RESTROOMS * ~ * ~*Four janky stalls in the women's restroom on the first level with no seat covers. *sigh* There's also a unisex restroom upstairs near the hip hop room. *wink wink*~ * ~ * PARKING * ~ * ~Difficult street parking because of all the neighboring bars and clubs. Nearest garage is the Costco garage 2 blocks away on 10th/Bryant. $10 flat rate but closes at 2:30 am. To the AzN "Magic Mike", you owe me a new pair of whore lashes...the ones you thrusted off while stripping to Ginuwine's Pony in the hip hop room. =/"

Delirium

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (529) • $

"Solid little dive bar that gets packed and rambunctious as the night goes on. Sticky tables, torn up seats with decal stickers and movie/celebrity posters on the walls would be more endearing if there wasn't a hint of vomit every now and then. Otherwise, this is a bar with regulars! Bartender was nice and I liked the solid drinks they had given the price. The hot toddy advertisement on the board outside drew me in and was perfect to warm me up and clear my throat. The bf's gin and tonic was strong. There is a pool table and a backroom for dancing. The music was jacked up by the time we left!"

The Valencia Room

★★★☆☆ 2.8 (181) • $$

"ghetto!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Expensive!!!! sometime that's what make a club fun. Dj is mostly good, but there are some bad ones"

Cosmo Bar and Lounge

★★★☆☆ 2.5 (13) • $$

"Can't believe I'm the first person to review this place! It was recently, remodeled, and renamed... I think it used to be called Apartment 24. I went here last Saturday for my friends' birthday party. They had the entire back VIP Area booked. The ambiance is really nice inside, enough to almost make you forget that the venue is wedged between Strip Clubs in the shady part of North Beach. The location is not great. No girl wants to get super dressed up and walk past shady guys and strip clubs to get her night started. (Okay, maybe some girls do!) Location aside, the bartenders made pretty strong drinks and the DJ was really accommodating to song requests and played a good mix of hip hop and pop to keep the crowd dancing! May be a cool place to organize an event or birthday party since it's kind of low-key and not crowded, but definitely not a good place to meet your future husband. Solid 3 stars for music, drinks, and a good layout and environment inside the club."

The Grand

★★★☆☆ 2.6 (695) • $$

"My husband and I came out to party in the city. The vibe was awesome, music was good and drinks were good too. I love the ambiance and the bathroom is nice with chairs and mirrors. Service was great and they had a surprise samba dancers at midnight. Will def come again."

Bimbo's 365 Club

★★★★☆ 4.1 (500) • $$

"Thanks to my girlfriend who loves live music, I'm getting to experience all the different music venues that the city has to offer, and that's what lead me to experience Bimbo's 365 for the first time. Getting in was a breeze, we got there right before the headliner was going on and there was no line. When you walk in, it feels like you are taking a step into a Time Machine, and transported back to the 40s/50s because this place looks classic and old school in all the fun ways. The bathrooms even had bathroom attendants handing out soap and paper towels, which is a throwback bc I haven't seen that in a long time. We did had drinks prior to the show and that was the play. Regular size cans of high noon were $12.50, which is normal for music venues, but definitely pricy for what it is. For the show, they have a giant GA floor space which wasn't packed and had good views from everywhere. I liked how we had space and didn't feel like we had to be shoulder to shoulder to people. People were respectful and you are so close to the musical act, makes for a very intimate musical experience. If you've never been, definitely worth checking out at least once to experience a taste of old school SF"

Carbon Lounge

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (149) • $$

"Just a warning that I was roofied here Friday night. Of course this can happen anywhere, and I'm not blaming the bar for this whatsoever, but watch your drinks and be careful. I'm generally careful, but the place was extremely packed so I must've missed it. I can't find a manager's email, but if you're seeing this, check camera footage for Friday night between 11pm-1am, so you can avoid letting in people that drug other patron's drinks"

Boom Boom Room

★★★★☆ 3.7 (376) • $$

"This place was just ok. Not sure if the vibe was off or it's just always like that, but my crew stayed for one drink and took off. This seems more like a weekend place for dancing or to listen to live music. There was a dance floor and a DJ playing music, but mostly everyone was spread out in their own groups; which didn't help the vibe. It did take forever for the bartender to serve us. So long, that at a point it felt on purpose? They did have a decent beer and specialty cocktail list, which was on the wall behind the bar. If you're heading to the Fillmore to catch a show, this could be a solid spot to pregame or night after the show."

The Clubhouse Bistro

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (176) • $$

"Good bar food, especially the pizza. We come here often for office happy hours...it's big enough. Good seating space, not too cluttered. Well organized. Good for any size group - small or even large groups.Good selection of cocktails and food to please all pallets. I am a vegetarian and always find plenty of options to please my very picky taste buds. Service is good as well...friendly and efficient.Portion size are good for sharing.Nice place overall! Not extraordinary, but good enough...especially for big groups.Good value for money.Looking forward to visiting again soon!"

Comet Club

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (234) • $$

"Stopped by for Saturday happy hour for a couple of drinks and found out they serve Tackos food! It was sooooo delicious I ordered the quesadilla and my friend got the tacos! It was reasonably priced and really tasty!"

Cat Club

★★★★☆ 3.8 (498) • $$

"Cat Club is a standout spot in SoMa, with its exposed-brick walls, quirky smoking alley (playfully nicknamed 'whore alley'), and an eclectic lineup of theme nights ranging from '80s classics to Bondage-a-Go-Go. As a huge fan of goth, post-punk, '80s, and synth music, this place is a dream come true. Thursday nights are my absolute favorite--the costumes, the vibe, and the crowd (mostly seasoned regulars) make it unforgettable.There aren't many places like Cat Club in SF, especially for music lovers like me who crave these genres. The attention to detail in the music and the fabulous outfits make it one of my top clubs in the city. If music is your thing, Cat Club will definitely hit the spot!"

Badlands

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (640) • $$

"I don't go out very often for cocktails. When I do it's usually with friends. I went out recently in the afternoon on Friday or Saturday I believe it was. The had nicest bartender there. I think his name was Karl. He was polite, happy and talkative. It made my day when he asked " how is your day going?" He didn't use the word Sir, thank goodness. Sir makes me feel old. Thanks for people like Karl working in Castro"

Phonobar

★★★★☆ 4 (174) • $$

"In my first visit I assumed I had arrived at Teakwood, which is across the street, but realized pretty quick this wasn't a Burmese restaurant. What was appealing about Phonobar is its not a big place and the layout is a low ceiling with windows that run along the length of the place with high top tables that that allows for people watching both walking along the street and at the bar. The bar area and liquor display is nicely diplayed and emotes a great juxtaposition between the bar and the seating area. What makes Phonobar so great, imho, is that its a vegetarian bar / restaurant. I found their whole menu very inviting and all the vegearian dishes I tried were 5 stars. The HIBISCUS FLOWER TACOS was so good and filling! The caramelized onions were so tasty. The Slider A La Mexiacana is a must! You couldn't tell it was a vegetarian sandwhich. I would also recommend their version of the Carne Asada tacos tasted just like the beef version. There are so many other tasty options on the menu, I look forward to coming here again for either food and/or drinks."

Rickshaw Stop

★★★★☆ 3.6 (549) • $$

"Cute small venue with friendly staff and bartenders. I love that you actually get a good view of the artist, and there's a tiered balcony upstairs.Bathrooms were super clean.$10 card minimum.Affordable drinks for the area! About $9-12 for cocktails.Just docking a star because the sangria was pretty gross -- it tasted really vinegary and sour, as if the wine had spoiled."

Hawthorn

★★★★☆ 4.3 (447) • $$

"Frequented a lot of clubs in the bay area during the past 4 years and oddly enough never been to Hawthorn. Got a table here for my girlfriend's birthday yesterday. Chadwick was super helpful in accommodating us and my girlfriend and making her feel special. I thought the prices for bottle service were reasonable and loved the group cocktails as well. In addition to the traditional marquee happy birthday sign, Chadwick also provided additional treats like champagne, chocolates and cotton candy. Had our table in the Bonaparte room where they played good House music. Only bummer was the weather last night probably prevented a huge turnout, but what can you do?Will be coming back again one day!"

Underground SF

★★★★☆ 3.6 (122) • $

"The weekend barista, Chandler, is very friendly. The window coffee shop is a different vibe than the bar/club (which I haven't been to). He works 10-4, go visit!My star rating:5 - must go!!! 4 - liked it, give it a try!3 - it was alright2 - I probably won't go back 1 - turnaround and run"

Mayes Oyster House

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (717) • $$

"Love coming here to start a bar crawl. It's always a great time and even though the drinks are overpriced, the music is always good!My friend has gotten their phone stolen outside of the bar so keep your processions close to you when you're waiting in line."

Madrone Art Bar

★★★★☆ 3.6 (756) • $$

"Cute bar, dimly lit inside, covered in art (rotating exhibits listed on their website). Was fairly empty on a Sunday early evening, and service was fast and friendly. We got theOperation Witchcraft, with a licoricey taste and just a hint of absinthe, and the Herbie Hancock, a delightful and refreshing cocktail which delivered on the watermelon flavor. I would definitely return just for this, but they have a good amount of other tasty-looking drinks on the menu as well. I'll also be back to experience live music here. Cool spot."

Halcyon

★★★★☆ 3.5 (108) • $$

"Hands down my favorite club in the city. Vibe is amazing, audio visual set up is sick, crowd is fun and street parking is readily available in the area even on a Saturday night! They always bringing some great house and techno artists, so if that's your thing, this is the place to be."

Rick and Roxy’s

★★★★★ 4.5 (25)

"What a fun place! Roxy's (formerly Del Mar) is the dance club with super fun holograms on the dance floor. The music is loud but it's fun & energetic. The Rick's side is a chill bar with great drinks. If you want to have a conversation with someone, you should probably stay on the Rick's side. I sat at the bar & had a Flower Power cocktail which was flavorful & powerful. Awesome service from the bartenders here!"

Eve Nightclub

★★☆☆☆ 2.2 (5)

"Management is apathetic when bartenders don't provide change to customers thereby allowing them to steal."

Club 26 Mix

★★★☆☆ 2.5 (23) • $

"Not exactly the best spot for first date drinks, but just because a relationship begins here doesn't mean it's completely doomed. It might, however, mean that you end up at Emmy's Spaghetti Shack on date number two. It could be worse, right?All told, 26 Mix is a pretty friendly place, and when you get lucky the music's good enough to make you want to dance."

El Valenciano Restaurant & Bar

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (82) • $$

"Great environment for novice salsa dancers. Big dance floor. Fun music. Bar and foods is a plus."

The Great Northern

★★★★☆ 3.6 (116) • $$

"Great venue w lots of types of events-- not just music. Been here from day time first pumpers - to 3am benders - to art nights!! Thank you for attracting some of the best music talent. Most recently had the pleasure of being front row for Diplo - dream come true."

Vinyl Room

★★★★☆ 3.9 (432) • $$

"There's no food, but they do allow outside food. I asked since we were celebrating a birthday and I wanted to bring cupcake bites. I emailed and they replied in a timely and kind manner. Service is attentive and kind here. Drinks are delicious, creative and festive. Our regular day to frequent the Vinyl Room is Wednesdays for karaoke! So the ambiance is always chill, encouraging, and fun!"

Bissap Baobab

★★★★☆ 3.8 (978) • $$

"Y'know this wasn't the first time I tried the West African food served here. During the pandemic, I took advantage of the takeout food at the now-closed Little Baobab because I was a fan of the Afro Tacos and Tabouleh Salad. After missing my window for trying their Downtown Oakland location, I finally tried the main restaurant on Mission one evening when it wasn't too crowded.They were preparing for a show in the adjoining room because most of the staff was focused over there. I decided to start with a refreshing libation, the $10 Tatu (Hibiscus Margarita) which was served in a tall highball glass (photo: https://yelp.to/wwNXykbzWw). For my main, I went with one of their most popular dishes, the $18.75 Poulet DG (Chicken General Director), a Cameroonian dish that mixed tender chicken parts with mixed vegetables and plantain slices in a spicy curry sauce.Accompanied by rice, it was quite flavorful in a uniquely tropical way (photo: https://yelp.to/8MpyaCPYCh). I was pleased enough with my entree that I decided to go for dessert. I wanted something on the lighter side, and the $8.25 Tiakri did the trick. It was a tasty yogurt-based mix with quinoa, agave, and mixed baobab fruit (photo: https://yelp.to/aPQKCRI0Ua). It made for a refreshing end to my meal, and I'm glad they still serve the Afro Tacos here.FOOD - 4 stars...unique West African dishes with familiar flavors AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...tables a bit crowded together SERVICE - 4 stars...friendly and informative TOTAL - 4 stars...a nice change of pace in the MissionRELATED - Exploring the Mission? Here's my collection of places I've patronized and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2NHtst6"

Kimbara

★★★★★ 4.5 (11)

"First of all the restaurant is beautiful and the food is delicious. The owners are kind and truly care about their reputation. They also throw great nightlife events! We were there for the super bowl and it was so much fun, besides the loss, and the music from @crw.ent was awesome!"

Monroe

★★★★☆ 4.2 (632) • $$

"Battle is the decades on Fridays is so, so fun! They start at 5 with music from the 60s and drinks are a dollar. Then every hour they go up a decade and drinks go up in price. We try to get there for the 90s which is 8 to 9 and then stay for as long as the body lets us. Everyone is dancing and having a great time. The staff are nice and efficient, and I really appreciate the older security gentleman who is usually on the back. They have two bars, plus tables and bottle service. We'll come here for birthdays, anniversary, we even came after our wedding with our whole wedding party from like 22 to 80 years old. Everyone had fun."

F8 Nightclub and Bar

★★★★☆ 4 (176) • $$

"I love this place, the dirty Shirleys are on point and taste exquisite. They have all sorts of events going on during the week, with 2 rooms and plenty of places to sit. Much obliged! Great service. Thanks again"

Origin SF

★★☆☆☆ 2.2 (221) • $$

"Very disappointed. It was also weird. It's like they are trying really hard to be an upscale club but everything is falling apart and the crowd they are attracting just wasn't it. They do charge $20 to get in. The bathrooms were things of nightmares. I've been to truck stops that were cleaner. No toilet paper, clogged toilets, no soap, and pee everywhere. The railings were extremely loose and I saw drunk people trying to hold onto them and falling all over. The floor is uneven too. The music they played I thought was good because it was all 10plus years old lol. Most people there were barely 21 but everyone seemed to be loving it. Someone asked about a dress code and the night I was there everyone was wearing sweat pants lol so no dress code. The one positive thing I will say is that the bouncers were very polite and helpful."

The Cafe

★★★★☆ 3.5 (310) • $$

"The vibe is ok, but was totally ruined by security kicking half our group out because of a "fake" ID. Save your money and go to Beaux across the street #dontbeadick"

City Nights

★★☆☆☆ 2.1 (265) • $$

"Hella lit, they let me in even though I was wearing pajamas and they got a dress code cause I didn't plan on clubbing. The bartender was super dope wish I got his name but he was hella chill and the drinks were reasonably priced for a club, musics aight, the people there were a vibe doe overall great experience"

Holy Cow Nightclub

★★★☆☆ 2.7 (692) • $

"Looking for a hiphop club? This is the place . It reminds me of the cellular . Holy cow had great booty bumpn hiphop music ! Not sure if it's a particular night or if they play this type of music every night , but I love it ! We all loved it! We danced the night away :)My friends and I ( first timers ) decided to celebrate our friends bday here . Heard it was nicely remodeled and ratchet AF ! So yes we wanted to TU, the ratcheter the better ! Haha It was a packed Saturday night! Since we got bottle service ( to the right , the first table you see when you walk in ) we got there at 11:30pm and surprisingly there was no line/ wait . As you walked in, you noticed a podium with a stripper pole in the middle of the dance floor and the DJ stage to the left . As you walk down, there's a light background thing and bar to the right , dance floor in the middle and bathroom at the left, end . The club was pretty small and had a diverse crowd . As for the bottle service experience , it was okay. Prob one of the most chill ( good thing ) and lazy service ever . Getting our bottles took forever . fOREVER!! Our pregame drunkness started to fade and we all were waiting impatiently for our bottles. The bottle girls didn't even pass out the drinks after they poured it ! I would solely rate this 3/5 . If we had a better bottle service experience, I probably would give this place 5 stars .In general, I like this place ! I would come back :)"

Popscene

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (164) • $$

"Getting my Brit-Pop & Indie Music-Dance on!SITREPMy buddy Joe Sparks first took me to Popscene when it was at 333 Ritchie in San Francisco back in 1999. It has since moved several times - sometimes it's own event at a venue, other times as one of the rooms in conjunction with another event at a venue with two rooms - but always it has been provided some of the best, most fun, most frenetic dancing environments.Now it has found a home at 155 Fell Street.SETUPFor those who enjoy a mix of music ranging from classic Brit Pop (and yes I do mean the Beatles and Rolling Stones) to more contemporary artists ranging from Oasis in the 90s to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and the Killers (these are popular in rotation), then you have found your Mecca.It should be noted this is an 18+ club, and it's on a school night (Thursday). So what a great place to find all the bad boys & girls. Gee!THE LOWDOWNStill an awesome "party" to enjoy contemporary and classic pop from both sides of the Atlantic!"

Q Bar

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (411) • $

"All I can say is, if you want to party like it's 1 AM on Saturday but it's only 10 PM on Monday, look no further. As for the clientele, cute young guys (maybe 80/20 split, the latter being straight, the former being, in this hetero dude's honest impression, better dressed and in better shape) but 40/60 the other way for girls (fewer of them overall though). Not to be left out of the mix if you aren't the type of guy to frequent the Castro. you are missing out on a great time. Also seems like a good place to bring a really cool girl you met at one of the less poppin' Monday night locations around town. (or, of course, a really fun guy if you're batting from the other side of the plate)From now on, I think it's Emily Anne at Rickhouse followed immediately by a 10 min. cab ride to Q-bar along Market Street. no question.PS: good luck at work on Tuesday, the drinks are strong. I suggests downing something greasy and filling at Sparky's circa 1 AM before you head home. (they always have South Park on the TV when it's that late too, laughing helps stave off hangovers... FACT! last time it was the tri-pod and wheels episode. Classic.)"