Palace of Fine Arts Theatre

Maybe don't play Talking Heads' "Burning Down the House" in your pre-show music during some of the worst wildfires in California history.

1st, I had no idea there was Theatre at the Palace of Fine Arts. I've been to the outside park/rotunda area to do pictures for clients. We came here to see Atsuko Okatsuka at 9PM. I did a little research on parking and saw they had their own parking. When we got there the parking lot was half empty, keep in mind that this theatre holds about 1000 guests and both of the show was SOLD out. After the show we were able to get out fairly fast. They have a large lobby area and the bathrooms were clean. The seats were very comfortable!!!

Despite being a local all my life to San Francisco, I've never seen a performance at the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre until Dita Von Teese came for her Glamonatrix Tour in January 2023. It was rather difficult and confusing to find the entrance to the theatre, and it wasn't us, lots of people were lost and wondering where the entrance was. This is a beautiful and spacious theatre. Boyfriend and I sat to the right near the front, and we had a great view of the stage and performance! We had a wonderful and beautiful night out, despite the heavy storm!

This was my first time in the theater, I had no idea it was even there even though I've been to the outdoor park/rotunda area multiple times! Saw the potted potter show and it was entertaining. The theater was great though because we easily found free parking out front for a Saturday 5pm show, and there was so much leg room!! As other reviewers have said, they have a concessions stand with chips, candy, small standard sandwiches, breads (ie banana bread or lemon bread slices), alcohol, and soft drinks. I'd definitely see another show here should one come around that looked good.

I went to the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre this past weekend to watch a podcast live. For some reason, I've never realized there was actually a theatre here! I'd been to the Palace of Fine Arts many times before, but it was years ago when the Exploratorium was still here.The entrance to the theatre is in the back of the building. So if you're at the Palace of Fine Arts, you'll go around the building to the other side. The entrance is marked by a small awning. There's not a lot of parking in the area so I'd highly recommend coming early to find a spot in nearby neighborhoods or catching a ride/uber/lyft.There's snacks and drinks available for purchase in the theatre lobby. However, you're not allowed to eat the food while in the theatre so if you're hungry, plan to spend a bit of time in the lobby snacking beforehand. You can bring drinks inside as long as it's got a lid. There aren't a lot of bathroom stalls either, which was surprising to me considering how large the theatre was. Use it before the show or plan to wait in line for awhile after the show.The theatre itself is large but not super huge. There's only one level (the orchestra space) and no balcony. It's a good view from any seat in the house, and luckily I was seated in the middle front area. After the show was over, there were quite a few people waiting outside to get picked up. There was a little traffic with all the cars coming through the back area so it might be faster if you met your lyft/uber by the Palace of Fine Arts or if you walk out a bit to the Marina. As long as you don't mind the walk, you'll get the shorter wait and your driver will be glad to not wait in the traffic!

Went to the Palace of Fine Arts Theater on a rainy Tuesday night.Definitely a smaller venue, but I did like how easy it was to park. There's an odd and even section, but we were able to get a pretty good seat and the performance was wonderful.

We had the pleasure of watching a performance by Hungarian pianist and composer, Havasi, and his spectacular drummer, Andy, on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. They were both so energetic during the show, which included sounds from the electronic music genre, keeping us entertained and amazed, especially with the seemingly supersonic movement of Havasi's fingers. In fact, he was awarded the title of "fastest pianist in the world" in 2009 by the Guinness World Records.And though not the most extravagant venue, the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre was a perfect setting for him to display his musicianship to a dedicated audience of all ages, with acoustic panels hanging from the ceiling, and comfortable enough seats with sufficient legroom and shades of red all around. In terms of viewing, the theatre is pretty small overall with no obstructions, so any seat's a good seat really.The lobby is spacious, set up with a few tables and chairs for eating and drinking before the show (signs say no food/drinks allowed in the theatre, but they didn't seem to enforce it during our recent visit). Concessions included beer, wine, coffee, candy, baked goods, cheese and crackers, and nuts and fruit.There was plenty of parking available, including a dedicated parking lot specifically for the theatre (though a few of the pay stations were out of order this past weekend). Especially with such a beautiful location in the city, this is a great theatre to enjoy your favorite artists and performances, accompanied by your favorite people :)

Came here for a wedding reception. What a fun time we had. Drinks with alcohol and non alcohol for the kids. There was a band, tarot card reading, lots of photo booths and casinos. Plus many hidden rooms. Amazed at the toilet with pull chain. Must return for another night of discoveries. Parking is terrible.

We saw Matt Nathanson play here last month. I didn't even know there was a theater here large enough for intimate concerts. Needless to say, I did my research before going. There isn't a whole lot of information on it. It holds around 900 people. It's got some interesting historical information in and around the theater. There was a concession stand that had a decent amount of drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic). The lobby area where you wait before the actual theater doors open is a good size. The restrooms were clean. The women's restroom had quite the line as you can imagine, but it went pretty quickly. (I went at intermission). The staff from the ticket taker to the concession folks to the folks who opened the theater doors were all pleasant and friendly. The view of the Palace dome when we got out was incredible. The lights have a cool glow. Photos are a must!

Came here to see Atsuko Okatsuka at 7PM. Never been here before and was anticipating scarce parking spots and an overcrowded theater but I was so wrong- it was such a pleasant experience!Parking- SO MUCH FREE PARKING right outside. Though if you're weary about safety, I suggest residential parking. Getting in- Seamless and spacious- unlike the Masonic with many security measures and congested.BATHROOM- There is an attendant inside who will let you know which stall has emptied. Seating about 1000 people, this space still seemed intimate. I was seated in row L and I still felt pretty close to the stage. Generous leg room too.