If its the nightlife you like, you'll find it in the City by the Bay. Whether you've got your heart set on a night at the opera or you want to dance until dawn (or both), you'll find your niche here.
In a city famous for its breathtaking vistas, it's no accident that some of the most popular (and expensive) evening hangouts are rooms with panoramic views. Perched on the highest level of the Mark Hopkins Hotel, the Top of the Mark, renovated to its pre-World War II splendor, offers nightly entertainment to go with the spectacular views from its floor-to-ceiling windows. For the loftiest loungeside views, head up to the Carnelian Room atop the building now called 555 California Street in the heart of the financial district. Dress is "casual elegant" with jackets recommended for the gentlemen; the wine list of some 1600 selections is one of the Bay Area's largest.
The Fairmont Hotel's Tonga Room is low on views (there aren't any windows), but high on kitsch atmosphere. At this famous tiki lounge, renowned for its expensive rum concoctions, you can sit at a lagoonside table to enjoy the band as it floats in on a raft. Periodic rainstorms add to the tropical ambiance.
Dealmakers can toast their capital gains at the art-deco Redwood Room of the Clift Hotel. Sit beneath burnished redwood panels, set in place in 1933, and sip one of the Redwood Room's famous martinis as you enjoy the pianist's repertoire of vintage 1930s and '40s standards.
Head up to North Beach to sample the remnants of San Francisco's celebrated Beat culture. The Savoy-Tivoli, a neighborhood fixture since 1907, is a crowded, see-and-be-seen sort of place. Hang out on the streetside patio for the best people-watching. Another North Beach institution, Tosca, serves up coffee and alcohol in cozy European style, complete with an opera-stocked jukebox.
A fixture in North Beach for more than 20 years, Beach Blanket Babylon, staged at Club Fugazi, is the longest-running musical revue in history. The show changes periodically, adding parodies and featuring the largest and most elaborate hats in theater, and perhaps in the world. Also in North Beach, Cobb's Comedy Club is the best place to see stand-up in a town famous for its comedians.
For swank '50s nightclub atmosphere and hip musical acts, check out Bimbo's 365 Club on the edge of North Beach. Opened in 1935 and moved to its present Columbus Avenue location in 1951, Bimbo's no longer features its high-stepping line of chorus girls, but you can still see Dolfina, the diminutive "Girl in the Fishbowl," swimming in the aquarium behind the bar. (Hint: it's all done with mirrors.)
A onetime speakeasy, Cafe Du Nord on upper Market Street features a wide-ranging program of Afropop, synthetic jazz, and what-you-will. South of Market, great jazz, blues, R&B, and rock acts play at Slim's, often called the best place in town to hear music.
South of Market is also a hotbed of trendy dance and after-hours clubs. This scene changes constantly, so consult local papers such as the Bay Guardian and SF Weekly for up-to-date information.
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