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The 10 Best Clubs, Bars and Venues for Dancing in SF

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The 10 Best Clubs, Bars and Venues for Dancing in SF


It’s Friday night in San Francisco. You’ve got the urge to dance. Where are you going? If you’re drawing a blank, that’s completely understandable. The city has a diverse slate of dance clubs, concert halls and other venues where you can let loose, but picking one can feel daunting, especially if you’re going for the first time — so we’re here to help. The next time the feeling strikes, hit up one of these 10 dance clubs (well, nine dance clubs and one roller rink).

1015 Folsom

Eric Ananmalay

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Forget San Francisco (stay with me now), 1015 Folsom is one of the most iconic dance music clubs in the world. A renowned institution, the club recently underwent a remodel and sound-system upgrade that yielded big results: The main floor is now far more open to better accommodate some of the biggest names in dance music. You name it, they’ve played here Fatboy Slim, Basement Jaxx and Carl Cox? The birthplace of the weekly party Spundae? Check and check. Both Peggy Gou and Charlotte de Witte have played the room in the past year. But it’s much more than just a single dance floor, with five rooms in total that give it underground warehouse feel that’s a privilege to have in San Francisco. And with the longstanding Pura Saturdays bringing Latinx and international flair every week too, it truly is a global affair. 

1015 Folsom St

Rickshaw Stop is best known as the music venue to see breakout acts (from Billie Eilish to Sam Smith) before they get big, but it’s also hallowed ground for dance music. The home to the iconic Popscene club, founder DJ Aaron Axelsen has a knack for bringing in electro and dance pop acts from the U.K. and U.S. (Jorja Smith! Flight Facilities!) to the 350-ish person club — and Axelsen’s own opening and closing DJ sets are kick-ass in and of themselves. Rickshaw Stop also plays host to a number of themed dance nights from emo, Taylor Swift and LCD Soundsystem to K-Pop, Italo Disco and even the infamous Shrek Rave. 

155 Fell St

The Best Hotel Bars in San Francisco

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people dancing, strong lights, plants, DJ

The patio at El Rio

Shot In The City

The queer-owned and operated space in the Mission has one of the best backyard patios in San Francisco and it’s BIG. El Rio is a dynamite community space that does an incredible job of incorporating alternative and underserved subcultures by providing a space for promoters from all walks of life to spread their wings and throw glorious dance parties in their house. That means soul and disco daytime vibes from Hard French (with a big anniversary bash on the horizon), the wonderfully boisterous and delicious vibes of R&B and Ribs, and A Family Affair’s queer ’90s and ’00s throwback party every first Friday at 9 p.m. for only $5. 

3158 Mission St

For when just a simple dance party won’t suffice, Church of 8 Wheels is a full-blown roller disco set in — you guessed it — a converted church in the Lower Haight. While it’s open other days of the week, it’s the Saturday Sessions that really turn up with a DJ and neon lights galore. You can bring in your own skates, or rent a pair for $5. 

554 Fillmore St

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blue stage lights, crowd

The Midway

Missael Gonzalez

On the outskirts of SF’s Pier 80, the Midway is a warehouse and gallery space with a lot to offer. The main room, dubbed Ride, is a sweeping space to dance in. There’s the smaller Gods & Monsters Room and also a chilled-out back patio that can make for any combination of multi-room parties with DJs from Mark Farina to Bonobo and even electro-minded bands like Little Dragon. But the best time to come to the Midway to dance is during one of their excellent afternoon block parties, where a big chunk of the blocks behind the venue on Michigan and Marin Streets transform into a mega dance party. Summer is just around the corner and parties with Steve Aoki, Carl Cox and Above & Beyond (on Pride weekend!) are already on the docket. 

900 Marin St

two people dancing, woman in shimmery blue skirt and jean jacket, man in yellow shirt and white shorts

Salsa dancing at Cavaña

Anna Wick

Found at the Luma Hotel, Cavaña is already one of the best hotel bars in San Francisco. The spectacular Latin-focused cocktails and food offerings on a glorious rooftop patio in Mission Bay are complemented by DJs spinning globally-minded tunes from 8 p.m. to midnight on the intimate dance floor on Fridays and Saturdays. Then on Sunday nights at 5 p.m., Edgardo Cambon and LaTiDo drop live salsa music to dance to on the outside terrace with gorgeous views of S.F. and a mojito bar to boot.

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100 Channel St, 17th Floor

On the edge of S.F.’s Design District, the Great Northern is one of the most uniquely laid out rooms in town, complemented by 30-foot-high ceilings that make for an imposing yet still intimate space for acts like dancehall producer Mad Professor and electro cumbia DJ Nicola Cruz. The Great Northern also hosts occasional block parties outside on Utah Street that often make it feel like the most exciting corner of the city. 

119 Utah St

Known for having one of the best drag shows and cabaret performances in San Francisco, Oasis also hosts fabulous dance parties on the regular. Owned by drag queen D’arcy Drollinger, Oasis is built within an 8,000-square-foot former gay bathhouse in SOMA. While Oasis is a staple in the queer community and a hot ticket on any night, make sure to get there on Saturday night when, starting at 10 p.m., Princess is a resident drag and dance extravaganza exploring sounds from disco to K-Pop. 

298 11th St

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This long-running SOMA club is the place to be if you want to dance to ’80s music, but it also offers ’90s, new wave, goth, industrial and more. Every Thursday, Class of 1984 plays ’80s tunes with no cover. Club Gossip and New Wave City take the torch on second and third Saturdays, then on every fourth Friday, Leisure is the premier Britpop/Manchester/’90s party in town. Then if you really want to get in the spirit of the nearby Folsom Street Fair year-round, Play-X-Land is a BDSM/kink/fetish night with go-go dancers and a dungeon that goes down every Wednesday with a $10 cover if you’re in fetishwear and $20 if not. You know what to do. 

1190 Folsom St

A favorite of the Burning Man contingent, Public Works brings consistently stellar DJs to the Mission. The two-level, community-minded space features a Funktion-One sound system and dizzying visuals on any given night. Upcoming DJ performances include the Polish Ambassador and Rusko, as well as the Blessed Madonna playing a fundraiser for the Stud, the soon-to-be-reopened historic LGBTQ bar.

161 Erie St

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San Francisco could vote again on whether to allow cars on the Great Highway

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San Francisco could vote again on whether to allow cars on the Great Highway


In San Francisco’s Sunset District, controversy continues over what to do with the Great Highway.

Friday, the newly-appointed supervisor for that district, Alan Wong, confirmed he is running to keep his job. He also shared that he would support a ballot measure that would bring cars back to the now-closed stretch of road. Some residents in the district already said they would be prepared to fight back against that ballot measure if it came to fruition.

This has been a politically tumultuous year for the Sunset District. In November of 2024, San Francisco voters narrowly approved Proposition K, which moved to close the highway along Ocean Beach to cars and to transform it into a park. In March of 2025, the stretch of road was permanently closed to cars, and in April, the area was officially reopened as Sunset Dunes Park. In September, voters recalled then-Supervisor Joel Engardio, with many in the campaign against Engardio expressing frustration with his support for turning the Great Highway into a park. In November, Mayor Daniel Lurie appointed Isabella “Beya” Alcaraz as the new supervisor for District 4, only to have her resign a week later amid growing questions about her actions as a small business owner.

At the start of December, Mayor Lurie swore in Alan Wong as his new appointee to serve as supervisor in District 4. Wong grew up in the Sunset, attended Lincoln High School, and has served as both an elected member of the San Francisco City College Board of Trustees and as a legislative aid to former supervisor Gordon Mar.

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In an interview with NBC Bay Area on Friday, Wong shared that he has not hidden the fact that he voted no on Prop. K in the 2024 election. However, in his first three weeks in office, Wong said he set out to “have conversations with different constituent groups and listen to them” about the issues.

“After three weeks of listening and having these conversations, I believe that my values and how I voted before align with the majority of the district,” Wong said.

San Francisco Supervisor Alan Wong supports a ballot measure that calls for cars to return to the Great Highway.

“And as the district supervisor, I need to take a leadership role in representing the district that I am here to serve,” he continued.

Wong said he is now prepared to be one of the four supervisors supporting a ballot initiative to reopen the Great Highway to cars on weekdays.

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Molly Rose, with Sunset Parent Advocates, worries that when Wong was listening to community voices over the past three weeks, some voices may have been left out.

“If he talked to the Sunset residents, he didn’t talk to me, and he didn’t talk to us– the family groups I am a part of,” Rose said.

“We are all very pro-park, we use it very heavily as a park,” she continued.

Rose said there are several hundred parents involved with her group. As a parent, Rose said her children love going to the park there.

“Sunset Dunes is the place where I take my kids to have a safe place to play,” she said.

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Rose said that she has been asking for Wong to meet with her group, but has been waiting to hear back from his scheduling team.

Wong’s office confirmed that Rose is in touch with their office and that Wong’s scheduler is “actively coordinating a time” for them to meet.

“While I do think there is a very loud, anti-park contingent of people in the Sunset, I don’t think they’re the majority,” Rose emphasized.



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New SF supervisor supports reopening Great Highway on weekdays

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New SF supervisor supports reopening Great Highway on weekdays


SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — Alan Wong, the new supervisor for District four in San Francisco, has publicly expressed his support for reopening the Great Highway to vehicles on weekdays. This statement comes amid ongoing debates surrounding the highway’s conversion into a park last spring, which was met with mixed reactions from the community.

The Great Highway was transformed into a public park earlier this year, a change that many residents have embraced, while some local neighbors have pushed back. Joel Engardio, the former supervisor who supported this conversion through Measure K, was recalled this year, highlighting the division among constituents in District four.

Wong, who was appointed as supervisor following Engardio’s recall, filed paperwork to run for the elected position on the board. His term is set to last until January 2027, during which he aims to solidify his platform around reopening the Great Highway.

In his statement, Wong emphasized, “I believe my values align with a majority of Sunset residents who support reopening the Great Highway to cars on weekdays. As a result, I am prepared to be one of four supervisors needed to sponsor a ballot initiative to restore that compromise.” This suggests Wong’s intent to address community concerns head-on while building a wider consensus.

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Prior to its conversion, the Great Highway allowed vehicles during the week and served as a park on weekends, a compromise Wong supports restoring. He aims to return to this model in response to feedback from local constituents.

All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by KRON4. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat information into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by KRON4 staff before being published.



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Women’s volleyball professional team headed to San Francisco

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Women’s volleyball professional team headed to San Francisco


Pro volleyball will soon be coming to San Francisco and this latest team is part of a surge of women’s sports.

League One Volleyball officially launched this year with six teams. Now the league has announced it’s expanding to nine teams, and that one of those expansion teams will be based in the city by the bay.

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Three-time Olympic volleyball medalist Kelsy Robinson Cook is on the ownership team for LOVB San Francisco, bringing professional volleyball to the city. “Can tell you it’s going to be amazing,” said Robinson Cook. “Then, when you bring in the fandom of the Bay Area and SF I think personally it’s going to make for an incredible atmosphere.”

Team ownership said starting a team in the Bay Area is a natural with colleges and universities in the region turning out top talent. “It’s the number one sport for women and girls and I think that just speaks volumes as to where we’re headed, not only in club and college, but professionally,” said Robinson Cook.

Pro women’s volleyball is part of a growing list of professional women’s sports teams calling San Francisco and the Bay Area home.

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The women’s professional baseball league announced plans for a team in San Francisco. Bay FC and the Golden State Valkyries are already proving there is a market for professional women’s sports.

When pro-volleyball was looking to expand, San Francisco was a natural choice. “You’re seeing Bay FC, the Valkyries, the success that they have, and this market loves sports, and they’ve also proven they love women’s sports,” said Robinson Cook.

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San Francisco leaders said the city has already proven that it supports pro-women’s teams, and will welcome professional volleyball. Mayor Daniel Lurie pointed to the city’s rich sports history and enthusiasm to support the home teams. “Now, as we saw with the Valkyries selling out every single home game last year, there is an appetite, there is a fan base, and this new league understands that,” said Mayor Lurie.

At this time, there are still a lot of questions up in the air, including exactly where LOVB San Francisco will play. Organizers say they have a lot of plans in the works to get the team ready to bump, set and spike starting in January 2027.

 

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