Top 10 Best Nightclubs in San Francisco [Updated 2023]

Temple prides itself in being a space that is created by artists, for artists. Its entertainment and nightlife are unrivaled in San Francisco. At the club, guests will be able to experience awe-inspiring, fully immersive state of the art lighting, visuals, custom sound system, and multiple rooms of music. From room to room, and VIP booth to VIP booth, the clubgoers will be able to experience music played by world-class performers and internationally renowned DJs. Underneath the main floor is LVL 55, Temple’s futuristic, lower level which is complete with fifteen VIP tables, a custom-made DJ booth, and open-format sounds. LVL 55 elicits an underground party appeal for guests who prefer to venture away from the main room sound and allows them to have a more intimate nightlife experience.

Located in the heart of San Francisco’s SOMA district, is Audio: one of the best mid-sized dance music venues in the world. Like Temple, Audio is also able to connect with its audience and give them exactly the type of experience they are looking for because it is a place that was designed by sound fanatics for sound fanatics. Audio had been specially curated to present a level of quality in both sound and musical talent unlike any other space to its visitors. Many international DJs already regard Audio as one of their favorite clubs with the best sound in San Francisco and Funktion One has chosen Audio to be the showcase venue for their immaculate system. With the world’s first Funktion One 3D surround system, flagship Funktion One speakers and a dynamic 3D lighting system, Audio is able to give their guests the perfect truly state-of-the-art immersive experience that combines the best sound, lighting and musical talent in an intimate setting. At Audio, clubgoers will also be able to talent such as the likes of Coyote Kisses, Foster the People, and more.

With it’s beautiful and classy décor, attractive and sophisticated interior, and a heap of production details, The Grand redefines nightclub entertainment in San Francisco. The club strives to bring the Las Vegas energy to the Bay Area with the high level of energy that can be found all over the club from its lavish VIP table seating to the five levels that are all available for clubgoers to get their partying on. At The Grand, the guests are sure to immerse themselves in the ultimate nightclub experience. With the high production budget and the emphasize that The Grand puts on its production and entertainment, guests will be able to enjoy a lux night out.

The swanky interior design, the wildly high-energy, the incredible lineup of underground superstars, the casual dress code, the unpretentiousness… 1015 Folsom is exactly what dance clubs were before the fame, money, and see-and-be-seen culture took hold.

Created by the Arena Nightlife Group in 2018, as the second location of the club, and based off of its namesake in Koreatown, Los Angeles, Arena SF hopes to bring the SoCal relaxed and carefree vibe to the Bay Area. The club is located in the heart of the Mission District in San Francisco and plays Hip-Hop and R&B music Thursday to Saturday with no cover charge. Arena also lets the 18+ club come join the party Thursday nights and get their grind on while Fridays and Saturdays are limited to the 21+ club.

A multipurpose space and venue, the idyllic nightclub Halcyon is located in a Victorian-era brick and steel-beamed warehouse in San Francisco’s SOMA neighborhood. The venue which has a capacity for 400 is customizable to morph into whatever shape and ambiance the production demands. It offers a multi-sensory experience and is amazing anytime from dusk to dawn; with large skylights and high ceilings let the sun stream in for daytime events, with a contrasting, subversive evening set up of world class lighting, sound and production. From one wondrous manifestation into another, renowned DJs and talents are able to perform their artistry in front of the crowds night after night. Weekend nights at Halcyon feature DJs and semi-live performances by both local and world-famous techno and electronic artists, while Wednesdays are for cabaret nights, including varied performances and bottle service at the booths.

Nestled into the heart of South of the Market in San Francisco, F8 nightclub provides its guests with a culture of eclectic music that ranges from House to Hip hop to Techno to Dubstep, and everything else in between. The main goal of the club is to have great music with everything else being supplementary. This however does not mean that the atmosphere or the ambiance of F8 is found lacking in comparison to the great music found playing at the club. F8 features an intimate atmosphere, some of the best drink specials in SF as well as amazing vibes from the staff to the patrons. Proclaimed to be one of the last authentic clubs that remains vibrant till this day, F8 truly knows how to show its guests how to spend a great night out.

Formerly known as Ruby Skye, August Hall was renovated and reopened in 2019. At August Hall, patrons will find live music and entertainment with special events, three lively full bars, and superbly prepared food. The club is separated into three rooms. The distinct separations between the rooms create the Music Hall, with sprawling its 32-foot ceilings, 100 year old architecture, and new drapery outlining its historic stained glass windows, the Green Room which is a plush cocktail room serves as a luxe escape from the energy of The Music Hall, and the Fifth Arrow which A cocktail, dining and gaming parlor (complete with three bowling lanes) located downstairs from the August Hall lobby. August Hall has been built to be a flexible, multidisciplinary event space with a design that pays homage to the great history of the building, and you can see some great photos of their venue and artists on the August Hall Instagram.

You can never go wrong with a classic. DNA Lounge has been one of the most popular nightclubs in San Francisco for over thirty years for good reason. DNA Lounge always keeps it fresh with a variety of events, including all-ages live music, 18+ dance parties, wild shows, lectures, and private events. With two stages, four dance floors, seven bars and a full-service 24/7 restaurant and cafe, DNA isn’t going away anytime soon!

With stunningly glamorous interior décor and flawless specialized design work in all the details of the club, the Great Northern comes together to create a classy and sophisticated venue. The team that is behind Monarch Club weaves together an art deco inspired design with high tech sound and lighting, offering both the beauty from chandeliers and stained-glass windows to a out of this world DJ performance that is offset with giant LED projections and a restored classic Richard Long sound system. With an amazing array of cocktails and VIP bottle service, as well as the aerial acrobats performing as they dangle from the high beamed ceilings of the Great Northern, guests will be able to enjoy one of the most unique nightlife experiences in San Francisco.