Top 10 Lounges in San Francisco

Welcome to Condo Weekly’s lifestyle corner! Our mission is to show you an insider’s perspective of local nightlife. 

In this edition, we’ll be providing our picks for the top 10 lounges in San Francisco. 

We’ve also done detailed writeups for some of these venues, so look out for those as you scroll through.

EVERDENE

Neighborhood: SoMA

Everdene is the Virgin Hotel’s rooftop lounge and bar. This is a frequent happy hour spot for the CW crew and our friends for several reasons. First, the skyline views of the city are unbeatable and something you’ll rarely find at other bars and lounges. The crowd that shows up tends to be very diverse, fascinating, and international: probably due to the eclectic mix of local young professionals mingling with travelers staying in the hotel. 

The single best thing we love about Everdene is exactly that: every time we go there, we feel like it’s easy to meet new people and make new friends from a wide range of backgrounds and countries. If you’re looking to expand your social circle, Everdene is a great bet. 

Come here for:

-stunning skyline views

-people watching

-happy hour dates

-casual business meetings

CW Tip: if the tables are all taken, stand near a table full of people who look like they might leave soon. Chat them up, either you’ll make some new friends or you’ll encourage them to leave faster! 

Check out our detailed rundown of Everdene now!

BARBAROSSA

Neighborhood: North Beach / FiDi

We picked Barbarossa because it’s our beloved default weekend nightlife spot when there isn’t a specific concert, festival, or theme party going on elsewhere. Barbarossa is an SF nightlife institution, boasting beautiful interior design in an intimate setting worthy of a casual night out or a full fledged dance party for a friend’s birthday. 

Barbarossa doubles up as a great happy hour spot as well as a dance floor on Saturday nights. Its versatility in what it offers is commendable and is the reason why we keep finding ourselves back here. 

Come here for:

-mingling with young professionals 

-the ability to have conversations but also dance

-happy hour dates 

-birthday parties 

CW Tip: seating at the dance floor downstairs is first-come, first-serve, so arrive early

Check out our detailed rundown of Barabarossa now!

LOCAL EDITION

Neighborhood: Market / FiDi

Local Edition is the kind of place you’d imagine would be described as a “hidden gem”, but this classy lounge on Market street is an SF nightlife institution. The single best aspect of Local Edition that stands out is their live music, frequently accompanied by well-dressed partygoers partner dancing on the floor. This venue is unique in this city and always a good time. 

Come here for:

-live jazz music and partner dancing

-ample seating available 

-cool decor and ambiance 

CW Tip: if you like partner dance, this is a great spot to check out.

PRESS CLUB

Neighborhood: SoMA / Union Square 

Whoever built Press Club took their time and got the details right. The remarkable interior design is immediately striking upon walking in and is, by itself, a reason to visit this spot. In addition to this, Press Club offers an expansive menu of delicious foods, beer, and wine for you and your crew to enjoy (no liquor though). We drop by Press Club when we want to catch up with friends in a laid back and beautiful setting, usually on weekday evenings. 

Come here for:

-a wide selection of wines and beers

-beautiful and elegant decor, ample seating 

-a quiet place to chat and people watch

CW Tip: while there is ample seating, the shared standing tables are great for mingling 

HAWTHORN

Neighborhood: Union Square 

Hawthorn is great if you want a classy lounge type environment yet also want to dance to various eras of top forties and hip hop. There is something priceless about enjoying Hawthorn’s upscale decor while dancing to 90s gangster rap. 

It’s difficult to find this beautiful contradiction elsewhere, which is why we find Hawthorn unique and worthy of spot of our list. Moreover, despite how packed it can get, we’ve found the bartenders to be surprisingly fast in serving customers.  

Come here for:

-dancing to top forties and hip hop

-friendly and quick bartender service

CW Tip: introduce yourself to the bartenders and tip well, they always seem to remember you and will give you fast service.

DIRTY HABIT

Neighborhood: Market

Dirty Habit is, in reality, more of a restaurant with great cocktails than a typical lounge. That said, we didn’t hesitate to include it in our list because it’s often served two specific purposes: a place for a group dinner with friends, and a place to have business drinks. Think of Dirty Habit as the perfect jumpoff spot for a night out, particularly if you’re introducing a group of people to each other. 

Come here for:

-delicious food and interesting cocktails

-dinner dates or dinner with a group of friends

-business drinks 

CW Tip: there are indoor and outdoor seating areas, we’ve preferred outdoor for meals and indoor for business drinks 

PEACEKEEPER

Neighborhood: Nob Hill

Nob Hill is an underrated neighborhood for SF outings. We suspect that the steep hills are intimidating to tipsy partygoers who may be decked out in heels. That’s what Uber’s for, people!

Anyway, don’t sleep on Peacekeeper. This Nob Hill gem stands out as a great day-drinking spot, as it boasts a ceiling skylight that allows lots of natural light and air. Peacekeeper has numerous unique cocktails: we suggest you try the Jet Setter for a lively daytime drink. 

Come here for:

-casual drinks, brunch drinks, day drinking

-you like playing pool 

-mingling and meeting new people 

CW Tip: it’s always felt really easy to meet new people here, particularly if you hang out by the pool table or on the second floor

EXECUTIVE ORDER

Neighborhood: SoMA

Executive Order is a great lounge if you want some elbow room and comfortable seating while immersed with your group. This venue boasts ample seating with lots of space between tables, so if you dislike bars that are packed wall-to-wall, this is your joint. Executive Order has an impressive selection of cocktails on offer, so come here to enjoy the drink specials as well.

Come here for:

-elbow room, not feeling cramped

-ample comfortable seating for groups

-wide range of interesting drink specials

NOVELA

Neighborhood: Market / FiDi

Novela is great because of its versatility. The CW crew has come here for birthday parties, happy hours, and business drinks. We’ve never really felt like it was the wrong venue for any given occasion, unless the occasion warranted turning up and dancing on tables. The decor reminds us of Barbarossa: intimate, elegant, and welcoming. Come here for happy hours, particularly if you’d like to mingle and meet young professionals. 

Come here for:

-weekday happy hour, jumpoff point for a night out 

-mingling and meeting new people

-snacking while drinking

CW Tip: there is a large communal table near the water dispenser and bar, post up there with your friends and you’ll be mingling with new people in no time

CHARMAINE’S

Neighborhood: Tenderloin

Charmaine’s is a rooftop lounge that boasts beautiful views of the city and beyond. Come here with a small group of friends and grab some of the delicious appetizers off the menu. If you arrive early enough, you’ll be able to snag some outdoor seating for yourself, as well. 

Come here for:

-Beautiful skyline views of the city

-pretty good food!

-comfortable indoor and outdoor seating

CW Tip: this is the Tenderloin, order your Uber before leaving the venue, and head downstairs when it arrives