Have you thought about taking a night tour of San Francisco?
Whether you’re into sipping fancy cocktails, watching Broadway shows, or rocking out to live music, there are plenty of fun things to do at night in San Francisco.
However, if you don’t feel like wandering around the city on your own, a guided night tour could be a great option for you.
In this article, we will share 5 after-dark activities for San Francisco visitors, including night tour recommendations for you to check out.
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San Francisco Entertainment
Go on a dinner cruise
Did you know that you can take a dinner cruise around the San Francisco Bay?
You can experience a romantic sunset under the Golden Gate Bridge, the thrill of gliding past Alcatraz Island, and the breathtaking San Francisco skyline – all while eating a delicious meal.
If you are looking for a romantic dinner spot, Hornblower Cruises offers a four-course dining cruise with spectacular views of the Bay.
While drinks are not included in the price of the cruise, you can always stop at the ship’s bar before or after your meal.
Enjoy live music
San Francisco has an incredibly rich musical history – and many of the city’s most popular live music venues have quite a story to tell.
The Fillmore used to be roller rink, the Chapel – a mortuary, and The Great American Music Hall – a brothel!
Whether you like to rock out with Bon Jovi in a large arena or listen to up-and-coming artists in small, intimate venues, San Francisco’s live music scene has something for you.
Some of the most popular venues to enjoy live music include:
- The Fillmore
- Slim’s
- Yoshi’s
- The Chapel
- The Masonic
- Sweetwater Music Hall
- The Great American Music Hall
There are also plenty of excellent music festivals you can attend, such as the Outside Lands Music and Art Festival and Treasure Island Music Festival.
Go see a Broadway show
San Francisco’s Theater District offers a wide variety of award-winning shows, including Hamilton, Book of Mormon, and American in Paris.
If musicals are not your thing, there are plenty of outstanding opera, ballet, and stand-up comedy performances for you to enjoy.
Keep a close eye on the San Francisco show listings to see what’s coming up next!
Explore Chinatown
San Francisco’s Chinatown is the oldest Chinatown in North America.
Chinatown covers 24 city blocks and is absolutely worth a visit for the mouth-watering Chinese food alone… But it offers so much more than that.
Beyond the iconic Dragon’s gate, you will find a bustling maze of alleys brimming with dim sum joints, Chinese herbalists, souvenir shops, and dark cocktail bars and lounges.
While the buzz quiets down at night, there’s still plenty to do, see, and explore.
Many of the locals will have finished their shopping by nightfall, which means fewer crowds for you to encounter.
If you are into photography, you can capture some absolutely stunning shots of Chinatown lights at night.
It’s a fairly safe area, so you don’t have to be scared walking around at night.
Check out rooftop restaurants and bars
There’s nothing quite like sipping a cocktail or enjoying a meal below the stars.
San Francisco is full of amazing rooftop restaurants and bars.
Some of our favorites include:
- Charmaine’s – a stylish, laid-back bar with a city-inspired menu full of Instagrammable cocktails
- Rooftop 25 – a chic location with a playful menu (think boozy slushies and bottled Pina Coladas)
- El Techo – a Latin-American inspired hotspot with amazing bar bites and $7 margaritas during happy hour
- Dirty Habit – a stylish, upscale destination for craft cocktails
- Jones – a raucous Tenderloin bar with an all-around arty vibe
Book a night sightseeing tour
If you are not in the mood to wander around at nighttime on your own, a night tour could be right up your alley.
A night tour is also a great option if you are interested in a particular subject and are looking to take a themed approach to explore the city.
From fun pub crawls to terrifying ghost tours, San Francisco has a tour for everyone.
Most of these tours are walking tours, but more adventurous explorers can opt for a segway instead.
You can check out some of our favorite night tours of San Francisco here.
The Haunt Experience
Are you looking for a night tour and want to experience a different side of San Francisco?
Check out our Haunted San Francisco Ghost Tour.
Full of tales of scandalous murders and ruthless cult leaders, it will take you on an unforgettable journey through the darkened streets of nighttime San Francisco.
In the past, our tour has been known to stir up some restless spirits… So, you might even get to meet a ghost or two!
Ready to discover the dark side of San Francisco?