Mission Bay Nightlife: The Best of Both Worlds
Mission Bay offers the best of the nightlife worlds; there are plenty of places to enjoy a good meal or a night out, drinking and dancing with friends.
However, once midnight comes, everything quiets down, and residents don’t have to deal with the darker side of the crazy party scene found elsewhere in the City.
Embrace The NightLife in Mission Bay
Here are some of our top recommendations if you live or work around Mission Bay and want to enjoy a fun evening out.
1. Enjoy a gorgeous sunset from one of the area’s waterfront parks
Mission Bay is one of the best places in San Francisco to watch the sunset. And, with the area’s recent revitalization these past years, there are a range of places you can walk, ride, claim a bench, or lay your blanket and picnic basket out on a lawn to watch sunsets that never get boring.
Some of our favorite places to enjoy a drink and some munchies while watching the sun disappear beneath the watery horizon are:
Crane Cove Park
It’s hard to believe that this seven-acre park was once an inaccessible industrial area. In fact, Crane Cove Park was formerly a shipbuilding site occupied by the Union Iron Works and the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation. Today, the area has been transformed, and visitors to Crane Cove Park consider it a flagship park for the entire City.
Money Saving Tip: Heading to the park with a picnic dinner is a wonderful way to avoid the often high prices charged for drinks and food in S.F. Give your wallet a night off and save some money by planning weekly sunset picnics.
Whether you’re looking for a romantic place to spend time with a special someone, want to hang out with a group of friends, or are looking for a family-friendly place to spend quality time with those you love - Crane Cove Park is a wonderful place to spend an evening or take a moonlit walk.
Warm Water Cove Park
This hidden gem used to be the last place most people wanted to spend any time. However, a major cleanup and restoration project has made Warm Water Cove Park another free destination for gorgeous sunsets. Technically located on the Dog Patch side of the area, it’s still easily accessible for those who live or work in Mission Bay.
In addition to cleaning up the waterfront, the development project also included installations of native shore plants, bringing back an abundance of coastal birds who appreciate the restoration of their natural habitat. Warm Water Cove is also a favorite spot for evening music and other live events, so keep your ear tuned for upcoming opportunities.
2. Take a Dinner Cruise Around Mission Bay
Some things labeled “Touristy” are worth doing - even if you’re a lifetime resident. A dinner cruise around Mission Bay is one of them. A range of tours are available from different charter companies, each with its own theme and culture.
Some of our favorite things about dinner cruises are:
● They cost far less per person than an average night out in S.F.
● The ability to get out on the water for a few hours and enjoy a mini-vacation-style dinner.
● Live music and dancing.
● A chance to dress up if that’s your thing, as some of the best Mission Bay dinner cruises ask that guests wear semi-formal to formal attire, something most of us don’t get to do all that often.
Once you’re out on the water, you get to enjoy San Francisco Bay from a whole different perspective. Get a group of friends together and make it an evening.
3. Enjoy Cocktails or a Brew at One of Our Favorite Bars
Wherever you find a beautiful waterfront and gorgeous sunsets, you’re bound to find a few great bars. That’s certainly the case for Mission Bay and the surrounding area. Here are some of our favorites:
CAVAÑA at LUMA Hotel San Francisco
CAVAÑA is a popular destination for cocktails. In addition to the draw to their rooftop bar, CAVAÑA fans appreciate their ode to Central and South America. They strive to bring San Francisco a cocktail experience that showcases artisanal and original cocktails inspired by unexpected and locally sourced ingredients in an unpretentious way.
Some of their traditional fan favorites include caipirinhas and mojitos. And while they’re not considered a restaurant, CAVAÑA also serves delicious tapas ideal for sharing with friends. It’s a great place to start the night before heading on to a top Mission Bay restaurant.
Trevino Wine Bar
Also located in the Luma Hotel, the Trevino Wine Bar is a must-go spot for wine enthusiasts. We appreciate that rather than offering all the wines everyone else does, Trevino constantly changes their offerings by season and availability, focusing on supporting smaller vineyards, winemakers, and importers who are passionate about their products. Click Here to view a current menu of their exceptional wine offerings.
Alchemist Bar & Lounge
If the name isn’t enough to draw you in, wait until you try one of their artisanal cocktails. Not surprisingly, Mission Bay is famous as the San Francisco Giants' and Warriors' homebase. As a result, the area has a plethora of sports bars and sports-themed bars.
The Alchemist Bar & Lounge capitalizes on the fact that they offer a significantly different culture and vibe. Located in their second-floor location, the Alchemist Bar & Lounge house cocktail menu utilizes a collection of fresh seasonal ingredients, tinctures, house-made infusions, and hand-crafted syrups. Click Here to read their creatively named cocktails, and feel free to make any of them non-alcoholic by request.
Harmonic Brewing at Thrive City
Harmonic Brewing at Thrive City is open Thursday - Sunday, as well as anytime there’s a Chase Center event (in which case they stay open later). It’s a sleek, contemporary place to grab a craft brew with your friends or family while enjoying a beautiful water view.
In addition to their own beer, they offer local wine and hard cider, as well as small plate options (empanadas, tacos, etc.) to tie you over until your next meal.
The Sea Star Club
In addition to being a locals’ favorite, The Sea Star is also dog-friendly. They are just fine with being a bar - and only a bar. Their claim to fame is that they,ve “...got booze. Good booze. And lots of it.” But don’t let that fool you into thinking it’s generic.
They bring you tasty drinks with cheeky names, made with quality ingredients. Try one of our house cocktails, or sip on their house shot - the Monte Vida - straight from the tap! They also have ten rotating beer taps serving up frothy goodness from the best of the Bay Area’s craft breweries.
There are far more bars and taverns than we could ever list here, but these represent some of our favorites.
Mission Bay’s Top 5 Restaurants
Now, after all of those delicious cocktails, wine, and beer, we’re ready for dinner…
ATWater Tavern
Just about ready to celebrate its 10th birthday, the ATWater Tavern is a Mission Bay staple, paying homage to San Francisco’s historical immigrant and fisherman population.
Located along the historic waterfront, they offer panoramic views of the Bay, Oracle Park, Bay Bridge, and more. Their culinary focus is rooted in the story of San Francisco, its people, and its waters. So, it’s no surprise that regulars can’t get enough of dishes like local oysters on the half shell, Otto’s Paella, Cioppino (seafood stew), or their top-notch Tavern Burger. The Tavern is also a great place to start things off, offering Happy Hour seven days a week from 2:00 to 5:00.
Garaje
It would be impossible to talk about Mission Bay area restaurants without paying homage to Garaje. This casual venue has classic Mexcian dishes as well as burgers and fries. And, as they like to boast, “No crap on tap!”
In addition to a menu with something to please everyone, Garaje is known for its fun and friendly atmosphere as well as excellent customer service. People rave about Garaje’s Zapatos (like stuffed quesadillas) as well as their fish tacos and housemade pineapple habanero salsa. And, since they’re open until 9:00 p.m. most nights, they’re a great place to start before you continue on to embrace Mision Bay’s nightlife.
MoMos
MoMo’s opened in 1998 and was so named in memory of the founding proprietor's grandmother and mentor, whom he affectionately called MoMo. It’s just a stone’s throw away from Oracle Park (a must-attend Mission Bay venue for locals and tourists alike) but offers an upscale sports bar-style menu with an abundance of outdoor seating.
Some of their most famous dishes are their French onion soup, homemade deconstructed chicken pot pie, and the ahi tuna tartare. But we have yet to try something on their menu that is anything less than delicious.
Little Skillet
The Little Skillet offers soul food made with heart and a whole lotta love. Established in 2009, the Little Skillet window beckons the neighborhood with scents of fresh waffles and hot fried chicken, and the SOMA locals loyally line up at lunch to get their fix.
Co-founders Deanna Sison and Jay Foster established Little Skillet as the lovable offshoot of their Tenderloin mainstay, Farmerbrown. They are dedicated to serving their local communities through their own unique brand of hospitality. Their menu keeps us coming back for more, and they’re happy to cater private events, both large and small.
Marlowe
The Marlowe is a classic New American bistro in San Francisco’s SOMA neighborhood. Established in 2010, the restaurant is beloved around the city as a favorite place for an upscale yet approachable night of dinner and drinks. They focus on comfort foods with flavorful twists and a delicious cocktail menu.
Mission Bay After Hours
Most of Mission Bay’s bars are open into the later hours on weekends. Some of the locals’ favorite spots after dinner are:
Candlestick Park Sports Bar
While it’s not open into the wee hours, the Candlestick Park Sports Bar is always open until 11 p.m. In addition to serving great cocktails, craft beer, and traditional pub fare, “The Stick” was created to celebrate San Francisco sports heroes past and present, pay a nostalgic homage to Candlestick Park, and be the ultimate place to hang out. It’s a love letter to our Giants, 49ers, Sharks, Golden State Warriors, and all the local teams who play just for the fun of it. It’s about our history and our possibilities.
They host tons of fun events throughout the week and weekend, like their Taco Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and the ever-famous Trivia Night.
Bottom of the Hill
The Bottom of the Hill celebrated their 30th anniversary back in 2021, which says everything you need to know in an era where most clubs are closed almost the same week they open. Named by Rolling Stone magazine as "the best place to hear live music in San Francisco," the Bottom of the Hill presents some of the finest original artists seven nights a week!
Click Here to view their full calendar. There’s always something worth hearing at The Bottom! Featuring up-and-coming acts from around the globe as well as in our own backyard, the music spans the spectrum from alternative, rock-a-billy, punk, and hard rock, to folk and funk and pop. The Bottom offers a full bar, a kitchen that stays open late, and a patio area where guests can escape the crowd.
The Midway
The Midway is a newer kid to the Mission Bay nightlife scene. And although they had a rough start due to opening immediately before the pandemic, this dynamic nighttime destination stayed the course and has come out thriving. The venue is a dynamic and interactive 40,000-square-foot urban canvas of innovation where everyone is invited to explore, create, engage, feel, and be inspired.
Their vibrant event calendar, which includes performances, workshops, exhibitions, and culinary delights, celebrates the intersection of music, art, emerging tech, and food. The Midway community strives to provide every guest with an immersive, provocative experience. People worldwide rave about exceptional sound quality and unique late-night experiences.
The Dogpatch Saloon
Everyone needs a place to go when the rest of the late-but-not-too-late venues close their doors. For residents of Mission Bay and their Dog Patch, The Dogpatch Saloon is just such a place. Always open until 2:00 a.m., the Dogpatch is one of this area’s favorite “dive bars,” which has been around for more than 100 years.
The minute you walk in and sit down, you feel like you’re family - and your dog will, too (all dogs receive complimentary biscuits). And, while they don’t serve any food, the Dogpatch does have an exceptional selection of beer and spirits. Show up on a Wednsday, and you’ll find yourself in the midst of Trivia Night mayhem.
Make Yourself At Home in Mission Bay By Day Or By Night
Are you interested in living in one of San Francisco’s most up-and-coming areas? One that has ample things to do by day and plenty to enjoy by night but also provides a slower and quieter pace after the clock strikes midnight? If so, contact the sales office at 400 China Basin and see if our beautiful new condominiums - some of which have rooftop terraces - are your new place to call Home.
