Hotel Utah
If you live in San Francisco and have any interest at all in live music, you have heard of the Hotel Utah. With a historic wooden interior and boasting one of the Bay Area’s best open mic nights on Mondays for newer acts to try their luck, this saloon is complete with not only an eclectic selection of music, but a varied clientele- from a younger tattooed, pierced crowd to some weathered veterans of the SF bar scene.
The Hotel Utah was built in 1908 in the time of the infamous Barbary Coast, prior to the opening of the Bay Bridge. Before the Bay Bridge was finished in 1936, South of Market (SOMA) was a less desirable location for many establishments, which made it a perfect destination for gamblers, thieves, hustlers, friends of opium and of course ladies of the night. The ornate woodworking still evident in the bar owes its origins to furniture makers in Belgium commissioned by the original owners, The Deininger family. There are many stories about this historic establishment on the Hotel Utah website, and even a page to add your own.
Parking is easy within a few blocks of the Utah. After parking, you will enter and in general have the option to pay a relatively small cover charge if you are planning on seeing the bands for the night, or simply mention that you want to go to the bar and take a quick left. While at the bar you will be able to hear the music; however, for a truly intimate musical experience, if you like the music, pay the cover and head to the stage area where you can see the musicians perform live.
The musical styles are as varied as the clientele, so your choice is to take your chances and show up to hear the band from the bar, then make your decision or check out the event calendar, complete with show times, prices and links to the band websites or their MySpace pages, where you can sample their musical style. If you are looking for a musical entertainment experience or something a little different that offers a bit of San Francisco history, here is some useful information:
For drinks and food have a look at their menu and specials; if you have a band and would like to book a gig; and check here for the calendar of nightly entertainment options.
Location: Hotel Utah
500 4th Street @ Bryant
San Francisco, CA 94107
415.546.6300
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