Bimbo's 365 Club
Category: Music Venues [Edit]
Neighborhood: North Beach/Telegraph Hill1025 Columbus Ave
(between Chestnut St & Houston St)
San Francisco, CA 94133 (415) 474-0365
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. - Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: No
- Parking: Street
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: No
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Music: Live
- Best Nights: Wed, Fri, Sat
- Happy Hour: No
- Alcohol: Full Bar
- Smoking: No
- Coat Check: Yes
90 reviews
Neighborhood: Western Addition/NOPA
"It's Monday night and there is absolutely nothing better than listening to talented musicians perform in a venue that is so intimate. It's…" read more »
266 Reviews for Bimbo's 365 Club
This is the last Italian night club in the City. I have an old friend who came to the States in the 1950's from Genoa and he likes to tell stories of the crazy nights he had in North Beach. This place is a throw back to that time.
Bimbo's is a classic and they have decades of history to prove they have the right formula. My only disappointment is that the last two times I visited the mermaid was not in the fish bowl... What gives?
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This is my favorite concert venue in San Francisco. It's intimate, it's got a classic feel, and the sound is incredible. I swear nothing compares to this place. It has so much real character and appeal. I've seen some of my most memorable shows here...mostly neo-soul and r&b acts. I just wish more of my favorites artists would play here. It's really been a while......
Cracking Venue. Cast your mind back to those classic black and white movies where the big band plays in the club, the gangsters have their favorite booth, all the tables have the cute little candles flickering through the glass holders. You get the idea. We saw The Cinematic Orchestra here. Sound quality was great. Very nice harmonics in this hall. I would love to see a big band here, no PAs etc...
They have a full bar and waitress service although it was kinda pricey. My only complaint was that when the place fills up, if you're sitting in the front 3-4 rows of tables, you cant see the stage because of the people standing in front of you on the dance floor.
Sight of the night:- Crazy tattooed drug girl dive-bombing people in the face and swearing profusely while the band played their semi-famous Grey's Anatomy chilled out tune. Oh, how I miss living in SF.
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Any venue that has a naked lady statue in the lobby gets my vote.
BTW Jamie Lidell rocked this house like a TRUE star!
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This is one of my top five most favorite venues in the city.
Awesome atmosphere? Check.
Friendly staff? Check.
Plenty of room? Check.
Amazing acoustics and sound crew? Check.
An incredible variety of amazing acts to see? Oh, can I check this one a million times?
Seirously. Bimbo's rocks.
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I think I'm one of the few San Francisco natives who has never been to this place. It takes the wedding of a very dear friend to finally get me here - and it was well worth it. I had no idea what to expect and was thoroughly impressed by the space, decor, food, and the staff.
The wedding and reception for the 200'ish guests were held in the same place. The main room was quickly transformed from wedding site - complete with chuppah on the stage and chairs for the attendees, to a beautiful dining/reception room. Twenty tables beautifully decorated, surrounding a good sized dance floor.
Guests were welcome to the bar and foyer area to enjoy cocktails and FABULOUS nibbles. Now, I'm ASSUMING that the food is from the Bimbo's kitchen. I don't know for sure. Lamb on potato pillows, tuna tartar, and these walnut and pear toast thingies that were the absolute hit of the cocktail hour. Don't ask how many of those I savored.
Dinner was also superb. First a dreamy salad with scallops and a light and sweet vinaigrette dressing. Then a combo plate of short ribs and filet with whipped potatoes and veggies. Both were cooked to perfection. Short ribs were fork tender, and the filet was cooked medium rare - just how I like it.
I don't know where the cake came from, but I have to find out because I could have had another slice.
Two bands took the stage to provide entertainment for the night - so my first 'concert' at Bimbo's! I loved watching those silver curtains rise up to reveal the band. Best part of the evening was when the groom's own band, Pork Chop Express, took to the stage and performed three songs. Two classic favorites, and one special song for the bride.
A fantastic time had by all. And now I can finally say, "Yeah, I've been to Bimbo's." It was well worth the wait.
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Bimbo's 365 Club is like stepping back in time. Love the bathrooms with the individual vanities to primp in and the retro-fabulous paneling and chandeliers.
Eat before going to see a show because the food is HORRIBLE. They shouldn't even bother trying to serve food, just stick with drinks and music.
It's a great place to see music and a good excuse to dress up and get swanky.
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Swanky, retro, classy and beautifully appointed room with lots of bars (that are cash only, grrrr) and a great sound system.
My only complaint is that the stages, while elevated, are not sufficiently high to make them visible from the back of the (GA, standing) crowd. This issue is magnified because there is a VIP seating area right in front of the stage, which pushes the front of the GA area back a good 40 feet from the stage. Thankfully, I had a good place up front from which to watch Richard Cheese, but should I have been stuck at the back I think I would have been very unhappy with the room. Lesson learned: If you're going to be standing, and particularly if you're short, be sure to get there early to procure a good spot.
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Definitely one of my favorite places to see a show.
Enough appropriate adjectives have been thrown around to describe this place -- classy, swanky, intimate, etc. The staff is great too. Everyone I've encountered from the security guards to the wait staff has been nice. I think we all know this place rocks.
So I figured I'd offer a couple tips...
If you are going to see a show and you want to to sit during the show, you may be tempted to grab the tables on the main floor. Which seems like a good idea until the folks who had been sitting on the floor in front of you stand up when the concert actually starts. Not such a great view. So try to grab a table on the side or in the back, where it's elevated.
Their mailing list... it has its benefits and drawbacks. If you're on the list, you're among the first to know about the special gigs they have there, like Robin Williams occasional "working on material" shows. The drawback is when tickets aren't selling well, it's painfully obvious. Because you'll get reminders about a show way too much (they had a show last Monday that I got two emails about THAT DAY, not to mention the previous alerts I had gotten the week leading up to it.)
The only thing I'm not a huge fan of is the fact that they have bathroom attendants. Just makes me feel weird. But it's always the same lady when I go and she is very nice. But I admit, I usually just offer a smile opposed to a buck when I get handed a paper towel.
Nice small venue that offers good music and standup comedy. The best thing about Bimbo's is it's location in North Beach. Tons of great food nearby, cool bars, excellent scene.
When reviewing a venue like Bimbo's, I have to reverse my usual rating formula. Typically, I look for reasons why an establishment should be given stars. In Bimbo's case, what could possibly make me pull one off?
Non-acceptance of credit cards in 2008 is absolutely preposterous, but that little detail only takes away .5 stars. So we're rounding up.
Everything else is fantastic. The deep reds, the pin-hole light above the bartenders table on the venue floor, the sound, the ice in the urinals and the overall classy feeling of an obviously very old venue.
Something about Bimbo's makes me wait for the bartender to hand me my drink and say, "Your money is no good here Andrew... drinks on the house".
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What a swanky little joint!
I came here this past weekend to see the hilarious Richard Cheese perform and was pleasantly surprised by how cool this small venue turned out to be!
I felt like I was hangin' at a place straight out of the 20's! The bartenders were dressed the part w/ clean, classic long sleeved shirts and as though to verify my observation, I was greeted by the velvety voice of Karina Denike from the opening jazz group. The place is dark & sexy w/ comfortable booths set-up in the back, where I envisioned 1920's gangsters posting up w/ strong whiskey & smoking fat cigars. The left stage is beautiful w/ its textured red accents and intimate setting.
As far as the drinks went, they had quite a punch to em' and were decent enough. There were bars scattered around the small venue so there was hardly a wait to snag a drink! Also, for once in my life, there wasn't a drink to be found, spilled about the ground. Maybe it's their nice carpeting that makes music goers be on their best behavior? Another plus: there's a convenient $1 coat check.
I think The Chicago Tribune sums it up best when they say that it's "one of the most plush and dramatically lit dance/music spaces in the country. The room evokes an era when big bands reigned..."
I'll be keeping my eye on this venue since I'd love to go back and take in all its loveliness!
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Very restaurant-like glitzy kind of place. I saw Air here. Sound quality is awesome.
There is a full bar, LOTS of tables (it looks more like a restaurant than a concert venue), a dance floor in front of the stage.
I liked this place, but it could have just been because of the band and the experience with the crowd.
This place Rocks!!! The setting is very classy and hip. Kinda feels like your at the Moulin Rouge. Table service was nice and the waitresses are very attentive so you get drunk fast! Plus they have 4 other bar stations. Didn't try the food but I will be back next time. The band that was playing that night rocked! The dance floor is huge and can get packed pretty fast. I can't wait to go back.....
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I really liked this club and would definitely come back for a future show. The decor was classy (see pictures) and the drinks were good. Granted, they were a little small and a little spendy, but I was having a good time and so didn't mind too much.
They do manage to squeeze their money out of you though. Besides the drink and food costs, they also get $1 for the coat check and the presence of a restroom attendant creates the expectation of a tip. Granted, he was very friendly, kept the room clean and neat, and made a point of handing you a towel when you finished washing up. The men's room included an array of 8 different colognes if you wanted a splash. I think I may need to go pick up a bottle of Marc Jacobs "Amber"...
Conveniently located just down the street from Cobb's, Sushi on North Beach, and several other north beach hangouts, Bimbo's is easily accessible by the bus or a pleasant 20 minute walk up Montgomery/Columbus from the FiDi.
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I saw Robin Williams perform here last night - FRICKING AWESOME.
And all the tables were good to view him from in this place.... BUT
1.25 hours to wait for FOOD?!!! WHAT THE F?! and you made us pay for it after that??? AND it was CRAP??? AND there were only 4 options to choose from anyway so why the long wait?!!!
Next time, just let us all bring in our own food - F%ckers.
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I too saw Robin Williams there Wednesday night. He was pretty funny. Set wasn't as long as I thought it'd be. Turns out the time waiting in line and waiting at the table was a lot longer than the actual show.
We got there about 6. Doors at 6:30. The line was already consisting of over half the audience.
Met some great people in line as we were brown-bagging it. Classy, i know. We all ended up snagging a table on the very right side and as far front as we could go without getting into the "reserved" section.
If you go, get a table on the outer edges. Makes it much easier to get up for a potty break or a dash to the bar.
Wait staff was friendly and very honest. Our waitress told us if we should wait for her or just go to the bar ourselves. Drinks were the expected $8-9. Food was the same. Got the pizza, wayyyy over done and just big enough to be a snack for two people.
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Nice and intimate -- I saw Bebel Gilberto here, and last night I enjoyed an evening with Adele. Super awesome.
Minus a star for the pesky two drink minimum the cocktail waitresses enforce, but add that star back for getting me a little drunk. Minus the star again because I am still wearing the huge permanent ink stamp on my right hand saying I'm legal. Sticks (and stinks) like Sharpie.
Sit in the wings on the side if you're at a stand-up show -- you can then stand up and you're over everyone's heads and still pretty close. Oops I shouldn't have told you that. That's my table bitch!
I wasn't a fan of this club-- at all. From the moment we walked up the Security was hassling us. Yelling at us to move up in line, get out our IDs, check our stuff, etc. The set up of the club is very strange to see a band. Lots of VIP (wow, you're soooo cool) seating on the side and reserved tables everywhere. The sound wasn't terrible from the floor, but we ended up sitting in the very back of the room so that we were able to see anything. Everyone in the back is chatting and basically ignoring the show. I thought the club overall was a terrible place to see a band.
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If only this venue had more bands because it's one of my favorites in the city. Although it does have a bit of a cruise-ship/casino vibe going on with all the deep reds and velvet, it still has the perfect set up to enjoy a show. The floor is extremely large and all of the seating around the edge is comfy and cool. The service at the bar is relatively quick although it was PACKED so it might have helped to have more bartenders. Unfortunately the biggest downside to this venue is the number of bathrooms which is way too few. I almost peed my pants and missed half the show waiting in line. Overall though, this is a great place to catch a show.
Our company threw a launch party at Bimbo's 365 and they seemed not to spare any expense. They hired a valet service so we could ditch our cars without having to worry about mundane details like parking. Upon entering I noticed a coat check desk that might have come in handy if I wore a heavy jacket.
I visited the men's room and noticed ice filling the urinals, how awesome is it to melt ice while you pee? freaking classy. The men's room attendant was mumbling something fierce behind me, but i blocked it out as I attended to melting ice.
I was told the night was going to feature an open bar, paid for by the company which to me translates to "free for all". So I headed over to Bimbo's fully stocked bar, and ordered a greyhound.
I half expected the bartender to whip out a bottle of Kamchatka vodka to fill up my greyhound. Imagine my surprise when he pulled out a bottle of Grey Goose. Admittedly this was a bit extravagant for a drink I probably wouldn't taste the vodka in and was probably going to pound. But whatever..
Fast forward a few drinks later I proceeded to the dance floor area where we got to listen to music by Pride and Joy. Bimbo's 365 is a huge venue!
Towards the end of the night, I was sad to leave... What a great time. Although I doubt I'd give 5 stars without the open bar and free valet service.
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I kept hearing about Bimbo's from friends and how wonderful a place it is. Well, yesterday was my first time there to see the wonderful and uber talented Jens Lekman and The Honeydrips. Jens Lekman was fabulous as was the seating and the ambiance! It's just one of those sweet places to have a party too. They do banquets and special events according to the 'Enchantment of the Sea' type napkins placed on the tables. The staff is awfully friendly but I'm sure that the Jens Lekman crowd drew in a delightful and subdued crowd to begin with. If you have a favorite comedian, band, musician, whatever, and they are perform at Bimbo's, there's no question - you NEED to go and check this place out. Love, love, love Bimbo's 365!
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Growing up in San Francisco, I was always DYING to see a show at Bimbo's, but was excluded because of their age limit. Now that I have been of age for a few years, I can say that it is probably my favorite venue in the City.
Everything about the Bimbo's is so classically cool and hip. I love the dark lighting, the red tones, gold accents, and table service. Went to see Robyn there last week and made sure to be the first in line to score our favorite table.
The menu has been revamped and while it's pretty limited, a cheap yummy pizza or order of fries is sometimes all you need!
Great place! Just saw Adele there last night and I love it.
"I feel like Im in good fellas" - Adele
It was a really great mellow atmosphere with the dim lights dark colors. It is just a really neat place!
Didnt hurt the service was great too, our waitress was super nice, very quick and very good at weaving in and out of seats without spilling drinks. I had a pizza too which was surprisingly cheap and surprisingly good!
Go if you can!
I recco
This place is fun! I like it better than the Fillmore, and I really like the Fillmore too. But I like this place more.
I have been coming here for many years, and recently saw Robin Williams perform here last week. Its a classy club that has been here for probably 70 years or so, but still looks great. Have seen some good cover bands here in the past and have always had a good time. The booze is reasonably priced and a fun place to party.
This place is super classy and I love the name !
I was here for my first show in San Francisco to see the lovely and talented Jens Lekman. (Jens, if you see this, will you marry me?) I guess if you get here early or just super privileged to sit at the "Reserved" sections, you can get a seat in one of their swanky booths.
I was neither of those so I stood sort of near the front of the stage. (I like to be up close anyways.)
The vibe was really chill and nobody was really pushing to get up front (OK a little but not in a rude fashion). We all swayed and danced and sang to the beautiful sounds of Jens and sort of for The Honeydrippers (which really was one dude).
I can't wait to check out other cool bands at this place.
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Bimbo's 365 is my new favorite concert spot. My boyfriend and I saw Jamie Lidell here last night, and what a phenomenal show! Jamie is an awesome performer, but Bimbo's makes the experience even better. The acoustics were extraordinarily crisp, and the close ups of Jamie on the flat screen were awesome, both of which aren't common for a smaller venue like Bimbo's. The little disco ball hanging over the dance floor completes my five star rating - I felt like I was back at a high school prom that was actually FUN! I love the atmosphere at Bimbo's altogether - perhaps what makes it a cool experience is the fact that it's been open since the '30s, and I feel like a lot of it has remained the same. The only complaint that I had was that some of the drinks were TINY - my boyfriend's drink was literally in a shooter glass filled with ice! I ordered champagne, which in terms of quantity was a much better deal than any other sort of mixed drink. The drinks are a minor detail though, and they do know how to serve up an awesome batch of french fries! I will definitely be looking for the next chance to make a trip back to Bimbo's.
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The women's bathroom attendant is a riot!
"No peeing on the seats, ladies; no peeing on the seats!"
She adds to the show experience. I go in there just to talk and listen to her.
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I've been to Bimbo's to see The Cheeseballs (Awesome party band by the way...) and Super Diamond (Bleh) play. Most recently visited this place last Thursday for a Suicide Prevention Benefit - Laughs for Life featuring the winner of Last Comic Standing, Josh Blue. He was just okay, but the venue was worth yelping since I haven't written about it yet. Big stage, good sound system, lots of seating and heavy handed bartenders. My Stoli Vanilla Diet Coke was like Stoli Vanilla and a like a teaspoon of Diet Coke. ;) That was nice, considering the drink itself was $8!
Anyway, I would definitely come back to this place for comedy or a show. It's big, yet still has an intimate feel. Parking was kinda tough so maybe next time we'll cab it.
Bimbos has been around since 1931...it's a living legend in San Francisco! If you haven't been there yet - it's definitely a venue you need to hit up. There's even a naked girl in a fish bowl!
They have all kinds of shows...anything from Spiritualized to Robin Williams preforming stand-up.
Tickets can get a bit expensive...but it's only because they have such great performers!
Beer is average-priced...but there is not a huge selection (they only have about 5 different kinds) Mixed drinks are a little pricey and a the glasses are tiny...but they're really strong so that kind of makes up for it ha.
Jens Lekman will be there the end of March - mark it on your calendar!
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wow. this place has 'it'
you dont find many places which retain their charm, but still are relevant. The performances suffer a bit from the size and shape of the room but the aura makes up for it.
Go see anyone here, their booking agent is solid.
Fantastic place to see a show.
I went last night for the first time in about a year and a half. I forgot how much I liked Bimbo's.
The opening act, Notorious, was super fun playing 80's through current hits. They really got the crowd going and I felt like they were having fun too. (the guitar player... rawr!)
The headliner was Super Diamond, a Neil Diamond tribute band. Not exactly my cup of tea but those guys are totally pro.
I've seen acts over the years from They Might Be Giants to Robin Williams doing stand-up. I always enjoy myself. Well, except when I'm trying to find parking which is ridiculous to say the least.
I definitely appreciate the coat check, the attendant in the restrooms and the cash only situation at the bar. It's a good way to keep in check. Beware of the security staff. They are pretty strict about photos. Fun times.
What's not to love about Bimbo's? First off - the name. Much better than "Whore's" or "Tramp's" When you walk in you are instantly transported back in time to the 1930's. Black leather, red velvet, waitresses in fishnet stockings...this place is straight up sexy. I've seen many interesting acts at Bimbo's, most notably Coldplay, Robin Williams, Ben Harper, Norah Jones...the list goes on and on.
Most recently I attended the Aimee Mann 2nd Annual Christmas Show. More variety act than straight up concert, the show was a perfect fit for the vibe at Bimbo's. Make sure and call ahead to see if the show you are attending is a seated show - if so you definitely want to get there early to grab a primo seat up front or one of the coveted booths on the side.
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My company hosted its holiday party here, and the venue is really nice. It's huge; there are multiple bars, elaborate decorations, and a disco ball :) There is a lot of dance floor space too...the drinks were yummy; the drink of the night was a cranberry mint martini, which tasted like candy. For some reason all of their glasses from the bar were really small, which kind of bugged me. There is one bar at the back of the main room that overlooks the whole dance floor and stage, which I loved. A concert would be cool here.
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$60 standing room only on NYE's. Lots of energy, plenty of dance floor space, festive decor & easy drink access!
Crowd: Mixed, respectful, no pushing here!
Coat check: cheap, $1 per item.
Hint: If coming for a special event, get there a little early or on time to ensure your territory.
Got carried away at dinner and missed most of the show:
The New Morty Show featuring Connie Champagne & Vise Grip and Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys
and The Frisky Frolics
and Ramshackle Romeos
and Kitty Kitty Bang Bang Burlesque
and special appearances by The Girl in the Fishbowl
With complimentary glass of champagne, hats, party favors & traditional balloon drop.
Cocktail Attire- Black Tie Optional.
Doors at 8 p.m. Tickets are $60.
21 & over are welcome
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Best place to see a concert in the Bay Area. Period.
Yes the Fillmore is great, but I like the atmosphere of 365 better.
Why only 4 stars? Like 97.294% of things in SF, parking sucks.
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Just spent the best NYE of my life here. Thanks to Big Sandy and The New Morty Show.
My mom's birthday is NYE which means that her birthday is frequently forgotten and that any Christmas presents she gets often have to do double duty. This year we convinced her to come up to SF to celebrate in style.
My stepdad, brother and brother's GF were coming along for the festivities and we needed to find something fabulous that would appeal to all ages. Our group was 26 to 60-something (sorry, mom) and that was no easy feat. Hubs was charged with the task and did an excellent job.
Although it was packed we were still able to:
* get a drink without waiting forever
* find enough space to dance
* find our friends
* AND push our way to the front when the songs were bumping (and they were almost always bumping)
My mom said it was the best birthday she's ever had, and my little bro said it was the best New Year's he could remember (maybe he didn't drink enough if he could remember?)
Fabulous night! I know where we're going next year.
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best sound in the city....their pizzas are actually pretty dahm good...that being it's a music venue and all...
I really like this place. Don't know if it's.....
The lush decor?
The several bars?
The tiered table-seating options with views of the stage?
The expansive dance-floor/standing area with a massive mirror ball directly above it?
The large, wide and easy-to-see stage which hosts intense and intimate performances (e.g., The Flaming Lips, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra...)?
Maybe it's just that I've never had a bad experience here, and I seem to find something new to love every time I go. Wait for a show you really want to see, and go...you won't be disappointed!
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