The Valencia Room

Went to a comedy show here and it was my first time at the Venue. Good location and lit parking. The service and show were both excellent.Will be back.

Amazing Halloween decor! Love this bar its always a vibe, this day it was empty so i had to deliver great photos for my google maps family.Came back on the actual holiday & it was a vibe!The music is always good, a mix of latino urbano, latest hits & hip hop. Will come back here for sure 💗

Bartenders are rude, unprofessional, and inattentive. Bartenders lied….called security and told them I threw a cup at them (a lie) to get me kicked out. I went to Valencia to celebrate my birthday, and I went to order my first drink for the night, I ordered a drink that was $26.. I was trying to get my card out to pay, and when I did I put the card on the receipt and picked up the receipt to quickly review it before I gave the bartender my card. He waved me off and put my drink behind the bar out of irritation. I stood there for 5-10 minutes after trying to get one of the bartenders attention, and they all were purposefully ignoring me while helping others around me. After a while of the petty behavior I asked if I could speak to a manager. They finally acknowledged me, but said I’m not going to act like that, and I said okay can I pay for my drink or speak to a manager I’ve been standing here and getting ignored, they said “you’re not doing that here” and proceeded to argue with me instead of taking my card. I walked away, and my brother ended up paying for the drink (that they never gave us even after we payed) and security came up and kicked me out…. And the security said that the bartender told him that I threw my cup at him….. bartender lying to get a customer kicked out. Terrible experience.

Not an adequate spot for dancing, charged $20 cover fee for first and second floor acces but that was a lie. Second floor had a different event. I personally would not go there again, waste of time, money and mood too, wish had booked something else as well.

There was a $20 charge to enter the club which wasnt worth it at all. The dance floor is small, the alcohol is still expensive. Vibe is not all that. Wouldnt recommend

Completely dead and empty late Saturday night. Charged us full admission, knowing that no one else was there. We waited about an hour and a half from more people to show up just for it to stay dead the entire night complete waste of money highly don’t recommend.

WARNING: This club has a reputation of women being roofied here. I know multiple friends (4!!) on separate occasions who went here and suspect they got roofied here.Recently, there was even a good chance the bartender was the one who roofied them as they had kept a diligent watch on their drinks for the night. Management is being informed for this recent event so they can figure out who the bartender was.STEER CLEAR, do not support this spot and their horrible practices.

This place is very 50/50 depending when you go and how early you get there. You’re paying cover 95% of the time. Cover goes from $20+ depending on how packed it is. There’s usually a line then you pay to get in and they only let you into a the bottom part of the club which is a bar and an opener DJ. Upstairs won’t open until 11 and not everyone will be let in depending on capacity upstairs. Usually have good DJs up and downstairs. Ok drinks nothing special. Rude security every time I’ve went. They also have security taking side money and letting randoms in. I wouldn’t plan my night around it. Latin nights on Sunday are usually fun. Thursdays can get ratchet. More towards a younger crowd. Dress code not enforced. Wear what you want & bring your wallet. Parking can be difficult.

Small pub but nice ambiance. Costly drinks .

Great music and ambiance, we danced for hours! Pricy coverage for a Thursday night, $20!

Its not quite the Elbow Eoom that it used to be.. But they have a great swing dancing night on wednesdays upstairs with a live band!

So fun! Get a drink, enjoy some comedy and then go downstairs for dancing afterwards. Such a fun night!

Good bar with a cool atmosphere. It was a bit crowded but nothing really annoying. Beer was cheap, music was great, staff was kind - what else would you need?

Great place for a party. Nice ambience, attentive & friendly staff, clean bathrooms.The street parking was difficult, not impossible.

Two stars so its more believable, but a $40 cover is a crime against drunk people

5 0 years of SF LGBTQ & RnR history stripped out with recent renovations done by the Valencia Room owners, just a empty hollow soulless space.

TheThe were very rude on the phone i asked what there portions were and then the women said “I’m done” and hung up

Usually crowded but a nice place to grab a beer. They have a concert space upstairs with good local groups, check their Facebook page for the calendar. I dont know if last time I was there AC was not working but it was too hot in there.

Worst place Ive been in a long time.We were a large group of 10 or 15, the place was hot as hell and they would not let anybody step outside for some air/smoke.Multiple people in the group got into arguments with the bouncers and staff for different reasons, they wouldnt even let one of us go back in to get a jacket that wed forgotten.Pretty much everybody in the staff was awful. If you hate dealing with people, maybe find another job? 🤷‍♂️The place was mostly empty, no surprise there.Wont go back if I can avoid it.

Worst experience possible. Cover is $20, same music as La Raza FM. Drinks are ok, but way too hot inside, they don’t let you in and out to catch fresh air or smoke, even if you forgot your jacket inside they’ll make you pay again to go inside. Very rude employees.

Dont waste your money on the cover charge downstairs. Just wait till upstairs is open.

Beautiful renovation and reincarnation of the famous late Elbo Room. Owners did a fantastic job of infusing a fresh jolt of smooth energy and vibrant ambience into my already favorite bar in SF.Well-stocked downstairs bar with pinball in its classic spot, new audio system is 🔥 Upstairs is a spacious second floor used for lounging and a dynamic rotation of DJs and live music.The Valencia Room is sure to remain a central icon of San Franciscos nightlife culture for a long time to come.

This place has really taken off and Im glad to see it. Its the best spot to dance and have a good time on Valencia. I absolutely love the Latin vibes. Tell the Mateo sent you.

Worst experience ever. Rude bartender that don’t ever provide service. Got mad and called security and kicked us out for absolutely no reason. do urself a favor and don’t come here. Staff is very rude and when u speak about it they kick you out. If you don’t like ur job maybe do something else? why bother? the management should something about the rude bartenders that don’t do their job.

$20 cover and I fell down the stairs here. Weird vibe

Overly aggressive outside security feel you up when they are letting you inside. Especially around your private areas. Did not feel safe from the security staff who kept up an aggressive attitude the whole time we were in the line. Stepped inside and the music was ok. Very top 40 not exactly cutting edge music vibes. $20 cover charge to enter. Worth it if theres no other place on the agenda. Also. The bar tenders clear out your drinks when they are half empty. They get very aggressive with people trying to save their half empty drinks. Extremely anti customer establishment and aggressive staff.

Great bartender shes the best on Thursday night

The music there sucks, expensive cover charge. When we left the club and stood outside, the security guard told us to get out of there and keep walking down the street. That was extremely rude. I’ve never felt humiliated like this.

This is not a safe place for women to go alone!My drink got tampered at the bar where they play hip hop songs.The criminal who tampered with my drink wasn’t from the staff but the bar is so crowded that having sight on anything as important as your drink is not easy.I could walk out of that place safely but will never ever go back

F&B does tostadas outside from fri-sun when they’re not catering elsewhere. Easily the best ceviche I’ve had in the city so far. The tostada comes with mango and avocado for free! Really good deal too ($5 for ceviche, $4 the others but I didn’t try those)

People need to start dancing instead of just tryna look good 🤣

Came here last night, on Saturday. Arrived before they started to start charging cover charges. The downstairs bar reminded me of a dive bar (which is fine). Music wasn’t great though and (before the crowds came) the bartender was rude from the get go, acting annoyed from the first drink we order and then for the rest of the evening. Our group ordered decent liquor (not bottom shelf) yet the drinks still were not made that great. It’s annoying when a bartender acts annoyed from the start, especially when this isn’t even a high end place, so audacity he must have. If the staff were more friendly then more stars would be given, but when you feel timid about having to order drinks because of how the staff reacts, it really kills the experience.

PROS: Good music, fun dancingCONS: There was a male bouncer/manager that was ridiculously rude to my friend and I on Halloween weekend. We were minding our own business at the bar when he told us to get off the bar seats because they didnt belong there. Very abrupt and stern tone when they were there and open to sit on. I told him they were here when we arrived. Which he responded with Ya they arent suppose to be here.. So although we thought it was very rude we didnt think pay it any attention. Next, anytime he moved through the crowd he would just take people by the shoulders and move them out of the way without a simple excuse me or anything. It was a crowded bar on a busy weekend. I felt this was also extremely unnecessary. Last, we were trying to get upstairs to another dancing floor so we stood in line, many people were doing the same. We were towards the front and he yelled right in our faces that we were not going to get in unless we stood behind 5 feet back which was impossible because the bar was shoulder to shoulder packed. We decided that was enough, you should never treat people like that and left. It was quite sad considering the bartenders, all other security and bouncers were extremely nice. This person ruined it for everyone. I wish I would have found his name.

Went in for my 21st birthday, even though my group showed nothing but respect the bouncers were very disrespectful. The staff all look like they hate their jobs. The bouncer lied about being able to come upstairs and downstairs even though he said it was no different. Also forcing a line inside the bottom floor to go upstairs which consisted of 30 plus people. My group ended up leaving because we waited an hour in line after being told it would a 15-30min wait. Honestly if your going into the city for a fun time this is not the place. Better off going to a 18+ sf arena event, seriously.

When I paid 40 dollars for two and then went outside to get some fresh air, the club security guard said get away from the establishment, while I didn’t shout, I dont recommend these establishments. I waited for my drink 30 minutes to order it and I turned around and left

This place is a lot of fun! Ive been here twice now. I personally come here to dance. Theres an open space at the end of the room and its nice before it gets drenched and soaked with alcohol. Later in the night it becomes your typical club-like space where some people grind on each other and whatnot but majority of people there I assume are there to have a good time with friends. It depends on your preference of night scene but if dancing isnt your thing, the drinks are great there.

What a nightmare! Valencia Room Club in San Francisco is an absolute disaster. The staff couldnt care less about customers, extremely aggressive, specially the angry “girl” at the entrance desk, the place is a filthy mess, drinks are both overpriced and very small, the waiters are rude, and their dj needs an update… Also they dont allow in&outs, its extremely hot inside and they dont give you a ticket or stamp…I hope the IRS pays them a visit…Save yourself the misery and avoid this dump at all costs!

Wanted to try out this club and did not have a good experience. There was a pretty long line to get in and there was a $20 cover charge. After getting in, there’s a really small bar area with the only spot to really dance being the upstairs area. They wouldn’t let a group of 9 girls with 2 guys up for almost half an hour. Security was constantly flashing their lights and yelling at people to move back even though there was no space at all to move anywhere downstairs. They obviously let in more people than they could handle. The scene and people were kind of reckless too, some guys were throwing cups of drinks at women for no reason. Just a really off experience and I’ve been to many clubs here in sf and southern california. Definitely can find somewhere better

Don’t come hungry, they won’t serve you or even ask for drinks until 30 minutes after you’re seated. Also, they won’t let you tip whatever you feel is appropriate, they automatically add a 20% gratuity to whatever bill you have. The servers are nice, but the quality is so low. Not worth your money, not worth your hours of time to get one drink.

Had a unpleasant experience with the bouncers at the Valencia room tonight. I was waiting for my Lyft outside and the bouncer aggressively told my friends and I we could not wait on the sidewalk and had to move to the corner. They did not give a reason for why we had to move and were quite forceful.

Have been before many times, and have spent good money here. Lastnight was a very odd experience where they made it seem as if the outside patio was the only option so I went with it but when having to use the bathroom and having watched the door it seemed like tons of people were being directed inside... not sure what was going on but as a loyal customer it seemed very off putting. I still made the most of my experience and ordered alot of drinks and ensured I had a good time but something was sooo off about what was going on.

The pinball machines in the back are a nice touch - they definitely give the joint that something extra. I personally enjoy the mix drink menu (they definitely play around with some unique flavors). On a weekend this place is guaranteed to be crowded so you might have to wait a bit for your beverage.

A classic local SF bar. They have pin ball and a small dance floor which can be a nice spot to dance. There is also a music venue above this place.The drinks are nice and cheap. The spot isnt super large, but there are places to sit (which are of high value here). Grab a booth and get drunk with your friends.

Cover is overpriced. Not worthwhile, quite empty on weekend nights

Loved the sound and vibes at the Planet Disco event the other night. Ghost bag, SHDWS, Kendoll or was amazing

I forgot how awesome this place is until I went back a couple weeks ago. Its a two-story dive bar with reasonably priced drinks. Downstairs is a lounge, plus small dance floor, where they usually have a dj, and upstairs, they often has a live band. (usually a cover to go upstairs) I heard they might have to close, so go soon. Lets hope this place sticks around for many years.

Second time contracting COVID-19 from this place, events aren’t even properly updated, and cover charges are not stated beforehand on website. What a mess! I understand that clubs have a harder time with COVID regulations since so many people are crammed into a tight space but wow, y’all don’t even try!

Nice venue, good drinks, however very limited seating and none upstairs for concerts. Plus it is incredibly dark in the bar, more than just traditional bar dark. The bartenders make the drinks really fast, which is great but are a bit stand offish, and reluctant to assist you when theyve made a mistake.

This place is awesome only been there one time, but I noticed the stage was sufficient in size as well as the front stage area. Space to get to the bar etc. I didnt even make it upstairs I was enjoying the band whose name I cant fully remember. I have a CD of theres packed up now. Posting the live performance footage I shot of Home is Where You Roam

One of my go to places in the Mission.Drink prices are on average with SF prices: $6 beers - $9-12 mixed.The atmosphere is dark and a little dirty but, its a place I have always had fun at.Downstairs for a small cover is usually some dance/music event and the main area has some seating.However, this place is always full. Always. No elbo room.There are pinball machines in the back as well but, sometimes it gets hot and stuffy.I know it sounds like most people wouldnt like it but, there is something charming about the place.

I tried this place since not many places are not open. My friend and I had Martini and it was not bad but we had to pay $45 dollars (18% gratuity is automatically included). I know its not cheap in SF but 17 dollars for one plastic glasses of Martini wasnt pleasant. Not worth your money.

Went there the night pf october 30, 2022 Wasnt too crowded for the 30 dollar cover they were charging. What was completely awful and annoying was the fact the dj was reminding every 2 songs his name and suddenly about 11:45 every song was playing was interrupted by the annoying influencer they invited. Probably wont come back again.

Just left Elbo Room. We got there around 12:30 and the bartender was super nice. My girlfriend and I talked at the bar while my boyfriend played pinball. At 1:40, the lights came on, and even though they close at 2, they asked everyone to leave. My girlfriend and I were done with our drinks, but my boyfriend was still playing pinball. We walked over to the machine he was playing and were there for maybe a minute. Maybe less. And an employee came up and asked us to leave. We explained that he was just finishing up his game and we were out. He said okay but hung around just kind of watching. About a minute later he walked up and said he can finish playing, but you ladies have to leave the building. At this point, we have no drinks, we arent loud or disruptive. Were literally just standing next to the machine and its still 15 minutes until they close. My boyfriend ended up just leaving his game unfinished. We werent lingering or causing problems like other patrons.Completely ridiculous. Ill never be back.

Super cool upstairs downstairs thing going on but two drinks was $45 with tip and the bathroom was just unisex stalls with no door to it but fun time.

Not worth the $20 cover. They only let you in the small first floor and when try to go to the second floor, the bouncer ask if you are a VIP or have a bracelet, which I have no idea what he was talking about. When I ask the guy at the door when I was leaving, he says “yeah, that door guy doesn’t let manny guys upstairs“. In general a poor experience for the entrance fee.

Elbo room has a really great atmosphere, and a good selection of beers. The cocktails list is pretty pineapple and ginger beer heavy, but the pours are pretty healthy. Definitely a fun, dimly lit, atmospheric place to grab a drink if you want to be able to hold a conversation.

Ive noticed a theme in my reviews- I REALLY like happy hour. And Elbo Room has a great cheap one! $3 well drinks- no one can complain about those prices. And I love the little booths.

The old Elbo Room has received an upgrade, well kinda. The old establishment seemed to have have a bit more flava but version 2.0 is less busy and definitely cleaner. I miss the arcade games though. My GF and I went to see a great locals Wednesday night comedy showcase which is just what we needed after a number of months staying in because of Covid-19. The comics are great and the only improvement I would ask for is a few more mocktails on the menu for us non-drinkers.

Went to a concert here for the second time. Spectral Voice. There were technical difficulties with the amps shutting off for 2 of the bands (not the bands equipment but the venues racks). It was fairly frustrating. Overall the venue is good when things work.

I like this spot. Cool staff, video games, good sound system (initially plagued with problems for a while after being newly installed). The music is decent. Seems to be having trouble regaining its swagger from when it was the long revered Elbo Room.

This is a larger Valencia St bar with lots of seating (although the seats always seem to be full, so you dont get much elbow room). Its pretty dark inside, which can be nice if you grab a booth and enjoy beers and good company. They have some arcade games behind the bar and also some sort of theater upstairs, but I havent ventured up there yet.

Great bar that gets PACKED on weekends. Bring your cash and order a Dark and Stormy!Downstairs is free, but upstairs will have a cover. The coasters come with trivia questions, which are pretty entertaining.

Super cool vibe at the Elbo Room at 647 Valencia St in San Francisco!A laid back bar with a low lighting which creates a great atmosphere for those who enjoy the feeling of being seen but not being seen. The Elbo Room has one pool table in the back area of the first floor along with TVs playing great music videos. Upstairs at the Elbo Room theres a good sized band stand and a second bar. Theres a cover charge for upstairs when awesome local and out of town talent plays. Bands are mostly original music bands of the indie type mixed with all other types of music. Downstairs is a no cover charge area. If your in the area its well worth checking out!

Terrible display of hospitality. First let me tell you that I empathize with all service, but after its been apparent that you are hustling people. ( with the excuse of well covid) and everyone including the management is involved. When they have automatic gratuity for one person...means get out of there. I asked some of the staff to explain auto grat to me and they all said the same thing...well its because covid wrong you are clearly leveraging your quality of service. Being in restaurant management Ive heard all the excuses. What you arent saying is that you believe your clientele to be cheap and fear they wont tip you. Heres the problem, your service was the worst in the city. First your door man told me to get friends if I want to come into the bar... then when I asked him. A very simple question he found a table, where I ordered a double shot mule that came out as a single alongside some cold and rotten tasting fried chicken. The server was completely cold and jaded. Never was I presented woth a menu. Treated like a low tipping scoundrel from the beginning to the end. I know that auto gratuity for one person is a choice. I was more surprised that the management is so bad that they blindly accept that level of service. I am a firm believer of earning your tips. I assure you I have been stiffed before by guests in a restaurant, even as the boss, but still you DO NOT TRADE the integrity of the owners and management for a Single person auto gratuity. If the service quality was higher, my brain would not have flagged such a poor move. I assure you serious clientele will be lost. Believe me I do this for a living. Feel free to come in and test my hospitality at my restaurant. And Ill leave you with this last thought. I actually understand the reason behind auto gratuity , sooner or later you have to make a determination...are you sure ita the clients that are cheap or do you need to re-train...well hes the only unhappy person that night take your auto gratuity training wheels off and test your crew... if you do a good job you make much more money...are you afraid of making more money?

This is what gentrification looks like in the Mission. Beer is $11 a pop, then 10% service charge, then tax on the whole amount, including the tip! Yes, they will charge you tax on the tip.$26.28 for two beers is the new greedy reality.

We arrived around 1:30 we ordered some beers and sat in a box, we were quiet and polite. 15 minutes later the waiters came and said they were closing. He took our drinks (half full). I asked to finish my drink like a shot, he call security. We asked him if that was a proper reaction or a joke. He called for security again. We went out several peolple who experienced the same things were pretty furious.Do not serve people if you dont want them to finish their drink or at least warn them. I worked in a student bar for many years and we never had such a situation like this. Unprofessional.

Im not really sure why this venue is such a big deal. I realize its been around a long time and some really famous bands have played there but the venue itself isnt that amazing. I dont think the sound is particularly good and the burlesque shows Ive attended upstairs have really bad seating options - its always hard to see whats going on.

Very dark and divey, terrible cocktails, unfriendly bartender... yet, a good spot for a certain mood if you are a fellow dive bar enthusiast. Recommend beer or straight liquor, do not attempt to get creative.

Worst service everFirst and last time to the VRServer Zoe didn’t acknowledge or take time to take our orders after 30 mins she finally came and greeted us only after complaining to the doorman Tony . He was no help and the start of the problem. Promised to seat us inside only after full reservations came in which is fair. My problem is when he offered the option of inside vs. outside to a table of white patrons vs. who did not have a reservationThis place is trash don’t waste your time

Ive been to several clubs around San Francisco and this has always been a go to favorite. Each club, and even each night, seems to bring out a different crowd, and i dont know what changes, but the crowd at the Elbo Room just gets me. Its always been a fun place to relax and unwind at the end of the week.

Coming from Brooklyn and the LES in New York this place had the dark, fun vibe we ate used to. Played some pinball and had great drinks at a reasonable price and made fast. Music was on point.

Really want to love Elbo Room and their awesome happy hour (5-9pm) but on the weekends this place can be obscenely crowded, on the weekdays during slow periods the service can still be terrible and usually at least one pinball machine is malfunctioning/ eating your money. They do have a photobooth though that is usually fully functioning as well as fun dance nights upstairs.

First off, this place is DARK. When I say dark, I mean dark. Its almost impossible to see in here when coming in from the daylight and its also loud. Both times Ive been here, it was difficult to sit down with a group of more than 2. Drinks are moderately priced but not particularly notable (read: usual beers and mixed drinks). However, their cocktail napkins are great! They have different types of trivia questions on them which are fun to throw around with a large group. Be careful when you leave, because the light from outside will likely blind you as you emerge from this cave-like bar.

Worst place ever. We stood in line and paid $20 each only to wait inside club to go to the dance floor which is upstairs. Pathetic staff and security. Just a money looting business

Dont usually leave reviews for clubs but noticed all the one stars and was really confused. Lots of hot girls, good music, 5 stars easily.

Checked out the social distance sidewalk space open Thu-Sun. DJ was bumping some good music out into the street. Plenty of tables. Drinks and food were a little overpriced, $12 for a small Margarita to go. Closest thing to a nightclub youll find while Rona is around.

I stopped by after work for happy hour and was told by the bartender that I belonged in the Marina. Presumably because I was wearing a button down shirt and khakis having come straight from the office. He probably should have held such comment until after the tip. Other friends were rudely ignored and service was slow for a dead bar. To many great options in the Mission to spend time in this stink hole.

The crowd is friendly, the music is good, the only downside is you have to pay to go upstair. Ladies, wear a skirt or dress because you will get a discount - $5 to go up. Upstair is nice, the room is much bigger.

Elbo room is one of my favorite SF bars, in that its not artisanal, not divey, but a little weird in just the right way. There are a few arcade games downstairs, usually some off kilter old movie is playing, pint size mixed drinks, and a photobooth! Its cozy and lively at the same time, theres a good vibe. Downstairs can get a bit too loud. Live music/dancing upstairs is usually also awesome.

Love this place for dancing. Cant speak to the alcohol as I dont consume it. They have great bands and DJs upstairs though and at cover charges on the cheap side. I love DJ Seps beats on Dancehall/Dub Step Sunday nights!

Stopped by on a Wed night and it was pretty empty. Good 80’s music playlist. Decent prices, but keep in mind it’s cash only. We were sad bc the photo booth was broken, and staff seemed to act like that was a regular issue.

The bar is very dark. I was there around 5pm. The drinks are really cheap 4$ the pint during happy hours (from 5 to 9pm)There is a strong smell of incense

I used to love going to see live music here (fka Elbo Room), but I had a really bad experience this past weekend at the new Valencia Room. After paying $50 to get upstairs for live music, we promptly turned around and went back downstairs. There was a DJ upstairs (not a live band), and a bunch of people who were all rolling off their faces, which wasnt our scene. The management refused to refund our $50, even though we had only been upstairs for about 30 seconds. Fine if the new Valencia Room wants to transition to more of a club vibe, but they shouldve given us a heads-up... or at the very least, given us our money back. I wont be going back!

If you are a tourist looking for something to do at night, going to a place where only locals attend, u should come to this place. Ive been here, was so much fun! I was on vacay in San Francisco, tried a jamaican beer Red Stripe for a very cheap price on a saturday night, was playing dub reggae. It was so much fun! Was incredible!

The Valencia room was great I Will always Love this bar dance it got great music still outside blah blah blah but whoever they get their food from it is awful you only get two choices and the fried Chicken was greasy as hell it was served with no sauce and the sauce that I received was bad bad bad very greasy just like the chicken I wouldnt suggest that the Valencia room connect with another restaurant besides the one that they are using so that people can have a second choice because of Valencia room is a great place to go have great strong drinks but the food is awful whoever theyre contracting with they should stop stop stop stop stop stop stop stop because I know people go to the Valencia room for drinks but if you have to spend $14 on food and then on top of spending $13 on a martini pedal one martini you might as well be able to enjoy some food that you have to order

This bar gets hella crowded and is generally overrated in my opinion, but I get that if youre around 16th and Mission its a natural place to start the night.Remember its cash only, and be nice to the bouncers or else they wont let you in if its crowded.

Cool place with nice design of bar and roof lighting. The dj played song from Baris Manco’s album. I really was shocked!Taking drinks take too long and bartenders are not that welcoming!

Beware of pickpockets! Or better still: Avoid this place like the plague.Pro thieves have been robbing people at Elbo Room for years, and the staff have no interest in catching them. They have security cameras, but refuse to look through the footage. I’m sure it’s the same dirtbags over and over again.Luckily this s-hole is being razed to the ground soon. In this case gentrification is a good thing.

[from Aug 2006]Just attended a show here with a fellow Yelper. Opening act (Mad Maggies) was cute, though not particularly talented. Main act (Brave Combo) was a hell of a lot of fun.Decor was darkish, a bit ecclectic. Drinks were fine and reasonably priced. Bartender seemed friendly.This was my only experience with this place, so Im afraid I dont have much more brilliant stuff to add. Ill be back if theres another band I like thats playing there.

This place is a hidden gem of a bar in Mission. $4 happy hour from 5 till 9 pm. Pinball machines and a good beer selection make it great.

Overcrowded, difficult getting in and out of the establishment. Less than ideal drinks and dancing environment. A decent experience that can follow the more elite clubs in San Francisco.

Oddly named, as you will never have elbow room if you go here at the right time on a weekend. Theres a projector, a small arcade, and young people drinking and doing stuff to each other. If thats your game, you can play it here.

I came here in early January to catch Lavay Smith on the upstairs stage. The sound system is much improved, acoustics were excellent. Big stage for the band, largish floor for dancing (by San Francisco standards). I miss the Elbo room, but am happy to see quality Jazz like Lavay Smith in a venue big enough for dancing.

Complete trap club. They force you to enter, for 20$. They not even let you go out for smoking without re-paying the entrance.Bad music and mood.

They do not go light on the drinks here. Crowd can get a bit rowdy, upstairs is a great little music venue for some eclectic acts. Worth a visit.

Ok. Weekends. $20 to go in if you are not on guest list before 10. 25$ after 10 regardless.Also you cannot go on the second floor unless you are a VIP or table service.

It was super crowded as the name would imply, and they offered free water. The bathroom was atrocious. The band I saw was good. Id follow my friends there again.

Lottsa pretty friendly woman here who like to flirt and enjo y lively conversation..friendly bartender very good music being played~ not crowded~ good mixed drinks~ resonable liquor prices~ nice pplace too enjoy a few cocktails and be among a good crowd of people enjoying valencia st. And plenty of good places to eat within a couple of minutes of walking..burrito shops ..pizza places..indian food (curry dishes) indoor~ outdoor dining to go eateries etc..etc~ many types of different restuarants to please you!! Have Fun~

Save your money and go somewhere else especially with their no in and outs policy.

If you’re looking to dance look no further. Every time I’ve been there the music upstairs gets me dancing. Nice cozy bar downstairs with pinball and a photo booth

Great atmosphere, average prices. They have a live band upstairs. Theres a couple pool tables on the first floor. It gets crowded and busy some nights.

Bar tender with pony tail and tight t-shirt was SoOo rude to me and my husband. He was extremely unprofessional and negative. I had to ask him if he was having a bad day...will never come back.

The place was dope and our server was so nice. The bartender Angelica was sooo bad and rude. She’s an 18 year old that should go back to forever 21 with that attitude.

Betwixt a mid day happenstance my fiance, beautiful as she is, suggested a spontaneous journey into the room of little space, an elbo room if you will, beyond the daylight-cursing blinds and record-weilding music buffs.Bartenders ok. They half-muddled my mintocouldada, ofc I knew better, i.e. evenings at Evil Eye and some such. I shared the pinball paddles with my compadre, Bruce, and we pinned into the night.Overall DJs were trippin off the chain, onesie laden females danced whenceforth the bar boundaries, and man, we were in heaven.Four stars for the dirty unsanitary bathroom conditions and yelling peoples in the back-of-the-house. Otherwise...Elbo Room is GOOD PEOPLES!- CRK

Booohhh👎20$ for nothing- 1st floor is super lame- The 2nd floor is not included. You have to pay extra or have luck.- DJ were daym bad.Why is this so hyped?

Live music venue for over 25 years. Reasonable cover charge usually. Decent sound system. Good air conditioning. A San Francisco staple in the Mission on Valencia.

I had a really good time the music was to my liking you can dance play pinball or upgrade to a different section upstairs of the bar friendly local establishment drink prices reasonable so it is a good honky tonk bar I would say best described my experience.

Good place for a few drinks make sure to stay inside once u are out u have to pay again the 20usd cover.

Bottom floor is mellow dive bar territory, but the upstairs offers a staggering variety of shows from funk to soul, house to dub, hip hop to reggae.

Terrible staff here. Act like they are above everyone else. Keeping people away front the front of there club while we are waiting for Uber’s.

I was assaulted by the door man here (he punched me in the face) on 08/28/2015 for inadvertently carrying out a plastic cup of water. Filed a police report to that effect. People waiting in line had looks of disbelief. This is not normal or acceptable behavior.On top of that, the sound girl had no idea what she was doing. Muddied vocals and screeching feedback the entire time.I was hoping their lease would not be renewed, that would have been karmic.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but if youre from the west indies looking for that cultured tune youre not going to find it here...its not Reggae. the music was completly horrible, it was a mixture of drum and bass with a spanish/brazilian twist to it ....BUT both downstairs and upstairs have an nice crowd, excellent scene, great bar, and outstanding service... the reggae just is NOT REGGAE.

This dive bar in the Mission has some great tabletop video games and some beat up pinball machines. Its dark and dingy, but a fun place to hang out.

Cool little bar, great cheap cocktails. Havent been upstairs but on the night we went there was a metal band playing so the music seems diverse - a very good thing!

First you gotta make a big line to get in which is 20$, once you’re in to get to the actual event there’s a second line for which you gotta pay off the record the security guy to get in, or befriend him. Save your time and money and go to any other place either at North Beach or Marina.

Nice place , Latinos in the House

Worst club i’ve been in SF to date. Try and keep it exclusive to act like it’s a club that is better than it actually is. Better luck going to somewhere in the are with a good reputation

This bar is excellent. Love the dive bar SF feel but cool clientele, no attitudes. Good place to dance!

Very glad rumors of the ELBO Room’s demise were premature. The beer was cold and cheaper than expected, the staff was attentive and professional, and the show was great!

Good music compared to other bars in the area. And theres enough bartenders to get your drink on time.

Friendly door staff, attentive bar tender and impressive array of pinball machines. Quiet on a Tuesday at 1am but perhaps to be expected.

The food was just OK (though we did show up just a little before closing) but the drinks were yummy and the service was great.

Very good bar with chill bartenders and strong drinks.Great place with tables and excellent happy hour.Pizza places and taquerias just blocks away.

Awesome moody ambience. Good drinks. This used to be my go-to bar before Valencia Street turned into Chestnut Street 2.0.

Upstairs sunday night at the Dub Misson will never be forgotten. ... Good vibes. Always a packed dance floor......been going for years. Never a disappiontment.Respect

Cover charge way to expensive for what it is. Drinks also really expensive. And lastly, really straight club, way too straight.

Great bar in the Mission--tasty drinks and incredible prices. Get the Dark n Stormy! Theres also pinball in the back!

A bit of a dive bar, but the people make it good. Located in the popular mission district, this is a decent spot to meet up w some mates for some ore-drinks.

Cheap generous (strong) drinks, a bit too dark/loud for my tastes, hosts fun events, very near the excellent Taqueria El Buen Sabor.

Classic dark bar in the mission with pinball and a strong Manhattan. Good meeting spot. Great location. Friendly staff.

Elbo is a SF tradition & been here longer than me :) its just not exciting I DO like: no cover to drink & play pool downstairs even if theres live entertainment b/c its upstairs w/ a sep. cover

Took $20 from us for drinks, and then announced that the bar was closing. The bartender refused to give us our drinks or my money back. Won’t be coming back.

SCAM ALERT! They demand you to pay $20 more if you once go to take some air. They also stamp you like it you already paid. SCAM ALERT! Shut down this scammers!

Great spot! Affordable drinks, and large flashy dance floors

If the Aadams Family had a bar I reckon it would have looked like this. Eclectic decor, good range of cocktails and beers and an upstairs room with some great live bands.

Love the style of bar, dark lighting and their unique drink selection. They have a few arcade machines in the back as well.

New place in the town, with good drinks and okay music. However they have a secret dance floor on the top floor.

Solid cheap liquor mixed drink specials (which is a relief to find in the mission), and cool ambiance. Live music frequently happens here too.

Classic Valencia Street pub and upstairs music and performance venue. Urban, varied crowd and solid service. Reasonable prices and edgy acts.

Update: not sure if this is the same management but this review was for the Elbo Room. A classic instituiton. Been enjoying libations here since around 2010 and I wouldnt change anything about it.

Crowded bar but cheap drinks and upstairs area for events. Theres also a pinball area at the back which is a nice spot for a date.

Cool, old-school place with very reasonable drinks. Worth a stop in if you are looking for an authentic local bar and music venue.

Cool spot for a weekday night when its quieter. The Dark and Stormy is great. Sometimes theres live music upstairs too.

Decent beer prices, pinball machines, chill on weeknights, and theres even a huge second floor that sometimes has shows or events.

Too hot to actually dance. That said, staff is awesome and well trained. Facilities are well maintained

Great drinks and atmosphere but can get crowded. Generally a better spot when there actually is elbow room

Im not a fan, but a lot of people are. Its always been way too loud and crowded for me. They have shows on the 2nd floor. The 1st floor has booths, but its hard to get a seat during prime time.

Worst place ever. 40 minutes to get a beer. 50min to take my card back. Overcharged by mistake so that I had to wait other 20 min. Do not go.

Saw a show here upstairs - great venue. Awesome bar downstairs win pinball too!

Been here twice and always got to see nice gigs. Good place for drinks too.

Cash Only, Chill little bar, pinball machines, live dj spinning random selections from the 50s when i was there. Fun times.

Very helpful bartender, well crafted cocktails and several pinball games to boot. Such a chill spot

Stopped while in town at about 6. Not too packed but wasnt dead. Great specialty Cocktails

Its still got that elbow room feel, but they have opened up a bit and made room for a dance floor.

The Elbo used to be a happening place in the mission district in SF, but now the crowd is scarce. The drinks a little pricey, but that hasnt changed from years past.

Went there with my boyfrend to support his friend was a upcoming DJ artist his name was Josue ; had that club littt! Def going back again!!

Terrible bar, they charge you $20 and don’t even let you upstairs to what is the majority of the bar.

Good drinks(especially the margaritas) but not the best interior lighting. Great space tho

Fun bar to go out to with friends. Make sure to check and see if there are any shows happening.

The drinks were good, but watch out...its a cash only bar.

Great energy. Walked in on a weekend night and there was a live rap concert going on. Was really cool

Saw a couple of bands here. Liked the venue but it was very crowded and hot. Would go back.

Make sure you go upstairs, that’s where the real party is 😊 the place is pretty cool

Worst bar in SF. Super bad service, waited 30 minutes to get some beers, dirty tables, don’t ever come.

Upstairs room with specialty music! great specialty drink menu, photo booth, its just super crowded friday/saturday nights

Great beers on tap. Always good tunes upstairs. World or house music most of the time.

Horrible establishment.. They put nails and screws out on benches so the homeless cant sit down without getting hurt.. Just plain mean and inhumane..

One of my favorite bars in SF. Cheap drinks, good vibe, great spot.

Really good place to hang out , Juan, Fernando,and jaime really know how to give good hospitality , and I would definitely come back again

Absolutely loved this bar. Go check it out. You wont be disappointed 😉

They brought a drink we didn’t order and still put it on the receipt. Forced gratuity of 18.5% without it listed anywhere

A wonderful quiet dark place for a drink during early evenings. Lively place later in the night.

Im just glad they are back open again

Great dive-bar vibe downstairs, upstairs has events and parties just about every night of the week.

Pac man tables, great live music, variety of good/cheap beers, perfect night out in the mission

Haiku:Only worth goingif you pay upstairs cover.Soul Night is the best.

This place have a digger security they take money a-lot of money to let you going inside it’s not a good place and so disgusting hope this stuff get fired and get a good people hope if i can do more than this review but it’s okay

Great bar, crowded on weekends. Still good music shows.

Decent bar, got quick drinks, but went early.

Cool place to have a drink even though it was really crowded the night I went.

Fun dive bar for when youre not feeling the fancy but still want some quality.

Pretty cool spot for some decent priced drinks and good vibes/music

Love the place, very eclectic very dark inside, it is so fun, try it you will like it.

Amazing place. Highly recommended

Classic neighbourhood bar. I love coming here for happy hour and knocking back a few Dark n Stormys

Fake line to give a false impression of popularity. Would not recommend. To rectify, please contact me.

Um, this place is too dark for me. I would not recommend meeting people here because you might get disappointed the next day. Just saying.

Its lit, but be prepared to get patted down like a supervillain.

Great happy hour, a bit dark but eclectic inside!

Disco party on Sunday. Clean bathrooms. Great drinks! Go go dancers 😍😍😍

Terrible. Line outside but nobody inside. They charge a cover for an empty bar

Great happy hour specials, decent cocktails, and great atmosphere.

Great venue for live music and good drinks. Also pinball machines!

Good outdoor space, but drinks are pricey

Flew from NYC for a party with FnF and it was amazing. Great sound. Nice dancefloor.

Elbo Room is a darling bastion of old SF! May its fortifications never be breached by the dastardly developers.

Fun place to hang out! Great atmosphere!

Nice atmosphere and has two levels for dancing.

No cover, pretty good music. SF priced drinks