San Francisco Nightlife Scene

Some of the best music and club hopping is in the SoMa district (South of Market St.), an erstwhile industrial area now packed with bars and nightclubs — and an ever-growing number of silicon-rich baby boomers and gen-Xers caught in the middle of a controversy over which should get top priority: the neighborhood's thriving entertainment scene or the rights of new SoMa tenants (some call them yuppies) in their recently refurbished live-work lofts. The issue is a contentious one and the subject of both bar-room debate and upcoming city legislation.

Music and entertainment spots can be found in every corner of the city, no matter where you're staying. Fisherman's Wharf, North Beach, the Mission, SoMa, the Financial District and the bayside Embarcadero are all sure bets for nightlife.

Be sure and pick up one of San Francisco's alternative newsweeklies — the San Francisco Bay Guardian and the SF Weekly are free and available everywhere — for the most up-to-date listings.

Dress warmly, because temperatures can drop sharply after sundown, but be glad that San Francisco is a come-as-you-are kind of town. As a rule, people here dress up more than in Los Angeles but not as much as in New York. If there's a uniform, it's likely to be a leather jacket (for both sexes). Just don't wear shorts — not only will your legs freeze, but you'll instantly be branded as a tourist.