I reached out to Aaron's group to help me surprise my family during my grandfather Arthur's…read morememorial/99th birthday celebration of life. Aaron was immediately responsive, understanding to our situation, and accommodating of our needs. The booking process was seamless and easy. Everyone that knew Art, knew how huge of a jazz fan he was, and even more so an Artie Shaw fan. Aarons trio was absolutely fabulous and they were even able to play a rendition of his favorite song, Moonglow. I'll forever be grateful as they gave my entire family comfort and genuine memories of Arthur during this emotional time. They played an outstanding performance I know my grandfather would have loved. Thank you guys sincerely!

From the owner: This ensemble brings artistry and style to any event with masterful renditions of classic jazz…read morecompositions by the likes of Duke Ellington, Cole Porter, Ira Gerswin, Irving Berlin, Miles Davis and Charlie Parker. The Aaron Bennett jazz combo has been performing jazz classics at weddings, parties, corporate events, fundraisers and clubs throughout the bay area for over two decades, including a 15 year stint at Cafe Claude in Union Square. Booking Inquiries: booking@aarondavidbennett.com *fees are negotiable and vary based on availability, travel required, special requests and budget

Radio Gatsby absolutely crushed it at our wedding and we are still talking about it!…read more We had a solo pianist for the ceremony, a quartet during cocktail hour, and a full band for dinner and dancing. Every part of the day had its own perfect vibe and they nailed all of it. They played every song we wanted and steered completely clear of the ones we didn't, which honestly meant so much to us. Our guests would not stop raving about the music all night and weeks after! We loved every second of it. The dance floor was full from start to finish. If you are looking for musicians who will genuinely make your day feel like YOUR day, book Radio Gatsby. You will not regret it!

Radio Gatsby was the best choice we made in planning our wedding. Noam was a pleasure to work with,…read morehe helped us through the timing and planning of the musical events of the day, and had valuable insight into what certain things should look like to get the best experience for us and our guests. And then when the band started playing during the dinner, it was clear that they would make the night. People were dancing even before the dinner ended and the dance party began. Radio Gatsby brought so much energy with their renditions of the songs we chose; the floor was crowded with dancers all night as they played banger after banger. They took great solos, sang beautiful vocals, and made every moment special, from the first dance to the hora to the last song. It was well worth the extra expense of having a live band instead of a DJ, no question about it!

I came for the Take A Dance On Me event on Feb. 20th, 2026. I can't lie, the DJ didn't disappoint…read morewith the ABBA music. I even heard songs such as The Winner Takes It All, Under Attack, When All Is Said and Done, Slipping Through My Fingers, Don't Shut Me Down (new album 2021). However, the last 1.5 was dedicated to EDM and House music which ruined the mood for me. I left earlier than I had expected. The staff was very friendly and it got super-crowded in the room where the event was taking place. If they ever do another one, I plan to return.

I'm not sure why I've been so lackadaisical about writing my personal appraisal of El Rio. I've…read morebeen just a handful of times in the past year, and honestly not been disappointed with my experiences here. The only times that dishearten me was when they decided to close the bar for private events, often leaving me disgruntled to find another place to wet my whistle. I can think of worse things in life like JD Vance becoming VP. Now that would be a tragedy. I usually find myself here when they open at 5PM during the week. Jasmine has been my bartender of choice, and she makes a mean cocktail whether it be a rollicking $8 Tequila Sunrise (photo: https://yelp.to/zp4Bw0t2Cx) or one of the house specialties, the smoothly spiky $12 Margarita Silencio Mezcal (photo: https://yelp.to/NJiZldM8EI). More often than not, I find myself sauntering over to the expansive back patio where one part was usually being decorated for an imminent group event, while the remainder was free for solitary drinkers looking for a moment of reflection while imbibing a libation or three. I've yet to have a problem of overstaying my welcome, but then again, that's part of the inclusive nature of El Rio. Indeed I belong here. DRINKS - 4 stars...not lethal but potent enough to make me think the Carmen Miranda cutout actually moved AMBIANCE - 4.5 stars...it may have the only vibe in SF close in spirit to WeHo spots like The Abbey SERVICE - 4 stars...usually greeted with genuine enthusiasm...Jasmine is a gem of a bartender TOTAL - 4 stars...if you need space for your cavorting, this be it RELATED - Exploring Bernal Heights? Here's my collection of places I've tried and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2CaaWFe

Make-Out Room has a lot of character and such a chill, laid-back vibe. It's a great spot whether…read moreyou're coming with friends or on a date. The atmosphere feels fun and unpretentious, and it's the kind of place you can actually relax and enjoy yourself. They have live music, and I think they even host a salsa night, which adds to the energy and keeps things interesting. It's just a really cool bar to hang out at without feeling overly crowded or try-hard. Overall, a solid spot with personality. I'd totally recommend coming here with your friends if you're looking for a fun, easygoing night out.

Sad to hear the Make Out Room is closing soon. I know so many folks have plenty of late night…read morestories here - good and bad. A good spot to catch live bands or some raucous drag performance. The bartenders are decently friendly and move pretty efficiently between simple pints to fancier cocktails. The bathroom situation could be better though. Overall still a decent night out to be had. Thanks for the memories.

My husband and I had Ollie's band play at our wedding last month at the Mark Hopkins Hotel in San…read moreFrancisco and were deeply impressed by their music! We'd seen Ollie and the band play on several YouTube videos we'd found online but nothing really compared to having them play live. As a jazz band they brought a beautiful energy to our wedding reception that impressed not just us but our 150 wedding guests. The music really was so beautiful and executed to perfection. Ollie is very easy going and was amenable to all our requests. A big shout out to Ben the keyboardist, too, who played Otis Redding's "(Sittin' on) The Dock of the Bay" as we walked down the aisle :) They really were a great band to work with :)

We hired Ollie's jazz trio for a birthday party we had at our home for around 50 people. The…read moreambiance was exactly what we were looking for. They sounded great and everyone loved them. Ollie was a pleaselure to deal with. 100% credible and professional. Thank you!

We have used this jazz band twice. Once for a wedding and once for a corporate even and they were…read morefantastic both times. Professional, responsive, and very easy to communicate with. The music was excellent and created the perfect atmosphere for our guests. Overall, a wonderful experience, and we would highly recommend them for any event. Thank you

My husband and I hired Nova Jazz as a quartet for our wedding in spring of 2026 and they were…read morewonderful to work with! Easy to communicate and plan with and their performance really elevated our reception. We let them know what kind of vibe and tempo we liked ahead of time and they did the rest choosing songs to play for the reception to keep things upbeat without being overpowering. Daniel checked in with us at various points throughout the night to ensure the vibes were right and if we needed any adjustments. Nova Jazz also was able to play a special request song outside of their listed repertoire for our first dance which we really appreciated and was very special for us. We'd recommend them for weddings and any other special events when you want extra pizzazz!

A very dope spot on Daly city with good staff and drinks especially when there not really much…read morearound

Date: Saturday, July 26th, 2025 Time: around 11:15pm…read moreParty of: 5 *Tito's ($11) x3 *Jameson ($10) x3 *Old Fashion ($14) I met up with some friends after seeing a show. They weren't sure where to go, so I quickly yelped bars and this one popped. It wasn't super busy, so we easily grabbed a table. Kinda divey, kinda neighborhoody, and they played good music. Very much my group's style with the old school r&b and hip hop. Drink prices above were reasonable. I got one round and my friend got the other one. Each round averaged 3.5 drinks and about $41.50 each. $52 each with tip. Nice place to hit up if you're it the neighborhood and looking for a night cap of sorts. Music was a little loud, so talking can be a challenge, but we had a good time. REVIEW #3826

A new bartender was being trained. It was fun to overhear that. She was doing great at pulling…read morepints, but was a bit confused on beer types. Not so the woman training her. I used to work in adult beverages and ai learned a few things listening to her explain the many many beers the have on tap. I missed the live music but the place is awesome. Feels nice.

Blackthorn bar is not here now...it was renovated and renamed...near 9th and Irving...I used the…read moreAMI jukebox and played billiards $2...fun to poke around...big bar space with a back patio...Irish bar theme...trivia and bingo...music...not really preserved...

We attended the Summer Jazz Brunch Series at Swan's Market in Oakland this past weekend to grab…read moresome lunch and experience the musical talents and entertainment of Jazz Mafia artists. They explained to the audience how they play mostly originals... jazz, funk, and soul. And they were amazing, adding to the carefree atmosphere at this particular event, doing their thing on the trumpet, trombone, flute, keyboard, drums, and hand percussion instruments. Made for a lovely outing with great weather, good food and drinks (The Cook and Her Farmer), and positive vibes all around.

They're the reason I still live in the Bay Area. Is that reason enough to check them out?…read more Spaceheater is my favorite Jazz Mafia band, they intro'd me to aaaaal the music I've grown to love and, well... become obsessed with. Check 'em out online: * http://www.facebook.com/pages/Spaceheater-Spaceheaters-Blast-Furnace/92287671670 * http://www.jazzmafia.com/spaceheater They just released a brand new album for sale online at Ropeadope Records: http://www.ropeadope.com/music/record/spac/ ROCK.