I've heard good things about the Raven Bar from friends and finally came to dance a few weekends ago. Friend took me up to the second floor, which I thought was the hip-hop floor from the songs I heard coming up the staircase, but then the DJ abruptly cut to Taylor Swift and I knew I couldn't be up there anymore. Second floor was a flop. So we went down to the first floor, thank goodness the DJ was playing throwback classics because I need some dancing music man! Pitbull, early Nicki, LMFAO, Usher, this is what the people want to hear! 1st floor DJ you saved my night, there's nothing worse than paying the cover to get in and you can't even catch a vibe. Drinks are whatever, they do have a good assortment of seltzers which is nice. $20 cover charge. Crowd is more on the younger side, 21-mid 20s. read more

We attended a graduation party here on Saturday night from 5pm to 9pm and had a great time with super efficient bartenders literally cranking out top notch drinks, a super manager noticeably on the floor checking out the party and the vibe. The party ranged in age from 21+ year olds to their parents and EVERYONE was having a good time. The music was outstanding, truly a blast from the past. It was a good number of people to largely fill the ground floor so for an early event it was a blast. Shout out to Raven Bar's staff and manager and personable security team for a wonderful event! I would definitely return on a regular weekend night for a good time with friends! read more

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I had a great experience at this club/bar! I visited this spot on a Saturday night in time for free cover which is nice. Walking-in I enjoyed the fun atmosphere. There were two floors with different DJ's. Both of them played throwback and early 2000s music which is the type of music I'm looking for when I go out clubbing. The strobe lights were fun effects while dancing. The music was also not deafening which was nice. For drinks, I got the AMF for $17 and that was pretty strong! It was a great mixed drink which I enjoyed while on the dance floor. I also got a shot of liqueur (not sure which one) which was nice too. The interior and bathroom seemed relatively clean as well. Overall, a great experience here and I could see this place being one of my go-to clubs/bars if I lived in the area. read more

Raven Bar - AMF's - Lounges Near Me - San Francisco, California

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As first impressions go , the security team had the best and kindest attitude! they were super helpful in recommendations too! Giving tips for busy times and drinks inside the bar: shout out to Anthony, Larry, kenonte, & sunny!!! Dave and Jackie as well too for their consistency in service and ability to multitask as soon as the bar started getting packed ! My bartender Ryan was also amazing and spot on with the drinks, making a blast of recommendation specially after my birthday. Made me feel appreciated for my tastes in drinks. Smokey and flavorful! Thank you so much too for the drinks you chose to make me! Ryans favorite: The {SMOKE & ACES} is a Smokey and deep flavorful drink, giving mellow murky dark but rich in fruitful flavoring. Truly a perfect combination of deep and sweet mellow tastes, almost as if I'm drinking fine aged wine with a hint of hickory smoke. Wes's creation: The {FUNKY MONKEY}: Think about smoking a pineapple with hickory leaving a honey aftertaste rather than sour! This freaking complexion is something that is not just citrusy, but also very very, very much mellow in shine. I felt like drinking a refreshing pineapple without the sour aftertaste and honestly that's very hard to get. The {HOLY WATER}: shockingly this drink has cilantro yet I taste mint. Understanding that some people have the cilantro gene. I would like to invite those to taste it because it just does not come off as that! It's a perfect combination of earthy and savory sweet, sets you back to the time when sour became the new sweet! NOTE: I am honestly disappointed with the lack of positive reviews considering that this place has really made an impression. I understand the frustration and lack of service sometimes but those in the industry know first hand how hard it is to keep up with high demand. And THIS BAR IS MOST DEFINITELY ON HIGH DEMAND AFTER 10pm! Just wait, it's worth it ! read more

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They set up a large pink and white pop up tent with barrier blocking the entire two-direction Folsom bicycle lane during the evening commute hours forcing cyclists to choose between a busy sidewalk or busy traffic lanes. Ive been there a couple times as I live in the neighborhood but Ill certainly not return now. How incredibly rude and I'd assume illegal. read more

The bouncers here are awful. This review is based on three separate incidents throughout 2025. On three different occasions, I watched them single out one person from a group and make them pay double the cover for no legitimate reason. Each time, the person was calm, respectful, and didn't raise their voice or act aggressively in any way. This isn't about David or the staff inside, they've been fine. This is strictly about the human shaped toilets working at the front door, who seem to enjoy treating people unfairly. Those miserable sad fucks are enough to make us stop coming back. read more

I've been to Raven a couple times before and you can't really go wrong with throwback music. But.. how many people here have to complain about the bouncers before Management actually does something about it? They can be such dicks and if they don't like you, they even have the galls to tell the person at the counter to double the cover fee just because.. Like is that even legal? How could an establishment literally charge a different cover fee to another person. That's straight-up discrimination. My friend apologized and said he meant no harm or offense and tried to ask the counter person if he can just pay the normal price, but the counter just pointed to the bouncer and said whatever he says. I'm over Raven. read more

Raven Bar in SF gave me an unforgettable nightlife experience that seamlessly blends sophistication with an electric atmosphere. From the moment i stepped through the doors, I was greeted by the pulsating energy of the venue and the friendly faces of its patrons. I have to mention the most handsome and talented bartender. Aaron Smith. With his extensive knowledge of mixology and his charming personality, Aaron elevates the bar experience to new heights. Whether I was craving a classic cocktail or seeking a unique concoction, Aaron's skillful craftsmanship ensures that each drink is expertly prepared and served with a smile. The vibe at Raven Bar is nothing short of captivating. The dimly lit interior, adorned with plush furnishings and edgy decor, sets the stage for an evening of indulgence and excitement. As the night progresses, the energy builds to a crescendo, drawing guests to the second-floor dance floor where they can groove to the beats of the hottest tracks spun by talented DJs. Whether you're looking to unwind after a long day or celebrate a special occasion with friends, Raven Bar provides the perfect setting for a night to remember. With its top-notch service, vibrant ambiance, and unbeatable dance floor, it's no wonder why Raven Bar is a favorite destination for locals and visitors alike. read more

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The drinks were great but expensive. That's expected. The bottom floor was low key and a vibe. The top floor PACKED and the dance floor is very close quarters. Throughout the night, the crowd got larger and more rough, almost feeling like a mosh pit and it caused several upset people on the dance floor. At no fault of the bar but maybe limiting the people a little or controlling the dance floor when things get out of hand. But overall a good time, good early 2000's music, and awesome ambience with the laser light show read more

Great spot in SoMa if your looking for a intimate setting before 10pm, then they turn into a two story nightclub with two djs and three bars Downstairs is a little more hip hop while upstairs is more top 40 from 80s, 90s 00s to today read more

bouncer tried charging us $40 cover per person when it was dead inside (friends already in). Not worth your money please go somewhere else!!! they have a ticket system to go upstairs apart from paying for cover!!! Please spend your money somewhere better :) like why u trynna make money out of nothing?? horrible bouncers read more

Came here with some out of town friends and was pleasantly surprised. Good throwbacks from the 2010s playing in the upstairs area. All the staff were so friendly and nice, from the bartenders, bouncers, to the photographer. I met the owner and he was nice too! Not too expensive either, my credit card statement in the morning was way less than what I was expecting lol. Def got crowded as the night went on, primarily a younger Asian crowd. I loved that they handed out water bottles as we were leaving, it was a thoughtful touch. Minus one star for some guy starting a fight in the crowd. read more

i recognized all the music they played so ig this is a "throwback bar". amf wasn't as lethal as i expected, probably could have had two. very crowded inside fun vibes. read more

Raven bar is such a fun place to go to. We went on a Sunday night before a holiday and they had $8 drinks with no cover. They were blasting throwback karaoke songs the entire night. It was a great place to not spend any money & just vibe with your friends like you're still in college. read more

Honest review/Warning: was my favorite place to dance, music is fun but be careful. On 2/28 my friends phone and wallet were pick pocketed on the 2nd floor :/ I've had sooo many fun nights here, but just a reminder to be careful with your things read more

My secret to success at Raven Bar: COME EARLY. THEN LEAVE EARLY. Get here right before 10 PM to avoid paying $15 cover and long lines (or just sign up for the guest list in advance). Around 10:30 PM ~ 11:30 PM is the sweet spot - drinks get made fast, early 2000's music is bumpin', coat check won't be full, and most important - it's not too crowded upstairs. After 11:30 PM it gets packed FAST, so it's time to go downstairs or uber to your next destination (the surrounding area is a bit seedy). I love to start my night here. The drinks and atmosphere are more elevated than a dive bar, but still attracts a young/early 20's crowd. Definitely coming back! read more

Raven Bar - Coat check - you need your physical ticket to get your coat back! - Lounges Near Me - San Francisco, California

I'm not a hater and honestly give everyone grace. However, this bar is really not it. Took my family out on a not so busy night. Bar was closing in an hour and the cover fee for each was $20. I said it wasn't worth to go because that would have been $160 for all of us on with only an hour left. Bouncer said he would give us 50% off after hearing my reasoning. Woman checking us in, charged us full price and the bouncers after pretended like we didn't just have a verbal agreement. Lowkey a little grimy. I'd rather support an honest business. Take your business elsewhere plus it was hella dead. read more

Too crowded, the staff(especially one of the the bouncers) was rude and unfair. Bartenders were nice tho. And some people will say I was just drunk. Well, ask my friends, I don't get drunk easily, and I only had 2 shots that night when the bouncer was unfair. Why? I had to go downstairs to pee because I had to badly and the restroom upstair was ocupied, and then when I wanted to go back upstairs because my friends were there, he stopped me because he said I had to wait until someone comes down, well, understood, it's pretty crowded but what I found unfair that night, he let three ladies went upstair before me. He was humiliating, abused me verbally and was just really rude. Is this the kind of service you provide? Hmmm, I will never ever come back here. read more

Came to celebrate a friend's birthday. They reserved a table and the bouncers and staff were extremely helpful and accommodating throughout the night. They had fun songs from the early 2000s and good drink options. read more

Pretty cool place with some amazing bartenders. The coat check guy upstairs though... Nice security at the door and bartenders -- We were not downstairs for too long but every time I went to get a drink, new bartenders would help me. They were all nice and patient, we had a pretty large group. The coat check guy upstairs was very rude. We were allowed to sit at a table for some time and the "bottle service" lady came to see if we wanted to buy a bottle. She said that we could buy one and so we perused the menu until she came back. She didn't but a gentleman did and he had a very condescending tone. "Sorry, it's two bottle minimum". Which is fine, we had expressed that the lady said one bottle was fine over the loud music. He said if that was what we wanted, to go downstairs. However, he became quite rude and made remarks toward my Mom and some of the ladies there when we had a few more questions. Wasn't very professional at all. So we got our things together and went to the dance floor instead. The drinks were pretty good though. I'd come back but would avoid that table area up top and that guy again. read more

The inside of this bar is very fun and clean and spacious. The drinks are good. I give this bar a low rating simply due to the bouncers. A member of my family was spoken to quite rudely by two bouncers and was told to shut up after explaining an ID situation. It was a joke but gone too far and inappropriately. It was a fun experience but I do hope the bouncers get talked to. I would attend again because besides that it was quite fun! read more

I recently visited Raven Bar with my girls and had such a wonderful time! It's def gonna become our go-to spot for nights out. The service and atmosphere were fantastic, and the DJ really knew how to get the party started. If you're a girl looking for a fun night in the city, this is definitely the place to be. The crowd was friendly and the security team was really attentive and caring, making sure we felt safe all night long. I barely remember anything except the security guard Sonny helping us safely make it to our uber, shout out to him!! highly recommend it to all the girls out there just looking to enjoy a fun evening in the city. read more

Bouncers are terrible, they don't really check IDs they just go on vibes and WILL confiscate real IDs and not turn them into the cops. So it's a perfect bar if your ID is expiring soon and you won't miss it, a major nuisance if you are anyone else on earth. read more

Joined the guest list but came late so I got $5 off cover instead. When the upstairs area is full, you get a number and have to wait until there's room upstairs for your group. Love the vibes - great selection of throwback music & a dance floor upstairs. FYI it can get pretty crowded and pushy. Drinks are average priced. The lychee cocktail and green tea shots are my go to here. There's also free coat check and water stations. read more

This place is solid, the upstairs opens and 10 and is spacious and has a good dance floor. This is a cool spot I highly recommend if you don't want a huge club-y vibe. The service was kind of slow until they opened the upstairs, but that's bc there was like 1 bartender. Not complaining, but not efficient for sure. read more

Came here with a friend on a Saturday night and we loved it! It was luau/Hawaiian night and they gave out a free lei. They have two floors for music, which was great in providing variety. Sometimes the music was hit or miss, but we would go up/down to each floor as we needed. I ordered a moscow mule and enjoyed every sip. They also had fun photo props and such which made it a fun evening. The only thing I didn't really like was the single restroom situation. They only have 1 stall available and there was a line by the end of the night. The AC works great, though, which we appreciated. Not sure I would come back but they had music and good drinks. I felt kinda old being here and the music they played (Miley Cyrus Party in the USA and some Taylor Swift songs). I guess clubs aren't what they used to be!! read more

BEWARE of pickpockets. Three phones stolen out of purses in our group. Security didn't take it seriously... Cool vibes but not worth the $$$ read more

I haven't had any food here, so I can't say much about that. The bartenders are cool. There is no in-and-out of the bar, but that's okay because there's a smoke alley with good airflow. The bottom floor is more lax compared to the top floor. Bottom floor has tables, usually first come first serve. I like showing up here before 10:30pm to avoid the cover fee, but you can also add yourself to the guest list for the night that you are going to push that time to 11:00pm. 2 bathrooms on each floor. Coat check on second floor, though I have not used it. The is another room/bar in the back of the first floor, which is really chill too. Security/bouncers seem inconsistent with if they're understanding or not. There's consistent pre-midweek-holiday times here. Such as pre-Thanksgiving or pre-4th of July, so you can party out in the middle of the week before the day off. Music is good if you're into throwbacks. It is consistently the same every visit though, so do not expect anything different if you go multiple times! As for LGBTQ+ community: It is friendly to be LGBTQ+ here, but I find that this is definitely mostly a straight bar. There will be 1-3 LGBTQ+ people at a time, and most of the time it would be myself and the friends I brought. I do feel safe here as an obviously queer person, so there's that. I also don't know many others places that play music similar to Raven Bar that is also queer-centric, so I'll take what I can get. There's also apparently a dress code, but I have been able to get in with a decent shirt and Vans. Also there is advertisements of different events throughout the week, and I have been to most of them and I gotta say, they're mostly the same. It would be cool if there were some themed nights, but maybe that's not what the bar is going for. It's consistent every night; I know exactly what I am getting when I go to Raven Bar. It's reassuring at times, disappointing at others. Overall, I usually go to Raven Bar if there is nowhere else to go (like my queer spots are closed) and I'm not expecting to go too crazy. read more

What a gem!!! I came here for the first time and two days in a row!!! First off the security at the door, phenomena!!! I met Larry and others who took pride in their job to ensure safety with the highest form of customer service. Jackie one of the bartenders super friendly and just like the security excellent customer service. now this is just me getting in the door. When you walk in immediately welcomed with a clean environment, a bar, tables and dance space. A clean smoking area outside if that's your thing. another bar in the back to finally upstairs with another bar and more dance space!!! Clean, excellent customer service and great drinks!! A must visit for a fun night!! read more

The bouncer kicked my friend group out because I bumped into another women and I said sorry and then the bouncer kicked me out! I talked to the manager and he believe the bouncer over my story so DONT GO HERE AND WASTE YOUR MONEY!!!! The bouncers are creeps and will kick you out for you money! I tried to get the bouncer and mangers name but they laughed in my face and wouldn't give it to me. Poor customer service DO NOT GO HERE GO TO ANOTHER BAR OR CLUB!!! This is my first review ever! And i'm telling you don't go here! read more

If you want to have a good clubbing experience, don't go to Raven! You will not believe, I was helping a girl in the bathroom who was clearly not doing well. I brought her water and everything and she handed me a drink that she wanted to me to toss. As I was about to toss it, two bouncers rudely kicked me out. One of them named Anthony showed absolutely no remorse when I explained the situation. Anyway, I'm done with this club and their self-righteous bouncers Can't believe we have given this club tons of money booking tables multiple times and all- really disappointed generally about the bouncers. This is not to mention that on a separate occasion, one of the bouncers fully pushed my friend to the floor when he was just trying to show his ID, the bouncers with no remorse whatsoever! The bouncers are aggressive and it's not worth going here if you want to have a good time. Raven- get better bouncers! All of them are rude and show zero compassion. Ambiance is terrible and I am going to continue spreading the word to avoid this club! UPDATE: I have posted a negative review on Raven before but I have more updated information from a friend that there is another bouncer named Elvis that threw my friend to the floor while he was showing his ID. This is no way to treat a customer! read more

I came here with a couple of friends on a Saturday night after hearing about it from a coworker. We got on the guest list, so we didn't need to pay the cover fee. The place is a pretty small club with two floors, each featuring different DJs. It would have been nice to know what kind of songs were playing on each floor since they probably had different vibes. We got some drinks, and I liked the Lychee Bliss the most because it was refreshing and lightly sweet, though it wasn't super flavorful or strong. By 11 pm, it got pretty crowded. They also don't have many bathrooms, so you probably have to wait in line to get in. Overall, it's an okay place, but I personally wouldn't come here again since I don't usually go out to clubs. read more

Raven Bar is my FAVORITE place to go in SF for a night out. The music is always top tier, the bartenders are amazing, and overall the atmosphere here is just amazing. Usually not a fan of crowded bars, but this place I don't mind at all. Love that there's an upstairs and downstairs. Also, they have coat check which is so great because people need to see my outift but not at the cost of this weather!!! read more

Raven Bar - downstairs - Lounges Near Me - San Francisco, California

David and his team took great care of us at our VIP table for my birthday! His team welcomed us by giving me a glow in the dark "Happy Birthday" necklace, which was really sweet, along with two free VIP tickets for future visits. He was very helpful throughout the table reservation process as well, even adjusting our guest list maximum to accommodate a few extra last minute guests. David and his team gave us water bottles on our way out and while some of us were clearly showing signs of fatigue, which was very thoughtful. One thing of note is that the second floor dance floor does get quite crowded, but the same can be said about many SF bar/clubs on Saturday night. The music was great for our party of millenials (lots of 2000s era hip hop/pop). The first floor was much less crowded and with a different DJ, and we did most of our dancing here. It was nice to have different dance area options. Overall, we had a great time and would come back! read more

Cool atmosphere but the bartender in the back bar kept trying to charge me and my friend two drinks for every one drink we ordered. Either incompetent or deliberately scamming read more

I was only in San Francisco for the day and really wanted to go out to a club with my friends before taking the BART back to San Jose that evening. Since I didn't want to catch a train too late, my friends and I got to Raven Bar at around 9pm on Friday. I was hopeful that even though it was still pretty early people would be there since it was Friday. Unfortunately, I was wrong. When we arrived we were happy to find parking right up front and no line to get in. There was also no cover charge. But once we got inside I realized that was because it was practically empty. There were only a handful of people inside. Despite the emptiness, they played really great throwback music which definitely added to my experience. I got a Paloma and have to say that it was one of the best that I've had. The staff were also friendly which was definitely a plus. I will definitely be back when I can come later in the evening! I can't wait to see what it's like when it's busy. read more

I don't go to clubby bars often but I went to Raven as part of a meetup for a friend who was visiting. When I got there, and throughout the entire night, the thing that surprised me the most was the friendliness of the bouncers and security. Usually when you go to a club or bar, the first association that comes to mind is not bouncers and hospitality but this was a different story. While waiting in line ()it wasn't too long either, lasted about 10-15 min), we were greeted ahead of time by the first bouncer. He was very friendly and let our party know what we needed to have to enter as well as the cover (ID, Covid vax, etc). Not only that, he let us know the type of music playing that night and that the lower level was chiller if we were aiming for a casual night and that the second level was more for partying. I appreciate this gesture as it gave me guidance on where I wanted to be that night. Once we were inside, the service continued to be surprising great. Bartenders were on top of their guests and giving all patrons equal attention and the bouncers inside helped to manage coat check, bathroom, crowds, etc. What was most pleasantly surprising was when the night ended, the team was offering complimentary water bottles to everyone! The only reason I dropped one star is because one of our friends ordered a round of drinks that came out cheaper than when i ordered the same round about an hour or two later. I'm not sure if they have different pricing depending on the time but the transparency, if available, would be great! read more

One of my fav dance bars in the city. There is a clean casual dress code. $15 cover after 10 pm. The bouncers here are nice and when it rains, they usually have umbrellas for guests. They usually play throwback, 90s, and a couple hip hop here and there. There are two bars upstairs and downstairs. The downstairs is more bar-lounge and upstairs has the dance floor and coat-check. Once it gets too crowded upstairs, they will stop allowing people upstairs and go by a ticket basis, so get there early! I usually enter and buy my first round of drinks at the bottom bar before heading upstairs to find my space where I can dance my heart out. I would say the only con about this bar is their restrooms. Downstairs has one stall for men, one stall for women. Upstairs has 2 separate stalls, unisex - so expect long lines! After getting a bit inebriated, I like to buy me some dirty dogs or head over to the taqueria nearby. Always a fun time here! read more

Pretty fun bar, we got table service and the booth was spacious, and the staff was nice. Weird crowd though, a girl body slammed (approximately 400Ibs) her way into the bathroom stall while my friend was peeing. Tried to push her off mid pee and said "your turns over get off" Watch out for these two girls(?) hopefully no one else has to deal with these perverts that ruined our night. read more

Raven Bar - Jump scare! - Lounges Near Me - San Francisco, California

Bouncers and Owner has EXTREME EGO, no remorse for anyone... think they run the world. Bouncers twisted up our words while trying to clear up a misunderstanding and didn't even try to hear us out. No one looked out of it and we were respectful. They think they run the world with that bar. No remorse for anyone. read more