I love seeing live music in old local theaters, and The Warfield on Market Street is a nicely preserved piece of SF history. Opened in 1922 as a vaudeville house, later a movie palace, it finally became a concert venue when Bill Graham brought Bob Dylan to the stage for multi-week residency in the 70s. The venue has over two thousand seats: midsized for the area. I've seen everyone from The Pretenders to The Arctic Monkeys here. Interpol, this week, was propulsive and memorable, with incredible lighting design. In terms of logistics and service, check in is usually efficient. The beverage program with recyclable cups works well. They have relatively comfortable chairs in the balcony, but leg room is tight unless in Lodge, where aisles are slightly roomier, but crucially so. (We try to sit when we can, and save our standing experiences for standing-room-only venues like GAMH. But if you like standing room, the venue feels very intimate from the floor.) The women's stalls in the bathroom are ridiculously tiny, and may require a yoga pose or two to successfully close the door. The staff range from super friendly and helpful to downright surly. We had a couple grumpy, brash male staff experiences last night, unfortunately. Despite a sometimes bumpy front of house experience, this is a classic SF theater with good acoustics and tons of character and atmosphere. read more

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This is one of my favorite music venues in the Bay Area. The first time I came here was in 1980 to see Gary Numan - only 46 years ago. It's small-ish and it's got a good vibe. We usually get GA tickets because we like to be closer to the stage. On this night we saw Alison Moyet, Softcell and Human League. Surprisingly, I had never seen any of those musicians before. The sound was good. It helped that the music wasn't being played too loud. We sat in the lower balcony section. The seats are comfy and they give you a great view of the stage. Each row is quite a bit higher than the row in front of it so it's impossible to blocked out by someone in front of you - unless they stand up. They have at least a couple of bars. Check it out. read more

The Warfield - Human League - Music Venues Near Me - San Francisco, California

Saw Allen Stone here--what an incredible show! The Warfield has that perfect balance of being intimate without feeling cramped. The sound was good but I feel the acoustics could be improved. Security and staff were solid, no issues at all. I also loved walking through the foyer and seeing all the photos of past performers. It's like a little walk through music history. The Warfield is such a classic San Francisco venue, and super convenient being right off the Powell St. BART station. Definitely one of those spots every music lover should experience at least once! read more

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Venue is ok, extremely close to the BART Station, like just cross the road so that is a plus. The food options at the venue are not so great. The drinks are ok too. We got general admission which means you're standing the whole time and there is t enough standing room, so just be aware. Overall thumbs up. read more

In the past recent two weeks I went to Lil Tecca and UB40, both concerts were really sick and the artists performed very well. The crowd was super engaged and providing energy to the artists to keep going and performing songs. read more

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Twice I have been to The Warfield and I must say, there are no bad seats in the house. First time we were here were for Baby Metal and most recent was Maoli. Both times we were in the balcony, but since the venue has steep steps, you feel much closer to the stage than the other music venues around. You sure feel like in a hot box when the audience are really into it. Seats are kinna narrow though and so are the walkways. The Warfield exudes nostalgic charm, with all the famous performers posted in their lobby. Under no circumstance though, would you try to grab food and drinks in The Warfield though. You will unequivocally bend over with the astronomical price. Three waters and a beer, north of thirty dollars! Suffice to say, pre-game before the event; both drinks and food. Save yourself from expensive drinks and stale food and grab something to eat after. read more

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This is definitely one of the Bay Area's classic venues, with a stunning mid-century interior that feels like you're stepping into an old opera house. It has charm and character, no doubt. But once the place fills up with a few hundred fans and everyone's on their feet, it gets hot. There's little to no ventilation, and I found myself hoping they'd crack open some doors or have rooftop airflow--it was that stuffy as soon as the lights and music kicked in. For non-drinkers, water bottles were surprisingly pricey, and the alcoholic drinks were pretty mild, nothing strong. That said, I still had a great time chaperoning the kids to see D4VD and Bryant Barnes--the energy inside was amazing. Now for the tough part: the location. The venue sits in the heart of San Francisco's Tenderloin district, and parking or walking to and from the venue is not ideal. We parked at the Hilton, about four blocks away, and even then had to walk through streets that didn't feel very safe, especially after 10pm. There were a lot of unhoused individuals on nearly every block, many asking for money or trying to talk to passersby. Definitely keep your safety in mind when attending a show here, especially if you're with younger guests. All in all, a memorable night--but I'll really have to think twice before attending another concert at this location. read more

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I've come here quite a few times to see metal concerts. Always have a great experience. I like how there are multiple floors of restrooms so it clears out having to wait in line for just one bathroom. Best to get there early or while a band you don't like is playing lol. I've noticed over the years that security is less strict, but I don't know if that's a good thing. Parking is a little hard, I recommend the one across the street from the Metreon. I was able to get away with bringing in a fanny pack of essentials. If you somehow get to the front at the barricade, they'll sometimes hand out water bottles if you need. Beware of $6 water bottles at the bar. Otherwise, there's no bad seating or standing area in the venue. read more

One of the Bay Area's best, oldest, and funnest venues to hear & see live music, hands down. I first went to the Warfield Theater in 1982 to see my first amazing concert ever, at the ripe age of 12 years old to see Devo. Now, fast forward to 2025 and I'm coming back to see Garbage & the Cult (two separate nights). I'm now a golden 55 years old, and this place hasn't changed at all, still rocking & rolling, and still attracting the best musical acts, in a space where there is never a bad seat in the house, and the audio quality is the best around. Upon entering the Warfield from a pretty seedy & sketchy Market Street (especially at night), you suddenly enter a world of grandeur, history, and celebrity. All of the best musical artists in history have played here, and tonight was no different. It's been a while since either Garbage or the Cult toured, and I was lucky enough to attend what may be their final concerts here in the Bay Area. And what a venue to host one of my favorite bands! The ceilings, the walls, the rugs, and the stage still hold the history of this fine theater well. They've taken great care to keep it clean, comfortable, and beautiful, while retaining the glory of better days & historical times inside of this building. They've taken great staff here is very nice, efficient, and courteous. From the front door/security, to the ushers/seaters, to barstaff/vending, even the bathroom attendant were extremely nice, well-trained, and positive. All contributed to a night of great music & entertainment and made you feel like someone special. The service here is on par with a 5-star hotel or restaurant, and help to ensure that all music-goers have a fun, safe, and special time. The seats- ive sat high up, ive sat low down, ive sat far away, ive sat close to the stage, and every seat is a good seat in this house. No pillars, speaker towers, rigging, or obstacles to block your view, every seat in this house affords a good view of the stage. The sound- this space delivers the best concert quality sound I've ever heard from SF to Seattle to Austin to Las Vegas. It is loud, clear, and thunderous, like rock & roll should be heard. The lighting- they keep the lights where they are needed, on the musicians and not the audience, so it creates an intimate setting/feeling as you are watching the stars do their thing on stage. It really makes you feel like you're the only one there, and that the performance is just for you. The lighting team really do a great job of creating a nice ambiance & setting to listen to & watch your favorite bands. Not much more can be said about the Warfield. I love hearing music in this space. Ticket prices here are reasonable given the state of inflation in the Bay Area these days, and you really get the most of your hard-earned money here. They attract top-tier acts here, and they host them in a decadent, warm, and fun environment. The decor & shape of the theater really lends itself to a magical night here. You are taken back to a better time, while enjoying yourself in the present time. It is clean, safe, comfortable, all the staff are professional, courteous, and polite, and the sound, stage, seats, and lighting are among the best of any venue where I've ever hear or watched live music. Very accessible by Bart, Train, Bus, Rideshare, Walking, or even Biking, it's literally right in the middle of SF. The Warfield is and will always be, one of my favorite venues to attend for concerts. This place is legendary and will continue to span future generations of musical fans & aficionados. Top notch venue for top notch acts! read more

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KJ and Mickey went above and beyond any expectations I've ever had at a venue. Their positive attitude and graciousness really made the night truly eventful. Love the Warfield and so happy that their staffing extends the hospitality to guests. What a wonderful experience! read more

We came here to see UB40 and loved it! The theater is large, but it doesn't feel large. You can see the stage perfectly even from the higher up seats, the sound is great and they have multiple bars. The folks who worked here were lovely and I can't wait for our next concert! read more

The Warfield - Music Venues Near Me - San Francisco, California

I have mixed feelings about the Warfield. It's in the Tenderloin district, though it's in a nicer spot there, across from a food hall/ikea. Probably don't wander around drunk after the show or do anything stupid and you'll be fine, but I wish the area was better. There is limited signage within the building. We couldn't find the entrance to the balcony seating, let alone our seats, and had to ask the bar tender. It's a beautiful building that had been modernized well with a robust sound system and moving lights! The sound system and lights were too intense in our balcony seats as we were blinded anytime the lights flashed, making it very difficult to actually see the show. I was a little nervous with the number of people jumping on the balcony, I could feel lit love a little! Overall, a cool spot for a show, just maybe not for me. read more

The Warfield - Balcony Seating - Music Venues Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Been to the Warfield numerous times the last 4 or 5 years and it only gets better with time. They recently up graded the sound system. Not much in the line of food. Staff is real nice and security is has improved a lot. There is so much history in that building. Not in the best location if you drive plan on parking in a garage. _$40. Bart is just a block. Don't want to be walking around after a show in that neighborhood. I highly recommend everyone experience this venue at least once. read more

My least favorite venue in SF. It's a beautiful space and service was fine but they seem to oversell events so we had general admission balcony but couldn't get seats. Along with quite a few concert goers, we then ended up standing in the back and had to be cognizant of not blocking people who were sitting behind us. read more

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Saw a couple shows here recently and really enjoyed them both! Public transit or shared rides are the way to go since there's not really parking. Love the classic marquee our front and the framed photos inside showing all the past acts! The balcony GA offers lower costs tickets but still a great view! Since there are actually seats it's nice when it's not packed so there is room to dance! read more

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AXS/Golden Voice is the greedy promotor venue owner. All there halls, clubs, ect are falling apart. They are always Understaffed. At a Sold Out concert over the weekend they were definitely understaffed. If you have reserved tickets forget about seeing any painted or lettering to show you the section. As for ushers there was one lady running up and down the walk way trying to deal with 1000s of people trying to find their seats. It's unbelievable they can't have proper staffing. read more

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The Airborne Toxic Event was amazing this past Thursday. The venue didn't really stand out to me compared to other event centers in the city, but it made for a positive experience, even in a not-so-appealing location of SF. Entry and security check was quick and easy. The bar on the second level had no line early in the evening, unlike downstairs, but service was slow. The diet soda I ordered was poured from a can and served in a reusable plastic r.cup that had instructions to return in a bin after use (r.world). The staff behind the counter didn't seem that enthusiastic about being there, but she wasn't rude. Got GA balcony tickets, and the worker in the auditorium said I could sit anywhere I wanted in the balcony section (upper or lower) just not the loge section which were reserved seats... she said I could even join the GA crowd on the floor standing in front of the stage. Cool, but confusing, wish they communicated that before ticket purchase. Might be cuz it wasn't a full house for this particular concert. The seats themselves were very basic, comfortable enough but a somewhat dated cloth surface. Lovely art on the ceiling of the theater, and the use of lighting on stage added great visual effects to the show. The sound system was not the greatest for the opening act, Brigitte Calls Me Baby. The music was rather echoey and lacked clarity. But that didn't stop the band from setting the mood with a few of their hits as well as a cool rock rendition of Careless Whisper. And sound check was extensive before the headliners did their thing on stage, so the sound was fixed, allowing The Airborne Toxic Event to put on an enjoyable show with an awesome setlist including some of my faves like Changing, Come On Out, and Sometime Around Midnight. One of the things I especially love about this band is the sound of the violin in their music. It was so sweet during the performance, a treat for my ears. And The Warfield offered a decent setting to ensure guests had a good time. read more

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The staff here is so friendly and kind. I attended a show with my friend who requires ADA accommodation and we were welcomed in and treated with great respect, especially from Mickey. read more

I had an amazing time at the Warfield. We saw the Elevators from Upper Lodge DD and there really isn't a bad seat in the house. The inside is beautiful so take the time to take in the views. The stairwell was super pretty with nice chandelier hanging in the center even. Inside the theatre there was enough of a recline that you could see well above those in front of you. Inside the theater is super pretty too so it really adds to the experience. There were 2 bars - one just after you enter and another at the top of the staircase. They had about 5 beers on tap, cocktails and wine. I got a mango beer that was pretty good (they also had a couple IPAs, Stella, and another I don't remember...). It was a tall beer and I paid something like $22 with tip. The cup was more thick/solid than other venues so that was nice. One bummer was there were no cup holders at the seat. However, to be expected as it is an old theatre (built in 1922 so over 100 years old). The venue was easy to get to (if you are already in SF that is) in the Theatre district of downtown. We walked there from the Hyatt Grand and it took about 10 minutes. There are 2,300 seats so it's an intimate venue with good sound throughout. I would totally go back. Cut back a star because the bathrooms had I think 3 stalls out of order so the line seemed to take a while. There were probably about 12 stalls normally. There was a cute little waiting area before you go in where the stalls were with seats and mirrors so that was cool. read more

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OooWeee! It was a magical night of MUSIC AND LOVE with the GOD GIFT of GLIDE MEMORIAL CHOIR!! Ooh how we all soared to higher grounds that night!!! read more

Went here on May 4th, 2024 to see Bianca Del Rio from (RuPaul's Drag Race) and it was an exceptional show! Cocktails were a bit pricey, but I expected that. Restrooms were kept tidy, refreshed, stocked, and maintained. For all the levels of seating available, they really know how to keep efficient lines and a smooth flow. Also, on the Warfield website, you can find nearby parking garages that are only minutes away in walking time. Overall, great show, great venue! Can't wait to go back! read more

The Warfield - The architecture is gorgeous! 5-4-2024 - Music Venues Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Great Concert Hall. Beautiful venue. The staff were helpful and friendly. The drinks were tasty. read more

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Lovely building and intimate setting for a concert. Has the same feel as the Fox Theater in Oakland. Seats are a bit tight, as older places are but being able to see the artists clearly without screens is worth it. read more

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How have I never been here? Came to watch Arrested Development, The Pharcyde and Digible Planets the other night. It was a great show and I fit right in with that middle aged crowd .... It was hard to read old reviews of this place though where people talked about "affordable drinks" because now beers are $18 and then you have to tip like $5. So yeah, back to that middle aged comment .... I make good money, but I also remember when beers weren't so expensive. Ummmm ... oh right, cool venue though. read more

Top of their website lists backpack are allowed and just need to be with coat check (no measurements, no pricing whatsoever) Well, only at the bottom of the page ( last 4 sections) does it then list coat check is $5 Wtf why not just put it altogether backpack costs $5 if there's no measurements listed?? read more

The Warfield - Music Venues Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Weekday date night. The staff were all friendly. Will call staff had our tickets ready, attendants at the door guided us through security smoothly, and the venue attendants escorted us to our seats. I liked how they had numerous bars throughout the venue, it helped greatly with the lines. The theater temperature was a bit chilly, but it helped kept me awake and alert during the "slow parts" of the show. Parking is challenging and expensive. read more

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Service was fast. Great drink and food options! There is another bar on the second floor with drinks only. Theater is immaculately wonderful, so great surroundings to see live theater. read more

The Warfield - Theater inside - Music Venues Near Me - San Francisco, California

The Warfield has been one of my favorite venues in SF for decades -- fantastic space, great sightlines and, although it ain't small, there's a feeling of intimacy to it. Some of the artists I've enjoyed seeing here are the super-dynamic Lizzo (right before she became really hot), the awesome Adam Lambert, the late, great Sharon Jones and her band The Dap-Kings, and even the short-lived reunion of the legendary '60s band The Rascals -- all terrific shows. But that applies only to when I sat in the mezzanine or balcony or standing on the main floor. Tonight I went to see Tony Award-winning Broadway star ("Miss Saigon") and legendary "Disney Princess," Lea Salonga.*. This was the first time I sat in seats on the main floor. Because the floor is often used for standing, mosh pit, dancing, etc., the seats have to be brought in and they're the kind you find at convention halls where they lock onto each other with those metal clips on the side, so there is like no room between you and the folks on either side of you, but even worse they're the kind of chairs which are just plain uncomfortable to sit on through an entire concert. To have to pay the highest price to sit in those chairs is something Warfield/AXS management needs to reconsider and make a change to. So, folks, unless you're sitting way in the back of the floor where there are high bar chairs or in the wheelchair section, which are loose chairs, I highly recommend you purchase seats in the mezzanine -- no, you're not as close to the stage as you might like, but the sightlines are still great and the seats WAY more comfortable! That being said, my heart is still with the great & legendary Warfield! She sounded great but set needed to be more balanced out with Christmas AND her hits. Christmas songs were about 80% of the set -- shouldn't have been more than 50%, maybe 60%. read more

It's a nice venue, but crowd control and staff is a major turn off. I only recently got to visit this venue for 2 concerts. The first one was a big sold out artist. I tried to arrive as early after work as I could, but it took forever just to get in. This made our time to get merch extremely reduced. It felt very unorganized. We did get pretty close to the front of the first merchline, but some staff told us that the line was capped, so we got out. Frustratingly, while we were walking around, we saw several people behind us still get serviced. We tried getting into the shorter merch line in the back, but was turned away. We were told that merch was going to be open for after the concert, but was turned away again. Very frustrating. Besides that. This is a pretty condensed venue as it's wedged between other buildings on this downtown block. A lot of things felt cramped, from the lobby, to the bathrooms. Looking down at the GA standing room didn't look like a fun place to be. The seating itself had breathing room. I was able to see the performers well in both concerts that I attended. The sound system and video system were good, no big errors. I'm not too thrilled to come to back to this venue in the future. Things feel disorganized and staff isn't very helpful. read more

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Great show in an iconic space. A great venue. Mickey the concierge was extremely helpful.

This is an excellent mid-sized venue to see a concert. It was packed the night I went and the night was electric!

This was the first time attending a show at The Warfield. We have been to a few other theaters for broadway shows and this one is very similar to others as it is very old , but in decent condition. The decor and lighting is nostalgic. Thorough security with metal detectors as you enter the theater. You have to climb lots of stairs to get to the upper balconies, not sure if there is an elevator, but I do not think so. Not sure if they have handicap accessible seating as I did not look for them. The theaters about the same size as most of the older theaters in town. Event at the top of the balcony, you still have a good view of the stage. Overall it's an intimate theater it's good views from anywhere in the theater, exiting after the show is a chore as there are limited exits, so it can take a while. Good luck if there is an emergency and you need to get out quickly, recommend getting a seat near one of the exits if you have some mobility issues. read more

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I've seen many shows here and although the outside area might not seem face once your in here it's totally safe fun vibes. The sounds quality is great. I like the bar drinks too. read more

Legendary venue, been to multiple metal shows here over the years. Most recently when Machine Head, Fear Factory & Orbit Culture came through. Great show at a great venue!! read more

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Saw the red clay strays sold out show at Warfield on Thursday, July 24. It was a disaster waiting to happen. They must have over sold the venue by hundreds. The general admission area was so crowded. You could not turn around. There was a female security person who was physically, shoving and pushing people in the front pit area to get everyone to fit. When we took pictures of her, she tried to get us thrown out at the event. People like this should not be in charge of other safety, nor should the promoters be so greedy that they have to sell more tickets jeopardizing the safety of those there, enjoying the band. Has anyone else experienced over selling of this venue. read more

I've been coming here off and on for 30 years I would say and I've always enjoyed my time. The staff has consistently been courteous. This sound system is good and I believe they updated the sound system quite a number of years ago. I remember it used to be pretty bad in the balcony. But it also comes down to the sound engineers. We saw The Cult here the other night and I felt that the sound was spot on. And about 4 years ago I saw Motörhead and Danzig and both of those shows had good sound. Unfortunately with any event though, I have to bring your plugs. Cuz any event you go to it's usually cranked up. But before you critique the sound, think about what the sound engineers for the band are doing... I do have a couple complaints. One would be that you cannot pick this specific seat on their website, and even if you call the 1-800 number you cannot pick a specific seat. Also the drinks are a little expensive. But I understand that they have to keep the cost to a certain point to where they make a profit, and I do like to support my music venue and scene. But a couple bucks less would be nice. The bartenders are real stringent on shot sizes and play according to the books. About 10 years ago I took my mom to see the Pet Shop Boys. And the Warfield was very accommodating with their ADA seating. I would not hesitate to see another show here again. The venue is really clean, the people are very nice. The sound is good. And there is not a bad seat in the house. Although I did sit on the upper lodge this time thinking it would have more legroom than the balcony but the legroom is the same so only if you want to sit closer would I choose a lodge seats. Legroom is averagely tight compared to other venues, even newer venues. But it's a good size venue. And also a bonus is its proximity to Bart. read more

The Warfield - Photo from the view from the Upper Lodge. - Music Venues Near Me - San Francisco, California

First of all, construction on Market made it a bit confusing getting to the venue. Ample parking lots around the area. Easy process getting in, friendly staff working there. Bartenders were awesome. Restrooms were clean. Upstairs restrooms for the women have big mirrors and sitting area. Ventilation must be old cause towards the middle of the show everyone was smelling hot dogs... most likely the hot dog venders outside getting ready for the exit of watchers. It was super funny. The place brought back high school memories for me... my first time here was watching a KMEL high school dance competition event. And came tonight to watch JR DeGuzman... a classic venue... will be back again in a few weeks for a Kpop concert. read more

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Went to a RnB concert here, never been here before. Easy to find. Loved the venue, spacious! read more

The Warfield - Entrance of the venue - Music Venues Near Me - San Francisco, California

Had a great time tonight! Went to the Jinkx and Dela holiday show, and that alone was 10/10. The staff is kind and helpful, so the only misses were the drink prices, which were ridiculous!! However, it's a great venue and I will be back regardless. Lovely and beautiful theater. 4.5 stars! read more

The Warfield - Jinkx and Dela Holiday Show - Music Venues Near Me - San Francisco, California

I absolutely loved this theater! It is so conveniently located in the city. I went to The Warfield to see Jeremy Zucker & Jenny Lewis. For Jeremy Zucker, I was able to stand right next to the stage, and I had a great view! Security for the show passed out water bottles during the concert, which was fantastic. For the Jenny Lewis concert, I was sitting up at the balcony. It was a nice show, and fun for the holidays! One of the openers included Shabazz Palaces (a great set)! read more

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