Been here more than a handful of times as guests of members over the years for public events,…read moreprivate events, dinners, meetings, drinks, comedy nights, etc Staff is always on point, cocktails are strong and well done, friendly, personable, etc This is the type of place where you can get "lost" / privacy, hidden rooms, larger hang out spots, phone booths, social areas, working spots, etc

Battery is always a treat with it beautiful venue and glorious decor. Each of the floor and venue…read morehas its own unique feel and design but with consistent level of luxury and touch of care. The drinks and food were fabulous. I was here for a function on the penthouse floor. Oddly enough it's the least decorated but I enjoy the rooftop view of downtown.

A unique organization with a lovely space! They try to…read moreprovide a wide array of activities that appeal to varied interests by hosting regular events such as, game nights, drawing classes, a book club, cabaret and concerts, viewing parties for things such as the Super Bowl, the Academy Awards, regular movies nights, etc.

Went as a non-member to a wine tasting event. The theme was North Italy and the wines really went…read moreinto the peculiar -- which is what I love about Italian varietals. Wine lead was knowledgable and enthusiastic. I was seated with long term Academy members who were very welcoming and friendly to this newbie. Will definitely return again though still unsure if membership is the right thing for me at this time.

SHACK15 is part coworking space, part social club, and part event venue, located on the top floor…read moreof the Ferry Building with views of the Bay. The space is stylish, modern, with lounges, work-friendly areas, meeting rooms, phone booths, lockers, a café/bar, and plenty of room to connect with people. It's a community space for entrepreneurs, founders, investors, creatives, and changemakers. They host events, talks, cultural programming, and networking opportunities; you can meet interesting people, get work done, or attend a curated event there.

Love the view and always have fun events…read more Food and drinks are good. Staff is a bit posh where they don't smile much and really serious about the job. The interiors is beautiful with a view over the ferries and overlooking bay bridge. If you are looking for an upscale workspace or host an event- this is the spot for you.

Although I'm not a member, I had the opportunity to visit The Amador Club, and I was genuinely…read moreimpressed. From the moment you walk through the doors, the club has a luxurious yet welcoming atmosphere. The décor is elegant, the space is impeccably maintained, and the overall environment is both professional and sophisticated--exactly what you'd expect from a premier private club in San Francisco. A special shout-out to Jessey, the bartender, who made the experience exceptional. Jessey was friendly, attentive, and incredibly knowledgeable. The cocktails were perfectly crafted, and the level of hospitality made me feel like I belonged, even as a guest. It's clear that providing outstanding service is a priority here. Whether you're meeting clients, enjoying a drink with friends, or simply looking for an upscale place to unwind, The Amador Club delivers. The combination of a refined atmosphere, exceptional service, and outstanding staff makes it a place I would happily visit again. If this is the experience as a guest, I can only imagine how great it is to be a member. Highly recommended!

Went here to celebrate a friend's 40th birthday and I have to say the service was great, staff was…read morehelpful, and the drinks were delicous. Honestly, I'd come back just for the views! The space feels very upscale and it's in a very nice location.

Most fun I've had at a spa or sauna ever. By FAR the most fun I've had in a cold plunge (It really…read morehelps that you're alongside a friend or new acquaintance who is toughing through it to 5 minutes with you!) Gorgeous, humongous, proper hot, and dare I say social sauna? Loved it. And the selection of hot teas? (Insert chefs kiss gesture). Perfect for a cool day, even better for a rainy one. And this is just the beginning. The expansion plans are impressive and well laid out on the website and in the inner entryway. Can't wait to go back. Met more likeminded and fun people in two hours here than over the last two months. What a pleasant and unpretentious take of social spa-going. PS: as photographed, also learned about karma. And not in some enlightened sense, but the simple fact that if you beg the proprietress to up the heat in the sauna with a splash of water in hour one... she might come back while you're four minutes into your cold plunge with a three to five pound bag of ice.

Alchemy Springs has become one of my favorite places. I didn't expect that much from a sauna - but…read morewow does it have a noticeable effect on my mood. Every time I leave I feel incredible--almost euphoric. For us American's who are just learning that the rest of world does this - and not home alone but with other people. It's too little too late and all the more reason to go. The space itself is beautiful, peaceful, and unbelievably clean. Every detail feels intentional, and you immediately sense that the owners care deeply about the experience they're creating. One of the biggest surprises has been the people. The staff and guests are warm, interesting, and genuinely kind. It feels more like a community than a business, and I've had some unexpectedly great conversations there.

Love the Gotham Club. Great drinks, great atmosphere, and lots of cool Giants memorabilia to check…read moreout (eg the Willie Mays china). The game room is awesome and a great place to hang out before or during a game. The people really make the place though. Everyone is super friendly and the service is fantastic. Definitely go if you get the chance!

I was able to score some guest passes and the experience was incredible!…read more I really like the ambiance. It's kind of like being at an upscale bar/restaurant. Surprisingly the food/drinks are reasonably priced (for a sporting event). It's an ideal spot for a pre-game meal and drink. Also - we did come back later in the game because the restrooms are much cleaner compared to the typical stadium restrooms. Also - it's really cool that you get to go on the warning track before the game.

Well designed studio, unfortunately occupied by new-age "spiritual" folks. Managed by a young,…read morefaux-spiritual, spiritual hipster. If you're looking for a hipster spot this is it. If you're looking for classes and community learning, this is not the place for you! So why one star? Well, I've long wanted to create a community based school for intermediate to advanced rock guitar. I've been playing for over 20 years, have studied at Berklee and completed the GIT program at Musicians' Institute. I love this stuff and I have a lot to offer. (Article, with example from my book: http://www.guitar9.com/columnist109.html ) I found about Free School and went to Warren, who pre-approved this ("It would be great having you as a teacher of electric guitar at the free school - thank you so much for offering to do so!" (sic)). I then spent around 40 hours preparing for a course to cover fundamentals, considering a range of skills and backgrounds, not excluding people who cannot sight read, focusing on creating a foundation, and challenging all. I met Warren, took his course on teaching for Free School, and he discussed about scheduling for the studio room at HI. He followed up with this, too. Then Warren told me that he'd turned facilitator duties of HI over to a young man who goes by "Mylo -gan". I contacted Mylo by email. From there, everything went downhill. Mylo replied only to one of my emails -- the one in where I asked him about parking my computer there for shared use. He wanted this (my computer). But he didn't reply to my any emails where I'd asked about teaching my course. I got an uneasy suspicion that maybe Mylo didn't want me to teach the course there. Since Mylo was ignoring email and since I had no phone number to call, I went there in person. I went in to use my computer but primarily talk to Mylo. Mylo was busy talking to somebody when I arrived, so I told him I'd wait. I went to use my computer while I waited. But I accidentally banged my head on a plant that had been hung in front of and above my computer, just above eye-level (couldn't see it). I moved the plant out of the way. Then their "decorator" came back and saw it and got emotional, spilling his plant and dirt all over my computer. I left his disturbing emotional outburst and found Joergan, who teaches campfire guitar. Mylo came to me usher me away from Joergan right away to "have a word" about the complaint he'd received. Then he told me that nobody had complained. I was astonished at Mylo's unflinching contradiction (lie) and told him so. I returned to Joergan, but Mylo followed, asking and waiting for me to leave. Essentially ushering me out of HI. I'd pretty much gotten that the course would not happen at HI. I waited a few weeks and filled out their form to teach a class, https://docs.google.com/document/d/16FYcuDUtgQ5CA1_y_15fXwjFOBky3fmfOiI3yMlcfwM/mobilebasic?hl=en_US , linked from their site. Unsurprisingly I got what I expected: no reply. Several weeks later, I returned to talk to others there regarding time banking (look it up). Mylo was there and when I mentioned that I might have found another place, he said I could teach the course there. I asked if he was sure about that and he confirmed. I told him that I'd pretty much figured he didn't want the course to happen but he denied that. I asked again if he was sure of himself and mentioned that I'd received no reply after completing their web form. He confirmed that I could teach the class there and denied knowledge of the form. Two weeks after that, and months after Warren had approved my course, I went back to HI to get in-person confirmation (so as to avoid confusion with my such emails being skipped). Mylo eventually opened the door but just stood in the doorway, blocking it. I had to ask if I could come in. And after I'd gotten in, I asked about booking the room for teaching my course. Mylo folded again and said that I might be able to teach "somewhere else" but "I might be able to work with Joergan" (same guy he'd previously ushered me away from). I asked if Joergan was there. He wasn't. This new story reaffirmed my initial suspicion that Mylo simply did not want me to teach the course there. I wonder how they pay the rent, though I suspect someone decided to grant these people money. Such great community potential here, squandered. A pity. Well, unless you're only looking new age stuff and don't mind loose moral values (e.g. lying, fraud). If you like to be "spiritual" by sitting in circles with angelic smiles, full of fake compassion and gossip over tea, this might be a good place for you. Me, I'm looking for a community learning center in SoMa where I can teach the class that I designed.

I visited the Happiness Institute last night for the first time. After moving to the neighborhood…read morerecently, I was looking for a yoga class nearby. I stopped by David Schlussel's yoga class and was very pleasantly surprised. Not only is it free (though I believe donations to the institute are encouraged; however, I was never asked to donate) -- David is an excellent teacher! There were only 3 students, so I got a lot of personalized attention. David asked what each of our goals were at the beginning of the class and made sure to address those throughout the class. One of my favorite parts of his teaching style is that he actually helps you into the positions that don't come as easily. I'm definitely going to be back as often as my busy schedule allows, and am stoked to check out the other classes that they offer.

Gorgeous venue. I attended a friend's wedding here on a weekend. If you're attending or hosting an…read moreevent, I recommend researching where to park and have a back up parking lot in mind as well. The venue does not have a parking lot, and the closest parking lot was full. So definitely have a back up just in case Honestly, I knocked off a star because the receptionist yelled at us for walking towards the elevator as we were waiting in a line for it. Instead of telling us while we were waiting that only 4 people can go in at a time, she yells "ONLY 4 PEOPLE!" as you walk towards the elevator when it arrives. I suggest to print a sign that says 4 people at a time instead of obnoxiously yelling it

Went to listen to Ron Sfarzo and the Taylor St. Stop band. Great music, great cocktails and great…read morefood. I'd highly recommend the University Club events to others.

The event coordinators are amazing to work with and they provide an affordable price to nonprofits…read more They are really straightforward to work with and are always looking for ways they can accommodate the needs of your event. They are located on the 3rd floor of the Kensington Hotel and their decor is very woodsy, cabin-y vibes. While they might not be the most communicative six months out from your event, by the time your event is 2-3 months away, their communications typically get more frequent and regular.

Hard to get food at the bar. No one knew when food orders could be taken. Just a drinkin…read moreestablishment. Service poor

The Francisca Club is gorgeous and a great piece of San Francisco history!…read more We were lucky enough to host our annual mother-daughter event here for Spinsters of San Francisco. I believe that you can only hold event here if you know someone who is a member of this all-ladies club. We enjoyed a high-tea with amazing tea, champagne, and "tea bites." We also had the chance to explore the building a little bit and there seemed to be beauty around every corner; I especially loved the library! If you ever have the opportunity to visit the Francisca Club, I'd recommend saying a resounding "YES!!!"

I've driven past this place countless times and never really paid too much attention to it…read more Apparently it's owned by an elite women's social club that brings in literary giants and does a lot of philanthropic work... so when I went to a holiday party here, it looked like you'd expect. Gorgeous ceilings, tall bookcases, heavy drapes... we even had a little old piano player in the corner. After cocktails we headed upstairs for dinner, and the room seated our 80-person party quite nicely. It'd be a great place to have future events, but I'm sure it costs a pretty penny.