With such high-couture shopping areas like those in Union Square, it's only logical that San Francisco also has high-quality nightclubs where club goers can show off their wears. Ruby Skye, Fluid Ultra Lounge and Apartment 24 are among the classiest clubs in the city. All of these establishments have great DJs, sexy clientele and a wonderful dance floor to keep you going all night long.
Ruby Skye (420 Mason St.) is always on top of the trends, celebrating massive theme parties designed after the hippest upcoming blockbusters, like the 2004 "Pirates of the Caribbean" party and the 2009 "Alice In Wonderland" party. At parties of this type, thousands of dollars are spent in props and decor.
Fluid Ultra Lounge (662 Mission St.) houses several of the top DJs in the area and has hosted such international favorites as Jazzy Jeff, ?uestlove, Biz Markie and Ali Shaheed of A Tribe Called Quest.
Apartment 24 (440 Broadway St.) offers a house-party vibe that rocks throughout the night with a mix of hip hop, rock and 80s tunes. If you have the money, take advantage of one of the club's two VIP areas; gold chains hanging from the ceiling set these sections apart from the club without entirely blocking your view of the dance floor.
If you prefer old-fashioned watering holes over rambunctious nightclubs, you may enjoy The Hemlock Tavern (1131 Polk St.), which offers its indie-rocker clients a large smoking patio. Or for a good round of people-watching, stop by Molotov's (582 Haight St.), the most popular punk rock bar in the city.
If either of these bars aren't quite your scene, try Edinburgh Castle (950 Geary St.) for that classic Scottish pub experience, which is so authentic that Scottish author Irving Welsh, creator of "Trainspotting," always makes sure to visit this locale whenever he's in town.
If you like live music, shows are available every night in the city. Slim's, The Great American Music Hall and The Fillmore are all major concert venues that offer great shows in all types of genres, including hip hop, punk and classic rock, just to name a few.
Slim's (333 11th St.) is perhaps the best club for underground hip hop and punk concerts; the mid-sized venue offers a cozy feeling of togetherness. The Great American Music Hall (859 O'Farrell St.) has a fantastic balcony, allowing for a great view of the show without having to crowd together in front of the stage.
The Fillmore (1805 Geary Blvd.) has been a part of the San Francisco music scene since the sixties. World-changing acts like Jefferson Airplane and Jimi Hendrix have used its stage in the past; and to this day, huge names in the industry, like the New York Dolls and Les Claypool, still book this venue whenever they visit the city.
Even if you don't like music, dancing or drinking, there is still plenty to do in San Francisco. At all hours, animal lovers enjoy watching the sea lions at Pier 39. When you see the playful sea lions at the pier at night, there are no tourists blocking your view and no one to distract the animals from natural activity and play.
