Black Cat

What you need to know

Black Cat is a jazz club and restaurant at 400 Eddy Street in the Tenderloin. It opened in 2016 in a space that previously housed a different restaurant. The room is designed around the music: a baby grand piano sits at the center, surrounded by banquette seating and a long bar. Live jazz runs nightly.

What to Expect

The programming is primarily jazz: trios, quartets, vocalists, and the occasional solo pianist. The musicians are working professionals, not background music. The room is small enough that you’ll hear every note clearly from anywhere in the space. Sets typically run 90 minutes to two hours with breaks.

The food menu is upscale American with a full dinner service. The cocktails are crafted and priced accordingly. This is a dinner and a show venue where both elements are taken seriously. You can come for just drinks and music at the bar, but the experience is designed around a full evening.

Visiting

400 Eddy Street, Tenderloin. Open Wednesday through Saturday for dinner and music. Reservations are recommended, especially for weekend evenings. No cover charge. Dinner entrees run $25 to $45. Cocktails are $16 to $20. The total evening cost is in the $80 to $120 per person range with food and drinks.

The Tenderloin block can be rough. Walk with purpose, don’t linger outside, and you’ll be fine. The interior is a different world from the street.

Getting There

Powell BART is about a 10 minute walk south. The 38 Geary bus runs along Geary Street two blocks north. Rideshare is the most common way people arrive. Street parking exists on the surrounding blocks but the neighborhood is not one where you want to leave valuables visible in your car.

Skip this if you’re looking for a casual or inexpensive night. This is an upscale jazz experience with prices to match.

📍 Location: This activity is in The Tenderloin. Explore the neighborhood →