Monarch
The Verdict
"A SoMa club with two floors: a lounge bar upstairs and a dance floor in the basement. The downstairs room books solid DJs on weekends. Upstairs is good for conversation and cocktails. Friday and Saturday nights get crowded after 11pm."
What you need to know
Monarch is a multi-level bar and nightclub on 6th Street in SoMa. The street level is a cocktail bar with a steampunk aesthetic: exposed brick, brass fixtures, and moody lighting. Downstairs is the dance floor, a low ceilinged basement room with a proper sound system built for electronic music. The venue has been running since 2013.
What to Expect
The upstairs bar operates as a regular cocktail lounge most evenings. The basement club opens for DJ events, typically Thursday through Saturday. The booking leans house, techno, and underground electronic, with local DJs and touring artists. The dance floor is compact, which concentrates the energy.
The cocktail program upstairs is well made and priced in the $16 to $19 range. The basement bar keeps it simpler. The crowd skews toward people who know what kind of music they’re coming for.
Visiting
101 6th Street, SoMa. The bar is open most evenings. Club events typically start at 10 PM and run until 2 AM or later. Cover for basement events ranges from $10 to $25. The upstairs bar usually has no cover.
The 6th Street block is one of the rougher corridors in SoMa. The interior of Monarch is a different world, but plan your arrival and departure. Rideshare door to door is the standard approach.
Getting There
Powell BART is about a 10 minute walk. The 12 Folsom bus runs a few blocks south. Rideshare is the most practical option, especially late at night. Street parking exists on the surrounding blocks.
Skip this if you’re uncomfortable with the Tenderloin/SoMa street scene after dark. Inside, the venue is safe and well run. Getting there requires passing through a neighborhood that can be jarring.
📍 Location: This activity is in SoMa. Explore the neighborhood →
