Monarch

What you need to know

Monarch occupies 101 6th Street in SoMa with two distinct levels. The upstairs lounge serves cocktails in a dimly lit space with aerialist performances on some nights. The basement is the dance floor: a 300-person-capacity room with a Void Acoustics sound system (one of only a handful in the U.S.) built for house and techno. Four experienced San Francisco nightlife operators founded the club, and the curation shows.

The drinks

Full cocktail program upstairs. The lounge operates independently from the dance floor, so you can have a proper drink before heading downstairs. The basement bars keep things simpler for the dancing crowd.

The space

Two floors, two moods. The upstairs is intimate and conversation-friendly. The basement is dark, loud, and focused entirely on the music. The Void Acoustics rig has been voted “Best Sound System” by SF Weekly.

Practical info

Cover $10 to $25 depending on the night, with some free nights. Check monarchsf.com for the event calendar; the best nights depend entirely on the DJ. At 101 6th Street in SoMa. Civic Center BART is a 5-minute walk. Powell BART is about 10 minutes. Rideshare recommended for late nights.

📍 Location: This bar is in SoMa. Explore the neighborhood →