What is it? Dawn Club is rare in any city: a sleek, expansive downtown jazz club, hidden off an alley by the Palace Hotel, inviting you to dress the part. As someone weaned on old movies as a girl, it evokes the 1940s supperclubs that I dreamed of.
Why we love it: SF’s longtime Future Bars group nailed it (they’re behind legends like Bourbon and Branch, opened in 2006). Dawn Club arises as if out of a Fred and Ginger movie, minus the dance floor. It’s the kind of club where you could imagine Lena Horne crooning or Harry James striking up his band, set to glowing tableside lamps and a massive walk of whiskies and spirits.
A love letter to jazz’s golden age, Dawn Club accomplishes nightly live music, whether jazz trios/quartets or serenader-backed bands. While supper’s off the menu (dine before or after), the spirit feels cinematic, worthy of a date night or a sadly oft-forgotten “night on the town.” Bar seats offer limited stage views but front-row access to the spirits, ideal for whisk(e)y lovers drawn to the global selection.
Cocktails lean pricey ($19–$24), but not when you realize there’s no cover charge, though there is a reservation fee for small groups, which goes to the musicians (but they waive even that between 5 and 7pm nightly). There are more revolutionary cocktails in town but these are well-made and quality, alongside plenty of sparkling wine. Highlights include their Grasshopper redux, layered with crème de menthe, crème de cacao, espresso liqueur, mint cream and a kiss of Abuelita chocolate. Or the Lu Watters Special, a vibrant Scotch and rum highball brightened with apple juice, vermouth and umami bitters.
Time Out tip: Reservations are recommended, especially for a prime seat near the stage, in this rarity for live music, fine spirits and old-world glamour.
Address: 10 Annie St, San Francisco, 94103
Opening hours: Mon, Tue 5pm–midnight; Wed–Fri 5pm–2am; Sat 6pm–2am
Expect to pay: Cocktails run $14–$24; no food menu available