Where's True Love Cafe when you need it?

November 3, 2006 9:51 AM

What is there to do in San Francisco on a Friday night that doesn't involve alcohol?

I'm going out with a friend tonight after he gets off work at 10:30. He can't drink for a few months, and I can't think of anything else to do on a weekend night except curl up on someone's couch and watch movie (not that there's anything wrong with that, I just need to get out of the house once in a while). What are some things to do or places to go that are open late and not centered around booze?

posted by logic vs love to Society & Culture (11 answers total)

Golen Gate Park on LSD. Fun for all.
posted by Meatbomb at 10:16 AM on November 3, 2006

As I found out in this thread, bonfires on Ocean Beach kick ass.

I concede the weather hasn't exactly been optimal, though.
posted by symphonik at 10:19 AM on November 3, 2006

Local music? Dancing? I know alot of those places serve alcohol, but it's not officially required. You might be able to find some low-key coffeehouse type places that have music and a non-drinky atmosphere. have you checked sfstation.com for a start?
posted by gnutron at 10:20 AM on November 3, 2006

Best answer: I'd probably go walk around North Beach. Sure, there are bars there but also lots of cafes open late. The odd mixture of tourists and locals and out-of-town revelers makes for good people-watching. I know City Lights is open late too.

You could also go out to Ocean Beach where you might be able to see bonfires. You could also take in a midnight movie and then go find a taqueria in the mission to eat - many of them open until 3 or 4am.
posted by vacapinta at 10:24 AM on November 3, 2006

Latino film festival at the Castro? Sure to be a beautiful crowd!
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 10:30 AM on November 3, 2006

Check the Squidlist. There's always something interesting listed there. Gallery openings come to mind, lectures......Also Fecal Face is the place to check for all art-related stuff.
posted by otherwordlyglow at 10:45 AM on November 3, 2006

Response by poster: I've combed though squidlist, fecal face, and sfstation, but everything seems to start a while before we'd be able to get there. The midnight movie sounds good (Evil Dead 2!!!), as does walking around North Beach, weather permitting. Any specific ideas for cafes open that late?
posted by logic vs love at 11:55 AM on November 3, 2006

24-hour restaurants; recommandations thereof.
posted by Zed_Lopez at 12:01 PM on November 3, 2006

recommandations are manly sorts of recommendations.
posted by Zed_Lopez at 12:02 PM on November 3, 2006

The list of actual 24-hr places is kind of thin but thats deceiving since there are places like cafes (I know the over-crowded Steps of Rome is open until 3am) and taquerias open almost 24 hours.

If you feel like dancing, the End Up never closes during the weekend and there are other late-night clubs like 1015 Folsom and Ruby Skye. I could also supply a list of bars that are open like 21 hours (close at 3am, reopen at 6am) but thats not relevant to this thread...
posted by vacapinta at 12:13 PM on November 3, 2006

Globe Restaurant on Pacific is just outside North Beach and has a reputation as being a late-night spot where quite a few chefs end up after their shifts. The kitchen is open late and I've had some really great meals there.
posted by otherwordlyglow at 1:00 PM on November 3, 2006