San Francisco is a great city for live music, especially jazz. The city has a long history with jazz, and you can still find many thriving jazz bars hosting talented musicians. A must-visit jazz club in Downtown San Francisco was once a 1920s speakeasy.
From speakeasy to historic jazz bar
Courtesy of Dawn Club
Dawn Club is one of San Francisco’s most iconic Jazz bars. Located in Downtown San Francisco, the bar regularly hosts a variety of jazz musicians for live music every night. While today the club is a well-known place for cocktails and music, it has a long history in San Francisco, dating back to the Prohibition era.
The club originally started as a speakeasy during the Prohibition era, just next to the luxurious Plaza Hotel. Between 1940 and 1945, the club’s shows were broadcast on the radio on Friday and Saturday nights throughout the region.
These broadcasts are credited for being part of establishing San Francisco as a hub for jazz music, along with the many venues located in the Fillmore District. Yerba Buena Jazz Band became one of the most successful acts in the club’s early years, and after the end of World War II, the band returned to Dawn Club, drawing 900 people. The band, along with its founder, Lu Watters, was seen as instrumental in bringing traditional jazz to the West Coast.
Today, the jazz bar is still filled with live music, offering a variety of drinks for patrons during the nightly concerts. Monday through Wednesday, the music starts at 8 pm and runs until 11 pm. On Thursday through Saturday, the music starts at 8 pm and runs until midnight.
You can make reservations on the Dawn Club website.