San Francisco · San Mateo County, CA

Arts & Culture in San Francisco

Scout analyzed 155 San Francisco places and surfaced the ones that actually fit arts & culture.

Places analyzed

155

Matches

27

Typical spend

$300

Typical visit

1.9 hr

Scout-verified spots

Union Square

Union Square

Union Square

Well-known vibrant neighborhood featuring a range of upscale shops, restaurants, hotels & nightlife.

OutdoorsHistory
1.5 hr visit
The Warfield

Tenderloin

The Warfield

Intimate venue began as a vaudeville theater in 1922 & now hosts a variety of national music acts.

Live music
PIER 39

Fisherman's Wharf

PIER 39

Bustling bayside pier featuring scenic views, sea lion sightings, eateries, shops & entertainment.

OutdoorsShoppingHistory
1 hr visit
111 Minna Gallery and Event Space

Yerba Buena

111 Minna Gallery and Event Space

SoMa gallery for up-and-coming artists that morphs into an after-hours venue for parties & events.

FoodArts
2 hr visit
California Academy of Sciences

Golden Gate Park

California Academy of Sciences

Natural history museum with an aquarium, planetarium & scientists conducting a variety of research.

ArtsAnimals
2 hr visit
Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco

Golden Gate Park

Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco

Great American Music Hall

Little Saigon

Great American Music Hall

Once host to the Grateful Dead, this ornately decked concert venue now books modern mainstream acts.

CocktailsLive music
1.5 hr visit
International Art Museum of America

Mid-Market

International Art Museum of America

Nonprofit gallery showing works including paintings & sculptures created by world-class artists.

Arts
2 hr visit
SFJAZZ

Civic Center

SFJAZZ

This nightspot presents a line-up of internationally renowned jazz performers live on stage.

Live music
Rickshaw Stop

Civic Center

Rickshaw Stop

Indie bands & DJs rock crowds in a small, funky space that also offers food & lounge areas.

Live music
Legion of Honor

Lincoln Park

Legion of Honor

4,000 years of ancient & European art in a beaux arts building overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge.

Arts
2 hr visit
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

Yerba Buena

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

Contemporary & modern paintings, installations, photographs, media & more in a sleek space.

Arts
2 hr visit
Museum of Craft and Design

Dogpatch

Museum of Craft and Design

Gallery showcasing a variety of contemporary craft & design work with monthly events & a gift shop.

ArtsShopping
2 hr visit
The Independent

Alamo Square

The Independent

Intimate, no-frills music venue with a full bar that features indie & emerging acts.

Live music
Children's Creativity Museum

Yerba Buena

Children's Creativity Museum

A place for kids to explore arts & technology by making music videos, animating short films & more.

Arts
2 hr visit
Exploratorium

Northern Waterfront

Exploratorium

Hundreds of interactive, educational exhibits & activities illustrating scientific principles.

Arts
2 hr visit
Oakland Museum of California

Civic Center

Oakland Museum of California

Artifacts & interactive displays in a modern building focusing on state art, history & science.

FoodOutdoorsArts
45 min visit
The Masonic

Nob Hill

The Masonic

Mid-century modern space built in 1958 that hosts notable music acts in an auditorium with balcony.

Live musicArtsShopping
1 hr visit
Palace of Fine Arts

Marina District

Palace of Fine Arts

This Greco-Roman palace & architectural attraction hosts an ever-changing roster of performing arts.

Museum of 3D Illusions

Fisherman's Wharf

Museum of 3D Illusions

Arts
2 hr visit
Randall Museum

Corona Heights

Randall Museum

Museum with wild-animal exhibits & hands-on experiences for exploring science & the arts.

Arts
2 hr visit
Brick & Mortar Music Hall

Mission District

Brick & Mortar Music Hall

Talent ranges from bluegrass to hip-hop at this modest-sized music venue near the freeway.

Live music
Asian Art Museum

Civic Center

Asian Art Museum

Over 18,000 Asian artworks & artifacts in the updated former main library opposite City Hall.

Arts
2 hr visit
Bay Area Discovery Museum

Arts & Culture

Bay Area Discovery Museum

Indoor/outdoor museum inspiring kid creativity via interactive exhibits, a play space & art classes.

Arts
2 hr visit

Worth the splurge

When the night needs to land.

What Scout found

  • 29 of the 155 analyzed San Francisco places fit arts & culture.
  • 24% of matches are outdoor or partly outdoor.
  • 100% have easy parking.
  • Dominant moods: Relaxed, Upscale, Scenic.

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