Mr Smith’s

Came here with 2 friends on a Saturday night.
There was an event going on on the main floor so the space we could explore was fairly limited. When we arrived (around 11 pm) there were few people downstairs in the dance area. As time passed, the crowd built up but it seemed to be primarily a late 20s/​early 30s venue. The music was mainly top 40, with little variety otherwise.
I tried the Basil Gimlet which was strong, spicy, and very herbal. Not sure if I liked it, but I definitely did feel it.

OMG I had one of the best times ever!
The music they were playing was off the hook, the drinks were strong and the ambiance was awesome!
There’s a reason why this place has 4 stars and 900+ reviews… they are a great dance club, and I will most certainly be back!

Chill place, good drinks, good music (top40/​hip-​hop), crowded but spacious by the end of the night.
I came here once with guest list and it was a smooth entry but incredibly crowded, took forever to get a drink and the dance floor was really crowded. Came here another time, arrived at like 1am and paid the $ 10 cover and it was way less crowded with no wait at the bars and a dance floor with space! Met some really nice girls that night and actually got to know people. Fantastic nights.

The first floor is relatively small like a bar/​saloon. You go downstairs, and there’s a dance floor. Sign up for the guestlist and don’t pay cover.
The crowd is probably from late 20’s to late 30’s. I recommend going to Temple if you want to actually go clubbing and dance. The bar is set up so there isn’t much interaction to meet new people and you stick to your own private groups. The music downstairs was a mix of top 40 and hip hop.

Perfect location for a party
The only I don’t like is the bathroom
no lock.
hope you fix it soon
Thanks

Came here for a close friend’s birthday! Parking is kind of hard to find on the street. Almost parked my car in the parking garage next door and luckily had to go back to get something and realized they close it down at midnight so I got my car out. The upstairs is a bar area with VIP section and the downstairs is the dance floor which is pretty small. They have coat check which had no one there working there the night we went so you basically had to put your jacket there and hope it was still there at the end of the night. The drinks were just ok IMO. I asked for a tequila sunrise and they didn’t make it right, didn’t complain though. The bartenders were attentive and nice and kept refilling my water.
The crowd is mostly under 30 and pretty diverse. Saw mostly Caucasian and crazy drunk FOBs who were super annoying and kept getting in our way of taking pics. There were some people in costumes?! Lol Dont know why… lol. Probably wouldn’t come back unless I really had to. The music wasn’t good when we walked in but about an hour later they started playing hip hop/​Top 40’s. Had a good time with my friends but unfortunately SF clubbing isn’t my scene.

Shout-​out to DJ Greg J for coming through with my Ariana Grande request!!! I had to hear my girl on the dance floor one time. I liked that he wasn’t playing straight EDM, but rather a well-​thought-​out mix of Top 40 and hip-​hop throwbacks that make you want to drop dat ass. Five stars for him, he was the highlight of the night!
There’s a lot to like about Mr. Smith’s. Make sure you sign up for the guest list (
) for free entry on Friday and Saturday nights up until 11, otherwise $ 10 cover charge. It was pouring the night we came, but there was still a decent turnout. The crowd seemed to be late 20s, early 30s, but for sure no creeps, goons, or douches. Dress code is super chill, no hats and no shorts. There’s a phone charging station by the restrooms if needed, but you might as well charge up for free beforehand to save that $ 3 or so. The men’s restroom is awkward if you have to take a deuce, but other than that, Mr. Smith’s is the kind of nightclub/​lounge that suits my tastes.
By the sound of things, the birthday girl was overall satisfied with her reservation. Michael took care of us the entire night and made sure things went smoothly. We had two reserved tables on the main floor marked with place cards, which some of us were too excited about. Bottle service was a fun experience. They stored our bottle and mixers and made sure nobody sat in our area or took our coats while we were on the dance floor. It couldn’t have been any more carefree!
I don’t get out much, but Mr. Smith’s is my type of night out. Nothing too wild, but enough for me to have some fun. So glad I finally found a place that plays Top 40 and doesn’t get super crowded. I definitely see myself coming back here to celebrate my birthday!

Really liked this club because it wasn’t super «clubby» seemed more like lounge with the décor but had a great dance floor downstairs. Only thing I didn’t like was their «coat check» which was just an open closet in a dark corner for anyone to steal anyone’s jackets. Didn’t feel comfortable leaving it there and would rather pay the $ 3 to have someone secure that room. Would come back though. Note: free cover before 11pm with guestlist.

I gotta say this place was a pleasant surprise! I loved the décor, the second floor was a super fun chill place to lounge and party. The music wasn’t too loud we couldn’t hear each other but not quiet enough you would avoid dancing:) drinks were yummy. I’m rating it a 4 because the basement dancefloor DJ played painfully bad music when I was there and because of it is be hesitant to go not knowing what the DJ has in store. But the music upstairs was great!

I had the BEST time celebrating my birthday here at Mr. Smiths!
Michael was very helpful with setting up a reservation with bottle service and guestlists. If I had any questions he was able to assist me via phone or e-​mail quickly. My guests enjoyed the drinks served at the bar. The music was on POINT! everyone enjoyed the top40. old school hip hop. rnb music. everyone had a good time! definitely recommend this place for any occasion!

This place is horrendous… Why does it exist?!
I went to use the ladies room and there was a legitimate 3 – 4 person orgy going on in the handicap stall. I really think they need management to get a better handle on thing here. It’s wonderful for them that they have good music and multiple levels, but that’s what their business is, so I think that’s all to be expected. Get some employees to keep an eye on what’s going on in your establishment.
a. I don’t want to hear that
b. Someone handicap could legit need to use the restroom
c. surely this is against some code…
Gross AF.

I was looking forward to coming here due to the positive reviews but man… what a mistake. First of all, my friend and I arrived after 11 pm so we had to pay $ 10 for cover. UGH. We went downstairs to the basement to check out the dance floor and the music was just blah. I wanted some hip hop! The dance floor was also filled with older people so I felt out of place. Anyways, after me and my friend finished our drinks, we left and went to another bar. So… I probably ended up staying here for only 20 min. Lol so sad. If you decide to come here, try to get in for free cause $ 10 ain’t worth it.

Celebrated my friends birthday here on a Friday night. We had a great time! Bar tenders upstairs and downstairs were friendly and attentive. When everybody on the dance floor starts singing a lot of the songs the DJ’s playing… You know that the music is on point!
I was worried about seating when we got there so I inquired about the VIP room. I received a very detailed email from Michael, the manager, moments after I had just sent my inquiry. I was hoping to bring at least 30 people but only had 20, so I emailed Michael back and we were able to get tables in front of the bar. It’s nice walk into a club and have seats and tables reserved for you, even had my name on it (my friends were impressed). Even though we didn’t get the VIP room we were still treated like VIP. Thanks Michael you rock!
I personally like that the upstairs is only the bar and the downstairs is the dance floor and a bar. It separates the people who just want to drink and mingle and the people who want to drink and dance. It worked for my friends and I. We ended up transitioning downstairs. We pretty much danced for 2 hours straight. It was a good crowd. We had a blast!
We will definitely be repeat customers!

Mr. Smiths, personally, is an easy bar to forget about.
7^th and market isn’t really the most destination-​esque area of the city, per se, yet every time I end up here I have a blast.
The outside is unassuming. Nestled between the federal building and an academy of art building… The only thing that gives it away is the large sign out front. Every night of the week there is a door guy checking ID’s, ensuring those pesky underage art students don’t nuzzle their way in to spend mom and dad’s money on fireball.
Once in, you can’t help to be in awe of the space; a long beautiful bar with TVs and specialty cocktail menus, booths to the right, a quaint upstairs begging you to have your next group shindig here and even a charging station in the back so you don’t bug the bartender to charge your ever-​dying «smart» phone. To some, these qualities could be shrugged off as standard fare in SF, but two things make this bar above most-​else.
CONSISTENTLY GOOD MUSIC. Now now, «good» is subjective. When I say good, I mean old-​school hip-​hop ALL NIGHT. Tupac, biggie, tribe, gangstar, skee-​lo (?!) and even heard some underground. While the crowd may not match the music, everyone found themselves nodding and singing along at one point in the night. Even on a slow Tuesday night, the music was on point the entire time we were there. Until recently, I hadn’t been to Mr. Smiths in about a decade… as soon as I hit the curtain to come in, I remembered why I loved the place so much.
HAPPY HOUR (4:00−8:00 M-​F): 4 dollar heavy-​handed wells and $ 4 beers. Not only are the pours strong, but their beer selection is impressive to boot. 4:00 — 8:00 happy hour in the middle of the tech mecca is hard to compete with.
Service is top notch. I didn’t get the bartenders names, but they are quick and personable. They serve small bowls of popcorn for free and as soon as we ran low, it was filled with a smile (this would annoy other bartenders).
Pro-​tips (there are a few):
–Fridays during HH, they bring in FREE PIZZA for all patrons. Its first come, first serve but I’ve easily scarfed down 3 slices without having to throw elbows.
–weekends are known to be more crowded and a cover is implemented ($ 10?)… But, IMO, worth it.
–crowd is 25 – 40 which I’d say is a nice range to have fun yet not get TOO ratchet.
–credit cards accepted at a $ 15 minimum.
–if you drive, hide or bring belongings. The area can get sketch at night.
–the men’s bathroom has a normal toilet and a urinal. The toilet has no walls and doors don’t lock. If you gotta take a dump, you’re shit out of luck… literally. maybe use the women’s? They really need a lock.
O_​_​_​_​o

Bar is incredibly small and the basement is literally a basement. You feel like you’re partying at your friend’s parents’ house in highschool. Music and vibe were good in a loud, bass-​y, rachet-​y way. Crowd seemed extra young, early 20s.
However –
1) some inexplicably long waits at upstairs bar
2) not worth a cover. EVER.
3) located in the cut
4) BARTENDERS DOWNSTAIRS OVERCHARGE AND DO NOT GIVE ITEMIZED BILL OR RECEIPT FOR DRINKS. They assume the crowd is dumb and young.
I’m really surprised this place managed 4 stars.
I would leave 1 star for the shadiness of bartenders but this place is fun.

I’ve been to Mr Smith’s a few times and when I needed a spot for my 30^th birthday I thought about Mr Smiths. I worked with Michael, the general manager to plan it out about a month in advance. Michael was amazing to work with, and answered all my incessant questions and worries. The day of the event we had the place to ourselves until 10 and he let me cater in food. He was very flexible with the guestlist (I had nearly a 100 people on it!) and even created a specialized drink menu for me. It was a picture perfect night and I couldn’t have asked for anything more. I even got a drink on the house at the stroke of midnight. All my guests had a fabulous night, and really there wasn’t a single that went wrong.
I would give them 10 stars if I could. I’ll be recommending it to all my friends, and ofcourse going to be going back for some dancing!

10÷30÷15 — officially my new favorite bar/​lounge in the city!
Planned to come here for my birthday on a Friday night with a recommendation from my friend. Long story short, Michael is a great manager for Mr. Smith’s! Very accommodating, chill and welcoming!
Lined up at 10:40pm and the line was kind of long but got in very quickly! Thank goodness. There’s a bar on the main floor with two booth seatings. Then upstairs is another floor but can be reserved for private parties (with a bar/​bottle service minimum). Then there’s a basement area where the dance floor is at! Pretty poppin. Tho it seems like a small venue, it’s pretty spacious if you’re going here with a large group. Plenty of options to chill/​dance/​socialize :)
Don’t forget you have to sign up on the GL and enter before 11PM for free entry or it’s a $ 10 cover! You can RSVP by registering your name through their website through Event Brite or email Michael if you have a large party and he can add the names to the GL! I would definitely come back. Thank you, Michael for being a great host!

I’m reviewing this place solely on the basis that they are NOT WHEELCHAIR-​ACCESSIBLE. More aptly put, they seem to lack the desire to offer such accessibility. After all, the front entrance seems to have a ramp… except on both occasions that I’ve tried to visit this establishment, the gate has been pulled half-​way, blocking the ramp part of the entrance… and the bouncer at the door shower zero interest in moving it in order to let me in… in fact, the first time, he said, «I don’t know how you’re going to get THAT in HERE!»
Ugh, really?
My partner helped me get into Mr. Smith’s…only for me to discover that the seating is primarily on platforms up a step from the main floor. And the event I wanted to go to was down a long flight of stairs… of course there was no elevator.
Okay, fine, maybe there’s nothing they can do about installing an elevator… but seating on platforms? A blocked front ramp??? I believe in the biz they call that «unnecessary roughness» and it’s a foul!
At the end of the day, this is just one more hipster bar in a super-​craptastic neighborhood which is definitely NOT a safe block for women to walk on alone at night… so if you are of the feminine persuasion and still insist upon going to Mr. Smith’s, consider taking a cab and getting dropped off directly out front!
As for me, I won’t be back. Clearly, I’m not wanted here.

Not exceptional but not terrible either. I’m having a hard time figuring out how exactly did this place not deliver on what I expected, but it somehow didn’t.
— The drinks were good but honestly I felt it was really overpriced. I had a Champagne cocktail and it was too sweet and very small.
— I didn’t get good vibes from the bartender either, who kept staring at me when I was trying to ask him for advice on what cocktail to pick.
I won’t be back. There are a lot of better places to have drinks on a weekday around there. (e.g. SWIG on Geary — -!)

I came here for a bachelorette party, and I was surprised a place like this exists in Mid-​Market. The décor is speakeasy/​saloon on the ground level, and the dance club is at the basement level. There isn’t much room to dance down there, so I can see myself being really uncomfortable if there a lot of people the night I went.
We reserved a table with bottle service. But if we didn’t, I know we would be struggling to find a place to sit because there isn’t much seating overall. The staff was really friendly and made sure we were comfortable. Of course it helped that one of the beautiful ladies in our party caught the eye of the owner…
Jokes aside, the hostess/​waitress who brought us to our table took good care of us that night.
The music was pretty good. The DJ that night played a good mix of 90s hip hop, today’s pop, and other remixes. The crowd at the basement level was a bit less classy than that at ground level as the night progressed. (Or I’m getting old and can’t stand the youth anymore…). I feel like Mr. Smith’s wouldn’t be the first place in my mind to go dancing, but a place where you can get wind down with good company over drinks. And with that in mind, I’d like to go back for happy hour soon.

Mr. Smith’s has more of a bar vibe than a dance club vibe. While it does have an entire floor in the basement designed as a dance floor, I thought it was too small and too crowded. I don’t think more than 50 people could fit on that dance floor without feeling like they are bumping into each other. The music was also just all right — they didn’t have the most current music playing, but I did appreciate hearing some of my favorite throwback songs. The other two floors of the dance club are a bar floor with some seating, and a half floor above it for additional seating and conversation if you want to sit down for a bit and relax from all the dancing. I really liked the half floor because when I needed a break from jamming out, I really liked being able to chill out and take a Unilocal break. I thought this was a major plus of Mr. Smith’s because one of my main issues with dance clubs is their general lack of seating unless you have VIP bottle service. People can’t dance until their feet fall off, you know?

I choose Mr Smith’s for a first date, after reading some good reviews.
My date was impressed to say the least. She loved the relaxed atmosphere and the open lounge booth along the wall, opposite the bar. The mixed decorations give it a classic-​yet forward-​aura. We had a great time!
When we first entered it seemed a little dead inside. However, taking into consideration that it was a Thursday night, every physical seat was taken by 6:45pm. This told me that Mr Smith’s was a place that would make my top 5 favorite drinking spots. Thursday happens to be ½ price champagne drinks and since I don’t usually drink champagne, I took the opportunity to try one. Tastefully made! Well done bartender!
Plus: the bouncer at the door was polite but reserved (and the only security for the place that evening). He took a solid look at each of our IDs and said thanks for the upfront presentation. He almost seemed a bit disappointed that we had our IDs out and ready for inspection, he didn’t have a change to ask us for them. Other than that, I would have liked to have heard a «have a good time inside» as we entered, since I had read such good reviews on here previously. When we left he gave us a half-​hearted goodnight. Maybe he was tired or having an off night. NBD.
The funniest thing for me at Mr Smith’s was overhearing the bartender chatting it up with his coworker, who decided not to pick up a shift that night. «Man, you’re missing out! It would have been an easy shift.» [As if it was not busy at all!] (Way to go! Sell the place to your customers by telling them your borderline bored…)

Best gimlet in SF. Ask for John. He’ll take great care of you. The bar is super close to the civic center subway station.

There are times when I just need a moment to unwind after a long day. And when I do, I can often find some solace with a little walk, certain stretches that help release positive chi, I’ll even go so far as to doing a meditative chant or two to evoke some tranquility.
But then there’s times when there’s no better or effective means of achieving that quick burst of bliss than with alcohol.
Hello Mr Smith’s.
Awhile back, Mr. Smith’s struck me as some sort of anomaly on Stevens and 7^th, but it now stands as the key transformative figure to ushering in a kinder and gentler and less urine soak section of town. Thank you gentrification.
They serve a decent selection of whisky and bourbons, and the happy hour specials allows yours truly to 1) wash away the day to day grime of work and 2) be less grumpy on the train ride home.

I had the best time at this place a few weeks ago.
I went in not really knowing what to expect. I had never heard of this place but it had pretty good reviews on Unilocal and it said they played hip-​hip so I was in.
Le fiancé’s cousin was moving to SoCal so we came out for one last night in the city. Pre-​gamed at Butter and then walked here (a long walk but doable. I personally like the built-​in recovery period a walk back to car after a night out has).
We were on the guestlist so no cover! Walked in and immediately dug it. Was a cool, lounge-​y vibe. The drinks upstairs looked amazing! I’m bummed I didn’t get to try their specialty cocktails but we heard the hip-​hop bumpin’ so immediately made out way downstairs.
The music was GREAT. Loved it. Best of 90’s, 00’s, and today’s hip-​hop and Top 40. We all had a great time dancing downstairs.
Crowd was actually not all that diverse. It leaned pretty white — felt like a professional after work crowd. This isn’t a problem but when me and le fiancé want to really dance it felt kind of awkward being the only ones there doing so. Everyone else was kind of just bopping around.
Overall though, loved it. I want to come back and try the drinks upstairs next time!!! :)

Came out on a Friday night to celebrate my best friends birthday. Came with my boyfriend and brother, took bart, got off at civic center and was a pleasantly surprising short stroll. We got here a bit after 10p and there was no line to get in, bouncer, no cover. Since we were early, we checked the place out. Love the atmosphere! Very speakeasy like with the light lighting, dressed up bartenders, comfy couches, fun and lovely décor. Ground level includes a small seating area, a larger (reserved) seating area, bar, bathrooms (which were clean!) and phone charging stations you can pay for. Downstairs is another bathroom (be careful it does not lock) smaller bar where the dj and dance floor is so it’s louder. Upstairs is seating areas that overlook the ground floor.
We ordered drinks from the ground floor bar menu. 7^th Street Gimlet with a dash of spice, marmalade sour and blueberry crush. Very entertaining watching these drinks being made. They were all strong! Gimlet was very refreshing (lime and basil) and summery. Marmalade sour was bourbon, bourbon, bourbon with a hint of sweet. It was definitely the prettiest drink. Blueberry crush was the tastiest! Then we took to the upstairs seats and waited for the rest of our party to show up.
When they got there we went downstairs to dance. Down stairs we ordered whiskey sours, Midori sours (delicious), shots of Jameson, Stella and another shot the bartender suggested that wasn’t too great lol. Good mix of songs. Crowd was a good mix too. It was not too crowded so breaking into personal bubbles was not an issue and everyone had an excellent time! We would definitely come back and recommend Mr. Smith’s!
Just be aware that there is a credit card charge minimum but drinks are a bit pricey (–1 star) so most of the time you don’t have to worry about not making it!

Went here for a ladies’ night out. It’s conveniently located near Civic Center BART station. When you first walk in it’s all loungey/​chillax and then downstairs it’s dancey/​club.
Drinks were on point, music was on point, and the bathrooms were clean!
Shoutout to.
–the bartender for the awesome drinks and helping get a Lyft driver
–The DJ for taking it back to my junior high days with Michael Jackson, Montell Jordan, and Prince and then to nowadays with Black Eyed Peas and Bruno Mars =D *fist bump*
— The bouncers for being awesome bouncers.
Unfortunately, due to contact lens troubles I was visually impaired most of the time. Turned out that my dance partners consisted of my friends, a b-​boy, an electric fan, and a full body mirror. Yet despite my limited vision, i could tell the place was clean and had pretty wallpaper.
Shoutout to.
–the fan for being so cool and coming in handy when Beyonce songs came on
–the mirror for being available
Overall it’s a cool place to go dancing with friends and has a chill and fun atmosphere. My girl friends and I plan to come back!

After trying and disliking a couple other bars and clubs one Friday night, I went with my friends to Mr. Smith’s — one of their standbys — and went straight downstairs to the dance floor. They said that night was particularly busy, although it still looked fairly empty to me.
If you’re looking to mostly hang out and dance with your own party, Mr. Smith’s is a good place to go. There’s space to spread out and it’s easy to have conversations with the people around you. If you’re looking for a club experience though, try elsewhere. I also wasn’t impressed by the DJ — it was like he’d just turned on a top 40 radio station.

Came to this bar for a private event and was mortified by the staff. Apparently one of the people tending to the bar is the owner or manager and he was one of the rudest people I’ve met. My husband’s company was hosting this event, and he was rude to every person who approached the bar other than people who worked for the company. At one point I asked if my too strong drink could be watered down, and he looked at me as if I just insulted him to his face and told him his mom was ugly. Asking for a water was an ordeal too, as if I had conducted some cardinal sin. Eventually I avoided anything from the bar at all costs and asked my husband to order for me. It was THAT BAD.
I’m not an SF native, so I can’t compare to too many alternatives in the area. However, my understanding is that if a group is booking out a place for a private party on a random weekday evening, you are probably making a pretty penny and could be nice to the attendees. Also, with the power of Unilocal nowadays, you better think twice before showing off that ‘tude.

#222. My friend’s coworker booked this place for a private party, so my first-​time experience might be a little different than the usual. There are three floors: the top floor is more of a lounge, the ground floor has the main bar, and the bottom floor has a dance floor and another bar. Both the top and bottom floors have two staircases leading to the main floor.
I heard good things about their specialty cocktails, so I got the ginger lemonade. If you like your drinks a tad sweet, try this one. I sampled the marmalade sour, which tasted much stronger. The balsamic berry is a sweet cocktail as well, but the taste reminded me of candy.
The music was quite diverse– they had the new songs mixed with some well-​known old school stuff. None of that EDM beat-​on-​repeat here. Aside from the main bar, it wasn’t crowded at all. But then again, this was a private event, so I don’t know how things would play out on a regular night. If this was any indication though, I would definitely come back.

My boyfriend and his friend celebrated their birthday here. It was such a great venue for a birthday celebration because you can reserve the top floor for private parties. You just need to meet a $ 750 minimum at the bar upstairs but if you have a big group, that will be super easy. I think we met that minimum within one hour. It looked like we had about 80 people show up to party with them.
Be aware that the upstairs will only fit about 30 – 40 people so your guests will have to wander around. But no worries because there’s 3 floors to this place! It gets a little stuffy but we didn’t mind it because it was pretty fun anyways. The downstairs is where the dance floor and a bar is. The main floor is smaller but there’s some couches and a bar there. Even though this place looks small, it really isn’t!
Plus, I brought a cake to surprise the boys for their birthday and the staff was nice enough to store it in their busy bar. They even helped us cut it and distribute it at no extra charge! Of course I had to tip him at least but wow, such great customer service!
This place superseded my expectations for a birthday venue. It’s great to host your birthday here!