Great Quirky-Themed Venues In San Francisco

| © Bob Kreisel / Alamy Stock Photo
Natalie Savio

San Francisco is home to some of the most unusual people, and with them, come some weirdly themed venues to match. From dining in the dark to playing mini-golf indoors, San Francisco has it all. Although typically on the pricey side, these venues offer unique experiences and fond memories.

Tonga Room & Hurricane Bar

Serving Asian cuisine, the Tonga Room is a tiki-themed bar and restaurant located in the Fairmont Hotel. Built in 1929, there is a pool stretching 75 feet in the center with a live band floating in the middle on a small island. Periodically, a light waterfall will surround the band. There are also tiki-themed drinks and a dance floor at the end of the water. The Tonga Room is a great place to meet up with friends for a drink and some dancing.

Lovejoy’s Tea Room

Urban Putt

Urban Putt is a both a restaurant and an indoor mini-golf course. On one side, customers can enjoy a meal and some drinks, and on the other, they can play a 14-hole round of mini-golf, the mini-golf holes each have a different quirky theme. Don’t be steered away because of the line, as it moves fairly quickly. After eight at night, Urban Putt becomes solely 21-and-up venue and continues serving drinks.

AsiaSF

AsiaSF looks like a typical restaurant except for the Chinese red runway bar where the servers perform hourly. The Ladies of AsiaSF are waitresses, performers, and transgender. Once the customers are done eating and the performance is over, they can just go downstairs to continue the fun in AsiaSF’s nightclub.

The Social Study

Originally, this venue was used for a cannabis club, but now The Social Study is a small coffee house by day, serving Four Barrel coffee, and an eccentric bar by night. Old-school books are scattered, and one bright blue leather wall holds fold-out individual seating. At night, The Social Study offers a small selection of wines and beers, projects movies onto the wall, and has a live DJ, on most nights.

El Mansour

El Mansour is a Moroccan-themed restaurant in the Outer Richmond, complete with low seating, round mosaic tables, and colorful tapestry. Servers start with bringing the customers a water basin and towel to wash their hands. Then food is served with customers eating with their hands. Meanwhile, the belly dancers perform several numbers and customers are welcomed to join in at the end.

West of Pecos

West of Pecos is a restaurant and bar with a Southwestern flair accompanied by animal skins on the wall, a long horn skull, their own cocktail menu, and saloon doors. The restaurant serves Tex-Mex cuisine and is open for brunch on the weekends.

Did you know – Culture Trip now does bookable, small-group trips? Pick from authentic, immersive Epic Trips, compact and action-packed Mini Trips and sparkling, expansive Sailing Trips.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

Culture Trip Spring Sale

Save up to $1,100 on our unique small-group trips! Limited spots.

X
close-ad
Edit article