Things to do in Civic Center

The opera, the ballet and the symphony all perform within two blocks of City Hall's gold-trimmed dome.

5 places to start in Civic Center

San Francisco City Hall

Walk in on a weekday to see the grand staircase under the dome. You'll probably pass a wedding or two.

Official site →Photo: Sanfranman59, CC BY-SA 3.0

Asian Art Museum

One of the largest collections of Asian art in the Western world fills the old main library building on Larkin Street.

Official site →Photo: LPS.1, CC0

War Memorial Opera House

San Francisco Opera and San Francisco Ballet share this house on Van Ness Avenue. Standing-room tickets go on sale the day of the performance.

Official site →Photo: Sanfranman59, CC BY-SA 3.0

Davies Symphony Hall

The San Francisco Symphony plays in the curved glass building across Grove Street.

Official site →Photo: J. Ash Bowie, CC BY-SA 3.0

Heart of the City Farmers Market

Farmers sell direct at United Nations Plaza on Wednesdays and Sundays, and the prices are low for San Francisco.

Official site →Photo: Daderot, CC0

Hotels in Civic Center

Staying over? These are the picks from our guide, Civic Center Hotels in San Francisco for City Hall and the Opera, and Dyme members see private rates on each. You can also browse every San Francisco hotel guide or search hotels on Dyme.

Symphony Inn Symphony Inn 465 Grove Street, San Francisco 8.4598 reviews 5 min walk to Civic Center/UN Plaza (BART/F/J/K/L/M/N/T) View hotel → Inn At The Opera Inn At The Opera 333 Fulton St, San Francisco, California, 94102, San Francisco 8.4108 reviews 6 min walk to Civic Center/UN Plaza (BART/F/J/K/L/M/N/T) View hotel → Sonder Hayes Valley Sonder Hayes Valley 135 Gough Street, San Francisco 7.248 reviews 7 min walk to Civic Center/UN Plaza (BART/F/J/K/L/M/N/T) View hotel → Edwardian Hotel Edwardian Hotel 1668 Market Street, San Francisco 7.1380 reviews 4 min walk to Civic Center/UN Plaza (BART/F/J/K/L/M/N/T) View hotel →

This weekend in Civic Center: October 23–25

65 things on: 16 shows, 9 gigs, 4 exhibitions and 8 free. Listed by day and start time.

Friday, October 23

Al-An deSouza: Table SettingsTea-stained meditations on value.Art200 Larkin StView listing →Ha Chong-Hyun: RetrospectiveKorean abstraction pioneer.Art200 Larkin StView listing →A Case for the Existence of GodIntimate two-hander drama.Show25 Van Ness AvenueView listing →Vishnu’s Cosmic OceanColossal bronze deity.Art200 Larkin StView listing →Learn and Play Chess and MahjongWeekly strategy games series.Games355 McAllister StView listing →ArtSpan Open Studios, Weekend 5Seven local artists showcase.Art1355 Market StFreeView listing →Walter Mosley: Hanging and BurningCrime fiction legend live.Talk100 Larkin StView listing →Black Laughs Matter ComedyBlack comedy showcase.Show1414 Market StView listing →Rush Hour Comedy Night w/ SFs Best Black & Asian ComediansBig-league comics, tiny room.Show1414 Market StFreeView listing →Crazy Funny Asians Free Comedy ShowcaseAsian-American comedy showcase.Show1414 Market StFreeView listing →Free Tix: HellaSecret “Desi Comedy Night” Live in SF (7p + 9p)Desi Comedy Night.Show1414 Market StFreeView listing →Hisaishi Conducts HisaishiLegendary composer conducts symphony.Music201 Van Ness AveView listing →Joe HisaishiGhibli maestro live.Music201 Van Ness AveFrom $208View listing →Offsite: Barbara Kingsolver with Steven WinnPulitzer winner's book talk.Talk275 Hayes StView listing →Sunset Disco Dandiya 2026Disco dandiya night.Party1 Dr Carlton B Goodlett PlFrom $5View listing →A Harlem of the West Musical - Every Saturday NightFillmore history, live onstage.Show1127 Market StView listing →Little Shop of HorrorsMan-eating plant musical.Show25 Van Ness AvenueView listing →HellaFunny Comedy NightStand-up in a smoke lounge.Show1276 Market StFreeView listing →HellaFunny Stand-Up ComedyComedy in a cannabis lounge.Show1276 Market StFreeView listing →Gimme Gimme Disco - Halloween Dance PartySpooky abba disco night.Party155 Fell StView listing →

Saturday, October 24

Vishnu’s Cosmic OceanColossal bronze deity.Art200 Larkin StView listing →Al-An deSouza: Table SettingsTea-stained meditations on value.Art200 Larkin StView listing →Ha Chong-Hyun: RetrospectiveKorean abstraction pioneer.Art200 Larkin StView listing →UN PLAZA Free Dance ClassesOutdoor K-pop dance party.Class355 McAllister StFreeView listing →Chinese Eunuchs at the End of EmpireQing dynasty court intrigue talk.Talk200 Larkin StFrom $20View listing →City Hall and the Civic Center Celebrates UN Charter TourUN history walking tour.TourCivic CenterView listing →ArtSpan Open Studios, Weekend 5Seven local artists showcase.Art1355 Market StFreeView listing →Bebop Legends Family Matinee w/ Marcus Shelby & FriendsFamily jazz matinee.Music201 Franklin StView listing →A Case for the Existence of GodIntimate two-hander drama.Show25 Van Ness AvenueView listing →San Francisco Symphony - Music For FamiliesKid-friendly orchestra concert.Music201 Van Ness AveView listing →Dermot KennedyIndie folk with hip-hop heart.Music99 Grove StFrom $107View listing →Puff Puff LaughCannabis-friendly comedy night.Show1276 Market StView listing →MUSIC FOR FAMILIES San Francisco SymphonySymphony for young ears.MusicDavies Symphony HallView listing →Black Laughs Matter ComedyBlack comedy showcase.Show1414 Market StView listing →Rush Hour Comedy Night w/ SFs Best Black & Asian ComediansBig-league comics, tiny room.Show1414 Market StFreeView listing →Crazy Funny Asians Free Comedy ShowcaseAsian-American comedy showcase.Show1414 Market StFreeView listing →Free Tix: HellaSecret “Desi Comedy Night” Live in SF (7p + 9p)Desi Comedy Night.Show1414 Market StFreeView listing →Crazy Funny AsiansAsian-American stand-up night.Show1414 Market StView listing →Hisaishi Conducts HisaishiLegendary composer conducts symphony.Music201 Van Ness AveView listing →A Harlem of the West Musical - Every Saturday NightFillmore history, live onstage.Show1127 Market StView listing →SFCM Wind Ensemble ConcertContemporary wind music.Music50 Oak StView listing →Little Shop of HorrorsMan-eating plant musical.Show25 Van Ness AvenueView listing →The Weight of the Woods TourIntrospective folk-pop.Music99 Grove StView listing →Puff Puff Laugh: SF's Cannabis Lounge Comedy ShowComedy with a contact high.Show1276 Market StView listing →Saturday Night MicOpen mic competition.Show1414 Market StView listing →

Sunday, October 25

Vishnu’s Cosmic OceanColossal bronze deity.Art200 Larkin StView listing →Al-An deSouza: Table SettingsTea-stained meditations on value.Art200 Larkin StView listing →Ha Chong-Hyun: RetrospectiveKorean abstraction pioneer.Art200 Larkin StView listing →UN PLAZA Free Dance ClassesOutdoor K-pop dance party.Class355 McAllister StFreeView listing →Sundays at the Asian Art MuseumMahjong, art & free admission.Class200 Larkin StView listing →ArtSpan Open Studios, Weekend 5Seven local artists showcase.Art1355 Market StFreeView listing →Bolly-X with SimranBollywood dance fitness.Class355 McAllister StFreeView listing →Drop-in Mahjong and Chess GamesStrategy games in the park.Games355 McAllister StView listing →Opening Celebration for Vishnu's Cosmic OceanCambodian blessing & dance celebration.Show200 Larkin StView listing →A Case for the Existence of GodIntimate two-hander drama.Show25 Van Ness AvenueView listing →Embroidering Queer HistoryArchive-to-stitch workshop.Class100 Larkin StView listing →Little Shop of HorrorsMan-eating plant musical.Show25 Van Ness AvenueView listing →Orchestre Symphonique De MontréAlRussian symphonic heavyweights.Music201 Van Ness AveView listing →A Harlem of the West Musical - Every Saturday NightFillmore history, live onstage.Show1127 Market StView listing →Kyle GordonMusical parody comedy show.Show155 Fell StView listing →Kyle Gordon's History of MusicMusical comedy time machine.Show155 Fell StView listing →

On all weekend

No set start time for these, so go when it suits you.

THE ART OF TEA: Paintings + Tastings Steeped in CuriosityTeapot hunt & tea.Art1355 Market StView listing →THE ART OF TEA A solo exhibition featuring works by Laine WiesemannGallery opening meets tea party.Art1355 Market StView listing →The Stoner Comedy JamSmoke-friendly stand-up night.Show1276 Market StView listing →Puff Puff Laugh SF’s Cannabis Lounge Comedy ShowSmoke & stand-up.Show1276 Market StView listing →

Listings by Outgoing, refreshed twice a day. Times and prices can change, so check the listing before you go.

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