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/J/K/L/M/N) 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/J/K/L/M/N) View hotel → Best Western Red Coach Inn Best Western Red Coach Inn 700 Eddy St 7.7809 reviews 11 min walk to Civic Center/UN Plaza (BART/J/K/L/M/N) View hotel → Edwardian Hotel Edwardian Hotel 1668 Market Street, San Francisco 7.1380 reviews 4 min walk to Civic Center/UN Plaza (BART/J/K/L/M/N) View hotel →

This weekend in Civic Center: November 13–15

44 things on: 10 shows, 7 gigs, 4 talks and 9 free. Listed by day and start time.

Friday, November 13

San Francisco by Electric BikeE-bike city tour.Tour55 9th StFrom $110View listing →Asian Art Museum Holiday Artisan MarketHoliday artisan market.Shopping200 Larkin StFreeView listing →Learn and Play Chess and MahjongFree board game lessons.Games355 McAllister StView listing →Free Holiday Show Under 1200+ LED Lights w/ SF Opera & SF…LED-lit holiday showcase.ShowFulton StFreeView listing →Performing Arts ShowcaseFive companies, one stage.Show335 McAllister StFreeView listing →Golden Gate Comedy Night SF’s Most Intimate Comedy ClubIntimate downtown comedy showcase.Show1414 Market StFreeView listing →Prokofiev’s “Romeo & Juliet” w/ the SF SymphonySF Symphony classical concert.MusicDavies Symphony HallFrom $61View listing →Stanley Clarke and Ron CarterLegendary jazz bass duets.Music201 Franklin StFrom $75View listing →WaitressPies, pop songs, fresh starts.Show1192 Market StFrom $69View listing →NCTC Education FUNdraiser: Improv ShowFour troupes, one ticket.Show25 Van Ness AvenueView listing →TylaAmapiano dance party.Music99 Grove StView listing →The Stoner Comedy Jam Friday Nights (SF)Cannabis lounge comedy night.Show1276 Market StFreeView listing →

Saturday, November 14

San Francisco by Electric BikeE-bike city tour.Tour55 9th StFrom $110View listing →Asian Art Museum Holiday Artisan MarketHoliday artisan market.Shopping200 Larkin StFreeView listing →UN PLAZA Free Dance ClassesOutdoor K-pop dance party.Class355 McAllister StFreeView listing →Across Eurasia with the Sogdians: Trade, Religion, and Cultural…Sogdian Silk Road study group.Talk200 Larkin StFrom $35View listing →Echoes of the Seasons: A Piano Dialogue Between East and WestEast-West piano dialogue.Music100 Larkin StFreeView listing →WaitressPies, pop songs, fresh starts.Show1192 Market StFrom $69View listing →Murals and the Multi-Ethnic Mission District TourStreet art & neighborhood history.Tour100 Larkin StView listing →Artist Talk: Bamboo Art Prizewinner Ōki ToshieBamboo art artist talk.Talk200 Larkin StView listing →Sketchboard: Figure Drawing Art Class & Live MusicFigure drawing and music.Class140 9th StFrom $5View listing →Golden Gate Comedy Night SF’s Most Intimate Comedy ClubIntimate downtown comedy showcase.Show1414 Market StFreeView listing →WorshipDrum and bass collective.Music99 Grove StView listing →Prokofiev’s “Romeo & Juliet” w/ the SF SymphonySF Symphony classical concert.MusicDavies Symphony HallFrom $61View listing →Stanley Clarke and Ron CarterLegendary jazz bass duets.Music201 Franklin StFrom $75View listing →Yung PuebloPoetry & mindful reflection.Talk275 Hayes StView listing →NCTC Education FUNdraiser: Improv ShowFour troupes, one ticket.Show25 Van Ness AvenueView listing →Puff Puff Laugh SF’s Cannabis Lounge Comedy ShowCannabis lounge comedy show.Show1276 Market StFreeView listing →Broadway RaveBroadway music night.Music155 Fell StView listing →HellaSecret “Desi Comedy Night” Live in SFWeekly South Asian comedy.Show1414 Market StFrom $20View listing →SQUISH 100TH PARTY - Aurora Halal b2b Laurel Halo, Binh, re:niSquish 100th party.Party140 9th StView listing →

Sunday, November 15

San Francisco by Electric BikeE-bike city tour.Tour55 9th StFrom $110View listing →Asian Art Museum Holiday Artisan MarketHoliday artisan market.Shopping200 Larkin StFreeView listing →UN PLAZA Free Dance ClassesOutdoor K-pop dance party.Class355 McAllister StFreeView listing →Sundays at the Asian Art MuseumMuseum drop-in art day.Art200 Larkin StView listing →Bolly-X with SimranBollywood dance fitness.Class355 McAllister StFreeView listing →Docent Talks: Japanese Tea ObjectsJapanese tea objects talk.Talk200 Larkin StView listing →WaitressPies, pop songs, fresh starts.Show1192 Market StFrom $69View listing →Prokofiev’s “Romeo & Juliet” w/ the SF SymphonySF Symphony classical concert.MusicDavies Symphony HallFrom $61View listing →A Case for the Existence of GodTransformative contemporary play.Show25 Van Ness AvenueView listing →Sunday Tito Ramon’s Puppet Theater, November 15Puppet theater performance.Show200 Larkin StView listing →Stanley Clarke and Ron CarterLegendary jazz bass duets.Music201 Franklin StFrom $75View listing →Francisca ValenzuelaLive music performance.Music155 Fell StView listing →

On all weekend

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

The Stoner Comedy JamSmoke-friendly stand-up night.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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