Great American Music Hall   

Of the numerous San Francisco nightspots that feature live music, many people list the Great American Music Hall as their favorite. The building itself is as classy as it gets, and it's full of history. It first opened in 1907 as Blanco's, a French-inspired symbol of San Francisco's rebirth after the Great Earthquake. Since then, it has served as a swank dance club in the '30s (called Sally Rand's Music Box); a jazz club after World War II; and a Moose lodge during the '50s before falling into neglect. It was spared from demolition and spruced up for rebirth as a French restaurant. In 1972, it returned to its music roots and opened as Great American Music Hall. Luminaries such as Duke Ellington, The Grateful Dead and Robin Williams have graced its stage. The hall has one main floor and a U-shaped balcony upstairs with small tables, from which you can view the show below perfectly. There are two bars and a performance list as eclectic as anywhere in the city.