San Francisco’s nightlife and entertainment sector – which includes restaurants, bars, nightclubs, live music venues, and other performance spaces – is an integral part of the City’s fabric. Nightlife and entertainment businesses attract residents and visitors to our diverse neighborhoods and provide social spaces that are critical to the development of our unique and vibrant cultural life. In addition, San Francisco’s legendary music scene has launched the careers of countless acclaimed artists across a variety of genres.

Nightlife isn’t just a cultural benefit; it’s also a major economic driver within the City. The nightlife industry includes 3,200 businesses that create over 52,000 jobs citywide. According to a 2012 economic impact study, the sector accounts for $4.2 billion in spending by 80 million customers annually.

NightlifeSF collects resources to support prospective and existing nightlife businesses, resources for local musicians, and tools to help visitors and residents experience what San Francisco nightlife has to offer.

NightlifeSF is a project of the Office of Economic and Workforce Development. For more information about OEWD’s work to attract and support nightlife businesses across San Francisco, please contact:

Benjamin Van Houten
Business Development Manager, Nightlife & Entertainment Sector
ben.vanhouten[at]sfgov.org
415.554.7038