I’ve really been running behind schedule with posting an update, I had the flu last week and barely felt like doing anything…except sleep. Luckily, I was able to rally and felt much better by the time the weekend rolled around. So I put my gameface on, went clubbin’ just so I could leave you guys with the reviews you love…jk, but on a side note, I do appreciate all the comments I’m getting regarding the reviews (mainly in my inbox and not in the comment section) — please keep them coming! This week I’m reviewing one of my favorites, Vessel.
Positives: Vessel is one of the hottest clubs in San Francisco, it attracts the trendy and good looking, yet isn’t a haven for the bridge and tunnel crowd. Out of the upscale venues in SF, Vessel is probably the most diverse in terms of ethnicity’s and age groups, but it makes a nice blend. Dress code is very relaxed, as long as you’re put together (i.e. nothing excessively baggy/unkempt) - stay trendy and you should have no issue getting in. I’ve seen people get in with all types of sneakers and t-shirts (also specific nights vary, for example on Wednesday standards are much lower than on Friday). I also like some of the themes Vessel has. I came across a no pants party here in December…yeah no pants, where patrons could check their pants instead of their coats…that’s just how Vessel gets down sometimes. I also like the bathrooms, they’re tucked away from the dance floor and there’s always someone there conducting traffic. There’s also plenty of mirrors to check. One of the key distinguishing features about Vessel are the huge tables spread throughout the club. It’s pretty customary to see people dancing on top of the tables and the security is completely fine with that (*however only girls are allowed to dance in front of the dj booth, guys will get booted). Lastly, Vessel does a great job of bringing in some of the best DJs on the west coast - each week they bring in some great talent.
Negatives: The line can be pretty daunting, depending on the night - there’s no way to sugar coat it. Not necessarily the size of the line, but the amount of time it takes to progress inside is the issue. I know the guys that work the front and am pretty cool with them even, but have had to wait up to an hour to get in (I usually only have to wait about 15 mins). It does help to have girls with you, but Vessel isn’t like Slide and won’t make this a requirement. Now some people might complain about the guys working the door (a common complaint heard at numerous venues), but I actually have a pretty good relationship with those guys so I don’t really run into problems, but I can totally see how people can think they are full of themselves or uptight — but lets be honest, when you have tons of people coming up to you (usually drunk) asking dumb questions, trying to grease you up, or ordering to be let in cause they’re the owner’s second cousin’s best friend’s daughter’s niece…I can be a little sympathetic. Cover can be as high as $20, but they usually have a guestlist you can sign up for to get in free before 11. Once on the inside, it can get pretty hot and crowded downstairs - the ventilation system isn’t the best, so dress accordingly.
- Location/Transportation: Located adjacent to Union Square, Vessel is ideal for most city dwellers that want to go downtown for dancing. Lots of cabs come by, and there are several bus lines that stop right at the corner. I think there’s a misconception about parking, people think it’s pretty bad since it’s right next to Union Square, but at night its actually vacant since the stores are all closed. Grade: 4/5
- Line: As I stated briefly above, the lines can take a while to get through. They aren’t all that long usually — probably 20 feet, but they can take an hour to die down. It also doesn’t help that people just go to the front and try to talk their way in (I can’t hate, I do this too). I strongly suggest trying to make nice with the staff so you can get “regular” status, i.e. they recognize you as a regular and give you certain perks. Grade: 3/5
- Interior: One of the nicest venues in San Francisco, it really has a very modern feel with lots of cement and stainless steel accents. I find the space to be pretty decent amongst similar venues. As you walk in from the outside, you head down the stairs and immediately hit the main dance floor. The bar is around the corner to the right and is pretty long, but gets crowded. There is a small smoking room located at the end of the bar as well. The VIP tables are very low and make for excellent dancing surfaces, and the couches are pretty comfortable, they offer lots of space to sit, but not much to dance (other than on the table). Grade 4/5
- Exterior: The entrance sits on Campton Alley, which is usually pretty safe and clean, but sometimes they do have garbage trucks collecting dumpsters from the various businesses on that street — so it can be somewhat weird. I do like the visible sign out front, as well as the plants, they make it more welcoming. Grade 3/5
- Drinks: On the higher end prices here on average $8 - 12 for a mixed drink, $5 for a beer. Grade: 2/5
- Services: I don’t really have any problems with the security team, but as earlier stated I know some do, so I’ll note that. One thing that instantly stands out is the free coat check, a couple of other places do this, but I really like it, makes the venue seem more upscale…I mean come on, 3 bucks for a coat is that really going to add much to your bottom line anyway? I support the free coat check movement wholeheartedly. The bartenders are pretty quick, and there’s a good amount of them (think they always have about 4). I also like the bathroom attendants, always making sure the bathrooms are clean and keeping the foot traffic manageable. Grade 4/5
- Sound system: Pretty sweet sound system, single DJ booth located at the front of the dance floor and speakers located all over the place. I can dance right in front the the dj booth and not feel like my brain is going to explode (unlike a recent experience I had on Broadway). Grade 3.5/5
- Overall: Probably my favorite venue right now, I love everything from the diversity, location, dj’s, and clientele - a for sure most visit spot in my opinion. Grade 23.5/35
Here’s the link to the yelp review
