This weekend seemed to come and go way too fast, it certainly didn’t help that we lost an hour thanks to day light savings. I did however get to go to one of my old faithful - most reliable clubs, Apt. 24.
(yes that’s me in the makeup, this picture is from halloween)
Positives: Arguably, one of the nicest venues on Broadway, Apartment 24 sets itself apart from the other clubs on Broadway with its diversity. Nearly all the other clubs on Broadway tend to be more one dimensional in terms of crowds - the venues on this strip change often (ownership, name, music type, etc.), so nothing is absolutely set in stone. Apartment 24 wants to be bunched in the same category as the trendy upscale venues in San Francisco such as Slide and Vessel. I find that they fall a bit short, but still present a very enjoyable atmosphere with a sophisticated crowd. The dress code is pretty lenient, I’ve seen people inside with trendy sneakers and graphic tee shirts so that’s a plus. Also, the security generally tends to be pretty well spoken and respectful. The lines are never too long, but they do keep the place pretty packed. I really like the VIP set up, a few tables at the front and a two larger ones elevated at the back. It’s perfect for this size venue, and it’s a nice escape from those places where the excessive VIP tables cause clutter and excruciating painful foot traffic. Apartment 24 is also known for holding special events and playing a well balanced mashup and hip hop buffet of hits.
Negatives: My biggest issue with Apartment 24 (and every other club on Broadway) is that it closes at 1:30 - 1:45am on popular nights. I think the SFPD just shuts down the entire block so it’s not directly Apartment 24’s fault, but it is something I think about before hand when I could spend my night at a place that stays open til 2 or later (more bang for your buck). They do charge a cover, usually $10 - $20, but they also offer a guestlist. I’d encourage checking out their site (link above) in order to gain access to the guestlist. The crowd, while being diverse, lacks the eye candy other top escalon clubs have, and I also find this venue to attract the rhythmless wonders of the world (watch out for random body parts flying this way and that way).
- Location/Transportation: Located on Broadway between Kearny and Montgomery, this place is ideal for most bridge and tunnel clubbers. Broadway is pretty centrally located to both the Bay Bridge freeway exits as well as Van Ness(101) and the North Bay. Parking however is a pain, this is North Beach after all. Since you can’t park on Broadway itself on Fridays and Saturdays I’d check the side streets like Montgomery, Sansome, and down Kearny. There’s always tons of cabs zipping by, so for the local it’s pretty easy to get here. Grade: 3/5
- Line: Very rarely do they have a line longer than 10 - 12 people. I’m not exactly sure why, I think it’s mainly due to the fact that these guys don’t BS and actually get patrons inside pretty quickly - as opposed to the “one person in every 15 minutes to make our line look artificially long” model. Grade: 3/5
- Interior: Pretty nice visuals inside, I especially like the picture of San Francisco behind the bar, it really makes you feel like you’re looking out of a window. That being said patterns on the wall are kind of cheesy to me and the bathrooms need updating. There’s also a dance platform for the VIPers that is adjacent to the DJ booth, its a nice perk. I also don’t like the location of the coat check, it’s all the way at the back, meaning if it’s raining outside and I’m bringing in a dripping wet umbrella I get to turn the dance floor into a slip and slide. Grade 2.5/5
- Exterior: I like how the club is clearly identified outside, it’s not a issue identifying where you’re going (which can sometimes be tough on this strip as theirs many options). Additionally they bring the upscale feel outside with a trendy design that matches aspects of the interior design (not the annoying wall pattern) Grade 2.5/5
- Drinks: Drinks are pretty average ranging from $7 - $9 for a mixed drink and $4 - $5 for a beer. They also have a good amount of drink specials and open bars, so be sure to check their calendar. Grade: 3/5
- Services: The security team is really easy to communicate with, and not like the all to common goons found elsewhere around the city. Coat check is $2 which I find average and acceptable. Bottle service is also average, bottles start from $200 with a 1 bottle min. Grade 3.5/5
- Sound system: One DJ booth pretty centrally located with a good sound system. Usually a lot of people hang out near the front of the club where the bar is located and the sound is still pretty crisp up there. Nothing exceptional, but not horrible either. Grade 3/5
- Overall: A personal favorite of mine, I come here when I can’t think of anywhere else to go as I know the party will always be pretty good Grade 20.5/35
Here’s the link for Apartment 24’s yelp review
