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WILD Places
For nights when you want a little more excitement.
Ready for a more exciting night? Explore our favorite concerts, karaoke spots, bowling alleys, night markets, nightlife areas, and 21+ spots around the Bay Area. Whether you want to dance, sing, explore, or try something new, these are our picks for a wilder Night Out.
Amusement Parks
01
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
Category: Amusement Park / Theme Park
Night Out: Wild
Vibe: Thrilling & Energetic
Activity Level: High
Price: $$$
Best For: Roller coasters, thrill rides & attractions
Group Friendly: Yes
Time to Visit: Morning / Afternoon
Good For: Friend groups, adrenaline seekers & spending a full day doing something exciting
Public Transportation: Limited — Vallejo Transit Center and a local bus or rideshare.
Night Out: Wild
Vibe: Thrilling & Energetic
Activity Level: High
Price: $$$
Best For: Roller coasters, thrill rides & attractions
Group Friendly: Yes
Time to Visit: Morning / Afternoon
Good For: Friend groups, adrenaline seekers & spending a full day doing something exciting
Public Transportation: Limited — Vallejo Transit Center and a local bus or rideshare.
02
California’s Great America
Category: Amusement Park / Theme Park
Night Out: Wild
Vibe: Fun & High-Energy
Activity Level: High
Price: $$$
Best For: Roller coasters, rides & group outings
Group Friendly: Yes
Time to Visit: Morning / Afternoon
Good For: Friend groups, thrill rides, special events & an action-packed day out
Public Transportation: Yes — VTA light rail and nearby Amtrak/ACE trains.
Night Out: Wild
Vibe: Fun & High-Energy
Activity Level: High
Price: $$$
Best For: Roller coasters, rides & group outings
Group Friendly: Yes
Time to Visit: Morning / Afternoon
Good For: Friend groups, thrill rides, special events & an action-packed day out
Public Transportation: Yes — VTA light rail and nearby Amtrak/ACE trains.
03
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Category: Beachfront Amusement Park
Night Out: Wild
Vibe: Lively & Nostalgic
Activity Level: Moderate–High
Price: $$–$$$
Best For: Rides, arcade games, food & the beach
Group Friendly: Yes
Time to Visit: Afternoon / Evening
Good For: Friend groups, boardwalk food, games, rides & a fun beach day that turns into a night out
Public Transportation: Yes — Santa Cruz METRO buses from downtown Santa Cruz.
Night Out: Wild
Vibe: Lively & Nostalgic
Activity Level: Moderate–High
Price: $$–$$$
Best For: Rides, arcade games, food & the beach
Group Friendly: Yes
Time to Visit: Afternoon / Evening
Good For: Friend groups, boardwalk food, games, rides & a fun beach day that turns into a night out
Public Transportation: Yes — Santa Cruz METRO buses from downtown Santa Cruz.
Night Clubs
01
City Nights SF
Category: Nightclub
Night Out: Wild
Vibe: High-Energy & Social
Activity Level: High
Price: $$ (varies by event)
Best For: Dancing, DJs, themed parties & meeting new people
Group Friendly: Yes
Time to Visit: Friday / Saturday, 10 PM–2 AM
Age: 18+ to Enter / 21+ to Drink
Good For: College students, dancing with friends, themed parties & experiencing San Francisco nightlife without needing to be 21.
City Nights is a popular 18+ nightclub in San Francisco featuring two dance floors, DJs, and different themed events. Friday nights focus on Latin music. Some events offer free entry for students.
Public Transportation: Yes — Muni buses and nearby Powell Street BART station. Check late-night return schedules.
Night Out: Wild
Vibe: High-Energy & Social
Activity Level: High
Price: $$ (varies by event)
Best For: Dancing, DJs, themed parties & meeting new people
Group Friendly: Yes
Time to Visit: Friday / Saturday, 10 PM–2 AM
Age: 18+ to Enter / 21+ to Drink
Good For: College students, dancing with friends, themed parties & experiencing San Francisco nightlife without needing to be 21.
City Nights is a popular 18+ nightclub in San Francisco featuring two dance floors, DJs, and different themed events. Friday nights focus on Latin music. Some events offer free entry for students.
Public Transportation: Yes — Muni buses and nearby Powell Street BART station. Check late-night return schedules.
02
1015 Folsom
Category: Nightclub
Night Out: Wild
Vibe: High-Energy & Electric
Activity Level: High
Price: $$–$$$
Best For: DJs, dancing & electronic music
Group Friendly: Yes
Time to Visit: Late Night
Age: 21+
Good For: Dancing with friends, DJ events & experiencing San Francisco nightlife
1015 Folsom is a multi-level nightclub in San Francisco featuring five rooms across three floors. Live DJ performances, impressive lighting and energetic dance floors. Different rooms can feature different music styles, giving groups more options throughout the night.
Public Transportation: Yes — BART (Civic Center or Powell Street) and nearby Muni buses. Check late-night return schedules, as BART typically stops around midnight.
Night Out: Wild
Vibe: High-Energy & Electric
Activity Level: High
Price: $$–$$$
Best For: DJs, dancing & electronic music
Group Friendly: Yes
Time to Visit: Late Night
Age: 21+
Good For: Dancing with friends, DJ events & experiencing San Francisco nightlife
1015 Folsom is a multi-level nightclub in San Francisco featuring five rooms across three floors. Live DJ performances, impressive lighting and energetic dance floors. Different rooms can feature different music styles, giving groups more options throughout the night.
Public Transportation: Yes — BART (Civic Center or Powell Street) and nearby Muni buses. Check late-night return schedules, as BART typically stops around midnight.
03
DNA Lounge
Category: Nightclub
Night Out: Wild
Vibe: Alternative & Energetic
Activity Level: High
Price: $$
Best For: Dancing, live music & themed events
Group Friendly: Yes
Time to Visit: Evening / Night
Age: Varies by Event
Good For: Concerts, themed dance nights, discovering different music & going somewhere a little different
Live music venue in San Francisco known for its themed parties, alternative music and energetic atmosphere. The venue features multiple dance areas, live performances and events ranging from electronic music to goth and indie nights. Some events welcome guests under 21, making it a great option for college students.
Public Transportation: Yes — BART (Civic Center) and nearby Muni buses, including routes 9 and 12. Check late-night return schedules.
Night Out: Wild
Vibe: Alternative & Energetic
Activity Level: High
Price: $$
Best For: Dancing, live music & themed events
Group Friendly: Yes
Time to Visit: Evening / Night
Age: Varies by Event
Good For: Concerts, themed dance nights, discovering different music & going somewhere a little different
Live music venue in San Francisco known for its themed parties, alternative music and energetic atmosphere. The venue features multiple dance areas, live performances and events ranging from electronic music to goth and indie nights. Some events welcome guests under 21, making it a great option for college students.
Public Transportation: Yes — BART (Civic Center) and nearby Muni buses, including routes 9 and 12. Check late-night return schedules.
Bars
01
The Patio @ Rudy's
Category: Sports Bar / Nightlife
Night Out: Wild
Vibe: Social & High-Energy
Activity Level: Medium–High
Price: $$
Best For: Drinks, sports, DJs & dancing
Group Friendly: Yes
Time to Visit: Evening / Late Night
Age: 21+ for club nights
Good For: Going out with friends, watching games, karaoke & transitioning from drinks into a more energetic night out. The Patio also hosts club nights Thursday through Saturday
Public Transportation: Yes — Palo Alto Caltrain Station, about a 5–10 minute walk.
Night Out: Wild
Vibe: Social & High-Energy
Activity Level: Medium–High
Price: $$
Best For: Drinks, sports, DJs & dancing
Group Friendly: Yes
Time to Visit: Evening / Late Night
Age: 21+ for club nights
Good For: Going out with friends, watching games, karaoke & transitioning from drinks into a more energetic night out. The Patio also hosts club nights Thursday through Saturday
Public Transportation: Yes — Palo Alto Caltrain Station, about a 5–10 minute walk.
02
NOLAS
Category: Restaurant / Bar
Night Out: Wild
Vibe: Lively & Social
Activity Level: Medium
Price: $$
Best For: Cocktails, food & group hangouts
Group Friendly: Yes
Time to Visit: Dinner / Evening
Age: All Ages / 21+ for alcohol
Good For: Starting the night with friends, grabbing cocktails, sharing food & enjoying a New Orleans-inspired atmosphere. Its bar stays open later on Friday and Saturday nights
Public Transportation: Yes — Palo Alto Caltrain Station, about a 10–15 minute walk.
Night Out: Wild
Vibe: Lively & Social
Activity Level: Medium
Price: $$
Best For: Cocktails, food & group hangouts
Group Friendly: Yes
Time to Visit: Dinner / Evening
Age: All Ages / 21+ for alcohol
Good For: Starting the night with friends, grabbing cocktails, sharing food & enjoying a New Orleans-inspired atmosphere. Its bar stays open later on Friday and Saturday nights
Public Transportation: Yes — Palo Alto Caltrain Station, about a 10–15 minute walk.
03
The Rose & Crown
Category: Pub / Bar
Night Out: Wild
Vibe: Casual & Social
Activity Level: Medium
Price: $$
Best For: Craft beer, pub food & trivia
Group Friendly: Yes
Time to Visit: Evening / Night
Age: 21+ for alcohol
Good For: Casual drinks with friends, watching sports, trivia nights & a more laid-back bar experience. The Rose & Crown describes itself as Palo Alto's oldest bar and focuses heavily on craft beer.
Public Transportation: Yes — Palo Alto Caltrain Station, about a 10-minute walk.
Night Out: Wild
Vibe: Casual & Social
Activity Level: Medium
Price: $$
Best For: Craft beer, pub food & trivia
Group Friendly: Yes
Time to Visit: Evening / Night
Age: 21+ for alcohol
Good For: Casual drinks with friends, watching sports, trivia nights & a more laid-back bar experience. The Rose & Crown describes itself as Palo Alto's oldest bar and focuses heavily on craft beer.
Public Transportation: Yes — Palo Alto Caltrain Station, about a 10-minute walk.
Sports & Live Games
01
Oracle Park - San Francisco Giants
Category: Sports Stadium / Baseball
Night Out: Wild
Vibe: Exciting & Social
Activity Level: Moderate
Price: $$–$$$ (varies by game)
Best For: Baseball games, stadium food, waterfront views & cheering with friends
Group Friendly: Yes
Time to Visit: Afternoon / Evening (during baseball season)
Age: All Ages / 21+ for alcohol
Good For: College students, baseball fans, group outings, enjoying stadium food & experiencing a San Francisco Giants game under the lights.
Transportation:
- Public Transportation: Yes
- Transit: Caltrain and Muni
- Parking: Paid stadium parking and nearby garages
- Best Way to Get There: Caltrain
- From the Peninsula: Take Caltrain to San Francisco's 4th & King Station, then walk approximately 15–20 minutes to Oracle Park.
Night Out: Wild
Vibe: Exciting & Social
Activity Level: Moderate
Price: $$–$$$ (varies by game)
Best For: Baseball games, stadium food, waterfront views & cheering with friends
Group Friendly: Yes
Time to Visit: Afternoon / Evening (during baseball season)
Age: All Ages / 21+ for alcohol
Good For: College students, baseball fans, group outings, enjoying stadium food & experiencing a San Francisco Giants game under the lights.
Transportation:
- Public Transportation: Yes
- Transit: Caltrain and Muni
- Parking: Paid stadium parking and nearby garages
- Best Way to Get There: Caltrain
- From the Peninsula: Take Caltrain to San Francisco's 4th & King Station, then walk approximately 15–20 minutes to Oracle Park.
02
SAP Center - San Jose Sharks
Category: Sports Arena / Hockey
Night Out: Wild
Vibe: High-Energy & Exciting
Activity Level: Moderate
Price: $$–$$$ (varies by game)
Best For: Hockey games, cheering with friends, live sports & arena entertainment
Group Friendly: Yes
Time to Visit: Afternoon / Evening (hockey season)
Age: All Ages / 21+ for alcohol
Good For: College students, hockey fans, friend groups, experiencing live sports & enjoying an energetic night out in San Jose.
Transportation:
- Public Transportation: Yes
- Transit: Caltrain, Amtrak, ACE VTA
- Parking: Paid arena parking and nearby parking garages
- Best Way to Get There: Caltrain
- From the Peninsula: Take Caltrain to San Jose Diridon Station, then walk approximately 5–10 minutes to SAP Center.
Night Out: Wild
Vibe: High-Energy & Exciting
Activity Level: Moderate
Price: $$–$$$ (varies by game)
Best For: Hockey games, cheering with friends, live sports & arena entertainment
Group Friendly: Yes
Time to Visit: Afternoon / Evening (hockey season)
Age: All Ages / 21+ for alcohol
Good For: College students, hockey fans, friend groups, experiencing live sports & enjoying an energetic night out in San Jose.
Transportation:
- Public Transportation: Yes
- Transit: Caltrain, Amtrak, ACE VTA
- Parking: Paid arena parking and nearby parking garages
- Best Way to Get There: Caltrain
- From the Peninsula: Take Caltrain to San Jose Diridon Station, then walk approximately 5–10 minutes to SAP Center.
03
Chase Center - Golden State Warriors
Category: Sports Arena / Basketball
Night Out: Wild
Vibe: Energetic & Social
Activity Level: Moderate
Price: $$$ (varies by game)
Best For: Basketball games, live entertainment, cheering with friends & arena experiences
Group Friendly: Yes
Time to Visit: Afternoon / Evening (during basketball season)
Age: All Ages / 21+ for alcohol
Good For: College students, basketball fans, group outings, watching the Golden State Warriors & experiencing an exciting night in San Francisco.
Transportation:
- Public Transportation: Yes
- Transit Options: Caltrain, Muni T Third Street and BART connections
- Parking: Limited paid arena parking and nearby garages
- Best Way to Get There: Caltrain and Muni
- From the Peninsula: Take Caltrain
Night Out: Wild
Vibe: Energetic & Social
Activity Level: Moderate
Price: $$$ (varies by game)
Best For: Basketball games, live entertainment, cheering with friends & arena experiences
Group Friendly: Yes
Time to Visit: Afternoon / Evening (during basketball season)
Age: All Ages / 21+ for alcohol
Good For: College students, basketball fans, group outings, watching the Golden State Warriors & experiencing an exciting night in San Francisco.
Transportation:
- Public Transportation: Yes
- Transit Options: Caltrain, Muni T Third Street and BART connections
- Parking: Limited paid arena parking and nearby garages
- Best Way to Get There: Caltrain and Muni
- From the Peninsula: Take Caltrain
Concerts & Live Music
01
Levi's Stadium - Santa Clara
Category: Concert Stadium / Live Entertainment
Night Out: Wild
Vibe: Energetic & Exciting
Activity Level: Moderate
Price: $$$ (varies by artist and event)
Best For: Major concerts, famous artists, stadium performances & live entertainment
Group Friendly: Yes
Time to Visit: Afternoon / Evening (depending on event)
Age: All Ages (varies by event)
Good For: College students, music lovers, group outings, seeing favorite artists live & experiencing large stadium concerts with friends.
Transportation:
Public Transportation: Yes
Transit Options: VTA Light Rail, ACE and Capitol Corridor
Parking: Paid stadium parking available
Best Way to Get There: VTA Light Rail
Night Out: Wild
Vibe: Energetic & Exciting
Activity Level: Moderate
Price: $$$ (varies by artist and event)
Best For: Major concerts, famous artists, stadium performances & live entertainment
Group Friendly: Yes
Time to Visit: Afternoon / Evening (depending on event)
Age: All Ages (varies by event)
Good For: College students, music lovers, group outings, seeing favorite artists live & experiencing large stadium concerts with friends.
Transportation:
Public Transportation: Yes
Transit Options: VTA Light Rail, ACE and Capitol Corridor
Parking: Paid stadium parking available
Best Way to Get There: VTA Light Rail
02
Shoreline Amphitheatre - Mountain View
Category: Outdoor Concert Venue / Live Music
Night Out: Wild
Vibe: Lively & Relaxed
Activity Level: Low–Moderate
Price: $$–$$$ (varies by concert and seating)
Best For: Outdoor concerts, lawn seating, live music & summer performances
Group Friendly: Yes
Time to Visit: Afternoon / Evening (during concert season)
Age: All Ages (varies by event)
Good For: College students, music lovers, spending time with friends, enjoying outdoor concerts & experiencing live music in a relaxed atmosphere.
Transportation:
Public Transportation: Limited
Transit Options: Caltrain, VTA buses
Parking: On-site parking available; premium parking may cost extra
Best Way to Get There: Driving, carpooling or rideshare
Night Out: Wild
Vibe: Lively & Relaxed
Activity Level: Low–Moderate
Price: $$–$$$ (varies by concert and seating)
Best For: Outdoor concerts, lawn seating, live music & summer performances
Group Friendly: Yes
Time to Visit: Afternoon / Evening (during concert season)
Age: All Ages (varies by event)
Good For: College students, music lovers, spending time with friends, enjoying outdoor concerts & experiencing live music in a relaxed atmosphere.
Transportation:
Public Transportation: Limited
Transit Options: Caltrain, VTA buses
Parking: On-site parking available; premium parking may cost extra
Best Way to Get There: Driving, carpooling or rideshare
03
Frost Amphitheater - Stanford University
Category: Outdoor Concert Venue / Live Music
Night Out: Wild
Vibe: Relaxed & Social
Activity Level: Low–Moderate
Price: $$–$$$ (varies by performance)
Best For: Outdoor concerts, live performances, music festivals & college experiences
Group Friendly: Yes
Time to Visit: Afternoon / Evening (depending on event)
Age: All Ages (varies by event)
Good For: College students, music lovers, group outings, enjoying outdoor performances & experiencing live music in a beautiful campus setting.
Transportation:
Public Transportation: Yes
Transit: Caltrain and Stanford Marguerite Shuttle
Parking: Stanford event parking available; fees and locations vary
Best Way to Get There: Caltrain, campus shuttle or rideshare
Night Out: Wild
Vibe: Relaxed & Social
Activity Level: Low–Moderate
Price: $$–$$$ (varies by performance)
Best For: Outdoor concerts, live performances, music festivals & college experiences
Group Friendly: Yes
Time to Visit: Afternoon / Evening (depending on event)
Age: All Ages (varies by event)
Good For: College students, music lovers, group outings, enjoying outdoor performances & experiencing live music in a beautiful campus setting.
Transportation:
Public Transportation: Yes
Transit: Caltrain and Stanford Marguerite Shuttle
Parking: Stanford event parking available; fees and locations vary
Best Way to Get There: Caltrain, campus shuttle or rideshare
01
Greek Theatre - Berkeley
Category: Outdoor Concert Venue / Live Music
Night Out: Wild
Vibe: Scenic & Energetic
Activity Level: Moderate
Price: $$–$$$ (varies by concert)
Best For: Outdoor concerts, live performances, music festivals & concerts under the stars
Group Friendly: Yes
Time to Visit: Afternoon / Evening (depending on event)
Age: All Ages (varies by event)
Good For: College students, music lovers, group outings, enjoying outdoor concerts & experiencing live music in a historic venue.
The Greek Theatre is an outdoor amphitheater located on the UC Berkeley campus. Known for its beautiful setting and lively performances, it hosts popular artists and live music events. Its open-air atmosphere makes it a memorable place to enjoy a concert with friends.
Transportation:
Public Transportation: Yes
Transit Options: BART and AC Transit buses
Parking: Limited paid parking in nearby campus garages
Best Way to Get There: BART or rideshare
Night Out: Wild
Vibe: Scenic & Energetic
Activity Level: Moderate
Price: $$–$$$ (varies by concert)
Best For: Outdoor concerts, live performances, music festivals & concerts under the stars
Group Friendly: Yes
Time to Visit: Afternoon / Evening (depending on event)
Age: All Ages (varies by event)
Good For: College students, music lovers, group outings, enjoying outdoor concerts & experiencing live music in a historic venue.
The Greek Theatre is an outdoor amphitheater located on the UC Berkeley campus. Known for its beautiful setting and lively performances, it hosts popular artists and live music events. Its open-air atmosphere makes it a memorable place to enjoy a concert with friends.
Transportation:
Public Transportation: Yes
Transit Options: BART and AC Transit buses
Parking: Limited paid parking in nearby campus garages
Best Way to Get There: BART or rideshare
02
The Fillmore - San Francisco
Category: Indoor Concert Venue / Live Music
Night Out: Wild
Vibe: Intimate & Energetic
Activity Level: Moderate
Price: $$–$$$ (varies by artist)
Best For: Live bands, popular artists, standing-room concerts & music experiences
Group Friendly: Yes
Time to Visit: Evening / Night (depending on event)
Age: All Ages / 18+ / 21+ (varies by event)
Good For: College students, music lovers, discovering new artists, enjoying live performances & experiencing San Francisco's music scene with friends.
The Fillmore is a historic concert venue in San Francisco known for its intimate atmosphere and legendary music history. It hosts a variety of artists and bands, giving visitors the opportunity to experience live music in a smaller setting compared to large stadiums.
Transportation:
Public Transportation: Yes
Transit Options: Muni buses and BART connections
Parking: Limited street parking and nearby paid garages
Best Way to Get There: Muni or rideshare
Night Out: Wild
Vibe: Intimate & Energetic
Activity Level: Moderate
Price: $$–$$$ (varies by artist)
Best For: Live bands, popular artists, standing-room concerts & music experiences
Group Friendly: Yes
Time to Visit: Evening / Night (depending on event)
Age: All Ages / 18+ / 21+ (varies by event)
Good For: College students, music lovers, discovering new artists, enjoying live performances & experiencing San Francisco's music scene with friends.
The Fillmore is a historic concert venue in San Francisco known for its intimate atmosphere and legendary music history. It hosts a variety of artists and bands, giving visitors the opportunity to experience live music in a smaller setting compared to large stadiums.
Transportation:
Public Transportation: Yes
Transit Options: Muni buses and BART connections
Parking: Limited street parking and nearby paid garages
Best Way to Get There: Muni or rideshare
03
Fox Theater - Oakland
Category: Indoor Concert Venue / Live Entertainment
Night Out: Wild
Vibe: Lively & Exciting
Activity Level: Moderate
Price: $$–$$$ (varies by artist and event)
Best For: Live concerts, popular musicians, energetic crowds & indoor performances
Group Friendly: Yes
Time to Visit: Evening / Night (depending on event)
Age: All Ages / 18+ / 21+ (varies by event)
Good For: College students, music lovers, group outings, discovering artists & enjoying live performances in a historic theater.
Fox Theater is a historic concert venue in downtown Oakland known for its beautiful architecture and exciting live performances. The theater hosts a variety of musical artists and offers an energetic atmosphere for enjoying concerts with friends.
Transportation:
Public Transportation: Yes
Transit Options: BART and AC Transit buses
Parking: Nearby paid parking garages
Best Way to Get There: BART
Night Out: Wild
Vibe: Lively & Exciting
Activity Level: Moderate
Price: $$–$$$ (varies by artist and event)
Best For: Live concerts, popular musicians, energetic crowds & indoor performances
Group Friendly: Yes
Time to Visit: Evening / Night (depending on event)
Age: All Ages / 18+ / 21+ (varies by event)
Good For: College students, music lovers, group outings, discovering artists & enjoying live performances in a historic theater.
Fox Theater is a historic concert venue in downtown Oakland known for its beautiful architecture and exciting live performances. The theater hosts a variety of musical artists and offers an energetic atmosphere for enjoying concerts with friends.
Transportation:
Public Transportation: Yes
Transit Options: BART and AC Transit buses
Parking: Nearby paid parking garages
Best Way to Get There: BART
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