Insider nightlife in San Francisco

San Francisco nightlife often attaches itself to the diverse character of the neighborhoods it inhabits:

SOMA (South of Market): Artists, mixed with hipsters of all stripes, populate the large spaces and small clubs of this expansive 'hood.

The Mission: lower-income young people mixed with the ethnic groups that give the city much of its Latin flavor.

the Castro: the epicenter of gay/lesbian/transgender life on the West Coast. Where you can look however you wish and not get a second glance.

the Upper Haight: hipsters with a bit of money to spend at the shops, restaurants and bars that line both sides of the street.

the Lower Haight: longtime haven for music types, artists, it's the place where beer is king and dancefloors are small and sweaty.

the Marina/Cow Hollow: where those just out of college and those who wish they were still in college come to hang out, drink and compare the latest Kate Spade bags and Camper shoes.

the Outskirts: Neighborhoods like Bay View, China Basin, Hunters Point and the like are full of undeveloped land and seedy hole-in-the-walls, but also house some of the big warehouse spaces where the West Coast rave scene got its start.

Quick Tips:

*Don't forget ID (either a drivers license with your picture or a passport)

*Be prepared to spend money: cover charges at nightclubs are often in the - range. Drinks at clubs can cost for a beer and - for a mixed drink.

*The city is awash with club night flyers, some of which offer discounts for getting in. Stop at places like Amoeba Records, Bulletproof, or Clear Music for the best suggestions for ways to get your groove on.

*The listings in the two alternative weeklies (The Bay Guardian and SF Weekly) aren't annotated like those in Time Out. Best bets are to combine the weeklies' listings with one of the many editorially based services like FlavorPill.net or SFStation.com

*People in the San Francisco club scene can be friendly. Ask bartenders, doormen, waitstaff at restaurants, and people you meet at the clubs for suggestions.

*Live music shows often sell out prior to showtime in this music-heavy city. If there's a particular band or artist you want to see, consider buying tickets ahead of time. First check out TicketWeb (http://www.ticketweb.com) and then Ticketmaster (http://www.ticketmaster.com), or call the venue.

Best Way To Get Around:

San Francisco is a walking city -- it measures 7 miles by 7 miles. But at night, it can be cold, and walking is not the way you want to be spending your time.

Public transportation (MUNI and BART) is plentiful, and frequently takes you where you want to go by bus or train. You can pick up a transit map at any bookstore.

Taxis are also easy to come by (except when it's raining), but are more pricy than cabs in New York, for instance.

The Phoenix is a renovated motor hotel in a sketchy neighborhood, but continues to bring in rock star gliterati and anyone who wants to feel like a rock star.

Kurt Cobain always stayed here when he was in SF, and it's notoriously known as the spot Brad Nowell from Sublime was staying at when he was found dead. But the room interiors are stylish and hip, all rooms face the specially tiled, heated pool, and you're only steps away from Backflip, the Phoenix's hot bar and nightclub.

On frequent weekends during the summer, the pool and patio area is converted into a daytime club where DJs spin and the beautiful people come to get sun.

Sushi Groove South is the SoMa outpost of famed club promoters Martel and Nabiel's highly successful japanese restaurant in Russian Hill. The fish is extremely fresh, the drinks strong and the specialties unparalleled in a city known for its fish artistry.

Combine that with a location close to many clubs and bars, and a DJ who spins downtempo for the patrons, and you've got a hipster haven that is post-modern San Francisco all the way.

The Top is a jewel in the rough -- a tiny dance club on a slightly seedy block of Haight that attracts the cream of the most casual, but influential and passionate dance music crowd.

Sunday night at the Top is a classic, though there is usually a crowd and great music every night of the week, ranging from house and funk to drum 'n' bass, jungle, and occasionally hip-hop. This is where you'll find real San Franciscan's dancing their butts off.

The End Up is a true San Francisco institution, having been open for 28 years.

While it's a gay club, at heart, any day or night of the week you'll find the most diverse mixture of sexual orientation, race, religion, age and social status dancing to the beats of house and techno DJs.

Inarguably the best time to go to the End Up is Sunday for the long-running "T-Dance." The club opens at 5:30 a.m. Sunday morning (after only having been closed for 90 minutes), and for many people, the party is continuing from the night before. But if you arrive in the mid-morning and order a Mexican coffee to drink out on the sunny, waterfall-laden patio, you'll be able to hear great music, watch the world go by and dance when you want to.

Many people consider Sundays at the End Up their version of church. The music is uplifting and the crowd -- while occasionally a little strange -- is unbeatable and friendly.