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Thu / Feb 25
Party Earth Review A popular watering hole for tatted metalheads and over-pierced punks, Cat Club is a twisted dance hall where karaoke, bondage, and 80s pop live together in perfect harmony. Motown nights, regular wedding ceremonies, and... ... read full review
1190 Folsom Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
BART: Civic Center
MUNI F, J, KT, L, M, N Lines: Civic Center
Tu–Su 9pm–2am
Hours may shift depending on event
May open on Mondays for holidays or special events
Check venue website for latest calendar
SoMa, San Francisco –
A popular watering hole for tatted metalheads and over-pierced punks, Cat Club is a twisted dance hall where karaoke, bondage, and 80s pop live together in perfect harmony.
Motown nights, regular wedding ceremonies, and who knows what else fill the rest of the docket, but one thing’s for sure – even though the clientele changes slightly based on the night, nobody shows up to just sit quietly in a corner.
Black curtains frame the entrance to the front room, where disco balls and an industrial go-go cage loom ominously above the chipped and uneven floor. Swarms of studded, spiked, and knee-high-socked college kids lounge on the distressed leather couches near the first bar, or shout through the music in front of a backdrop of ornate gothic mirrors.
The back room collects moshers and headbangers, who gleefully tip back nightly specials at the second bar or thrash in front of the small stage, while a large screen projects music videos overhead. On most nights, two DJs deliver an eclectic mix of punk, new-wave, classic 80s, and house, drawing both diehard young club-hoppers and older dudes reliving their glory days.
Although it may be reminiscent of a vampire’s dungeon, Cat Club hosts enough variety for at least nine lifetimes of party purrfection.
Mixed bag of goths, punks, metalheads, rock and roll devotees, groups of girls, exuberant partiers, and club-hoppers, early 20s to late 40s+.
Two separate DJs spin a mix of punk, new-wave, classic 80s, house, dark electro, industrial, new wave, and goth. Karaoke on Tuesdays, bondage shows on Wednesdays, Motown on Sundays. Occasional live underground bands. Caged go-go dancers. Video projection screen.
No food. Smoking patio.
Cover charge $0–$10. Beer $4+, cocktails $5+. Coat check $2+.
Dress code: All black “dress to impress” required for Bondage-A-Go-Go on Wednesday nights, with no sports attire, kicks, or sandals. Anything goes other nights: jeans, leather jackets, ripped shirts, knee-high socks, loose dresses.
Any night there’s a theme of interest, or Fridays and Saturdays for special featured DJs.
Anon Salon (285 9th Street) is a labyrinthine dance club known for its electronic music, multiple decorated playrooms, and open rooftop.
Cat Club User Reviews