Crimson Lounge
687 McAllister St
Underneath Indigo
(between Franklin St & Gough St)
San Francisco, CA 94102 (415) 673-9353
- Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: No
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Music: DJ
- Best Nights: Thu, Fri, Sat
- Happy Hour: No
270 reviews
Neighborhood: Nob Hill
"Oh my god. I walked into here and thought I was back in the BFE of Northern Michigan. CUTEST BAR EVER! I loved stumbling upon this bar on…" read more »
35 Reviews for Crimson Lounge
Located under Indigo Restaurant, the Crimson Lounge is their basement space that is typically booked up for private events, or at least that's how I've experienced it.
Plenty of seating, some cozy and intimate booths, all bedecked in, guess what, crimson. The place can hold about 100 people tops, probably 60-80 very comfortably.
There's a dedicated bar just for downstairs, fully stocked, and since it's part of Indigo, catering can all be taken care of in one swoop. If you're interested, ask for Greg, one of the owners (they also own nearby Jade, in an effort to corner the market of color-inspired establishments, I guess).
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I walked down the stairs and was assaulted by what I thought was the smell of vomit. Now, I'm not quite sure what it was, and shortly after I arrived they lit some incense. But I do believe somewhere in that dank basement there's a pile of vomit, just waiting to be discovered.
For the first half of the event, the drinks were free. I decided to give the bartender a minimal test with a Manhattan -- it did not go well. Waaaaay to heavy on the vermouth. About 4 free drinks into it, I forgot about the failed-Manhattan and went for a dirty martini. EWW -- who knew it was possible to so poorly combine gin, vermouth and olive juice? If I had paid for any of these drinks I'd have to stabbed myself in the leg to prevent myself from making a scene.
As soon as the free drinks dried up, I ordered a simple whiskey soda that cost me $7. Youch.
All in all, if it's free I'm there, otherwise, pass.
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My friend had his birthday celebration here and it was fun! He had his family there lots of older people and interesting people most I didn't even know.
The place was a little divey, which I loved! With vinyl seating and tacky carpet and decor. IT was interesting to say the least, considering that Indigo restaurant is connected with to the place.
It's entirely done up in RED!!! The walls are red, the booths are red, everybody's cheeks were red! I mean that makes sense as it is called The Crimson Lounge. But the entire I was there I couldn't help but think that this is what hell would be like. All your friends a bunch of strange old people and a bar serving bad drinks.
You know now that I think about I wonder if the lights were just red?
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The Crimson Lounge is a cool looking place to throw a private party. As other reviews have stated, the private booths are cozy, the red decor is pretty hip, and the bar is OK. But with a bar minimum of $1995, one would expect the lounge to be clean. There was a "funk" in the air (it kinda smelled like an old mop). We had about 70 guests and we only made around $1200 at the bar,so we had to come with the difference of $800 plus the $200 rental fee.So needless to say, it was not worth it.In addition to this, after signing the contract , the owners increased the bar minimum to $3000.In my opinion, a bar minimum of $1000 would be fair,and not the current bar minimum. You and yours guests will have to do some serious drinking to meet the bar guarantee. Plus, the lounge can only hold 100 people tops.
this was the second bar that I visited on my birthday. It was ok. Apparently it was booked for someones event and one my friend's friend knew them. By the time we got there, it was pretty empty already. Its a nice underground bar that is covered in red everywhere. Had our two rounds of shots and left. not much more i can say.
I hadn't known about this somewhat "underground" space (both in its location as well as that it falls under the radar) but it was the perfect place for my friend's going away party last evening. Located under Indigo on McCallister Street, it's on a somewhat shady corner but that's all forgotten when you descend into the red leather, dimly-lit lounge. We rented out the entire space, and the experience was painless...the bartenders were attentive and friendly, and the proprietors (from Indigo) made sure our transformation from a swanky dinner upstairs into the party-time atmosphere at Crimson Lounge was seamless. We even brought our own iPod and the place turned into a pretty serious dance party with decibels off the charts. I would definitely have another party here.
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I hosted a birthday party here with 2 of my friends. The party was a wonderful success. The Crimson Lounge was a perfect venue for our event; not too formal, really affordable, private, and set for fun.
For a Saturday, the room fee was just under $200, with a minimum register ring of about $1200. Since we were hosting the party, we ordered around $1000 in food, hosted around $500 in drink stubs, and rest went to tax and service charges. All-in-all, it cost us around $35 per person for around 60 people.
A private venue, with food (good food too) and hosted drinks, for under $35; what more can you ask for?
VENUE: The venue is right next to the Indigo restaurant. No private parking. There is no street signage, so you'll have to give your guests a heads up. You have to walk down a steep flight of stairs, and I have no idea whether there is wheelchair access. You can have around 50-70 guests in there comfortably, but wouldn't go over that---unless you're into saunas. The decor is red, vinyl red. Tealight candles are lit throughout and there are booths and tables sprinkled throughout the lounge. The vinyl is a bit of a turn off, but after 4 drinks, no one noticed. There is a definite odor (if you're one of the first to arrive, you'll notice the musty carpet smell), but it you get used to it after a while.
MUSIC: You have to bring your own music, or listen to theirs. Sound system was decent enough.
RESTROOMS: You have to share restrooms with the Indigo restaurant. However, the restaurant closes much earlier than the lounge.
SECURITY: The bouncer was really nice and was heaven sent, because he managed to get rid of a few evil party crashers, help a drunk guest get a cab, and always had a light.
BAR: The bartender was really nice and was generous with the booze. His tally and the tally that I brought with me were exact down to the penny, so I don't question his honesty (I brought a tally with me, because I knew I'd be hammered).
FOOD: The $1000 in food that we purchased was good and there was enough of it to serve all 60 guests, with some left over. The smoked salmon, tuna tartar, and chicken skewers were big hits.
PARKING: Parking in SF sucks.
Before I booked the place, I read all the previous reviews, so our expectations were set accordingly. If you are on a budget and need a private venue, with a bar, security, decent food, and music, then this is a good bet. If you're looking to host a fancy smancy party, a baby shower, or your Grandmother's 100th birthday, then you might want to look at a different venue.
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Was here last night for an xmas party and was just hammered enough to not notice if there's anything wrong with this place. Those are some expensive drinks, but the bartender isn't being stingy with the Jameson, either. Ouch.
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Celebrated my 30th birthday and 5th wedding anniversary here and it was ah-mazing. I mean, it is your own private bar...can't get much better than that! We rented it out for $150 fee with $975 bar minimum for 5 hours. Pretty damn reasonable if you ask me. We are broke and brought our own appetizers (thanks Costco) and they were fine with that. Our Ipod playlist totally rocked and everyone had a fantabulous night....I have 250 pictures to prove it.
It does get hot in there...take breaks from dancing to hang out with the nice door dude. Oh, but watch out for drive-bys. We got pelted with eggs; egg shell in the hair really sucks. Luckily the drinks were strong enough that I didn't notice all that much.
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Attended a private party (roaring-20's themed) here a few weeks ago. As the name implies, it's lounge that's crimson red inside. Underground basement feel, big enough to fit a pretty decent-sized party, cool for the speakeasy 20's theme of the evening.
One of the highlights of the night didn't really have anything to do with the space or party itself, but with the crimson lounge staff. Our male bartender for the night was a perfect clone of Kip from Napoleon Dynamite. Complete with physical appearance, outfit, glasses, and attitude. I think I would have lost it if he uttered "Your mom goes to college" when I ordered my drink.
Beyond Kip the bartender and the party itself, the place was OK. Drinks were a little pricey and at certain points I thought I was partying in an east coast college party house.
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This place is decent for what it is: a private basement converted into a bar with lots and lots of crimson. Ron is a cool guy though, and the drinks aren't cheap but are definitely not watered down...
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Crimson Lounge
-hidden. elusive. kinda sexy. Rents out for a reasonable price to private parties only. Not marked on the outside, so you actually feel quite sneaky about showing up. Fun to get tarted up and drink fancy drinks in the dimly lit Crimson. reeeer!
Only thing is, you DO feel like you're in the basement at your friends' house who has the cool parents... it's all red (duh) and mirrored (oh! so seventies! ) and.. well. It's in a basement. So there.
Restaurant upstairs seems okay, but if I were the people dining there and had to watch the bar patrons go between the tables back and forth back and forth all night, I would have neen irritated.
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I came here for a private birthday party. This is a great place for an intimate gathering of friends. As the other Yelpers have noted and the name suggests, this basement bar and lounge is red all over. I thought the plushy red surroundings gave the place a cool, retro vibe. The ceilings are rather low. Anyone over 6'2" would probably be uncomfortable. However, there are plenty of plush couches and leather bar chairs to sit on and chat.. The air gets very stuffy and warm unless you're standing near a vent or doorway.
The bartenders were very cool and there is considerable privacy for parties as it is located underneath the Indigo Restaurant and can be reached by either entering a signless door that goes directly downstairs, or through a staircase located at the back of the restaurant.
I would definitely consider hosting a private party here.
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Crimson Lounge is absolutely wonderful. Hidden away under Indigo, this is by far one fo the best quant small private bars to rent out for any special event. There is something really cool about this place, perhaps its just the low key feel but yet classyness to it. Whatever it is, I had an amazing time when I came here for a friend's engagement party. Drink prices were extremely well priced, a great bartender who was not sheisty with the alcohol and great company.
I highly recommend renting this place out if you are looking for a medium sized venue for a private party. I hear its very affordable and a very doable bar tab to meet.
I rented them out for a company Christmas Party this January (yes, January). They were extremely nice and accomodating. The space was fun. In fact, it ended up being a bit too large for our purposes, but, man, you really can't beat the price for what you get. I was super pleased and would definitely consider them again for a larger event (we only had like 50 people or so and they probably weren't ever all there at the same time). Oh, and some of the food was really good, but some was kind of boring appetizer food, I'd subtract a half star if I could, but oh well...
Having been the doorguy for this place pretty much the past two years off and on, ive seen my share of great parties. There is a good chance i was that douchebag who politely told you to be quiet and cut the racket if youve been to any event here. It is always reserved for private parties, and it used to get effing hot down there. Like, swampass hot. They have since built their own entrance which when the door is open, circulates a lovely breeze through. I hang with the barstaff, so i think theyre peaches. Book your next Xmas party or 30th birthday or turtle race here. Tell em Mick sent ya for a free weird look involving a squinted staredown!
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Sexy little, kinda sorta non-claustraphobe-friendy lounge to throw a private party. Hire a DJ or bring your ipod. Happy barfday kids!
Red squishy walls, red chairs, red installations, red carpet (?), red everything, but there are too many red, rum and redwood rooms in SF, so while "crimson" isn't exactly a departure from the norm, it works in setting itself apart like lavender is a different hue from periwinkle is different from lily is different from #ADACAC is different from #D0CFCF and #DAD7D7 and #CDC9C9 and #E6E4E4 and...
But 100 degrees? Bring your own tower fans, too.
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I organized my work's holiday party here and everyone complimented me on the choice of venue. This place has a great decor when the lights are turned off (came here during the day to scout it out and it was a little grimy) and the bartenders were wonderful. The manager was very accommodating (I think his name was Greg) and the food was outstanding. They even let us bring in our own desserts because he knew we were on a budget! All in all, I am very pleased with my experience here.
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the company I was with last year had their holiday party here, and I liked it because it was so cozy & loungy. Food was good, bar service was good. I can't complain--a good little space for a small group of about 50 people.
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this is an exclusive little lounge located in the basement of Indigo Restaurant. I believe its only available for private parties... I was here for a birthday party and it was a blast! Its dark, intimate and sexy with a deep red atmosphere (hence the name)... a perfect venue for small to medium-size groups. i wouldnt recommend a big group. the party i was at got too crowded and it started feeling cramped and hot down there. the good news is, the birthday boy was a friend of mine who is gay and i turned out to be the only female attending... lets just say standing there in a sea of goodlooking well-dressed men all night sure didnt suck. www.crimsonlounge.com
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We had a great little private shin-dig down here. Helps to know the chef too me thinks. Too bad Larry left.
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I rented this bar for my 30th and boy, it was a great experience. First, the fee is about $150, then there is a 950 minimum bar tab. But if you invite not only a large number of people but the right people (i.e., drinkers) you will have no trouble meeting that minimum bar tab. Basically, you just have this miniature bar/lounge all to yourself and your peeps, a private bartender, and you can submit your town music. I burned 5 CDs filled with hip hop and rap and my friends got down on the floor. It was a great experience, and one I highly recommend.
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Great party space located in the basement of Indigo Restaurant. The decor is dark red, with plenty of nooks and crannies and couches for separate conversations. The space is confined and down a stairway, so larger groups have problems with feeling cramped and hot.
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Like a little dungeon of love - dark, velvety, and great for private paddling parties. The area's a little projecty - so take a cab home!
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This is a nice, private lounge that comfortably fit about 60 people without feeling too cramped. The staff that run this downstairs venue are super helpful. They rent the space for a very nominal fee and also will do the catering (which was mediocre) and either a cash or hosted bar. I was impressed with how everything was setup and it was super clean.
It had a relaxed atmosphere and they let you bring in your own decor as well as your own iPod, but their speakers suck!!
All in all, this is a good place to throw a small private party and have it feel both intimate and slightly on the decadent side.
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Great place to stop for a drink before or after Indigo, or just for a break from the hustle of the more happenin' parts of the city. I never knew it was "private-event only", I've always just walked in and never been hassled *shrug*
It does get a little hot down there, kinda adds to the velvet dungeon feel in a sexy sort of way. And it's in stark contrast to the often cold and wet city air.
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Very cool place for a private party. You can fit about 80-100 people in there comfortably. It can get hot, but there are side lounge rooms for extra seating. Cheap to rent out (about $125) and the bartenders are very nice. A little weird to have the people walk through the restaurant first, but there is a side door you can tell them to go to. You can't bring a DJ, so make sure you have a good mix of CDs!
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I had the chance to go to the Crimson Lounge recently for a friend's birthday, and I thought that it was a pretty cool space. The drinks were a bit pricey (and were somewhat randomly priced - I paid $6.50 and $7.00 for the same drink), but that didn't detract from the feel of the lounge or its ambience.
The only negative was that it got pretty warm in spots, but it was probably the clusters of people hanging out in areas that were not in the space where air was circulating through.
Definitely a place to consider for your next big event!
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This a great room to hold a special event for about 50 people. Before your party, enjoy the delicous food upstairs at Indigo.
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As everyone has said, this is a great place for a party!!!
The lounge is very sexy...a great size for smallish groups though I've been to work parties here where there were a lot of people.
And yes, it does get very warm. So don't wear long sleeves!
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a great cozy place for a private party
it does get warm though, but i wouldn't recommend cooling off outside because it's right next to the projects
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A cozy little space with warm colors on the wall and plush comfortable couches lining the walls - Crimson Lounge is a cute space for a private party whether you're the host OR the guest... the only negative is that the entrance is a tiny steep staircase with a rickety old banister that is not exactly crutch friendly... luckily, most of us have gotten good at hopping :)
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Hey that was my engagement party! Glad you had a good time. This place is awesome! The staff is very nice, reliable and professional...I couldnt have asked for better people to work the event. The space is great...we fit about 100 people in there and it was fine. I didnt feel hot at all like other people have talked about. I didnt think the sound system was bad either...and I am pretty picky about sound. The rental fee is $195 with a minimum ring of $1195. We chose to buy $500 of food in-house to help us meet our goal. Though I didnt try any of the food myself, everyone said that they enjoyed the satay, the tuna and the salmon. No one commented on the chipotle beef and I guess the risotto fritters were so bad that my friend had them sent back. If I had to do it all over again I would change nothing. They really made my night one to remember and I thank them for opening up such a wonderful venue at an affordable price.
Fun space for parties, minus two stars because it gets HOT down there.
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dis iz a red womb...drinks for non-caeserian exit...felt claustrophobia spell coming on
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