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Red Devil Lounge
Rating Details »
Category: Music Venues [Edit]
Neighborhood: Nob Hill1695 Polk St
(between Clay St & Sacramento St)
San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 921-1695
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Music:
- Live
- Best Nights:
- Thu, Fri, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- Yes
204 reviews for Red Devil Lounge
First time visited the RDL last night to watch the 80s covered band, Tainted Love performed. RDL is a great bar and lounge on Polk Street. What a neighborhood gem. The crowds are nice and the bar tenders are fast and the drinks are delicious. They have an upstair seating area with comfortable long coach all along the wall. Super chill ambiance and very comforable. You can watch the performance from there or you can be on the dance floor. The stage was a little small, but it works. The dance floor is fine and right infront of the bar. So it does get a little crowded if you are trying to get to the bar duirng the heat of the performance when everybody is on the floor shaking their booties. They also have a second smaller bar on the second floor, which nobody goes to. So that's a shortcut to get your drinks fast.
We love the RDL and will come back to hang out.
I went here with a group of friends on 9/25 to see the band Wonder Bread 5.
The venue is cozy, but it wasn't overcrowded so I had no problem getting around and they have a very cool balcony area.
Ordering drinks was easy and smooth. The staff was courteous and attentive. I hate going to bars and clubs and having to fight to order a drink. Well I didn't have any issues getting my drink ordered and served up quick. They do take credit cards at the bar.
The drink prices were fair and not typical of most SF clubs. I think I got a vodka soda and a beer and it was under $10.
The show that night was excellent, the band was a cover band that kicked some serious butt. I will try and see them again.
At one point I was retarded and dropped my entire beer on the ground, exploding my glass everywhere. Within about 1 minute they were on the scene cleaning it up and not making a fuss. I felt like a moron, but was glad to see someone was paying attention to the madness and keeping things order.
Will definitely keep an eye on events that happen at this venue and try to go back.
Great place to come and see some up and coming bands play! The venue was pretty interesting. I met up with some fellow Yelpers, Donna and Gill for the CD release of Lumaya and a few other bands Friday night. I have to say that Lumaya was a really talented group. Everyone in the band seemed to be clicking.
I didn't get a chance to get any drinks here though because I was still trying to sober up from the night before! Everyone else here looked like they were enjoying their alcoholic beverages though! This is probably the first time that I have stepped into a bar or lounge without drinking anything! There's a first for everything I guess.
This was an awesome place and one that I would have never have thought to walk in to. Thank you Gill for letting me know about this event!
Great place to see the bands you love. Very small so no matter where you are you'll be able to see. That said, it's too bad there isn't a bit more seating since most of the time you're going because of the music. It's definitely a dive, smells pretty rank when you first walk in then you adjust and don't notice it. We saw John West on Friday and since he was the opening act it was just the right amount of people for the small space. As it got later, and one of 2 restrooms crashed it was really really jammed at the front since everyone wanted to be by the stage but the rest room line was also right at the front of the stage. Would guess it's a better vibe on a weeknight. Fun times though and cheap drinks. Definitely a good place to catch good music.
This is a fun place to hear music, its relatively small but has enough space to dance. I enjoy the decor, it makes me nostalgic for the days when I was a teenaged goth. I would have done my bedroom like this back then! Le sigh...
I also truly appreciate the bathrooms at both ends of the bar. If It gets crowded enough during a show, you really don't want to fight your way to the opposite end; and with a potty on each end, you don't have to do so. This technique is frigging bril RDL! You're alright in my book. :)
After consuming a delicious dinner down the street it was now time for the main event. Super awesome Yelper Gill C posted an event for a CD release party for the San Francisco based band Lumaya which myself, my wife and our good friend were lucky enough to attend.
The show included four excellent local bands which in addition to Lumaya were Castles in Spain (which have been longer than I can remember), The Valerie Orth Band and Song of The Siren. Each band had it's own unique style and was an excellent lineup for the evening. We enjoyed them all and the crowd seem to as well.
The bar is always crowded but is staffed by one of the best bartenders in the City and is quick, efficient and serves up your drink order with a smile.
But I would say that the best part of the evening was having the chance to meet Gill C and her super cool friends. It seemed as if she knew just about everyone in the club as she glided from group to group. Super friendly and way more cool than you can ever imagine. She and my wife had a nice long chat at the end of the night which my wife very much enjoyed.
Thank you to Gill C for letting us know about this event and look forward to catching up again soon!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
4/3/2009
Back in my youth I spent half my life in small clubs in the City checking out our local music scene.… Read more »
Thanks Gill for inviting me.
I came here Friday night to check out the band Lumaya. Not knowing what to expect this venue is a great place for bands to play. The sound quality is great and it's been awhile since I heard live music. Lumaya was great and they totally rocked the house. The whole band totally got into the set of songs they played. Overall a wonderful night and nice to see some local artists.
80's band on stage; lovely flirtatious bartender; stiff drinks; and I blacked out.
What more can you ask for?
"When I'm with you baby, I go out of my head, and I just can't get enough.. I just can't get enough"
Comment from Jay S. of
Red Devil Lounge
11/19/2009
80s band, flirtatious bartender, stiff drinks & blacked out?…
More »
I was here once with an ex for a Suicide Girl's prom. Odd event aside it was actually not a bad spot. The drinks were quite strong, and there was plenty of seating. I am not sure if cover is a constant or if it was just for the event, but you may want to check before hand since it seems to be a music venue. There also seemed to be waits for the women's restroom just about everytime my friend had to use it, but I had no problem at all.
The music that night seemed to be 80's and mod which was just fine by me but since I am not a regular I can't say whether or not it is the norm.
So I get what people mean about the stage being in a poor location and some of the sound is pretty poor - but lets face it, thats why bands perform soundchecks to sort that out. Don't they?
Came here a few weeks ago to watch the Legendary Shack Shakers. A terrifyingly punky bluegrass band. A truly excellent night of music was to be had. The bar has a nice selection and there was enough space that night to move around - although I can see it getting pretty crazy on a busy night. A fun place to go, methinks.
GOOOD times! Saw a live band and rocked out for awhile. Had 32 oz. PBR's (bought 3 and bill was $15.00 - you do the math) and was greeted by bartenders who seemed to like their jobs.
Potential things to be aware of though that might rub you the wrong way - cover charges (ours for the night was $10 but I'm all about supporting live music) and one bathroom downstairs for females - this could a pain if there's a big concert or busy night happening.
This is a reasonably cool place to see some live music. It reminds me of my cousin's basement during the 80s - dark, carpet coming up, weird / old furniture, and loud, not-really-that-good music, but still, for some reason, everyone liked to go hang out there. All it needs is a couple of vintage arcade games in the corner.
A reasonable selection of beer, I have to say, especially considering that I wasn't expecting much, and not too pricey ($4 pints maybe?). The only downside is the sound. Ich. I mean really. Just not that good at all. Don't know if it's the acoustics, the sound guy, or some combination of the two, but I'm always a bit sad about how it sounds.
It's always been more crowded than I've expected, which is actually kind of cool, unless you get there later than you thought you'd have to, and have to go upstairs to the balcony. That view actually isn't too bad, as long as you don't end up stuck behind a speaker.
Comment from Jay S. of
Red Devil Lounge
11/18/2009
"reasonably cool" is what we aim for! Do know, you can't get…
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What I like most about Red Devil Lounge is that it never pretends to be anything it isn't. That's pure individualism, if you can't recognize it. It is what it is, and that's more than I can say for some places in even the Mission these days.
Situated between the hipster dive southern end of the Polk Gulch and the lush Russian Hill poshdom of the north, Red Devil Lounge serves all sorts of people. The bands that play here scream past-their-prime, but who cares, really, since everyone is just here for a good time. Besides, sometimes you just need to see what Vanilla Ice is up to.
Double drinks for $8 will most likely leave you adequately buzzed. I wouldn't know, as I didn't get any, but given the rambunctiousness of the (then) frat boy crowd, it seemed enough drunkenness was thoroughly dispersed around. Minus one star for drunken beer-bonging idiots, although even they were relatively polite. I was tired and sober and they only slightly bothered me. That's saying a LOT.
I don't normally pay over $10 for cover since I prefer small, intimate venues (and I write for Performer Mag - muhaha), but I felt every dollar here was well spent.
Date & Time: Friday March 13, 2009 @ 10pm
Company: Lisa-Ann & Ryan, Sara & Justin, Stacy & Michael
Crowd: Hipsters Decked Out in 70's Attire or Fitted Vintage Rock n' Roll Tees
Entertainment: Wonder Bread 5 (70's Cover Band) & Hey Hey Mama (Led Zepplin Cover Band)
Vibe: Crowded, Sweaty, Fun
Decor: Intimate Neighborhood Lounge w/ Character. Part Dive Bar, Mosh-Pit Like Area, Stage & Balcony.
Service: Friendly & Efficient Bartenders & Cute Cocktail Servers
Imbibe: Grey Hounds & Beer
Total: $10 Cover to See Cover Bands
Strong Island Iced Tea... Need I say more??
Unfortunately I'm a rambler.. so yea, I will say more... My first experience here was for a Pop Rocks concert (SOO MUCH FUN) I especially like all the cougars dancing on stage. I recall my friend stating at one point, "OMG thats our secretary at work!" I wonder what the husband and kids are doing while you relive your groupie days... Ok, Im not hating on the cougars.. just had to add that :)
Sweaty and packed.. but again.. STRONG ISLAND ICED TEA.. my friend and I didn't want to drink much so decided to split one.. which led to two.. which led to a conversation that went like this, "Should we have another?" "I drank most of the last one!" ".. well Ill drink most of this one"
Covers suck, but so does life some times, this is a great music venue!
fun place to come when they have an awesome band, like an 80s cover band. downside is that its hot as hell so you are drenched in sweat. The drinks were meh, so i settled on beers - even though the selection sucked and i had to drink a corona.
if you are already drunk or on your way, this is a fun place.
Comment from Jay S. of
Red Devil Lounge
11/19/2009
It is hot as hell. That is for sure. But you are wrong: We…
More »
I came here for Fat Tuesday. Nice little club with funky haunted house decor and 3 bathrooms (it's a small club, so this was awesome, you never had to wait in a super long line!). The bartenders were fast and attentive, and they made pretty strong drinks at decent prices - $8 got you a double.
The show was great, live music and dancers. Lots of sparkles, feathers and beads.
I don't get it. We've passed this place many times on our way to our Miller's East Coast Deli fix. And more often than not it reminded us of our misspent youth, as the vicinity reeked of stale beer and a couple of things people do when they've had too much--all that lovely nostalgia and we hadn't even set foot inside. So it didn't occur to us that we might consider it as a venue for a live music fix. Our loss. But no more.
Recently, we found ourselves with a gap in our concert schedule. Can't have that. Not in January. Not during one of the most dismal months in our working history. Not acceptable. So when Chuck Prophet showed up on their calendar, it became a good excuse to check it out. Ticket prices made it minimally-painful in the event Red Devil Lounge panned out as a 'beer-puke fest'. It didn't.
The place was indeed dark, but I've been accused over the years of trying to live like a bat (due to my inner-Goth Girl who clashes with my hippie heart), so it worked for me rather nicely. The crowd was a good mix. The bartenders were pleasant and efficient and drink prices were reasonable. The restroom was not bad for a bar, and people were cool as they waited in a short line for it. We hung out upstairs on the bouncy upholstered bench seating that lined one wall and part of another--good for sitting up on the back to get a view of the entertainment downstairs when it got a little crowded at the railing in front of us, and also good for standing and dancing when the mood struck. And of course it did. Chuck and company played until 12:30--at that point, dancing was mandatory.
Red Devil Lounge far exceeded our expectations. There was minimal evidence of douche nozzles and the various and sundry byproducts of their presence that we would expect to encounter in a dimly-lit, satanic-themed little bar on a Friday Night. We had a great time. We'll be back!
I like this place, I do.
It is a cute venue with a nice balcony, especially I love the toilet, HUGE and always clean, sometimes i find myself spending more time in the toilet than outside, it is a cozy place.
Even though the last time (sorry Brad) I was there was after Zeitgeist, after Bigfoot and after Shanghai Kelly's i was a bit sore sort of speaking, even though I had a great time, I was on top until I got outside and realized that I should not have the same attitude towards drinking as big boys, even though I want to.....well..that's another story.
If they have good bands playing I like it in there a lot!
Comment from Jay S. of
Red Devil Lounge
11/20/2009
I've never read a Yelp review that is so complimentary of…
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Came here to see Pop Rocks and had a great time. It's not the cleanest of places, but the venue was unique and the band...well the band was spectacular.
Don't really want to review the band, but had they not been there, Red Devil wouldn't really be my 'watering hole'.
I will say, their "Star FuC$#*" are unbelievable. Double shot of vodka with a Monster for $7 will you get you there.
...and I don't even know where 'there' is... still.
my band played here and it was pretty awesome. I can't remember our soundguys name(mike?) but he was by far the best we have had. Only thing i dislike is the parking situation.
Comment from Jay S. of
Red Devil Lounge
11/19/2009
Dude, there is no Mike here... but I'll thank him anyway. Oh…
More »
Good: Can easily get within sweat-drop distance of whatever band you were there to see.
Bad: The huge chore it is to get a drink in this place. Once the music starts, service is a little easier to get, but it still feels weird to yell your order to anyone.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
10/21/2008
I wouldn't spend an entire evening here, but it's a nice place to start and watch a band or two. The… Read more »
I have been living right down the street from this place for months. I have also been passing by this place all the time. I finally decided to go down there over the weekend to watch Pop Rocks. I think it's the best place to watch a show in the city based on what I have seen. I had a great time and man those drinks are freakin' strong. I had that long island and the whiskey and coke. I was pretty gone. It was a great time. Plus the crowd is good and pretty diverse too for the most part.
I like the fact that after all the drinks you have there are all these accessible toilets. :)
Gigantic mixed drinks
Beautiful blonde bartender:
White skin, blue tattoos.
-------------------------------------------
Wait in bathroom line
Standing by awesome hottie
Almost a date, huh?
-------------------------------------------
Here we are again,
Back at the parking garage:
It closed at midnight.
Comment from Jay S. of
Red Devil Lounge
11/20/2009
White skin, blue tattoos? I wonder who that could be...…
More »
I caught a Tainted Love Show at Red Devil Lounge and had a blast! My friends and I decked ourselves out in tacky 80's attire and hopefully headed to Red Devil Lounge though we still needed show tickets. Luckily, we were in line soon enough and got into the show!
I ran into tons of random people that I knew and loved that we found spots to dance right in front of the stage. They were also serving up tall cans of beer which is always convenient when the bar lines get long. However, they sometimes lead you to end up in the long bathroom line...
Anyways, fun times and often great bands though I'd recommend buying your tickets in advance and not waiting until the last minute like we did!
Red Devil is an intimate venue.
I love this place especially when I want to catch a live band or hear one of my favorite artists. I saw KRS-One here along with Method Man and Black Thought of the Roots.
The bartenders know what time it is because the drinks are mixed well.
I'm a fan.
I've seen a few bands play here... it's a fun place to go with a group (as protection from the masses that flow in here). Two stories.. but always packed in like sardines. Sound isn't that great, but the shows are. Tainted love is a popular show to see here.
They NEED to book the Pop Rocks again.... cuz I missed them the last time they were playing.
A great location and a great variety of live music.
But, this venue is TINY, it's hard to get a drink, the bathrooms are gross, and there is a huge column blocking 1/3 of the stage.
Rock on.
Comment from Jay S. of
Red Devil Lounge
11/18/2009
Our bathrooms arent *that* gross, where they? Did you…
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I hate to knock a live music venue, but I really have to. This is one of my least favorite places to see a band in the city. The sight lines generally aren't good - the stage isn't quite high enough, so you can't see much from the floor unless you're up close, and half of the balcony spots are blocked by speakers, chandeliers, or pillars. But even worse, the sound is reliably awful. It's always incredibly muddy, and the balance is usually pretty bad as well. Take last night, for example: the opening band had 2 guitars, drums, bass, singer. Most of the time, I couldn't hear either of the guitars unless no one else was playing.
I'll let you think about that for a second.
When was the last time you went to a show and the guitars were too quiet?! Good god, they're guitar players - they're always too loud! (no offense to the guitar players in the audience, because you all know it ;) )
So to crank everything else so much that they drowned out the guitars... wow.
For everything else, though, it's great - multiple bathrooms, coat check, good beer selection, nice bartenders who give STRONG pours, lots of seating, cool black & red vibe... if only they could get the sound fixed.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
12/1/2005
They've often got good bands, but the sound is usually pretty crummy - I've a bad feeling most of… Read more »
I've been here a few times for different events. Usually for a live band as the lounge is sort of arranged for that type of venue.
Medium sized (not very large) and can get a little stuffy when crowded. I do like the upstairs area which has some tables/chairs which are sometimes reserved but was not last night (yes, a place you can actually sit down and not have to pay $500 + for bottle service).
Staff is pretty cool, bartenders were pretty quick and drinks were stiff. Not a place I would probably go back to unless there was some event there (last night was a Leukemia/Lymphoma benefit).
My band, Stay Tuned - A TV Theme Tribute Band - performed at the Red Devil Lounge in 2007 on the way down the coast on a mini-West Coast Tour. We opened for Wonder Bread Five. We had a blast - great crowd and an overall great time.
There are some videos from the RDL performance on our youtube page:
http://www.youtube.com...
The staff at The Red Devil Lounge treated us great and our sound mistress for the evening (whose name, like so many bits of information of any sort of importance in my brain, escapes me) was awesome. Was helpful, cool, and accommodating with our unconventional setup. The stage was a bit crammed and had odd quirks (i.e. pillars obstructing view, wall crevices forcing amps to be placed awkwardly, etc.) but we've played in much worse situations.
Load out was a breeze and we hung around for about 30 minutes of WB5's set - we had to jet out of there that night to make some headway on our route to L.A. for the next night's show - and had a few drinks, took a few photos, and hung out with some fans in the crowd. There was a group of rather tall "ladies" eye-ing our drummer. On closer examination, they may not have been ladies. But hey - he's a drummer.. He'll take what he can get.
All in all, a great time, a fun venue. We'll definitely check in with them on our next tour down the coast.
Red Devil Lounge - rockin out in the firey pits of Hell
Been here a couple of times w/ THE ENGLISH BEAT holding my de-flowering honor
" I Confess " - walked in & thought what a great venue - super small so we'll really get a fantastic artist-all-up-close experience
Well, the 100s of other people there that night thought the same thing b/c it got super-cramped.....claustrophobia-inducing kind of cramped
And more importantly, it was Hotter Than Hell - please note to self - wear your most flimsy, skimpy, breathable attire or you'll risk fainting from heat stroke......whew - " Stand Down Margaret! "
Escaped outside a few times to reset my internal temp cause I was hot as the devil - wait, I thought I was warm-blooded ( ? )
Also note that bands here tend to come on really late - if you want to avoid the sweltering heat " Save It For Later "
Door-keepers were really nice & allowed all our in & out business, sound was awesome, & drinks were yummilicious
So while not my fav venue to see bands, great names & fun times keep tempting me back...and the Devil *is* all about temptation, right?
This is one of the few places in the city I've found that actually sells tall cans of PBR!
And it has a neat little balcony along the wall which makes for great seats during a show. They book some great bands and always have crazy events going on.
But if you think to yourself, their "$7-gets-you-a-draft-beer-and-get-a-shot-of-tequil a" deal sounds good, I beg you now to reconsider. I say this from personal experience. Ask the bartender, he knows.
Oh, and bonus star for having multiple bathrooms! Who'da thought...
The Red Devil Lounge is a decently located well decorated venue with a full bar. True, there is little parking, but those of us who know how to get by and find parking in the city do ok. In addition to this, there are a few other reasons this place is sub par. One of them being that the biggest band I've ever seen play here was Agent Orange, so as far as music goes this place has less stroke than bottom of the hill.
I went here to see a friends band play and It looked pretty cool when we first arrived. Then I saw the stage. The teeny tiny 8' by 7' triangle left in the corner. It defies logic how they expect a band to set up on that thing and play for however long you're slinging over priced drinks?
The Balcony is a joke too. with little seating I would have been seriously concerned for my safety, (due to the 40 year old construction) if it were not for the giant fan blowing on my face in the triple digit heat. I love seeing friends play and I love going in to the city for shows, but the Red Devil Lounge is just not a great venue for much of anything.
CHAD
So last night was my cherry popping inauguration to the Red Devil and all I can say is...can we do it again? Please :)
This place rocks and while I'm sure a lot of my thumbs up lovin is from the awesome show i saw here last night, along with the cute company, but there were several other factors that made me really enjoy my time here. Right from the get go, the door guys are super friendly. No attitude, no too cool for school dickery either, just two guys who were super friendly and cheerful and fun. One even had a few neck tats and you are super cool in my book if you can rock those, since that is the ultimate form of commitment ;)
Then there was the bartender. He was totally attentive and a master at making my much adored Snakebite. The first few were yummy and when i went up for another one, I noticed that the Guinness was out and normally a bartender would be like, "Sorry, you want something else?" But ohhhhh no, he hopped right back there and hooked a new one up and the Snakebite was mine once again! Hellz yeah!
The looks of the place is cool too and I liked that there is a balcony you can escape to if the crowd is a little too much for ya. I would come see a show here again anytime and so should you! :)
Comment from Jay S. of
Red Devil Lounge
11/19/2009
Come back so we can re-pop your cherry! I love this review.…
More »
I've been here a few times to see various friends bands play, and I always have a great time.
My most recent time was on Saturday night to see my pal Sean Tabor play, and it was by far the best time I've had there. Mainly because I finally discovered the bar thats upstairs, negating the obligatory wait at the main bar. Hooray! Booze delivered faster! That makes me a happy panda.
But all in all, it's a great place to see a band, the staff is really nice (and the guy who put that wrist band on me at the door...umm, call me sometime), and the drinks are fairly strong. Can't really ask for more.
Counting down until the next time Sean plays. Should be yet another stand-up/fall down time.
This place is small, like a hallway with a stage at the end. It does have a second floor which gives a view of the stage.
It's a great place to see live music, as the crowd is usually really chill. I've been here to see numerous bands. There is a pillar in the middle of the stage which is kind dumb, but whatever.
Theres always drink specials, and the bartenders make everything strong. I've had nothing but good times here.
Once upon a time I would have rated this place pretty high. At a certain point though, I grew out of my affection for this spot. POP ROCKS is the only show I would go back and see and that's only because an ex roomie is in the band and well.. they f**king rock.
Expect to find parking and pay a small cover and have pretty face to look at. Also expect to smack the little snots in the face who crown you when it;s not necessary. LONG lines in the restroom where plenty of people have had sex and/or gone in with a group of 5+. Like others have said, the setting is small and the stage is so handy you can set your purse on it while you shake your ass.
Small and HOT. Hot as in hot hot. You will need to step outside more than a few times to survive the night.
The Red Devil Lounge is a very cute place with dim lights, a small stage, and an upstairs balcony which I never been on.
Most of the time when I come here it was to come check out new bands play or see some of my favorite local bands play. Not to mention, It is a block down the street from my favorite sushi place, Nara.
Depending on the night and show, you you will get a mixed crowd of people. This is definitely a great little place to hang out on a Friday or Saturday night.
One of my favorite places to hear a live band.. Such an intimate experience compared to a stadium. You can can get rather close to the stage or enjoy a nice seat or table from the above area.
The drinks were made well and the service was proper. Even when it gets crowded it didn't take an eternity to get my drink.
My only deduction has to do with the coat check lady who lost my favorite green, cashmere scarf. I mean the coat check is literally a rats nest so I figured it couldn't venture far. I was reassured it would be taken care of but it was never found. This however has not detoured me from returning. I would recommend coming here, just be careful of the items you leave at the coat check.
