Overall our experience at the Herbst was wonderful. The venue itself was beautiful. Parking nearby was surprisingly easy for a Friday night performance. We sat in the back but still could see very well. The acoustics were great, good sound quality, comfortable seats, all the things. My two suggestions: -better signage and flow for ticket scanning -gluten free options in the concessions, like even just gluten free chips or something! read more

Herbst Theatre - Lucy Darling - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

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We went to a matinee of a comedy show. We sat in the first row of the balcony, right next to the light and sound boards. Our view was good. I thought the seat was comfortable but leg room was tight. There was no room to stretch our legs. My husband's knees were in his chest. I don't know if there is more leg room on the floor or in the boxes but next time we go I will try for a different location. The theater was clean and the acoustics were good. read more

Herbst Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

What better way to end the year with singing Ald Lang Syne at the Herbst theatre where the SF chamber of Music has provided an inclusive evening of free music for over 70 years. Seating is great, with the stage clearly visible in every seat as the seats are arranged on steps going downwards towards the stage. You'll see some interesting murals on the walls with gold paint by Frank Brangwyn who was commissioned for works at the Panama Pacific international exposition of 1915 in SF. This is a beautiful theater and definitely worth a visit. read more

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6/14/2025: Every year, my family and I have attended my Grand-Daughters' ballet performances; this year is no exception! The myriad of dance performances, sounds of vibrant music, cheers, and laughter filled Herbst Theater with sheer delight. Surely, we shall continue watching my Grand-Daughters' future ballet performances. read more

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Attended show here. Very clean and well staffed. Bathrooms on 1st and 2nd floor. Sat in middle of 2nd floor balcony, last row. Lighting good, sound system great! Enjoyed my time here. read more

Herbst Theatre - Inside from 2nd floor - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

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We came here to see a comedy show. The theater is well decorated, is nice and large with good sound. Seats seemed to all be good. Good sound, all around comfortable seating with enough leg room. It's extremely difficult to find street parking so it's best to park in the garage a block away. read more

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Went to see the Golden Gate symphony, Orchestra, and chorus Sunday night for the Messiah sing-along. The (Theater) is beautiful very clean, staff is helpful and pleasant. Everything about this theater is inviting and they are simply glad to have you there.. They have a small café with good selections. Simply the historical beauty of this theater can stand on its own, but everyone does a great job to show their appreciation to you for supporting the arts. If you get a chance to see a performance here, please go you won't be disappointed and there are many restaurants walking distance to have a drink or dinner before or after the show read more

Herbst Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

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It is quite a beautiful building. Just be advised to plan where you are going to park and eat for a meal. There is a great book store nearby that had a good selection of books and was a good place to kill some time. I had a wonderful time at the show. read more

Herbst Theatre - Opening of Strict Scrutiny Podcast Show - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

Let me be clear, San Francisco is also one of my favorite CA cities. Others are LA (my absolute favorite, where I live), San Diego and Santa Barbara. I have been lucky to have family at most of these locations, albeit for a short time, but still adequate time to visit, savor and review numerous dining hot spots at all these locations. But what brings me to SF this time, the Herbst Theatre, is a totally different magnet, that had nothing to do food. It was to participate in the White Coat Ceremony for the UCSF Medical School class of 2028. Yes, for another family member. Wow. We got into the hall late, due to other immediate family members looking for donuts, well away from the location. Really? On this auspicious day? As a result, we missed main floor seating and were directed to seat in the balcony. Not a problem, but people were running like animals to secure unreserved seats (all of us in the same boat), as if the only food on the planet was at their destination. These are minor issues. But what is wrong with people? Anyway, let's talk about the auditorium. It is bathed in artwork, paintings, with perfect acoustics. A super experience. In my opinion, it doesn't matter where you are sitting. Just shower in the glory of such a beautiful place. read more

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Really great music for a fairly cheap ticket. Like a lot of things in SF, driving in the area is sketchy, parking is a nightmare, and there are homeless people everywhere. Ushers weren't particularly nice or helpful either. Probably won't be back. That said, the theater itself and the music were top notch. Probably better for locals that are used to the city, and its issues. read more

Herbst Theatre - Inside of theater - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

Beautiful venue I truly enjoyed the presentation of Cinderella by the African American Shakespeare Company. It was funny, inspiring, and full of beautiful people. The beautiful young lady who played Cinderella had a beautiful voice! All around a great show in a very wonderful place. read more

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We attended a free musical performance here this past Sunday, hosted by the SF Civic Music Association. This theatre is located inside the beautiful War Memorial Veterans Building (don't get it confused with the opera house which is next door but looks almost identical from the outside). They don't sell food or drinks here for free events like this, but they do so for other types of occasions and have a lower level seating area on the same floor as the restrooms. The auditorium seating is made up of simple, red-cushion folding theater seats on two levels, with balcony seating stretching along the sides as well. The ceiling architecture and light fixtures are alluring. The walls are adorned with giant fresco murals, just lovely. The stage and speaker setup produced wonderful sound for the audience, a delightful classical concert to the tunes of Mozart and Beethoven. read more

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What a beautiful theater in the heart of San Francisco. It has that historic feeling while offering modern vibes as well. Veteran services are on site, as well as, a cafe, theater, meeting rooms and many other amenities. Parking is nearby as well. There is also a playground with play facilities nearby for the kids. read more

What a beautiful theatre! Came here for Max Amini show and he was hilarious! the theatre is beautiful i loved the decoration and the seats were so comfortable ! read more

Herbst Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Saw Lucy Darling and the venue was perfect! Not quite intimate because it is larger but if you can afford the orchestra front rows, then you are golden read more

I recently attended a new age rendition of Cinderella put on my the African American Shakespeare Company at the Herbst Theater and it was wonderful. The staff at the theater was friendly, warm, and eager to help attendees. The space is beautiful, clean, and has great acoustics. If you ever have an opportunity to visit the Herbst Theater you won't regret it. read more

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Beautiful theatre that I visited to see the SF Philharmonic! There's is a paid garage, but I just found street parking on the Hayes side of the plaza. The dress code here seems pretty casual; the sf philharmonic specifies that they aim to make their shows accessible (not too expensive), which I love since everyone should be able to enjoy music. For the show I saw, it was open seating, and there are both ground and balcony seats. The theater isn't too big, so you can easily see and hear everything on stage. Thanks to the SF philharmonic for the amazing music! read more

Herbst Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

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wonderful and intimate space (well probably around 1000 seats) next to the opera house. I went to a SF Chamber Music duo piano event and the sound was fantastic. the theater is beautiful inside already signed up for two more events here read more

Herbst Theatre is at the War Memorial Opera Building. It is a smaller space and I had not seen a show until tonight. I had a ticket to the Philharmonia Baroque at this space. They use alternate spaces. It's an older space that is well-kept and old-fashioned. It's a smaller space, but traditional. They offer symphony and opera. It's on the first floor and it was a good first experience with Philharmonia. They have average snacks and drinks. I really enjoy the War Memorial building in SF. Good times. Review 2277 read more

A beautiful theatre with an old Hollywood flare and great views of the main stage! I came here last Christmas Eve to see The African American Cinderella. I came in the afternoon around 1:30 as the show started at 2:00. I was able to find parking right behind the Theatre on a side street. I don't believe that I had to pay for parking because it was a Saturday, but I could be wrong. I walked in and was immediately greeted by an Usher at the front door who directed me to the will call box office to pick up my tickets. There was a gentleman who highlighted my ticket and pointed to where my seat was. Since the Theatre is smaller, it was pretty easy to find my seat. I can't remember my exact seat number, but I sat on the left side facing the stage about 3 or 4 rows back. The theatre is very classic with its red curtains and theatre chairs and also had a decent sized stage. The seats were extremely comfortable and roomy with a enough leg room to where I didn't feel cramped. I was lucky enough to not have anyone sitting right next to me; a great advantage of seeing small local performances! I had a great view of the stage, but practically any seat in the theatre would boast a nice view. The tickets were very affordable at only a cost of $25. There's a nice little cafe downstairs located on the way to restrooms that serves food and limited alcohol before and after the performance. The restrooms were clean and even had a nice waiting area in the women's restroom. Herbst is one of the nicer theatres in the city where I have been able to view local performances. They are also available for booking. I will definitely come back here to see more performances in the future! read more

Herbst Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

Excellent place for a performance. Attended my toddlers ballet bravo bash and it was magical.

How could this be my first visit to the Herbst Theatre? As a native San Franciscan and Bay Area resident, I recently realized that my recent visit for Ramin Karimloo's personal concert and conversation with music director and host Seth Rudetsky was the first time there. Located across City Hall, the Herbst Theatre is located in the War Memorial Veterans Building, a grand building of Beaux-Arts design, similar in design to the War Memorial Opera House on the other end of the block. It's the historical site of the UN Charter signing in 1945. The two level theatre seats about 900 and is on the smaller size, which makes it perfect for smaller performances, solos, recitals and lectures. It was perfect for Ramin's concert and emceeing by Seth. The acoustics were great and the view is fine and unobstructed from the far side of the orchestra section. It was great performance by Ramin at perfect venue, the Herbst Theatre. read more

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I saw Henry Rollins give a talking show at Herbst Theatre last night Thurs Dec 29, 2016. I have seen Rollins at least a half dozen or more times since I first saw him back in 2004. I bought my ticket early on Jun 15, 2016 when tickets first became available so was able to secure a prime seat in the 4th row in the center of the stage. The venue is small & intimate holding probably less than 1,000 people w/ balcony seating as well. Herbst Theatre is about a 9 minute walk from the Civic Center BART making it accessible to those embracing a car-free lifestyle. Kudos for having compost & recycling available in the theatre. It was toasty warm inside so had to remove my coat & a few sweaters. Rollins gave an intelligent, funny, & informative show. He spoke about the election, politics, lunch w/ David Bowie, his friendship w/ Lemmy of Motorhead, his friendship w/ RuPaul & seeing the stinky cute penguins in Antarctica. Rollins doing an impersonation of Iggy Pop complete w/ Ypsilanti accent was memorable. I love small intimate venues like this & the Herbst Theatre is a great place to see a show especially if you try to avoid bigger stadium shows like myself. read more

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I've been to Herbst Theatre as both a performer (as part of Laurel Victoria Gray's lecture on Central Asian, Silk Road history and culture) and an audience member over the years. In my opinion, there's nothing not to love about this theatre. It is beautiful, comfortable, the sound quality is fantastic and the staff is friendly and efficient. Surprisingly, parking doesn't seem to be a huge issue but YMMV. Additionally, the always lovely Jardinere is nearby for pre-show drinks or dinner. read more

I enjoy attending events at Herbst Theatre. The theater is beautiful with murals & gold accents. The cushioned seats are comfy. All seats on the main floor have a great view because it's much smaller than the opera house next door. The Green Room is enchanting. Reminiscent of the Hall of Mirrors in Versailles. A great venue for a fancy party or wedding reception. read more

Me and the Herbst go way back. Way, way back. I think I saw Cary Grant here before he kicked the bucket. I just remember I had never seen such shiny white hair in my whole life. And such good manners. Years later, I saw author Susan Sontag and playwright Tony Kushner ("Angels in America") have a dialogue on art and politics. And years after that, I saw diminutive jazz vocalist Jimmie Scott scat in his falsetto voice, and most recently, I saw countertenor extraordinaire David Daniels sing a stunning repertoire of Bach and Handel in his own falsetto voice (see my photo). I guess the intimacy of the venue lends itself to singers with high voices since they don't have quite the chest volume to project at a bigger hall. The upside is seeing a singer like Daniels really add a level of nuance to his interpretations of sacred Baroque arias that may have been otherwise lost at a full-fledged auditorium like Davies Hall. There are less than one thousand seats here, and the beaux-arts decor gives the feel of an over-sized salon. Moreover, there isn't a bad seat in the place, and the box seats provide nice views from the sides. That's where I like to sit with my little flask. The one downside is the lack of ventilation which can make the heat feel stifling, although one would hope the singers are not subject to the same conditions. I come back to the Herbst every 5-10 years, and it always feels familiar and dependable in its acoustics and the quality of the performances to be experienced here. I bet you didn't know what a culture vulture I am. I'm not really. Now I have to go to the Mitchell Brothers Theater on O'Farrell to balance it all out. Got a twenty? read more

Herbst Theatre - With countertenor extraordinaire David Daniels in the lobby - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

The theater itself is absolutely beautiful. The concert was absolutely fantastic!!! Theater had comfortable seats, gorgeous architecture, welcoming/professional staff, etc. However, getting to/from the theater can be an issue depending on where you park. We had no choice other than to walk in the street (on Van Ness) for two blocks due to the lack of walkable area on the sidewalks. The surrounding area of the theater were pretty sketch on the afternoon we were there. YMMV, of course. read more

Ugh, I know the city is expensive but a round of drinks dinged me $46 here! Two champagnes (6&9oz.) were $32 alone. What really was uncool about it was that none of the prices were posted so we ordered the drinks and Bam! OK, enough whining, the theater itself is quite nice and gives an old time feeling when inside. High ceilings, velvet curtains, the whole shebang. The show I saw was disappointing but I won't hold that against the theater. I would definitely come back to this place but I would pick the occasion better and bring a flask! Give'em a try! read more

This is a beautiful small venue. The theater is a small auditorium with about 900 seats that is part of the SF War Memorial in the Civic Center area of SF right behind SF City Hall. The outside building itself is quite beautiful, matching the pillars and aesthetics of City Hall. Upon entering, the lobby is quite large with several benches to sit and mingle. The lobby itself is very beautiful with lots of lighting and a tall ceiling. There is a cart selling drinks and snacks ranging from candy, baked goods, and even a cheese and cracker platter (probably the most overpriced venue snacks I've seen though). However, note that only water can be brought into the auditorium, so must consume everything prior to entering. Since the venue itself is quite small, I expect mostly small performances here such as small music artists, recitals, or speakers. However, since the venue is small, viewing of the stage is great from anywhere in the house whether that be on the main floor or upstairs in the balcony or box seats. Seats are comfortable and theater itself is quite clean. I really enjoyed the intimate feel of the concert I attended! Concerts attended here - Tori Kelly read more

I came here tonight to see a live version of my favorite podcast, Terrible, Thanks For Asking, and had a great time. It was really important for me to come see the show and I'm also kind of in love with the host so I set a calendar reminder on my phone 2 months ago to get tickets right when they went on sale because I was worried it would sell out. They did not sell out. In fact, it was very easy for me to get front row tickets and I probably still could have gotten a great seat if I'd just walked up to the ticket window day of... not that that is always the case but I guess I just over-estimated how many people like listening to other people tell gut-wrenching stories about the most traumatic thing that's ever happened to them in their life. Also, worth noting that I don't think there's a bad seat in the theatre so even if you don't set your alarm to go off so you can buy your tickets right as they go on sale, I think you'll still be mighty content with your seat. The theatre isn't huge but you still feel like you've got plenty of space, even in your theatre seat. The outside of the building is right across from City Hall and the inside is immaculate and beautiful. The kind of place that's so pristine it makes you feel like you need to be really quiet when you walk in. I don't know what other types of shows are here but based on the general theatre vibe, my guess would be classy one. The lighting, the sound, the restrooms are all on point and as elegant as you'd expect and even the staff are somehow kinder and more aware of trying to blend in and not interfere with your experience too much. It was really a pleasure to check out and I look forward to seeing more shows here in the future. read more

We attended a one person production here and we're impressed with the comfort and beauty of the theater. The seats are comfortable, legroom is adequate, and the theater is stunningly beautiful! We enjoyed the theater and were delighted to have read in advance that we could bring in water. There is a small chance, however, it is not open in the evening. Restrooms are downstairs. The San Francisco Spinsters' ball was taking place in another part of the building. That added to the old time charm of the evening. read more

For whatever reason, all the family-friendly concerts we've attended in the last year have all been at the Herbst. No problem with that; We're big fans. Though the theater is a little run down in some areas (the balcony box seats need a serious revamp) we love the space itself. What really makes it for me is the beautiful antique molding and the art deco murals from 1915. I just can't stop admiring them (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/LuZPMcW25kLB4QnxSQ-IjQ?select=5T1CAjtAhXK62o6DDAkr7w). At the Herbst we've enjoyed acoustic music from Appalachia, modern dance, a tap dancing revue, and most recently, we enjoyed the Turtle Island String Quartet, which entertained us with Jimi Hendrix covers, selections from Vince Guaraldi's Charlie Brown Christmas, Irish fiddle music, classical pieces and even avant-garde interpretations of Hanukkah songs. Eclectic and enjoyable. Street parking is expensive ($3/hr). The best bet is the performing arts garage just around the corner (360 Grove) which offers a flat rate and piece of mind. read more

Herbst Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

It was the first time I went there for a show. The location was great, just next to San Francisco City Hall with beautiful weather last nigh for outings and cleaned streets around the area! The building is so beautiful and with classic architecture, it is very Grand and open; the seating are comfortable, room to move around. the sound and lighting are good too! I had a great time read more

Herbst Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

Last Friday we trekked into the city by BART to see our favorite baroque orchestra. Yes, there was rioting as we passed by Oakland, but thankfully they closed the Lake Merritt Station for awhile, and we were not effected. I love this theater...it harkens to a time past...when there was not skimping on materials and construction. We sat in the orchestra section this time. The seats were spacious and comfortable. Our neighbors were gracious. The sound was amazing...great acoustics for this type of event. But next time I will wear a much lighter layer because it was also very hot downstairs too. read more

This is perhaps my second time in my whole life that I've been here and it is possible I was here when they had the Ethnic Dance Festival here way back when. The Herbst Theatre re-opened in 2015 following substantial renovation, the venue now boasts improved seating, new stage level dressing rooms, a Performers Lounge and Rehearsal Room. We were here for the last show of Forever Tango and sat in Row F in the balcony. When we first arrived and had to use the restroom on the main floor, there was only the handicapped one in the left hallway available as the regular ladies room was closed. When we entered the theatre, they had men's and women's restrooms in the basement way down the long stairway. For the women's bathrooms there are eight stalls, 4 in each bathroom which is divided into two bathrooms. There are some refreshments available in this basement but we didn't have time to check it out. Sitting in the 2nd to last row in the balcony it was rather cramped and warm but some of us managed to move to the last row to get a better view. It isn't hard to feel warm and sleepy up in the balcony. We got a good deal on the seats which were only $22 each plus a service charge. The murals are beautiful as you can see from my photos. Great job with the renovation. After the show, we discovered there were also restrooms on the second level so it's good to know the next time we are here for a show. Next time, we'll try to get good seats on the main floor. read more

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Beautiful venue. Tip: there are bathrooms on the 2nd floor! Impossible to find taxi's. read more

Had my graduation here! Graduated last year in July from AICASF. Beautiful building inside. read more

This is a very small and intimate venue. It's beautiful inside. We were in the orchestra section off to the left of the stage in row J, seats 1 and 3. It's at a slant, and the seats are staggered. Someone in the row behind us had on so much cologne, perfume, or aftershave??? to the point of nausea, that at intermission we switched to the center orchestra section further back, and had a better view of the stage and of the performers. Fortunately, the show was not to capacity so we were able to make the switch. The seats in the center aren't staggered though. The HVAC makes for a somewhat drafty experience so dress appropriately. read more

I would give Herbst a perfect score... however, when you spent 300 plus wag his on ballet tickets in the winter - the nutcracker- lower orchestra You can only hope and cross finger you don't get a tall or big person in front of you ! Omg! The seats need to be redesigned to be set at a more vertical slant to accommodate ... we were 4th row and couldn't see the stage as we were at the same angle as the first three rows, with big adults My 9 year old niece could barely see the performance . London ballet theater is amazingly designed to accommodate those variations . The herbst is gorgeous and iconic , but ground floor seats need redesign.,,,, read more

This about as classy an event venue as you're gonna find in SF (or anywhere else, for that matter). I came here recently for the Bay Area Saucy Awards (for restaurant excellence). The award ceremony was held in the theater (which resembles a European opera house). And the after-party/reception was held upstairs. The event organizers made great use of the space. There were multiple bars throughout the room, various food stations, and plenty of passed apps courtesy of friendly servers. In my humble opinion, the best part of the whole venue is the outdoor balcony where you can overlook City Hall in all its illuminated glory. That spectacular view of San Francisco just can't be beat. If you're looking to host a grand gala, a wedding, an awards show, or a corporate party... the Herbst Theater should be on the top of your list. read more