San Francisco Carousel

3.5 (33 reviews)

Performing Arts

Closed • 10:00 am - 9:00 pm

Updated 3 weeks ago

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San Francisco Carousel - Rude and racist operator - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

San Francisco Carousel - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

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San Francisco Carousel - Carousel - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Savannah R.

I visited the SF Carousel on Wednesday, 11/30/22. One ticket per person was $7. My friend and I decided to get on the carousel together. It was nice because we had the carousel all to ourselves. We decided to go to the top level. The ride was about 3-5 minutes. Overall, we enjoyed the ride and had a fun time.

Denny H.

This operate was rude and racist. The sign says riders under 42" tall need to be accompanied. My cousin from Taiwan accompanied her son on the carousel- and this man said she needed a ticket (we bought her son a ticket). She said she's accompanying her son, and he then rudely made some comment that along the lines of "I told her in English." WHAT kind of racist remark was that? Her English isn't perfect, but you don't say that to me.

Cris I.

Have I ever ridden a carousel in my life? Growing up in a small town back home which was devoid of any amusement parks, I only saw carousels quite a few times during the town fiesta. I don't think I have ever ridden one. However, I'm always been amused by the colorful Lights and paints of a carousel or merry-go-round. San Francisco is Home to several iconic carousels but this one located in pier 39 is the only double-decker carousel. It was originally hand crafted in Italy. The horses and other animals were painted using a sea creature theme. There are also spinning tubs, swings, and benches available. A ride requires tokens to be purchased in advance which costs $5 for one or $10 for three. Although I didn't go for a ride, I enjoyed watching the carousel go round and round. I liked watching little boys and girls having a good time with their parents. I also enjoyed listening to the accompanying music that seemed like soothing sounds to my ears.

Angela D.

The San Francisco Carousel is located inside Pier 39. It is an old school looking carousel with two levels so many people can ride at one time. On the day we were there, the line was short and everyone in line was able to board at once. There are moving pieces, non-moving and benches on the carousel. Before you ride, you need to buy a token. The tokens can be bought from the machines right in front of the carousel. The cost is $5 for one token or $10 for three. Parents are not free and do need a token. There is a separate card slot for each option so be careful because I saw multiple people accidentally swipe their card and get three tokens rather than one. The carousel is cool but I do think it is overpriced, even for the location.

Ashley D.

This carousel is located on Pier 39. It is located towards the end of the pier. First, before riding you will need to purchase a token. One token is $5 and three for $10. Depending on how many tokens you want you put your card in the corresponding credit card slot. Well, I didn't realize this and bought three tokens. Since I had three tokens I decided to ride one time with my son and let him ride twice. Note, parents are not free even if accompanying a small child. The carousel itself is very nice. It looks like they tried to recreate an old carousel but to be honest on the inside all of the should be paintings look like plastic which was a slight let down. The carousel is in very nice condition and all of the animals looked nice. My son loved the carousel and would ride as many times as I would have let him. The carousel was a nice attraction to visit on the Pier. I believe the price is about on par with other carousels in tourist attractions but at least at other locations the parents can ride with their small kids.

Omer K.

What is not to like about a carousel? Doesnt matter if you are kid or a grown up, there is no shame on this. I gladly paid my $7 and had my own share of fun as a 37 year old and it was probably the best thing I did all day. $7 well spent!

Lynae W.

Is it me or is this the fastest Carousel EVER!?!? Looking past the fact that it costs $5.00 per person...even for adults who are just standing and taking pics, after all this is Fisherman's Wharf/ Pier 39. The kiddos loved it!! And wanted to ride again & again & again. The adults actually got alittle dizzy during the ride....not sure if it waa due to speed of the ride or the fact that we were on the 2nd level. It was fun none the lessw and worth it to see the kids soooo excited!!!

Jeffrey S.

Horses and rabbits and magical creatures, bobbing up and down, always chasing each other around and around over two stories. Red and turquoise and once-white, and yellow glow of dim lights under a sky, shadows dashing frantically and melting into pavement under store lights. The air, scented with seawater; the salty water wafting into the pier and painting the aroma with soft, pungent smells on the breeze. Wine on the breath of your friends, perfume, overpriced food sending out amazing olfactory treasures of beckoning. The sounds of the carousel twirling, a double decker steady pump of ups and downs, a show at the stage, people walking with the clickity clack of tourist to-dos. People laughing, joking, plotting, discovering, jabbering, and then falling silent in unburdened bliss.

Stacey I.

I never get tired of this carousel or atleast stopping by to look at it when it is lit up at night. I am currently 18 and i still have no shame in admitting that i love this carousel so WHAT lmao. It goes around for a decent amount of time, there is plenty of space, and cute characterized rides to choose from.

Lempi M.

2 stories!!!! This is perfectly situated among throngs of unattractive middle Americans to give it a freakish carnival feel all year round. 3 for a ride or 2 for 5 bucks. Bring a friend!

this seal is giving me the side eye from hell

Olivia O.

Came here in the evening on a cold Sunday night a few weeks ago. I had to get on for old times sake. It was open and not a soul in line for a ride. I paid for my ticket and jumped aboard - a whole carousel ride to myself. I went to the upper deck and rode on what appeared to be a leopard seal. I could see all the shops, the city in the distance covered lightly in fog, the shoppers moving around with pieces of bread and hot chocolates. It was so sweet. If you want a little twist, come here in the evening and enjoy the pier by moonlight. Definitely a great time for a lonely carousel ride. I took pictures of all the different animals I saw, so check them out - they include a ride-able panda, a mer-horse, a dragon, a sassy looking seal, and your run of the mill ponies.

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Alyssa A.

Elite 26

177

1160

1991

3 months ago

Always a classic when visiting Pier 39, this double decker Carousel is fun for both adults and children. Pick your animal of choice, and enjoy the spin. Wish you could get a better view of the bay when riding it, but it's still a nice time. Definitely pricey for a ride - I believe it was $9/person to ride, which was definitely a little pricey. Not to mention not all of the "horses" worked properly, so I ended up on a panda that was broken. Overall, it's a nice Carousel, but it can definitely add up if you're coming with a family. read more

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Diana R.

Elite 26

27

173

176

5 months ago

Not impressed with the experience here at all. Brought my out of towner visitor to the Fisherman Wharf and pre-purchased a ticket for a three year old via Groupon (a lot cheaper btw). It did say that kids under 42" need an adult to accompany them, but I figured just like every other carousel that the parent doesn't need a ticket. When I got up to the booth the guy said I needed to get an extra ticket for the accompanying adult, I was shocked but didn't say anything just got a $9 ticket for the adult. They went ahead took the Groupon ticket for the kid and the $9 ticket for the adult and let them board. Once they were on the carousel another employee told them they needed another ticket. What?? My niece doesn't speak English very well so she wasn't real sure what they were saying. I don't know if they decided to let it go or if they finally figured out their mistake, but whatever. I personally won't be giving them any more of my money. read more

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Cale N.

0

4

4 months ago

Good ride however, the main attendant at the front smelled like he hadn't taken a shower in weeks! Black hair, about 5'9 wearing a hat and sunglasses that reminded me of Johnny Depp read more

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Shar M.

Elite 26

392

517

1475

2 years ago

Found this magical relic on Yelp and it was everything it was cracked up to be! A historical piece of living art imported from Italy all the way to San Francisco. So many beautifully painted animals to choose from. A unique and wonderful ride on the pier- I highly recommend! read more

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Savannah R.

Elite 26 All-Star

182

953

3831

3 years ago

I visited the SF Carousel on Wednesday, 11/30/22. One ticket per person was $7. My friend and I decided to get on the carousel together. It was nice because we had the carousel all to ourselves. We decided to go to the top level. The ride was about 3-5 minutes. Overall, we enjoyed the ride and had a fun time. read more

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Denny H.

220

119

110

3 years ago

This operate was rude and racist. The sign says riders under 42" tall need to be accompanied. My cousin from Taiwan accompanied her son on the carousel- and this man said she needed a ticket (we bought her son a ticket). She said she's accompanying her son, and he then rudely made some comment that along the lines of "I told her in English." WHAT kind of racist remark was that? Her English isn't perfect, but you don't say that to me. read more

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Cris I.

Elite 26

1066

1584

21983

7 years ago

Have I ever ridden a carousel in my life? Growing up in a small town back home which was devoid of any amusement parks, I only saw carousels quite a few times during the town fiesta. I don't think I have ever ridden one. However, I'm always been amused by the colorful Lights and paints of a carousel or merry-go-round. San Francisco is Home to several iconic carousels but this one located in pier 39 is the only double-decker carousel. It was originally hand crafted in Italy. The horses and other animals were painted using a sea creature theme. There are also spinning tubs, swings, and benches available. A ride requires tokens to be purchased in advance which costs $5 for one or $10 for three. Although I didn't go for a ride, I enjoyed watching the carousel go round and round. I liked watching little boys and girls having a good time with their parents. I also enjoyed listening to the accompanying music that seemed like soothing sounds to my ears. read more

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Julienne R.

107

69

15

2 years ago

It's $7 each for five minutes (regardless of age), and the people operating the carousel are super rude. Terrible human beings. Avoid this place. read more

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Lucas A.

1

14

11

2 years ago

It was a 5/5. The ride was great. I am glad that the ride opened. It has great service and scenery. The only bad thing is that it required tickets to get on it. read more

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Angela D.

Elite 26

461

884

9899

9 years ago

The San Francisco Carousel is located inside Pier 39. It is an old school looking carousel with two levels so many people can ride at one time. On the day we were there, the line was short and everyone in line was able to board at once. There are moving pieces, non-moving and benches on the carousel. Before you ride, you need to buy a token. The tokens can be bought from the machines right in front of the carousel. The cost is $5 for one token or $10 for three. Parents are not free and do need a token. There is a separate card slot for each option so be careful because I saw multiple people accidentally swipe their card and get three tokens rather than one. The carousel is cool but I do think it is overpriced, even for the location. read more

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Jack R.

Elite 26 All-Star

2945

2759

5620

7 years ago

Rude staff and $5 per ride, um, no thanks. Don't get me wrong this is a beautiful carousel in a prime location but man these people suck. So the guy who was working there should find another job, preferably away from people. A woman said her child lost her toy on tge ride and asked if she could go in and look for it. The employee said she would have to pay another $5 to go inside and look. Um....WTF? Have you no heart? The ride lasts about 3 minutes and it goes by pretty quickly. The ride is better after a couple of drinks that's for sure. Beautiful whatf scenary. But, man, because of the staff here it makes me want to give this place 2 stars. By the way, the woman didn't want to pay the $5, and I guess she never did find her child's toy. Super sad. read more

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Ashley D.

Elite 26

138

905

8724

9 years ago

This carousel is located on Pier 39. It is located towards the end of the pier. First, before riding you will need to purchase a token. One token is $5 and three for $10. Depending on how many tokens you want you put your card in the corresponding credit card slot. Well, I didn't realize this and bought three tokens. Since I had three tokens I decided to ride one time with my son and let him ride twice. Note, parents are not free even if accompanying a small child. The carousel itself is very nice. It looks like they tried to recreate an old carousel but to be honest on the inside all of the should be paintings look like plastic which was a slight let down. The carousel is in very nice condition and all of the animals looked nice. My son loved the carousel and would ride as many times as I would have let him. The carousel was a nice attraction to visit on the Pier. I believe the price is about on par with other carousels in tourist attractions but at least at other locations the parents can ride with their small kids. read more

San Francisco Carousel - Inside roof picture - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

San Francisco Carousel - Inside picture on the roof - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Omer K.

0

35

50

5 years ago

What is not to like about a carousel? Doesnt matter if you are kid or a grown up, there is no shame on this. I gladly paid my $7 and had my own share of fun as a 37 year old and it was probably the best thing I did all day. $7 well spent! read more

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Lynae W.

Elite 21

87

234

1211

8 years ago

Is it me or is this the fastest Carousel EVER!?!? Looking past the fact that it costs $5.00 per person...even for adults who are just standing and taking pics, after all this is Fisherman's Wharf/ Pier 39. The kiddos loved it!! And wanted to ride again & again & again. The adults actually got alittle dizzy during the ride....not sure if it waa due to speed of the ride or the fact that we were on the 2nd level. It was fun none the lessw and worth it to see the kids soooo excited!!! read more

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Jeffrey S.

Elite 26

3071

2527

8089

11 years ago

Horses and rabbits and magical creatures, bobbing up and down, always chasing each other around and around over two stories. Red and turquoise and once-white, and yellow glow of dim lights under a sky, shadows dashing frantically and melting into pavement under store lights. The air, scented with seawater; the salty water wafting into the pier and painting the aroma with soft, pungent smells on the breeze. Wine on the breath of your friends, perfume, overpriced food sending out amazing olfactory treasures of beckoning. The sounds of the carousel twirling, a double decker steady pump of ups and downs, a show at the stage, people walking with the clickity clack of tourist to-dos. People laughing, joking, plotting, discovering, jabbering, and then falling silent in unburdened bliss. read more

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James P.

Elite 23

374

278

385

4 years ago

The ride is super short, I think we literally stayed on for 3 minutes tops. The ride itself was $7 I believe. The good news was there was no wait on a Saturday night which was amazing. The live entertainment was nice to see in the area. I probably could pass on the carousel in the future but it's good for little kids if ur with them. read more

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Stacey I.

Elite 26

110

707

5484

9 years ago

I never get tired of this carousel or atleast stopping by to look at it when it is lit up at night. I am currently 18 and i still have no shame in admitting that i love this carousel so WHAT lmao. It goes around for a decent amount of time, there is plenty of space, and cute characterized rides to choose from. read more

San Francisco Carousel - Carousel lit up at night - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Melissa R.

Elite 26

197

238

107

7 years ago

Fantastic! Totally California and smack dab in the middle of the pier. Pay at the machine that takes cards or cash and it's a great double decker with almost no line. read more

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Lempi M.

Elite 16

477

446

494

14 years ago

2 stories!!!! This is perfectly situated among throngs of unattractive middle Americans to give it a freakish carnival feel all year round. 3 for a ride or 2 for 5 bucks. Bring a friend! read more

San Francisco Carousel - Stairs to deck 2 - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Olivia O.

Elite 16

364

307

612

12 years ago

Came here in the evening on a cold Sunday night a few weeks ago. I had to get on for old times sake. It was open and not a soul in line for a ride. I paid for my ticket and jumped aboard - a whole carousel ride to myself. I went to the upper deck and rode on what appeared to be a leopard seal. I could see all the shops, the city in the distance covered lightly in fog, the shoppers moving around with pieces of bread and hot chocolates. It was so sweet. If you want a little twist, come here in the evening and enjoy the pier by moonlight. Definitely a great time for a lonely carousel ride. I took pictures of all the different animals I saw, so check them out - they include a ride-able panda, a mer-horse, a dragon, a sassy looking seal, and your run of the mill ponies. read more

San Francisco Carousel - this seal is giving me the side eye from hell - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

San Francisco Carousel - panda - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

San Francisco Carousel - pony and a giant hare - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

San Francisco Carousel - part dragon, part horse - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

San Francisco Carousel - merhorse - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

San Francisco Carousel - seal - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Fiona C.

479

2

1

9 years ago

Tripped up and down the stairs to the second floor. The panda I sat down on was dirtied & soiled with human excrements. Not to mention the cost -- I am a college student with a quarter million US dollars in student loans. Why would I, an intellectual, pay five US dollars to ride on a children's theme park attraction? Alas, capitalism has driven me to such behavior. Disgraceful, Pier 39. read more

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Ben H.

Elite 26

353

421

504

10 years ago

Fantastic work on this 2 level carousel. Very beautiful and it costs five bucks per ride or ten dollars for the rides. It's nestled in the back of Pier 39. Clean, and it's a great relaxing couple minutes while you escape into a wonderland of mystical creatures before you get back to the waves of monstrous tourists that are everywhere you look. read more

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Rafa G.

46

11

4

6 years ago

I do not recomand this place !!!!!! The stuff is very rude, they make my 4 years old to cry, that supposed to be a happy place for kids, I will never go to that place anymore and I recommend to everyone to avoid, the owner of the place must train those guys and keep that place clean !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! read more

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Gitanjali R.

3

10

0

6 years ago

TERRRIBLE EXPERIENCE. STAY CLEAR OF THIS TOURIST TRAP Very rude to customers. Juliana at the entrance insisted that I needed to pay when my daughter is clearly under 42 inches. Lot of eye rolling and shrugging shoulders. Absolutely no interest I in providing a pleasant experience. The carousel itself is-disgustingly dirty and absolutely not worth the $10 I had to shell out. A word for the business owners - if you're fleecing customers why don't you invest in some customer service lessons for your terrible staff? Also invest in a cleaner for your disgustingly dirty carousel. Yuck. What a terrible experience. Thanks for ruining such a nice day for us. read more

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Kate V.

Elite 17

52

137

48

10 years ago

The carousel is located at the end of Pier 39, and is a great attraction if you've ever wanted to ride a seahorse, panda bear, or squid. It also has a spinning tea cup, and a rocking sea shell. It's a double decker, so the view from the second deck is very fun. It's $5 a ride, or $10 for three rides. We had six of us, so it was $20. The only drawback is there isn't the typical circus/carousel organ music. Instead it's top 40 pop. Beautifully maintained. If you try to find the squid, look under the stairs. It's well hidden. read more

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Julia J.

Elite 21

1028

475

703

12 years ago

Cute. Clean. Horses have crimped tails. On lookers gawking and smiling at us while we cuddled in a booth seat, probably thinking our children were somewhere onboard. Nope... just us. 2 grown adults, enjoying each other and being spontaneous. I felt bad for the other couples on the ground just watching... they would have had a great time too and 40 years from now could have said, "remember that one time in San Francisco when we rode the carousel". read more

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Georgette E.

1

77

11

12 years ago

The five stars aren't necessary for the comfort level of the horses but then again - I'm not sure they were meant for tall adults :D! The rating is for the enjoyment! I convinced my boyfriend to ride with me yesterday and we had a blast! It's been years since I've ridden a carousel and this was the one to ride. It was great to be able to see all the people walking/standing around as we laughed during the ride. The cost is one ride for $3 or 2 for $5 (but you need a $5 bill). It was worth the short ride with my boo :) Take some time and enjoy the ride! read more

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Brenda H.

25

9

0

8 years ago

If I can give this place zero stars then it's what they deserve. The employees are rude and was unwilling to let my 4 yr old ride by herself without a paying adult to stand next to her. When I complained to Sabrina, she threatened to call security! WTH?!? Is this how you treat your customers when I just paid to buy 3 tokens for my 3 kids??? And then she's unwilling to let my little girl ride with my 12-yr old kids! I hope the management reads this and realize what a money grubbing business they're running. read more

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Robby F.

0

29

6

9 years ago

These people are thieves! I wanted to take my 18-month old daughter for a ride and bought one token ($5). Then was denied access, because I needed 2(???!!!) tokens... Of course I wasn't gonna pay $10 for one round, but guess what: no refunds! This is absolutely ridiculous and completely ruined our Fisherman's Wharf experience. I would give this place -5 stars if Yelp would have allowed me to. read more

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Karin T.

Elite 5

321

36

4

20 years ago

Wow! This is the best carousel in San Francisco and possibly on the West Coast. It is the only carousel I have ever seen with two levels. Unlike most carousels, the horses don't just go up and down, but some of them rock back and forth or rear back on their hind legs. There are seats that spin around like the tea cups at Disneyland and benches that swing. The horses are smaller than those on most carousels--just the right size for kids. It is expensive at $3 per person, but the ride lasts about 4 minutes (twice as long as most) so it's worth it. read more

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Tina M.

24

26

0

8 years ago

I can give one star even the staff are there so rude , untrained only think about money nothing else I had question guy name Terry hope they gave me right name he was black young guy doesn't have any respect to parents.i was so upset we paid $20 for 2 ride which is so expensive. read more

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Miss D.

55

58

30

11 years ago

I would have gave it 5 stars but under the stairs they have went to carousel to get you to the second level had a bunch of visible boxes. It made it look raggedy, definitely should I had like some type of draping or had it removed completely. My daughter loved it we went on it about 3 times. read more

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Jacqueline G.

4

0

16 years ago

This carousel is awesome! Great customer service and clean. There are also these amazing scenic pictures of sf painted inside the top of the carousel. Its a must see! read more

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More info about San Francisco Carousel

39 Pier
Ste 39
San Francisco, CA 94133
Fisherman's Wharf, North Beach/Telegraph Hill
Directions
Visit Website
https://www.pier39.com/attraction/san-francisco-carousel/

Hours

What time does San Francisco Carousel open?

San Francisco Carousel opens at 10:00 AM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday, Friday and Saturday.

What time does San Francisco Carousel close?

San Francisco Carousel closes at 8:00 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday.San Francisco Carousel closes at 9:00 PM on Friday and Saturday.

Mon-Thu, Sun 10:00 AM - 8:00 PMFri-Sat 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Other Amenities

Does San Francisco Carousel have free WiFi?

Yes, San Francisco Carousel has free WiFi.

Review Highlights - San Francisco Carousel

“If you want a little twist, come here in the evening and enjoy the pier by moonlight.”

Mentioned in 10 reviews

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Cheaper Than Therapy

4.8(756 reviews)

1.5 mi•Union Square

•$

Locally owned & operated

Established in 2013

I travel to SF for work regularly, and I often stay at the Grand Hyatt just a block away. I was…read morehere for the long weekend and have been in a bit of a valley in terms of happiness in my life recently. I decided to head over for the Sunday night "cheaper Than Therapy" show on my own to try to pick myself up. I grabbed a liter of beer () from the bar and then we all crammed into the main stage, which was very intimate and cozy. I laughed and laughed and laughed, and I can genuinely say that I feel much better about things after going there tonight. The staff and host were all great. I think I'll make this a regular habit from now on when I visit SF. Rob.

My husband and I I saw a Friday night late show. Each of the 6 comedians were very funny. There are…read more2 reasons for the 4/5 review: The comedians , although creative and intelligent, all made multiple ageist jokes. My husband and I are cool, fun people in our 60's ... guess it's easier to punch down. Anyway, I still recommend the show. The second reason is that my drink, a manhattan, was terrible. It tasted so watered down that I would have brought it back to the bar if it wasn't so crowded.

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Smile, laugh, and enjoy yourself at Cheaper Than Therapy

Scott Simpson, one of the co-producers

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Everyone has a blast!

Boxcar Theatre

4.6(75 reviews)

0.9 mi•North Beach/Telegraph Hill, Russian Hill

Went to the popup Nightmare on Franklin St. (wrote a separate review just for the popup). Please…read moresee my review NightmareSF- also on yelp. Rather than duplicate that I will summarize- Not One Person who attend from my group enjoyed it and would not return again to another performance.

CLUE Jan 12 thru Feb 2011 - THE BOXCAR winter 11 show…read more CLUE: Directors Peter Matthews & Nick A. Olivero have a brilliant show - sure to sell out - so buy up all these goldstar seats if you can find any.. this is truly a charm to sit above the amazing wiz of a CLUE GAME Board designed by co director Olivero . his vision of hosting the game watcher above the set is epic .. as if we are part of a Harry Potter broom fight ,, we are instead a sit a top of a game of CLUE. The adapted script moves fast and is very fun mixing in many of the key lines from the film and more. A great cast of SF locals better players all move at the speed of this game plan - The Butler brilliantly played by Brian Martin - holds the game board together with the most script tied to his role. Sarah Savage, Linnea George-Kupferand, Justin Liszanke keep the game rolling with some very funny comic timing linked to the many roles that Adam Simpson is cast as his every role true to the game and killings. J. Conrad Frank the queen on he board spins his skirt as the dice is tossed and is hilarious as the bodies fly. Besides the dead dummies as they pile up, the true star of this play is the set. The audience is lifted above the game board to see the whole 90 min event unfold - its a great night of Black box theatre in SF - not to be missed and is most likely sold out ,, I hope you get to see it. CLUE is the best .. V

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Rent Boy Ave. - July 16 to August 8, 2009

Hedwig and the Angry Inch

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Bobby Conte Thornton and Lili Weckler in EQUUS

San Francisco Playhouse

4.4(349 reviews)

1.5 mi•Union Square

Such a great venue for a small, local theatre!…read more There is no bad seat in here. It's intimate and fun. Their shows have no business being that good. Bathrooms are clean and service is wonderful. I love the space--it's located upstairs in a hotel near Union Square. Support local theatre! Audience skews older. I think they need to market to younger people on social media more.

I discovered this charming little theatre by accident when I saw that "M. Butterfly" (Madame…read moreButterfly) was playing here for a whole week during a very convenient time. I had always wanted to see this classic story on stage so I jumped at the opportunity. It is a small theatre so chances of a sold out show is high; definitely purchase tickets early. It is a small theatre hidden within the Kensington hotel on the second floor. There is a small bar area on the main floor of the theatre. Bathrooms were nice and clean. The front row of the balcony are the best seats and offers a perfect view of the stage; you can see everything as well as have a clear view of the actors' faces and the emotions. I think any row beyond the accessible seats you might have some obstruction from heads and may need to lean forward a little to see what's happening. I'd love to see more shows here. M. Butterfly had an excellent cast. The play was moving and enhanced so much history, culture, politics, romance, drama, gender, and sexuality.

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Stage and playbill

Show posters for Flex

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All Gender Bathrooms on the 3rd Floor

Twisted Cabaret

4.5(15 reviews)

1.0 mi•Chinatown

Malady: Somber existence…read more Rx: Take two - three alcoholic drinks approximately 60 minutes before showtime. Possible Side Effects: * Hooting, hollering, and cheering at the onstage performance; * Riotous guffaws; * Both hands peeking out through shielded eyeballs during disturbing balloon-dental floss act; and * Amused laughter 24 hours post-show when recalling the tongue act. In a perfect mash-up of event and venue, Twisted Cabaret is currently being staged at Chinatown's long-shuttered, seedily hip, one-time airer of un-subtitled Bruce Lee films, the Great Star Theatre. Best ticket deals are through Goldstar.com where, for $16 apiece (including Goldstar fees), a laissez faire seating policy allows one to "sit anywhere except the first 4 rows". Watch the show and breathe a sigh of relief; seating within the first four rows might land you onstage, an unwitting participant in some humbling (and hysterical) part of the stage show. Alcoholic drinks are available for purchase in the theatre as is popcorn and cotton candy with a glow-stick center. The show is adult oriented but there's nothing there that wouldn't slay a teen or make you too uncomfortable if you were were sitting beside your own teenage offspring. Laughter is indeed the best medicine and laugh you will. The alcohol greases the wheels, so to speak. As a friend put it "I'm not sure I would've liked it as well without having drank first". So party on. Still not convinced? There's a tongue act. I rest my case.

A combination of circus, magic show, standup comedy and few other genres for which no name yet…read moreexists. Amazingly multi-talented performer! The jokes are somewhat crude, at times somewhat gross, yet really funny. I laughed to tears. Certainly recommend it!

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Great show, laughed until my face hurt Support live theatre and check it out!

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Dark Kabaret

4.5(15 reviews)

1.0 mi•Chinatown

What a great show! Had acrobatics, comedy and originality. Not sure if it was necessary for the…read morenude guy to run around for 5 minutes, but then it is SF

I of course love Paul Nathan to death and he is one great guy, producer and magician…read more As someone who has been working out of the Climate Theater for over three years? I can easily say that the Climate Theater is the textbook idea of what you would consider "Alternative Spaces" Form Improv Comedy to underground fair...from Beckett to Brassieres and Corsets, you never know what is going to be at The Climate Next. The space is intimate but the stage is surprisingly lush for a small theater. The sound and lights are top rate, and the Cabaret colors makes you feel like you have walked into 1899. Only one star off for the sometimes unfortunate bouncing of the floor from the very loud Shadow Lounge during performances...but overall the Climate is a place to show someone who has never been to San Francisco what the real word "Underground" means.

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Paul Nathan hosting Dark Kabaret with Eric McFadden and company.

The Bubblesmith is delightful.

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The Lost Church - San Francisco

4.8(44 reviews)

0.5 mi•Russian Hill, North Beach/Telegraph Hill

•$

Great comedy show! The ambiance was also nice in a good location of SF. I would recommend this spot.read more

If the Lost Church was running out of his house(Brett) on Capp St in the Mission...isn't that the…read moreChapel? Chapel and Lost Church..haha..creative space for music and presentation..did you really connect to somebody that presented a show? It's a big city..is that your excuse all the time..well at least I could be entertained and then at Vesuvio there was not much for me.. List of events every night..in Santa Rosa too? First time visit...

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This is their top shelf, and most expensive drinks. All the other beverages are less expensive.

Just a random table decoration

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Great Star Theater

4.2(110 reviews)

1.0 mi•Chinatown

Great theatre with original SF shows in Chinatown, but close to North Beach so can enjoy both areas…read morebefore or after the show. Really like the originality of it, wish the seats were a bit more comfortable. Easy parking at Portsmouth Square Garage, $8 after 5 pm at the time of this writing.

An entertaining, well written, produced, and executed show! Also in an iconic and perfectly…read moresituated venue. Absolutely loved the production of Pink Puma.

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Love this iconic theatre

Heavenly musicians!

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Inside

Bohemian Club

4.2(24 reviews)

1.6 mi•Lower Nob Hill, Union Square

•$$$$

I know more members than you'd think (one came to my wedding and is a well-known political…read morecommentator, no names) and hear stories from The Grove. I can't say anymore, it's all in the vault. The club is beautiful.

"Conspiracy Theorists, come not here". A club shrouded in secrecy and mystery, they are owners of…read moreBohemian Grove the location where Alex Jones and other conspiracy theorists claim Moloch worship, children sacrifice, and Illuminati-level new world order planning among elites. The truth, while mundane, is probably much more interesting. Started by newspapermen and artists at the turn of the century, a going-away party turned into an artsy parody of secret societies that eventually became a "secret society". Their exclusivity eventually attracted the Rich which the Artists needed to fund their ideas and experiences. Their quote about weaving spiders is from Shakespeare, their owl statue is the Owl of Bohemia and not some satanic god. You can easily find accounts of the Bohemian Grove from "inside-scoops" from service people who have worked there, you can look through the pictures here and read the reviews to find out more about the club. Located on Post street, its a beautiful old red-brick building covered in vines, many people walk right past it because nothing about it sticks out. You cannot get in unless you are a member or a guest so it's a quick 5 minute stop for the curious. There is a mysterious black and white owl tile wall with owl statues right on the corner of Post across from this building, not sure if its also part of the Bohemian-club.

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The esteemed Bohemian Club

Motto from "Midsummer's Night's Dream"..

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Leave your business outside- and keep secrets in the vault

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Grace G.

42

5

11

4 years ago

It's good location for stay half day. We have been to Fog harbor fish house & some little fancy shops & Carousel. And enjoy a sunset in there. This carousel looks very new & beautiful. Like it a lot. High recommend. read more

Charles P.

0

1

0

16 years ago

This is a very special carousel. A bit more money but really worth it. The seats gyrate in different ways. And the kids love the unique, beutiful seats read more

Cathaleya C.

Elite 12

47

303

40

14 years ago

Second time here in eight years...