4/8/2026 was my first time returning to the Guild as a concert venue, I've only ever been to it as a movie theater in the 1990's-2000's. We saw Gary Numan with Tremours as the opening band. Tickets were very expensive, and General Admission/standing areas were sort of confusing and severely limited. There were very few places to stand in order to get a good view of the bands and it was pretty uncomfortable to stand in a tiny spot for hours. Luckily, the staff here is amazing. They were personably, approachable, helpful, polite, and friendly, unlike snobby & distant staff at most concert venues in SF, Oakland, Berkeley, and San Jose. Even the security team was pretty nice, which goes a long way to making a concert experience pleasant. Bartenders were nice too, along with the ushers & box office people. We arrived early and a few of the ushers helped advise us on where we were allowed to stand as G/A to give us the best views. Downstairs is a mess of packed human bodies, limited space, and poor views, so we tried our luck and found a decent space upstairs to camp out at. We had a good view of the stage and weren't smothered by a bunch of Gen X'ers & Boomers. The theater is beautiful and nicely updated from what I remember. It is clean, and the floors, tables, bathrooms, foyer, seats, and stairs are very new, and made to look vintage. Nice touch. Capacity is around 500 people, and this show was nearly sold out. It got very hot, humid, and uncomfortable about 1/2 way through the concert, I think they need to update the HVAC system here, or at least have some fans or A/C. The fire alarm went off probably due to the heat, fog, and humidity of the sweaty crowd. But, it was turned off, and the show went on. Sound system was not the best. Music & vocals were not crystal clear and everything sound slightly muffled. Lighting was good, powerful, and bright, to the point that I became a bit photosensitive along the way, and had to put on my sunglasses to keep from becoming dizzy. Volume was good, not too loud, but I elected to wear earplugs anyways to preserve my hearing. Drink prices are on par with most live entertainment venues, which means incredibly high. $20 for 20oz beers & $20 for cocktails. Adding to the high cost of entry/tickets to the show, this venue became almost unaffordable. It's probably not a big deal to people from Atherton, Woodside, Los Altos, Saratoga, and Portola Valley, but I can't afford these prices. I still had a great time here. I just wish they had better G/A standing area options with better views for those who can't afford the $$$ reserved/VIP seating. Space is limited and oddly configured, hard to get a comfortable place to stand & get a good view, and ticket prices along with drink prices are for the richer crowd. But, the space is beautiful, clean, and intimate, and a great place to see a show. Don't wear too much clothing to come to a show here. It gets very hot & humid, and you will be packed in with a lot of sweaty people. And the sound system should be improved for more clarity & better quality. But, the Guild is a great local venue to see live music. It is clean, staff are wonderful, and location is very convenient for those of us living on the Peninsula. Easy to get to whether taking the train or driving, and there are a lot of restaurants nearby in the downtown area. Prices are not affordable for everyone though, maybe just the rich(er) techies & finance crowd. I'd love to see the Guild evolve a bit on the accessibility & affordability aspect to become a Bay Area destination to all for good, live music. They do line up a lot of 80's bands here, so if you are a fan of that era, make sure to check out the Guild Theater in Menlo Park, CA. We will already be back later this month to see Flock of Seagulls. Now thst I know how this place operates, I will have a better plan to find a good place to be inside to enjoy the show. I will definitely leave my jacket at home, and bring my sunglasses & earplugs again, and I hope to have an even better experience next time! read more

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Your GA ticket won't get you to the stage anymore. You have to buy the more expensive golden circle bullsht ticket. I was early thinking I could go by the stage like before. GA tickets area is 20 feet away by the rails and it got tight while the golden BS ticket have plenty of room left. Disappointing experience. read more

I hate to complain again but there are no more "open seats" even at the bar. Now they have moved them to a paid area that will cost you $250 for the night. So if you go here and did not reserve an $$$ seat expect to be standing room only for your 4-5 hour show. If you really need to sit down you can go outside and sit on the sidewalk. That's it. When I called BS on this with one of the servers was told "Nobody has free seats, you have to pay to sit. That's how concerts are" Bullshit. I go to plenty of live music venues that if you get there a little early you can usually find a seat to chill. Unfortunately this place has turned into a money grab. I thought this place was about supporting live music. You guys suck. read more

I haven't been here since high school. Last night we went to see the Strangelove Tour and Honestly it was great. The sound was perfect. Small venue but really nice. No bad seats here. It was a bit crowded but that's to be expected . Bathrooms were clean and staff was really friendly. Bar had a great selection of drinks and beer. We will definitely go back. read more

The Guild Theatre - Strangelove tour - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Menlo Park, California

I've been to this theater twice. First time was for a Grease movie screening and the second time was to see Andy Bell of Erasure preform last week. What a great venue! Small and intimate but not too small. I wouldn't hesitate to see any show here. No matter where you stand or sit, you're going to have a great view! The staff is amazing! The venue is newly refurbished and refurbishment is awesome! Very clean and organized. The other night was possibly a sold-out show and with three bartenders on the lower level. I didn't wait too long to get my drink. This place is totally on my radar. I actually missed a few great shows there due to the fact that I work nights a lot. But I would not hesitate to see more events and shows at this wonderful venue! read more

The Guild Theatre - Andy Bell of Erasure. - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Menlo Park, California

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It's a beautiful theatre. I enjoyed the intimate setting and the decor. But, it's EXPENSIVE. Starting with the tickets (which go into the hundreds of dollars for bands that had three hits in the 90s), and ending with the $20 plastic cups of beer. I saw one of my favorite artists for the eighth time here last weekend. The energy was horribly low (except for the one guy who could obviously afford a bunch of $20 beers and really warned to be part of the show). In fact, the artist ended his set after only one hour and eight minutes. In the other seven times I've seen him, he's never played less than an hour and a half. I don't imagine, with all the other venues about, I'll ever have a reason to go back here. read more

Amazing venue. Small and intimate. Easy to see and navigate around...Venue offers nice mix of shows

Pricey drinks but I can't deny it's a great place. Any place you sit really feels like you're right there with the band. Parking is pretty easy on the street. Even tho they have some really cool shows I've never had a problem with parking not even that far down the street and it's always been free parking. The crowd is great, I come here for the music and end up realizing how awesome the crowd is here. Even tho the drinks are pricey I always get people offering to buy me drinks so it's hard to complain . This is one of those venues that I can count on to have some of those great classic groups that I love. read more

I like what they did with this old movie theater. It's a great place to catch a live up close and personal show. The price is a bit steep especially for a cover band, but worth it when a well known artist is performing. I've been here a couple times, and enjoyed myself for the most part. You do tend to bump into some of that snooty Menlo, Atherton, Palo Alto element. And 20 dollar a beers is pretty outrageous, but when most of your patrons are 1 %'rs why not. They do have some good bands scheduled so I'm sure I'll return, but I'll probably pound a couple brews before hand and avoid their bar all together. Bartenders and staff was welcoming, but 40 bucks for 2 beers, thats half a tank of gas these days, unless you drive a Tesla while boycotting Elon Musk. read more

The Guild is a great venue to see music in an intimate setting, but they have slowly raised prices to the point where it's silly. The tickets were always more expensive for the same bands in other places, but now "GA" is restricted to a smaller area, requiring you to pay much more to access what used to be GA toward the front. And they raised beer prices to $17.50 and now to $20. Those are Chase Center prices. They also charge "service fees" even when you buy tickets at the box office. I've never been to another venue that does that. The biggest shame is that they are drawing bands that used to play at Club Fox in RWC, a fun venue that doesn't gouge its customers. A local venue should not charge large venue ticket and beer prices. I see a lot of shows and have been to the Guild 10-15 times since it opened, but I will have to take a pass going forward. What a bummer. read more

I just went to three shows here in a row The sound is amazing The venue is Beautiful How lucky to have this quality entertainment right in little ole Menlo Park read more

The Guild Theatre - I just went to three shows here in a row and loved everything about the venue sound is amazing - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Menlo Park, California

I arrived at the Guild Theatre to find that my tikets on my phone we're not allowing my entry. I was told to talk to the box office. I received my new tickets although they were not the mezzanine tickets that I purchased these tickets were orchestra with a obstructed view due to the Gold circle customers that were on the floor. instead of telling me, the tickets were not working because of my phone, let me know if you close the mezzanine. And give me an option for a refund overall, this is a great venue and that is why I still give it Four stars. read more

I came here a few months ago for a tribute band's show and it was a great venue! All of the staff, especially security, was very nice, and I really appreciated the bartender being able to make me a mocktail. The inside of the venue is beautiful! I definitely want to go back for a comedy show. Parking is pretty limited, but there are a few small lots in the surrounding area. read more

Do NOT ORDER TIX FOR THIS VENUE WITH TIXR. The Guoid cancelled a show and I never received a refund for my ticket purchase. I started a dispute with my bank and Tixr won't assist if you start a dispute with your bank. TIXR is NOT a reputable ticket service. Beware. read more

The staff was very friendly. The variety of entertainment is impressive. Seeing my favorite bands up close affordably is divine. It's affordable, too. read more

A wonderful gem! Seeing Thievery Corporation here was like being at a high end house concert in someone's large living room with a state of the art sound system and excellent lighting. I'm so glad I discovered the Guild! read more

What an awesome concert venue. It is small and intimate, which is perfect when you are seeing someone you want to really see up close and personal. Standing room only for general admin, which was great, could even dance a little bit. Allen Stone put on an amazing concert and fun was had by all. Great service, clean bathrooms, easy in/out access. Parking wasn't too bad either. Concert was at 8pm and we got there at 7pm. I hope he decides to come back to this venue for many years to come!! read more

The Guild Theatre - Allen Stone - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Menlo Park, California

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Generally have had good experiences there. Did not enjoy lineup of Best of SF Comedy Competition which imo was crass and lowbrow and rather embarrassing to sit through- for the comedians as well as the audience. Seating can be confusing eg if general admission, can you still sit upstairs at tables or in row of seats overlooking stage. Bar area not particularly inviting with plastic cups although nice that water is available for free. read more

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17.50 draft beers That's not a market price We need an alternative It is a nice venue. The sound is good. read more

Amazing venue in the South Bay!!! My last visit was in the 90s to watch a classic B&W movie, it was a lovely old theater but dusty already... The renovation is incredible: the classic outside shell was preserved but it has now a top of the art concert setup! I saw Ozomatli last night: the bomb! What a show, they ignited this place! Menlo Park was floating with the music angels, pure magic! This place is vibrant: my hat's off to the folks who did this renovation and who run the place. I intend to spend a lot more time around! read more

The Guild Theatre - Ozomatli ignited Menlo Park! - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Menlo Park, California

The children needed a place to go for all ages shows, so the millionaires of Menlo Park obliged and turned a sow's ear into a silk purse of a venue. The Guild is absolutely stunning inside - practical and well crafted, from the lavatories and the floors to the incredibly well designed sound experience. The sound is great EVERYWHERE in that venue. Everyone who works there is lovely - and there's heaps of parking. They have a nice mix of acts on their calendar -- you're sure to find something that appeals. Go out and hear some live, local music! read more

I go to A LOT of shows, and this venue was the worst! I paid for a GA ticket, which in all other venues means "standing on the floor". At the Guild, it means "stand in a small space in the back of the first floor OR in the back of the balcony (where you can't see anything)." In order to actually be on the floor, it costs almost $40 more! It was overcrowded and hot. The fire alarm was set off by the fog machine. The band was great, but I'll be avoiding this place from now on. read more

Very excited about the opportunities here. Don't know how long they've been open but I'll surely be back. Had an incredible time. Sound: amazing Environment: amazing Location: great Ticket price: amazing (loved the waitlist option) Drink price: All in all it was a great place to go. I know it's a lot to ask for dive drink prices. Also didn't see any food. There's only so much a place can do, I get it. But would prefer to tip more but when drinks are what they are it's hard. Definitely will be back. Just prepared to pregame at the car ‍. Hope they keep getting great shows. The venue size is incredible. I'd pay more to see my favorite bands there. read more

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This venue is awesome! Had the pleasure of being able to attend a show tonight at the Guild. It was a Battle of the Bands, with three bands from San Jose State and Santa Clara State. There was a good variety of music styles, and the entire event was just good vibes all around: high energy and a supportive crowd. The venue was crowded, but that's to be expected. It was a Friday night, and people were probably out looking for a good time. Something I really like about the Guild is its ability to throw concerts that cater to people of different age ranges. For example, I was able to see a song or two from an older band, the Lovehandles, of which the majority of the crowd was probably 45-50+. In comparison, the majority of the crowd at Friday's battle of the bands were either in their early to mid-20s. What I'm trying to say is that the Guild is a very versatile venue, appealing to both those older and younger. There are some venues that strictly stick to catering to people of a certain age, but the Guild isn't one of those: it recognizes it attracts attention from multiple age demographics, hosting bands that range from Grateful Dead tributes to the Chainsmokers. If you're looking great music venue in Menlo Park, come to the Guild! read more

The Guild Theatre - View from the back of the venue - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Menlo Park, California

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The Guild Theater is a new(ish), live music venue on The Peninsula (a former wasteland for live music). Since its grand opening in Feb 2022, I've been here several times; and it's quickly become my very favorite venue in the Bay Area. (You heard me). Why? Let me count the ways: It's Drop-Dead-Gorgeous. They turned an old, art-deco movie theater into a modern, art-deco-influenced music space with state-of-the-art sound and acoustics. They put $35 million into the upgrade...and it shows. No need to deal with Ticketmaster here (and their fees on fees) It's small and intimate. No matter where you stand or sit, you're never more than 100 ft from the stage. I'd rather pay $25-$50 to see a great band in a fantastic space like this than over $100 to see a big headliner in a stadium. No Brainer. No long slog to SF (or Oakland/Berkeley) to see a show. Nuff said. It's not all cover bands and tribute bands here. (Though there are a few in the schedule). They've attracted some surprising acts, including: Nathaniel Rateliff, Social Distortion, Berlin, X, The Wallflowers, The Spin Doctors, and Three Dog Night. On my visits I've seen Son Volt, Pink Talking Fish, Molly Tuttle, and The Mother Hips. Every single show has been fantastic. Tips and Tricks: -- No food here (but scores of restaurants within a 3 block radius). -- Excellent bar service, both upstairs and downstairs. They feature a small but decent beer list, including some local, independent brews. -- Limited seating upstairs (for higher price). But for me this is mostly a place to stand. (It's hard to dance when you're sitting.) -- A very reliable, nightly schedule. If the doors open at time X, the opener band starts at X+1 hour; and the main band starts at X+2 hours. Like clockwork. -- Plenty of free parking nearby in downtown Menlo Park. Free is good. Looking forward to my next show here! I've already got some ideas... read more

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What once was is no longer. My how they have changed since first opening. I greatly appreciate having another local concert venue, but not at the expense of my $$$$$. Due to a bad leg I need to sit at shows. Their mezzanine tix are always at least double the cost of the standing floor. I know of no other venues that charge like this, and it stinks for anyone with a disability. The drinks are also silly expensive, double that of most other venues or bars in many cases. Another gripe is the crowd... for all of the shows I've been to at The Guild, much of the crowd acts as if it's tech bro happy hour and constantly talk over the music. Just disappointing all around. read more

Amazing musical events, bar and place to hang out! It's so special to have this place in Menlo Park!

This is my favorite place to see a show on the peninsula. Great layout/space design, sound and lighting systems, and clean. They keep a pretty diverse schedule spanning several music genres, stand up, and community events. read more

I thought I was buying reserved seating from the theater's website. What I got was not reserved and Guild blamed others. I contested the charges with AMEX, but would never want to deal with these people again. No help, no service, crappy attitude, read more

Wow this place is so beautiful! We've been here before the renovation, and noticed all the love that went into restoring this space. We went for a concert, even upgraded to seats vs standing room. Our number one compliment was, we never had to wait for bathrooms. You know how at concerts there is always a line. The stalls are all gender neutral with shared wash stations, feels like a vintage 50s scene. The Guild is a two level establishment with bars on both levels. I am pretty sure I saw an elevator, passes the ADA code...good job! I would go back here in a heartbeat even standing room to just be inside this venue. Give it a chance and enjoy this new Peninsula gem. read more

The Guild Theatre - Mezzanine - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Menlo Park, California

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It's a great theatre, but beware the false advertising. I'm writing this review while waiting 60 minutes for the band (Orgone) to come onstage. The advertising for the show stated "doors at 7pm, show at 8pm." We got here just before 8pm. However the stage announcer just announced that the band won't come onstage until 9pm. So we have to wait for 60 minutes, listening to a DJ play light music. When I asked the house manager what's going on, he said the DJ playing house music (the mode, not the genre) was the start of the "show." I guess the idea is to get you to buy drinks ($19 for a small glass of white wine in a plastic cup) while you wait an hour for the band. Really bad practice all the way around. I expected better for a place repping to be community minded. read more

Great venue! Incredible sound, fantastic views from every spot, super clean bathrooms and great bar. Easy parking and great restaurants near by. One MAJOR drawback - no coat check! WTF?! Need to figure that out super quick. Brilliant addition to the neighborhood. read more

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My Sweet Lord...a brand new live music venue has debuted in Menlo Park! And this not just some crappy dive bar conversion, this space launches with a $35M state-of-the-art renovation from the bones of this mid-Penisula former movie theatre. No expense has been spared, from the Meyer sound system to robust lighting grid to acoustic paneling to luxurious artist green room, this is as good as it gets friends. The venue is two levels: ground floor primarily with a GA set up and upstairs doing reserved seating on the Mezz, for a total of about 500 for most shows...there simply isn't a bad seat in the place! It reminds me of a nicer, more intimate Bowery Ballroom in NYC. The shows they're booking run the musical spectrum: Americana, Jazz, Indie Rock, World Music, Singer/Songwriter, Hip Hop, Legends. At least 2 bars in the venue should make getting a tasty beverage no problem. Bathrooms: on both levels, with the ground floor featuring an Art Deco/Radio vibe. Truly there isn't a better live music venue in the entire Bay area! read more

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Buyer Beware ! The mostly poorly run customer unfriendly venue I have been to. Downgraded my tickets with no warning or option to cancel. Still has not made good on amount difference from downgrade. Oversold the standing room with no aisle clearance and little kids there which I do not think is legal as they served alcohol . Manager completely inept. This was my first and last visit to this venue which by the way charged double the ticket cost as RWC Fox. So so disappointing. read more

This venue is not what it used to be, there are a few things that has caused it to decline. First of all their expensive drinks have become even more expensive and their suggested tip minimum is 22%, it just keeps going up and up. The second issue is not so much their fault, but they have to close by 10 PM due to what I believe is a Menlo Park ordinance. They didn't previously have that, so bands don't take any breaks and the shows go by very fast, two hours at the most. Lastly, you don't see the fun and enthusiastic crowd you used to see, people are not drinking and they're therefore a quick show, so the fun is just been drained out of it. By the way, this is supposed to be a nonprofit, yet it seems like they turned up the vacuum to ultra high speed when it comes to getting as much money as they out of people's pockets. It's still a nice venue, but it's made a turn for the worst recently and hopefully they'll make adjustments To go back to what they were. read more

I continue to love this ridiculously gorgeous & intimate concert venue. If someone from the theater is reading this - can you please, please, please consider some seating? I had to remind my girlfriends to wear comfy shoes because there is zero seating available. The payment system was off and didn't take cards right away which is surprising given that it's in the tech capital area of the world. The venue is stunning. The acoustics are phenomenal. read more

Wow what a nice surprise, a small musical venue with a lot of impact in our community.The acts are pretty good.Saw Pablo Cruise last night and yes we baby boomers were out in force last nigh, the employees are nice.We met the GM who helped resolve a small issue he was so nicel.We had a nice usher help us a couple of times.hugging her as we left. Our seats were comfortable as well.. read more

Amazing venue! Saw Galactic here from the second tier floor and was maybe 20 feet from the band at eye level. Saw The Record Company a few weeks back from the floor (pics attached). The sound is superb, no distortion, no feedback and perfect SPL--you don't hear the bar noise and your ears aren't bleeding when you get home. read more

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This place is a gem minus the sound board that is positioned right at the entrance. It obstructs a lot of GA viewing. Was there no way to hide it? read more

We had a horrible experience at this theater as many others did for Tonight's show with Macy Gray who by 10 had not even showed up with the doors open at 7....no explanations from anyone. What a waste of money since they wouldn't give us a refund as we and half the audience left angry. Never again, give your customers more respect and at least get up on the stage and explain why your singer isn't performing. read more