Public Works

Best club in the city for a wide range of electronic music, a diverse crowd, and good vibes. I am a regular and joined the PW Union which is a great deal if you're generally going to one or two shows per month. Staff are super friendly. No pretensions here!

Best club in the city, and here's why: 1. not pretentious, 2. crowds actually dance, 3. great rage of electronic artists, 4. staff are friendly and helpful (shout out to Jason!). It's because of all this that I became a PW Union member, and that has gotten me regularly dancing and seeing new acts more (it's also a screamin deal). I recently saw Endzeit and it was insanely awesome. The visuals in the center, right above the decks (in the middle of the crowd, not on the stage) was a stroke of genius. Also super great crowd that was considerate and friendly and full of earnest dancing. Can't wait for the next colab they do.

Public Works was great. First time going there, and for the Sexy Nerds event. Would recommend going back for events such as those and maybe sometime for a regular night.

I came here just one time in 2019 also visiting SF as well. The reason why I acted was to see Rhadoo who was a one of Romanian DJs. I tripped here from Japan. Further, I saw his DJ playing in NYC the day before weekend. What a music he took ! Had no words which I explain. He made the 2nd magic here. So impressed. Excited. I never forget the memory in Public Works.

Went to an Art Battle show. Lots of fun, great music and atmosphere. Clean bathrooms. They offered drinks, had a food stand outside that made burgers and fries. Easy to find. Beautiful mural on the building

Simply from an objective (audiophile) standpoint, PW is not only the best club in SF, but easily in the top 3 in the US, and honestly probably top 10 in the world. The base funktion 1 system is very similar to that of other top venues in SF (Audio) and around the world. However, after attending 15+ shows there, and plenty of shows at the other main venues in SF not to mention many of other “Tier 1” sound systems around the world, it’s pretty unique. 1. Objective Engineering (room “potential”): PW’s acoustic envelope is unusually good for its size — low RT60 (controlled reverb), tight geometry, minimal early reflections, & a room shape that avoids the standing-wave issues you get at most SF venues. The Funktion-One system is heavily custom-tuned: coverage is even, SPL stays clean well above typical club levels, & bass modes are managed instead of overwhelming. You hear the full bandwidth of the music, not just a wall of vibrating low-end. 2. Real-World Experience (“actual” sound on any given night): Where PW separates itself from other venues — even ones with similar equipment — is consistency. The in-house engineer team is extremely skilled, & the system is tuned for clarity, phase coherence, & dynamic range, not brute force. Bass is punchy & defined instead of muddy. Highs stay crisp w/out fatigue. Almost every time I’ve gone, you can dance for hours w/out earplugs & don’t leave with ringing ears or two days of tinnitus — something that cannot be said for many other clubs in the Bay Area, even those with similarly high-end sound-systems *cough* Audio *cough*. 3. Why it beats other SF venues (including ones with the same gear): Other clubs in SF have great systems on paper, but the rooms aren’t treated as well, coverage is uneven, or the levels get pushed into distortion. Public Works doesn’t make those mistakes. The acoustic design, the tuning, & the engineering discipline are simply on another level. That’s why PW consistently outperforms much bigger or “fancier” spaces. 4. Global Context: Based purely on measurable audio quality (clarity, bass definition, coverage uniformity, fatigue levels, and consistency), Public Works genuinely sits in the top tier of North American clubs & easily in the global top 10 for rooms under ~1000 capacity. It’s not just good “for SF” — it’s good by Berlin, Tbilisi, and London standards. 5. When you combine all of that with the fact that’s it’s also a small intimate venue, with a mature adult but fun vibe where you actually have room to dance & with an air circulation system that actually keeps it an acceptable temp, it has made going to other clubs in SF genuinely unenjoyable most of the time. Obviously there are exceptions, I’ve been to great shows at Folsom & Audio, and ofc occasionally a PW show run by a third party will leave you wanting earplugs & unimpressed, but where most clubs I can count the number of great shows on one hand, at PW I can count the “bad” shows on one hand (bad is in quotes because even then, they aren’t bad, just mid relative to PW standard). As a fan of mid-tempo haus, DnB, leftfield bass, UKG and other bass forward genres this is crucial. Kick drums should feel like a punch, not an earthquake, and the contrast with big name venues could not be more stark. Pushing bass to room vibrating endlessly reverberating levels actually hurts bass forward music the most of any genre. Seeing Chase & Status (who I love) at Bill Graham, and then some small DnB/UK 140 artist I’d never heard of at PW, the day after, made it clear just how crucial the difference is in regards to enjoying live music in this genre. If you care about sound — not just lights, names, or hype — Public Works is hands-down the best-engineered & most CONSISTENTLY-engineered electronic music venue in San Francisco. Not to mention, membership makes it not only reasonable but legitimately cheap compared to pretty much everything in SF. Lots of places have potential, PW consistently realizes that potentials.

Very positive time at the venue, sound system is excellent and set up is great for many viewing angles. Great crowd, drinks are about as expected. The service is excellent!

Always been a great venue. Open bar near the stage.

Public Works is still the best nightclub on Earth. Hifi lovers, you are home here! I wish there was a Public Works in every city in the world. They are such a gift to the music scene. The sound quality is unreal. I never have to bring ear plugs to any show here -- in fact, I discourage it, because the audio technicians at Public Works are so world-class and expert that you will want to experience every detail of PW's perfect sound system. The layout is AWESOME, and it is always well-ventilated and air conditioned. Plenty of perfect views of the stage and DJ booth and crowd. Perfect crowd size. The community are super respectful and sweet, inclusive music lovers. Unlike Audio, you will never encounter harassment or any other issues. I don't know how Public Works manages to capture that kind of safe, perfect vibe -- but they do, year after year. A San Francisco institution. I will often attend shows alone and solo here as a woman -- and I never regret it because it is so safe, and staff are always so considerate and looking out for you. Even on the coldest, rainiest, windy days, the staff are super kind and careful. Booking is stellar. I wish every electronic artist and DJ I love would choose this venue on their SF stop. The tiny side stage with a loft area often debuts some of the most innovative DJs and local talent. Cannot imagine my world without Public Works. They are a #1 reason why I continue to love San Francisco and why it is so hard to leave.

This place is sketchy as fuck. I came here to see Nora En Pure tonight and I didn't even make it in. Don't get deceived by the pictures from the business owner and all the ladies in the photos. I was going to see Nora by myself and as I kept walking towards this warehouse I turned back around and went home. I didn't want to get jumped, kidnapped, or experience something worse. There's no parking around and it's just plain ghetto. It's a shame this DJ performs at sketchy clubs like this and Temple where I almost got raped by a body guard because I took a Molly for the first time. I had to snap out of it and pretend I was interested for him to let me get out of the basement. I learned from that in 2019. I can only imagine how sketchy the staff and customers are in here. Save yourself the trouble and find a different venue to see your favorite DJ. Also, scroll all the way down. All the bad reviews are hidden. I wish I would've checked prior to going. I still made a good night out of it for myself and am grateful I'm home. :) I guess the one star can go to SpotHero for getting me a really nice, safe parking lot on Market street.

I'm thankful that Public Works is still doing their thing. Still bringing quality music to the SF area. I was thrilled to be able to attend an Ant-ten-nae and Polish Ambassador set the other evening here. The staff were super helpful and the security was professional, but low key (always a nice combo). The whole evening was smooth and magical. It was a lovely vibe. Good people with big smiles. Though I did wish that there was a little bit more seating on the ground floor - mostly to put my stuff down, I welcomed the opportunity to dance - and I had no problem finding seating while I was there. I appreciated that the bathrooms were clean, that the bartenders were on top of things (I stuck to water) - and the quality of the sound in the main room. Public Works has always had their act together. The owners and staff have made sure to keep the events calendar stacked and up to date - and the space seems well run and efficient. Trust.

Went here for the first time on a Friday night to see Ferry Corsten. Took Waymo here and then an uber home. Unsure how parking is around here. Staffs were friendly including the bar tenders. The venue has a good sound and lighting system. It's not a huge space which I like for an intimate setting but it can get crowded. There's a 2nd floor which over looks the bottom floor so the dancing space is smaller. There is limited seating along the wall on both floors. You can buy water in a can at the bar or get free water from the water dispenser by the corner. I would bring a reusable water bottle next time. The only issue I had was the bathroom was not cleaned enough. It smelled so bad, it's slippery and disgusting. At the time I went someone took a dump on top of the toilet seat and it was there the entire night. After leaving the venue there was a couple of bacon hot dog carts outside for those with munchies.

I don't usually review nightclubs because, let's be honest, they're normally so trashy , even when you have the best time that it's not worth it to actually Review them. Came here for Gorgon City on a Saturday night. And the venue was completely packed by the time it hit eleven o'clock. I thought the crowds here were really chill. I didn't see anybody get thrown out. Everyone with super respectful, and I loved the venue space. They had 2 different inside stages and also the outside area, which was the smoking area, housed a silent disco, which was fun. I liked that the main stage area had seats in the back that people able to use to get a better view. If you wanted seating, it was all over the second area as well as outside which I thought was a great touch. They have cool art everywhere that lines up.

I'm so tired of waking up the morning after a show here with a sore throat from all the vaping people do on the dance floor. There's a designated smoking area outside that must be fairly empty, because people constantly billow out massive plumes of vape clouds inside and security doesn't bat an eye. It's just nasty. I've been to plenty of other venues in bigger cities that actually manage to keep vaping off the dance floor.

What a sad little club! The people at the door were absolutely miserable. I was yelled at for waiting for my friend (who had my tickets!) and told to "move move move I know you're waiting for your friend but you've got to keep it moving" ...when there was no one else in line?? The immediately harshed vibes were not at all in line with the kind of place this was marketed to be. Hard pass on trying it again

Attended a comedy show here, Story Party: True Dating Stories with Emily Van Dyke. The show was fantastic and hilarious (you can see my separate review for "Story Party"). But I felt the venue was lacking, or just very ordinary. First off, it's located in an alleyway that doesn't look the safest to walk into (at least if I were by myself). And the building doesn't look like much on the outside, though there is some subtle artwork near the entry door, if you look more closely. Inside, we showed our admission tickets at the counter, and the staff gave it a glance and just let us in (a quick and hassle-free process). Then we walked around to check the place out and get some drinks before showtime. It looks like a warehouse inside with wooden flooring, like a space for holding raves. It didn't seem run-down or notably unpleasant in any way, it just looked like an open space with a bar, a little bit of colored lighting as decor (mainly in the bar area), and a stage, with rows of folding seats set up for the show.  The specialty cocktails on their menu were pretty good (we had the Old Fashioned and Tropical Storm), but the drinks were filled with ice and in small plastic cups, so I'd say a tad overpriced for what you get. The sole bartender on duty offered pretty standard service, nothing special, but sufficient. I did notice a little bit of random decor, some very confusing as to what they use this space for, ie. what looked like coin operated kiddie rides against the wall leading from the entrance to the bar (idk, photo ops for adults?). Also, a disco ball hanging from the ceiling that didn't seem like it fit in with the overall space. Their second level was not in use for the show I attended, so I only got a view from downstairs. The stage was also very plain, just a couple plants and a table (for the performer during the show). The sound system was decent. Again, my review is not based on the club scene here, but as a show venue, Public Works is pretty average, not outstanding in any way, but also not bad... If there's a good show I really want to see, I wouldn't hesitate to return (if "Story Party: True Dating Stories" happens here again, I'd recommend checking it out).

Small venue but had a blast, left a jacket at coat check and they were able to mail it back to us. Staff was really friendly through and through

Had a great time at public works. Great space and delicious drinks. The friends and I danced the night away.

Please read my full review... this place is extremely unsafe. I went here last night for the official side piece outside lands night show. I had been here once before for houseworks, but it was a small event only on the second floor. Before coming, I was a bit scared because Sidepiece usually brings out a lot of people and this is a small venue, I voiced my concern to my partner and little did I know it would foreshadow the night. When we got there, the two people in front of us were talking about how online it was sold out but they were going to buy a ticket at the door. We then heard security at the front tell someone to not sell any more door tickets until more online ticket sales people come. Then 1 minute later, we saw the two people in front of us purchase tickets and get in anyways. When we got in the place kept getting more and more packed, everyone was shoulder to shoulder. I went downstairs to get out and they CLOSED THE FRONT ENTRANCE. It was a line of people trying to get in and no one could get out. They said the only way to get out was the exit next to the DJ table... yes NEXT TO THE DJ TABLE. We then spent 20 minutes trying to exit, shoving our way through, I was having a panic attack, I was in tears, I couldn't breathe. I thought I was going to die. I found ONE security person working the event, he was the ONLY security person. I was in tears asking him to please help me out and he told me "walk by yourself". I told him it's shoulder to shoulder and I can't walk through people they're like a wall... he told me "too bad". I started screaming and crying desperately and rather than helping me, he told my boyfriend "handle your girl". This was the useless security guard the the right of the DJ, he was black and had dreads and was NOT DOING HIS JOB. We then proceeded to shove our way out, almost got hit by a man that got upset by that until he saw the panic in my face. Then him and another guy also helped shove people for us to get out. When I got out I was so nervous I threw up and cried more. I told the guy at the front telling him conditions were not safe while bawling my eyes out. He offered me water and told me to please breath. I will never come back to this place... it scarred me. I thought I was going to die. Please if you value your safety do not go here. I have gone to EDC a lot , I went to outside lands that same day, I used to be a club rat... I have never experienced a place like this where I thought I wasn't going to make it out alive.

This venue is dope. The entrance is down an alleyway and you enter into a bar that's almost like a warehouse. Lots of open space, nice lighting, the sound was bumpin. Very chill atmosphere. I had a chance to check out Dan the Automator, he helped produce for people like Gorillaz, Kool Keith, and Del the funky Homosapien. The bartenders were friendly, it wasn't hard to get a drink. The bathrooms were clean too. Overall it was a really fun night and I got to be close to the action. I will come here again. If you think this place is grimey then you haven't been to a real party before.

I'm at a Stavroz concert, and overall the space and energy of Public Works during this show was outstanding. It felt safe and fun, queer-inclusive, and the staff was extremely kind and supportive. I especially appreciated how easy it was to get water, use the restrooms, and move around to different stages during the night. My buddy and I could easily separate and rejoin one another through the night as the music took us, and he showed me the little corner of the alt stage--it was hella cool. The experience overall does have some issues. Sound is muddled at different patches in the venue, although thankfully it never felt so loud as to be harmful (a little ringing the next day though, but that's to be expected). Drinks are relatively easy to come by but $30 doubles! And as someone who needs to rest his feet every now and again I'm disappointed at how the designated benches are used as stepping-stools for shorter patrons or used-drink holders. So, basically, in order to rest my feet, I have to sit on someone else's shoe bottom gunk, or move upstairs where I can sit but have no line of sight with the stage. Not great, I know we can do better, because we are better. Signage and other reminders of club culture will help make the space more accessible. Public Works gets the important things right: inclusivity, safety, kindness, and that leads to good fun. Super worth your time all around.

Do not come here if you were born after the 90s unless you want to be the youngest ones here. Venue was small also.

I love coming to this venue as they always have the coolest and most legitimate DJs in the scene but unfortunately I can't say that about some of the staff in particular the bartenders. I came out to see a DJ whom I've been following for about 20 years and I know he as recently been stricken with a terrible disease so I made it a point to come out and support him but.. The problem lies with the bartender that seemed to have decided she wanted to retaliate against me (who was there only for about 40 minutes alone quietly, casually and neutrally enjoying music). I purchased one round of drinks for myself and came back at last call for the second round.. I felt a "watching you vibe" from her (I assume because I'm a Latino male and that's expected in SF at this time maybe since the beginning of time idk) It was mainly because the tips were just sitting on the bars surface when I walked up I assume (that's common in SF) but I felt a real angry a fed up vibe from her but I was only standing there waiting doing nothing just alone and waiting. Anyways the (guessing 20 something year old) lady went back to the bottles and fridges to retrieve my request/order and I swear she grabbed a glass straight out of a dirty cups/glasses rack that seemed like it might be heading into a dishwasher somewhere soon... I noticed but had no way of proving this was a dirty/used and unsanitary rack of cups so since it was last call I was tired and ready for bed I took the beverage and paid the woman then went home. Fast forward 2 days while I'm at home and haven't done much and had no other friends or visitors guess what pops up on my lower lip!! Guess that's right a nasty cold soar big painfully and scaring. It's so sad that I have felt as though I have experienced this before in life and it's usually from a "pretty girl bartender" that seems like her thoughts of you are that you belong in a gutter and she is disgusted to serve you. I really hate to have to tip those types but I just try to hold my head up and give them an average tip and not provoke them to explode their anger and rage onto you.. we all know they will be quick to call a bouncer over to get the "ugly dirty Latino" man out of the bar because he doesn't belong there.. so sad I hate this type of casual discrimination that is usually backed by establishment owners, security and mangers alike with out a second thought. I hate it but it seems like it won't ever end. If you are black , brown gay Latino an HIV patient or survivor or all of the above and you find yourself in this situation here take pictures of the bartend and report. Your safety is at risk and this community doesn't need hatefully people like that.. health is of importance here and with this being in SF and near the Castro it's appalling. I'm sure she is just ignorant but that's no excuse. Visited PW 12-9-2023 around 12:45am till 2 AM. To ticket to get in at 1am $60 bar purchases $50. Total time stayed 2 hours. Length of negative memories.. forever.

Horrible experience. We came here to see Gorgon City. Before they came on the business owners "son" went on a power trip and kicked our friend out for no apparent reason. I tried to apologize for any harm done, as it was my birthday, and he said he was willing to talk to my friend. I spent 15 minutes on the phone telling my friend to come back so we could work it out. When he made it to the door the owners son said "it's out of my hands" and "he'll learn today". Why waste my time and get my hopes up? This guy was on a power trip and refused to give us a refund. I will not be attending this venue again and advise every one else to take their time and money elsewhere. They are rude, sexist, racist, and homophobic. I hope this place gets closed down soon and wish there was more I could do than write a review. "Nelson" is trash and so is this venue.

Hi! I saw John Summit on the 25th and it might of been one of the best shows I've seen in San Francisco so hella props booking this baby boy! But I mainly wanted to thank the GM who helped me and my friends in one of maybe one of the scariest moments I've had at a event. My friend passed out from heat exhaustion, and her being 5"10 my other friend I could only do so much till this hero came and helped us take her outside. He was so calming and helpful and didn't make stressed or scared. I wanna thank you so much!! I appreciate you so much and you don't realize how much this means to me! On a happier note here's some video of John

I've been going out in SF for longer than many reviewers have been alive. With that said, this is the FIRST venue that didn't even ask about my bag. As a matter of fact, NO ONE's bags were being looked at. I hate to sound like a Negative Nancy, but in this day and age of weapons being everywhere, the least a venue can do is notice who is carrying bags and take a peak inside. I could have had literally anything inside of my small backpack. Beware if you attempt to sit on the benches at the back of the club: condensation from the ventilation system leaks A LOT. If you'd like to have water randomly dropping on your head, hang out there. If not, watch out. That can be a bonus for some folks, but just a head's up. It's a nice enough club, but I've definitely been in better. I won't return until I know that their entrance monitoring is stepped up a bit. There were definitely some unsavory characters in the crowd when I attended. I don't want to be around when someone gets mad and is able to use the weapon that NO ONE SEARCHED FOR...

A club where the staff enjoy the music as much as the patrons. Great club to enjoy with friends and meet new. San Francisco at its finest.

This is the best venue in the city, hands down. The line ups are always solid...in both rooms. And sometimes you can access both parties at once. Yes please. The soundsystem just got a serious upgrade too, so it thumps in there. The bars are this dope exposed wood look, which I dig..a lot. (Most clubs in this city have way, way too much going on and I feel like one of those vip server people are gonna come by at any moment with a giant bottle of Goose with a sparkler in it. That's gonna be a nope from me). The bar staff is super nice. And the fact that it's on its own little street is a bonus. 10/10 recommend

We went to John Digweed and had a blast. Intimate enough to feel part of the action. Exceptional sound system. Friendly crowd. Easy access to bathrooms. Super easy access to bar area as well. Look forward to returning. Really fun experience overall.

Great venue for a comedy show. Lovely atmosphere and crowd. Found easy street parking on a Sunday night. Just wish they had snacks too...

Kind of a hit and miss experience with this place. I'll start off with the negative and then list the positive. I went out on 3/24 with a group of girls for an event that we signed up for online for free entry before 1030 pm arrival. We arrived to public works at 1028, waiting in line until 1040 and were told that we need to pay 25$ each since we were late. The woman at the door was also incredibly rude and hostile to everyone, I want to say her name was Nicki. Just an absolutely miserable and genuinely mean, I hope whatever is going on with her gets better so she stops trying to ruin everyone else's day. From what I saw, they were charging basically all the free entry's at least 10+ people. It appeared PW created an artificial line to tell us that we were late. Pretty scummy behavior. Next we were under the impression that this was a large venue. It was not at all. They closed off part of the venue and we were sectioned off to a very small bar. It was kind of weird and not at all what we were expecting. The whole ticket and what they were selling seemed kind of like a bait and switch. Anyway, about half the group that we originally started with left about an hour later because the venue was odd. I stayed with some other girls and we managed to have our own fun. The night kind of felt like a boiler room which was fun unique vibe. If you're looking for a large "club" vibes, I would not recommend this place at all. Midway is a much larger and elaborate venue. Just set your expectations when coming. Drinks were cheap 13$ which was nice.

If you know you know! Pretty awesome and they bring in a lot of great underground talent that would previously never make it out to the Bay Area.

Public Works is an excellent venue to rent for your private event. The staff are knowledgeable and professional. We rented the entire venue for one nite. The staff from venue managers, security staff, tech and bar are top notch. They went over and above to make sure we were happy with the set up for our event. Very nice bar downstairs and upstairs. Great environment. Will absolutely rent this venue again. Do yourself a favor and go to Public Works for a show and definitely rent for a private event.

I like atmosphere and location of this club. It was Atish. this Saturday. Sound is perfect. I will coming back in this club many times for sure. Nice people. Clean and cold. Vibes). So much fan

Not quite my vibe but I can see the same certain kinda people coming here. Do you burn? Do you go to burning man? Do you want to go to burning man? Do you look like the people that go to burning man? Do you wanna connect and dance with people who look like they go to burning man? If you said yes to any and/or all of my questions, then this is the place for you. Immediate burning man vibes. Or maybe if you're thinking old school rave warehouse vibes, this place gives off a little bit of that too.

This venue is fun. I had heard of it, but went to it for the first time tonight. My friend had 2 passes and I tagged along. I sat on the bench for a bit. Then we decided to dance on the floor. It took forever for the main act to come on after 12AM, so at about 12:08, we left the venue and went home. It was regular electronic dance music. The crowd is not obnoxious and the workers are nice and cute.

Great music, sound, lighting and location. It's not the Brooklyn Mirage, but SF's version. I don't remember the drink prices. Hmmm. Yes, a lot of hipsters, wide range of ages, sexual orientations, and a lot of marijuana. Lol... I don't partake but if it keeps people happy and non-violent than so be it. Will I return, Oh Yes...

I went to public works during Covid for One More Time, a daft punk tribute band. Still being cautious about Covid I was very happy to hear about their policies of requiring a vaccination card. When I arrived, security did ask for my vaccination card and ID, and really looked at it to make sure it wasn't a fake. I felt very safe due to their Covid procedures and was able to have the prime time of my life at the tribute!!

Public Works is awesome! I attended the Madonna & Kylie Minogue party and was just completely impressed with the sound, the venue, the lights, the staff. This event was first class all the way complete with a fun crowd! It's been years since I've danced so much for so long. Thank you Public Works you created a meaningful memory.

This place is actually probably pretty cool..I don't know why I didn't like it as much as I expected to. It was too hipster for me. I appreciate looking at (staring down ;)) the occasional eccentrically dressed hipster flouncing down the sidewalk, but once you go into a club and its transformed into complete hipsterdom it's a bit much. Especially if you're actually trying to find someone attractive (includes well-dressed!) at the club and the huge horn-rimmed glasses look doesn't really do it for you.. Anyway, the people we ran into themselves were nice. Mostly friendly, and all different ages, ethnicities, sexual orientations, you name it. I would say the girls tended to be younger than the guys but apart from that it was pretty evenly mixed! Still a very "happening" place of course, really cool lights and music , and decent venue, so who knows maybe the more I come here the more it'll grow on me ^^

Place still sucks. "How can that be?" say you, "______is playing there...." Agreed, the get some good names, but then it's crowd, and 90% guys, and 70% old school burners.... So if you're 40's or 50's gay male burner, then this may be your cup of tea. If you're a 30's, 40's or 50's hetero male, bring a date, or skip it. Oh well. Perhaps that's for a good part of San Francisco these days. Alas.

I went to an event at their lofts and it was great! Not super crowded and the staff was so nice and attentive. I know at clubs the staff is super busy but they did a great job.

I came here to attend Speechless Live, which is a cool concept if you have never experienced it before. Look it up! That day was one of those rare boiling hot San Francisco days where you just want to get out of the heat. It's the same heat that makes people feel uncomfortable and cranky. I'm going to blame the heat for the fact that the bouncers of Public Works were absolute jerks when we arrived early for the show. Turns us away, but don't be rude about it. Eventually once we entered and passed the registration desk, we went upstairs into a small performance space with a bar. There's a stage with some seats around, but most people just stood up. Would make a great music or dancing venue. After a few hours, the crowd was herded downstairs to main space. I made the rookie mistake of not moving fast enough and NOT getting a seat ASAP. In the downstairs area, there's a larger stage with a screen, but they allow SO many people in here. It gets so horrendously packed that this MUST be a fire hazard. If you don't manage to grab a seat on the main floor or the upstairs balcony, just accept the fact that you'll likely be miserable, especially if you're forced to stand in the part of the venue where the side of the stage and screen are blocked by pillars. BOOO!!! Fortunately, my friends and I were standing next to the bar. Anyways, this seems like an ancient warehouse turned performance space, very popular but annoying to be crammed in here like sardines. As you can probably tell, I'm not a fan of this venue, to the point where I would have to be dying to see a particular show for me to want to come back here again. I would even consider avoiding shows that are here and hosting a private event for that matter! I have friends who don't mind the space, but it's just not for me.

Public Works #1 - Randomly came after a Yelp event knowing nothing about the show. The door men were super nice! It ended up being some crazy pseudo hipster band. A guy talked about triangles for 15 minutes, played some awesome music, gurgled into the microphone for another 10 minutes, played more awesome music, and we left when he started playing the balloon. I'M SORRY PEOPLE BUT THIS IS NOT ART. Public Works #2 - Some electro techno show where I'm pretty sure I left before it was even midnight. I had 6 drinks in one hour. The drinks didn't seem that strong and the shots were definitely not filled all the way which led to my friend buying me a double shot which ultimately led my night to hell. The upstairs was open but it was super boring. Coat check is awesome! Only $3 and unlike other money grubbing places they will let you check all your stuff AND your dates in one go. THAT NEVER HAPPENS. Drinks are pretty expensive but standard for this kind of space. I feel like I've yet to have a solidly good night here but I can't get enough of the vibe here.

Recently incredibly disappointed -- enough to prompt me to make a Yelp account and write this review. Public Works gets 3 stars because they often bring some HUGE and impressive names. To name a few, I've seen Nina Kraviz, Len Faki, Maceo Plex, and Tale of Us at Public Works. These names should prompt a 5 star review, right? RIGHT? Well, the last three consecutive times I've been here - spanning over 4 months - have been magnificently disappointing... Why?? THE SOUND. The volume, rather, is SO QUIET!! Has anyone else noticed this?! I feel like I'm taking crazy pills here! I should not be able to have an audible inside-voice conversation on the center of the dance-floor during Nina Kraviz (last weekend) or Len Faki! That is unacceptable. It's as though their late-night sound permit was revoked or something? The venue space is OK. Crowd is dubious at best; usually a mix between arrogant burners and late-to-start first-timers... Only compensating factor [was] the quality of names they bring in. Not sure if that's even worth it anymore (I get better sound volume and quality in my car. Sadly, this isn't hyperbole).

A little off the beaten path, but that's a plus. It's a legit club that feels like the old days when you'd go to some hole-in-the-wall warehouse venue that is in the middle of nowhere that your friends told you about. The bonus is, they book awesome & eclectic acts, sound system is top-notch but not blow-your-ears out loud, the staff could not be more unpretentious and friendly, drinks are normal prices, bartenders are actually friendly and the lighting/visual display is cool and adds to the experience. Would def return. Oh, and kinda cool that they post the set times for DJs so you kinda have a rough idea of when your fav DJ is coming on...

I still have memories of a few years ago when a bouncer slammed my head into the sidewalk because I tried to get my friend from the in-street smoking section at 3am rather than going through the entire club and wrapping around again. I have a permanent bump on my head from this incident too. So yeah, just shit posting for the 1 star the place deserves on that night. How can you host non-rap music and have bouncers like that?

Bliss. This isn't your club scener's club, this is a club for the clubbin counterculture. Phenomenal acoustics, the speakers are an experience in themselves. Dynamic range and whatever they've done to the ceiling and walls lends to a punchy but detailed, perfectly-optimized setup. Getting in took some time as there was a line, but the staff was friendly. Nothing here is too expensive and the crowd was diverse and laid back. I love this kind of place - I can't wait until my next chance to return.

This past weekend I had the worst experience ever in public works , i bought 2 tickets online and paid full price , got there at 11pm , had lots of fun hearing one of my favorite artist even tho it was very hot inside and too crowded, then at 1:00 me and my friends saw there is hot dog cart right outside and entrance , we went out for 5 min just to get hot dog and guess what ? They told us there is no re entry , no one told us when we got our we can't get back in , we didn't saw ANY sign saying that , but guess what ? We were part of huge group of ppl who did the same like us and didn't let them get back , thank you for the worst night ever .

Had such a great time at their grand opening that I used them for our big Eventbrite party last night! (http://bigparty.eventbrite.com) Huge turnout (about 800 people) and everyone was tearing it up on the dancefloor to the sweet tunes of DJ Ms Jackson and couldn't stop raving about this cool venue. We used one of the upstairs work rooms to play additional music and feature our Polite in Public photobooth and custom t-shirt silkscreening with Schirts.com/events The new room that's just being finished this month wasn't ready for our party, which was kind of a bummer because it would have been cool to use it because there's an additional bar and we would have been able to continue selling tickets instead of cutting it off and drawing a hard line with no door sales. However they're finishing up this week and I'm looking forward to seeing the finished product. As for the event-planning side of things, Emilio the bar manager was awesome to work with and the entire staff there is really chill. Howie the VJ saved me when I didn't quite know how to work the projector and the owner Jeff even went out in search of a lightbulb replacement when I dropped our gobo and needed a replacement bulb. The capacity for the bottom floor only is 449, the entire venue space that we used (with upstairs is 770, and if you use the new room that's opening up you get get up to about 1,000. Huge fan, again, and can't wait to check out this Halloween party they have this weekend: http://freakersball.eventbrite.com

Wow - this space is pretty awesome. Located in the back of an alley unaffected by it's surroundings lies Public Works. The crowd is hushed on the outside only by the upcoming anticipation of what's to come. The DJs are spectacular and the vibe is why everyone is gathered. The space has 2 levels with ample room that includes two DJ booths, 2 bars, coat check, outside smoking area, and even a small art gallery. Now I can't say anyone is there for the printed artwork but the art in music is definitely a crowd pleaser. I can still feel the beats pulsating through me leading to an unproductive day at work. Thanks Public Works.

My friend and I came to public works for a house music event called zero fucks. The had a downstairs and an upstairs room. We went to the free event which was upstairs. The decor was cool because during the day it is an art gallery, they also had really awesome visual light shows displayed in the wall to get in the house music vibe. Overall, the upstairs was pretty small. The bar was very tiny, but there wasn't a huge crowd, so getting a drink was easy. The drinks were typical priced for a club or lounge of 8$ for well drinks and 5$ for a beer. The well drinks were in tiny cups, but they were very strong. The local artists and music was great! I am not a house music person, but I really enjoyed their music! I will go back again, because it was free, the vibe was fairly casual, the people and atmosphere was great :) 3.5 stars

Are you interested art or design? Definitely, my best in San Francisco and is better than another place for Minimal Music. If you need music for smoke and kind of hobbies, you have to go then you can sleep very happy lol! I have been at Closer in Kyiv. Yes, closer is great maybe 10/10 but The Public Works has better great works. Have a high weekend!

I like this place best when it's not broken up into to Clubs because it's just too crowded. I wish they had a little bit more seating downstairs, but the upstairs space is cool especially when it's opened up to the main floor.

I love this place because it is grunge but also a club at the same time and also has a bunch of bars that are not crazy expensive. We went in the right side and it is kind of split up into two sides. There were two different parties that night. We later found an entry way to the other party through a door on the top level that maybe wasn't suppose to be open. Anyway, it allowed us to the other side and it was an awesome boys party and we had drinks and fit right in. Really cool space and easy to Lyft to. The cover charge though is lame.

Attended the Pandora event with Captain Fun featuring the Mini Cooper Paceman, and was excited to see a yelp-like event with elements hosted. The first thing I appreciated were the funky paintings, and adorable conversational hearts outside on the sidewalk; "Kiss Me", "Be Mine." We then were met by the bruiser looking fully suited bouncers, at 6pm in the sun, mind you, who were the obligatory curt and unfriendly. They scanned us in electronically, and handed us drink tickets, and we headed inside. The site itself its a lot smaller than I had anticipated from the outside. Preliminarily I had assumed the building went farther back, but it's really quite small. Drinks were upstairs, we had tequila, and the music was bumping full out Pandora style. Due to us being there just as they opened, there was nobody dancing, so we went down to the food truck to see what was good. Outside was a live action painter doing spray-paint art, which looked like bloated aliens, but upon further inspection, we determined they were birds. I was impressed with the mini technology with their mobile phone booth apps which framed and sent photos taken there immediately to your smartphone or email address. The line for food was long, and tedious, so we ended up leaving shortly, and reminded by bruiser #1 and #2 no ins and outs, so we opted out. All said, I could see this being a spot for clubbing, but the location is so awkward, and the layout so cumbersome, I doubt I'd return.

Can't wait to see PW doors open again for the first time since quarantine! We love you PW