The Mellow

San Francisco’s Coffee Shop Dance Parties Pair DJs With Caffeine | Eater SF

"A plant shop that alternates between barber services and a cafe depending on the outpost, the Haight Street location went viral in spring 2025 when hundreds of guests danced among houseplants (almost 600 people RSVP’d). Co-owner David Velasco was a barista at Duboce Park Cafe trained by Blue Bottle, and he and partner Lorena Velasco have turned their coffee bar into a regular stop for tourists and locals; the shop is currently closed for renovation until mid-August and will return with seating for the first time and expanded pastry offerings. The outpost hosts live music at night, books private groups and shows (including Black artist-centered Silk), and pays musicians and DJs competitive rates rather than exposure alone. Lorena Velasco remembers the viral parties vividly: “If you left to get a breath of air, you had to get back in line to get in,” and she frames the concept as “very much people wanting to gather during the day, and not always around alcohol. A cocktail can be like $15 for one.” The reopening will bring more parties, including a kick-off with DJ collective Sazon Libre." - Paolo Bicchieri