The Speakeasy

We were guests at a birthday party at The Speakeasy, and it was an entertaining night. There was a variety show, live music, "gambling," unsavory characters offering "moonshine" and "investment opportunities," tarot card reading, a photo booth, a magician and possibly other shenanigans. The drinks were stiff, the food was coming and everyone seemed to be having a good time.

I've been attending The Speakeasy events since before they were in their current location. The immersive shows were magical. When some characters departed the show to make room for happier moments, i was truly sad yet i both appreciated and respected the necessity of the business decisions. Last night, i attended the Valentine's themed event and it was wonderful. For fans of the full show like myself, many familiar characters were pleasant, building on some lines of the show but in theme. A sense of continuity. For anyone that is new, they are still complete stories to enjoy. Drinks can be stiff. Dancing opportunities throughout the night. I'm looking forward to the next event. İf you can budget it, premium experience is worth it.

AMAZING! This is great to go to with a big group of friends for a birthday party. The rooms, the stories shared by the actors, the drinks, the music, just everything surpassed our expectations and we are excited to go back again to check out the second timeline. Highly recommend and thought it was worth every penny. You'll truly feel like you stepped into a time machine and went back to a speakeasy salon in the 1920s.

Nothing less than wonderful! Attended a private company event. All staff members were very accommodating and kind. Service was top notch! Clean...fun...casino atmosphere was right on point. If one did not enjoy themselves, it was THEIR fault. Would love to return, again dressed as we were in 20's fashion, to see the full emerson experience.

Lots of fun and would recommend visiting at least once. Have come before and after Covid and the experience was still very enjoyable, but a bit more streamlined now. Cabaret show is entertaining and will take up to a third of the time - didn’t mind as it was entertaining. The idea that these jokes were such a hit in the 20s is the most entertaining part. We came on a Thursday, it was plenty busy. Almost everyone we saw was wearing period or formal attire. I would say the interactive parts are just a fun atmospheric element, not something you need to follow cast members or understand a specific story. Some are interpretive and some are just scenes playing out in front of you. Just enjoy a night out with drama in some rooms, haha Not sure I would visit for a third time unless there was another twist on the concept. Maybe you do follow characters for a new journey or some kind of murder mystery situation.

We recently had our wedding at The Speakeasy, and we cannot recommend it enough. We had the best night. Our guests raved about their experience, saying that each room was cooler to explore than the last. We love the team there, they really made sure our vision came true! It was perfect!

Saw The Setup at The Speakeasy at 7pm. You enter through the laundromat into the speakeasy and it’s such a unique experience. The drinks were excellent and the comedians were hysterical.

We set up a corporate event at The Speakeasy, and it is one of the best events we have done. The staff was very friendly and helpful in setting up the event for us, the venue was a lot of fun and very authentic, and the actors worked hard to make us comfortable and entertain us all night. We had a great time getting our 1920's outfits ready beforehand, and also discovering all the side plots in the show itself. The whole event had a great 1920's ambiance, with lots of separate areas to explore, like the bar, the cabaret, the casino, and more. Sometimes we couldn't tell the actors from the audience! We are still discussing and swapping notes on everything that happened that night. I highly recommend this for group events. Definitely get the casino chips and cabaret reservations in advance, and get a group picture early in the evening; we were glad we did! Followup: I decided to take my fiancee to see the Mother's Day show, and we had a wonderful time! I can vouch for the fact that it is worth going to see the show a second time - I saw so much more the second time that I had missed the first; I think I will need to go a few more times to fully appreciate the experience. Once again, the cast worked hard to make the experience enjoyable and unique, and responded playfully to our enthusiasm. I can now personally recommend this for both group events and as an individual - you must go!

My hubby and I had an amazing time! We attended the 8P show for: We Call It Jazz, A Journey to The Heart of New Orleans. I bought our tickets through FEVER and got the rail seating. Very good view From entering to sitting down, we were well taken care of I had bought two tickets online but when checking in, it only showed one- I pulled up my ticket and the usher at the front quickly apologized and got us situated I really appreciate the quickness Everyone was super friendly We stopped by the bar before the show started and got some drinks Music was spectacular One of the best live shows I've got to experienced Definitely made me want to check out their other events 10/10 phenomenal!

What a great experience! Super fun and a great team building experience. Got a great Jazz band, blackjack table and bar. Brought in a mentalist and he was fantastic. The whole thing was just great. I would highly recommend for any team that wants to have a great time. I would love to try the additional rooms as well!

The Jazz was phenomenal -- a masterclass in live jazz. The music was the only thing in the room operating with rhythm, coordination, or emotional intelligence. After patiently waiting at the bar for about ten minutes, a woman with no spatial awareness, no concept of sequence, and no ability to read a room barreled in front of me and placed her order. I calmly told her, "There's a line." That was enough to trigger a full emotional meltdown. She ran off to find a sympathetic witness -- a woman who had literally just asked me if there was a line. I answered her, plainly: "Yes." One word. Measured. Civil. Her response? "You were rude." Why? "You answered me too quickly." What followed was peak opportunistic outrage (in proper California fashion)-- emotion weaponized on behalf of someone who cut a line and got called out for it. When I explained I wasn't feeling well and had been waiting for ten minutes, it didn't matter. These women weren't interested in truth, just in manufacturing offense. This wasn't just bad behavior. It was a performance of fragility masking deep deficits in cognition, regulation, and reciprocity. Traits that might once have pointed to a neurodevelopmental disorder have now become normalized -- celebrated even -- in this ecosystem of malnutrition and moral theater. The rigidity, lack of nuance, black-and-white thinking, hypersensitivity to tone, and zero ability to understand context -- all of it on display like a PSA for societal decay. The only saving grace? Another patron who had witnessed the whole thing stepped in and told me I wasn't rude at all -- and that she would've done exactly what I did. Sanity still exists, but it's scarce, and not often the loudest voice in the room. California has starved its people of nutrients and fed them ideology. The result is this: adult toddlers avenging imagined slights while the music plays. The jazz was sublime. The crowd was a warning. Public space here doesn't feel public -- it feels pathological.

Awesome place, great service, food, and ambiance. Music was excellent. Will definitely return

This is one of the most unique and great experiences I have ever found in the city. I love the venue so even when the immersive theatre isn't around other shows have been good as well. I'm excited every time I get to go and try to bring as many people as I can. the only supposed bad thing is that it is hard to describe to people what it is like, you just have to bring them. So if you are on the fence, just do it, it will be worth it.

We purchased tickets to see Kevin Blake perform, but when the show started, we were informed that a different performer would be substituting for him. This change was made without any prior notice or explanation, which felt misleading. The entire experience was frustrating because we paid to see a specific performer, and the substitution without advance warning made it feel like a waste of time. If I had known, I would not have attended. Very disappointing overall. Just be careful when u purchase tickets. It might end with a different performer

I loved the experience and the whole atmosphere. I appreciated some tips from my friend so i knew what to expect. The music, acting, singing and the lively upbeat was exactly what i wanted for that evening. I hope you guys will come back

15 of us went for the Sat nt "show". If you bring 15, you get an extra private 1.5hr before the "public" can show up. Everyone was dressed up in their 1920's garb. This was one of the most fun nights we can all remember. Everything was spot on: actors, cabaret show, gambling room, open bar, drinks, etc etc. I would come again in a heartbeat as there is so much to do--we didn't even get to a few other activities in the Speakeasy--next time!!

I took a group of friends and family here last weekend. What a fun night out. We danced, sang, and even improvised a bit with the performers. The drinks were strong and the chorus girls were gorgeous. I experienced this production in 2019 but it feels like they have really optimized it. The show seems tighter that I remember from the previous run but has a lot of the same characters. I counted 17 performers in total? We bought the VIP package and it was worth the spend. Folks were dressed to the nines and we met a lot of other guests throughout the night. I'd def reccomend this to anyone who loves interactive arts.

This is a slightly winding review and one I am bummed to write. I had purchased tickets and convinced friends to attrend The Speakeasy's NYE party, despite a very hefty price tag. A few weeks before, my mother entered hospice care. I did not expect a refund and didn't get one, that's fine, I get it that all sales are final. In the end, I gifted the $500 ticket to a good friend so she could attend with my wife. So while I was on the east coast with my parents, our friends set out to try and celebrate... Sadly, this was nothing like the Speakeasy events we had attended before. First, my wife and our friends were put in the wrong line, then asked to move around the block outside to enter. Mind you, they were all dressed up in festive attire. When they finally got in well after the appointed entry time, the booth I had paid extra for was occupied. They had to ask multiple times until someone finally asked the people to move. No one seemed in charge. A quote from one of our friends, "It was as if they were trying to make us feel not welcome!" They said the entertainment was only ok and the place not so busy, even, but they stuck it out until midnight. While I had been a fan of the Speakeasy since it opened, after all this and over $1000 later, I cannot recommend it to anyone.

Do you believe in Magic? Then you should go to The Illusionist, Kevin Blake! I am a lover of magic and I love being amazed! The Illusionist delivers this amazement and a bit of comedy too! Our bartender made delicious cocktails also! We didn't get the magic cocktails and I'm glad we didn't. One of the magic cocktails is a color changing one, but in the dim light, you can't see it change color. They are more expensive and not that magical. Someone correct me if I am wrong. Other than that, Five Stars!

Would not recommend hosting any event here, especially a wedding reception. The vendors themselves as well as James during the event were wonderful, but I cannot say anything else good about this place. The day of our event was a logistical nightmare. Every concern I had leading up to the event came true. There were no instructions for entering the venue beforehand to set up. A walk through and run of events should have been scheduled well in advance, instead, it just didn't happen at all. It was pure chaos and stress that could have been easily mitigated and wasted the beginning of our event time. There was no proactivity in managing the people traffic, no planning behind how to get 150+ people through one entry, which caused a long wait to get in and a line up the stairs that overflowed onto the sidewalk. There was a lack of guidance and signage, so many guests missed some key spaces entirely, which meant we paid for dessert and open bar that people didn't even know about. Communication was also extremely frustrating leading up to the event. Megan, our planner wasn't paying attention to details, making us resend information we already sent and other times there was a long gap in communication. Josh, our salesman, skimmed over simple details, like who was sending him an email. Josh touted that the venue was a one stop shop for everything, that I wouldn't need a planner, but that was just a sales tactic I fell for. He would say things verbally to make it sounds like he was really "helping" us out, he'd brush over the details and say to talk to the planner and then the planner would say to talk to Josh and I'd continue to get the run around. Overall, his attitude and tone was quite combative after we paid. There should have been clear guidance on food and drink guest count deadlines to avoid the overpayment that happened, since they don't believe in refunds after overpayments. We asked Josh to communicate with my husband and when emails were sent clearly signed by my husband, Josh would continue to address the emails to me and call me, every single time. The photographer was completely unqualified for the simple photo booth photos. She had no knowledge on how to quality control the photos--a simple test beforehand would have made it obvious that the photos were not acceptable. Our guests had to advise her on how to adjust the lighting multiple times and she still didn't get it. The worst part was that my husband has been consistently reaching out to Josh for 2 months now since the day after the reception and we still haven't received a response about receiving a digital copy of our wedding reception photos.

6 stars! Highly recommended! We went on Friday night and I already am asking who wants to go again with me before it closes June 29. This was a no-brainer because we love dressing up in Roaring 20's attire. We went on Friday because we didn't want/need to pay $100 more for an open bar on Sat. Plus we wanted to snap few photos with our "technical doodads" which is strictly forbidden on Sat. The emails after purchasing tickets already set the mood with the 20's bootlegger lingo, and instructions on how to meet your contact at a secret location with a specific phrase. The $50 extra for a Premium ticket (total $149 on a Friday) is totally worth it because you are sitting in the bar lounge earlier with a smaller group in an intimate setting (with a free glass of champagne), watching the show - piano, dancers, singer, band, etc., and watching the fun repartee between the players. They interact with the guests too which is fun! This goes on for an hour or so before the larger group wanders in. There is an option to purchase a photo in a photo booth (fun!), tarot card reading (we didn't opt for this), casino chips, and a reserved seat at the cabaret show (not necessary, see below). After the show, you can wander around between the casino, in hallways (and through a secret passage), to peek in at "tryouts" and a dressing room scene between the lounge singer and her husband/club manager. When you're walking around, the actors are mingling amongst you -acting out scenes - fights in the bar, sailor coming through, soliloquies, drunk barfly singing, etc. We didn't buy tickets for the cabaret show (2 showings), but if you line up in time, you can get an even better seat than the floor- at a raised curved counter arced around the floor with a better view. You really feel like you're at a real vaudeville cabaret show - very entertaining! I want to address some negative comments in other reviews which I don't think are warranted. There are complaints about prices - drinks - $16-18 is typical for SF, and they are *generous* and delicious pours FYI. We paid $149 pp for a premium ticket - 4+ hours of constant interactive entertainment - NEVER a dull moment. As my friend said - they paid $300pp for a music concert ticket and they just sat there! The costumes, the ambience, the props, the entertainment are all amazing. The way they got everyone out at the end was really fun, not rude at all. I don't want to give anything away, but it was part of the storyline, and how else are they going to close on time when it's so fun we wanted to stay? The only negative thing is that it looks like they haven't been here in SF in 5 years and it looks like it's not a regular annual event. So take advantage and go asap! Warning - no food there, and lots of liquor. So do what we did and eat beforehand so you don't drink on an empty stomach. They do provide plenty of free water at the bars so that's good. My friend said - this was the highlight of the year!

Came here Saturday night for my boys wedding celebration. not an SF fan so it was nice that the place is easy to get to and quick drop off and pickup option if you don't wanna drive. You walk down a few flight of stairs to a door you knock on and give a password. I like how the place is setup and designed. You have the main room and there is a room to the right that is all table games. That was very fun. The food was great. Felt like the service was good as well no complaints for me. Bathroom is clean which is great.

We recently went and had the BEST time! We had a slight issue with our tickets, and the team quickly helped me resolve as well. Can't wait to come again next year and can't recommend enough!

The venue changed the performer last minute which was disappointing. We paid to see Kevin, someone who participated on America's got talent but was then surprised at the venue with someone completely different. There was no notice prior to the event. The replacement was mediocre and only did the same tricks which eventually became very mundane and boring.

Good but way too short for the high price paid. Really didn't appreciate how they just kick you out right after the show. It's very rude and abrupt. Started yelling and pushing us out immediately. For the price paid, almost $300/couple, I expected to treated like a human. I don't understand why they don't let you stay and have another drink or at least just give you a minute. People would be happy and they would make more money.

I've been to The Speakeasy twice before Covid and was really excited when it finally opened back up. However, it is definitely not as good as it used to be. They need to bring back having bar tabs so you don't have to wait a long time in line for each drink. Phones should be taken away at the door like before. There were a lot of annoying guests just filming everything, so it didn't feel authentic. Actors often broke the 4th wall by saying they weren't allowed to do XYZ when "a scene was occurring". One actor straight up blocked me from entering a room because a scene was happening by saying "Stop!" and slamming the door in my face. I was reprimanded for not knocking on a door when entering when we were told we could walk in any door not marked "private" (and no this wasn't a part of the act). Drinks were mid and expensive. I feel ripped off to be honest. Do yourself a favor and skip this.

Once you abandon your cell phone and walk down the stairs, you are transported into another era - the 1920's Prohibition. We came with a big group, which was actually broken up because we all had different ticket times but that wasn't an issue at all because you are so engrossed in the experience that you are going to have an awesome time. We all dressed up in our most dapper outfits - flapper dresses, pearls, silk gloves, the works! It's wonderful because throughout the night you might be seated next to an actor or another patron. The venue has a cabaret, casino, and a bar. While you're exploring the venue (between watching the cabaret show), you stumble across little vignettes and see actors playing out a scene. The entire venue is cashless, so you set up your credit card tab, or "prescription" as they call it, ahead of time. That way you just show them your paper and they charge you at the end of the night. Great Gatsby lovers will go gaga for this experience! All in all, it was an amazing experience and my husband and I are looking forward to returning! When our friends from out of town come to visit, this is going to be our #1 recommendation!

Cool experience for people to try. The space is small, however, so it can get old/boring pretty quick once you've seen each room. The gambling isn't for real money. Not sure how there are pictures of inside (the ones from customers) on Yelp, but they no longer allow phones inside and you're required to turn it off in front of them and put it in a pouch.There's a photo booth inside but it was broken when we went so we couldn't take any pictures. The waitress at cabaret show never came by to take our drink order so we had to wave someone else down to take our order, which ended up being close to the end of the show. The actors were pretty good. Lots of drama throughout entire story line. I'd go back to show a friend, but not for my own entertainment.

Amazing service, great drinks. Angie, Johnny, and Alex made *the best* drinks for us! The comedy was hilarious

I am so sad to hear the Speakeasy is closing. We went in May 2019 for my birthday and the absolute best time. Drinks were fantastic, experience interactive, staff warm and friendly. I won't spoil the story lines but definitely check out each and every room and make sure to get their early if you want seats for the performance. We had so much fun, do yourself a favor and go before this spot is closes it doors!

This was an awesome experience with entertainment as well as the drinks We got the Thursday night showing since it's cheaper. Probably less crowded too. Not sure if it was really worth it to go to the earlier seating in the Casino. You just have more time to gamble with fake money. If we were to do it again, probably would want to get early seating in the Cabaret since it would seem like a show would be on at that point? Loved how you could go from one room to the next and see storylines take place. Repeat visits mean you would be seeing new stories if you follow different rooms. Action is happening even as you go through different corridors and have peepshow access to stages set up as dressing rooms and private offices Also loved how they would pull in audience members as part of the show. keeps you on your feet! I was surprisingly delighted by how much i enjoyed the old-timey banter at the cabaret. Cheesy jokes really made me laugh finally, the drinks are expensive but well made -- would've been disappointed if a speakeasy didn't deliver on good drinks

Wow! What an incredible experience! Impressive immersive theater! Went with a group of 9 friends and we all had SO much fun, even better than I had dreamed it would be. Get your costumes from Amazon (so cheap, but beautiful!) and grab a drink beforehand from a close by bar. Be ready to immerse yourself in the eye candy!!

WOW. This was an incredible experience. I highly recommend this for anyone who has even the slightest bit of love for the 1920's. So much better than I could ever hope for and I can't wait to come back! The immersive nature of this place is no joke, and they paid attention to so many tiny details that really made me feel like I traveled back in time - almost felt like a dream... At first, I expected all of the acting to be somewhat cheesy but a few of the scenes that we encountered really had me engaged and lost in the drama. I know they have become a little bit more lax on the dress code recently, but honestly the costumes are half of the immersive experience so I highly recommend going in costume.

I've been wanting to come here for as long as I've known of its existence. Based on the description, the emails, the photos, it clearly had a Sleep No More vibe, which is probably one of the best shows of all time. Unfortunately, it did not live up to expectations. Not even close. Came here on their Halloween weekend, which I know is a slightly different experience than their usual, but since they charged the same and decided to put it on, I should be able to judge it by the same standards. The bad: The place is small. Within 10 minutes we felt like we had seen every part of it. After several more hours of wandering, we realized we were pretty much right. Paying for experiences was both a hassle and consistently put us out of the 1920s feel. When you have guys with clipboards asking to check your ticket at every door, it's hard to lose yourself in the moment. When those guys give you inconsistent and contradictory instructions, it starts feeling like a bad Disneyland ride. My advice: Double the price of the event and make everything included. Instead of paper tickets, give people a key or a keepsake as their way to get in and to get charged for drinks/food. Only ask for an entry key once, if you have a problem with people sneaking in, then beef up security at the door rather than asking patrons to keep re-showing their tickets. Have more actors with lines who interact and less who just stumble around and around the room without adding much. Have a dress code, and enforce it. Too many people came looking like they were going hit up a Hollywood club. Don't charge $35 for a photograph. Every single person in the room has a phone that can hold over fifty thousand photos. Don't encourage us to use our phones (and the annoying flash) by placing ridiculous prices on your house photographer. I think this place could be awesome and I would love a Sleep No More type experience on the West Coast. But as-is, it's not worth the money or the hassle.

I came here last night with a group of 3. The overall experience was great and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to do something new and fun. I am always looking to try new things and go new places in the city. I found this place while searching a bit online. After you buy the tickets they email you a "secret location" to meet and try in several ways to keep it as authentic as possible to the 1920's era while still having fun and giving them reasons to charge you $$$. Pros: There are three main rooms to explore and 3 smaller ones. Each room has its own "show" going on and you are free to come and go as you please. Cocktail attire and or 1920s attire is required but 98% of the people there were in 1920s and really got into the process. It was an overall good time and a step away from a normal night out. It was a semi unique experience and the shows were entertaining. Cons: We started in the casino where they took our coats and gave us the house rules. Besides the rules we were not given much information on how to best experience the evening. Since you are free to come and go and the shows are all going on at once we were not really sure if the story was rotating or if the same story went from start to finish in each room. As we moved about we always had a bit of fomo either of our story not being over or what we may be missing in the next. As I got to some places it seemed that the stories may have been connected but I still do not know if we stayed in the right places for the right amount of time if we would have seen an entire show sequentially the way they meant for us to see it. Price: the show prices range and the drinks do as well which you would expect but since they make you create a tab ahead of time by the end of the night you may not know exactly how much you are spending. I don't mind paying for those but the things that bother me a bit are the $10 fee for casino chips (which seem like part of the showing since you are paying for the experience and you should play a little) and the $35 fee for the photo. Towards the end of the night after a few drinks and seeing most of the show we came across a line of people and of course we had to ask what for. They said it was a photo and since you are not allowed to bring phones inside we thought why not. Little did we know after a 15 minute line commitment we were waiting for a $35 black and white 5x7 (only 1 pic for 3 girls). All in all I would recommend but I do not feel the need to go back unless another group of friends really wanted to check it out. I would suggest dressing up and making the most of it.

The Speakeasy was an amazing experience last year around Halloween. Loved the Halloween-themed decor and a very talented live band that does 20's style music. The requirement for us to lock our phones away really contributed to the whole feeling of mystery. My friend and I had a lovely time. What I didn't really like was the ratio of actors versus audience. There were way too many audiences and too little actors, that really contributed to my impression that the Speakeasy lacked interactive theatre feels. With quarantine in place, I really miss being able to dress up all nice and fancy and go to some "mystery" entertainment venue. When quarantine is over and it is safer to go out, I would love to pay another visit to the Speakeasy.

We were very fortunate to have been guests at a private function at the Speakeasy and we enjoyed the experience immensely. The staff, servers, and managers were professional and friendly. They made us feel immediately at ease and appreciated. You enter the Speakeasy through a grandfather clock so you know what's on the other side is going to be a good time (pun intended). The venue is classy retro-chic-meets-steampunk. Our party started in the lovely main stage area with a highlight of the company's progress through the years. The presentations left everyone in a joyous mood, ready for a party. We continued to a bar/dining room where excellently mixed cocktails were served very quickly -- we love it when the bartender flames the orange zest into the drinks. Tasty hors d'ouevres were spread out and enjoyed as the wonderful trio sang and played the piano and banjo for us! The remainder of the night was spent in the gaming hall where we enjoyed playing Black Jack, Craps, and Roulette. Even though no real money changed hands, the feeling was just as exciting as a trip to an old, hidden casino. Everyone was dressed up which only added to the vibe. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and highly recommend the Speakeasy for a perfectly entertaining evening!

One of the joys of partaking in something surprisingly special and unique is to have the experience unfold, revealing the unexpected. Were I to say too much about The Speakeasy, it would only serve to lessen the experience for you. In that regard, and counter to every other thing that gets written up on yelp I'd suggest you refer to the SF Chronicle's top-rated Speakeasy review (of 12/23/16) as well as the overall rating that yelpers have assigned to the experience (almost 5 stars, based on upwards of 130 reviews). Based on this and this only, stop reading and decide if it's for you. It's no fun to experience a surprise when you've already read all about it. Are you going? Okay then, this is for you (no spoilers, promise): * The Speakeasy will run you about $85 per ticket though discount tickets can sometimes be obtained on the Today Tix app. Add-ins can run the cost up even higher. I purchased better seats for the cabaret (unnecessary) which added $10 per person to the ticket cost. * The illicit bar/crooked casino/immersive theatrical experience runs a full 3 hours. When purchasing your ticket you'll choose a starting location (I chose the bar, naturally). You might also choose your second location. After that, all bets are off. There are at least 4 distinct areas to experience as many times as desired, always with something new and different going on. There's also things to experience in the hallways and behind several hidden doorways. So move around, follow people, and observe keenly for the best experience. * I enjoyed sitting in the bar and the cabaret, just watching the activity. Another option is to move around more, following a character from one space to the next, so that you can better understand their "story". If you don't follow a character from the onset, it will likely be difficult to understand their story arc. * The theme here is Speakeasy so break out the appropriate garb. This is not the place for your bodycon dress. Instead, think flapper attire and maybe stop nearby, for a cocktail before the show; it's fun to see everyone in the local bars, pre-show, all decked out for a bygone era. * Your credit card is on file. Once inside, no money changes hands. The cocktails in the bar are good, and run about $13. Nibbles can be had in the Cabaret for $8 and up. All purchases will be tallied and a record of your total charges will be emailed to you the following day. * Your phone goes into a sealed bag where it must remain from time of entry 'til departure. You'll live. I wasn't over the top in love with The Speakeasy but I appreciated its uniqueness and execution, and was entertained by it and, in that regard, I can say that neither the Chronicle critic nor the yelp community is wrong. The Speakeasy makes for a fun and different, immersive evening of theater.

We went from a kitschy "cheesy" cabaret scene in one room to watching a woman get "1920s sexually assaulted" in another to a "drunk" woman showing us dance time period dance moves in another room. I don't mind disjointed non-linear narrative theater... (I loved Sleep No More for goodness sake and was warned the Speakeasy was "different")... but I just could not wrap my head around why people love this show so much! I get that there is a dark underbelly to the "glamour" of the 1920s, but it all felt a little too disconnected and forced. My hubby and I bought a lot of the extra "add ons": casino chips, drinks, seats, photos. Playing blackjack was fun -- and there were "scenes" even when we hadn't gone looking them -- but all that money (including the money spent on period piece attire) didn't really add up to all of the hype around the show. A lot of people seemed to be enjoying themselves, but yeah, not a show I'd go back to experience again.

The other reviews that mention earlier entry or preferred seating as being unimportant are correct. Do what you can to buy discounted tickets to Speakeasy if you decide to go, it is not worth the full price. While the production value of the party is high, the experiential value of it is not. Suggestions: either make the casino chips worth something like discounts on drinks or make them easier to win by using mechanical dice so everyone gets more excited. The constant interruption of the performances in the casino were distracting and got stale very quickly. Instead, think about intermixing them into the party, like having the pit boss come around and talk with real people, same with the other actors! The other rooms were also just a lot of sitting around, find ways to involve the audience more or let them move about freely.

A friend of mine brought me to The Speakeasy for my birthday and my mind was blown! It was so much fun dressing up and meeting my party for dinner. When we walked down the street to find our clandestine contact, people stopped us and asked where we were going. Soon, we saw other groups dressed in 20s wear going in all different directions -- turns out there are four discreet entrances. The whole experience of being checked in and escorted into the "clock shop" was so much fun. Everyone turns off the technological doohickeys so there's breaking the illusion once you're in there. I was so happy to see that EVERYONE dresses up and some people really go out. After climbing through a grandfather clock, we entered the Speakeasy. Immediately, you are immersed in this world of intrigue. The drama is happening all around you! I don't want to say too much because it's amazing and you need to experience it for yourself. Suffice it to say that I had a friend in from out of town the next weekend and I knew I had to take her there! I managed to get tickets -- they do sell out and they stop selling them on the site 24 hours in advance (so you have to email and wait for them to call you back). It is a bit expensive -- $115 including fees -- and doesn't include drinks. If you buy chips, you don't win money but the gambling is fun and puts you front and center of the drama. You don't have to drink either though the drinks are fairly reasonable. Anyway, plan to eat in advance -- they just have a few snacks available to order, be there for three hours (trust me, you won't want to leave!), and be relieved of your phone addiction for a few blissful hours. It's like being in a movie and is such a wonderful escape from modern life.

I've seen better immersive theater at a community college... and certainly spent less money on it. If you want to hang out with a bunch of tech bros who think taking a date here will make them seem interesting, this is the place for you. PS I'm also so bored with this fetishization of Gatsby culture. The point of that book is that everything goes to shit in the end. The understaffing and lack of imagination ensures that this experience starts off pretty mediocre and gets shittier as the night goes on.

WOW! What a magical night! The Speakeasy went above and beyond expectations, the actors were brilliant and the detail was impressive. No matter what, everyone will have a unique experience as the immersive play surrounds you and can shift and change depending on what room you're in. It's fun following the story line and comparing notes with your friends at the end. Quick tips: - book the cabaret as your first stop. - you don't need to book a table for the whole night, it's not necessary, just do it for the first scene. You can always go back and sit at a non-reserved table. - definitely get a casino chip. The casino was a lot of fun! - dressing in period is a must!! Everyone goes all out so it's hard to tell who's an actor and who's a spectator. - if you're doing an early show get a late lunch or a quick bite to eat beforehand. - book book book!! You won't regret it!

We set up a corporate event at The Speakeasy, and it is one of the best events we have done. The staff was very friendly and helpful in setting up the event for us, the venue was a lot of fun and very authentic, and the actors worked hard to make us comfortable and entertain us all night. We had a great time getting our 1920's outfits ready beforehand, and also discovering all the side plots in the show itself. The whole event had a great 1920's ambiance, with lots of separate areas to explore, like the bar, the cabaret, the casino, and more. Sometimes we couldn't tell the actors from the audience! We are still discussing and swapping notes on everything that happened that night. I highly recommend this for group events. Definitely get the casino chips and cabaret reservations in advance, and get a group picture early in the evening; we were glad we did! Followup: I decided to take my fiancee to see the Mother's Day show, and we had a wonderful time! I can vouch for the fact that it is worth going to see the show a second time - I saw so much more the second time that I had missed the first; I think I will need to go a few more times to fully appreciate the experience. Once again, the cast worked hard to make the experience enjoyable and unique, and responded playfully to our enthusiasm. I can now personally recommend this for both group events and as an individual - you must go!

Holy cow what an experience!!!! Do do do get whatever ticket you can find and go. You'll want to go again and follow other characters thru the night. It's incredibly well produced and unlike anything in the emersive theater realm that I've ever experienced. Highly recommended Strong drinks (buy at least three and see if you can keep up), incredible performances, superb production all around. Go. Do this. Take friends. Explore any door or panel that doesn't say private. Be quite and just experience....even in the freakin bathroom!!!! Everything is fair game and you'll truly start to feel like you have stepped into the prohibition era. Man. I'm floored. It was awesome. Join us the next time we go; we'd love to introduce you to something super cool!

If you've been to Sleep No More and you are expecting a similar experience here, read on. Long story short, it's pretty different. I'm one of the people who were swept off their feet by Sleep No More and due to the excellent experience there, became interested in the Speakeasy. In its essence, both shows fall in the same category of immersive theater, but otherwise, to me at least, the experience is very different. For one, Sleep No More's main story arch is more a combination of horror and intrigue as compared to The Speakeasy, which falls more in the genre of historical fiction. If you enjoy solving mysteries and occasionally elements of horror, you won't really find that at The Speakeasy. However, you will find more straightforward story lines and humor, lots and lots of jokes. They are more keen to make you laugh and have a good time then to scare you. The most scary/twisted scenes are nothing compared to ones in Sleep No More (which are more raw and disturbing) The Speakeasy performance also focuses more on character interactions. They really make sure you feel as if you a part of the world in which the actors dwell. The actors will often try to make eye contact, ask you questions, get you involved, whereas in the Sleep No More, very rarely do actors interact with you, and for the most part as a viewer, you act as imaginary observers of their world, not participants in them, which was the case in the Speakeasy where Actors were actively aware of your existence. Sleep No More also features a mix of interpretative dancing and acting, but not so much singing. (at least from what I recall) There is a lot of singing and dancing at the Speakeasy, but nothing as abstract as interpretative dancing. Some other differences include the fact that scenes don't shift over time at the Speakeasy. In Sleep No More, scenes often change, things gets moved around, the same area you visited before, could look very different when you visit it again. Additionally, there is much more ground covered in the Sleep No More show as compared to the Speakeasy, which features ~6-7 main areas. It took my bf and I very little time to discover all the areas, after that we kept on expecting more rooms or areas to open up, but they didn't, which made the exploration part kind of boring. This is solely my experience however, my BF preferred the Speakeasy more to his Sleep No More experience which he found to be too abstract. Overall, I'm just happy that more of this style of entertainment is available! P.S. As other people wrote in their reviews, don't get the premium tickets. They don't offer much additional except small complimentary drinks. Other than that, the "premium" seating is not that useful. We were placed too awkwardly in the front in the bar and it actually made it even more difficult to enjoy the show as they stuffed us to share a table with another couple right next to the piano area. I had to crane my neck backwards to see what was going on. Probably was better to actually sit further back.

The Speakeasy is epic! I had an amazing time. The whole thing was so much fun. From getting dressed up like a flapper to the very end of the night. I highly recommend dressing up in the 1920's attire. This was a pretty pricey deal though. We paid like $300 for a table for the entire night ($100/hr), plus $75 for drinks, $100 for renting costumes, and $35 for the optional photo. First off, we did NOT rent costumes from them so I have no idea what the rates are here. We got a male (gangster) and a female (flapper) from a dance store in San Rafael (total for both was $100). I highly recommend getting the picture. The photographer will pose you, take a few shots and hook you up with the best one. This is great since you can't bring a phone (which I loved not seeing cell phones everywhere). That would've absolutely ruined it for me. I think the table was unnecessary, tbh. Although it was nice to have a place to come back and sit down every once in a while. I don't recommend wearing high heels if you're not used to walking around in them. I made that mistake and wouldn't wish it upon my worst enemy. Every time we came back to sit at the table, I noticed we could just sit wherever there was a free one and no one checked if we paid for it or for how long. I'm pretty sure anyone can just sit wherever. At the beginning of the night there was the most people watching the show in the cabaret. During that time it would be good to have a table reserved. The show went on for the whole time we were there. The performers were great, and really gave it an authentic feel. I really felt like this is exactly what it would've been like to go to a speakeasy back in the day. I can't judge the food or drinks because I just had water. I did peek at the menu and it was mostly appetizers and drinks. They did have like one sandwich I think. It did not look like people come here for the food. I didn't see much and we went out to dinner before. We did arrive fashionably late because we missed their last email giving us instructions on how to get in. So, we ended up going to the location marked here on Yelp and it was way off. I'm pretty sure they don't want their exact location disclosed and they were very secretive about the whole thing. That slightly complicated things but added to the authentic vibe. Overall, the performers and everyone who we came across went out of their way to make this fun and as realistic as possible. I will absolutely go again!

Incredible transportation to the time period of the 1920s! Dress UP, drink up, and engage yourself with talent and a true experience that will make you forget you're in San francisco. Love it! Purchase tickets online well ahead of time!

What an experience for a date night or with a small group! The drinks are great - there are some snacks available inside. You start with a seated experience for a while and then roam around by yourself. If you've been to Speak No More in NYC, this is pretty different - there is considerably less walking, scenes to sit in and also the scenes aren't connected. There are scenes where you could sit and enjoy a drink while watching the talented actors take you away to the prohibition era. No phones allowed inside, they give you a pouch to put your phone in which is then locked by them.

A tremendous evening out, and a difficult review to write because there were so many superlatives. You descend into a hidden place tucked quietly away just beyond the unsuspecting tourist and local hubbub of the neighborhood, and it's like walking through a time machine. The cell phones disappear into locked bags (thankfully!) that stay tucked securely away until the end of the evening. And then it begins. You are in a 1920's speakeasy, with all the entertainment and human drama imaginable. The promotional prose on the web site has got it right - it's immersive, and you are in the show, and a lot is going on around you. Do what you can to dress up to match the time and place - and the costumer recommended on the web site do fantastic work. The better costumed and more engaged you are, the more chance you'll find yourself in a scene. So many great, intertwined story lines going on in so many rooms. Plus the storylines you create with the other guests. For the extroverted, there's plenty of opportunity to become part of the scene. For the more reserved, there's so much to observe, experience, and take in. The major scenes are intense, but keep your eyes on the small details even from the very start. The actors/entertainers have it dialed in - they are convincing, interesting, and carry the night. And they keep things in constant motion, with stories unfolding everywhere, all the time. Sadly, it came to an end far too soon. We could have stayed hours more. We'll be back.

Great way to spend a birthday or a special night out with a group of your favorite flapper girls and gangsters. Entertaining SpeakEasy with the shows moving from room to room as you follow the action or discover more new characters. Dress up and go with the flow. Enjoy some classic cocktails in the bowels of San Francisco.

They have you put your phone away at the beginning, but then they charge $35 for a photo. I loved that the experience was unplugged for everyone but then at least offer free or reasonably priced photos since that's the only option for getting one. They also close off the entries and exits to all rooms around 15 minutes before the end of the show, with no warning, so I was stuck alone after going to the bathroom for the last part of the show.

What a blast after a hard day at work. Nice staff, bartenders are awesome! Strong drinks with a strong side of much needed humor. This is our new girls hang out for now. You drink and talk and tell stories. It's just got that atmosphere to hang and chill.

I love that they lockdown cellphones when you check in so you are in-the-moment for 3-4 hours and experience the magic of this Speakeasy experience. It's an amazing experience.

Done this twice and loved every minute of it! I highly recommend doing this! Was so fun to get dressed up and hang out in a nice space - you get to be entertained and also participate in this unique experience. Its fun to wander through the various areas (bar, casino, cabaret, dressing room, etc.) to witness the various stories that unfold. So much better than just sitting and watching a show. But you can do that instead - the cabaret has a constantly changing show of entertainers (singing, dancing, comedy) of the period you could just choose to sit and watch the whole time, but you'd really be missing out by not exploring! Exciting to guess who is an actor and who is an audience member since you usually can't tell since everyone is in period dress (actually very easily found and relatively affordable on Amazon). Tip - order a drink and casino chips before you get there (they'll give you an option to set up a tab in advance since no cash or cards are accepted during the event to keep with the period theme). You'll have fun using the chips at the gaming tables (roulette, black jack, and craps) but they don't have any value so just fun to have some to play with. Do this! :-)

Abosolutly fantastic!!!!! It was completely realistic and interactive. and we loved every moment from finding the man in the yellow hat to every one who kept in character throughout the rooms. We went to the Cabernet room first and my husband was Dick, a famous person that people kept asking autographs from. The lighting was a bit dark and I accidentally ordered desserts instead of a drink. I think the writing on the menu should've been bigger because of the lighting but the lightening was good for the atmosphere. I did finally order my first drink of the night as recommended by the patron next to me. It was really good. Moving onto the next room, the bar, they had their own show going on. It was wonderful to watch. The waitress recommended a drink that I absolutely loved. It was on the sweet side just how I like it. It gave me a really good buzz that lasted the rest of the night. The 3rd room was the Casino in which my husband had a great time gambling and our dealer was really funny. He even said he wished he could stay longer if he could. I wish we could've taken pics inside but understand why. We left the night very satisfied. In the morning I finally got the itinerary of what we spent and I thought that it was over priced. A 3 piece desert was nearly 10 dollars, 1 macaroon, a small pastry with filling, and a half finger of something else. The 2 drinks I ordered were both between 16-19 dollars for the size that look like it should be for sample tastings. Even the beer my husband ordered which was the cheap east item on our bill was still quite expensive cuz he's s cup looked like it could be a tasting sample. We definitely had a good time and glad we ate before arriving cuz we prolly would've spent more on their food. Should we come again, which we might. I'll remember to drink before hand then enjoy everything else.

Fun! I would describe this as an immersive, interactive play. This is great for all ages. There were several people there by themselves just to watch the characters, and several there who mentioned it wasn't their first time. For those organizing groups- We had some issues with everyone buying their own tickets so I'd maybe buy everyone's tickets and have them Venmo me next time. Kristen was AMAZING for helping to sort everything out. Everyone was wowed when we walked around and got pulled in for special things. I'd always kind of have a meeting point to get back to if you're trying to coordinate. The man on the moon picture only holds eight people so we split our group up for photos. Also, may want to let your guests know this is not a true bar experience- speaking quiet is really encouraged- and the goal is not to get drunk but slightly tipsy. Also- tip for this with medical devices connected to your phone, remember to bring another monitor so they can take your phone. We went to Tamarind Hall (walking) before and they were not able to get us within 1 h and 20 mins so get there extra early, we went to 15 romolo after- which was perfect and you can make a table reservation there. From beginning to end the staff was super helpful!