Mr. Tipple's Recording Studio is a jazz club and cocktail bar at 39 Fell Street near San Francisco's Civic Center, on the edge of Hayes Valley. It books live jazz on every night it is open, which SF Station and JazzNearYou both flag as the draw.
The room
The bar is a low-lit, intimate room built around the bandstand, with the look of a vintage recording studio that gives it its name. Tables sit close to the players, so the music carries rather than competes with the crowd. Yelp reviewers describe a date-night atmosphere where the band, not a television, is the focus.
What to order
This is a craft-cocktail bar first, so order off the cocktail list rather than asking for a beer, and expect spirit-forward drinks priced for a downtown jazz room. There is usually a one-drink or table minimum tied to the show, so plan for two rounds across a set. The bartenders keep the menu seasonal.
Who it is for
Mr. Tipple's fits anyone after live jazz with a real cocktail, a date that wants a soundtrack, or a drink before or after a show at the nearby symphony and opera houses. Skip it if you want a loud, late party room, since the music sets the pace and the seating is tight.
Best time to go
The bar opens Wednesday through Sunday and stays dark on Monday and Tuesday, with earlier seatings midweek and later ones on Friday and Saturday per the official site. Sets fill the small room, so book ahead for weekend shows. An early weeknight seating is the calmer way to catch a band.
The neighbourhood
Mr. Tipple's sits on Fell Street between Hayes Valley and Civic Center, steps from the symphony, the opera, and the Hayes Valley restaurant row. The location makes it a natural bookend to a night at the performing-arts center. Van Ness and Civic Center transit are both a short walk away.
The bottom line
Mr. Tipple's Recording Studio is a nightly jazz bar and cocktail room near Civic Center, an intimate space where the band sits close and the drinks are made to order. SF Station and JazzNearYou treat it as one of the city's reliable live-jazz rooms. Book a weekend set, plan for a couple of cocktails, and let the music run the evening.
Keep exploring with our Live Music in San Francisco guide, the full San Francisco bar guide, and our edit of live music bars worldwide. Pair Mr. Tipple's Recording Studio with Keys Jazz Bistro in San Francisco, Cafe du Nord in San Francisco, and Club Fugazi in San Francisco.
Sources: Mr. Tipple's official site (2026); SF Station; JazzNearYou listings; Yelp reviews (n=490); Google Maps reviews.
