I enjoy the Elbo Room on a Sunday night. The music upstairs is dub and reggae and pretty good. It gets packed in there so be prepared. Usually runs around 5-10 bucks for the cover. I agree with the review below though also that sometimes I go here and hate it...and sometimes I have a great time. Just seems to depend on the night. I have heard also that their happy hour goes until 9:00 whch is a great deal!

There are times when I love this bar and times that I hate it. If you get there early, you can usually get on one of the two pool tables and it isn't too crowded. However, if you are there after 10pm it is unbearably crowded. I'm generally not claustraphobic, but I felt that way in this bar because it was so crowded. There is also a room upstairs where you can see live music. That in itself is a positive. The huge negative about the upstairs area is that it is incredibly hot and the wait for a beer is very long. So, if you're looking for a quiet after work place, this is a good spot. But, if you don't like crowds, be prepared to leave by 10.

The mainstay bar of the Mission District. Downstairs is a typical bar, with decent music, a lively crowd, relatively cheap beer (they serve Sol beer which is a plus), and a pool table. Upstairs is the live music venue, where you can almost always catch an interesting band. The cover charge to go upstairs is typically $5-6. There is usually Brazilian music on Tuesdays, salsa on Thursdays, and everything else imaginable on other nights. I saw a hip hop / ska band there on a Friday, and was impressed with both the quality of the musicians and the venue. If you are in the Mission, this is definitely a place to check out.

When the Elbo Room plays Latin Jazz, Salsa, or Merengue, it is a lot of fun. I love it when the dance floor is full of ladies willing to dance. Drinks are a bit pricy, but if you want to "Salsa," this is the spot.

I have been there once and liked the overall atmosphere. It is a mixed crowd so you always feel comfortable. I have been to places where there is only one race and felt weird because I was different. Not at the Elbo Room. They have different themed nights with live bands. The music is good and the place is fun. The only things is that too many people go there so it tends to get crowded. Also, the music can get too loud at times, making it hard to pick up girls.

The Elbo Room is a good bar with good music. The crowd is pretty mellow and normal. It is a good place to hear live music and hang out.

I've been to the Elbo Room on Thursday's when they have salsa night. The atmosphere, environment, and mood is great. Everyone I've met at the Elbo Room were really nice. They had a live band play and they were terrific. Drinks were reasonably priced. I liked the location. Not as commercial as other hot spots in Downtown SF. They even let you go outside to smoke without hassle of getting back in. By the end of the night I was soaking wet with sweat because of the hype music and positive energy.