DNA Lounge

DNA Lounge is a nightclub, restaurant and café at 375 Eleventh Street, on the edge of San Francisco’s SoMa district. The building dates to 1920 and became the leather bar Chaps in 1983. Jim English, Jeff Mason and Brian Raffi opened DNA Lounge on November 22, 1985. Jamie Zawinski bought the club in 1999, then closed it for remodelling and soundproofing. It reopened on July 13, 2001, after work that also overhauled ventilation.

The two-level venue expanded into the floor above a neighbouring building, developing from two rooms into four, arranged as two separate two-room spaces. Its facilities include two stages and four dance floors, with the main room, an upstairs lounge and Above DNA, a live-music space over the adjoining pizza restaurant. The ground floor has a dance floor and VIP seating; upstairs are a balcony and a Mexican food kitchen. The club has three bars, while the restaurant receives a video feed from inside. The main room holds about 800 for live shows, while Above DNA accommodates about 300.

The main room’s DJ and live-music sound system had 17,000 watts in 2004, alongside a separate upstairs system. Its programme spans techno, house, disco and electro, with DJ events, live music and burlesque; some music nights admit all ages. Promoters include Pisces Music and AniClover. Artists who have played there include Creep-P, kors k, Maozon and W.T. Snacks. Since its 2001 reopening, the venue has provided continuous audio and video webcasts of its events.