Destination: Mr Tipple's Recording Studio

Mr Tipple’s is our favorite place to kick back after a hard day’s work and escape the tourist traps to enjoy some simple, soulful music. Serving up live jazz every single night of the week, it’s ideal for your Sunday hair-of-the-dog as much as for your Friday-night excitement. 

Photo: Leslie C., Yelp

This dark, moody bar is conveniently situated at 39 Fell Street between Van Ness and Polk. Set up as part bar, part recording studio by a mysterious British entrepreneur, this easy going hang out is always cover free and always buzzing.

Photo: Mr Tipple's Recording Studio, Yelp

The music ranges from Miles to Coltrain to Django to Monk. This month, you can look forward to a range of Bop Jazz, soul, blues and Sunday Singer Sessions as well as a visiting jazz trio from Paris. And the food and drink isn’t bad either! Take your seat at one of the small tables surrounding the intimate stage and order from an extensive menu of cocktails (all $13) or beer (starting at $6).

Our favorites are the “Broken Record”, made with reposado, campari, lemon and grapefruit and “The House Jazz Built”, a wonderful concoction of their house sazerac on draft rye, peychaud’s, absinthe and lemon (and every time you buy this drink, $1 goes to help rebuild the SoundRoom in Oakland). Plus, there’s a concise but on the mark food menu, which includes the legendary Mr T’s Chicken & Waffles (with bourbon maple, of course) priced at $16. 

Photo: Mr Tipple's Recording Studio

There’s a $20 minimum spend for table service, but we think it’s more than reasonable to enjoy some of SF’s finest musicians in a cool, classy setting. It’s the perfect place for date night, a catch up with friends or a solo evening of exploring the amazing live music scene that San Francisco has to offer.