Vibe: Art Deco Elegance | Cinematic Speakeasy | “Golden Age” Jazz Lounge
The History
Tucked away in a small alleyway beside the Palace Hotel, the Dawn Club is a resurrection of one of the most important venues in American jazz history. Originally opened as a speakeasy in 1933, it became the epicenter of the “Great Jazz Revival” in the 1940s. It was the home base for Lu Watters and his Yerba Buena Jazz Band, whose “San Francisco Style” was broadcast via long-wave radio to troops throughout the Pacific during WWII. After closing in 1946, the space remained dormant for 77 years until the Future Bars group (the team behind Local Edition and Bourbon & Branch) painstakingly restored it to its former glory in 2023.
The Vibe
Entering the Dawn Club feels like walking onto the set of a 1940s noir film. The space is a masterclass in Art Deco design, featuring:
The Atmosphere: A sleek, expansive room with glowing tableside lamps, velvet booths, and an iconic checkerboard dance floor (though now primarily used for seating).
The Aesthetic: The walls are adorned with original vinyl records of the “Air Shots” recorded at the club during the 1940s and historical memorabilia that pays homage to the Yerba Buena Jazz Band era.
The Lighting: Dim, moody, and sophisticated, it’s designed to make every guest feel like they’ve stepped back into a world of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.
Live Jazz & Fine Spirits
Music and spirits share top billing at the Dawn Club, which was designed with studio-quality acoustics to ensure every note is heard clearly.
Live Music: There is live jazz every single night, typically beginning at 8:00 PM. The programming focuses on the Bay Area’s most accomplished jazz musicians, ranging from traditional swing trios to contemporary quartets and soul-jazz ensembles.
The Whiskey Collection: The back bar features a massive “wall of whiskey” that was 15 years in the making. It includes rare, out-of-production, and highly allocated bottles that are often unavailable elsewhere. They offer a “flight program” served on custom tasting trays with hand-cut ice.
The Cocktails: The drink menu focuses on post-Prohibition classics and modern interpretations, crafted with the same precision found at sister-bar Bourbon & Branch.
Know Before You Go
The “Music Fee”: While there is no cover charge for the bar area, table reservations after 7:00 PM require a per-person fee. This fee is distributed 100% to the musicians performing that evening.
No Food: There is no kitchen on-site. It is strictly a cocktail and music lounge, so dining at a nearby spot like The Garden Court or The Sentinel is recommended before your visit.
Reservations: Highly recommended if you want a guaranteed table with an unobstructed view of the stage. The bar area is open for walk-ins on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Entrance: Located on Annie Street, a pedestrian alleyway just off Market Street. Look for the vintage-style neon marquee.
Christopher Gamper, an immensely versatile, dynamic, and talented drummer who goes way beyond genres and stylistic boundaries. About his performance: Gamper’s versatility, dynamics, passion, and precision were on full display. He is clearly a formidable collaborator, a chameleon who ingeniously adapts and shapes the music and mood of the song in symbiotic relationship to the...
Adam Klipple, who has been described as "a standout pianist who has gone to school on McCoy Tyner and Cecil Taylor and earned his degree," plays piano, Hammond organ, sampler, and a variety of vintage keyboards. He currently is a member of the legendary jazz rock band Blood, Sweat & Tears. He also currently performs...
Ladies and Gentemen, introducing Fog City Swing! The bay area's newest and hottest swing band featuring an electrifying three horn front line, stellar crooning vocals, and a swing till you drop rhythm section. This seven piece ensemble will transport you to the 1940’s, it is truly the world’s smallest big band! Fog City Swing is...
Alan Jones is a 21 year-old Bassist and Composer from Denver, Colorado dedicated to honoring the legacy of Black American Music through performance and composition. He has shared the stage with greats such as Matt Wilson, David Sanchez, Ed Simon, Christopher Clarke, Carmen Bradford, Chad Lefkowitz-Brown, Kristen Strom, and Keith Oxman. He currently studies with...
Silver Bell Jazz Band inspires dancers and listeners all over the Bay Area. The band specializes in ragtime, blues, swing, and dixieland from the early 20th century. They’re known for their authenticity and dedication to the craft as well as their foot-tapping energy.
Jinx Jones Biography (Jazz Trio) "Jinx is a guitar virtuoso who seamlessly moves from rockabilly to jazz to twang and back again, sometimes in the same song. Those with a liner note obsession will remember Jinx’s playing on En Vogue’s “Free Your Mind.” (San Francisco Chronicle) Jinx Jones boasts a prolific career spanning from the...
Jazz trumpeter/steelpan musician Chris Aschman enjoys a multi-faceted career as a performer, educator, studio musician, and arranger. A Baltimore native, Chris segued to Philadelphia to study jazz trumpet at the University of the Arts in 2004 and became a mainstay in the Philly scene. Since this time he has enjoyed a diverse career, having shared...
Ladies and Gentemen, introducing Fog City Swing! The bay area's newest and hottest swing band featuring an electrifying three horn front line, stellar crooning vocals, and a swing till you drop rhythm section. This seven piece ensemble will transport you to the 1940’s, it is truly the world’s smallest big band! Fog City Swing is...
Max Ehrhardt is a Oakland based trumpet player and educator dedicated to spreading music and creativity into the Bay-Area community. Growing up in programs like Oaktown Jazz Workshops and earning his undergraduate degree at the University of the Pacific under the instruction of Joe Mazzaferro, Max has accumulated a wealth of musical experience spanning multiple...
The N. T. B. Collective is a Bay Area based jazz fusion group merging sounds and styles from all over the world. The N.T.B. trio, which will be featured for this event, is comprised of drums, bass, and piano. Each musician is highly accomplished; coming together to generate a unique musical energy. N.T.B. has been...
Sheldon Alexander is a professional drummer, educator, and composer from the bay area that specializes in Jazz, R&B, Funk, Soul and other Afro-Rooted genres. With his strong musical background, he received his undergraduate degree from the prestigious California Jazz Conservatory in Berkley, California. Through dedication, passion, and an unwavering commitment to his craft, Sheldon has...
Alan Jones is a 21 year-old Bassist and Composer from Denver, Colorado dedicated to honoring the legacy of Black American Music through performance and composition. He has shared the stage with greats such as Matt Wilson, David Sanchez, Ed Simon, Christopher Clarke, Carmen Bradford, Chad Lefkowitz-Brown, Kristen Strom, and Keith Oxman. He currently studies with...
