PLAN YOUR VISIT
MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR EXPERIENCE
We want you to make the most of your experience before, during, and after a performance. We’ve curated these best tips to make your day or evening at San Francisco Ballet unforgettable.
And if you still have questions, SF Ballet Ticket Services is here to help. Call us at 415-865-2000, Mon–Fri, 10 am–4 pm. Or, you can also contact us.
GETTING HERE
The War Memorial Opera House is located at 301 Van Ness Avenue, at the corner of Grove Street in the San Francisco Civic Center neighborhood.
The War Memorial Opera House is a short walk from the Civic Center BART and MUNI stations as well as the Van Ness MUNI station. We highly encourage the use of public transportation in support of the City’s Transit First Policy. Bear in mind that parking in the Civic Center area can be limited, especially during performances, and entering a parking garage can be time-consuming during the hour before the performance starts. Consider arriving very early to park, and have dinner and drinks in the Opera House or in the neighborhood.
Plan your trip on BART.gov or call 650-992-2278.
Plan your trip on MUNI or call 415-701-2311.
For directions and up-to-date traffic reports, visit 511.org. Please allow for extra time when driving to the Opera House, or consider using public transportation.
The nearest parking garage to the San Francisco Ballet and the Opera House is the Performing Arts Garage. Civic Center Garage, Opera Plaza Garage, and UC Law SF Parking Garage are also nearby.
Take the stress out of finding parking by joining our Christensen Society for the exclusive benefit of reserved parking.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Navigating the Opera House easily
Make your experience at the Opera House a breeze. View our Seating Charts to make finding your seat(s) easier.
PROVIDING EASY ACCESS FOR ALL OUR VISITORS
We’re committed to being accessible to everyone.
Bringing kids to the ballet
Learn how to introduce your children to the joy of dance.
HAVE QUESTIONS?
Find answers to frequently asked questions on our FAQ page.
Experience the Majestic Opera House
Designed in the magnificent Beaux-Arts style by Arthur Brown Jr., architect of Coit Tower and City Hall, the War Memorial Opera House is one of three landmark buildings, along with the Veteran’s Building and Davies Symphony Hall, that make up the War Memorial Performing Arts Center. After opening its doors to audiences on October 15, 1932, the exquisite Opera House has been home to San Francisco Ballet since its earliest days. At the time of its construction, the stage complex was the largest and most technologically sophisticated in the United States—and its acoustics among the best in the world.
The Opera House played host to two historic events—the drafting of the charter of the United Nations in 1945, and the ceremony where the United States restored Japanese sovereignty in 1951.
Today, after seismic retrofitting following the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, the Opera House boasts state-of-the-art equipment, a refurbished interior graced with exquisite fixtures and furnishings, several elegant eateries, and refreshment bars located throughout the house.
Take A Virtual Tour of the Opera House
Building Information
Explore Dining & Cocktail Options at the Opera House
Whether you’re looking for a pre-performance meal, a festive glass of champagne at intermission, or a light snack, Global Gourmet Catering, the Opera House’s exclusive food and beverage services provider, has you covered. Global Gourmet operates several elegant eateries and concessions throughout our historic theater. Come early, relax, and take in the ambiance of San Francisco’s beloved Opera House.
PRELUDE AT THE OPERA HOUSE & BAR
Lower Lounge
Open two hours before every 7:30 pm, 8 pm, and 2 pm Sunday shows.
Enjoy a delicious culinary experience before your performance or during intermission. Pre-paid buffet dinners are available through OpenTable.
Prelude at the Opera House – San Francisco, CA via OpenTable
NORTH BOX RESTAURANT
Mezzanine Level, north side
Open two hours before every 7:30 pm and 8 pm shows.
Open one hour before every 2 pm Saturday matinee shows.
Note: Global Gourmet recommends patrons pre-order their meals.
Located on the north mezzanine level of the historic War Memorial Opera House overlooking the magnificent main lobby, North Box Restaurant offers California cuisine with global influences, created using locally sourced ingredients, and serves as an ideal destination for pre-performance and intermission dining for any Ballet guest.
North Box Restaurant – San Francisco, CA via OpenTable
CAFE EXPRESS
Lower Level, south side
Find fresh sandwiches, salads, and snacks. Plus, wine, beer, and beverages.
Intermission Bars
Every Level
Intermission Bars serve a tempting array of cocktails, wine, beer, snacks, gourmet sandwiches and salads. Enjoy fine food and beverages at bar locations on every level, or take in the view of the Main Lobby from the North Box Bar.
PRE-ORDER DRINKS AND FOOD
Avoid long lines during intermission by pre-ordering your intermission drinks at any bar or restaurant before the curtain goes up. Guests can preorder by emailing operahousepreorder@ggcatering.com.
Please note, a SF Health Mandate will be added to all checks to support employee benefits.
Policies
LATE SEATING
We sympathize with latecomers, but for the sake of the performers and other patrons, we won’t be able to seat you while a work is in progress during the Repertory Season. Latecomers will be asked to stand until the break, which might be during intermission. For Nutcracker performances, latecomers will be seated at the discretion of management.PHOTO & VIDEO RECORDING
It’s tempting to take a picture to share with a friend or record a video to post on social media, but photographs and recordings of the performance are strictly forbidden.BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR
Please refrain from talking or whispering during the performance. Also, please sit in your ticketed seat; seats that appear to be empty may belong to someone arriving just in time to take their seat as the lights dim. And, out of consideration for audience members with sensitivities to fragrance, please don’t use scents and fragrances. Please help keep an unobstructed view for those seated behind you by not leaning forward and not resting your head on your seatmate’s head or shoulder.EATING IN THE OPERA HOUSE
No outside food is allowed. You are welcome to eat food purchased in the Opera House in the lobby and restaurant. Food, including candy, is not allowed in the auditorium. If you think you’ll need a cough drop, please unwrap a few before the performance starts.DRINKING IN THE AUDITORIUM
Food is not allowed in the auditorium. Drinks purchased at the theater bars are allowed inside the auditorium if they are in the approved compostable cup and lid.ELECTRONIC DEVICES
Part of the joy of coming to the ballet is disconnecting from the outside world for a couple of hours. So, please turn off and stow your mobile devices before the performance as their lights and sounds will be a distraction to the performers.TAKING KIDS TO THE BALLET
Nutcracker is most magical for children ages 5 and up. Please note: No children under 3, including children in laps. Repertory Season performances are usually best enjoyed by children ages 8 and up. Please note: No children under 3, including babes in arms. These performances, including story ballets, are often more than two-and-a-half hours long, and are not always ideal for younger children. Everyone entering the Opera House, regardless of age, must have a ticket, and children must occupy their own seat next to an accompanying adult. Children should be accompanied by an adult at all times.All bags are subject to search upon arrival. Currently, clear bags are not required. Patrons may bring bags into the auditorium, but they must fit under the seat or on the patron’s lap (approximately 14x14x6). Patrons with large items, inclusive of, but not limited to large backpacks, luggage, shopping bags, and other large packages that will not fit comfortably at the seat will be asked to check those items at coat check.
The War Memorial Opera House lobbies close 30 minutes following the end of a performance/event. We kindly request that all patrons exit the building by that time as the doors will be locked. Please keep this in mind when arranging transportation.
Patrons waiting for transportation after the lobbies close will be directed to wait outside of the North Stage Door in the north courtyard at Franklin Street, near Fulton Street.
SF Ballet cares about the health and safety of our audiences, artists, and staff. In adherence with requirements contained in federal, state, and local health orders, the War Memorial Opera House does not require patrons to wear masks while in the venue. However, the Opera House and San Francisco Ballet strongly encourage mask-wearing by all patrons to protect themselves and others. We also encourage anyone to stay home if they aren’t feeling well or are experiencing COVID symptoms. SF Ballet will continue to work with the city and performance venues to update our policies based on their recommendations.
For events and/or performances outside of the War Memorial Opera House, SF Ballet will update patrons on COVID protocols via email and here on the Safety page.
The following changes have been and will continue to be at the Opera House:
- War Memorial Opera House ventilation systems have been evaluated and are operating within current ASHRAE COVID-19 recommendations, including MERV-13 or better filters, and increased outside air.
- Facilities will be cleaned daily, and we have hired additional cleaning staff. High-touch surfaces will be sanitized between performances.
- There will be multiple hand sanitizer stations positioned on each level of the Opera House.
- All of our front-of-house and backstage employees will follow rigorous safety protocols.
- Patrons will need to purchase tickets in advance of the performance. During the performance, patrons need to remain in their assigned seats and not move to other seats.
- Audience members who fail to follow the front-of-house safety protocols will be asked to leave the performance venue.
