SF venue Bottom Of Hill to close by end of 2026

Bottom of the Hill says it's closing—here's why we've loved it for decades

JOHN-PAUL SHIVER: So let’s get at it. Why did Rolling Stone call Bottom of the Hill the “best place to hear live music in San Francisco” in 1999? Numerous, countless, innumerable reasons. And they all ran through my head upon hearing that the independently owned and operated venue, open since 1991, would close its doors at the end of 2026. This week, Bottom of the Hill owners Ramona Downey, Kathleen Owen, and Lynn Schwarz announced online and sh…

SF venue Bottom Of Hill to close by end of 2026

Sadly, iconic San Francisco venue Bottom of the Hill plans to close at the end of 2026. The operators did not give one specific reason for the closure, but they allude to the challenges of running an independent venue in 2026, especially in San Francisco. You can see their statement below. You may recall that Thee Parkside, which is just a block or two from Bottom of the Hill, is facing similar challenges.