War Memorial Opera House in San Francisco: photos, reviews

About

In the vibrant Civic Center performing arts area of San Francisco, the War Memorial Opera House stands as a majestic blend of Beaux-Arts and Neoclassical architecture, captivating visitors since its grand opening in 1932. Renowned not just for its historical significance but also for its elegant atmosphere, the opera house offers an array of cultural experiences, from city opera and ballet to riveting concerts. Guests appreciate its comfortable seating and exceptional theater services, alongside well-maintained amenities. The opulent in-house restaurant and bar offer patrons a delightful dining experience, enhancing any evening spent here. With reasonable ticket prices and the convenience of credit card payments, visitors find it effortless to indulge in the grandeur of the opera house. Whether attending a performance or partaking in one of the costume events, the War Memorial Opera House promises an unforgettable experience steeped in elegance and history.

Features

Wheelchair accessible, Payment by credit card

4.8

based on 2,336 reviews

Google

4.8/5 2,336 reviews

Suzzan Iao

2025 June I went back for La Bohème, and it was amazing. Let me explain why: My show was on a Saturday, and I went early enough that I was able to find free street parking just one block away. I arrived at the venue a few mins before the door opened, and when they started letting people in, the ticket scanning process was quick and smooth. The interior was decorated to match the aesthetics of La Bohème, with street performers, immersive photo ops, overall decorations to emulate a certain time period. I was into it. The buffet at the basement level was a new discovery, and I might add that as part of my future show viewing! The show was such fun! Music was good, the actors were amazing, the stage and props were well done! Overall a fantastic performance, and I recommend it. 2024 I went to see The Magic Flute in the middle of June, so the weather in the city was nice. Windy, but nice. Parking at the Civic center garage was a flat $17, so I went there a couple hours before the show's start time to grab some dinner as well. The area is walkable, but not ideal when you are in opera watching attire. I would likely opt for dinning at the venue's restaurant next time to make my life easier. Will call was easy and smooth with a quick show of ID, but once you are past the entrance it's quite packed with patrons. The staff were helpful and friendly. The interior was beautiful, and has an old time-y classic opera house design. I enjoyed the atmosphere a lot. Bathroom was clean but not enough stalls, leading to longer wait time. There were free single use cups available for folxs to get water from the water fountain, which was a life saver for me because once I got to my seat, I realized it was hot. That is the biggest flaw I've witness that evening. The lack of air flow or AC made it almost suffocating. The seats were also extremely small. Worse than a budget airplane seat. I'm an average size 4-6, so I fit the seat just fine. But if someone wants to get in and out of the row, you bet you'll be intimately aquatinted with strangers when they walk pass you. The show was......interesting. I won't comment on that as each show is a different interpretation that does not represent the venue as a whole. However, kudos to the SF Opera for being innovative and not shy from trying new things! I appreciate the walking groups after the show. Although I could not locate the group towards the Civic center garage at the venue for departure, I did locate them as I was walking towards our common destination. Overall, it was a good venue with great people. If you are going to watch an opera, this is a great place for it!

Yeonjoo Hwang

A beautiful opera house

KARTHEEK VATTI

Very pretty, sound and lighting during the opera was ABSOLUTELY PERFECT!

War Memorial Opera House in San Francisco

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