This legendary open mic for original material is every Thursday.
Small, very chill neighborhood cafe in the Richmond district Great lazagne, wonderful, multi-aged crowd. It really feels like a small town in here. Off the beaten path, but the resident talent makes it worth it. You can find an archive of some older performances on YouTube.
Bazaar Cafe Thursday Open Mic is a perfect open mic for writers of original song, especially those with friendly canine companions, who think an acoustic performance before a crowd of truly invested listeners in a turn-of-the-20th-century wooden-floored room sounds like heaven.
Signup:
In advance, just call. The signup sheet for the FOLLOWING Thursday opens up every Thursday at 7pm, so that’s the earliest you can call (or drop by to sign up in person) to get on the list. 18 spots + alternates. They're very friendly & open to new artists. Unusual: Bazaar Cafe lets you choose a specific timeslot!
Performance:
Two songs or 10 minutes (whichever comes first), Original material only
Rules:
all ages · Seriously, no covers.
Gear:
Acoustic only, no house PA
Sound:
It's all accoustic, but people walk softly & the expresso machine goes off while performers are up. Very attentive crowd, small enough that a mic is unnecessary.
Vibe:
Serious listeners, attentive audience
Where:
The Bazaar Cafe, 5927 California Street, San Francisco | (415) 831-5620
Last updated:
10 May 2026
