Cafe Cocomo

I love Cocomo. But I recently got completely f--ed there, because my bag was stolen. The staff were helpful, but there's nothing they can really do about it. I guess it was my fault I didn't use the coat check. But I've been dancing for over a decade, and I've never had that happen before, and I've been told it happens frequently there. On the night my bag was stolen, someone's leather jacket was stolen too.

So use the coat check!

Pros: Best place to salsa dance in the city

Cons: watch your stuff--it will get stolen! Use the coat check.

Posted 06/13/09

This review is really for regular dancers.
I think if you are dancing for the first time or just going out to drink or meet people, it is probably ok.

However, if you are an intermediate to advanced dancer, I think you will find the following:

1. The staff is rude,
2. Atmosphere is poor,
3. The stage smells awful,
4. The DJ on Mondays and Wednesdays play the worst salsa songs possible.

Pros: not much

Cons: pretty much everything

Posted 03/23/09

I ordered a $7 hot dog that was cold. I tried to get my money back but they said i'd touched it so I had to pay for it - how else would i find out its cold.

i asked 3+ people to help me and they said "You gotta talk to the manager" but he was no where to be found. After waiting for 15 minutes I gave them back my food and left.

A club that will milk ya for every last $$ without regard for decency.

I won't ever go back short of an a must see act.

Posted 10/12/08

good place but the last even I have been there it was so crowded that i couldn't have fun...

I am sure I will come back again, just in different day of the week.

Posted 08/29/08

Simply the Best Club I have been to in San Francisco. Just the atmosphere is invigorating. I have heard form the grapevine it?s going to be much better? I don?t know how they will make it better. I want to see how they will make it better. The Women that are in the club are always friendly and out going. I feel as thought I?m going to a friend?s house to hang out. The staff is always greets you with a warm smile and hot drink to get my salsa steps going. I?ve been going to Cocomo for the last 7 years. I don?t think I?ll stop any time soon. Thanks Guys; Keep up the good work

Pros: Parking!!!, Size of the Club, The Ambience

Posted 11/13/07

I have been going here for years. Great music and great Instructors. I think certain nights cater to different ambience. Monday night are great classes and social dancing. Thursday has always been a great dancers night and Saturday is for the weekend crowd. They even started a Wednesday Salsa Night. Anyway I give this club an A++

Posted 05/29/07

I've been a regular at Cafe Cocomo for years. Just recently, I was turned away for not
wearing a collared shirt, although I'd been wearing shirts with no collars ever since I
started salsa dancing at Cafe Cocomo. This place is no different from other
pretentious nightclubs that reserve the right to arbitrarily dictate who can/can't
gain entrance. I still plan to go to Cafe Cocomo for the salsa dancing, but with a reserved
attititude for this place, which could use some loosening up and yes, genuinely be
"low on pretention" as their website disengenuously claims.

Posted 04/02/07

I have a lot of love for Cafe Cocomo. Let me count the ways...

1) Venue: Big dance area on the ground floor, 2nd floor with seating and prime place to people watch. Nice outdoor patio when you need to cool off between dances. Ample free parking.

2) Music: Great live bands every Thursday and Saturday. But most importantly...

3) **The People**: There's a great vibe at Cocomo - people are friendly and most everyone plays nice. (As opposed to other places, where people have 'tude and/or they are more for couples.)

The crowd is extremely diverse - age, race, salsa levels, attire, etc. The beginners come earlier for the lesson and the "serious" salsa dancers bring it later in the evening. I usually like to get there in between when it is not as crowded but I can catch the band's first set. It's time to leave when it is so crowded that my feet are getting stomped on.

A note for the ladies: Cocomo is a good place to go solo. You'll feel comfortable and trust me you won't be off the dance floor for long.

Pros: Live music, Great crowd

Cons: N/a

Posted 11/04/06

Check it - the club itself is just Ok (the website overhypes it!) but DJ La Coqui made me forget the shortcomings of this over-rated club. Also, go early as they close doors just when you are just warming up. Drink prizes are not bad but the band I saw that night was average at best.

Posted 11/13/05

Cover is often $20 and the club may or may not be worth the investment on any given night. The venue itself is very spacious and lofty. There is an outdoor area and places to sit upstairs. That's nice. It also provides decent music for dancing.

However, calling it the "hottest salsa club" is quite a stretch. The crowd is not usually very exciting. I went out with a young, fun group of both men and women but neither genders really found dance partners outside the group. Many times, the crowd is composed of middle-aged couples on their weekly evening out. That's wonderful, if you are a part of that demographic. But young singles may want to look elsewhere to find their peers.

Pros: massive space, live music, outdoor area

Cons: not good for singles, expensive, kind of boring

Posted 07/21/05

I just ** LOVE ** Club Cocomo, it has all the things that make a dancing club special... Easy Parking, Newly installed hardwood dance floors, Wonderful outdoor patio/bar has a tropical feel with large tiki huts for cooling down, and a substantially diverse crowd that just loves to salsa dance. The cover(includes free salsa lessons) is quite affordable at $10 for Thurdays and $15 for Saturdays, unless its a special event that night. Monday night has 2 (two) lessons for $7 until midnite. Finding someone who will ask you to dance has never been a problem at Cocomo...

Pros: Excellent live bands, Plentiful parking, Affordable cover

Posted 07/12/05

First of all, I'm biased because I met my husband at Cocomo. We met at the now-defunct Friday parties, danced salsa, and fell in love. Can this happen to you? It might! The club has a mix of party animals (read: pick-ups), serious salsa dancers (the nearby Metronome instructors and students commonly attend), and seats upstairs for drinking or watching. The place is LARGE - it's a warehouse. I've gone there for 4+ years and brought dancers and non-dancers alike. Try different nights and see what you like. For those who complain about the cover charge-- party cities (Vegas, NY, Miami, LA) charge bigger covers for less fun.

Pros: Large dance space, Salsa!, Mixed crowd

Cons: Second room too loud

Posted 01/31/05

I have visited many salsa places in the world (Cuba, Miami, Rome, Copenhagen & Paris)- this one was a clear disappointment!!!... Very nice location/interior & webpage but experienced a very arrogant and rude attitude among employees - actually the worst that I have ever experienced in a salsa place. I can only say, don't go there!

Pros: Big dance floor

Cons: , Arrogant

Posted 01/21/05

I'm only familiar with Cafe Cocomo's Salsa nights (currently Mon/Thur/Sat) so I can't comment on the other events. But Salsa is always great fun. The staff is friendly and they have 3 bars and a nice setting. Music is awesome! Live SALSA bands play nightly and if you come early, there is a Salsa lesson included at 8pm. Jake and Techi are great instructors and have a great rep in the Bay Area for fun classes. The DJs have been great too (they play during band breaks) so the music is non-stop and hot! Many fantastic dancers are there to fill the floor. Cocomo is the place to dance Salsa.

Pros: great music, large dance floor, free parking

Cons: , sometimes very hot

Posted 09/06/04

I LOVE Cocomo's!!! The people are dressed classy and the workers are the nicest around (not to mention that the drink prices are reasoable). The cover is usally $10-15, but worth it for live music! And I hear they are opening an international menu restaurant...what more could you want. There's also a cool patio with tiki torches and a waterfall!

Cocomo's is my top choice for a night on the town!

Posted 05/22/03

It is the most known and popular salsa spot in SF. Good music, friendly atmosphere, nice people, well dressed-up ladies make this place perfect pick for Saturday evening. However, there are disadvantages also - expensive cover charge ($30-40) and big crowd.

Pros: salsa classes, dancing, music

Cons: overcrowded, cover charge

Posted 03/09/03

Cocomos is the most hospitable, welcoming, family style club. They have reggae, salsa, and house. The environment is tropical and fun, the dance floor is big! The outside enironment is inviting. The people are so friendly! You will get addicted and make friends!

Pros: good parking, easy to find, safe

Cons: growing, competition

Posted 08/23/02