Destination: 111 Minna Gallery

111 Minna Gallery looks unassuming from the outside, but inside there’s a tardis full of artsy entertainment. Step through the bright red door of this SoMa gallery and find a concealed art haven-slash-events space that will be your new favorite SF hangout.

Just a short walk from our SoMa House, 111 Minna is an oasis of creativity in the middle of downtown San Francisco. The gallery was founded in 1993 with a mission to make art sociable and accessible. Today, 111 Minna is equally known for its arts as for its events. The 4,700-square-foot space features art from up-and-coming artists in a variety of styles, including sculpture and installations, with new exhibitions swooping in on a regular basis. The space is open-plan and tranquil, with hardwood floors and high ceilings, giving 111 Minna a warehouse vibe that perfectly frames the modern art hanging on and around its walls. But art isn’t all this gallery offers.

Photo: 111 Minna Gallery, Yelp

This SoMa gallery also has two full bars and a full schedule of events for your artsy needs. Describing itself as “SF’s melting pot for creative minds,” the venue hosts everything from book readings to dance parties, to film screenings and fashion shows, with something going on almost every day of the week. In the next week alone, there’s a free Wednesday morning yoga class with coffee, a performance night featuring the music of Jimmy Waters and a comedy show. 

Photo: 111 Minna Gallery, Yelp

Even if events aren’t your thing, 111 Minna is a great place to hang out during the day or night. By day, the gallery is a coffee shop with large leather couches and speedy Wi-Fi perfect for your remote working needs, transforming into a bar by night, with a very reasonable happy hour for struggling artists.

The laid-back atmosphere, friendly staff and open-minded philosophy of this gallery breathe the mantra “art for art’s sake.” And with an ever-changing supply of local and international art hanging on the walls, it’s the perfect place to relax after work, hang out with friends or make your new office for the day.

111 Minna Gallery

111 Minna St., 

San Francisco, 

CA 94105