San Francisco Ballet

The War Memorial Opera House, one of the most beautiful and technologically advanced performing arts centers in the world, is a true San Francisco jewel.

Designed in the magnificent Beaux-Arts style by Arthur Brown Jr., architect of Coit Tower and City Hall, the War Memorial Opera House is both a local and international landmark.  After opening its doors to audiences for the first time on October 15, 1932, the exquisite and stunning War Memorial Opera House has been home to the San Francisco Ballet from the companys earliest days.  At the time of its construction, the stage complex was the largest and most technologically advanced in the United States, and one of the most acoustically advanced venues in the world.

Today, after a seismic retrofitting following the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, the Opera House boasts state-of-the-art equipment, a refurbished interior graced with decadent beaux-arts trappings, 3,200 newly re-upholstered plush velvet seats, expanded access for people with disabilities, and numerous refreshment bars for the intermission crowds.

General Information

Address - 301 Van Ness Avenue at Grove Street, San Francisco, CA.

Ballet Box Office - The SF Ballet Box Office is open only on performance dates: Tuesday through Friday, 12pm to the first intermission; and Saturday and Sunday, 10am until the first intermission.

The SF Ballet Box Office is located in the lobby of the War Memorial Opera House at 301 Van Ness Avenue (at Grove Street). Visa, MasterCard, and cash are accepted. There is no handling fee for purchases made in person at the Box Office.

Ballet Shop - The Ballet Shop is open one hour before each performance, during intermissions and after weekend matinees. A Ballet Shop pass is also available at the Box Office to non-ticket holders who wish to purchase merchandise.

Check room is located on the North and South side of the Lobby level.

Directions can be found here.

Accessibility information.

Lost & Found - Items may be claimed at the North Lobby coat check during performances. To claim your lost items please call 415.621.6600, Monday through Friday, 8am to 11:30am.

Opera Glasses may be rented for $5 at the North Lobby coat check. ID deposit is requested.

Restrooms are located on all levels of the Opera House except Orchestra Level (Main Lobby). Wheelchair accessible restrooms are located in the lower lounge and on the Dress Circle level (north side).

Courtesy Telephones , for local calls only, are located on the first floor Lobby level directly across from the elevators.

Taxi Service - Patrons desiring a taxi after a performance may reserve one with the doorman at the Grove Street entrance by the final intermission.  Reservations cannot be guaranteed as taxi service is based on the availability of licensed taxis. This service is not available for Nutcracker.

Tours - Walking tours of the San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts center, which includes Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall, the War Memorial Opera House and the Herbst Theatre, are available to the public on Mondays on the hour between 10am and 2pm. Tours leave from the Grove Street entrance of Davies Symphony Hall. There are no tours on holidays. General admission $5; Seniors/students $3. For information, call 415.552.8338.

PLEASE NOTE: For the safety and comfort of our audience, all parcels, backpacks, luggage, etc., must be checked in the Opera House coat-check room on the South Promenade.

Children of any age attending a performance must have a ticket; no children-in-arms or infants please.

Opera House management reserves the right to remove any patron creating a disturbance.

Latecomers will not be seated during the performance after the lights have been dimmed in order to not disturb patrons who have arrived on time. For Nutcracker performances, latecomers will be seated at the discretion of management.

No cameras or tape recorders are permitted in the Opera House. Equipment must be checked in the coat-check room.

Smoking is not permitted in the Opera House. Patrons may smoke on the outdoor Loggia located on the Grand Tier level.

First Aid Station is located on the South Lower level. In case of an emergency, please ask the nearest usher to assist you.

To volunteer as an Usher, please send an email to ushers@sfopera.com.

Dining

Pre-Performance Buffet The Caf at the Opera House in the lower lounge level opens 2 hours prior to evening curtain times for a delicious pre-performance buffet dinner, and 2 hours prior to Sunday matinees for brunch. Lighter fare is also served before performances and during intermissions at Patinas Caf Express and Dress Circle Caf. View the sample buffet menu or view the sample a la carte menu. The lower level bar, as well as other bars, are also open at intermission for refreshments. Call 415.861.8150 for reservations. Patrons arriving before front doors open will be admitted at the Carriage entrance.

Refreshments are available in the lower level, the Box, Orchestra, Grand Tier, and Dress Circle levels during all performances. Refreshments may not be carried beyond the concession areas in which they are served. No outside food or beverages are allowed. Drinking fountains are located on all levels near the elevators.

- See more at: http://www.sfballet.org/planyourvisit/opera_house#sthash.oLzrUs6N.dpuf