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ages: 21+
Cafe Cocomo
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Overview:
Cafe Cocomo is a popular spot in San Francisco featuring a huge dance floor, live salsa bands, full bar, and salsa lessons taught by Jake Jacobs.
Details:
| Event: | Lessons, Live Music, Social Dancing |
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| Date: | Every Thursday & Saturday | |
| Time: | Lessons 8pm, Social Dancing 9:30pm - 2am | |
| Cost: | $12 Thursdays, $15 Saturdays | |
| Instructors: | Jake Jacobs | |
| Address: | Cafe Cocomo 650 Indiana St. San Francisco, CA Get Directions via Google Maps  |
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| Contact: | (415) 410-4012 Visit Website www.salsabyjake.com |
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Important: Event times are subject to change. Always double check with the event organizer before making plans.
Our Review:
Max says:
Rating:
Cafe Cocomo is one of the best venues for dancing in the Bay Area. A gorgeous club with a great tropical vibe and a spacious dance floor, Cocomo really captures some of the classic Palladium spirit that popularized salsa dancing in New York. It's also one of the few venues that makes it a point to feature live salsa bands on a regular basis, and is well loved and respected by the mambo heads.
It's been a fixture in the salsa community for many years, and Cocomo remains one of my favorite places to go dancing in the city.
It's been a fixture in the salsa community for many years, and Cocomo remains one of my favorite places to go dancing in the city.
User Reviews:
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4 people found this review helpful
I went to Cocomo’s on Thursday 2/14/13 (Valentine’s Day) for the first time.
The music was great from the DJ and live band. The majority was salsa with a little timba, cha cha, merengue and bachata. I missed the dance lessons (arrived at 10 p.m.) therefore can’t comment on them.
The dance floor was huge even with the Valentine’s Day crowd. Plenty of single ladies (70%) and couples (30%). I had plenty of space to do all of my salsa moves.
Most of the lady dancers were at the intermediate or higher skill level. Most were able to perform shines (footwork) and/or styling (upper body and arms). Most wanted to dance.
There is a patio area (with tables and chairs) after you pass the security guard. This is great for spring and summer cooling off/relaxation between dancing. Your wrist is stamped to permit easy re-entry upon paying admission. Small lounge area inside before entering the main dance area. Upstairs is a larger lounge area. Additional lounge area on the far side of the main dance area.
Taxi service from Cocomo’s is slow. I waited 25 minutes after calling two cab companies. Best to drive, ride with someone or make other pickup arrangements. Parking is free at night along the block. Get there early to park closer to the entrance.
Overall, Cocomo’s is a must on Thursdays for salsa dancers. Will definitely return with transportation(of course). How many salsa venues do you know that have a LARGE dance floor ! Remember Cocomo’s.
3 people found this review helpful
That Jake guy is great! :) More info on lessons and Jake’s classes may be found at http://www.SalsabyJake.com
Cocomo is a great venue with a 3/4″ solid oak floor over plywood, a nice raised stage and sound system and decent lighting. There are several bars and a back room, and upstairs complement the main dance floor area. DJs and bands rotate. They have been serving free pizza slices too until 9pm.
Crowd varies and many are regulars. We welcome dancers at all levels and it is great to have experienced dancers there when they tolerate the “civilians”! Lessons are geared for beginners to intermediate dancers. Many people avoid Saturdays as being too crowded, but there is usually enough room to dance these days. Thursdays are more the “hip” night for dancers. Mon/Wed have their own following.
SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC PEOPLE! Cocomo is one of the few places that has consistently presented live bands since its opening in 1998. So, yes, we love DJ too, but live music is special and we want to see that continue its strong tradition here in the Bay Area!
3 people found this review helpful
It’s back. One of the best places to spend weekend nights! With great fun :)
3 people found this review helpful
If there’s a lesson to be learned from Cafe Cocomo’s temporary closure it’s this: Never Take Anything For Granted…especially LIVE Salsa in SF on weekends. Cocomo’s re-opening was welcomed by a packed house of dancers who have come to appreciate what a special club this is. The music, dancers, and ambiance made for a “grand family reunion” Yes…. Support Live Music People!
3 people found this review helpful
刚刚搬到Bay Area,朋友推荐这个网站，所以选了旧金山2个地方去跳salsa,我在上海已经学习了2年，很想领略下旧金山的salsa水平，感觉这个地方很大，里面的乐队很棒，是live,刚刚到的时候感觉外面还不怎么样，象个大工厂，可是到了里面，场地很大，是个非常适合跳舞的地方，如果你是真的要跳舞，它不象一般的酒吧，有的时候感觉场地小，拥挤和很多不跳舞喝酒的朋友在那里，这里真是个跳舞的天堂。
“I just moved to the Bay Area, and have been dancing in Shanghai for 2 years and chose to this place to go dancing to get a taste of salsa dancing in San Francisco. This place is really big, with a live band. The outside looks like a big factory, but inside the venue is very large and suitable for dancing, and there is also a bar. Some places are really crowded or don’t have much dancers, but this is really a dance paradise.”
2 people found this review helpful
Cafe Cocomo is now entering it’s final weeks before closing. The “new” location has yet to be revealed and it’s fair to say it will be different from the “old” location. Cocomo will always have a special place in my heart as the “Palladium of the West” and I’m going to miss it dearly. Though it was never big on swank, this venue attracted the best dancers in the bay area every week. The crowds are now dwindling down due to the many changes on the closing date. Only the diehard dancers know that it’s still open until the end of July. Come and enjoy the final days of this San Francisco Salsa Landmark while you can. It has an ambiance that will not be easily replaced.
1 person found this review helpful
I love dancing at Cocomos! They showcase some of the best live bands in the Bay Area. I’m currently addicted to Pacific Mambo Orchestra who regularly play there on Monday nights. Thursdays and Saturdays are great too. It’s a bit far from the southbay, but definitely draws a great crowd of dancers.
1 person found this review helpful
Cocomo used to be the absolute best spot for me, but now has lost its luster (except for Monday nights with DJ Hong and Pacific Mambo Orchestra). Otherwise the ticket prices are too high and moreso, (from a very limited sampling as of late) it doesn’t seem to get the experienced dancer crowd. From an insider’s perspective, the management also seem to have pissed off a lot of the established community, so the hostilities between them and other promoters is a real turn off. The shining spot on Thursday and Saturday’s is the great bay area teacher “Salsa by Jake”.
Cocomos is one of the best venues to salsa dance at. I am new to the salsa scene and I am an inexperienced social dancer, but everyone is nice and friendly, and also welcoming to teach you how to dance, but also how to have a good time and enjoy the music.