Dinner and a show with kids in San Francisco
10 places in San Francisco where something happens while you eat, or right after. Acrobats a few feet from the table, a chef with knife tricks, rain on the hour over a tiki lagoon. Then the penny arcade at the wharf, cookies folded by hand in a Chinatown alley, and bowling and mini golf for the evening that carries on.
North Beach theatre where the acrobats of Dear San Francisco perform a few feet from the tables. Ninety minutes, no interval, and the tumbling holds a seven-year-old as well as a grandparent. Evening shows; check the age guidance before booking.
Japantown teppanyaki where the chef cooks at the table with knife tricks and an onion volcano. Big tables seat a whole family and the show keeps the kids in their seats until the food comes. Kids' menu.
Fairmont tiki bar with indoor rainstorms that delight kids at the early seating.
Embarcadero seafood with a kids' menu, crayons, and floor-to-ceiling fish tanks.
A free room at the wharf packed with working penny arcade machines, from a hand-cranked carnival to old strength testers. Bring quarters and expect to stay.
A Chinatown alley the width of a hallway where two women fold cookies off a hot press by hand. Two minutes, a sample, and worth the detour.
A Castro arcade bar that welcomes kids of all ages on Saturday afternoons.
Mission mini-golf with a kids' menu; lively fun for preschool and school-age kids.
Presidio bowling alley; loud, fun, and built for preschool and school-age kids.
A mall floor of arcade games, bowling and karaoke. Buy time rather than tokens, and go on a weekday if you can.
A whole afternoon
Coffee nearby
Stroller friendly
Rainy day
Free days out
Birthday dinner
With the grandparents