Martuni’s was one of the first bars I ever went to when I first moved to San Francisco in 2006. I loved the charm of it at and I think I went a couple of times. The funny thing about San Francisco, though, is that there is always a different place to go and so somehow you don’t always end up back at the places you loved because you’re busy with other things. Somehow I’d never been back to Martuni’s again until recently, almost seven years later. I fell in love with it again.
Martuni’s is an open mic piano lounge that is open seven days a week. I was there on a random Sunday night and it was packed full of people who were willing to get up there with the live piano player and sing songs out of the numerous songbooks available there. These people don’t just sing bad karaoke either; the folks that do open mic at Martuni’s are almost all highly skilled singers. Many of them perform in musicals and on other stages and have voices that you just want to listen to forever.
I do love the music. I have a soft spot for showtunes and other campy music. But that’s not actually why I love Martuni’s. I love that it’s such a uniquely San Francisco thing that embraces the city and its history, multigenerational talent, the romance of song, the frivolity of playing together … I love the energy of the room as people sing along with the songs that they know.
And the drinks are good as well.
