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Doc's Lab Tickets

Location
Historic North Beach Venue Details, Se

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The venue

About Doc's Lab

Doc's Lab is a intimate, subterranean performance venue nestled in a historic 1911 building in San Francisco's North Beach. Originally The Purple Onion, this space has evolved into a dedicated performing arts venue known for its intimate ambiance and storied stage history. With a general admission seating policy and a limited capacity, Doc's Lab offers a unique, up-close experience for concerts, comedy, and spoken-word events. We’ve got you with practical details to help you plan your visit—from seating and capacity to parking, transit options, and nearby hotels and dining that complement a night out in North Beach.

Historically hosting legendary acts such as Phyllis Diller, The Kingston Trio, Maya Angelou, Richard Pryor, Woody Allen, Robin Williams, Bob Newhart, Lenny Bruce, Jim Nabors, and Zach Galifianakis, Doc's Lab carries a rich performance heritage. Though renamed from The Purple Onion to Doc's Lab around 2014, the venue remains an active cultural hub in San Francisco. The space typically accommodates about 65 seated guests and up to 90 for receptions, with seating assigned on doors-open basis since there is no fixed seating chart. For tickets, plan ahead with our easy, no-fuss approach and secure your seats through trusted partners—we’ve got you covered.

Good to know

Seating, Parking & Venue Information

  • Address: 124 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94133
  • Venue type: subterranean performance venue in a historic 1911 building (basement; formerly The Purple Onion)
  • Seating policy: general admission; seating is limited and assigned on doors open basis; no fixed seating chart provided
  • Capacity: approximately 65 seated, up to 90 for receptions (per BizBash venue data)
  • Parking: nearby garages include 170 Columbus Ave Parking Garage, 555 Jackson Street California Parking Garage, and 528 Jackson Street Ace Parking (Enter at 112 Columbus Ave)
  • Transit: located in North Beach; accessible via San Francisco MUNI (regional transit in the area; verify routes on local maps)
  • Nearby hotels: Columbus Inn (near Fisherman’s Wharf/North Beach); Hotel Nikko San Francisco (near North Beach)
  • Notable events hosted: historically the venue evolved from The Purple Onion; hosted legendary performers such as Phyllis Diller, The Kingston Trio, Maya Angelou, Richard Pryor, Woody Allen, Robin Williams, Bob Newhart, Lenny Bruce, Jim Nabors, Zach Galifianakis
  • Renamed/demolished status: not demolished; renamed from The Purple Onion to Doc's Lab (around 2014); reported closure to the public in 2018 but current site activity indicates ongoing operation as Doc's Lab SF