With a back patio overlooking the bay and an unpretentious menu of hamburgers, fried calamari, draft beer, and stiff drinks, there are plenty of reasons to pay this no-frills restaurant a visit. But the best reason of all may be to catch its live music line-up of cheerful, brassy medleys around sundown. Events are back, but it’s worth checking the calendar in advance as the restaurant is at “most nights” for live music these days.

Simon Rowe and Matt Mullenweg, a San Francisco Conservatory of Music alum and a WordPress cofounder, are bringing jazz back to North Beach. With the talent and the financial muscle to do it, this restaurant and club has 4,000 square feet of live jazz Wednesday through Saturday at both 7 and 9 p.m. Book tickets in advance, though walking in when the space opens at 5 p.m. for a bite to eat is welcome — and any extra tickets are available at the door.

A time-tested North Beach favorite, this bawdy cocktail haven isn’t always as revered for its live music as it should be. The lineup rotates, and there are no ticketed shows, but most nights of the week from 8 to 11 p.m. acts like the Hal Bigler band or Hipsteria take to the upstairs stage to serenade guests below.

With one-hundred martinis on the menu, a bird’s eye view of the city’s skyline, and a line-up of jazz and blues groups playing numerous times a month, Top of the Mark is a city mainstay that’s become something of a tourist destination. Despite the pricey cocktails, it’s still the ideal spot to bring friends and family visiting from out of town. Reservations are encouraged, though walk-ins are welcome.

There is a performance here every night of the week, which is about as good as it gets for a jazz enthusiast. Dine on pappardelle and osso buco at this Lower Nob Hill Italian white tableclothed restaurant with a view onto Post Street. It’s best to arrive around 8 p.m. when live jazz plays in the dining room nightly.

Live music has a hard time making its way to the west side of San Francisco, but musicians looking for a haunt west of Divisadero Street often meander into Bazaar Cafe sooner or later. Rather than exclusively jazz — though this coffee and sandwich outlet certainly hosts those shows — the cafe hosts guitar players, singers, open mic nights, and shows of all kinds.

This Tenderloin mainstay hosts a jazzy round-up of live music on its swanky, subterranean level nearly every night of the week. The artists are given about a week of shows, allowing them to experiment with sets and styles throughout the residency. There's also a full menu of food and drinks from industry players throughout the city. Reserve in advance or try your luck on a walk-in.

Live music is the focal point at Mr. Tipple’s Recording Studio, where you can dance to pianists, vocalists, and jazz bands Wednesdays through Saturdays with an accompanying menu of savory bar snacks and mixed drinks. See the full schedule here; both reservations and walk-ins are allowed.