Brava Theater for Women in the Arts
Brava Theater Center is an indoor theater on the 24th Street corridor in San Francisco's Mission District, built inside a former 1926 vaudeville house. The wheelchair-accessible Main Theater seats 360, with a 60-seat Studio and a street-level Cabaret also on site, and Brava is about a 10-minute walk from BART with several bus lines close by. Metered parking lines 24th Street, and a garage sits about two blocks away.
Before you go
- Capacity
- Main Theater 360 (orchestra 250 incl. 6 ADA); Studio 60
- Indoor or outdoor
- Indoor: Main Theater, Studio and street-level Cabaret
- Official site
- brava.org
- Next festival here
- Other Minds Festival, Oct 8 to 11, 2026
Worth knowing before you go
- The Main Theater seats 360 and is wheelchair accessible, with an elevator to the Studio and balcony levels.
- 24th Street parking meters run 9am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday; a garage is about two blocks away.
- BART is about a 10-minute walk, and the 48 Quintara bus runs right in front of the theater.
- The building started life as the York Theater, a 1926 vaudeville and movie house.
- The on-site box office opens one hour before each show.
Festivals here
Venue basics: Indoor Main Theater seats 360 · Wheelchair accessible, elevator to balcony · 10-minute walk from BART.
Is it for you
Choose it if
- You want an accessible indoor theater close to BART and bus lines.
- You like the idea of seeing a show in a restored 1926 theater.
Think twice if
- You are looking for an outdoor venue: Brava's stages are all indoors.
- You need guaranteed free parking right outside: nearby parking is metered or in a garage two blocks away.
Getting there and parking
Brava Theater Center is on the 24th Street corridor in San Francisco's Mission District, with its entrance near the corner of York Street, between Potrero and Bryant Streets. The on-site box office opens one hour before each show, and tickets can be bought by cash, debit or credit card.
Metered parking runs along 24th Street, with meters checked 9am to 6pm, Monday through Saturday, and a garage is available about two blocks away at San Francisco General Hospital. Brava is about a 10-minute walk from BART, and bus lines 27, 12, 67 and 9 pass within a block or two, with the 48 Quintara running right in front.
Accessibility
The Main Stage is wheelchair accessible, and an elevator reaches the second floor for the Studio and the Main Stage balcony levels. The orchestra section includes 6 ADA-accessible seats.
Confirm your specific needs with the venue before you travel (brava.org).
Camping
We don't yet have confirmed information about camping at Brava. The venue's own pages are the place to check: brava.org.
Food, water and what you can bring
24th Street has plenty of options nearby: La Palma Mexicatessen for Mexican food, d'Maize for organic Salvadoran food, El Metate for Mexican food until 10pm, and Destapas for Spanish tapas with indoor and outdoor seating.
Recently at Brava
Brava! For Women in the Arts Announce New Executive Director: Kim Acebo Arteche
From the venue · Mar 24, 2026
San Francisco Latino Democratic Club: Latino Congressional Debate 2026
From the venue · Feb 12, 2026
Quick answers
Is Brava Theater Center wheelchair accessible?
Yes. The Main Stage is wheelchair accessible, and an elevator reaches the second floor for the Studio and Main Stage balcony levels, with 6 ADA-accessible seats in the orchestra.
How many seats does the Main Theater have?
The Main Theater seats 360, including an orchestra section of 250 seats with 6 ADA-accessible spaces.
Can I take BART to Brava?
Yes. Brava is about a 10-minute walk from BART, and several bus lines, including the 48 Quintara, stop right in front or within a block or two.
Is there parking near Brava?
Yes. Metered parking runs along 24th Street from 9am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday, and a garage is about two blocks away at San Francisco General Hospital.
What time does the box office open?
The on-site box office opens one hour before each show, with additional hours sometimes added depending on the performance.
What was Brava Theater Center before it became a theater center?
It was the York Theater, a vaudeville and movie house built in 1926, before Brava purchased and renamed it in 1996.
Is there food near the theater?
Yes. 24th Street has several options nearby, including Mexican food at La Palma Mexicatessen and El Metate, Salvadoran food at d'Maize, and Spanish tapas at Destapas.
A little history
Brava purchased the shuttered York Theater, a former vaudeville and movie house built in 1926, and renamed it Brava Theater Center in 1996. A $3 million renovation followed, creating the 360-seat main theater and 60-seat studio.
The venue has hosted performers including Ritchie Havens, Lesley Gore, Janis Ian and Kate Clinton.