150 Fourth St. (at
Mission)
San Francisco
(415) 369-6000
(800) METREON
www.metreon.com
Part amusement park, part
mall, Sony Metreon is designed as an all-day entertainment
experience. An IMAX theater and 15 screens with stadium-style
seating, restaurants, shops and games conspire to boggle your
mind -- and vacuum out your wallet. Open since June 1999, the
four-story Metreon takes up an entire city block just a block
from Market Street in the SoMA (South of Market) district.
Kids will love Where the
Wild Things Are, interactive adventure where kids of all ages
can join Maurice Sendak’s characters in a huge fantasy play
space; and The Way Things Work, an interactive and educational
exhibit -- and 3-D film -- that brings award-winning
author/illustrator David Macaulay’s best selling book to life.
Try your luck at
"virtual bowling" or more adrenaline-packed
interactive games in Airtight Garage, a state-of-the-art
adventure zone inspired by the science fiction author and
designer Jean "Moebius" Giraud ("Alien,"
"The Fifth Element").
Restaurant offerings range
from burgers ‘n’ fries to upscale California cuisine in
Metreon’s eight dining spots: Buckhorn, for traditional
American fare; Firewood Cafe, and its gourmet pizzas;
LongLifeNoodle Company, with spicy, fresh Asian noodle
specialties; Sanraku, for sushi and other Japanese fare; In the
Night Kitchen, a family-friendly cafe; Jillian’s, for food and
drink, billiards, late night dancing and the best sports viewing
in all of San Francisco; Montage, where celebrated chef Jennifer
Cox melds fresh seasonal ingredients in contemporary California
cuisine; and Malvina’s, a stylish restaurant/bar smack in the
middle of Airtight Garage.
At the Metreon’s slick,
user-friendly shops, nobody will tell you to keep your hands off
the merchandise. In fact, visitors are invited to touch, play,
and explore the latest personal technology at Sony Style -- the
first on the West Coast -- a "high-touch"
entertainment boutique; at microsoft®SF, where you can check
your email and surf the Web for free on the latest, tiniest
high-speed personal computers and other wondrous gadgets; The
Way Things Work Shop, filled with brain-bending merchandise; the
PlayStation® store, where consumers can sample the latest games
and consoles; Wild Things, for children; and the edgy Moebius
Shop.
At the Metreon Gateway, an
information center in the middle of the action on the ground
floor, guests can check movie schedules, get assistance, or buy
Access Metreon cards to use for entry into attractions.
For reasons mere mortals
will never comprehend, Metreon has no on-site parking. There is
a large garage (2,500 spaces) across the street, at the corner
of Fourth and Mission streets -- but expect to pay between
$6-$12 during your stay, since Metreon does not validate
parking. Other lots are within two blocks’ walk. It’s much
more convenient to take BART (Powell or Montgomery St.) or Muni
bus; 28 bus lines drop off within two blocks of Metreon.
By the way, the name
"Metreon" is derived from the roots of Greek words. As
they explain it, "from ‘metropolis’ comes the sense of
a nurturing urban environment, while ‘odeon’ and
‘pantheon’ are associated with important places of
assembly."
Hours:
10 a.m.-9 p.m. seven days
(theaters and some restaurants open later)
Admission/fees:
Admission to Metreon is free.
Prices for attractions are as follows:
Where the Wild Things Are: $7 gen.,$5 child/senior
The Way Things Work: $7 gen, $5 child/senior
Airtight Garage: game cards are in increments of $1
IMAX Theater: $9.75
Sony Theaters: $8.75
METREON
ATTRACTIONS
