You’ll slip into San Francisco’s Marrakech Magic Theater for an evening where mentalist Jay Alexander gets inside your head (in the best way). Watch close-up illusions in the lounge before the show starts, sip cocktails surrounded by old-world charm, then settle in for an hour of laughter, mind-reading, and moments you’ll replay all the way home.
"If you think you can figure it out, just raise your hand," Jay grinned at us from the stage, and honestly, I almost did — but I had no clue how he’d just guessed my friend’s favorite song. The Marrakech Magic Theater is tucked away behind this heavy red curtain near Union Square. We got there early (I’m always nervous about missing things), and the lounge already smelled like orange peel and something sweet from the bar. There was this low hum of people chatting, a couple on their first date maybe, and Jay himself wandered around doing sleight-of-hand right at our table. I dropped a card on the floor. He winked and kept going.
Once the show started, it felt less like a big production and more like being invited into someone’s living room — except that person could read your mind or make coins appear out of nowhere. Jay called on people by name (how did he know?) and kept everyone laughing. At one point he asked me to pick a word in my head — not say it out loud — and somehow he wrote it down before I even finished thinking. My hands were sweating a little; I didn’t expect to feel so seen in a room full of strangers. You know when something is both funny and kind of wild? That was this.
The whole night moved fast — cocktails, applause, then suddenly it was over and we were blinking under the streetlights again. Li tried to explain one of the tricks as we left (she’s convinced there’s a mirror somewhere), but honestly, I still can’t figure it out. It’s not just magic tricks; it’s this weird shared feeling of surprise that sticks with you after you leave. I keep thinking about that moment with the word — how did he do that?
The show takes place at Marrakech Magic Theater near Union Square.
Yes, up-close magic happens in the lounge starting one hour before the main show.
The main event lasts about an hour after pre-show entertainment in the lounge.
Cocktails are served in the Oasis Lounge before the main performance begins.
The experience is suitable for all physical fitness levels; age suitability isn’t specified but content is family-friendly.
Your ticket includes access to up-close magic in the lounge before Jay Alexander's performance.
Yes, public transportation options are available close to Marrakech Magic Theater.
Your ticket unlocks entry to Marrakech Magic Theater for Jay Alexander’s live mentalist show plus an hour of up-close magic in the Oasis Lounge beforehand — drinks are available for purchase if you want them, and you’re free to arrive early to soak up that old-world atmosphere before settling into your plush seat for an evening that’ll leave you guessing all night.
Do you need help planning your next activity?