When Otis, arrived on the scene to add to a large scene of San Francisco nightclubs in mid-2005, its invitation-only membership policy caused quite a stir among B-list scenesters who longed to rub elbows with the city’s hippest strata of socialites, artists, DJs and party girls. In 2007, Otis ditched the velvet rope pretense and opened its doors to anyone who could find the unmarked space on Maiden Lane. Not surprisingly, welcoming the masses did slightly dilute the club’s je ne sais quoi – as it turns out, we really do want what we just can’t have. Still, the glam white-and-gold lounge packs big-time sex appeal with a ’70s smack, and the 1,300 square-foot space continues to fill up Thursday through Saturday nights. Because Otis doesn’t have a listed phone number (and is actually somewhat difficult to find among the high-end boutiques on Maiden Lane), it has an exclusivity factor that’s unusual among clubs in San Francisco. Larger groups or couples looking for a more private rendezvous should check out the upstairs. Those in the know also head to Otis at lunch, when the wallpapered club transforms into a super-chic and cosy spot to nosh house-made flatbreads and artisan cheeses.