THE 10 BEST San Francis Gay Clubs & Bars (Updated 2023)

Contents:

• 7 ESSENTIAL LGBT THGS TO DO SAN FRANCIS BY JASON HEIMANN, TRAVELOCY STAFF WRER | APR 23, 2018 | 1 MENT GAY OR STRAIGHT, EVERYBODY LOV SAN FRANCIS. THE CY’S BEGUILG TOPOGRAPHY AND TOPSY-TURVY WEATHER PATTERNS (BRG A SRF JULY!) ADD LAYERS OF ROMANCE TO REQUISE ATTRACTNS LIKE SNAPPG A SELFIE ONT OF THE GOLN GATE BRIDGE, HOLDG ON TIGHT AS RICKETY BLE RS CLIMB IMPOSSIBLY STEEP HILLS, RIDG A FERRY TO SSALO AND SO MUCH MORE. BUT THE CY’S E-AS-YOU-ARE ATTU HAS MA AN IRRISTIBLE STATN FOR LGBT TRAVELERS EVER SCE THE END OF WORLD WAR II. THERE’S MUCH TO SEE AND DO; NSIR THIS YOUR GAY SAN FRANCIS PRIMER.RELATED: SAN FRANCIS TO CARMEL: A NATURE-FILLED CALIFORNIA ROAD TRIP CISE THE CASTRO THE EPICENTER OF GAY LIFE SAN FRANCIS SCE THE EARLY ‘70S, THE CASTRO DISTRICT IS LED WH RABOW FLAGS, HISTORIC S, LIVELY BARS AND, CREASGLY, CHA STOR. THE TERSECTN OF 18TH AND CASTRO STREETS IS GAY GROUND ZERO AND A NSTANT HIVE OF ACTIVY. GRAB A SWEET TREAT AT HOT COOKIE, SAMPLE CREDIBLE DIM SUM AT MAMA JI’S AND PAY TRIBUTE TO GAY CIVIL RIGHTS IN HARVEY MILK AT 575 CASTRO STREET, WHERE A MURAL AND PLAQUE HAVE BEEN PLACED HIS HONOR.GET YOUR GAY HISTORY STRAIGHT A WORTHWHILE PLACE TO LEARN ABOUT THE WAYS THE GAY MUNY HAS SHAPED SAN FRANCIS, THE GLBT HISTORIL SOCIETY NTAS NUMERO TERTG ARTIFACTS THE FORM OF VTAGE PRT PUBLITNS, PHOTOS, D RERDGS, FLYERS AND ARTICL OF CLOTHG VERG EVERYTHG OM THE ASSASSATN OF HARVEY MILK TO THE IMPACT OF THE AIDS CRISIS ON THE CY. NOTEWORTHY IS THE MM’S EMPHASIS ON REGNIZG THE NTRIBUTNS OF LGBT WOMEN AND PEOPLE OF LOR. ENTERTA YOUR NER CEPHILE A REQUISE SELFIE UNR THE NEON-L CASTRO THEATER SIGN IS AN EXPERIENCE UNTO SELF, BUT NOTHG PAR TO ACTUALLY SEEG A MOVIE AT THIS HISTORIC THEATER. THE LANDMARK MOVIE PALACE FIRST OPENED 1922 AND TODAY IS HOME TO FRAMELE: THE SAN FRANCIS LGBT FILM FTIVAL AND ALSO BOASTS A WILDLY DIVERSE AND ENTERTAG LENDAR, CLUDG SG-A-LONGS, CLASSICS, CULT FILMS AND MORE. THE PIèCE RéSISTANCE IS THE ANIST WHO ENTERTAS BEFORE THE START OF EACH MOVIE! H THE BEACH— A PARK! SLOPG MISSN DOLOR PARK THE MISSN DISTRICT OFFERS THE KD OF SKYLE VIEWS SHUTTERBUGS DROOL OVER, BUT GIVEN THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS ALSO ONE OF FOGGY SAN FRANCIS’S SUNNIT, ’S BEE A FACTO BEACH. IN PARTICULAR, THE TOP RIM OF THE PARK HAS BEEN BTOWED THE CHEEKY NAME THE “F SHELF” THANKS TO THE PREPONRANCE OF GAY MEN AND WOMEN WHO NGREGATE HERE BY THE HUNDREDS ON WARM WEEKENDS TO NOODLE, ROE AND OLIC TY SWIMWEAR.EAT, DRK AND BE A MARYMOST VISORS E TO SAN FRANCIS LOOKG FOR A GOOD TIME AND THIS RPECT THE CY DO NOT DISAPPOT. CONSIR DG AT GAY-EQUENTED LEGENDS LIKE ELEGANT ZUNI CAFé (FEATURED HBO’S LOOKG), SWAN OYSTER DEPOT AND ALL-NIGHT GREASY SPOON ORPHAN ANDY’S. CROSS THE BAY TO CHECK OUT MISS OLLIE’S AND JUHU BEACH CLUB—BOTH HELMED BY LBIAN CHEFS. A BAR CRAWL, MEANWHILE, SHOULD CLU STOPS AT POPULAR JOTS LIKE THE STUD, TW PEAKS, EL R, BADLANDS AND OASIS.PAY YOUR RPECTSYOU ULD SP SO MANY AFTERNOONS OUT OF A VIS TO STUNNG, ALBE FOGGY, GOLN GATE PARK. CULTURE VULTUR WILL LOVE THE YOUNG MM AND THE CALIFORNIA AMY OF ARTS AND SCIENC, WHILE NATURE ENTHIASTS SHOULD HEAD TO THE SAN FRANCIS BOTANIL GARN, THE JAPANE TEA GARN AND THE BUFFALO PADDOCK. BUT DO TAKE A MOMENT TO BOW YOUR HEAD AT THE NATNAL AIDS MEMORIAL GROVE WHICH PAYS TRIBUTE TO THE LNS OF LIV IMPACTED BY AIDS.PHOTO URTY OF THE BUCHANANLET MR. SANDMAN BRG YOU A DREAM IT’S EASY TO SLEEP WELL SAN FRANCIS. BECK’S MOTOR LODGE IS A CHARMG AND REHABBED MOTEL THE HEART OF THE CASTRO AND A RELATIVE BARGA (BY SF STANDARDS). OR CHECK OUT THE BUCHANAN, THE HEADQUARTERS OF KIMPTON, LOTED JAPANTOWN (NEAR THE EXCELLENT KABI BATHS). CHEAP SLEEPS, MEANWHILE, N BE HAD AT THE HIP NEW GOOD HOTEL, WHICH IS CRAFTED MOSTLY OF RECLAIMED MATERIALS. EVEN IF YOU DON’T HAVE THE BUCKS TO THROW DOWN AT THE FAIRMONT ATOP NOB HILL, AT THE VERY LEAST SWG BY THE HOTEL’S LEGENDARY TIKI BAR, THE TONGA ROOM & HURRINE BAR, FOR A MAI TAI. B LATT POSTS JASON HEIMANN, TRAVELOCY STAFF WRERLATT POSTS BY JASON HEIMANN, TRAVELOCY STAFF WRER (SEE ALL) 9 HOTELS TO LIVE OUT YOUR FAVORE HOLIDAY-THEMED TV TEARJERKER - NOVEMBER 8, 2021 TOP KID-IENDLY HOTELS NEAR UNIVERSAL STUDS HOLLYWOOD - JULY 1, 2021 WHERE SHOULD YOU GO TO “SEIZE YOUR SOMEDAY”? (QUIZ) - JUNE 16, 2021TRAVELOCY PENSAT THORS FOR THEIR WRGS APPEARG ON THIS SE; SUCH PENSATN MAY CLU TRAVEL AND OTHER STS.S_EXP.PAGENAME="";S_EXP.PROP24=""; VAR S_=S_EXP.T();IF(S_)(S_) 1 COMMENT
• THE GAY TRAVELER’S GUI TO SAN FRANCIS
• THE BT GAY BARS SAN FRANCIS
• SAN FRANCIS’S 3 MOST FAB GAY NEIGHBORHOODS
• THE 10 BEST SAN FRANCIS GAY CLUBS & BARSGAY CLUBS & BARS SAN FRANCIS
• GAY CALIFORNIA

7 ESSENTIAL LGBT THGS TO DO SAN FRANCIS BY JASON HEIMANN, TRAVELOCY STAFF WRER | APR 23, 2018 | 1 MENT GAY OR STRAIGHT, EVERYBODY LOV SAN FRANCIS. THE CY’S BEGUILG TOPOGRAPHY AND TOPSY-TURVY WEATHER PATTERNS (BRG A SRF JULY!) ADD LAYERS OF ROMANCE TO REQUISE ATTRACTNS LIKE SNAPPG A SELFIE ONT OF THE GOLN GATE BRIDGE, HOLDG ON TIGHT AS RICKETY BLE RS CLIMB IMPOSSIBLY STEEP HILLS, RIDG A FERRY TO SSALO AND SO MUCH MORE. BUT THE CY’S E-AS-YOU-ARE ATTU HAS MA AN IRRISTIBLE STATN FOR LGBT TRAVELERS EVER SCE THE END OF WORLD WAR II. THERE’S MUCH TO SEE AND DO; NSIR THIS YOUR GAY SAN FRANCIS PRIMER.RELATED: SAN FRANCIS TO CARMEL: A NATURE-FILLED CALIFORNIA ROAD TRIP CISE THE CASTRO THE EPICENTER OF GAY LIFE SAN FRANCIS SCE THE EARLY ‘70S, THE CASTRO DISTRICT IS LED WH RABOW FLAGS, HISTORIC S, LIVELY BARS AND, CREASGLY, CHA STOR. THE TERSECTN OF 18TH AND CASTRO STREETS IS GAY GROUND ZERO AND A NSTANT HIVE OF ACTIVY. GRAB A SWEET TREAT AT HOT COOKIE, SAMPLE CREDIBLE DIM SUM AT MAMA JI’S AND PAY TRIBUTE TO GAY CIVIL RIGHTS IN HARVEY MILK AT 575 CASTRO STREET, WHERE A MURAL AND PLAQUE HAVE BEEN PLACED HIS HONOR.GET YOUR GAY HISTORY STRAIGHT A WORTHWHILE PLACE TO LEARN ABOUT THE WAYS THE GAY MUNY HAS SHAPED SAN FRANCIS, THE GLBT HISTORIL SOCIETY NTAS NUMERO TERTG ARTIFACTS THE FORM OF VTAGE PRT PUBLITNS, PHOTOS, D RERDGS, FLYERS AND ARTICL OF CLOTHG VERG EVERYTHG OM THE ASSASSATN OF HARVEY MILK TO THE IMPACT OF THE AIDS CRISIS ON THE CY. NOTEWORTHY IS THE MM’S EMPHASIS ON REGNIZG THE NTRIBUTNS OF LGBT WOMEN AND PEOPLE OF LOR. ENTERTA YOUR NER CEPHILE A REQUISE SELFIE UNR THE NEON-L CASTRO THEATER SIGN IS AN EXPERIENCE UNTO SELF, BUT NOTHG PAR TO ACTUALLY SEEG A MOVIE AT THIS HISTORIC THEATER. THE LANDMARK MOVIE PALACE FIRST OPENED 1922 AND TODAY IS HOME TO FRAMELE: THE SAN FRANCIS LGBT FILM FTIVAL AND ALSO BOASTS A WILDLY DIVERSE AND ENTERTAG LENDAR, CLUDG SG-A-LONGS, CLASSICS, CULT FILMS AND MORE. THE PIèCE RéSISTANCE IS THE ANIST WHO ENTERTAS BEFORE THE START OF EACH MOVIE! H THE BEACH— A PARK! SLOPG MISSN DOLOR PARK THE MISSN DISTRICT OFFERS THE KD OF SKYLE VIEWS SHUTTERBUGS DROOL OVER, BUT GIVEN THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS ALSO ONE OF FOGGY SAN FRANCIS’S SUNNIT, ’S BEE A FACTO BEACH. IN PARTICULAR, THE TOP RIM OF THE PARK HAS BEEN BTOWED THE CHEEKY NAME THE “F SHELF” THANKS TO THE PREPONRANCE OF GAY MEN AND WOMEN WHO NGREGATE HERE BY THE HUNDREDS ON WARM WEEKENDS TO NOODLE, ROE AND OLIC TY SWIMWEAR.EAT, DRK AND BE A MARYMOST VISORS E TO SAN FRANCIS LOOKG FOR A GOOD TIME AND THIS RPECT THE CY DO NOT DISAPPOT. CONSIR DG AT GAY-EQUENTED LEGENDS LIKE ELEGANT ZUNI CAFé (FEATURED HBO’S LOOKG), SWAN OYSTER DEPOT AND ALL-NIGHT GREASY SPOON ORPHAN ANDY’S. CROSS THE BAY TO CHECK OUT MISS OLLIE’S AND JUHU BEACH CLUB—BOTH HELMED BY LBIAN CHEFS. A BAR CRAWL, MEANWHILE, SHOULD CLU STOPS AT POPULAR JOTS LIKE THE STUD, TW PEAKS, EL R, BADLANDS AND OASIS.PAY YOUR RPECTSYOU ULD SP SO MANY AFTERNOONS OUT OF A VIS TO STUNNG, ALBE FOGGY, GOLN GATE PARK. CULTURE VULTUR WILL LOVE THE YOUNG MM AND THE CALIFORNIA AMY OF ARTS AND SCIENC, WHILE NATURE ENTHIASTS SHOULD HEAD TO THE SAN FRANCIS BOTANIL GARN, THE JAPANE TEA GARN AND THE BUFFALO PADDOCK. BUT DO TAKE A MOMENT TO BOW YOUR HEAD AT THE NATNAL AIDS MEMORIAL GROVE WHICH PAYS TRIBUTE TO THE LNS OF LIV IMPACTED BY AIDS.PHOTO URTY OF THE BUCHANANLET MR. SANDMAN BRG YOU A DREAM IT’S EASY TO SLEEP WELL SAN FRANCIS. BECK’S MOTOR LODGE IS A CHARMG AND REHABBED MOTEL THE HEART OF THE CASTRO AND A RELATIVE BARGA (BY SF STANDARDS). OR CHECK OUT THE BUCHANAN, THE HEADQUARTERS OF KIMPTON, LOTED JAPANTOWN (NEAR THE EXCELLENT KABI BATHS). CHEAP SLEEPS, MEANWHILE, N BE HAD AT THE HIP NEW GOOD HOTEL, WHICH IS CRAFTED MOSTLY OF RECLAIMED MATERIALS. EVEN IF YOU DON’T HAVE THE BUCKS TO THROW DOWN AT THE FAIRMONT ATOP NOB HILL, AT THE VERY LEAST SWG BY THE HOTEL’S LEGENDARY TIKI BAR, THE TONGA ROOM & HURRINE BAR, FOR A MAI TAI. B LATT POSTS JASON HEIMANN, TRAVELOCY STAFF WRERLATT POSTS BY JASON HEIMANN, TRAVELOCY STAFF WRER (SEE ALL) 9 HOTELS TO LIVE OUT YOUR FAVORE HOLIDAY-THEMED TV TEARJERKER - NOVEMBER 8, 2021 TOP KID-IENDLY HOTELS NEAR UNIVERSAL STUDS HOLLYWOOD - JULY 1, 2021 WHERE SHOULD YOU GO TO “SEIZE YOUR SOMEDAY”? (QUIZ) - JUNE 16, 2021TRAVELOCY PENSAT THORS FOR THEIR WRGS APPEARG ON THIS SE; SUCH PENSATN MAY CLU TRAVEL AND OTHER STS.S_EXP.PAGENAME="";S_EXP.PROP24=""; VAR S_=S_EXP.T();IF(S_)(S_) 1 COMMENT

Gay or straight, everybody lov San Francis. There’s much to see and do; nsir this your gay San Francis primer.

THE GAY TRAVELER’S GUI TO SAN FRANCIS

RELATED: San Francis to Carmel: A Nature-Filled California Road Trip Cise the Castro The epicenter of gay life San Francis sce the early ‘70s, the Castro District is led wh rabow flags, historic s, lively bars and, creasgly, cha stor.

The tersectn of 18th and Castro streets is gay ground zero and a nstant hive of activy. Grab a sweet treat at Hot Cookie, sample credible dim sum at Mama Ji’s and pay tribute to gay civil rights in Harvey Milk at 575 Castro Street, where a mural and plaque have been placed his your gay history straight A worthwhile place to learn about the ways the gay muny has shaped San Francis, the GLBT Historil Society ntas numero tertg artifacts the form of vtage prt publitns, photos, d rerdgs, flyers and articl of clothg verg everythg om the assassatn of Harvey Milk to the impact of the AIDS crisis on the cy.

THE BT GAY BARS SAN FRANCIS

In particular, the top rim of the park has been btowed the cheeky name the “F Shelf” thanks to the preponrance of gay men and women who ngregate here by the hundreds on warm weekends to noodle, roe and olic ty, drk and be a MaryMost visors e to San Francis lookg for a good time and this rpect the cy do not disappot. Consir dg at gay-equented legends like elegant Zuni Café (featured HBO’s Lookg), Swan Oyster Depot and all-night greasy spoon Orphan Andy’s.

San Francis – home of the untry's first openly gay elected official (Harvey Milk), birthplace of the rabow flag, the first cy the Uned Stat to legalize gay marriage and host of the bt damn Pri para  the untry—remas a major LGBTQ+ epicenter. (They don't ll the 'gay pal of the world' for nothg. So whether you're here June or not, honor SF's storied gay history at the mms, bars and cultural landmarks.

SAN FRANCIS’S 3 MOST FAB GAY NEIGHBORHOODS

“This clud workg wh gays, sex workers, ‘young chickens, ’ youth, hippi, gangs, dg addicts, and others. ) Anti-black discrimatn exists the gay muny and the Castro. This famo bar was a regular for gay men of lor who didn’t feel wele at other predomately whe clubs.

THE 10 BEST SAN FRANCIS GAY CLUBS & BARSGAY CLUBS & BARS SAN FRANCIS

Nurse and early AIDS activist Bobbi Campbell ed the ont wdow of this pharmacy to post a flyer 1981 warng the muny of “Gay Cancer”—bee neher the lol nor natnal ernment would sound the alarm—showg photos of lns ed by Kaposi sara (the rare ncer was found to be a rult of HIV’s toll on the immune system).

Tw Peaks Tavern go down history as the first gay bar Ameri wh wdows, meang patrons weren’t hidn om outsi view. The wdows allowed gays and lbians to sip cktails whout shame while lettg the sunshe and nightlife vibe . G., the Dghters of Bilis and the Mattache Society) were jt begng, homosexualy was still registered as a pathology by the Amerin Psychiatric Associatn.

GAY CALIFORNIA

Operated by Harvey Milk om 1972 to 1978, the store beme the center of the neighborhood’s growg gay muny.

Rough, sual, and sparsely rated, the first gay bar the Castro opened pre-Stonewall way back 1963. Over the next few s, approximately 30 more gay bars and shops opened around the Mule.

topletetopleteFiltersDateCategoryFormatPriceLanguageCurrencyMost popular matchServg wh Pri LGBTQIA+ Veteran EventsThu, Aug 24 • 11:00 AM EDTServg wh Pri LGBTQIA+ Veteran EventsThu, Aug 24 • 11:00 AM EDTLGBTQ+ Events Barkg and Dagenham NewsletterWed, Aug 23 • 9:00 AM + 21 moreLGBTQ+ Events Barkg and Dagenham NewsletterWed, Aug 23 • 9:00 AM + 21 moreY&H Youth LGBTQ+ Pri eventSat, Aug 5 • 10:45 AM Bentley, DonsterY&H Youth LGBTQ+ Pri eventSat, Aug 5 • 10:45 AM Bentley, DonsterPromotedAll Whe Labor Day WKD On The San Fran Bay Yacht Party (San Francis)Pier 3PromotedAll Whe Labor Day WKD On The San Fran Bay Yacht Party (San Francis)Pier 3PromotedIntensifyHer(TM) Bs IntensiveSat, Sep 30 • 11:00 AM OakstopPromotedIntensifyHer(TM) Bs IntensiveSat, Sep 30 • 11:00 AM OakstopQueer & Well x The Optimist Collective: Bi The WayThu, Aug 17 • 5:30 PM + 2 moreSF LGBT CenterQueer & Well x The Optimist Collective: Bi The WayThu, Aug 17 • 5:30 PM + 2 moreSF LGBT CenterTIX@DOOR - Polyglamoro prents SneaksToday • 10:00 PMClub SixTIX@DOOR - Polyglamoro prents SneaksToday • 10:00 PMClub Six❣️LVRGRL❣️Fri, Aug 11 • 8:00 PM + 4 moreWhe Horse Inn❣️LVRGRL❣️Fri, Aug 11 • 8:00 PM + 4 moreWhe Horse InnWalkg tour of LGBTQ life the Barbary Coast (North Beach)Sat, Aug 12 • 11:00 AM + 6 moreWashgton Street & Kearny StreetWalkg tour of LGBTQ life the Barbary Coast (North Beach)Sat, Aug 12 • 11:00 AM + 6 moreWashgton Street & Kearny StreetPRIDE Color Day PartySat, Sep 2 • 4:00 PM OaklandPRIDE Color Day PartySat, Sep 2 • 4:00 PM OaklandGayish Podst LIVE San Francis at OasisSun, Aug 13 • 1:00 PM OASISGayish Podst LIVE San Francis at OasisSun, Aug 13 • 1:00 PM OASISActivy: LGBTQIA+ Book SwapTomorrow • 3:00 PMEureka Valley/Harvey Milk Memorial Branch LibraryActivy: LGBTQIA+ Book SwapTomorrow • 3:00 PMEureka Valley/Harvey Milk Memorial Branch LibraryFirst Fridays: Queer Joy & Abolnist LoveFri, Aug 4 • 7:00 PM + 23 more2520 Telegraph AveFirst Fridays: Queer Joy & Abolnist LoveFri, Aug 4 • 7:00 PM + 23 more2520 Telegraph AveHANNAH DIAMOND Live! #11View all Photos#11 San Francis3 to cy center3 to cy centerFree, Neighborhood/AreaTYPE2 hours to Half DayTIME TO SPENDIf you want to explore San Francis's rich gay and lbian culture, the Castro neighborhood is s beatg heart.

Not only is the Castro the center of the cy's LGBTQ muny, but 's nsired by many to be the gay pal of the world. In the 1970s, the Castro was home to Harvey Milk, California's first openly gay public official and one of the first the U.

His steadfast efforts the gay rights movement not only earned him the tle the "Mayor of Castro Street, " but his polil efforts helped put San Francis at the foreont of the gay rights movement.

The unmissable Castro Theatre, suated along the neighborhood's ma drag, is another neighborhood gem and a registered San Francis Historic you want to explore San Francis's rich gay and lbian culture, the Castro neighborhood is s beatg heart. The unmissable Castro Theatre, suated along the neighborhood's ma drag, is another neighborhood gem and a registered San Francis Historic all Photos#11 San Francis3 to cy center2 hours to Half DayTIME TO SPENDIf you want to explore San Francis's rich gay and lbian culture, the Castro neighborhood is s beatg heart.

San Francis is arguably a heart of gay culture the world. From the LGBTQ rights movement led by the late Harvey Milk, to the cy’s annual gay events cludg Folsom Street Fair, the queer flame of San Francis ntu to burn bright - even if recently dimmed by the flux of the tech dtry. When to the perfect gaytn, you will never have a shortage of thgs to do San Francis.

Whether you like the ia of sunbathg at a lol gay nu beach, or you’d rather stroll through the inic rabow-clad streets of The Castro, we’ve created a gay bucket list to San Francis. Now the only qutn left is whether you’ll be able to tick everythg off for your gay travel experience here!

2) Soak up some vam D at popular gay nu beach, Barker’s Beach. 4) Vis at the end of June, and dance through the cy streets durg San Francis’s annual Gay Pri - plenty of dancg a given!

7) Grab bnch at popular gay hangouts Squat & Gobble or Cafe Flore the heart of The Castro. 8) Scuff your new pair of sho on the credible dance floor at Oasis Club - ’s hoed a nverted gay bath hoe, enough said! 10) Enjoy some Californian sun wh a piic Dolor Park - n be a great place to mgle wh gay lols over some beer.

This was the first openly gay bar the US, thanks to s floor-to-ceilg wdows, that allowed outsirs to look . 14) Head to legendary gay bar, The Eagle, and get your leather on or enjoy a drag show wh some lol guys.

31) After bar hoppg through The Castro, head to biker-themed gay bar, Hole the Wall Saloon the SoMa neighborhood, jt south of Market Street. 32) San Francis n sure get chilly, so turn the heat up wh a vis to popular gay sna, Eros.

35) If you’re town at the right time, head to Daytime Realns - a gay party takg place on the pat of El R The Missn, one Sunday afternoon per month.