Gay bars in sf

Dark even in the middle of the day, this cowboy-themed spot with a pool table and patio is hung with erotic art, and, although it’s a little rough around the edges, the Cinch is as friendly as they come. 

Once upon a time, El Rio was a Brazilian Leather Bar. Today, this brightly colored space caters more to the lesbian crowd, with plenty of indie bands and nights dedicated to worthwhile causes to draw those from diverse corners of the city.

After a four-year closure, they reopened in a SoMa location and still somehow it feels old school, even if it’s much bigger and has a back patio now. It’s probably the location, a second-story perch surveying a massive six-way intersection in the Castro and all who sashay across it. Unlike other gay bars in the city, Ginger’s is never too crowded, so keep it mind when you want some time alone or are in the mood for a low-key night out.

Come for drinks and a round of pool, and you'll probably end up singing a ballad or making a new friend (or beyond) inside the photobooth. Enjoy Lookout’s ground-level expansion into Noe Street, whose occasional closures to traffic is one of the best things to happen in the Castro in a while.

Trax

LGBTQ+ spaces have been vanishing for a long time, but few subspecies are rarer than the neighborhood gay bar.

The comic, electric show is different each time, with the Queens taking on everything from Disney princesses to pop stars. 

The self-styled "safe space" is stylish and modern, with a large front room with booths, a pool table and plenty of bar seating, and additional tables in an alcove at the back.

While we’re a bit sleepier than we used to be, this city still knows how to have fun. From the tried-and-true spots in the Castro to the warehouse-esque venues in SoMa’s leather district, and an ongoing queer bar renaissance in the Mission—these are our favorite LGBTQ+ bars and lounges in the city.

THE SPOTS

The Edge

Wild Side West

LGBTQ-owned since Pat Ramseyer and Nancy White bought it in 1962, this theatrical Bernal Heights den isn’t exclusively a lesbian bar.

Think again, my friend.

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