San francisco gay district

California residents currently pay an average of 6.73% interest rates, slightly higher than the national average of 6.72%. For most visitors, location is the key deciding factor, and so they may look at choosing a district or area first and then narrow it down to a hotel.

Naturally, many gay travellers will opt to stay in the Castro district, and of course here you will find a number of gay and gay-friendly hotel options, but there are gay and gay-friendly hotels spread across the city.

There are far too many gay-friendly hotels in San Francisco to list here, so for the purposes of this blog post I have included the three hotels I stayed at, one from each of the Castro, Fisherman’s Wharf and Union Square district.

And for a much wider choice, check out my dedicated post on the top 20 gay-friendly hotels in San Francisco, where I have listed them by district for your ease.

The Westin St Francis San Francisco – Union Square

The Westin St Francis at Union Square was home for my very first 2 nights in San Francisco, and what a welcome to the city!

California ranks number one in the United States with a 100 safety score for LGBTQ+ safety and equality.

Housing Market Expectations

The average home price in San Francisco is approximately $1.3 million, slightly lower by 0.3% over the past year. Mission Bay has some of the city’s best restaurants, including the Dancing Yak and Delfina Restaurant.

Golden Gate Park

When you’re looking to enjoy some outdoor recreation or just hang out, check out Golden Gate Park, popular with everyone from young families to senior citizens.

When it comes to knowing if a hotel is gay-friendly, there is no clearer sign than seeing two ginormous rainbow flags proudly flying above the front door.

The location of this hotel is everything – the hotel is directly situated on Union Square Plaza itself, with many of the rooms offering a view of the entire plaza.

The building is grand and very elegant, especially in the common spaces, yet the rooms are stylishly decorated with some great modern touches.

Address: 335 Powell St, San Francisco, CA 94102, United States

Kimpton Alton Hotel – Fisherman’s Wharf

I am a big fan of the Kimpton brand thanks to their continuous support of the LGBTQ+ community so this was a natural choice for my 2-night stay in the Fisherman’s Wharf area.

I immediately knew I was welcome as a gay traveller when upon check-in we saw that all the staff name badges featured the rainbow logo – such a small touch but can make all the difference to how guests feel.

Again, location here was key – the hotel is just a few minutes’ walk to the waterfront, and Pier 39 is also accessible by foot.

I loved the little touches here such as tea and coffee served in the lobby each morning, as well as the hosted evening social hour, with complimentary beer and wine (again in the lobby) and a local DJ.

Address: 2700 Jones St, San Francisco, CA 94133, United States

Hotel Castro – The Castro

Naturally for my final night in the city I had to spend it in the Castro district!

Hotel Castro is in the heart of the neighbourhood, with everything within walking distance.

Mortgage lenders in San Francisco can help you obtain funding to acquire your dream home. 

Whether you dream of fancy loft apartments overlooking the artsy district or a quaint condo in a working-class neighborhood, the city welcomes everyone.

If you’re ready to find your new home, Pride Lending is here to help!

Folsom), private beaches and some public beaches – and Baker Beach is one of those.

When entering Baker Beach from the parking lot to the left is the ‘family-friendly’ section of the beach, but to the right you will find the nudist section.

Baker Beach is a popular choice for locals and tourists alike, both because it is a nude beach, because you can walk to the Golden Gate Bridge from here, but also because it was the location of the very first Burning Man ever – when back in 1986 the founders took a small wooden figure down to the beach to burn on the Summer Solstice.

The Golden Gate Bridge

Is it fair to say that the Golden Gate Bridge is possibly the most famous beach in the world?

The serene park offers a quick retreat from the hustle and bustle of the busy vibe. From there, transfer to an Amtrak Thruway bus that takes you across the Bay Bridge and drops you at the Salesforce Transit Center in downtown San Francisco. San Francisco is home to some of the most legendary party venues in the US, and these will all be taken over during the Pride weekend for some special pride editions of the cities usual circuit parties, such as Electrolux, BRUT and XOXO.

And if you are more of a bar hopper than a circuit partier, the nightlife scene in the Castro will be exceptionally busy during the Pride weekend, with most bars and clubs playing host to different events.

Castro Street Fair

The Castro Street Fair is one of San Franciscos biggest LGBTQ+ events outside of Pride.

As a city built up of multiple culturally diverse neighbourhoods, each neighbourhood tends to host their own unique annual street fair – and the Castro Street Fair is the oldest and longest-running of them all!

The first Castro Street Fair took place in 1974, and was founded by Harvey Milk himself to showcase, support and celebrate gay-owned businesses in response to discrimination towards them by the Merchants Association at that time.

A fun crowd paired with entertaining karaoke music promises a good time. But the pride doesn’t stop there: in October, visit the Castro District LGBTQ+ Historic Tour to learn about the development of San Francisco’s premier gay areas. 

San Francisco’s LGBTQ Legacy: A Brief History

San Francisco’s history is marked by decades of events that make it one of the most LBGTQ-friendly states today.

The Lookout on 16th St. is a popular mid-afternoon spot where LGBTQ people and supporters come together to sip Bloody Marys while enjoying the beautiful weather.

Movie buffs will enjoy catching a movie at the Vintage Theater. The biggest climate threat to San Francisco over the next 30 years is flooding, a major risk in some locations.

Residents have many public transportation options available, and much of the city is walkable.

The city is also credited with creating the rainbow pride flag.

Today, San Francisco is a beacon for LGBTQ individuals, with diverse, welcoming neighborhoods such as The Castro District, SoMa (South of Market), The Mission, Bernal Heights, and The Haight. Despite numerous challenges, including protests, activists fought against injustices. 

San Francisco’s history of activism includes pivotal moments like the Compton’s Cafeteria Riot in 1966 and the White Night riots in 1979, both of which were crucial in advancing LGBTQ rights and visibility.

A small boutique hotel, it only has 12 rooms, and each one is uniquely decorated inspired by LGBTQ+ heroes both past and present.

I loved the rooftop terrace here, complete with great view of the neighbourhood, as well as ‘The Lobby Bar’ – which is the perfect place to have a drink before heading to check out the gay nightlife of the Castro district.

Address: 4230 18th St, San Francisco, CA 94114, United States

Gay Bars in San Francisco

The gay nightlife scene in San Francisco is big – with a huge variety of different bars and clubs to suit all, regardless of what type of night you are after.

Buena Vista Park offers memorable views of the San Francisco Bay.

From quaint independent bookstores, trendy yoga classes, and endless modern art spaces, this area truly has something for every interest and lifestyle. After you arrive, walk a few blocks to a nearby Muni Metro station, either Montgomery or Embarcadero, and take the K, L, or M line to Castro Station.