Gay San Francisco's bar scene splits clearly along neighbourhood lines. The Castro has the friendlier, earlier crowd: neighbourhood regulars, tourists, a mix of ages. SoMa has the heavier bars: leather, fetish, later nights, a crowd that knows what it came for. There is not much overlap between the two scenes, though the same person might visit both on the same night if they are motivated.


The city has fewer gay bars than it did a decade ago. Some well-known venues have closed. The ones that survived are generally good and have loyal followings. What you find now is a tighter set of quality spots rather than the sprawling scene that existed before.

Castro bars

Castro bars are more neighbourhood-oriented. They open earlier, they are busier on weekend afternoons, and the crowd tends to be more varied in terms of age and type. You can have a conversation here. The vibe is friendly rather than intense. Several of the bars on Castro Street and Market Street have been running for decades and have regulars who have been coming for just as long.

Twin Peaks at Castro and Market is worth knowing for what it represents historically — one of the first gay bars in the US with large plate-glass windows, letting the gay bar be visible from the street rather than hidden behind frosted glass. It has been there since 1972.

SoMa bars

The SoMa leather strip runs along Folsom Street and the surrounding blocks between roughly 7th and 13th Streets. The bars here are different in character: darker, later, more fetish-oriented. The Eagle on 12th Street is one of the most famous leather bars in the United States. The Powerhouse on 18th runs bear and leather nights. Several other bars operate along Harrison and Folsom.

SoMa bars fill Thursday through Saturday. Sunday afternoons can also be active, particularly at venues with outdoor spaces. Most do not get going until 10pm or later on peak nights.

Dress codes exist at some SoMa bars, particularly on themed nights. Leather, rubber, or fetish gear is expected or required at some events. Check the venue's social media before going out on a themed night if you want to fit the crowd.

Polk Street

Polk Street has a smaller, older scene. A handful of bars have been there for a long time. The crowd is generally older and more local than the Castro. It is less tourist-heavy and runs at a quieter pace. Worth knowing if you want something low-key.

The bars

    • Balançoire — This French restaurant & club offers DJs, burlesque, live music, late-night eats & weekend brunch.
    • Bill Graham Civic Auditorium — The Bill Graham Civic Auditorium is a multi-purpose arena in San Francisco, California, currently named after promoter Bill Graham. The arena holds 7,000 people and was built in 1915 as part of the Panama–Pacific International Exposition.
    • Boyfriends — Boyfriends are gone. All got AIDS.
    • Brick & Mortar Music Hall — Talent ranges from bluegrass to hip-hop at this modest-sized music venue near the freeway.
    • Castro Theatre — The Castro Theatre is a popular San Francisco movie palace which became San Francisco Historic Landmark #100 in September 1976.
    • Cat Club SF — Large SoMa club with exposed-brick walls & theme nights ranging from All '80s to Bondage A Go-Go.
    • Center for New Music — Multipurpose venue offering curated musical performances, plus music-related exhibits & workshops
    • City Nights — To get in for half-off this Saturday ($10), bring your student ID and show up before 10PM! Or, if you don't have a student ID, text the word 'CITYNIGHTS' (without quotes) to 95577 for the same discount. (..and for a chance to win two free tickets - just tag a friend in the comment section below..) **This Saturday is All Nighter: Student Night. On top of our two dance floors and two DJs - we'll have frat contests, complimentary pizza and Redbull, cash prizes, a playable Xbox ONE projected over
    • Cobb's Comedy Club — Cobb's Comedy Club is a stand-up comedy venue in San Francisco's North Beach neighborhood. It was founded in 1982 and has had many top comedians on its stage.
    • Dark Garden Unique Corsetry — Bright funky shop with high ceilings selling custom & off-the-rack corsets, dresses & wedding gowns
    • DNA Lounge — DNA Lounge is a late-night, all ages nightclub in the SoMa district of San Francisco owned by Jamie Zawinski, a former Netscape programmer and open-source software hacker.
    • El Rio — A Mission standby since 1978, this local bar with an expansive patio draws a diverse crow
    • Eureka Valley Recreation Center — Lovely Community Center. Gorgeous Dog Park. Wish there were Fountains & grass otherwise I'd give it 5 Stars! Love coming to the Eureka Valley Rec Centre for Community meetings & bringing the dogs to the doggy park is Lovely for the dogs to be Sociable!
    • F8 — Sitting in the heart of San Francisco, F8 celebrates the food, art, and music roots of the historical South of Market (SoMa) district. The happy hour food menu features mouth-watering selections created by the chefs of Citizen's Band restaurant, which calls for the freshest ingredients from local farmers. Each week, up and coming local artists showcase their diverse range of talent. Finally, world class DJ's spin on our custom-made sound system. A place for mingling, hedonistic dancing, and netw
    • Farmer Brown — At Farmer Brown, generous portions and robust flavors are proving to create a local craze. Many love their fried chicken, but chic enough to stop by for a specialty drink at the bar.
    • Flesh & Spirit Community — The Gay/Queer Elder has wisdom to teach. We all know our "gay truth" to share to heal, to liberate and to guide us further on the journey. The Gay/Queer Elder knows he belongs. The September potluck theme is about eldership and taking our place in community.
    • Flesh and Spirit — The basic philosophy of Flesh & Spirit Community is a weave of loving ideas, concepts and practices from many traditions such as, Buddhism, Tantra, Taoism, African & Native American spiritualities, Christianity, Wicca, Judaism, Sufism, Feminist theory, congruence theory, liberation theology,healing/recovery models,behavioral medicine,energy medicine and body oriented therapies.
    • Fringale — Fringale, which means "the urge to eat," pioneered the South of Market culinary renaissance as one of the first true French bistros in San Francisco. Opened by chef Gerald Hirigoyen and J.B. Lorda in September 1991, it has remained a favorite dining spot for food lovers, socialites, politicians, artists, journalists, and out-of-town celebritie
    • Herbst Theatre — The Herbst Theatre is an auditorium in the War Memorial and Performing Arts Center in Civic Center in San Francisco, California, United States.
    • Mezzanine — A big dance floor provides room to move to live music & DJs at this multilevel, late-night club.

Practical notes

Drinks cost $10-16 depending on the bar. Cocktail bars at the higher end, dive bars and beer-only spots at the lower end. Some Castro bars have happy hours from opening until 8 or 9pm with reduced prices.

Most bars accept cards. A few of the older SoMa venues prefer cash or charge a card processing fee. Bring some cash to be safe.

For the broader city picture, see the Gay San Francisco Guide.