The Best San Diego Gay Bars and Clubs

Run by the team behind lively Urban Mo's and, just across the street, Gossip Grill restaurant, Baja Betty's (1421 University Ave., 619-269-8510) exudes personality and camp: it's a fun spot for foofy cocktails (note the huge tequila list), weekend-afternoon people-watching, and consistently good Southwestern and Latin American fare: Mexi-Queen cheese dip, battered-cod fish tacos, carne asada tacos, and chicken poblano in mole sauce. It's as much, if not more, about the food than the drinking here, but Baja Betty's definitely qualifies as a bar option - and a fun spot before hitting Flick's, Rich's, or one of the other gay clubs in the area.

It's one of the best gay bars San Diego, and yet the loosely French Quarter-themed Bourbon Street nightclub (4612 Park Blvd., 619-291-4043) isn't in Hillcrest and doesn't generally draw big crowds to its dance floor. So what's so fun about this place? First, Bourbon Street has a friendly, welcoming staff and attitude, which tends to rub off on the diverse clientele. It's somewhat more of a guys hangout most nights, and it can get mighty cruise-y when go-go dancers perform, but women are extremely welcome, and on Sundays, it's Bourbon Street holds one of the city's better-attended women's nights (also, early on Fridays - during happy hour - the crowd is mostly lesbian). In fact, the festive theme nights are a big draw - wet-underwear contests, karaoke, and popular nightly happy hours. Bourbon Street delights regulars with its "never a cover charge" policy, and its accessible location along Park Boulevard in University Heights, a charmingly eclectic neighborhood just a short drive north of Hillcrest (it's pretty easy to find parking up here, too).

The longest-running gay bar in San Diego, the Brass Rail (3796 5th Ave., 619-298-2233) deserves credit for always finding new ways to reinvent itself for the current times. This Hillcrest landmark has undergone a natty makeover, complete with a refurbishment of the bars vintage chandelier. Popularity varies according to the night, with the weekly Manic Monday parties (80-cent drinks!), Wednesday drag shows, '80s Fridays, and Latin tunes on Saturdays all with pretty strong followings. Additionally, on pretty much any afternoon, there's usually a crowd of regulars hanging out and chatting...sometimes very early in the afternoon, for that matter. The staff is easygoing and friendly, and the all-ages clientele is among the more diverse in San Diego - mostly male but with plenty of women (and mostly women on the "ladies nights"), and usually there's more of a black, white, and Latino mix here than in many other gay bars around the city. It's pretty easy to have fun in this place.

A cozy, slightly off-the-beaten-path neighborhood spot in charming University Heights, Cheers (1839 Adams Ave., 619-298-3269) is exactly what its name suggests: a laid-back spot where everybody knows your name, or, at the very least, even outsiders tend to be treated as friends. Like a lot of locals' hangouts in San Diego, Cheers has fun karaoke nights and plenty of good drink specials.

Eden (1202 University Ave., 619-269-3336) is set on a prime stretch of University Avenue in Hillcrest, and it combines a spacious dance club with first-rate sound and light and an upscale restaurant. Catering largely to gay men, and a somewhat similar bunch to those who party nearby at Rich's and Flick's, the swanky complex also pulls in plenty of straights, both for dining and dancing, and it can get pretty packed on weekend nights. It hosts a number of circuit-style parties, everything from Jeffrey Sanker events to nights helmed by top visiting DJs. The eclectic food is pretty tasty (wonton ahi tacos, steak and eggs at brunch, and the bar pours some imaginative (though spendy) cocktails. All in all, a fun place to see-and-be-seen and party, though some complain about attitude on the part of both the staff and the patrons.

For many years, this attractive Hillcrest nightclub (just north of Balboa Park, around the corner from the gay bars along University Avenue) set behind a fabulous exterior (note the cool sign) was San Diego's most popular lesbian nightclub. A series of management changes in recent years has led the Flame (3780 Park Blvd., 619-795-8578) through some ups and downs, but the club seems to be holding its own these days, catering to an eclectic mix. The most popular night appears to be Friday, for the Fabulous Flame Follies drag cabaret. The club, which is quite large and has a couple of dance floors (and, for that matter, lots of potential) also has some other themed music nights.

Along a strip of gay-oriented businesses on University Avenue in San Diego's Hillcrest neighborhood, Flicks gay video bar has long been a hub of gay schmoozing and socializing in this sunny and scenic city by the ocean. Flicks (1017 University Ave., 619-297-2056) is a cozy space with the usual array of video monitors, a nice little patio seating area overlooking the busy sidewalk, and a variety of fun theme nights (comedy videos on Tuesdays, South Park showings on Wednesdays, the "dating game" on Thursdays, a wet booty contest on Saturdays, karaoke on Sundays). The crowd is mostly male, although plenty of female friends stop by, too, and it skews pretty, preppy, and youthful.

The Hole (2820 Lytton St., 619-226-9019) is famously popular with Navy and other military personnel, as it's right in the heart of Point Loma and is also the closest San Diego gay bar to Mission Beach (and the other lower beach communities), and San Diego International Airport. Renowned for its huge, atmospheric patio and legendary Sunday beer blasts, it's also great fun because of the eclectic crowd, where everybody from bears to hipsters to regular joes comes to cruise. You'll see the occasional twink in here, but this rough-and-ready cruise bar definitely cultivates a vibe that's counter to the stand-and-model scene in Hillcrest. Whatever your style, you can be yourself here.