San Francisco is arguably the hub of the gay universe, and certainly among the best cities in the world for gay bars. There are truly venues for every taste here, from hard-core leather clubs to glam warehouse discos to chic lounges. Much of the action is in the Castro, but you'll find hangouts in neighborhoods throughout the city, especially South of Market.
Here - in no particular order - is a round-up of of the most inviting gay-oriented after-dark venues in the City by the Bay.
Part of a mild revival the Castro experienced in the early '00s, the Bar on Castro took over a fairly drab neighborhood joint and became an enjoyable, eclectic cocktail lounge following a pleasing makeover. Inside this festive spot that's usually crowded from early evening into the wee hours, you'll find spiffy sofas and lounge seating. A back-lit bar and pinkish lighting creates a vaguely mysterious vibe. It's a great all-around cruise-and-chat bar, and it's popular with all ages and both women and men.
The number of popular, full-time lesbian bars in the world has shrunken steadily over the years, but this very cool, welcoming little bar with hardwood floors, a funky old chandelier, a pool table, and ruby-red walls pulls in a diverse (if somewhat youthful) crowd. Join the crowd in watching TV's
L Word on Sunday nights, and partake of the steady mix of themed music and revelry nights. This bar in the trendy Mission District also hosts art exhibits from time to time. The Lexington bills itself "your friendly neighborhood dyke bar", and...well...that's exactly what it is.
A legendary spot that began as a bathhouse and has been going strong - give or take a few booms and busts - since it opened in 1973, the Endup enjoyed a supporting role in Armistead Maupin's
Tales of The City serial novels. And it's no less relevant as a gay nightclub today, presenting an ever-impressive slew of parties. Fag Fridays are a must for many young scenesters, and many devotees swear by the Sunday "Church" T-Dances, which commence at 6 a.m. and pulse into evening, before the club is overtaken by a high-energy party called Super Soul Sundayz. If you love to dance, do not miss this one.
It's seems only fitting in one of the world's gay meccas that it's favorite queer resto-lounge is named Mecca. It's a chic, refined spot serving superb contemporary American chow, and it's on the edge of the Castro, an easy walk from the Mission and Hayes Valley, too. The increasing number of fine Castro restaurants that double as cocktail bars has presented Mecca with some stiff competition over the years, but this swanky haunt continues to lead the pack. Weekly social events include a lesbo-popular ladies' night on Thursdays, and an invariably cologne-scented men's night on Sundays. But it's always hopping in here.
5. Esta Noche
The Mission has morphed into an eclectic, if self-consciously hip neighborhood in recent times, but for many years it was San Francisco's prime Latino neighborhood. It was during these years that Esta Noche opened, and it has remained the Bay Area's favorite gay Latino dance club ever since - a place where the bumping and grinding can get mightly intense on certain evenings. The drag shows on Friday and Saturday nights are among the dishiest in the city.If you've come to San Francisco to partake of the city's infamous leather scene, you don't want to miss this self-professed "nasty little biker bar", where gruff guys in chaps and uniform gear cast suggestive glares at one another. To be sure, most of the guys in here, no matter how hard-core the look or how many piercings and tattoos, are sweet as pussy cats...well, maybe mountain lions. But this place is a trip, with bikes and chains hanging from the ceiling, posters and fliers pasted to the walls, and the general vibe of a motorcycle club. Loud rock music blares. You'll see things here you won't see anywhere else.
What started out as a somewhat sleepy neighborhood bar has developed into a very popular but still neighborhood-y gay hangout that draws one of the more eclectic crowds in the city, including guys and more than a few women of all ages, styles, and looks. It's a terrific conversation bar set along the Castro's bustling Church Street, close to the Mission and Hayes Valley. There's a lovely garden patio out back with ample seating, and the long bar inside is the perfect place to chat with friends or make new ones. Leave your attitude at home - this is one of the city's friendliest gay bars.
Another of San Francisco's most fabled gay institutions, the Stud opened many years before the majority of its patrons were born, in 1966. What you'll find going on at this rollicking SoMa club depends entirely on the night of the week. There's the delightfully campy TrannyShack on Tuesdays, Lucky Pierre's homoeclecticdisco the first Friday of every month, a fab dance party called PlayGirl on Saturdays, and plenty more to keep you entertained. Like the Endup, the Stud's popularity has waxed and waned over the years, but you can usually count on a colorful crowd most nights.
There's nothing overwhelming exciting or notable about Badlands, a longtime Castro party spot that's been around for many years. But thanks to its relative roominess (by Castro standards), festive decor, and youngish, good-looking crowd, it's steadily developed over the eons into one of the city's de rigueur gay cruise-and-schmooze mainstays. There's a small but potent video dance bar in back and a somewhat mellower lounge area - a good place to exchange MySpace URLs - up front. Expect a mostly 20s and 30s clean-cut bunch but relatively little attitude.
10. The Cafe
The Cafe was formerly the Castro's main lesbian dance bar, and while it continues to attract plenty of women, it's now favored by a mixed-gender, though somewhat youthful bunch. At times it seems as though this rambling upstairs bar with a cozy interior patio has lost some of its cachet, but then you show up on what you think will be a quiet evening and find the place jumping. DJs here spin a nice mix of danceable hip-hop and dance tunes, and a pair of pool tables are nearly always in use. It's a club that fits a need in the Castro, which has few places for dancing, so here's hoping it remains popular.
