Best gay bars san francisco
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Been there, done that? Known for its radical inclusivity and off-the-wall creativity, The Stud has been everything from an art space to a drag stage. This postage-stamp-sized, pink-lit cocktail lounge and piano bar features the Hot Boxxx Girls, a long-standing drag show, on Friday and Saturday nights (reservations advised).
Known as the city’s first LGBTQ+ video bar, it’s a cozy space for drag shows, cocktails, and pop music projections that light up the room.
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Wild Side West
Established in 1962, this historic lesbian-founded bar sits quietly in Bernal Heights with a rustic patio, a rotating crowd of locals, and a legacy of live music and poetry.
Thursday and Friday nights Jolene's kitchen serves satisfying comfort fare with plenty of veggie options.
At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. Happy Hour ain't no slouch, either. With a solid dance floor and one of the best patios in the Castro, it’s an easy favorite for weekend drop-ins and daytime drinks alike.
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These bars aren’t just where people gather.
It’s rough around the edges in the best way possible.
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The Cafe
Bright, buzzy, and built for mingling, The Cafe is where many locals start their night.
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This guide was written by Bay-Area based writer Clara Hogan.
Wednesday nights are for Miss Kitty's trivia, half comedy show, half competition. Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon!
Best gay bars in San Francisco
Queer artistic expression thrives at Oasis, a club and cabaret theater in SoMa. Live music on Thursday nights is a nice counterpoint to the often wild and unexpected Friday and Saturday night parties that feature everything from lube wrestling to gaymer nights.
Big, meaty men gravitate to this self-styled Bear Bar in SoMa.
Home to the legendary Hot Boxx Girls and DJ Bus Station John’s disco sets, it’s gritty, loud, and fiercely authentic.
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Badlands
Known for its crowded weekends and massive dance floor, Badlands is a go-to for top-40 pop lovers and night owls alike.
Think again, my friend.
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Thanks for subscribing! 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.
And while the skyline and skyline have changed, some things haven’t: the right to dance freely, to gather safely, and to be unapologetically seen. Opened in a former gay bathhouse in 2015 by San Francisco drag legends Heklina and D’Arcy Drollinger, the 8,000-foot space comes alive each weekend with a myriad of amazing performances, including ever-popular interpretations of classic TV shows like Sex and the City, The Golden Girls and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
While there are a handful of great queer patios in SF, El Rio's large, light-strung, plant-laden backyard is one of the best, with outdoor ping pong competition and free al fresco oysters on Friday evenings at 5:30pm.
This friendly neighborhood bar is one of the most low-key options in the Castro. Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon!
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