San Francisco is one of the most popular destinations for gay travelers from around the world. It’s the home of famous LGBTQ activists and the site of significant moments in the fight for gay liberation. San Francisco was also where the first Pride flags were flown. From this historical perspective alone, there are many reasons for gay travelers to visit this city. But it’s not just the colorful history of LGBTQ lives in San Francisco that people come here for. Today, San Francisco’s LGBTQ community is thriving throughout the city, particularly in gay neighborhoods such as Castro and SoMa. You’ll find plenty of bars, clubs, and community spaces where you’ll feel right at home and meet like-minded, passionate individuals.
Is San Francisco gay friendly?
San Francisco is easily one of the most gay-friendly cities in the United States. For many people, it is The Gay City, with the highest density of gay residents out of any metropolitan area in the country in 2015. Generally speaking, you should not have any problems finding inclusive accommodation and showing displays of affection in public. If you do find yourself in need of assistance while visiting, the San Francisco LGBT Community Center is a good place to start.
Gay San Francisco neighbourhoods: Castro
Castro is the main gay district in San Francisco, where many of its best gay bars, venues, and meeting spots are located. In the 1970s, Castro was the home of Harvey Milk, the first gay man to be elected to public office in the United States. In 1978, the Gay Freedom Day Parade and Castro Street Fair saw the earliest display and use of the rainbow-striped Pride flag.
San Francisco’s Rainbow Honour Walk
San Francisco’s Rainbow Honour Walk is Castro’s version of the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Located in Castro’s business district, the Rainbow Honour Walk features bronze plaques commemorating LGBTQ people from all over the world who “left a lasting mark on society.” People honored include James Baldwin, Frida Kahlo, Freddie Mercury, and Gertrude Stein. Harvey Milk is not technically part of the Walk, as he has numerous commemorative markers throughout the city, but it takes you past his old camera shop, which bears a plaque outside.
The Castro Theatre
The Castro Theatre is a cinema and performance venue at the corner of Castro Street and Market Street. It has hosted different LGBTQ films, festivals, and performances over the years, with an emphasis on queer programming. Events such as drag queen performances, the annual San Francisco Gay Men’s Choir concert, and celebrations of gay icons have been held at The Castro Theatre and become attractions.
Twin Peaks Tavern
Right next door to the Castro Theatre, you’ll find the Twin Peaks Tavern, an iconic gay bar that’s been a meeting point for San Francisco’s LGBTQ population for years. It was particularly important for the community in the 1970s. The floor-to-ceiling windows offer a beautiful view of the street outside. Back in the day, these windows served as a mark of defiance. In the 1970s, most gay bars tried to be as discreet as possible, but in 1972, the Twin Peaks Tavern unveiled its windows and allowed itself to be seen. Today, it remains one of San Francisco’s most popular gay bars, and much of it looks the same as it did in the 1970s and 1980s. It’s mostly visited by an older clientele, but younger patrons have been frequenting the bar more often, appreciating the connection it provides to San Francisco’s LGBTQ history.
The Cafe
Don’t be fooled by The Cafe’s name. This isn’t a cozy coffee shop tucked away on the streets of San Francisco — it’s actually one of Castro’s best gay nightclubs. Right across the street from Harvey Milk Plaza, The Cafe has become one of San Francisco’s most known gay attractions, with its huge dance floor, excellent DJs, and unmatched vibes. The Cafe is quite large, so you’ll be glad that they have three separate bar areas spread out across the club. It also hosts karaoke nights and Drag Race viewing parties occasionally.
Hot Cookie
If you’re after a sweet treat with a queer edge while touring San Francisco, then head over to Hot Cookie in Castro. It sells a range of delicious cookies, including a few “erotic” desserts. Along with tasty treats, Hot Cookie prioritizes creating a welcoming space that’s sex-positive and celebrates queer identity and expression. Hot Cookie recently opened a new location on Polk Street, at the site of the first LGBTQ Pride Parade in San Francisco.
440 Castro
440 Castro is one of Castro’s best gay bars featuring several themed nights throughout the week. Its most well-known theme is Underwear Night every Monday, but its $2 Beer Tuesdays are also a hit with budget-conscious locals and visitors alike. It plays pop and house music throughout the week.
The Mix
The Mix bills itself as “the friendliest gay bar in San Francisco,” with cordial staff and a lovely open-air patio out in the back. From the setting to the staff to the patrons, The Mix has a great laid-back vibe and is the perfect spot for an afternoon hangout in summer. It’s open from 12 pm to 2 am every night of the week, and happy hour runs from 3 pm to 7 pm.
Beaux
Beaux is a newer gay bar, but you’ll find it at the place where Castro’s first gay bar, The Missouri Mule, once stood. It hosts a number of events, both weekly and one-offs. Its drag brunches, every Saturday and Sunday, are one of the bar’s main attractions, featuring some of San Francisco’s best drag queens. Its “Vamp Mondays” offers cocktails and features go-go dancers from 9 pm to 2 am every Monday. On Thursdays, “My So-Called Night” throws it back to the pop music of the 1990s and 2000s. Beaux also hosts Drag Race viewing parties.
The GLBT Historical Society
Visiting the GLBT Historical Society is one of the best ways to learn about gay San Francisco history. This archival museum exhibits a wide range of LGBTQ historical documents and artifacts. It is open from Tuesday to Saturday, and entry is free on the first Wednesday of every month. Its long-term exhibition, “Queer Past Becomes Present”, includes items that belonged to Harvey Milk, a costume belonging to Jose Sarria (an activist and entertainer who was the first openly gay man to run for public office in the United States), and publications about Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon, lesbian activists from the 1950s. It also hosts several temporary exhibitions throughout the year. The archives themselves are open by appointment only.
Gay San Francisco areas: SoMa
SoMa, or South of Market, is another neighborhood with a great selection of gay bars. It’s also home to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.
Lone Star Saloon
Lone Star Saloon first opened in 1989. When the Loma Prieta earthquake hit just six months after it opened, the bar had to move to its current location, on Harrison Street. This space has plenty of room, quiet nooks and crannies, and an excellent patio behind the bar. Particularly popular with bears and bikers, the Lone Star Saloon logo has become an internationally recognized symbol among queer communities, and you can buy its merchandise at the bar (or online). It is now owned by two of the bar’s former bartenders, and they’re committed to maintaining its position as one of the best gay bars in San Francisco.
SF Eagle
SF Eagle is one of San Francisco’s most iconic bars, and you’ll find members from all parts of the LGBTQ community here on any given night. On Sundays, all-you-can-drink beer afternoons are full of merrymaking and music. On Mondays, karaoke nights encourage you to sing your heart out. It also hosts frequent one-off parties and events throughout the year.
Oasis
Founded by Heklina and D’Arcy Drollinger, two of the city’s best drag queens, Oasis is a queer performance venue and nightclub that regularly organizes some of the most exciting cabarets and drag shows you’ll find in San Francisco. Oasis also hosts theatre performances, dance parties, and stand-up shows. The building was once a gay bathhouse, and its 8,000 sq ft space is now filled with dance floors, stages, and lounges. The patio upstairs is a great place to get some fresh air after you’ve been partying on the dancefloor, while the club’s Fez Room is a cozy spot where you can sit down and grab a cocktail.
Gay San Francisco events
With a high LGBTQ population, San Francisco has plenty of queer parties, festivals, and events running throughout the year.
San Francisco Pride
San Francisco Pride is held each year, usually at the end of June, and consists of both a Pride Parade and other festival events scattered throughout the city. The Parade generally begins on a Sunday morning at 10:30 am and travels down Market Street, finishing at 4 pm near the Civic Center. At the end of the parade, the barriers are lowered and the crowd can join the marchers. If you’re hoping to watch the parade along Market Street, you may need to arrive early in order to get a good spot. In the area near the end of the parade, you’ll find a range of stalls, performances, and other festival activities. San Francisco’s Pride attracts over 2 million attendees, making it one of the largest LGBTQ gatherings in the world.
FreshMeat Festival
FreshMeat Productions invests in trans and gender-nonconforming creative output and cultural leadership. Its FreshMeat Festival is a three-day event in June, held at the Z Space Theater and featuring a wide range of live performances. You’ll have the chance to see dance, music, and theatre shows by local queer performers and artists from across the United States. Besides the on-stage performances themselves, the pre-and post-parties are some of the best gay parties in San Francisco. DJs keep the music running, bartenders keep the drinks flowing, and a FreshMeat photo booth gives the perfect keepsake from the event.
Castro Street Fair
San Francisco hosts several street fairs throughout the city, and the Castro Street Fair is a wonderful LGBTQ-focused fair held in the iconic Castro district. The fair was founded in 1974 by Harvey Milk and the Castro Valley Association. The original event brought in around 5,000 attendees, and by 2007 it had an audience of roughly 300,000. You’ll find food vendors, local community-group stalls, an artisan alley, and live entertainment. Many stalls are operated by businesses or community groups from Castro, but there are also representatives from San Francisco, California, and the rest of the United States. The fair raises money for local charities and the community, including maintaining the upkeep of the iconic, giant rainbow flag that flies in Harvey Milk Plaza.
Folsom Street Fair
The Folsom Street Fair is held each year in San Francisco’s SoMa district. It celebrates BDSM and leather culture. It’s held in September, at the end of San Francisco’s Leather Pride Week. You’ll find it on Folsom Street between 13th Street and 8th Street, and your donation at the gates goes towards fundraising for a variety of LGBTQ groups, including the Folsom Street Community Center. Many of the vendors and stalls (including spanking booths) also raise money for charities such as the AIDS Emergency Fund, GLBT Historical Society, and Queer Cultural Center. Since the fair began in 1984, it has raised over $7 million for a range of charities.
Gay San Francisco hotels
You’ll be hard-pressed to find a hotel in San Francisco that isn’t gay-friendly. But there are a few hotels that are particularly popular with gay travelers. Many of these are close to the LGBTQ nightlife in Castro and SoMa. There are also many B&Bs in San Francisco where you can try a traditional American breakfast before heading out into the city.
Beck’s Motor Lodge
Beck’s Motor Lodge is one of the most popular hotels in San Francisco for gay travelers, partly because of its prime location in the Castro district, located close to the Castro Theatre and the Twin Peaks Tavern. You can also get beautiful views of San Francisco from the roof.
Americania Hotel
Americania Hotel is a great option between SoMa and Castro. It also has a rooftop pool where you can swim some laps and get a lovely view of the city.
Twin Peaks Hotel
For a slightly more budget-friendly option, try Twin Peaks Hotel, in the Castro district. It’s close to LGBTQ hotspots such as Oasis and The Cafe, so it’ll be easy to find your way back home after a late night out. The rooms are simple but they have everything you need to feel comfortable, and the 24-hour reception desk can help you out with any questions you have about the area.
San Francisco Marriott Union Square
San Francisco Marriott Union Square is perfect for travelers who are looking for a hotel in downtown San Francisco. It’s not quite as close to the city’s gay neighborhoods as the other hotels, but the cable cars near Market Street are within walking distance, so it’s easy to reach them. This hotel is perfect for travelers who want to be close to both major San Francisco attractions and LGBTQ nightlife.
Parker Guest House
Parker Guest House is a gorgeous B&B, close to Castro, that’s popular with LGBTQ travelers. It offers a delicious continental breakfast, comfortable rooms, and lovely common areas including a parlor, gardens, and decking.
Hotel Zelos
Hotel Zelos is a beautiful hotel close to the SoMa district and its gay nightlife. Its Market Street location also brings you near many excellent shopping opportunities, and you’ll be close to some of San Francisco’s best museums.
