San Francisco is one of the most popular destinations for gay travellers from around the world. It’s been the home of many LGBTQ activists and important moments in the fight for gay liberation. San Francisco was also where the first Pride flags were flown.
From a historical perspective alone, there are many reasons for gay travellers to visit this city. But it’s not just the gay San Francisco history people come for. Today, San Francisco’s LGBTQ community is thriving throughout the city, particularly in gay neighbourhoods like Castro and SoMa. You’ll find plenty of bars, clubs, and community spaces where you’ll feel right at home.
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 have no problems finding gay-friendly accommodation and being visibly gay in public. If you do find yourself in need of assistance while visiting, the San Francisco LGBT Community Center is a great place to start.
Gay San Francisco neighbourhoods: Castro
Castro is the main gay village in San Francisco, home to many of the city’s best gay bars, venues, and meeting spots. 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 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. Found 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”. Examples include James Baldwin, Frida Kahlo, Freddie Mercury, and Gertrude Stein. Harvey Milk is not technically part of the walk, as he has multiple commemorative markers throughout the city, but the walk takes you past his old camera shop, which has 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 many different LGBTQ films, festivals, and performances over the years, and even before it was able to show queer programming, it was hugely popular with Castro’s LGBTQ population. Drag queen performances, the annual San Francisco Gay Men’s Choir concert, celebrations of gay icons and much more have been held at The Castro Theatre.
Twin Peaks Tavern
Right next door to the Castro Theatre, you’ll find the Twin Peaks Tavern, a popular and historic gay bar that’s been a meeting point for San Francisco’s LGBTQ population for years. It was particularly important for gay San Francisco in the 1970s. The floor-to-ceiling windows offer a great view of the street outside and were also a mark of defiance back in the day.
In the ’70s, most gay bars tried to be as discreet and private as possible, but in 1972, the Twin Peaks Tavern unveiled its windows and allowed itself to be seen. Today, the Twin Peaks Tavern remains one of San Francisco’s most important gay bars, and much of it looks the same as it did in the ’70s and ’80s. It’s mostly popular with 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 popular 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. They also sometimes host karaoke nights and Drag Race viewing parties.
Hot Cookie
If you’re after a sweet treat with a queer edge while you’re touring San Francisco, then head to Hot Cookie in Castro. They sell 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. Their most well-known theme is probably ‘Underwear Night’, every Monday, but their $2 Beer Tuesdays are also a hit with budget-conscious locals and visitors alike. They play pop and house music throughout the week.
The Mix
The Mix bills itself as ‘the friendliest gay bar in San Francisco’, with friendly staff and a lovely open-air patio out the back. From the setting to the staff to the patrons, The Mix has a great laid-back vibe and it’s 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. They host a number of events, both weekly and one-offs. Their drag brunches, every Saturday and Sunday, are one of the bar’s main draws, featuring some of San Francisco’s best drag queens.
Their ‘Vamp Mondays’ offer cocktails and 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 ’90s and ’00s. Beaux also frequently hosts Drag Race viewing parties.
The GLBT Historical Society
The GLBT Historical Society is one of the best ways to learn about gay San Francisco history while you’re visiting the city. This archival museum preserves a wide range of LGBTQ historical documents and artifacts. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday and entry is free on the first Wednesday of every month.
Their 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 historic publications about Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon, lesbian activists from the 1950s. They also host 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 neighbourhood 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 their merchandise at the bar (or online). Lone Star 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, plus they host 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 hosts some of the best cabarets and drag shows you’ll find in San Francisco. Oasis also frequently hosts other theatre performances, dance parties, stand-up, and more.
The building was once a gay bathhouse, and its 8,000 square feet are now filled with dance floors, stages, and lounges. The patio upstairs is a great place to grab some fresh air after you’ve been partying on the dance floor, 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 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 well in advance in order to grab a good spot. At the area near the end of the parade, you’ll find a range of stalls, performances, and other festival activities. San Francisco’s Pride sees upwards of 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. Their 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, theatre, and much more on the stages, performed by local queer performers as well as 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 is a perfect way to create a keepsake for 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 originally founded in 1974 by Harvey Milk and the Castro Valley Association. The original event brought in around 5,000 attendees, and by 2007, it saw 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 a street fair 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 dollars 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 travellers. 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 travellers, partially because of its prime location in the Castro district, within moments of 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 great 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 like 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 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 travellers who are looking for a hotel in downtown San Francisco. It’s not quite as close to the city’s gay neighbourhoods as some other hotels, but it’s close to cable cars near Market Street, so it’s easy to reach them. This hotel is perfect for travellers 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 travellers. They offer a delicious Continental breakfast, comfortable rooms and lovely common areas including a parlour, gardens and decking.
Hotel Zelos
Hotel Zelos is a beautiful hotel super close to the SoMa district and its gay nightlife. Its Market Street location also puts you moments from excellent shopping opportunities, and you’ll be close to some of San Francisco’s best museums.
