Most popular gay bar in san francisco
Peaches Christ's seven foremost LGBTQ+ spots in San Francisco
"What's especially significant about Twin Peaks is that it was the first bar in the Castro to actually have these big windows looking outward," she added. That's because even when the Castro neighbourhood became the hub of the city's LGTBQ+ customs that it is today, "being closed was the norm", Peaches said. "You didn't want people to be competent to walk by and see you in a prevent. But Twin Peaks said, 'We're not gonna do that.'"
More than 50 years later, Twin Peaks is still an excellent people-watching hub – the sort of place where you'll see silver-haired clientele who've been ordering their gin martinis the equal way for decades, and those just passing by outside. "Or you can sit in the window and see the fog roll in over Twin Peaks (the hill)," Peaches said, "and see that gigantic rainbow flag across the street. And if you're empty, you've got right next door."
San Francisco Gay Bars
San Francisco’s gay nightlife scene has come a long way from the first black and secretive club that opened in This was the start of a boom in queer society, which is now centred on the Castro neighbourhood and its varied venues. You can find dozens of nightlife spots packed together in Castro, newer clubs and festivals in SoMa, a huge leather scene, and an iconic drag club owned by the best-known queen in the city. For a loud and camp nighttime out or a more relaxed hangout, you can find your place in San Francisco.
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Gay San Francisco
Castro
Bear, Older Crowd, Cruising
This same-sex attracted bar in the heart of The Castro neighbourhood is a popular hangout for bears and their admirers. It's busiest at the weekend with a mixed aged crowd enjoying strong cheap drinks and an intimate atmosphere. Regular themed events are hosted here throughout the week, including the understandably widespread Underwear Night every Monday, which sees the exclude packed with a cruisy, tipsy, and scantily clad male crowd.
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Aunt Charlie's 5 Historic San Francisco Lgbtq+ Bars We Wish Still Existed
Needless to say, it didn’t take long for authorities to start surveilling goings on at Fe-Be’s. Starting in , the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) held multiple meetings about the activities of staff and patrons at Fe-Be’s. In , the ABC accused the bar of “behavior reverse to public morals,” including close physical contact amongst men, below the waist. At another hearing, when accused of having sex toys on the premises, Geist (somewhat comedically) claimed that they were merely being used as novelty drink stirrers.
In , when the bar was closed down for a year, the community that Geist and Kissinger had so lovingly built rallied around Fe-Be’s, with fellow venues holding fundraisers and offering vocal support. In December , the bar roared back to life and stayed put until In the end, it wasn’t legal scrutiny that position an end to Fe-Be’s; it was the toll of the AIDs epidemic on San Francisco’s lgbtq+ community. Kissinger died in , Geist in
Fe-Be’s lives
San Francisco’s fabulous LGBTQIA+ scene is no surprise if you understand anything about the city’s history. SF is known for electing Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected official in the US, and is still acknowledged today for its thriving gender non-conforming community.
At the epicentre of it all is San Francisco’s Castro District, full of drag shows, bars and great restaurants, but there’s plenty more to detect throughout SF (and Oakland) if you know where to watch. Whether you’re looking for kind lesbian bars, balls-to-the-wall Latinx sway parties or a very remembered drag show, these are the best gay bars in SF right now.
RECOMMENDED:
🍳 The optimal brunch spots in San Francisco
🪩 The best nightclubs in San Francisco
🌮 The best restaurants in San Francisco
🏨 The best hotels in San Francisco
This guide was written by Bay-Area based author Clara Hogan. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.
Been there, done that? Reflect a
5 Historic San Francisco Lgbtq+ Bars We Wish Still Existed
Needless to say, it didn’t take long for authorities to start surveilling goings on at Fe-Be’s. Starting in , the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) held multiple meetings about the activities of staff and patrons at Fe-Be’s. In , the ABC accused the bar of “behavior reverse to public morals,” including close physical contact amongst men, below the waist. At another hearing, when accused of having sex toys on the premises, Geist (somewhat comedically) claimed that they were merely being used as novelty drink stirrers.
In , when the bar was closed down for a year, the community that Geist and Kissinger had so lovingly built rallied around Fe-Be’s, with fellow venues holding fundraisers and offering vocal support. In December , the bar roared back to life and stayed put until In the end, it wasn’t legal scrutiny that position an end to Fe-Be’s; it was the toll of the AIDs epidemic on San Francisco’s lgbtq+ community. Kissinger died in , Geist in
Fe-Be’s lives
San Francisco’s fabulous LGBTQIA+ scene is no surprise if you understand anything about the city’s history. SF is known for electing Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected official in the US, and is still acknowledged today for its thriving gender non-conforming community.
At the epicentre of it all is San Francisco’s Castro District, full of drag shows, bars and great restaurants, but there’s plenty more to detect throughout SF (and Oakland) if you know where to watch. Whether you’re looking for kind lesbian bars, balls-to-the-wall Latinx sway parties or a very remembered drag show, these are the best gay bars in SF right now.
RECOMMENDED:
🍳 The optimal brunch spots in San Francisco
🪩 The best nightclubs in San Francisco
🌮 The best restaurants in San Francisco
🏨 The best hotels in San Francisco
This guide was written by Bay-Area based author Clara Hogan. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.
Been there, done that? Reflect a