The 18 best gay bars in San Francisco

Queer artistic expression thrives at Oasis, a club and cabaret theater in SoMa. 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. For drag purists, it is Oasis’ weekly Saturday revue, Mother, that really kills. 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. The dance floor, brightly lit and papered in tasteful black-and-white breasts, thumps to the beat of DJs on Friday and Saturday nights. Thursday and Friday nights Jolene's kitchen serves satisfying comfort fare with plenty of veggie options. Weekends brunch fare like fried egg sandwiches and chicken and waffles pair perfectly with bottomless mimosas..

The Mix has a more laid-back approach to LGBTQ revelry than other spots in town. A true neighborhood bar in every sense of the word, the drinks are strong, the patrons are friendly, and the back patio is generous. Regular all-day drink specials offer just one more reason to drop in, no matter the time.

One of the few San Francisco gay bars outside the Castro or SoMa neighborhoods, the Cinch is equal parts dive bar and dance club. Dark even in the middle of the day, this cowboy-themed spot with a pool table and patio is hung with erotic art, and, although it’s a little rough around the edges, the Cinch is as friendly as they come. 

Once upon a time, El Rio was a Brazilian Leather Bar. Today, this brightly colored space caters more to the lesbian crowd, with plenty of indie bands and nights dedicated to worthwhile causes to draw those from diverse corners of the city. 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. With a blazing fireplace to warm you on foggy days and a jukebox chock full of 80s favorites, this cozy pub will keep you in your seat until last call rolls around. Happy Hour ain't no slouch, either. Last Call closed down during the pandemic, and was subsequently sold on to new owners – but they've kept the same vibe (and name). 

The place to see and be seen for everyone from leather-clad bears to tiny twinks to party-hardy lesbians. This legendary biker bar is especially known for its Sunday afternoon beer busts when dozens of revelers pack cheek-to-jowl on the massive outdoor patio to get sh*tfaced on $15 all-you-can-drink beer. 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. Inside it can be slow on weekdays but wend your way to the rear, past the pool table, past the DJ booths and bathrooms, down the hallway lined with decades of gay memorabilia, to find the crowd chomping cigars and sharing cigarettes on the outdoor patio. On Sunday afternoons, the Lone Star is the default second-choice destination for those in search of an afternoon beer bust.

What Aunt Charlie’s Lounge lacks in location (it is tucked away in the Tenderloin), it makes up for in character. 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). Be sure to bring singles and plan to tip every girl. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, DJs spin power-pop, glam-rock, and retro “homo bar” classics.

For forty years, Wild Side West has welcomed queer women and those that love them to their authentic tavern and lush outdoor patio. Wednesday nights are for Miss Kitty's trivia, half comedy show, half competition. The rest of the week, the Wild Side is a great spot for a laid-back evening beer.