top of page
Gay San Francisco
San Francisco is a city ruled by love and celebration of diversity, where the Castro neighbourhood is one of the original LGBTQ neighbourhoods in the USA and the queer hub of the city. Shops, restaurants, bars, and clubs cater welcome everyone, and any place that isn’t explicitly queer is bound to be accepting. Visitors can explore LGBTQ history, visit the Rainbow Honor Walk, and experience a huge drag and nightlife scene. San Francisco’s annual pride is also the biggest gathering of LGBTQ people in the country, and the city is widely regarded as the queer capital of the USA.
San Francisco Hotel Deals
Grab a great deal on your trip with GayMapper's hotel partners
San Francisco Gay Bars
GayMapper brings you information about gay bars and cruising bars in the city. Here are the top choices, read more about these bars or click below to see listings of all gay venues in this city.
Beaux
Cocktails, Dancing, Dancers
Beaux is one of The Castro's newest gay venues and is open seven days and nights a week. This versatile bar is the perfect place to meet with friends or make new ones, as it seamlessly transitions from a craft cocktail lounge by day to a lively dance club at night. With a daily 2-for-1 Happy Hour and a party every night, it's no wonder that Beaux is already so popular with the local queer community.
Powerhouse
Fetish, Cruising
Powerhouse is one of the most popular gay bars of SoMa, offering a unique "no style" kind of style where a mixed but fetish-loving portion of the local queer community can hang out. It tends to draw a cruisy leather crowd, so if that's what you like then this is definitely the place to be. An interior decorated like an appropriately themed movie set provides a backdrop to specialist nights and parties where nothing is off limits.
Jolene's
Lesbian, Cocktails, Dancers
Jolene's Bar and Restaurant is a safe queer space run by and for the LGBTQ community in Mission District. This is a laid-back space serving American fare and brunch at the weekends, plus bottomless drinks to keep you refreshed and tipsy throughout your night. There's pool, plenty of dancing, and live shows on offer to keep you entertained and fuel a thoughtfully created dining and cocktail experience.
Midnight Sun
Bear, Drag, Karaoke, Dancers
First opened more than 40 years ago, Midnight Sun draws a mixed crowd of bears and hot guys in minimal clothing that keep coming back for the nightly happy hour and regular events such as karaoke and TV viewing parties. The Friday evening happy hour is especially popular - watch out for the very strong cocktails! On Friday and Saturday nights you can expect hot boys dancing on the bar and the whole venue is unsurprisingly packed, with music videos and TV playing all night to complete the lively atmosphere.
OMG
Cocktails, Dancing
OMG provides an amazing clubbing experience in the heart of SoMa and Tenderloin, where you can dance under an audio-visual dome ceiling to music from a state-of-the-art sound system. There are also plenty of specialty cocktails on offer, handcrafted by resident mixologists using quality ingredients, which are a favourite every happy hour and the perfect addition to your night of dancing, fun, and regular drag shows.
The Mix
Outdoor Seating
The Mix is a small gay bar in the heart of The Castro neighbourhood, the hub of the San Francisco queer scene. It's a true neighbourhood bar with a laid-back feel, where drinks are strong, staff are helpful, and the crowd is friendly. Their all-day drinks specials and great value happy hours are particularly popular, and you can enjoy your drinks on the spacious back patio.
Gay friendly hotels in San Francisco
GayMapper brings you a curated selection of accommodation gay destinations around the world, which are in preferred locations and are welcoming to LGBTQ+ travellers. Grab a great deal on your hotel stay when you book via GayMapper!
4* Hotel Zeppelin
Boutique, City Centre
Just 300 m from San Francisco's vibrant Union Square, Hotel Zeppelin San Francisco is a boutique hotel nestled in San Francisco's Theater District.
A 55-inch LED flat-screen TV is provided in each guest room. Guest robes, free toiletries and a hairdryer are included in the private bathrooms. A custom 36-inch high maple top work table is provided in each guest room.
An air-conditioned fitness centre with cardio machines and weights is available on site.
At Hotel Zeppelin San Francisco you will find a 24-hour reception. Other facilities offered at the property include luggage storage and same day laundry services. The Den, a unique game room, is located in the hotel's basement.
The hotel is 1.2 km from Bill Graham Civic Auditorium and San Francisco City Hall. Concert venue the Regency Ballroom is 12 minutes' walk away. San Francisco International Airport is 19 km away.
4* Argonaut Hotel
Boutique
The Argonaut is a 4-star boutique hotel in Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco with incredible amenities and great location for an unforgettable experience.
Featuring in-room spa services and a traditional seafood restaurant, this luxury Fisherman's Wharf eco-friendly hotel offers beautiful views across the San Francisco Bay. Valet parking is available.
The nautically-themed rooms of the Argonaut are decorated with rich blue and white furniture. A flat-screen cable TV, minibar and coffee maker with coffee from San Francisco's Vasquez Coffee Company are included.
The Blue Mermaid at the Argonaut serves homemade chowder and fresh seafood in a casual historic setting. The full bar offers California wines and ocean-themed cocktails.
A free newspaper is offered to guests each weekday. A fitness center, in-room yoga channel and free yoga accessories are also available. A 24-hour business centre is also included.
The Argonaut is 8 minutes' walk from the USS Pampanito Submarine and less than 4 km from the Exploratorium.
4* Mark Hopkins InterContinent
GayMapper Favourite, Luxury
GayMapper's favourite hotel in San Francisco due to the warm and friendly welcome, this towering historic landmark on Nob Hill features a top-floor restaurant with beautiful views of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge. Cable car stops are just outside the hotel.
The InterContinental Mark Hopkins San Francisco provides modern, elegant rooms with a mini-bar, cable TV and a coffee maker. Bathrobes, a work desk and ironing facilities are included.
The Top of the Mark sky lounge serves gourmet creations from the top of the Mark Hopkins. Guests can try one of 100 different martinis offered on the menu.
A 24-hour fitness centre is open to all guests of the InterContinental Mark Hopkins San Francisco. A business centre, valet parking and babysitting services are also available.
The Intercontinental is 6 minutes' walk from Union Square and 2.4 km from Fisherman's Wharf.
3* Kensington Park Hotel
Boutique, City Centre
Situated 2 minutes' walk from Union Square and a classic Cable Car stop, this San Francisco hotel is in the heart of downtown San Francisco shops, galleries and restaurants. All elegant rooms offer free WiFi.
Styled in white fine linens, each room features black out drapes, mahogany furnishings and a light-up mirror at Kensington Park Hotel - A Personality Hotel. A flat-screen cable TV and free spa toiletries in the en suite bathroom are offered. A spacious desk and coffee-making facilities are also provided.
The Grand Lobby reception offers sherry pours each evening for guests of Kensington Park Hotel - A Personality Hotel. Dry cleaning services are offered to all guests. A business centre and a 24-hour reception are also provided.
Designed in ocean-inspired details, The Farallon Restaurant features coastal cuisine and spacious booths for dining pleasure. Guests can marvel at custom shiny shell imprints in the architecture and blue tile artistry throughout.
Fisherman's Wharf is 25 minutes' cable car ride away. The Ferry Building shops, restaurants and ferries to Sausalito and Tiburon are 1.6 km away from Kensington Park Hotel. San Francisco International Airport is 40 minutes' drive away.
5* St. Regis San Francisco
Luxury, City Centre
Featuring a full service spa, an indoor infinity pool and an on-site restaurant, this luxury hotel is located in the SOMA District of San Francisco. A flat-screen TV is included in each guest room. Union Square is 8 minutes' walk away.
A luxurious bathroom with a soaking tub and a TV is featured in all guest rooms at St. Regis San Francisco. Each elegantly decorated room boasts a minibar and a DVD player.
Guests of St. Regis San Francisco can enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner at the Grill restaurant. The restaurant features grilled meats, fish, burgers and an oyster bar in an intimate setting. Signature cocktails and a bar menu are offered at St. Regis Lobby Lounge.
Located on-site, Remede Spa provides separate whirlpools, steam rooms and saunas for men and women. Guests can enjoy chilled champagne and handmade truffles before seeing a spa therapist.
Information regarding area events and activities can be requested at the concierge desk.
The St. Regis San Francisco is across the street from Yerba Buena Gardens. AT&T Park is 1.6 km away.
5* Four Seasons Embarcadero
Luxury, City Centre
Featuring stunning views of downtown San Francisco from each spacious guestroom, Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco at Embarcadero offers gourmet on-site dining, in-room massage services and easy access to sites such as Chinatown, 7 minutes' walk away.
Featuring free WiFi, each air-conditioned room at Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco at Embarcadero combines timeless design with modern amenities such as flat-screen TVs and iPod docking stations. With rooms located on the top 11 floors of a 48-story tower, the hotel offers breathtaking views of San Francisco.
Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Brasserie S&P offers a modern menu featuring locally grown ingredients. An in-room dining menu is also available to guests.
Guests of Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco at Embarcadero can start the day with a workout in the 24-hour fitness centre or enjoy a yoga class.
Offering unique shops, restaurants and nightlife, vibrant Union Square is 12 minutes' walk away from this hotel. Offering service to San Francisco International Airport, Embarcadero BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) station is 6 minutes' walk away.
bottom of page