Lookout

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.

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.

The Lookout is a bar, restaurant and nightclub in the iconic Castro district of San Francisco. You can find a comfortable spot on the wrap around balcony to people watch as you look out over a colourful and busy corner on Castro, while inside there's great music from a variety of live DJs. Friendly staff serve strong drinks and bar snacks, and both inside and outside spaces are often packed with regulars who love the atmosphere of The Lookout.

Small neighbourhood bar located in an old carriage house with a fireplace and old school jukebox. It's part dive, part buzzing Castro gay bar with a fun and friendly atmosphere, plus very cheap drinks at the daily happy hour. This bar is a welcome break from the loud music of the rest of the scene, and it's the perfect place to chat with friends or have a more low-key end to your night if you're tired of partying.

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.

The Cafe has been a staple of the Castro nightlife scene for decades and is one of the most unique venues in San Francisco. In this newly renovated bar and club, you will be surrounded by hundreds of people who just want to dance, with pounding club music from a state-of-the-art sound system. Three fully stocked bars serve a huge dance floor complete with an LED dance grid and a lively crowd to enjoy your night with. Sunday opening hours vary for special events, check before you go.