Moby Dick

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.

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 Wild Side West in Bernal Heights has been around for decades, mixing longtime lesbian bar with classic neighbourhood sports bar. On any given night you can find an eclectic array of art, a friendly game of pool, or a low-key crowd hanging out on the patio or in the beer garden. Hosting events from trivia Wednesdays to game day viewing, and with the juke box always providing the soundtrack, Wild Side West guarantees you a fun time.

Financial District gay bar with drag shows and DJ's, serving cocktails named after historic LGBTQ mainstays. This fairly new addition to the LGBTQ scene is a throwback to the classic gay bars that were once prominent in the area, paying homage to traditional cocktail lounges with a range of reimagined drinks. With a pool table, dance parties, karaoke, and drag shows, Ginger's is the perfect spot to unwind or catch up with friends.

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.

The Cinch Saloon is the only gay bar left on Polk Street, the place where San Francisco's reputation for queer nightlife all began. It's got an old-fashioned gay bar with dive vibes and a western theme where all identities are welcome, and offers strong drinks, pool tables, pinball, DJs and absolutely no attitude. The patio at the back is a place to smoke and relax with one of the many good but very cheap beers on tap.