San Francisco grew large during the California Gold Rush. For some time a haven for prostitution and gambling, it was known by the dawn of the 20th Century for its flamboyant style, stately hotels, ostentatious Nob Hill mansions, and a thriving arts scene.

The turning point in the city's modern gay evolution took place during and shortly after World War II. As the port of embarkation for military men shipping out to, and returning from the Pacific Theater, San Francisco experienced a post-war confluence of young servicemen who found this to be a more tolerant hometown, joining the many new immigrants attracted by good economic prospects. North Beach Beat Generation writers and musicians, who fueled a San Francisco Renaissance in the 1950s, embraced and celebrated alternative lifestyles and more fluid sexual identities. Summer of Love flower-power children of the late 1960s, disillusioned and disgusted with conventional American life, and angry about the Vietnam War, also came from all over the USA.

Psychedelic, transgressive and confrontational, colorful in art, fashion and music, the Counterculture, along with political activists of the Anti-War and Civil Rights movements, explored new possibilities for Americans dissatisfied with the status quo. Many came here, even if they had to hitch-hike, to converge on the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood between Golden Gate Park and Downtown. Gay people, feeling the same rage and frustration that exploded in New York during the Stonewall Riots, were among them, coming to concentrate on several areas over the hill from the Haight, particularly in what was then called Eureka Valley, now known as the Castro, where a generation of LGBT social and political activists began the work that would transform the whole Bay Area.

For some old-timers, the 2008 movie based on the life and assassination of gay city supervisor Harvey Milk, brought back memories of how the Castro once looked. A neighborhood of low rents and shabby businesses to match, it had been filled with vacant storefronts, with handbills plastered everywhere. The district was so transformed by years of gay attention that the film's producers had to de-gentrify the Castro, then put it all back together. The restoration of the the landmark Castro Theater to its glory days was one benefit, replacing the burned-out neon tubes, and refurbishing the colorful facade.

 

Getting here
San Francisco International Airport is not in San Francisco but in San Mateo County, about 20 minutes south of downtown. BART rapid transit connects the airport to destinations throughout the Bay Area. 

Long-range bus service is based at the Transbay Terminal, the terminus for Greyhound, as well as regional bus systems such as AC Transit (Alameda & Contra Costa counties), SamTrans (San Mateo County), and Golden Gate Transit (Marin and Sonoma Counties).

Amtrak operates a shuttle bus from 1139 Market Street, SoMa and the Moscone Center (747 Howard St), or five other downtown locations, to the rail station across the Bay in Emeryville. From there they have intercity rail service to 500 or so destinations in 46 states. Commuter and tourist ferries connect the Ferry Building and Pier 39 to points in Marin County, Oakland, and to the north, Vallejo in Solano County. 

Getting around
When you arrive at the airport, buy a one-, three- or seven-day transit passport for unlimited rides on San Francisco's Muni transit system, including the world-famous cable cars. Those passes cost $17, $26 and $35, respectively. Otherwise the fare is $2.25 for buses and trolleys and $6 for cable cars. Before you arrive, you can buy a CityPass, which includes a seven-day Passport plus admission to a number of attractions, for $86 (as of February, 2015). 

BART, the Bay Area Rapid Transit system, connects San Francisco's Downtown and Mission Districts with East Bay towns, and beyond through northern San Mateo County. Going southbound it connects to San Francisco International Airport, and Millbrae.The Caltrain commuter rail system operates along the peninsula, down to San Jose.

Many local residents commute by bicycle, steep hillsides notwithstanding. For bike rentals see Blazing Saddles with 7 locations including Fisherman's Wharf; Bike & Roll, Bay Area Bikeshare, and Bay City Bike - among others. The SF Bicycle Coalition provides maps and other cycling info. Cruising the Castro offers walking tours of gay San Francisco, starting from the Rainbow Flag at the corner of Castro and Market Street.

For ferries see Blue & Gold, Red & White, Alcatraz Cruises, SF Shuttel Tours, or the overview site of SF Travel.

 

What to see

San Francisco's newest tourist attractions are the de Young Museum and the Academy of Sciences, in the middle of Golden Gate Park, the city's largest green space. You can spot the de Young by its 144-foot tower, which offers panoramic views of the park. The Academy of Sciences houses an aquarium, a planetarium, a natural history museum and a four-story rainforest.
While you're in Golden Gate Park, stay a while. Must-sees include the Japanese Tea Garden and the Queen Wilhelmina Tulip Garden, which features a full-size windmill surrounded by tulips.

SFMOMA, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, collects and exhibits the foremost artists and designers of our time. In 2015, with museum expansion and renovation work going on, many programs and exhibits are taking place at other sites around the Bay Area.

 

Neighborhoods
The Castro. Three miles west of downtown at the end of Market Street, the district with the iconic street that's home to the Castro Theater, has gay-world stature riveled only by Christopher Street in New York City. A sidewall plaque honors Harvey Milk in front of his old camera store at 575 Castro, and a wall mural depicts him as if looking out from a window. The greater part of the gay business community is concentrated in the Castro, but many gay people live in surrounding residential areas. The GLBT History Museum, and Pink Triangle Park, at 17th and Market, are among other local attractions. The Frameline LGBT Film Festival in June, and the October Castro Street Fair, are important annual events here. More gay businesses are to be found along Market Street, heading from Castro towards City Hall, through the Duboce Triangle and Hayes Valley neighborhoods.

Chinatown. San Francisco lays claim to having the world's largest Chinatown outside Asia and the oldest in North America. It starts at Grant Avenue and Bush Street, on the edge of the Union Square shopping area. You can't miss the elaborately decorated archway over Grant, the gateway to a cornucopia of small shops, markets and restaurants, plus the many fairs, festivals and expositions that take place year-round.

The Mission. Warmer and sunnier than the rest of the city, the district is protected from fog and wind from the west. The Valencia Street corridor nurtured punk styles, music and culture of the 1980s, side-by-side with Latino families and artists. With recent gentrification the area is more expensive now, but still hip, edgy and artsy, full of studios, galleries, bookstores, performance spaces, and public art projects. Ritzy cafes and lounges mix with down-home Mexican restaurants and taquerías, complete with roving Mariachi bands. The Roxie Theater, the city's oldest continuously-operating cinema, screens repertory indie films and film festivals.

North Beach. When in Chinatown, stroll over to North Beach, the city's Little Italy neighborhood full of inviting restaurants and bakeries, many with sidewalk tables. Once the center for local beatnik subcultures, the district today has a mix of red light businesses and nightclubs amidst yupster residential neighborhoods. The San Francisco Art Institute can be found here, along with the City Lights Bookstore, set among area bars and coffee shops. A large Columbus Day/Italian-American Heritage Day parade takes place each October along Columbus Avenue.

Polk Gulch. The busy business district of restaurants, cafes and shops around a section of Polk Street, runs through the Nob Hill and Russian Hill neighborhoods. An early center for the community (1972 San Francisco Gay Pride Parade location), it has lost much of its former vitality - some would say sleaze. The transformation of lower Polk, with upscale destinations for mostly straight suburbanites, has pushed out most of the drug dealers and hustlers, and threatens what remains of a subculture of cross-class, cross-gender and cross-sexuality marginalized queers who hung out here. The trend continues to be the subject of much local debate. Meanwhile, the Cinch Saloon, San Francisco's second oldest gay bar survives, for a trip back to the old gay glory days.

SOMA. South of Market, a huge district that sprawls from the Embarcadero to 11th Street, between Market and Townsend, is another place to find gay life - particularly if you're into dancing and/or leather/fetish. It's also home to SFMOMA (the Museum of Modern Art) and the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. The annual Folsom Street Fair takes place between 7th and 12th Streets in September, following the smaller, less-commercialized leather-oriented Up Your Alley Fair (or Dore Alley Fair) in July, also held in the neighborhood. Many small theatre companies and performance venues add to the local cultural attractions. Also here, the Moscone Center hosts major conventions and expos, including Macworld, and LinuxWorld. The SF Pride parade typically heads down Market Street each June, between Beale and 8th Streets, at the north edge of the district.

 

In focus:
Where the (bare) boys are
Few tourists realize it's there, but San Francisco does have a gay nude beach. It's next to the city's most famous landmark, the Golden Gate Bridge, and is mostly unknown to pedestrians, who usually stroll along the wider sidewalk on the eastern side of the bridge. The beach is on the west side, reached via a sidewalk reserved for bicyclists.
The beach has many nicknames, but its official name is Marshall's Beach. Getting there used to be a difficult and sometimes treacherous hike, but five years ago the federal government refurbished the area and added walking paths down to the water. That has been a bit of a mixed blessing, because although the beach is still as gay and as nude as ever, more unsuspecting non-gays end up there.
The parking lot (also very gay) is at the end of Langdon Court, off Lincoln Boulevard. Langdon Court, more like a driveway than a street, dead-ends into the beach parking lot. Finding the path at the western end of the parking lot is tricky for first timers, but follow the gay men. You will have a lot of company on warm, sunny days.
You can also reach the beach from the Golden Gate Bridge. From the western side of the bridge, where the employee parking lot is located, follow Merchant Road. It curves to the left onto Lincoln Boulevard. Make a right on Lincoln Boulevard to Langdon Court. Make a right on Langdon Court to the beach parking lot.
You will see a number of rock shelters built to shield sunbathers from the wind and also to provide a bit of privacy. The beach tends to be more cruisy at its eastern tip. Keep in mind that this is federal land, so United States Park Police, not the San Francisco Police Department, have jurisdiction. Officers don't patrol routinely, but they do respond to complaints and will issue citations if they find anyone engaging in sexual activity.
Hardly anyone swims at the beach. The water is usually too cold. But you will see some people jump in the waves and quickly jump out. The waves can be dangerous, so stay away when the surf is rough.

 

Media & Resources
The Bay Area Reporter and San Francisco Bay Times are the city's weekly gay newspapers.

Other online info sources include the East Bay Voice, Larry Bob's Queer Things To Do, Castro SF, and Pink Spots.

For general visitor information see SanFrancisco.com and San Francisco Travel. See Chinatown for details about the large Asian community here.

A tip of the hat to the events listings editor at GayCities. Their hometown is well covered with an impressive list of everything going on all over The City, for months ahead this upcoming year. MissionMission covers the events, entertainment and restaurants beat in their neighborhood.

The SF LGBT Center has a little something for everyone. The James Hormel G&L Center at the San Francisco Public Library and the GLBT Historical Society & Museum house some of the world's largest collections of LGBT historical materials.

Out In The Bay, a weekly half-hour gay radio show, Thursdays at 7pm Pacific Time on KALW, 91.7 FM, is streamed live worldwide, with interviews of community leaders, authors, artists and others of interest.

The Russian River Chamber of Commerce has the scoop on Sonoma County's gay playground.

The QueerList has listings of Bay area resources, from bars to body art, artists and activists to sports.

Paradise Magazine is an arts, culture, music and style annual "art book disguised as a magazine," featuring artists of varying backgrounds, ages, and mediums. Buy in print, from stores, or online with digital downloads.

San Francisco Pride, and Frameline, the San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival, both take place each June. Up Your Alley in July and the Folsom Street Fair in September are important dates on the leather/fetish calendar. The Castro Street Fair is another important local annual event, each October.

Party promoters and special events organizers abound. See the websites of some of the biggies: Bearracuda bear parties, Club Papi Latino nights, Gus Presents and Industry dances and Phattest Events, sponsors of Big! and Massive parties. 

The Best Buck in the Bay Rodeo and Festival is an annual September event of GSGRA, the Golden State Gay Rodeo Association, who also sponsor weekly Country Western dance nights at area clubs.

BOSF, the Bears of San Francisco and CastroBear provide year-round social activities for bears and their friends. 

For SFGMC, the San Franciso Gay Men's Chorus, now heading into their 37th season, “the singing will never be done!"

Those "shamanic, sacred fools," The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence emerged in San Francisco in 1979. Dedicated to "universal joy and the expiation of guilt," their events in the Bay Area raise funds for charitable organizations, bringing fun, laughter, and a better understanding of gay diversity to all. Easter Sunday celebrations include a Hunky Jesus Contest in Dolores Park.

For locations and website links to businesses listed below, plus some of the many museums, galleries and theater/performance venues, see our gay San Francisco map & listings pages.

Tip
Don't call The City "Frisco."

Memorable quotes

"San Francisco has only one drawback.'Tis hard to leave."
-- Rudyard Kipling

"San Francisco is a city where people are never more abroad than when they are at home."
-- Benjamin F Taylor

 

Bars: General

Aunt Charlie's Lounge (133 Turk St, Tenderloin), long-time favorite area bar, drag shows every night, Dream Queens Review show every 2nd and 4th Wednesday.

Bender's (510 Larkin St, Tenderloin), former Deco Lounge, general public local lounge/bar with kitchen, Sunday free BBQ and late snacks, DJs, karaoke.

Beaux (2344 Market St, Castro), gay bar and dance club, old Trigger location, open nightly, theme event nights, live entertainment, BroMance guys' nights Go-Beaux Boys.

The Chapel (777 Valencia St, The Mission), mixed-ages restaurant and bar, gay and straight mix, live music, Sunday late night gay parties.

Churchill (198 Church St, Castro), former Bar on Church, casual mixed gay/straight-who knows what crowd, rustic look, craft drinks.

Cinch (1723 Polk St, Nob Hill), old-style Polk neighborhood saloon with pinball, pool, 80's music, old-fashioned drag shows, and a busy patio.

Diva's (1081 Post St, Lower Polk/Tenderloin), tranny and drag bar, weekend dancing, shows, costume contests, and special nights for every theme they can dream up.

DNA Lounge (375 11th St, near Harrison St), late-night 18+ lounge, live music and all ages performance space; pizza cafe. Formerly The Crib.

El Rio (3158 Mission St, Bernal Heights), Latino/Latina mixed gay/straight Mission neighborhood bar, sunny patio, stiff Margaritas, live music, and salsa lessons. Known for big Sunday Bloody Marys and Salsa bash.

Gangway (841 Larkin St, Tenderloin), long-time no-frills friendly gay drinkers' bar, cheap drinks, jukebox.

Harvey's (500 Castro St, Castro), the "Hard Rock Cafe of Queerdom" for burgers, drag shows; great gay central location for people watching.

Hi Tops (2247 Market St, Castro), first local LGBT sports bar, recycled bleacher tables/ lockers, multiple TV-screen games, snacks/burgers/sandwiches.

Honey Sundays at Holy Cow (1535 Folsom St, SOMA), gay night with queer DJ collective Honey Soundsystem on hold while they tour; mixed mostly straight crowd other times, outdoor patio.

Last Call (3988 18th St, Castro), friendly and comfortable neighborhood bar in the Castro, open daily, formerly the Men's Room. No attitude and great juke box.

Lexington Club (3464 19th St, Mission), "your friendly neighborhood dyke bar" with jukebox, pool games.

Lookout (3600 16th St, Castro), intimate video dance bar, munchies to full meal service, spectacular Castro views, patio, and special events range from drag shows to porn stars and go-go shower shows.

Martuni (4 Valencia St, SOMA), City's only gay piano bar, at quiet edge of Castro but camp-lively and friendly within.

Midnight Sun (4067 18th St, Castro), packed stand-and-model video bar for TV crowd-pleasers or special events to enjoy among friends. Tuesday open-mic talent nights, Saturday comedy clips.

The Mix (4086 18th St, Castro), sports on the tube, weekend barbeques and and outdoor patio for mostly local, no-attitude regular guys.

Moby Dick (4049 18th St, Castro), local men's hangout, packed most nights. "Drink, play pool and pinball, stare at the fish!" - with big salt-water tank, and unusual videos on the screens.

Pilsner Inn (225 Church St, Castro), famous for wide range of beers and peaceful garden patio, ten minutes walk from the Castro. Mixed and relaxed crowd of gay men and women, pool games, special drinks.

Powerhouse (1357 Folsom St, SOMA), roving hands, leather, muscled, cruise bar, tattoo'd and pierced men; outdoor patio and back room; pecs-and-buns contests, nipple play nights, and underwear nights.

Q Bar (456 Castro St, Castro), old Bar on Castro. Booty Call for aspiring models and onlookers, inspired by years of Juanita More's gay images from the Tenderloin, and top guest DJs playing ghetto disco house; electro-pop dance parties.

Stud (399 9th St, SOMA), retro-style harks to 1966, dance floor, comedy nights, live music, theme parties and genial bar staff.

Swirl on Castro (572 Castro St, Castro), general public wine bar at center of gay district, globe-spanning selections, and special tasting events.

Thee Parkside (1600 17th St, Potrero Hill), lesbian gay and alternative neighborhood bar, eclectic rotation of live bands.

Toad Hall (4146 18th St, Castro), swanky modern setting, nightly dancing, covered patio; young jeans and t-shirt crowd much like Badlands (sibling bar across the street).

Trax (1437 Haight St, Haight-Ashbury), laid-back neighborhood bar, cheap beer; the only gay bar in the Haight.

Truck (1900 Folsom St, Mission), longtime bartenders' labor-of-love neighborhood bar; Sunday drag shows, busy Speakeasy Tuesdays when you need the password to enter. Make-it-your-way juicy hamburgers or veggie patties, weekday lunch, cute/ friendly crowd, special events.

Twin Peaks (401 Castro St, Castro), classic decor, big glass windows overlook Castro at Market intersection. Older regulars crowd. Affectionately called "the glass coffin" they have all the comforts of home and a warm welcome for newcomers too.

Wild Side West (424 Cortland Ave, Bernal Hts), mostly lesbian neighborhood bar, open daily 7/365; back garden patio, pool table.

CLOSED - Marlena's (488 Hayes St, Hayes Valley), tranny and drag talent HQ, with singers, syncers, dancers and more.

 

Bars: Levi, leather, bears, and bikers

440 Castro (440 Castro St, Castro), former Daddy's, Levi/leather institution opposite Castro Theater. Attracts all kinds of men to cruisy patio, underwear nights, cheap beer all-hours, and go-go boys nights.

Edge (4149 18th St, Castro), men's bar, weekly events and shows, "go-go studs" on the bar, DJs, TV sports, monthly shows and contests.

The Hole in the Wall Saloon (1369 Folsom St, SOMA), bigger and cleaner men's bar, gay bikers, dark corners, easy-going staff, cheap drinks and 4-7pm Saturday beer busts. The metal light installation spanning the ceiling has to be seen.

Lone Star Saloon (1354 Harrison St, SOMA), "the original bear bar USA" they say, popular patio, leather and shirt shop, and Thursday beer busts, 8pm to midnight.

San Francisco Eagle (398 12th St, SOMA), all-men leather/fetish/bear local institution, Mr San Francisco Leather contests, beer busts, back patio, live music nights.

CLOSED - KOK Bar (1225 Folsom St, SOMA), leather/bear men's cruise bar, porn stud guests, jockstrap contests, black light nights. Was Chaps II.

 

Dance/ Event clubs

1015 Folsom (1015 Folsom St, SOMA), House and rave dance parties from Gus Presents: Sanctuary, Colossus, New Year's Eve events.

Badlands (4121 18th St, Castro), popular, modern pop music dance club, younger blue jeans and A&F-dressed set, open daily from 2pm. Comfortable chill-out video lounge, Sunday beer busts, 2-8pm.

Beatbox (314 11th St, SOMA), Industry and Chaos dance party nights, Sunday T-dances, Country Tuesdays, and Bearracuda bear events.

Cafe (2369 Market St, Castro), high tech club and patio, gay dance nights and drag shows: Saturday Sugar; Friday Boy Bar go-go hotties/ erotic dancers; Sunday GlamaZone for fab queens. Club Papi ended their Thursday Pan Dulce Latin nights on New Year's Day 2015 (see their website for future plans),

Endup (401 6th, at Harrison St, SOMA), laid-back urban dance scene, funky, freaky diversity. Seven nights of music and dancing, most popular weekends after other bars close. Sunday Sessions 8pm-4am.

Factory (525 Harrison St, SOMA) - CLOSED 1/15 - aka Sound Factory, gay dance party venue, Club Papi and Industry nights.

Lake Merritt Dance Center (200 Grand Ave, Oakland), wide variety of dance styles and traditions, including ballroom dancing, swing, and Tango; with classes, LGBT Queer Contra Dance nights, Women's Waltz Country Nights, and other commmunity group events.

Queer Ballroom at Metronome (1830 17th St, Potrero Hill), same-sex Swing, Lindy Hop, Tango, Jitterbug, Salsa and Ballroom dancing and week night studio classes. Also at other festivals and dance nights around town.

Ruby Skye (430 Mason St, Tenderloin), dance club, home to Industry and Hero parties, among other gay events.

SF Bay Queer Contra Advanced Dance events take place each month at the Lake Merritt Dance Center (200 Grand Ave, Oakland), with gender-role-free, traditional American social dancing.

Sundance Saloon (550 Barneveld Ave, Bayview), large dance club on 3 levels, LGBT country-western dancing and lessons Thursdays, and Sundays.

Underground SF (424 Haight St, Lower Haight), eclectic-mix crowd, small dance area at end long bar, go-go boys atop the bar.

For info on Gus Presents dance parties,  Bearracuda and more events around San Francisco each month, see events.

CLOSED: Esta Noche (3079 16th St, Mission), Latino bar, weekend dancing, drag shows, go go dancers.

 

Adult theatre/saunas/sex clubs

Blow Buddies (933 Harrison St, SOMA), large warehouse sex club, backyard patio, glory holes, slings, cells, water sports facilities; attracts hundreds of men each night from among over 180,000 members worldwide. Open 24-hours, Thursdays through Sundays. Wednesday theme events include leather, bear, and naked nights.

Eros (2051 Market St, Duboce Triangle), 18+ sex club, sauna, steam, showers and professional massage, underwear nights, open Fridays and Saturdays 'til 3am. Indulge, day spa, open from noon on weekdays.

Nob Hill Theatre (729 Bush St, Tenderloin), nude male strippers on stage and in showers, porn videos, and cruisy video arcade. Amateurs strip here Sundays 9pm for cash prizes. Retail store sells adult DVDs, sex toys and accessories.

Steamworks (2107 4th St, Berkeley), full gym, eucalyptus steam room, whirlpool, lockers, fetish and sling private rooms, 16-channel DVD video system, public play-spaces with hexagonal booths, maze, snacks, live DJs, and free Wi-Fi.

SF Citadel (181 Eddy St, Tenderloin), duel level community dungeon playspace for weekend sex parties and relaxation, equipped with everything required for bondage, fetish, and play, home to sexiest kinky BDSM men and women in the region.

Tearoom Theater (151 Eddy St, Tenderloin), first run porn movies from Falcon, Raging Stallion, Jock's, Mustang studios; live all-male erotic shows 4:30 and 8:30pm daily, also 10pm Fridays and Saturdays.

The Watergarden (1010 The Alameda, San Jose), spotless "not-shame- based" destination bathhouse -- more like a resort than a bathhouse; sex educators on hand.

The San Francisco Jacks come together every 2nd and 4th Monday at the Center for Sex and Culture (1349 Mission St) in a room full of naked men with their hands full.

 

Theater & Performances

The American Conservatory Theater (415 Geary St, Lower Nob Hill/ Union Sq), non-profit theater, classics, contemporary Broadway and premier drama and musical stage productions.

Balboa Theater (3630 Balboa St, Richmond), art-house, cult, foreign and classic American cinema, lobby art gallery.

Beach Blanket Babylon (678 Beach Blanket Babylon Blvd, North Beach/Telegraph Hil), zany show, longest-running musical revue in history; cultural spoofs, big hats, star-studded, ever-changing line-up of pop-culture characters.

Castro Theatre (429 Castro St, Castro District), first-run and classic movies and film festivals, repertory stage productions, comedy, LGBT and other special events.

CounterPulse (1310 Mission St, SOMA), provocative performing arts, dance, theater, art, activism; plus ''Queer Choreographies: Whatever the Fuck That Means."

Davies Symphony Hall (201 Van Ness Ave, Civic Center), San Francisco Symphony and other concerts including the SF Gay Men's Chorus; restaurant dining, gift shop.

The Exit Theatre (156 Eddy St, Tenderloin/ Union Sq), developing & producing new plays and indie/experimental theater since 1983, five storefront theaters with a total of 300 seats in the Tenderloin district; SF Fringe Festival.

Frameline annual June LGBT international film festival and ongoing series of new films and encores. Screens include: Castro Theatre (429 Castro); Roxie Theater (3117 16th), Victoria Theatre (2961 16th); and in Berkeley, Rialto Cinemas Elmwood (2966 College Ave).

Inner Mission SF (2050 Bryant St, Mission District), multi-use/events; live music, DJ sets, dance performances, stage theater productions with non-traditional castings.

Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts (2868 Mission St, Mission District), art exhibitions, film and video screenings, music, spoken word, dance, stage performances, comedy, Carnaval dance, music and other festivities for the Latino community and friends.

Moscone Center (747 Howard St, SOMA), large convention and exhibition complex for trade shows, conferences and expos.

New Conservatory Theatre (25 Van Ness Ave, Tenderloin), innovative, high quality productions, educational theatre, Emerging Artists Program, Pride on Tour events.

New People Cinema (1746 Post St, Japantown), latest and best examples of Japanese popular culture; art, fashion and films from classics to contemporarty, documentaries, and anime.

Nourse Theater (275 Hayes St), Downtown 1927 landmark, 1600-seat hall; City Arts & Lectures programs and performances.

ODC Theatre (3153 17th St, Mission District), modern/contemporary dance performances.

Palace of Fine Arts Theatre (3301 Lyon St, Marina District), 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition theater; stage plays, concerts, film festivals, comedy, and dance performances.

Regency Ballroom (1290 Sutter St, Downtown), concert hall, live performances by top-rank international contemporary artists.

Roxie Theater (3117 16th St, Mission District), antique buildingg, indie/foreign/cult/classic films and festivals.

San Francisco Film Society Cinema (1746 Post St, Japantown), celebrating the transformative power of moving images; April-May San Francisco International Film Festival and a world of film year round.

Second Act Marketplace & Events (1727 Haight St, Haight-Ashbury), fresh food and beverages, movies, live music, comedy shows, classes and community meetings.

Sub/Mission (2183 Mission St, Mission), Latin owned and operated gallery for international and local artists and musicians.

Tea Room Theater (145 Eddy St, Tenderloin), first-run gay male porn studio movies, live all-male erotic performances.

The Marsh (1062 Valencia St, Mission District), breeding ground for new performance art.

The New Parkway Theater (474 24th St, Uptown/KoNo, Oakland), eclectic film screenings, Queer Cinema, food, drinks.

Theatre Rhinoceros Live Queer Theater (1 Sansome St, Downtown), longest-running US queer theater company. with productions at various venues.

Treasure Island Events (401 California Ave, Treasure Island), indoor & outdoor special events venue.

Victoria Theater (2961 16th St, Mission), oldest operating SF theatre; events, films, drama.

Vogue Theater (3290 Sacramento St), historic building, popular contemporary films, live performances and special events.

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (701 Mission St, SOMA), breaking boundaries in film, visual & performance arts.

Z Space (450 Florida St, Franklin Square), regional theater and performing arts company.

 

Restaurants

Asia SF (201 9th St, SOMA), Asian-influenced tapas- style dishes with service and performances by pretty-as-women transgender Asians.

Aziza (5800 Geary Blvd, Little Russia), highly rated modern California organic foods, Moroccan influences.

Bar Tartine (561 Valencia St, Mission District), well-reviewed rustic Eastern European fine dining, Sunday brunch.

Cafe Flore (2298 Market St, Castro), aka Cafe Hairdo, great views, colorful San Francisco patrons, full bar and tasty Californian food every day of the year, 7am to 10pm. They also have free Wi-Fi.

Castro Country Club (4058 18th St), no-alcohol social club, mocktails, food, entertainment, special events; nightly 'til 11 or midnight, Sunday 10pm.

Catch SF (2362 Market St, Castro), fresh, affordable, scrumptious seafoood, subtle preparation preserves natural flavor; casual and cozy location in the Castro. Lunch, brunch and dinner served on heated patio or inside, with nightly live piano jazz.

Chilango (235 Church St, Castro), good quality Mexican burritos, tacos and guacamole made to order, meat, seafood and veggie options, for eat-in or take-out.

Chow (215 Church St, Castro), one of four locations, breakfast, lunch and dinner every day in bright and airy surroundings; hearty American fare and old-fashioned deserts like ginger cake and pumpkin ice cream.

Chutney (511 Jones St, Tenderloin), casual and authentic Pakistani and Indian food, combining traditional recipes with unique combinations of spices.

Harvey's (500 Castro St, Castro), bar and restaurant, tasty daily brunch items until 3pm, then snacks, salads and sandwiches. Dinner service until 11pm (2am weekends). Known as Elephant Walk when Harvey Milk did community work over meals here, the restaurant was renamed in 1996 to honor him.

Kasa Indian Eatery (4001 18th St, Castro), delightfully simple, inexpensive homestyle Indian food, natural and local ingredients. Local delivery after 6pm.

La Mediterranee (288 Noe St, Castro), delicious Greek, Armenian and Middle-Eastern meat or vegetarian fare --dine in, or take-out.

Millennium (580 Geary St, Tenderloin, at Hotel California), gourmet vegan heaven, fresh daily produce only, organic when possible; recipes to seduce most anyone.

Nopalito (306 Broderick St), casual and popular, traditional Mexican lunch, dinner and cocktails restaurant near the Panhandle. Also on 9th Street in the Inner Sunset neighborhood.

Orphan Andy's (3991 17th St, Castro), classic American diner, big portions, "fishbowl" windows, good/ fresh food, and playful waitstaff; open 24-hours a day. Playboy named it among America's top ten of it's kind.

Safeway (2020 Market St, Castro), often referred to as the Gayway, the queerest supermarket around. Great cheap wine selections.

Slider Bar/Cafe (2295 Market St, Castro), healthy fast food, slider sandwiches, soups, salads, beers on tap, wine, organic coffees, milk shakes, all-day breakfast.

Sparky's 24 Hour Diner (242 Church St, Castro), breakfast any time, very crowded after the bars close. Lunch and dinner include not only usual diner fare, but also pizzas, NY Steak, or Chicken Scallopine.

Squat and Gobble (3600 16th St, Castro), cafe/ creperie, one of five area locations; casual spot with crepes, omelets, burgers, soups, salads, sandwiches and pasta; plus chicken, beef, pork or curry entrees.

State Bird Provisions (1529 Fillmore St, Western Addition), fine quality modern California cuisine, dim sum-style service; very popular, reservations recommended.

For another two dozen San Francisco restaurant suggestions see our map & listings/restaurants tab.

 

Shopping & Services

Amoeba Music (1855 Haight St), music heaven, all genres, vinyl, CDs, DVD videos; live performances - see videos online.

Auto Erotica (4077-A 18th St, Castro), lubes and sex toys, vintage porn and physique magazines, dvd videos, 8mm films, books, photos, and more.

Berkeley Bowl Marketplace (2020 Oregon St, Berkeley), produce/meat/cheese, cafes, gourmet kitchen, bakery, groceries, Asian foods, dairy products, flowers, beer/wine, health and beauty products.

BiRite Market (3639 18th + 550 Divisidero), full service one-stop produce market, grocery, bakery, prepared foods and deli sandwiches, beer/wine, meat, poultry, seafood and cheeses department.

Books, Inc. (2275 Market + 601 Van Ness), 11-store local independent bookstore chain; SF LGBT Book Club discussions each second Wednesday of the month at Market Street Castro store.

City Lights Bookstore (261 Columbus Ave, North Beach), independent bookstore, publisher; specializing in world literature, the arts, and progressive politics. Founded 1953 by poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti, put on trial for obscenity after publishing Allen Ginsberg's Howl and Other Poems in 1956.

Does Your Mother Know? (4141 18th St, Castro), began as a stationary store, now with adult toys, lube and erotic party favors too.

Dog Eared Books (900 Valencia St, Mission), good books cheap, magazines, eclectic/varied selections; new, used and remaindered.

Kenneth Wingard (2319 Market St, Castro), wall art, vases, lamps, candle holders, frames, clocks, mirrors and other household wares.

Lost Weekend Video & Cinecave (1034 Valencia St, Mission), wide-catalog of rare, cult films and new video releases to rent and buy.

Modern Times Bookstore (2919 24th St, Mission), new and used books; politics, media, graphic novels, fiction, informed sexuality and gender sections, and one of the most extensive collections of writings on Latina/o history and culture in the Bay Area.

Mr S Leather & Fetish (385 8th St, SOMA), "world's largest" collection of quality leather and latex clothing, plus all kinds of bondage and fetish gear and sex toys.

Out of the Closet (1295 Folsom St + 1498 Polk St), HIV/AIDS healthcare thriftstore, pharmacy, free HIV and STD testing, cutting-edge medicine and advocacy, regardless of ability to pay.

Phantom Adult Store (516 Castro St), long-time local store for sex essentials and novelties.

Rakestraw Books (550 Hartz Ave, Danville), indie bookstore, deep catalogue, frequent guest authors.

Rare Device (600 Divisadero St, Alamo Sq), lifestyle boutique, independent art gallery, body and bath, innovative designs.

Rock Hard (518 Castro St, Castro), adult retail and DVD movies; small space, large stock selections, friendly and helpful staff.

Streetlight Records (2350 Market St, Castro), all kinds of music, new and used, buy or trade CDs, LPs, 45s, cassettes, DVDs, video games.

Wild Card (3989 17th St, Castro), cards, cards, cards of all kinds and for every occasion; sexy, gay and lesbian selections.

See more local stores at the shopping section, in our maps and listings pages.

 

Gyms

24 Hour Fitness (2145 Market St, Castro), cardio equipment, free weights, personal training.

Alex Fitness (2275 Market St, Castro), former Gym SF, new equipment, down to business excercise, uncrowded.

 

Accommodations/ Gay Friendly Hotels

Beck's Motor Lodge (2222 Market St, Castro; 415-621- 8212), rooms with wraparound balcony, convenient location.

Best Western Americania (121 7th St, SOMA; 415-626- 0200), nice amenities, free WiFi, heated pool, central South of Market location.

Hotel Diva (440 Geary St, Union Sq; 415-885-0200), cutting- edge boutique hotel in Union Square.

Hotel Mark Twain (345 Taylor St, Tenderloin; 415-673- 2332), bear-friendly downtown boutique hotel; affordable rates.

Hotel Monaco San Francisco (501 Geary St, Tenderloin; 415- 292-0100), four-star comfort near Union Square, part of Kimpton Hotels chain.

Park Central Hotel San Francisco (50 Third St, SOMA; 415-974-6400), swanky four- star digs in 36-floor tower by Union Square, city skyline views, floor-to-ceiling windows. Formerly The Westin.

Travelodge Central (1707 Market St, Hayes Valley; 415-621-6775), between downtown and the Castro, free WiFi, Continental breakfast.

CLOSED - Renoir Hotel (45 McAllister St, Civic Center; 415- 626-5200) - historic boutique hotel, trendy bar and lounge.

 

Accommodations/ Bed & Breakfasts & apartments

24 Henry (24 Henry St, Castro; 415-864-5686), long-standing, friendly, inexpensive, elegant gay/ hetero-friendly B&B; free WiFi, breakfast buffet.

Brick Path Bed & Breakfast (1805 Marin Ave, Thousand Oaks/ Berkeley; 510-524-4277), cottages, suites, rooms; private entrances, patio, WiFi.

Castro Suites (927 14th St, Castro; 415-437- 1783), apartment rental services.

Chateau Tivoli (1057 Steiner St, NOPA; 415- 776-5462), gay-friendly Victorian mansion, lavish rooms and suites.

Inn On Castro (321 Castro St, Castro; 415-861- 0321), upscale gay B&B, the closest to Castro action.

Parker Guest House (520 Church St, Castro; 415-621- 3222), primarily gay/ straight-friendly guesthouse, conveniently located, with Edwardian style.

Willows Inn (710 14th St, Castro; 415-431-4770), 12 rooms, shared bathrooms, gay/ gay-friendly clientele, convenient Castro District location.

CLOSED - Belvedere House (598 Belvedere St, Cole Valley; 415- 731-6654), Cole Valley gay B&B, short walk to Castro.

See our map & listings hotels & guesthouses section for another 40 suggestions on where to stay in the Bay Area.

 

Greater Bay Area

The City anchors the San Francisco Bay Area region, home to 7.6 million people, that includes the cities of San Jose, Berkeley and Oakland. Gay clubs in these towns include the area's only two gay bathhouses.

 

Oakland/ Berkeley Clubs & Bars

Club 21 (2111 Franklin St, Oakland), gay Latinos, go-go boys, kinky karaoke, drag burlesque.

Club BNB (2120 Broadway, Oakland), gay parties, go-gos, Latin, House, Hip Hop, Banda; Secret Garden 3rd Friday queer, dance parties. Former Bench & Bar, moved to Club 21 Broadway entrance.

Hella Gay at Brix 581 (581 5th St, Oakland), monthly dance party "for boys, girls, everything in between, queer, straight" with something for everyone; two bars, two dance floors, outdoor patio, vegan food.

Steamworks (2107 4th St, Berkeley), full gym, eucalyptus steam room, whirlpool, lockers, fetish and sling private room options, 16-channel DVD video system, public play-spaces with hexagonal booths, maze, snacks, live DJs, and free Wi-Fi

White Horse (6551 Telegraph Ave, Oakland), gay weekend dancing, bears, drag, karaoke, men & women.

Click to San Jose for listings and map of the South Bay Area towns including Santa Clara, and Silicon Valley -- about an hour south of San Francisco.