Lesbian Nightlife in San Francisco
San Francisco is easily known to be one of America’s most gay friendly cities. Over 6 percent of the city’s population identifies as LGBTQ+ which makes it the highest population per city in the US. When you visit San Francisco you will find it to be a vibrant and colorful city giving so much rainbow love. From the multiple colored houses to the extensive rainbow decals and flags it is easy to feel a welcoming to be yourself and love whom you want.
History of San Francisco LGBTQ Scene
Harvey Milk + Transgender Roles
With all of the rich history in San Francisco, we felt it was only fair to give a shoutout to Harvey Milk. Harvey was California’s first open gay politician and served as a huge role in politics for the LGBT community during a time of hate and unacceptance. San Francisco was also the world's first transgender organization, the National Transsexual Counseling Unit, was established in response to the Compton's Cafeteria Riot that occured in August 1966. The riot is not as widely known as the Stonewall Riot but this was one of the first in retaliation against transgender discrimination and police violence. Transwomen picketed outside the Cafeteria but their riot was unsuccessful. At the intersection of Castro St. and Market St., you’ll find the Rainbow Honor Walk, recognizing all the LGBTQ individuals who have made an impact and continue to make an impact.
LGBTQ Districts in San Francisco
1. The Castro
The Castro is one of the first LGBT districts in all of the United States and remains one of the most iconic neighborhoods for the LGBT movement still to this day. Starting in the 1960s,the Castro held many of the most history-making activism and events in the world. Today you will find the neighborhood painted with rainbow sidewalks, sex stores, and rainbow flags in every direction.
Lesbian Bars in The Castro
Q Bar
456 Castro St, San Francisco, CA 94110
(currently closed due to reconstruction from fire upstairs)
Q bar is one of the dancier bars in the Castro. While it is catered to gay men most of the week, Q bar has a lesbian night every Tuesday called 13 Licks. You will find the place packed of all kinds of ladies you can dance the night away with. The apartment above Q Bar had a fire recently which temporarily has the bar closed for renovations. Hopefully, when it is reopened we will find a new and improved dance spot.
Queer Bars in The Castro
401 Castro St, San Francisco, CA 94114
Twin Peaks is the historical gay bar dubbed the "Gateway to the Castro" as it sits on the corner entrance of the gay district. The wrap around windows (that open up fully in the summer) allow for the best view to people watch year round. Those same windows were what made the bar so iconic in it's earliest years by showing to the public that it was a gay bar when it first opened. This was known to be a bold move as other LGBT bars were windowless to hide from violence or prejudice. Today, you will typically find an older gay crowd which might not be the scene for most lesbians, but Twin Peaks is a must see iconic bar even for a drink or two.
Moby Dick
4049 18th St, San Francisco, CA 94114
Moby Dick is an unpretentious neighborhood bar located on the far side of the Castro. It started off as a gay bar for gay artists to hang their work. They have great happy hour deals if you are looking for a chill bar to hang out at. They have a mixed crowd and more gay men, but you will find lesbians and queer ladies grabbing a few drinks before the night out begins.
The Mix
4086 18th St, San Francisco, CA 94114
The Mix is a dingy pub on the far end of the Castro district. You will find a mixed (pun intended) crowd here more on the gay man side, but lesbians welcome. They have pool tables and cheap beer nights. However, don't expect it to be a 5 star looking bar. I typically like going here for a few pre game drinks to be around other LGBTQ people before making my way to another queer bar later.
2. SoMa (South of Market Street) & Mission
Home to the How Weird Festival and Folsom Street Fair, SOMA has been a staple for the LGBT community for decades now holding some of the longest running queer bars in San Francisco. Folsom Street is located in SOMA and notorious for being one of the kinkier areas of San Francisco. You will find leather fans, kink fetishers, drag shows, and annual street fairs held here. In addition to SoMa, you’ll find The Mission. The Mission tends to be the hipster area of San Francisco with hip bars and quirky laid back pubs. Some of San Francisco’s oldest pubs and queer bars can also be found here.
Lesbian Bars in SoMa & Mission
2700 16th St, San Francisco, CA 94103
A neighborhood bar sitting near Folsom Street and the Mission District. After the Lexington Club closed down it left San Francisco without a bar specific to lesbians year round. However, in 2018 Jolene’s Bar opened making it a super fun and vibrant predominately lesbian bar (not exclusive to only lesbians.) As soon as you walk in you see a sign “You are safe here” which is exactly the vibe it provides. The also have drag/ bottomless brunch on Sundays as well as Uhaul- a lesbian night on Fridays.
Queer Bars in SoMa & Mission
399 9th St, San Francisco, CA 94103
OFFICIALLY CLOSED
The Stud was open and poppin for over 50 years! It was there mission to keep nightlife at the heart of queer culture especially in San Francisco. This is a great place for some dancing and drag events. While they just closed their doors permanently we thought they deserved to be recognized on the list of the best LGBT bars San Francisco has ever seen.
527 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94110
Casanova Lounge is one of the Missions classic neighborhood cocktail bars. When you walk in there is a vintage esthetic with velvet paintings and lamps with dim red lighting. The bar itself has been here for over 60 years and the Casanova taking over in 1997. If you are looking for a classic coktail to start your night out this is a good spot for you!
3158 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110
El Rio is known to be one of the most mixed queer scenes with a little bit of every sexuality coming in to grab a drink. It picks up alot more of the lesbian scene than other bars, but it also has gays, trans, dive bar goers, hipsters and more.
424 Cortland Ave, San Francisco, CA 94110
A true San Francisco past time to lesbians, Wild Side West opened it's doors in 1962 by lesbians for lesbians. While you can find a queer mix here, you will find more of a lesbian crowd then most queer bars throughout SF. They also have two outdoor sections to enjoy during the summer time!
The End Up is one of San Francisco most notorious after party spots. Opening in 1973, The End Up has the only night life spot with hours extending past the 2 am bar closing curfew. They open their doors at 10 pm and go on until 4 am Thursdays and Sundays and until 10 am Fridays and Saturdays. They do not sell alcohol after 2 am in accordance to San Francisco law, but If you are wanting to stay out late and extend your night full of dancing you should check out The End Up.
3. Polk Street
Polk St. is one of San Francisco’s most prominent bar streets. It holds all kinds of scenes from pubs, nightclubs, and queer bars. If you are looking for a fun night out with a lot of bar crawl options then this is the place for you. However, the clientele can be more of a younger crowd so things can get a bit rowdy.
Queer Bars on Polk Street
1548 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94109
Kozy Kar is definitely one of the funkiest atmospheres on Polk Street and represents all that SF is. This bar is not exclusive to lesbians but it has a major queer presence. As soon as you walk in you will find water beds to sit on and A LOT of boobs plastered all over the bar. The seating in the back varies from more water beds, a broken down volkswagen, jacuzzi seats and more. Grab a beer and chat up the locals as you can catch glimpses of vintage porn clips playing on the TV screens. Weird is an understatement!
1723 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94109
Typically those in the LGBTQ community are drawn further south for queer bars but if you’re staying in the Polk street neighborhood, this might be a good spot for you. It is definitely more of a quiter gay guy dive bar, but they have welcoming bartenders and stiff drinks. You can find pool tables here and darts here to enjoy with your shot and beer combo.
Lexington Club (NOW CLOSED) was San Francisco’s longest running lesbian bar. Even though it is now closed we thought it was appropriate to give it a shoutout as it has been seen and mentioned on many TV shows and located in SF.
Lesbian Nightlife Events in San Francisco
Even if there aren’t alot of lesbian bars specific to only lesbians or female clientelle, there are many options of lesbian/queer parties that range throughout the week. On almost any night of the week there will be some kind of event at various bars throughout the city all dedicated to the amazing lesbian community.
Monday
VAMP at Beaux
2344 Market St
“A cocktail soiree for queer and trans folk”
Tuesday
13 Licks at Q Bar
456 Castro Street
Open 4pm- 2 am
A hot lesbian dance and meetup party.
Wednesday
Uptown Homos at Uptown
200 Capp Street
Every second Wednesday from 6pm-11pm
Advertised as a meet up for other queers in the community.
Thursday
My So- Called Night at Beaux
2-4-1 cocktails from 9pm-midnight // Special performance ~ 11 pm
Bringing you the hottest 90s & 00s Throwback Video Dance Party in the city with a revolving cast of drag hosts each week.
(other events are held in Oakland)
Friday
UHaul at Jolene’s Bar
2700 16th Street
Open 10pm-2 am
One of the most popular lesbian meet up events in SF.
Saturday
Mango
Sunday
Big Top Sundays at Beaux
Show at 10pm // No Cover before 8pm
A Homo Disco Circus hosted by Adriana Roy with the Bay Area’s best drag queens and Rupaul’s Drag Race performers!
Lesbian Annual Events in San Francisco
This is a worldly known event for the LGBTQ community. The Pride Parade route starts along San Francisco’s Market Street from Steuart Street to 8th Street and commences around 10:30am until 4pm. “There are stages and booths lined up with crowds of high-energy people expressing who they are and who they love. There are also areas for specific fetishes like Leather Alley that has fetish and BDSM oriented booths and demonstrations.The Friday of that weekend has also a Trans March and a Dyke’s March & Rally.” Check for Lesbian specific events here! Only $1-$5 donation to enter.
Wild Things After Party (@ Public Works) is a party for over 3,000 women and people of the queer community. This is an annual party that dubs itself “the place to be” after the Dyke March.
(@ Verso & Forgery, @Folsom Street Foundry, @ 85 Campton Place) Where do all the girls who love girls go to party on Pride Weekend in SF? The answer lies in what every lesbian brings on a second date: UHAUL. San Francisco icon Jolene will not only be holding up the best queer venue in town but is also hosting 3 HUGE parties across the city.
Folsom Street Fair is the world’s largest largest leather event put on right in the streets on San Francisco. To some it is kinky, to some it is raunchy, but there is no doubt that it is an event one of its kind. Over 250,000 fetish enthusiasts coming from all around the world and taking over 13 city blocks for this September street event. You can expect a long live stage line up, a lot of dancing, live BDSM shows, and a “sick and twisted performance stage”. You can come dressed up in your kinkiest fetish attire or even completely naked. Just be sure to check your coat at the front gate when you give your donation!
An annual city festival in honor of celebrating creativity, peace, and weirdness. You will find thousands of people coming to the streets of San Francisco in colorful costumes and enjoying themselves to the max. It is a festival to embrace your weird side. You will find food vendors, art, dancing, and more! Definitely a festival worth checking out.
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