Even while San Francisco is stunning at any time of day, it’s best to visit in the evening to take advantage of the city’s most unusual activities and events.
Even if you’re looking for a unique nighttime activity in San Francisco, you’ll find plenty of choices.
It’s possible to dance the night away in any city’s club, but San Francisco’s nightlife goes well beyond the usual mix of bars and dance clubs. It has thrilling gay bars with a lot of sprawling events.
Here are some of the most popular LGBTQ+ bars in the area
- The Edge
As its name suggests, The Edge is a primarily locals-only pub that attracts an ethnically varied population, both in terms of age and ethnicity. Despite its small size, the venue manages to stage drag acts every Thursday and DJs and fundraising events on occasion. Starting at about 7 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and sometimes Sundays, there is a night of musical theatre where footage of musicals on cinema and stage is shown throughout the night. During Happy Hour and all night, the Castro offers two-for-one cocktails on Mondays and Wednesdays, as well as drink promotions all week long.
- The Oasis
Oasis, a San Francisco nightlife club and cabaret theatre in the SoMa neighbourhood is a haven for queer artists. Located in a former homosexual bathhouse in San Francisco, the 8,000-square-foot building hosts a variety of incredible performances each weekend, including iconic TV programme renditions like Sex and the City, The Golden Girls, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, among others. Mother, Oasis’ monthly Saturday night drag show, is a must-see for drag aficionados. The Queens take on everything from Disney princesses to pop singers in the comical, electrifying spectacle. The Fez Room, a Moroccan-themed bar, is a great place to have an unusual drink before the performance begins.
- The Spots
This dramatic Bernal Heights haunt, which has been owned by the LGBTQ+ community since Pat Ramseyer and Nancy White acquired it in 1962, isn’t just a lesbian bar. It’s estimated that there are just 15 remaining in the whole country. This is a neighbourhood bar with cocktails made from local farmers’ market ingredients and two significant draws: a chic touch interior that appears as though it was styled by your quirky aunt who trained you how to breathe, and a sprawling open-air garden that is ideal for the kind of flirtation you could perhaps find in a Jane Austen novel. Precisely, this is a bar-shaped piece of art in San Francisco.
- Toad’s Hall
Toad Hall in the heart of the Castro is the place to go for a little bit of everything (and a lot of dancing). Dance contests, karaoke, drag performances, and an almost-always-crowded dance floor await you at this venue. There are plenty of places to relax on the outside patio if you’re seeking a more low-key San Francisco nightlife but don’t want to be cut off from the excitement.
Visiting these bars can be a one of a kind experience with full-fledged San Francisco nightlife.
