From Castro's LGBTQ dance bars to Mission's outdoor DJ nights, SF nightlife anchors different neighborhoods but shares a common thread: these are the spots where people come to dance, not just drink. Eagle Tavern and El Rio have both been doing this for decades.
SoMa · 398 12th St, San Francisco, CA 94103, USA
For a landmark like The Eagle NYC, the crowd is as much the draw as the bar itself. Open since 1981, it has remained a cornerstone of New York's leather and LGBTQ+ community, with a sprawling patio, legendary Sunday Bee…
Mission · 3158 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA
A queer community bar on Mission Street with a giant back patio that runs from punk shows on Friday nights to salsa orchestras and drag on the weekends. Free oysters land on the deck every Friday at 5:30pm, and the hous…
Castro · 4121 18th St, San Francisco, CA 94114, USA
A dance bar and nightclub with a massive floor, 30 years of pop on rotation, and 2-for-1 drink specials until 8pm daily except Sunday. The crowd is 21+ and the energy builds fast after midnight. One of the only remainin…
SoMa · 579 Howard St, San Francisco, CA 94105, USA
A California-Mexican cocktail bar and restaurant in SoMa's East Cut that runs the full arc from lunch to late-night karaoke and DJs. The No Regrets (cucumber jalapeño tequila, elderflower, mint, lime) and The Adonis (me…
Marina · 2120 Greenwich St, San Francisco, CA 94123, USA
A '70s-themed cocktail lounge in the Marina with avocado leather bar stools, orange-and-gold interiors, and a soundtrack of disco, funk, and soul. The signature cocktails borrow their names from songs of the era, the Lo…
Castro · 2344 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94114, USA
Craft cocktail lounge by day, full dance club by night. Beaux takes up a corner on Market Street with themed entertainment running every night of the week. Drag brunch runs two shows on Saturdays and Sundays, and BOGO c…