Gay things to do in san francisco
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Aiming for total inclusivity with a defiant edge, this event is a true joy for San Francisco’s summer, showcasing regional and world premieres of extraordinary performance, theatre and live music.
Photo: Edgar Chaparro
Where to stay in San Francisco
When it comes to where to stay in San Francisco, luxury travellers will be spoiled for choice with an array of high-end hotels offering impeccable service, stylish design, and easy access to the city’s cultural, culinary, and nightlife scenes.
Cuddle into a booth to sit below the corona of rainbow-colored fluorescent lighting and enjoy a patty melt and milkshake.
The National AIDS Memorial Grove, known more commonly as just The Grove, is situated at the de Laveaga Dell in eastern Golden Gate Park. Pause at the intersection of 18thWhile you’re here, don’t miss the mural and plaque at 575 Castro Street which stands as a tribute to Harvey Milk, the gay civil rights icon who spearheaded anti-discrimination legislature in the 1970s.
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It’s America’s first landmark remembering the homosexual men persecuted in fascist Europe between 1933-1945. Directly opposite the Asian Art Museum right around the corner for them Civic Center, the annual Pride Family Festival offers the perfect venue for kids to celebrate diversity with arts, crafts, face-painting, and more; kids are also encouraged to participate for free in the San Francisco Frontrunners Pride Run.
You can also check the events calendar at Habitot.org and calendar page at ourfamily.org.
Insider tip: When planning a visit to San Francisco during Gay Pride Month, be sure to book well in advance, as accommodations fill up quickly.
Gay San Francisco: Complete LGBTQ+ Travel Guide.When it comes to gay-friendly cities in the US there are few that can compete with the vibrant and diverse Californian city of San Francisco.
The St. Regis is home to the Michelin-starred restaurant Ame, where guests can enjoy a fusion of American and Japanese flavours, while the exclusive Remède Spa offers a sanctuary of relaxation with personalised treatments. In September of 2014, San Francisco installed rainbow crosswalks at four different intersections in the Castro, all of which are considered gay heritage landmarks in the city, dedicated to gay civil rights activism.
This landmark hotel is known for its impeccable service, with elegantly appointed rooms featuring a mix of classic and modern design, rich in texture and detail. With its daily-changing menu designed to reflect modern Californian styles while maintaining a focus on locally sourced ingredients, Frances has garnered both a stellar reputation and a Michelin star to boot in its short time on the Castro scene.
Swot up on San Francisco’s Rich LGBT history
The GLBT Historical Society, rather than serving dyslexic members of the queer community as it might seem, is, in actual fact, an archive museum holding an extensive collection of historic artefacts relating to the history of LGBT people in the United States, with a particular focus on San Francisco and Northern California.
For most visitors, location is the key deciding factor, and so they may look at choosing a district or area first and then narrow it down to a hotel.
Naturally, many gay travellers will opt to stay in the Castro district, and of course here you will find a number of gay and gay-friendly hotel options, but there are gay and gay-friendly hotels spread across the city.
There are far too many gay-friendly hotels in San Francisco to list here, so for the purposes of this blog post I have included the three hotels I stayed at, one from each of the Castro, Fisherman’s Wharf and Union Square district.
And for a much wider choice, check out my dedicated post on the top 20 gay-friendly hotels in San Francisco, where I have listed them by district for your ease.
Top 20 Gay-Friendly Hotels in San Francisco
The Westin St Francis San Francisco – Union Square
The Westin St Francis at Union Square was home for my very first 2 nights in San Francisco, and what a welcome to the city!
The hotel is home to a hidden gem, the JCB Tasting Lounge, offering a decadent selection of rare wines and Champagne – ideal for an indulgent pre-dinner experience.
The Castro, known for its iconic gay history and lively atmosphere, is easily accessible, making it an ideal base for luxury gay travellers.
Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco
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The compact spot, which serves Cali-cuisine, is famous for its short menu, seasonal offerings and hard-to-get tables. This was before he even ran for political office, when he was a small business owner himself, at Castro Camera.
The first street fair drew over 5000 attendees, and the success of the event is said to be one of the main reasons why the Castro has become the centre of the LGBTQ+ community, not just for San Francisco but for the US as a whole.
Today, the Castro Street Fair is one of the city’s most important festivals.
For gay travellers, the hotel offers a refined retreat after a night out in the nearby lively bars of the Castro.
For those who appreciate contemporary luxury, The St. Regis San Francisco delivers a sleek, modern aesthetic in the vibrant SoMa district. Strewn with ornately vintage décor in a top location, Twin Peaks Tavern is an iconic watering hole in SF that’ll tempt you time and time again with its affordability, classy cocktails and comfy seating, providing the ultimate space to meet the city’s mercurial queer community and other like-minded travellers.
Seasonal gay extravaganzas are afoot all year long in San Francisco but it’s around summer solstice when the event calendar is most packed
Baker Beach | Photo: Rodrigo Soares1
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In the Castro, a rainbow flag flaps in the wind above colorfully painted crosswalks, making one big statement: San Francisco welcomes the LGBTQ+ community with open arms.
There are more than 60 gay bars and clubs in the Castro neighborhood alone, and although the Castro serves as the epicenter of LGBTQ+ culture and nightlife, gay-friendly businesses are sprinkled citywide—frankly, it’s the norm here.
Since 1972 the event has taken place every year, changing and evolving to become the San Francisco Pride celebration as we know it today.
Fun fact: The 6-stripe rainbow flag that we are all so familiar with was actually originally created for the 1978 San Francisco Pride
San Francisco Pride usually takes place at the end of June each year, running from Friday to Sunday with a full weekend of celebrations, and of course the main highlight being the Pride Parade which kicks off on the Sunday morning.
San Francisco Pride Parade is huge – last year there were almost 300 groups participating, and over 50,000 people marching.
Another main event during the weekend is San Francisco Pride Festival, a day long event held on Saturday.
Also watching the car arrive at the end of the line onto the turntable where it was manually turned around by hand was very impressive!
Cable car tickets must be purchase prior to boarding.