Anything goes when it comes to a night out in San Francisco. The city is all about self-expression and the best partiers amongst them all are usually found around the Castro, which has been an epicenter of the fight for LGBTQ+ rights in America since the ‘70s. It was famously the neighbourhood of politician Harvey Milk, the country’s first elected official to come out as gay. Today, it is full of friendly locals, landmark sites, laid-back pubs and electrifying drag bars: a recipe for a damn good time.

Below, writer Emmie Harrison-West shares a guide to having the best day exploring the city’s LGBTQ+ scene, in true local fashion. For more recommendations to the coolest venues in San Francisco, check out San Francisco Like a Local.

San Francisco Like a Local

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The best way to reach the Castro is via the Vulcan Steps between Ord Street and Vulcan, near Corona Heights. Start your day off on the right foot by climbing this clandestine concrete staircase, and take in the eclectic bunch of houses, clad in ferns, and ivy, on the way to the top. Residents can only reach their homes via the 200-odd steps, so imagine what it’s like after a night out, or moving in...

If you’re feeling brave, carry on to Corona Heights park, a mile-long dirt trail with stunning views of downtown SF fanning the red rock crop at the top. Warning, it’s pretty steep – hence why many locals use it as part of their daily sweat-inducing fitness routine.
 

Next, get your bearings by walking through the Castro, over to the iconic Rainbow Honor Walk – fondly known as the “Walk of Fame.” Stretching along the Castro’s main drag, the walk honours the neighbourhood’s long history of LGBTQ+ activism. Bronze plaques commemorate pioneers like James Baldwin, Alan Turing and Gertrude Stein (who would no doubt be tickled by The Sausage Factory restaurant, Hand Job nail salon, and Knobs men’s clothing store that shoulders the route…)

After you’ve perfected your Insta-worthy foot shot on the rainbow, soak up some serious culture at the GLBT Historical Society Museum. It may be small, but it’s mighty engrossing with rotating exhibitions on everything from queer nightlife photography, to transgender aesthetic in movies.

Reward yourself with a stiff drink at the always-buzzing and iconic Twin Peaks Tavern. It was the country’s first out-and-proud LGBTQ+ bar after opening with gay abandon in 1972. Settle in for long chats with cheap drinks, while you watch the rainbow flag flying outside through the full-length glass windows.

After you've quenched your thirst, head next door for some shopping at Local Take gift shop, which actually gets more visits from locals than tourists. Local Take only sells products made by Bay City artists and designers – including cute babywear, unique graphic tees and a range of accessories promoting equal rights!

Another shop to visit is one of the area’s too-few black-owned businesses, Kenneth Wingard, where you'll find some seriously on-trend homeware supplies. That’s if Wingard isn’t appearing on the Hallmark show Home & Family as the home decor expert. Cool, right?

After, head on over to Lookout and admire the pruned and decked out drag queens in their towering heels, and get ready to people-watch with well-priced, no-frills drinks and popping music.

If you’re feeling like partying long into the night, head on over to Beaux – especially on the weekends, this bar is absolutely pumping and just crammed with locals ready to have a good time. There’s always a just-got-paid vibe, with patrons drinking long into the night. Things barely simmer down on school nights, so don’t worry if you can’t spare a weekend.