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Our 5 Favorite San Francisco Gay Bars

San Francisco is one of the planet's gay Meccas, home to the world-famous Castro District. Here are our five favorite spots in the 'Stro to knock back a cocktail or four, cruise for eye-candy and bust a move.
Badlands Bar Castro
www.sfbadlands.com

Badlands
4121 18th Street
San Francisco, CA
Website

Badlands, located on 18th, half a block up from Castro has everything you're looking for. The front room is a great spot to mix and mingle with the party crowd. And the back dance area is where you can GET DOWN. Non-stop dance music, a hot, neon dance-floor and any number of dance partners are all at your…fingertips. Two-for-one cocktails every day from 3-8pm, and Sunday Beer Busts mean Badlands is pretty much always hopping.

Midnight Sun Bar Castro
www.midnightsunsf.com

Midnight Sun
4067 18th Street
San Francisco, CA
Website

Heading out alone? The Midnight Sun is a great place to check out, with huge television screen featuring fabulous music videos and hilarious comedy clips on a non-stop loop. It's easy to strike up a convo with a stranger when you're both laughing at the same SNL Cher impression. Head down to watch your favorite shows as well, with weekly screenings of Desperate Housewives, Glee and Modern Family. Happy Hour includes two-for-one drinks. But make sure you swing by Saturday from 8-10 for non-stop comedy clips.

Blackbird Bar
www.blackbirdbar.com

Blackbird Bar
2124 Market Street
San Francisco, CA
Website

Blackbird is the chic, new and sophisticated bar on Market Street. Home to a very mixed crowd, Blackbird is hot right now, especially for the bow-tie set. Think Brad from Rachel Zoe. After the workday, this spot is jumping with gay, straight and lots of hipsters. Might we suggest you order The Dickens, with vodka, cranberry-ginger puree, lemon juice and honey. Served over ice, darling. Served over ice.

The Lookout Bar Castro
http://www.lookoutsf.com/

The Lookout
3600 16th Street
San Francisco, CA
Website

The Lookout wraps around 16th and Market, with its outdoor balcony literally 'looking out' on the Castro. You can sip a Bloody Mary and watch the world go by, or pound a shot and make a new friend. This bar's a little butch, and especially popular in the early evening, for pizza parties, drag shows and themed nights all week long. But you'll want to plant yourself on the deck anytime a parade rolls by. This is THE spot to watch the Market Street action, and prime spots go fast. This is San Francisco after all. Location, location, location!

Mix Bar
www.sfmixbar

Mix Bar
4086 18th Street
San Francisco, CA
Website

We're throwing The Mix in the mix because this is the little divey bar that could. The Mix is in close proximity to just about everywhere else you wanna go (Moby Dick and Midnight Sun are just across the street, Castro is a block away, you're in the heart of it all), but it's small, mellow and has a great outdoor patio in the back, with funky wooden benches perfect for relaxing and chilling out. The Mix is wonderfully laid back. We're not sure, but it might have something to do with them opening at 6am. Every day.

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