Where My Girls At: A Queer Girl's Guide to San Francisco Socializing

The Lex is San Francisco’s only official dyke bar. That’s right, all ladies, all the time (however the Lex does well to bend its own gender rules, transmen are very welcomed at this bar). Sorry bio-boys, but you’ll have to be accompanied by a lady-friend if you want to enter this sapphic establishment. Notorious for maintaining such a strong dyke and trans community, $1 margaritas during happy hour, and religious Sunday night showings of The L Word, the Lex is a great way for a new girl on the block to warm up to the SF scene.

Of a more folky, hippied out persuasion? Wild Side West is the place for you. A cozy saloon-esque bar with a magical multi level patio and garden, this is the spot for those who want a chill night with friends. Whether listening to impromptu jam sessions on the lower patio, playing pool by the jukebox indoors, or snuggling close to a new friend in one of the many secret seating nooks in the enchanted garden, Wild Side is the perfect spot for an evening of conversation and music.

“El Rio…Your Dive!” is the slogan out front of this non-descript-on-the-outside bar on Mission Street (at Caesar Chavez). The reason I love this bar, aside from it playing host to Mango (see What Where When below) is because of its remarkably chill vibe and truly neighborhoody feel. Although certainly catering to the dyke-crowd for many events (Mango, ToGETher: Lesbian Dating Party), El Rio has live music almost every night and is a venue for the annual Madcat Film Festival, which draws a variety of people from all over the city.

Cat Club is a two-sectioned club in the city’s South of Market district, with two separate dance floors that play drastically different music selections at the same time. Getting bored with 80s new wave and pop? Head over to the hip hop room, jump on stage and be an impromptu Go-Go dancer.

A multi-level club on the edge of Hayes Valley, The Rickshaw Stop hosts two of the city’s hottest queer dance parties: Cockblock and Rebel Girl. My favorite part of the Rickshaw Stop, other than the weird noir vintage footage they project onto the far wall of the dance floor, is the 2nd floor balcony where you can watch the entire club jostle and twitch in queertastic dance affect.

A loungey music venue in the heart of the Mission bar strip, the Make-Out Room hosts a hump-day queer dance party on the last Wednesday of each month. Low cover and central location makes this an excellent choice to satisfy your mid-week queeriosity.