Best Bars in the Castro, San Francisco

San Francisco Badlands is one of the most popular LGBTQ dance clubs in the city. Always packed with revelers making moves on the dance floor to a playlist of chart-topping tunes, it’s an unpretentious place for a guaranteed good time. Two-for-one cocktails is a popular drinks special for bars in the Castro, and Badlands runs the special nightly until 9pm. Events vary, but every Thursday night features a party with shirtless go-go dancers lighting up the stage.

Open seven days a week, 18th Street’s Toad Hall bar is a good bet for a lively night out on any given day. With an events calendar that includes drag performances, dance competitions and karaoke nights, the venue pulls in a diverse crowd of Castro residents and visitors alike. The bar itself features a large dance floor as well as comfy booths and an outdoor smoking area (complete with a bar) for breaks between dancing.

San Francisco is home to The EndUp, The Bitter End and Castro’s own Last Call Bar. And although the name Last Call Bar alludes to a wild end to the night, the bar is a great place to frequent throughout the day. A happy hour drinks menu and the inviting Irish pub atmosphere welcomes guests as early as noon, where you can watch football, sip a hot toddy by the fire or later on (the bar is open until 2am), dance to the jukebox into the early hours.