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San Francisco, United States
Photo: deror_avi, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The colorful Castro is the famous gay center of San Francisco, a vibrant and historic neighborhood full of businesses geared towards the city's LGBT community. Adjacent to the Castro and sitting beneath Twin Peaks to the west is Noe Valley, a pleasant neighborhood with lots of lovely restaurants and boutiques to explore. The area is bounded roughly by the Twin Peaks on the west, Dolores/Church Streets on the east, Duboce Avenue on the north and San Jose Avenue on the south.
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A lovingly restored Art Deco jewelbox of an independent movie theatre, with a Wurlitzer organ and splendid organist, special sing-along showings, and more. A "rep house" or repertory theater, it tends to screen a wide variety of classic or obscure but worthwhile films, and be a venue of choice of local film festivals.
A GLBT history museum, with exhibits that take you from the bedrooms and back rooms to the bookstores and bars, from Harvey Milk's victories to transgender sex workers' riots, from social movements to secret fantasies.
A small but fun children's museum with several interactive exhibits, including live animals, a science exhibit, a toddler play area, and a railroad exhibit which includes a model railroad layout which is open on Saturdays. The museum is perched on a hill, offering great views of the San Francisco skyline.
Former home of the Beat-era playwright and poet.
A street party, organised by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.
Vendors, dancing, fundraising for community groups.
Carries hundreds of cheeses where you can taste before you buy.
California Chinese cuisine (e.g.: many vegs are fresh, white or brown rice, mu shu comes with grilled flour tortillas) with a nod towards Hunan and Mandarin styles. Tasty food in a bustling place. Accessible, vegetarian friendly, beer and wine. Minimum charge of $8 per person.
A favorite neighborhood restaurant among locals with creative home cooking and friendly service. Vegan and gluten-free options. Not usually too noisy. Reservations recommended, especially on weekends.
A neighborhood favorite with a full menu with many choices for various diets.
Bakery known for their macaroon cookies distinctively shaped like a piece of male anatomy.
Indian food in a casual setting emphasizing from-scratch cooking with fresh ingredients.
Gourmet Sardinian food, Italianate but often surprisingly spiced. Large list of unusual Sardinian and other Italian wines.
Combination antique store and one of the best places to have a cosy high tea in the city. Pub fare also served. Minimum charge $12 per person.
Considered one of the best local bakeries in the area. They supply some of the better SF restaurants as well as neighborhood demand for baked goods.
An Italian restaurant that's larger than it looks from the outside, extending back into the middle of the block. Delivery.
Excellent Thai food in a gay atmosphere, with some dishes that are not on the menu of most American Thai restaurants, such as Kao Soy, chicken with soft and crispy noodles in mustard sauce.
Good, not fanciful Chinese food, and quiet enough that you can talk to your dinner companions.
Heavy gay bar with a rowdy crowd and lots of bears, but for some this is the definitive Castro bar.
Very popular gay bar with great food, a nice balcony, and a much calmer crowd than the 440 Castro.
Billing itself as a "neighborhood bar", Mix has strong drinks and a great back patio.
Great bartenders, cheap strong drinks, music videos, and pinball.
Very nice gay bar with a great atmosphere and nice staff. Historically this was the first gay bar in the US to display its patrons to the public, offering large windows looking IN to the bar. Until this addition, most all gay bars were underground bars/clubs that kept the clientele hidden from the general public.
Go for the good tea or latte and the prime people watching, not necessarily the food.
A gay owned and operated hotel in a very pretty old building.
Not the Ritz but a cheap budget hotel option
Toys, gifts, kitchenware, hardware, and the newly remodeled annex next door is where to shop for do it yourself home decor items and is THE place to get rhinestones.
These women opened up the yarn shop that they'd like to hang out in and the whole neighborhood concurs that they're doing it right.
Year-round California-certified farmers market.
Stationery and gifts; custom color printing and calligraphy for announcements. They have also opened an art supply store across the street.
By car
Don't drive into the area. Use public transit instead. There is a public parking garage on Noe just north of Market, but it is small. Street parking is very hard to find, especially on the weekends.
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San Francisco · International · SFO
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