The Edge is a very decent gay bar if you're tired of the OTHER Castro scene -- you know, the one where you must be dolled up to the nines to get a drink? The Edge offers a dive-ier style for a more relaxed evening. I've heard many [more...]

Check out Grandma's Saloon on Taraval for a fun little neighborhood bar. Their drinks are reasonably priced and they've got a pool table that sometimes hosts [more...]

The Pacific Coast Brewing Company in Oakland is one of those independent places that feels like a chain. Is there a "Build Your Own Brewery" kit that these [more...]

Check out Yoshi's Jazz House & Restaurant for an evening of great music. Yoshi's attracts top jazz performers to its intimate stage. Plus, you can occasionally [more...]

Though Metro recently abandoned their high-rent location on the corner of Market and 16th Street, they remain an important Castro icon. Newly located closer to Church Street, but still on Market, what they lost in view they made up for [more...]

Whether you're looking for a quick drink or you want to make a night of it, if you're in the Castro you should pop into SF Badland. Filled with the lovely fellows [more...]

If you want to go dancing for real -- not just the hyper shimmy that passes for dancing in clubs -- pay a visit to Harry Denton's Starlight Room. Located on the [more...]

At The Trappist in Oakland, you can try more Belgian beers than you ever suspected existed. With fifteen cycling ales on tap and over a hundred bottled brews, The [more...]

If you're looking to party with celebrities, you might stop in at the Redwood Room in the Clift Hotel. This is a party spot for celebs [more...]

Bottom of the Hill combines a surpassingly cool performance space with a hokey, lovable neon font reminiscent of the Cave Train at the Santa Cruz Beach [more...]

When you want some solid indie rock in a convivial atmosphere, you want The Rockit Room. Here you will find a jukebox whose playlist is impressively eclectic, and [more...]

Terroir is an excellent and friendly place to grab a glass or a bottle of the latest and greatest natural wines coming from France, Italy and even California. Run by [more...]

Never underestimate the importance of having a top quality photo booth in your favorite local bar. The booth at Pop's shoots out four black and white shots, a string of floating heads against a white background. None of your garish [more...]

The bar 12 Galaxies was named for local zealot Frank Chu. Rarely a day passes when Chu isn't glimpsed downtown, wearing a suit and sunglasses and marching [more...]

This place is one of my favorite bars ever! The half-circle bar allows for conversation between patrons and since the blues/Rat Pack/jazz jukebox is never blaring, you can actually HAVE a conversation! Intimate little tables for when [more...]

$3.50 for most beers in their healthy selection keeps you coming back despite the grinding down of what's left of your eardrums after 20 years of angry indie punk. Friendly staff, a clean bathroom, and occasional mechanical [more...]

El Rio Bar hosts several charity events each month well worth attending; plus it serves killer oysters.

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Smokers and those who sympathize with them might enjoy a trip to Schmidt's Tobacco Trading Co. & Pub. Sells many different blends of tobacco (though sadly you can't smoke inside) and has a British pub flavor.

Check out the Mallard in Albany for drinks, pool and pinball, as well as an entertaining little collection of childhood photos of the staff.

At the Albatross Pub, you can get popcorn for 25 cents, play darts, or borrow one of several board games for your quiet table for two. Don't miss this fine [more...]