Wild Side West
Sports Bar · San Francisco, CA
About
You might expect a lesbian bar to feel exclusive, but Wild Side West has always billed itself as a neighborhood bar that just 'happens' to draw a lesbian crowd. It's the oldest gay or lesbian bar in San Francisco, a historical landmark with a warm, smallish interior featuring a fireplace and the pool table Janis Joplin once played on.
The real draw is the backyard garden, a gorgeous outdoor space perfect for a relaxed drink. The crowd is mixed: radical dykes, gay male programmers, straight locals. Staff are friendly, drinks are good, and major holidays often bring a food spread.
In Bernal Heights at Cortland and Andover, this bar feels like your local dive tucked away from the usual tourist spots.
Features
- ✓Pool table played by Janis Joplin
- ✓Backyard garden with a relaxed vibe
- ✓Neighborhood bar with mixed LGBTQ+ crowd
- ✓Fireplace and historic interior
- ✓Lesbian-owned since the 1960s
Good for
Practical
What people say
Rated from 326 reviews. 24 community ratings. View this venue on Yelp
From the community
“A Treasure in Bernal Heights!”
I always enjoy coming to this bar! The cocktails are tasty, the service is excellent, and the back patio and garden are calming, inspiring, lovely, and just about flawless. Want to be happy too? Go to Wild Side West!
A visitor · Over a year ago
“Check out the patio”
Wild Side is a super laid-back, friendly neighborhood bar. Every encounter with the bartenders and other customers has been positive. People come here to unwind, shoot pool, or enjoy a drink in the stunning back patio—don't miss it. Sure, the crowd leans toward older women, but you'll always find someone interesting to talk to.
A guest · Over a year ago
“Perfect Neighborhood Bar”
Wild Side West is a legendary spot, the oldest gay or lesbian bar in San Francisco. But the lesbian owners have always said it's a neighborhood bar that just happens to attract many lesbians. And that's accurate. It has a cozy, smallish indoor space with a fireplace and the pool table Janis Joplin once played on—and reportedly was laid on too. The interior looks very dated. Outside there's a backyard. Most places would call it a patio, but it's a backyard. And it suits this unpretentious place where you might equally run into a radical dyke, a gay male programmer, or a straight local guy stopping in for a drink. The staff are friendly, they make good cocktails, and for major holidays and certain birthdays they often put out a food spread. I'd probably be there every day if I still lived in the neighborhood.
A recent visitor · Over a year ago
“Cozy club, nice woman, taste of history!”
One of a kind, with a cozy vibe thanks to the fireplace. The outdoor balcony, patio, and gardens are beautiful. I was also fascinated by its history.
A local visitor · Over a year ago
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wild Side West a lesbian bar? +
It's known as the oldest lesbian bar in San Francisco, but the owners describe it as a neighborhood bar that attracts a lesbian crowd. Everyone is welcome.
What are the hours? +
Sunday-Wednesday 3pm-10pm, Thursday-Saturday 5pm-12am.
Does the bar have food? +
The bar does not have a regular food menu, but they often put out a food spread on major holidays and some birthdays.
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