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Ginger's

4.1 (45 reviews)
InexpensiveGay Bars, Cocktail Bars
Closed Closed

Ginger's Photos

GINGER'S ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Trendy
Classy
Casual
Good for dancing

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Recommended Reviews - Ginger's

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Reviews With Photos

Outside
Jerry C.

Being born and raised in San Francisco, but having moved away 20 years ago, I frequented a lot of SF gay bars "back in the day." I'm pretty sure I've been to three incarnations of Ginger's. This LGBTQ dive is hard to find, in a side alley off Kearny St in Downtown. Luckily my friends brought me. It's almost like a speakeasy, down in the basement of Rickhouse. It has all the gay bar basics, like a pool table, small drag stage, cubby corners, and cute bartenders. An added Yelp star for Ginger's paying homage to SF gay bar history via their cocktail names. Endearing and clever, most of the younger crowd probably don't even realize why the cocktails are named that way. Of the 13 cocktails with historical and closed bar names, I've been to 9 of them scattered throughout SF Castro, Polk Gulch, SoMA, Mission and Tenderloin (I'm really aging myself)...like Metro, N'Touch, The Gangway, Este Noche, Daddy's, Marlena's...hey where's QT? The bartenders were fun and our group had a great time. I want to return when Ginger's reopens. I love dive bars like this!

Bar
Liz B.

Ginger's is worth searching for. And trust me, you won't know it's there until you look for it. Stuck at the end of an alley way, this cute dive bar has great music, attentive bartenders and a bunch of funny cocktail specials. I mean, it's a gay bar so you're obviously going to have a lot of fun with these drinks! Came here on a Friday afternoon after work for one last sendoff for a dear coworker of mine. Honestly, it was basically empty around the time I got here, maybe 4pm or so. I just got a cider and eventually the atmosphere perked up and a few more people trickled in. I have to say, I'm glad I left early because it's a small basement. I'm sure as soon as more people slowly come in, it'll be standing room only. There's a few tables and booths, a pool table, and restrooms somewhere in the dark. Ginger's is decorated in all the colors, lively, and fun with great music. Great for after work drinks or a low key date. I hear they have shows a few times a week too. I'm guessing drag shows and music? Look them up!

Jon L.

Hidden gem of a bar in the basement of Rickhouse. Cheers to this reincarnation of Ginger's. It's just so great to find a spot after work in the FiDi where you can find seats and enjoy a drink. Speaking of drinks, the lovely bartenders here mix up great cocktails. My personal fave is the Ghost of Ginger's which is a refreshing gin concoction with plenty of mint, ginger beer, and sparking wine. If you like gin and Moscow Mules, you'll probably like this too. If you're a fan of tequila, the Esta Noche is a pretty popular cocktail too. Plenty of seats, pool table, friendly bartenders, and lovely drinks make Ginger's a lovely spot for post-work drinks.

Erica C.

Cute place located down a small alleyway just past Rickhouse. Look for the rainbow flag at the entrance or you might miss it. After being carded you walk down the stairwell into an eccentrically decorated lounge are with pool table and stage. Several nights a month they host a drag show, which I didn't get the chance to see. During my visit DJ was playing 90s music and everyone was friendly. LGBTQ friendly and very comfortable atmosphere. Friend and I had a fun time here singing along to music we grew up with. Drinks are reasonably strong and well priced.

The bar area with decoration.
Jamie J.

I love this somewhat hidden gem and that it's located outside of the Castro district. It felt like a gay speakeasy because you walk through the alley to get to it. Not that the bar is hard to find, but it's not on a main street with through traffic and it sits across from a parking garage. You go down the stairs and you find yourself in a cool space which was fully decorated for Halloween. The music was on point and the bartender was very friendly. The drinks are fairly cheap which is definitely a bonus and rather hard to find in the area. I would love to come back here during the weekend for my next visit because it felt like a place that's more my speed.

colorful umbrellas hanging from the ceiling

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Ask the Community - Ginger's

Is Gingers currently open and what time do they close?

Is Ginger's wheelchair accessible? (I know Ginger's is below street level - is there an elevator?)

Yes, just ask the door host and they will direct you to the elevator entrance

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Review Highlights - Ginger's

Decorations are super cute, and there's usually theme nights throughout the week (karaoke, drag shows, etc.).

Mentioned in 12 reviews

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Powerhouse - Available for play at Powerhouse! Pinball Machine - Star Trek themed!

Powerhouse

3.3(132 reviews)
1.3 miSoMa
$

This gay bar is an anything goes place although you can't do what you can in a European bar on the…read morebar stools so go to the back of the bar for that. If this is your first rodeo nobody gay who is worth hooking up with arrives before 10:30. The cover is usually ten bucks but if they say it is only five it is an off night so find another place to go to. Small coat area on the ground floor which can hold a huge number of coats and customary to give the man or woman taking them a buck. Techno music is loud and booming so that you can start dancing right away. Usually two or three go go boys too. Nice bar keeps. Like in all bars some guys have attitude issues but most are easy to get along with. Great porn screens and Roman like frescos on the wall. For the leather crowd mainly. Nights here can be unbeatable or not worth the effort but that happens everywhere, If you look under 40 have your ID's ready emo boys.

Great service from Carlton, always. I only have drinks (or other stuff that's meaty but not edible…read more;) ;)) here, never food... so I can't speak on the food-side of things. He's been a staple of the bar for as long as... I have been able to visit the establishment, which has been for about 16 years now, give or take, and of course the owners are still there; they come in and mix and mingle during the daylight hours typically, but sometimes they will be there at night as well! Tons of fun. Dancers, on box AND around the bar/club. The outside "vape smoking" seating is REALLY nice to have, especially when the bar gets crowded and then REALLY gets hot inside. It doesn't happen ALL the time, but enough... that you may want to step out there from time to time. I have enjoyed every themed night, or event that I've been to here. Coming back again super soon! (See you soon, Carlton!) If you're a local, and you see this and visit Powerhouse regularly, add me! ;) :)

Photos
Powerhouse - Rubber Weekend April 2025 had events at PH and other bars.

Rubber Weekend April 2025 had events at PH and other bars.

Powerhouse - Beat Pig! January 2019

Beat Pig! January 2019

Powerhouse

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Jolene's Bar - Nice drinks

Jolene's Bar

3.8(120 reviews)
1.8 miMission
$$

I have really loved coming here, but over time I feel like it's kind of lost its spark. I took a…read morebreak from going and noticed that the room where the DJ used to be has these decorations from the ceilings that seem out of place. I hope they'll remove them, honestly. I wanted to write a review after visiting Gossip Grill in San Diego because it was so lively there. I think it's less busy here now, but don't know exactly why or if I'm just imagining it. I love playing at the pool table when it's only two bucks and have had a lot of fun playing with other people who I'm just meeting for the first time. I think I would give this place another star if the music were more consistent. It's subjective to me, but I didn't enjoy the DJs that were playing EDM music/mixes. I've been here many times, but of all the bars I've been to in the past, which I'll say is not many or too often, the music was not great here. Regardless, the past two or three times I've brought friends here, I really actually had a really great time. It wasn't super crowded and I had the breathing room and space to talk with my friends and fiancé more. The bathrooms were easy to access. Amazingly, even when it's slow, they'll have dancers up on the bar, which is always cool to see. I saw a Meetup group that was here recently, if you're interested in finding them to check the bar out with.

I went for kpop night and it was LIT! Tickets were $15 cash at the door or $10 online (didn't know…read moreif we were going or not so didn't get them early, unfortunately). We went a little early so we didn't see much movement until around 11 or so. Drinks were a little expensive at around $20 each (tip included) but were tasty and the bartenders were so friendly and fun. Music was great, though the music variety was a little lacking. Though it was kpop night I thought I heard the same artist throughout the whole night. I didn't try the food, though there was an instant ramen bar and boba. My favorite part was the decor, which was very tasteful. I felt safe there and loved the drag show. I saw there was a 90's-00's pop night so I'll definitely hit it up again!

Photos
Jolene's Bar - The most important and beautiful area of this establishment...THE HIGH QUALITY H2O department! Follow instructions....OR ELSE!

The most important and beautiful area of this establishment...THE HIGH QUALITY H2O department! Follow instructions....OR ELSE!

Jolene's Bar - The front door. Come on in.

The front door. Come on in.

Jolene's Bar

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Ginger's - gaybars - Updated May 2026

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