Came here for their delicious Guava Margarita and it was so refreshing on an unseasonably warm Saturday evening, I almost ordered another! Sat at the bar with my friends, fast service, super dimly lit inside, needed my phone to read the menu. Order the guava margarita! read more

Mother - Gay Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

I've been here twice now and I'm not sure about the vibes and overall environment of this place. It is a smaller bar, quite literally a rectangle, and while there's no issues with that just know you'll be sandwiched at times and also waiting a bit for a drink. We came here NYE to have fun and grab drinks with friends. The first DJ setup and started around 930pm ish. Her set was mainly just your typical club house music, some songs with words, but mainly just beats. She also played this song that had the DJ performing it recorded on it so it was kind of weird to listen to it while he's crowd working. She also played through the entirety of the songs - no cool transitions and even had several gaps of just dead silence. That's not the issue I had with her set. Some obviously young college girls came up during a song with a song request written on their phone screen to play pink pony club. She kind of brushed them off and kept going. Then, she turned the music down and got on the mic to say "if you feel so important that you have to interrupt the DJs set to make your request that's more important the least you can do is ask for the DJ Venmo or Cash App". A good amount of people were awkwardly looking at her during this. She kept going through the set and maybe 6 songs in the girls came up and said something along the lines of "again if you could play Chappell that would be awesome". dj looked visibly mad and they walked away and she started ranting to a customer about how rude it was they were interrupting her set. Fast forward it's maybe 1030pm and she finally decides to play pink pony club and she again gets on the mic, lowering the music by a lot, and says "YOU CAN STILL TIP ME YOU LESBIAN BITCH" then turns the music up. While I understand the girls obviously didn't get the message/hint the first time it was an incredibly awkward and aggressive interaction from the DJ. It made things just uncomfy for me and my friends. A few customers came up to tip her after her making these call outs but I felt like it was her blowing a small thing into this big ordeal. We saw her after the ball dropped outside eating a donut then throwing it onto the street at a guy we had seen in the bar earlier who was now passed out on the streeet. Not to mention the wait for a single drink was pretty long and this was before it became packed. Almost 5 minutes of waiting for the drink to be actively made. Not sure if I will return ever; bums me out since lesbian bars are so few. read more

Gee, I forgot to leave my review for this bar. Senility I guess. I had heard murmurings that the staff was less than friendly to anyone who has a Y to go with his X chromosome. However, that wasn't my experience. I was given a pass by the woman guarding the front door. Perhaps I was giving off Sappho-friendly vibes. More likely, the bar was empty at 4:30PM and I looked like I could hold my liquor. ...and then some. I sat alone at the bar where the female bartender was more than cordial. I ordered the $14 Mango Margarita, which was quite authentic and most palpably potent with tequila, agave, fresh lime, mango juice, chamoy, and a tajin rim (Photo 8). It certainly hit the spot as I took a closer look at this chill lesbian bar. The website states that all queers are welcome. This queer certainly felt welcome. COCKTAIL - 4 stars...the margarita was pretty tasty AMBIANCE - 4 stars...chill vibe in an empty space SERVICE - 4 stars...cordial, no friction TOTAL - 4 stars...felt more welcome than rumor would have you believe RELATED - Exploring the Mission? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/XP875GMuFJ read more

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Straight geriatric millennial here. Reading some of the reviews, I wouldn't have stepped inside Mother. Nobody goes out looking for bad vibes. They can go see their Tiger mom for that. Mother, a womxn and femme-centered queer bar opened in 2023 from the owner of Thee Parkside. They took over Bond which took over the iconic Esta Noche, the city's first Latino gay bar. Last year, they made Bon Appétit's List of "Best New Bars in America". 5+ stars specifically for Ashley. She's been SO welcoming since day one (we thought it was still Bond on our first visit) and we've been back monthly ever since (weekdays). NGL tho, not everyone has been kind/friendly but she's a whole vibe and Tater Tot (my dog) adores her. Thank you, Ashley! Happy Pride Weekend, Everyone! OTHER INFO: * CASH ONLY! ATM onsite. Wells Fargo down the block. * No HH specials but they have $4 Modelos. * Comfy lounge seating. * Drawing and trivia nights. * House, EDM, and 90s R&B playlist. * DJ sets: Thursday-Sunday (no cover). * Golden State Valkyries watch parties. * Photo-booth available. * Dog-friendly (free dog treats). * Outside food allowed. read more

My girlfriends and I loved our time at this bar. We truly felt like it was such a safe space for women. We brought our boyfriends with us and the bouncer gave them a quick talk before going in about the importance of being respectful in this bar since it's a safe space for women and the queer community. The drinks were good and vibes were pretty chill. Reminder to all that this is a cash only bar!!! read more

Mother - Inside - Gay Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Mother was a super swanky, welcoming, spacious alcove. Drink was made non-alcoholic and delicious! Vibe was fantastic and people came to chill and relax. Great experience for an out-of-towner like myself. Cheers Mother! read more

I so appreciate pulling up the Yelp app on my phone whenever I'm in a new area and want to find a place to eat or have drinks at. But I love even more when I just walk into a place with no previous knowledge , and it's absolutely Yelp worthy! Husband and I took the Bart to 16th and Mission to watch a movie at the Roxie. And mother is right in the middle of your walk from the Bart to the theatre . The gentleman at the door checked out IDs and asked if it was our first time there. We said yes and we very kindly explained that this is a lesbian bar. I replied that we had just gotten off a bart ride , my first in maybe a decade and k absolutely needed a drink! Given that we look like a nice Indian couple from India he made sure we knew what to expect and I appreciate that. Mother is a great place for drinks, so I'm surprised at the rating . The bartenders , the drinks themselves, the vibe and the interiors are all two thumbs up. If I have to extra critical then yeah if you aren't a friendly person houses you may be ignored here but I walked up to two of the bartenders and both were nice to me. April who made our drinks and the other bartender who I think of as Wei Wei's mom. Wei Wei is a sweetheart doggie who hangs around his mom and also says hello to patrona. The bar is good enough in its own right, but Wei Wei adds that little extra to the whole experience. Another plus is that they allow outside food. So it really helped that we could grab a couple slices of pizza from the place next door and eat with our drinks. Please note that this is a cash only bar but they do have an ATM inside . I may not take the Bart to get to the city anytime soon, but I'll make it a point to stop by again when I'm in the city, for a great cocktail, and to see Wei Wei! read more

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As Mission natives, my partner and I (heterosexual couple) genuinely try to support local bars and community spaces, so this experience was especially disappointing. We stopped by for one drink before heading elsewhere and were respectful from the start. At the door, my partner was scolded before we even entered by the bouncer telling him " you better be nice to the women," which felt unnecessarily accusatory and unwelcoming. We completely respect that this is a space centered around the LGBTQ+ community and came in with that understanding and intention to be supportive. However, the tone we were met with felt more hostile than inclusive, despite us doing nothing disruptive or disrespectful. Because of that, we felt uncomfortable the entire time and ended up leaving shortly after. As locals who want to support neighborhood businesses, we hope staff can be mindful of how new patrons are approached so the space feels welcoming while still protecting the community it serves. read more

Nice space, good vibes, friendly people, cocktails what you'd expect. Cash only, nice place to sit for a bit

Our first time at Mother was on 8/10/25 (Sunday). We were lucky to score a parking spot right outside the lounge. We loved the bar and the lighting inside. They have an amazing array of mocktails! love. love. love. Had to take 1 star off because they were cash only that night. read more

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A good bar not quite dive bar level but certainly feels like it. Enough space to socialize in a large crowd. Pretty chill place to hang on a weekday read more

What a fantastic experience. The security person was very kind and friendly. Music was amazing. Made me want to dance plus videos on the big wall. Drinks were tasty. Cask bar. LGBTQ friendly is a plus. read more

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I have lived in this neighborhood for over 20 years and remember when this location was home to one of the oldest and friendliest gay Latino bars in San Francisco. Recently, on my way home, I decided to stop by Mother for a last drink and see what the new owners had done with the space, as I wanted to support small businesses in my community. When I approached the door, the doorman immediately treated me with hostility--simply because I am a man. I had no idea this bar catered specifically to a lesbian clientele. When he informed me of this, I responded, "Great, I have no problem with that. I just want to have a drink and go home," and I presented my ID. He insisted that this "wasn't a bar for me." As a long-time San Francisco resident, I was shocked. This was gender-based discrimination, plain and simple. I explained that being a man shouldn't prevent me from entering, but he replied that he didn't like my "attitude" and refused me entry. I sent several emails to the bar afterward to share my concerns but never received a single response. As a former bar owner myself, I would have appreciated the feedback and the opportunity to address such a serious issue. Shame on this establishment. Discrimination against anyone--regardless of gender--is wrong and unacceptable in this city. This kind of treatment doesn't build community; it destroys it. For contrast, I went to Delba afterward, where both the door staff and bar staff welcomed me warmly and treated me with respect. That's the kind of hospitality San Francisco should stand for. read more

The white heavy set male security guard in front definitely discrimated against me either because I'm hispanic, a man, or both. He tried to say my walk was wobbly and didn't want to let me in because I may have had too much to drink but he was full of shit because I wasn't drunk at all. It was half past midnight when we got there and he had no problem with the girls I was with who had more to drink than I did. We started the night off at other bars like El Rio, and Wild Side West, and they were much more welcoming and friendly than this place. Would not recommend this place at all. read more

Good beer on tap, good folks, lots of great queer-punk energy. There's a possibility of getting vibe-checked at the door. (Ain't no haters allowed!) But if you're here for community, friendship, and fun activities like chess night, DJs, karaoke, you'll always feel welcome! The bar staff are hella nice, and Travis the door guy is a real cutie (but he's married, womp womp.) read more

This place is cash only which is fine, there's an ATM on site. I ordered three drinks for me and my kids while my daughter was at the ATM getting more money. The total was $24 which I had and paid. I let the bartender know that her tip was on the way because my daughter was pulling more money out. She informed me it's not her job to wait on me and I have no business ordering drinks I can't pay for. Um excuse me??? I paid for the drinks and guess what, now you're not getting a tip! Unbelievable. She was so rude! I've never been talked to like that before. We drank our drinks and left. We will never go back! read more

It's a lesbian-leaning spot, so that's awesome! Inside, you'll find a long, galley-type bar that stretches down the narrow space with tall ceilings. Elements of its vintage history speak throughout the interior architecture. Lighting is subtle and dim, and in the rear of the bar is a screen, with comfy seating beneath it. Head to the back for a lounge type vibe after grabbing a drink from the bar; bartenders are hip, fun, and friendly, serving up tasty cocktails. You won't find food options inside, so if you want to eat while there, grab food at a nearby taqueria or a slice of pizza next door and bring it in... yes, it's allowed. Mother is a great space, but it needs better ventilation, like a big fan or two in the back. It gets super stuffy on nights with a lot of people in there. If you're gay, lesbian, queer, bisexual, trans or a respectable ally, head here for a cozy, intimate experience. read more

Mother - Gay Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

I've been coming here every so often since it opened. LGBTQ friendly so it works perfect for me :)

Mother is a cool and welcoming bar. The area didn't feel that safe to walk around in as a solo woman so I didn't feel comfy parking on a random street. Luckily, there's a parking garage just around the corner (Hoff & 16th), which was convenient. It was a weekday around 6 and pretty dead inside. I left around 8 so probably picks up later. Vibe was still cool. Good music and the bouncer, bartender, and few patrons inside were really nice. Drinks were pretty mediocre honestly but they're all sitting around $14 so at least not overpriced. read more

drinks were good and the bouncer was nice, but damn the bartender (femme person with short dark hair) was so rude! was not interested in taking my order and was extremely snarky when i had a question. i'm not the most queer presenting person i suppose, but i wish they wouldn't base service quality on how you look. girl i'm just trying to give you my money :( read more

Not sure how this is a mainly lesbian bar with a rude straight door white MAN... me and my 2 lesbian friends recently turned 21 and we were looking forward to going to our first lesbian bar. My co worker had recommended this one so we decided to go, as soon as I walked up and gave the doorman my ID he accused it of being fake before even looking or checking it, scanning it or even using the lights they are supposed to have. He offered calling the police to come check, who wants to wait long for police to come let you into a bar... He was very rude I didn't even want to explain myself, not sure if it's because we were dressed more casual? Or because we are in our younger 20s. But it sucks our first time trying to go to a LGBT bar was such a bad experience. Won't be coming back. read more

This place is awesome, I love everything about it. The staff is so cool, I always feel wecome.

I went to this place because it was my sister's birthday. They would not allow me in saying it was a ladies bar. I had went there the year before for my sister's wife birthday. The bouncer was rude and kept saying I could not stand in front of the bar. I was standing there waiting for my sister and her wife to come. The bouncer during my waiting period allowed cis males to enter that she knew. After she kept turning away any group with men in it. Then the bartender and the bouncer cussed me out while I waited on the sidewalk for my sister and her wife to find parking. This place is toxic I would rather go to the DMV than this establishment. read more

I'm so happy to find that very rare and precious thing -- a lesbian bar! The bartenders were attentive and friendly. There was also a live DJ playing queer hits. As I arrived they played a fun remix of Jolene, for example. The drink I ordered was delicious, and very potent which is a good value (I actually couldn't finish it, it was so boozy.) That drink, for those who like tequila/mezcal type drinks, is called "Esta Madre" (this mother) which is funny (to me) because that spot used to be a Latino gay bar called "Esta Noche." I'm grateful that this place exists and I'm looking forward to going back. read more

this is one of the best spaces for lesbian locals in sf. I love this bar, its the warmest community space you could ask for in a climate where lesbian spaces across the US are dying out and nearly going extinct. the owner has worked hard to make sure this is a wonderful vibrant bar for the bay area d*kes who need it. long live mother and I hope more bars like this continue to open in sf! some wonderful things you can do here: visit for d*ke dodgeball happy hours (before and after she/they dodgeball league games), screenings of historical and modern lesbian photographers/artists, trivia every 2nd thurs, karaoke every 4th weds, gender affirming clothing swap+donations in honor of TDOR, and so much more read more

Mother - mother's first pride weekend! 6/25/23 - Gay Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

So I just want to start out by saying we didn't have any problems with the staff and that by writing this review do not want to get the space "cancelled" but in hopes notify staff to clientelle behaviors and to make the space safer and more welcoming. The bartender and bouncer were actually really sweet and their pups a solid 100/10 (mei mei in her sweater adorbs! And the labbie playing fetch was a solid good boy). The drinks were very tasty and by far one of the best I've had in the city (which makes this the more bittersweet). The bartender was very sweet and checked on how we liked the drinks. However my experience along with my friend's expirences with the other clientelle in the bar, made all of us feel unwelcomed and not safe. I was there with my partner and friend who is trans. I identify as pan and our entire group is poly. When we arrived we made sure to check with the bouncer that my partner who is a cis black man was ok to be in the space. When we arrived there were not many people. We headed to the bar to get drinks. My friend went to the bathroom and was clocked by another patron about leaving the seat up as she was exiting the restroom and then was followed back to the bar counter. They outted her to their friend and then both tried to hit on her. The other friend paused, then decided to "check" my partner and I. She asked many questions like "are you good?", discriminated us based on appearances, made assumptions that I was straight, and then went on to mock us to her group. Between the three of us, it was a very shocking and uncomfortable expirience. Having grown up in the city this was the first time I've ever been discriminated for being not queer enough in a space that should be safe for us. While I think it is super important to have inclusive spaces, as there are not many in the city, it is really disappointing to experience such an exclusive culture, especially to anyone who doesn't fit the mold of lesbian or queer. I would love to support this bar, but unfortunately after the nasty expirience in good conscience cannot. Side note: While we could have notified the staff at the time, by this point we were all just ready to leave. We did not want to stay and have anymore confrontation as we were all incredibly uncomfortable. I do hope in the future that there is a way this bar can be inclusive while still being safe to other queers read more

tried to come here for my 21st birthday... security wouldn't let me in insisting that my real ID was fake. how are you gonna be security at a bar if you can't even tell what id is real... very disappointing read more

I'm so grateful to have this lesbian-forward queer space, as I often feel at a loss for places to go as a femme bi woman. I remember the previous bar in this space, and the vibes are immaculate now. A few friends and I dropped in on a Saturday night, and I loved that we could have a conversation in the back at a reasonable volume. As someone with sensory issues, I found there was a nice balance of vibrant in the front, chill in the back. read more

Civil right violation against this place will be perfect my gay friend wearing all pink was accused of pretending being gay just to get into this lesbian gay bar " " I am a heterosexual guy coming to this bar with my sister who is pregnant and her african american boy friend the bouncer right away was assuming we were trying to get in this place to see the girl making out and check out the girls telling my syster that she was responsible for the both of us if he let us in. I never felt so angry in my life I am a professional just liike my sister boy friend we both have morals and ethics for someone to asume we are coming to see girls kissing and check them out? I hope this place takes this type of comments coming from a bouncer who will create a law suit and make you lose money. read more

Bouncer wouldn't let us in because it's "the only lesbian bar in sf" (which it isn't). Our trans friend wanted us there for support and because there was two gay guys we were told multiple times that it was a lesbian bar and pressured not to come in. Ended up making us feel unwelcome and unsafe in our own queer community. She was excited to go to this bar. But nvm I guess. Thanks. read more

Such a unique, funky space. Lots of yum cocktails, too. And the queers are cutie. Definitely recommend for travelers passing through. read more

Mother - Bar area - Gay Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

The bouncer assumed my sexuality and gender and assumed that I was there to pick up girls. He said "I'm not sure if you know this but this is the ONLY lesbian bar in sf (which it is NOT) and all the lesbians come here on Friday for dates, do you really want to be here?" 1.) what happen to an all inclusive space 2.) don't assume just because I am a male that I am there to pick up "chicks" and I say chicks because that's what HE SAID! 3.) just ewwww read more

My boyfriend and I went on a Sunday around 2:45pm, just wanting to get a drink before a late lunch/early dinner. We were the only ones in there besides the bartender and the bouncer, which was fine with us, but seemed to be an issue for the bouncer and the bartender. We walked in and were carded and as the bouncer was checking our ID's they said "so this is a lesbian bar" and I said "okay!" because I really didn't care, we're happy to support any LGBTQIA+ business! My boyfriend was kinda put off because he thought that because the bouncer mentioned that, we weren't welcome there. In hindsight, I think he's 100% correct because they were NOT welcoming in the slightest once we sat down and got our drinks. Even leaving we said bye, thank you, and were super friendly, and they hardly said anything back. We won't be returning and it's super unfortunate because I did like my drink (The Ex). Also, cash only. read more

Mother - Cocktail portion of their menu - Gay Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

This was a great atmosphere to sit and have drinks between friends. I love a good non-alcoholic cocktail, and the Horchata Mocktail was absolutely delicious and the bartender was very eager to make it (we end up all drinking one)! I also like the area and the ambiance. Super comfortable, queer-friendly environment. read more

Knowing how few and far between queer femme bars are in the country, what a welcome relief to have a space right in the Mission that serves great cocktails, has amazingly friendly bartenders, and queer legends projected on to the wall all night. Will definitely be back for the drinks and amazing vibes . read more

Mother - Esta Madre - Gay Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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This place needs a new bouncer. When the bouncer was checking our IDs, they looked at me and said "there's a lot of lesbians in here. don't pay them no mind and they won't pay you any." The bartender gave me cold shoulder treatment and the girls in my group all-star treatment. As a queer man, I found both of these incidents to not be very inclusive. This is one of the few spots that I've been to that has twisted tea on tap. Cash only, two gender neutral bathrooms, good music. read more

Love that that there's finally a lesbian/femme centered space in the city. drinks are delicious and the vibes are always on. cash only!! read more

Mother - Menu - Gay Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Fun ambiance, good crowd, very nice staff, and a fun time for all! The drinks were good, the music was loud, and the vibes were fantastic! The only thing that could use a little update was the music- it wasn't very easy to dance to and it was not as sapphic/queer as I expected in the music department. read more

How should I even begin. We been wanting to go there forever. We decided to go because It's Pride Saturday. Waited in line for about 20-30 mins. Got inside. Stood at the bar for another 30 mins. Just to constantly getting ignored by two bartenders who obviously were taking shots throughout the whole time we were there. As a bartender myself, I watched them sloppily made others drink and skimmed people on the liquor. They put less than 1oz of liquor in each drink, they not know how to open up their shaker after making a drink. I honestly do not know where they hired these girls from, but it felt like they just found them on the street. Wasted all my time here for nothing. We need a better lesbian bar read more

Loved my first time at Mother! Wish I had taken photos, but it is an adorable bar, on the smaller side, but has lots of seating! Restrooms are unisex and located in the back. It is CASH ONLY, so be prepared- but there is an ATM. Will return another time! read more