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    The Cinch

    4.0 (255 reviews)
    InexpensiveGay Bars, Dive Bars
    Closed 10:00 am - 2:00 AM (Next day)

    The Cinch Photos

    Business Info

    THE CINCH ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Juke Box
    Divey
    Casual
    Moderate noise

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    Montage of images from The Cinch
    Ed U.

    You make me feel mighty real You make me feel mighty real Oh you make me feel mighty real You make me feel mighty real It's hard to envision nowadays, but Polk Street was the city's gay mecca back in the '70's. The Castro gradually took the title, and there's nothing left of the gay culture on Polk. Except this one bar which has miraculously survived and is now the city's second oldest gay bar (next to the glass coffin, Twin Peaks Tavern). I had not been in ages but stopped by to see if it changed. Nope, it looked pretty much the same. Still looked like a saloon decorated during the Watergate era with rainbow draperies slung over the ceiling. You still open the vintage fridge door to use the urinal trough. The back patio and pool tables were still here. Plenty of room at the long bar late in the afternoon as the regulars were all huddled close to the front door. No frozen drinks served here. This was no tiki bar. Never was. Not quite a dive though. Too much character and frankly too welcoming for that moniker. All cocktails were $10. Music to my ears. Also Tina Turner on the jukebox. She's simply the best. The Mai Tai was pretty good, too, not too tart (photo: https://bit.ly/44mWJjo). So was the Makers Mark & Ginger (photo: https://bit.ly/44o2rkS). For the good times DRINKS - 4...can't beat ten bucks, and their Mai Tai was pretty good AMBIANCE - 4 stars...vintage and kinda cliquish SERVICE - 3.5 stars...some bartenders were nicer than others TOTAL - 4 stars...needs to stick around to keep the Polk Street gay legacy alive RELATED - Exploring Nob Hill? Here's a collection of places I've visited reviewed: https://bit.ly/2IfTVOB

    Grace L.

    gay dive bar with 2 pool tables, secret star wars themed back area. worth checking out! no food, strong drinks

    Post pride presenters end up here
    Athonia C.

    This is the place to be after pride. Every other place is just a bit too packed in. As this was highly rated K bar, I visited in 2023 and had a great time. Drinks for $10. Noticed there is toilet paper above the bathroom just outside the entrance in case they run out and they will a couple times per night. There's a men's room that only has a urinal and then another room that is all genders. That has a normal toilet. The other side area is a refreshing zone although a little smoky from my personal preference. The bartenders were wicked busy being that it was a Post pride party, but they did manage to get a couple drinks in my face. Really enjoyed laughing and goofing off with them.. One gentleman had a Stonewall shirt that he got while he visited the village in New York, which is where that bar that was rated in 1969 actually resides .

    The Cinch.
    Angela A.

    One of the oldest gay bars in SF so I had to check it out. The back of the bar is like entering a scene in Star Wars. The design was a lot like Oga's Cantina in Disneyland. The drinks were cheap and the vibe was chill. Meet some nice people. The issue for me was the smell and the bartenders not washing their hands. It strongly smells like urine in the back. I saw the bartender leaving the urinal multiple times without washing his hands and that's disgusting.

    This place is great. Good locals, good strangers. Best Guinness pour on Polk!

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    3 months ago

    Randy is so personaeble and lovely I'd go just for his stories and vibes. Drinks were good.

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    10 months ago

    They are extremely and unnecessarily rude and aggressive when closing for the evening.

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    1 year ago

    Strong drinks, great music, pool table, and a really cute patio to smoke. Run, don't walk here the bartenders are also so sweet.

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    2 years ago

    People, drinks, pool, ambiance including very lovely backyard which closes earlier than the inside out of respect for the neighborhood

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    2 years ago

    Service and chat bar ambiance was perfect! The fun decor and excellent bartenders made my day three times!

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    6 years ago

    Serving drinks with Mexican restaurant next door -- the Cinch is open for outside service with food order!

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    4 years ago

    Fun , love all the gays here. Great people and really cheap drinks.. always have a great time.

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    4 years ago

    Cute little gay bar and pub. Very quiet the night I went - a Wednesday before Thanksgiving. I'm sure it's more fun on the weekends

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    Page 1 of 7

    The Cinch Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - The Cinch

    Do they still do Karaoke here?

    There's never been Karaoke there.

    21 and over or 18 and over?

    21+

    Are children under 18 allowed?

    Hell no

    What the best bar for a Bottom to get laid at is?

    i find the hottest tops south of market.

    View All 5 Questions

    Review Highlights - The Cinch

    Now, I've only been here on Friday Nights, when Anna Conda hosts her glamorously chaotic "Charlie Horse" cabaret, but it's a real swell place.

    Mentioned in 6 reviews

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

    Powerhouse

    3.3(132 reviews)
    1.4 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)
    1.9 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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    The Cinch - gaybars - Updated May 2026

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