Location: The Castro
Top Things to do in The Castro
Countries
Top 10 Things to do in The Castro, California (CA)
Every neighborhood in San Francisco has its own personality, from the hippie chic of the Upper Haight to the hipster grit of the Mission. The Marina district boasts trendy bistros and postcard-perfect views of the Golden Gate Bridge, while Noe Valley offers quaint and quiet boutiques. Wave hello to the sea lions at Pier 39, and sample local cheese and charcuterie at the Ferry Building. Sit in on a yoga session in Dolores Park or marvel at the Dutch Windmill across from Ocean Beach.
Restaurants in San Francisco
1. Urban Guide Day Tours
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
Discover the hidden back alleys & secret rooftop gardens that will reveal our city's past and point to our triumphant future. Along the way, we'll discover a tale of presidential assassination, gold diggers & gun fights, modernist masterpieces, deco dreams, and ultimately, an unmatched story of prosperity, disaster, & then rebirth that continues to this day... Tours Daily @ 11am. Pls RVSP
2. Castro Theatre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 453 reviews
Reviewed By Johnnywetsuit - Wellington, United States
My wife and I spend Christmas 2019 in San Francisco. The Castro Theatre and our our time in the Castro area was a definite highlight. We saw a viewing of "It's a Wonderful Life" just before Christmas and then a sing-a-long of "The Sound of Music" on boxing day. The theatre is gorgeous and well kept in its original style (see photos). You really feel like you've stepped back into its history as soon as you enter the theatre. An organist performs about 10 minutes before showtime on a hovering riser that can't be missed. Come early so you can check out the memorabilia on the walls and take in the beauty of this historical landmark. The only negative about our experience was that the popcorn was stale and flavorless. Boo! Note: If your movie has an intermission or it's a double feature (which many are) you'll have about 15 mins. to motor down to a nearby bar for an in-between movie drink. I recommend Harvey's. All-in-all the Castro Theatre was a highlight of our stay in San Francisco and a must do.
3. Twin Peaks Tavern
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 68 reviews
Reviewed By LadyHaydy - Salford, United Kingdom
Lovely quaint friendly gay bar in San Fran xx loved visiting whilst on holiday xx Staff attentive & friendly, drinks reasonable and good and will defo return next time on hol xxx
4. Swirl on Castro
5. Brewcade
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 12 reviews
Reviewed By FormerCaliBoy - Zurich, Switzerland
Located on Upper Market, Brewcade impressed me with their friendly staff, great selection of craft beers, and historical arcade games, and my favorite the Pinball machines! I was in bar and pinball heaven. I actually closed down the bar that night enjoying my beer and pinball. I certainly put this place as now my favorite spot in the Castro for late night craft beers, awesome pinball machines, and a great staff to boot! The other guests were friendly as well. What a fun evening out. I’m already looking forward to my next visit to the city to hang out here. Highly recommended!
6. Cliff's Variety
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7 reviews
Cliff's Variety is a landmark store in San Francisco’s Castro District. Cliff’s has been selling an eclectic mix of goods for the home & garden since their founding in 1936. The neighborhood is currently recognized as the center of San Francisco’s Gay scene and Cliff’s as the general store for the community. Cliff’s features an ever evolving inventory of mundane items for home maintenance and repair coupled with a unique collection of costuming accessories, crafts, gifts, housewares and toys.
7. Badlands
8. A&G Merch
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 1 reviews
9. GLBT Historical Society Museum
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 84 reviews
Located in San Francisco's Castro District, the GLBT History Museum is the first full-scale, stand-alone museum of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender history and culture in the United States — and only the second in the world. At 1,600 square feet (150 square meters), the museum is fairly small, but it packs a punch, celebrating 100 years of San Francisco’s vast queer past through dynamic and surprising exhibitions and programming. Open since January 2011, the museum is a project of the GLBT Historical Society, a San Francisco institution founded in 1985 that houses one of the world’s largest collections of LGBTQ archival materials.
Reviewed By cathye739
When I arrived, I was surprised at how small the space was, but I spent well over an hour absorbing its content, and I didn't even watch all of the videos (I was worried about closing time). I had watched the movie Milk the night before I went so was excited to see Harvey Milk's infamous bullhorn among other items that I recognized in his display (side note - the HRC store is in his old camera shop now!). I relived the '80's in the HIV/AIDS history display. Then I learned about important LGBTQ figures in history, including in a display specifically on transgender history. I wish all of this history was more commonly available in our society but I'm thankful that the Museum exists for those of us who know where to look. It was a meaningful experience for me, a straight woman - I can't even imagine how much more powerful it would be for my LGBTQ loved ones. This is one place that I will visit every time I go to San Francisco, and it's the first place I tell friends who are going to SF about. It is absolutely a must-see for everyone. I'd take my adolescent kids there - there is one small corner with slightly more graphic content, but it is situated in such a way, with a partial wall, that it can be avoided if preferred by families with small children.
