Bars and nightclubs both classic and new got nods this year in several nightlife categories. Here are your selections.
Best New Bar or Nightclub
Oasis
Unless you've been living under a rock, you probably already knew that Oasis would snatch the crown as San Francisco's favorite new club. The space's gay history, prime SoMa location, and owners' long-standing commitment to queer nightlife made Oasis a high-heeled shoe-in for the top spot.
Since opening on New Years Eve, Oasis has quickly become a favorite, whether it's taking in one of co-owner Heklina's outrageous Saturday night dragstravaganzas at Mother, shaking what your mama gave you at Swagger Like Us, or nerding out with the musically-obsessed DJs at the relaunched Rarebits. Oasis serves up diverse events with more than a little for everyone. They also get serious bonus points for the well-designed accessible unisex bathroom featuring individual stalls.
The Moroccan-inspired Fez Room is the perfect spot for drinks with friends, and the main room �"formerly an outdoor pool in an earlier incarnation of Oasis�" hosts dance parties, performances and cabaret events. With great sound and lighting, a large stage, friendly staff and a welcoming "come one, come all" vibe, the appearance of this Oasis is a welcome sight for queers of all stripes thirsty for a good time.
Oasis, 298 11th St. at Folsom. 795-3180. www.sfoasis.com
Runners up: Brewcade and Club BnB
Best Mixed Drink, Best Cabaret Venue
Martuni's
With a name like that, the drinks have got to be good. The Martinis at Martuni's are large and, well, let's go ahead and call them extremely "festive." The bar sits on the corner of Valencia and Market, a ways beyond the edge of the Castro. If you're one of those people who rarely leaves the rainbow island, it's possible that you've never been inside, but it's worth the trip.
It's dark inside, in a groovy kind of noir-ish, loungey speakeasy kind of way. So dark in fact, that I had been coming almost weekly for years with a friend for glasses of Veuve and Cosmos before I even realized there was another room.
Unlike the back rooms at some, uh, other places around town, the back room of Martuni's is boisterous. The drinks are flowing, people are laughing, and there's always music. You might catch a local drag celebrity, a cabaret performance, or one of the regular pianists holding court during piano bar. Singers range from earnest newbies to seasoned pros, but you're guaranteed to have a good time. The giant cocktails will make sure of that.
Martuni's, 4 Valencia St. at Market. 241-0205. www.martunis.ypguides.net
Runners up in Mixed Drink: Blackbird, Twin Peaks
Runners up in Best Cabaret Venue: Oasis, Feinstein's at the Nikko
Best Beer Selection, Best SoMa Bar, Best Place to Meet Men: SF Eagle
Like the proverbial phoenix, The Eagle has risen again, and is back on its perch at the center of SoMa nightlife.
The Eagle isn't the spot for a craft cocktail, or house-infused this or that, but nothing beats the bar's outdoor patio with a beer in hand. Sunday beer busts are popular and crowded, but with three separate bars, there are plenty of taps and bartenders to keep your thirst quenched.
It's no coincidence then that The Eagle lands at the top as the best SoMa Bar, Best Beer Selection, and the Best Spot to Meet Guys. If you're not careful, it can also be the Best Place To Piss Off Your Jealous Boyfriend. Just saying.
Some say there's less of the old-guard leather scene than The Eagle of yore, but an infusion of monthly parties like Pound Puppy (Best Monthly Event), Loaded and Disco Daddy are bringing new vibes (and plenty of new men) into The Eagle on a regular basis to cavort and carouse. Live music on Thursday nights are a welcome respite from the electronic beats that are everywhere else.
There are still plenty of opportunities for leatherfolk to strut their stuff, and I've even seen a few working it out on the floor to some classic disco beats. Like the rest of San Francisco, The Eagle evolves.
SF Eagle, 398 12th St. at Harrison. www.sf-eagle.com
Runners up in Best Beer Selection: Pilsner Inn, Toronado
Runners up in Best SoMa Bar: Powerhouse, The Stud
Runners up in Best Place to Meet Men: Powerhouse, 440 Castro
Best Wine Bar
Blush!
Sometimes the hustle and bustle of Castro bars can be a bit much. When you want to settle in for a nice glass of wine and maybe a nosh or two, Blush! is the go-to spot. The mix of tables and bar seats works for groups of any size. Wines by the glass are the obvious draw, but Blush! also features a small menu of homemade eats ranging from small snacks to warm sandwiches. A half-dozen taps feature interesting beer options for your friend that prefers suds, rounded out by a small but considered collection of beers in bottles.
Blush! also features live music several nights a week, half-off happy hours, and Dirty Bingo, which is one of those things you'll just have to experience for yourself.
Blush! Wine Bar, 476 Castro St. 558-0893. www.blushwinebar.com
Runners up: Swirl, City Club
Best East Bay Bar
White Horse Bar
Affectionately known as "The White Ho," Oakland's White Horse is one of the best reasons for jaded San Franciscans to get on BART for a change. Or maybe not�"it's very East Bay vibe is one of the best things about it, so don't go ruining it. The White Horse lays claim to being the oldest gay bar in America, standing on the corner of Telegraph and 66th since the 1930's.
There's a bit more of a clubhouse feel here than any gay bar in the city. Pool-playing lesbians mix and mingle with gay old-timers, while dancing queens of all types, ages, and races, hit the dance floor.
The White Horse regularly features drag kings, drag queens, and even karaoke two nights a week. Fridays and Saturdays, the place is packed with neighborhood locals, college students, and yes, even some adventurous San Franciscans partying it up White Ho style. The bar recently had a star turn, standing in for a Modesto gay bar in an episode of Looking.
White Horse Bar, 6551 Telegraph Ave., Oakland (510) 652-3820. www.whitehorsebar.com
Runners up: Club BnB, Club 21
Best Castro Bar
The Edge
The Edge calls itself "San Francisco's neighborhood bar" and obviously the neighborhood agrees. With a schedule full of events ranging from Musical Mondays, to the legendary Monster Show on Thursday nights, The Edge caters to a diverse crowd of locals and visitors alike. Saturdays are always a blast, thanks in no small part to the friendly crowd and cheap Mason jar specials.
The space can feel a little crowded at times, but that's part of the appeal, especially when a softball team invades for a Sunday beverage bust. The crowd is more diverse than some other spots, and in general the vibe is fun, loud, and a bit flirty. What's not to love?
The Edge, 4149 18th St. 863-4027. www.edgesf.com
Runners up: 440 Castro, The Lookout
Best Place to Meet Transgender People
Divas
Divas is a bit of a throwback to an earlier version of San Francisco. Before the Castro was the Castro, Polk Street was the center of SF's gay universe, and Divas (along with a shrinking number of other bars) is proudly still waving its queer flag in Polk Gulch.
Divas is definitely the spot to meet transgender people, as long as the people you're looking for are transgender women. The vibe is equal parts neighborhood dive and sleazy pickup joint. Inside you'll find lots trans women, and the (mostly straight) men that love them. It's got a reputation as a pick-up joint, and the environs definitely lend Divas a bit of a gritty edge.
Sunday night karaoke and the weekend drag acts are famous for show-stopping numbers, and the rest of the week is packed with performances, dance nights, and talent contests.
Divas, 1081 Post St. 474-3482. www.divassf.com
Runners up: Aunt Charlie's Lounge, Asia SF
Best Dance Floor
Beatbox
Walking into the converted warehouse feels reminiscent of a '90s illegal rave, what with all the high ceilings, exposed brick and metal, and the industrial feel. But unlike those days, Beatbox is clean, well-run, and has a killer sound system.
Beatbox brings in all sorts of crowds, from circuit partiers twirling to house until well into tomorrow morning, to worked out muscle bears and the men who love to press up against them at the packed monthly Bearracuda.
The mezzanine level is a primo perch from which to keep an eye on the festivities, but the real fun happens down on the dance floor. The music and vibe varies widely by event, so make sure you check the calendar before you go.
Beatbox, 314 11th St. 500-2675. www.beatboxsf.com
Runners up: EndUp, 1015 Folsom
Best Neighborhood Bar
El Rio
Even if you don't live in the neighborhood, El Rio feels like your neighborhood bar. It's a queer space that welcomes everyone with a smile (and a mean margarita), and hosts to some of the best parties in town. See a local band in the back room, stomp to Northern Soul classics at Hard French (also a Besties winner this year), or party for a good cause at one of the many benefits that El Rio is known for. On warm days, the back patio is an ideal hangout, and even dogs get treated well at El Rio.
El Rio is active in the community, and it's one of the few places where you're just as likely to find a hot date as you are to have a conversation about social justice. So get down to the Mission, and party with purpose. It's equal parts divey and fabulous, and always a great time.
El Rio, 3158 Mission St. 282-3325. www.elriosf.com
Runners up: Pilsner Inn, The Stud
photo: Georg Lester
Best Sports Bar
Hi Tops
Once again, Hi Tops is the champ when it comes to sports bars. The TVs are always tuned to a game, and the locker-room decor will either fuel your jock fantasies, or remind you of how much you hated gym class. Either way, the bar is packed with both actual sporty folks and athletic supporters.
In keeping with the sports theme, the bar menu offers dressed-up versions of stadium classics. If you like your food deep-fried or on a stick, you're in the right place. The house-made corn dog is worth putting in your mouth, and if sports really isn't your game, the Tuesday night pub quiz is a fun and interactive option in the Castro.
Hi Tops, 2247 Market St. www.hitopssf.com
Runners up: Pilsner Inn, 440 Castro
Best Stray (Straight/Gay) Bar
EndUp
Everybody loves the EndUp. It's been going strong (and late!) for more than four decades. If you've never stumbled out of the EndUp onto 6th Street in the harsh light of day, you're San Franciscoing wrong.
Everyone plays the EndUp, from touring international DJs, to local San Francisco legends. Music varies by night, but in general, expect serious beats for serious clubbers, gay and gay-friendly. Watch your drinks, be prepared to wait for the bathrooms, and wear comfortable shoes; EndUp is all about the dancing. Be ready to call in sick on Monday morning, because the party at the EndUp seems to never stop.
EndUp, 401 6th St. www.theendup.com
Runners up: Blackbird, Wild Side West