Aunt Charlie’s Lounge

Aunt Charlie's neon sign
Image: Yelp/Polynesian m.
MONDAY - FRIDAY: 12 P.M. - 2 A.M. | SATURDAY: 10 A.M. - 2 A.M. | SUNDAY: 10 A.M. - 12 A.M.
415.441.2922 | WEBSITE

Probably the most lurid gay bar in San Francsico, Aunt Charlie’s Lounge sits at one of the grungiest intersections in the Tenderloin—and that’s really saying something. Narrow enough to grip the bar with one hand and graze the wall with the other, it’s a throwback to the pre-Liberation days of raids and hustlers. Thursday nights bring the Tubesteak Connection, DJ Bus Station John’s unique Hi-NRG dance party that introduces young gays to the disco era’s deepest cuts, while Fridays and Saturdays are given over to the Hot Boxxx Girls, a drag revue popular among hip locals and bewildered tourists alike. These queens will pry every last $1 bill from your wallet. (Reservations recommended.)

Known For
  • dancing
  • cheap date
What to drink
Any well drink will be remarkably strong and incredibly cheap.
Neighborhood
Tenderloin
ProTip
While Aunt Charlie’s is known to close considerably earlier than 2 a.m. on slower nights—at the discretion of the occasionally gruff staff—Tubesteak doesn’t really get going until midnight. It's also cellphone-free, to maintain the bad old days of discotheque.