Aunt Charlie’s Lounge

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.)