Powerhouse

If you know you know. Old school SF gay bar where one can get into all sorts of mischief. Love Thursday night “chonies” night. Tiny Tim always brings it with the funky house vibe.

I ended up on this Bar like three or four times of my trip, the bar, the music, the staff and the prices were on top it was great I just can’t with the people. You don’t touch without permission, You don’t try to kiss someone if they don’t allow you it’s all about respect.

This bar gives you just a taste of what South of Market used to be. Some of the sexiest parties around. Whether it is Underwear Night on Thursdays to the always changing event line up like Powerblouse (fundraiser and drag event), to Hot Rod a Queer Rock-n-Roll Party, Beat Pig from the minds of the iconic Juanita More.

Amazing place with great music and a dark, sleazy (in a good way) vibe. I hope this bar never closes -- it's full of character and history. Support this bar with your money and patronage!

This is my favorite bar in SF. So many good memories. The music’s usually top notch~techno to disco, the guys are great, the ambiance is dancy and sleazy :)

I had to revise my review of the powerhouse I've been hanging out there a little more lately the music brilliant the drinks are cheap and strong the boys are beautiful I'm not sure I'm ready to be a daddy but I like the attention I will be hanging out more am I a daddy I'm not sure about I'll take the leap

Eclectic gay SoMa style leather bar - great drinks - amazing atmosphere. Maybe a little seedy at times - but that is what makes it so much fun!

Nice bar, cheap drinks, big pours. Friendly staff and "friendlier" patrons...

My TENTH PoHo anniversary party! Always a good time- Congrats guys! Keep it up - ( swag suggestion, little flat flashlight [asksteamworks]thanks😉) YES,I am a poho too! 😎

I've been here 3 times now and each time has been amazing. The crowd is so good and it's been busy each time which makes the atmosphere fantastic. I was served fast and the drinks are well priced. Now, the outside patio... I love it!! Slightly cramped during particularly busy periods but people tend to move so no worries. I will visit Powerhouse on every trip to San Francisco! Very happy Brit!

Best bar for drag!!! Drinks are strong the people are fun. Monday night Moster show is the SO MUCH FUN. we love Mary Vice

Always a fun time and a very diverse crowd including young and old gay and straight, men and women, and all possible races. This is by far my favorite gay bar ever

One of the best bars in San Francisco and one of the only queer bars that you can actually barhop! Hole in the wall is on the same block - best of both worlds. Oh and I painted a mural on their backdoor on Dore Alley :)

Great bartenders who knew how to service a crowd. Eight of us came to check it out Folsom weekend. The boys had a fantastic time dancing and "playing" around.

Powerhouse is a West SoMa staple when it comes to nightlife of the neighborhood. There is both regular theme nights and new events and parties. I highly recommend Thursday nights as well as the week of Pride to be here.

I pretty much live in the back area so idk about the rest of the place but …10/10 😈

One of Soma's most well known neighborhood dive bars. This bar has so much diversity in terms of events so the atmosphere is always changing depending on the weekend. The drinks are strong, the staff is friendly, the DJs always play great sets and the demographic is friendly and welcoming!

I had the opportunity to visit the Powerhouse on 5 de Mayo and the place was packed. I still was able to get a drink rather quickly. The vibe is very free and sometimes a bit risqué. If you don’t want to see anything you shouldn’t stay away from the smoking patio. Otherwise the bar has a great feel and I would come back again!

Tons of weekly events and great happy hour. Weekend nights are crazy fun and always packed. Weekdays can be a tad slow but the atmosphere is always friendly and welcoming by both patron and employee's. Mind you it's a dive bar to say the least and you may have to get passed the odor lol

Honest Dave

Always a fun time and a very diverse crowd including young and old gay and straight, men and women, and all possible races. This is by far my favorite gay bar ever

DN

I pretty much live in the back area so idk about the rest of the place but …10/10 😈

Dandy Firebeast

Best bar for drag!!! Drinks are strong the people are fun. Monday night Moster show is the SO MUCH FUN. we love Mary Vice

Diego Gómez (Design Nurd)

One of the best bars in San Francisco and one of the only queer bars that you can actually barhop! Hole in the wall is on the same block - best of both worlds. Oh and I painted a mural on their backdoor on Dore Alley :)

T P - SF

Great bartenders who knew how to service a crowd. Eight of us came to check it out Folsom weekend. The boys had a fantastic time dancing and "playing" around.

Wayne Kinder

I've been here 3 times now and each time has been amazing. The crowd is so good and it's been busy each time which makes the atmosphere fantastic. I was served fast and the drinks are well priced. Now, the outside patio... I love it!! Slightly cramped during particularly busy periods but people tend to move so no worries. I will visit Powerhouse on every trip to San Francisco! Very happy Brit!

David Patrickson

Powerhouse is a West SoMa staple when it comes to nightlife of the neighborhood. There is both regular theme nights and new events and parties. I highly recommend Thursday nights as well as the week of Pride to be here.

Mike

One of Soma's most well known neighborhood dive bars. This bar has so much diversity in terms of events so the atmosphere is always changing depending on the weekend. The drinks are strong, the staff is friendly, the DJs always play great sets and the demographic is friendly and welcoming!

Scott Elliott

If you know you know. Old school SF gay bar where one can get into all sorts of mischief. Love Thursday night “chonies” night. Tiny Tim always brings it with the funky house vibe.

Jay Berrios

I had the opportunity to visit the Powerhouse on 5 de Mayo and the place was packed. I still was able to get a drink rather quickly. The vibe is very free and sometimes a bit risqué. If you don’t want to see anything you shouldn’t stay away from the smoking patio. Otherwise the bar has a great feel and I would come back again!

Amer H

Tons of weekly events and great happy hour. Weekend nights are crazy fun and always packed. Weekdays can be a tad slow but the atmosphere is always friendly and welcoming by both patron and employee's. Mind you it's a dive bar to say the least and you may have to get passed the odor lol

Gay bar , good atmosphere and friendly

I’m here for my bday and I think it is a great vide for what it is. Think you for a cross off of my 50th bucket lists!!!!!!

Nice place with cheap drinks. Usually a spot for locals (or at least that’s what I took from it) Guys weren’t as friendly but the Bartenders always were (just make sure you’re tipping because they tend to watch) however I certainly enjoyed myself here

Whatever you do don't wear your Gucci Tennis, well if you don't mind getting them DIRTY. When I went there I got "STUCK" between two hot guys. What can I say I feel at home there being a leather man.

Great old school gay gay bar. Tom of Finland paintings on the wall

Zachary Farley

Great old school gay gay bar. Tom of Finland paintings on the wall

The place is basically a bar with a smoking area where people sometimes have "heated interactions". However, this happens in the well-lit smoking area, not in a dark room like you might find in Berlin.

I understand that you guys have to deal with fire marshals, but the degree of aggression that you demonstrate at close is inexcusable. Violent frankly. It undermines any sense of community that you are trying to foster and sends people off from a good night with a terrible taste. If people need to be out of the door right at 2, maybe 10 minutes before tell people to start booking cars and wind things down. Barking at people like a drill sergeant so abruptly as people are actively trying to exit is so distasteful and rude. Be better.

This place can be fun on a busy night, but beware: they charge a cover every night early. It might be a blast at 1 am, but they will get $10 out of you at 9 pm and you’ll stand around waiting for the hot guys to show up. Drink up elsewhere, arrive late, and you’ll get your money’s worth.

I have a friend who works here it seems like it would be busier at a different time than when I went. They had a drag show going but we only saw one queen performing for a very long time. we went on a Sunday night so I expect it would be better on a Friday or Saturday. the place is ok though and it's close to home.

Andrew Mayer

This place can be fun on a busy night, but beware: they charge a cover every night early. It might be a blast at 1 am, but they will get $10 out of you at 9 pm and you’ll stand around waiting for the hot guys to show up. Drink up elsewhere, arrive late, and you’ll get your money’s worth.

Nothing special. I saw the most boring drag show there. Good prices though.

It boggles my mind that this dump charges a cover on the weekend, when a far superior place lives just down the block (Hole In The Wall). The only reason I can imagine paying a cover for is to possibly hook up in the “smoking section” patio. But frankly you are alot more likely to hook up at HITW and in the meantime hang out with a much more interesting crowd.

bad First SFO Bar Went in feeling great. Left feeling down. Bartender barely gave me one drink felt like it came with a bad attitude and never checked back and felt ignored by both back staff.

Steven Lastname

It boggles my mind that this dump charges a cover on the weekend, when a far superior place lives just down the block (Hole In The Wall). The only reason I can imagine paying a cover for is to possibly hook up in the “smoking section” patio. But frankly you are alot more likely to hook up at HITW and in the meantime hang out with a much more interesting crowd.

Charging cover at all hours of the day and all days of the week even with no one inside is ridiculous! 1 star 😡

Tried to take my friend here from out of state. We’re both 21 and they will not let anyone in over the age of 21 in that has an out of state license. That’s seriously ridiculous. Enjoy losing out on our business and I’m sure many more customers.

The simple action of taking money for every minute thing destroys the vibe. What's wrong with this country. Also accept cards at the entrance it's 2024

I never write reviews, but I had such an uncomfortable experience with a bartender at the Powerhouse cash bar at Folsom earlier today that it’s been eating at me all evening—and after telling the story to friends and hearing their reactions, I feel like I need to share. My partner and I had one beer at the festival, which we bought here. Near closing, we went back for a second. After waiting in line, the bartender’s very first words to us were: “I can only serve you water.” I asked if they were out of alcohol, and he smirked and laughed: “No, but I’m only going to serve you water.” When I pressed him on what was going on, he just repeated the same thing while chuckling. We were confused and asked if we had offended him somehow, or if this was supposed to be some kind of prank. His response was: “I won’t serve alcohol to people under the influence.” This was said to two sober people who had patiently waited in line—while others around us were visibly drunk and stumbling. For context, no one at this bar was being ID-checked either. At that point, it was obvious this young bartender had some personal issue with us, and instead of being upfront, he decided to mock us and waste our time. It came across as petty at best and prejudiced at worst. To put it lightly: whoever this bartender was, he was rude and unprofessional. The whole encounter left us frustrated and soured the rest of our night. We won’t be going back, and I honestly just want to know what was really going through his head, because it was such a bizarre and unnecessary way to treat customers.

This is by far the worst place in San Francisco. The staff are rude and act like they don’t even want to be here. It’s not worth spending your money at this place.

Tonight was just not my night, I guess. First of all, the ATM machine at Powerhouse was malfunctioning, so the doorman told me to go next door to Hole in the Wall, "then come back here....." to pay my $5 cover charge for admission on a Sunday night. Hmmmm..... I did exactly as he told me, but I should have stayed next door. What pissed me off the most was that my second drink was taken away by the bar back despite the fact that I was sitting right there at the bar! He did it when I was staring at the porn slideshow on the monitor. When I complained, the bar back replaced it with his own version of a Cape Cod. But, it sucked. Not surprisingly.... he's not the bartender. When I complained to the usual bartender, to whom I'm always in the habit of tipping well, he told me "he's young" and "he's only doing his job", and then gave me an iced water as a consolation! Yikes! What happened tonight at Powerhouse?! I continued ordering drinks until closing because the DJ was great, but bar service tonight sucked!!! I have no enthusiasm about returning to this place.

I'm Cuban transgender it's really not designed for us just gay YT men.qq

Extremely loud at night and has no regard for nearby residents. Tone it down.

I am visiting San Francisco for the first time. I am Latino, but I live in Sydney. I asked for a few beers with the bartender. All good. When I was going for my 4th beer, the bartender (I wish I knew his name, he was white, skinny, with big black glasses) told me very loud: ARE YOU GONNA GIVE ME TIPS THIS TIME? BECAUSE YOU HAVEN’T! I felt so embarrassed because I didn’t know it was mandatory, and also, I didn’t know why he was so loud. I didn't say anything, just smiled. He didn’t attend to me and went to attend to the next guests waiting after me in the line, and I told them very screaming again: THIS IS CRISTIAN, THE GUY THAT NEVER GIVES TIPS, SHAME ON HIM! And all the people started to scream SHAME! SHAME! I was shocked and didn’t say anything; I didn't know what to say or do, so I just left that area and I went to the other side of the bar with another bartender. This same guy came to my area and started to tell the other bartender and the other people that I was Cristian and didn’t give tips to him in front of all the people in this other corner of the bar I felt so bad. I didn't know what to do. I tried to explain to him why I didn't do it, but with everything that I said, he was screaming at my words louder than I; he did not want to hear me or “fix” the situation. I just left the bar. I made a mistake; I didn’t give him tips, but I didn’t know that it was mandatory. From I am coming from, we don’t do tips, if we do tips, it’s optional, and we usually don’t tip in bars, mostly dinner, meals, restaurants. Anyway, he wouldn't allow me to explain it. Even though I deserve respect as any person/tourist going to any place, I felt so bad and so exposed after this bartender did this to me. There are some international rules in hospitality in the world that you can’t break, and one of them is to make your guests welcome, treating them with respect and kindness. He just was so rude and violent that he completed ruined my Thursday night in San Francisco. Worst experience ever. Definitely, I won’t go back to that place.

mini aspirin

Extremely loud at night and has no regard for nearby residents. Tone it down.

Chris Vogt

I never write reviews, but I had such an uncomfortable experience with a bartender at the Powerhouse cash bar at Folsom earlier today that it’s been eating at me all evening—and after telling the story to friends and hearing their reactions, I feel like I need to share. My partner and I had one beer at the festival, which we bought here. Near closing, we went back for a second. After waiting in line, the bartender’s very first words to us were: “I can only serve you water.” I asked if they were out of alcohol, and he smirked and laughed: “No, but I’m only going to serve you water.” When I pressed him on what was going on, he just repeated the same thing while chuckling. We were confused and asked if we had offended him somehow, or if this was supposed to be some kind of prank. His response was: “I won’t serve alcohol to people under the influence.” This was said to two sober people who had patiently waited in line—while others around us were visibly drunk and stumbling. For context, no one at this bar was being ID-checked either. At that point, it was obvious this young bartender had some personal issue with us, and instead of being upfront, he decided to mock us and waste our time. It came across as petty at best and prejudiced at worst. To put it lightly: whoever this bartender was, he was rude and unprofessional. The whole encounter left us frustrated and soured the rest of our night. We won’t be going back, and I honestly just want to know what was really going through his head, because it was such a bizarre and unnecessary way to treat customers.

Luciano Quintana

This is by far the worst place in San Francisco. The staff are rude and act like they don’t even want to be here. It’s not worth spending your money at this place.

Naudia Martinez

I'm Cuban transgender it's really not designed for us just gay YT men.qq

Sterling James De Rave

Tonight was just not my night, I guess. First of all, the ATM machine at Powerhouse was malfunctioning, so the doorman told me to go next door to Hole in the Wall, "then come back here....." to pay my $5 cover charge for admission on a Sunday night. Hmmmm..... I did exactly as he told me, but I should have stayed next door. What pissed me off the most was that my second drink was taken away by the bar back despite the fact that I was sitting right there at the bar! He did it when I was staring at the porn slideshow on the monitor. When I complained, the bar back replaced it with his own version of a Cape Cod. But, it sucked. Not surprisingly.... he's not the bartender. When I complained to the usual bartender, to whom I'm always in the habit of tipping well, he told me "he's young" and "he's only doing his job", and then gave me an iced water as a consolation! Yikes! What happened tonight at Powerhouse?! I continued ordering drinks until closing because the DJ was great, but bar service tonight sucked!!! I have no enthusiasm about returning to this place.

cristián varas

I am visiting San Francisco for the first time. I am Latino, but I live in Sydney. I asked for a few beers with the bartender. All good. When I was going for my 4th beer, the bartender (I wish I knew his name, he was white, skinny, with big black glasses) told me very loud: ARE YOU GONNA GIVE ME TIPS THIS TIME? BECAUSE YOU HAVEN’T! I felt so embarrassed because I didn’t know it was mandatory, and also, I didn’t know why he was so loud. I didn't say anything, just smiled. He didn’t attend to me and went to attend to the next guests waiting after me in the line, and I told them very screaming again: THIS IS CRISTIAN, THE GUY THAT NEVER GIVES TIPS, SHAME ON HIM! And all the people started to scream SHAME! SHAME! I was shocked and didn’t say anything; I didn't know what to say or do, so I just left that area and I went to the other side of the bar with another bartender. This same guy came to my area and started to tell the other bartender and the other people that I was Cristian and didn’t give tips to him in front of all the people in this other corner of the bar I felt so bad. I didn't know what to do. I tried to explain to him why I didn't do it, but with everything that I said, he was screaming at my words louder than I; he did not want to hear me or “fix” the situation. I just left the bar. I made a mistake; I didn’t give him tips, but I didn’t know that it was mandatory. From I am coming from, we don’t do tips, if we do tips, it’s optional, and we usually don’t tip in bars, mostly dinner, meals, restaurants. Anyway, he wouldn't allow me to explain it. Even though I deserve respect as any person/tourist going to any place, I felt so bad and so exposed after this bartender did this to me. There are some international rules in hospitality in the world that you can’t break, and one of them is to make your guests welcome, treating them with respect and kindness. He just was so rude and violent that he completed ruined my Thursday night in San Francisco. Worst experience ever. Definitely, I won’t go back to that place.