Wild Side West

Such a great little neighborhood bar! We had an enjoyable experience. The staff and patrons were very welcoming. We'll definitely be back!

A favorite neighborhood bar. Always has been, always will be. The best part is the coolest, funkiest beer garden out back. A quintessential Bernal Heights experience.

Great dive, beautiful back patio, decent drinks

My first time at WSW and I was super impressed ...very cool space and the staff was great

Awesome little bar with live music downstairs. Sit on the right side at the bar and see if you can find the "corn in tbe hole!" Cash only, limited street parking, but lots of places to park if you check on Google maps.

Can't believe I've never been to this wonderful place before! The outdoors seating is wonderful, secluded, fun, bar tenders/owners? very friendly!!! Will def be back

One of my favorite bars in San Francisco! Off the beaten path, but well worth the trip. Where else can you feel like you're having a drink in a friends backyard with some soft lighting. Drinks are cheap and served with a smile.

Sweet little lesbian bar, pretty quiet on a Tuesday, with v friendly bartender, who gave us out of towners great recommendations for restaurants and other women owned businesses. United dumplings, a chain down the street, is v tasty.

I chanced into the Wild Side West while exploring the city on foot back in the early 1970's at the old location. I did not know that it was a lesbian bar. I found the beer to be very cold & the atmosphere to be welcoming. As I drank some more beer the bar filled up and it's orientation became obvious. I entered into meaningful conversations about cooking and other topics with a few of the other patrons. My experience there was so pleasant and enjoyable that I reflect back on it until now, prompting my review here. I subsequently married a wonderful woman and nurse who had close relationships in the Greenwich Village gay bars in New York, where she worked as a hat check girl while attending nursing school. She imparted to me a great deal of information on the LGBT community and we both traveled to Washington, D.C., to see the quilt laid out on the Washington mall. She passed several years back & I really miss her but I treasure her kind heart to everyone. Isn't it wonderful when we can all get along? Cheers to the Wild Side West community and keep up the great work!

Best bar I have ever been to. Heather is a fantastic bartender and so much more!

The most amazing place you have no idea how cute their little garden is in the back socially distance and amazing

Probably the best bar this side of the Mississippi. Bartender told us it was cash only and we were only able to scrounge up $15 between the 3 of us. Fortunately that can buy you drinks all night long at the wild side west! Fun activity while you're inside the bar: count how many boots are having up around this fun establishment. Hint: it's somewhere between 7 and 163. God bless the bartender, god bless the chef, god bless America. Since '62

Drinks are strong, so you're bound to have a good time! The outdoor patio is worth the visit alone - you and the squirrels amongst the jasmine, what more do you need?

A San Francisco legacy business; old school lgbt hangout with plenty of TVs to watch Niners and Warriors games. The decor is full of beautiful nostalgia; one of the TVs is dedicated to either Xena or some hilarious b-movie with Bigfoot. Excellent drinks (amazing margaritas and whiskey sours) and top class service. Love this place; A+++ ♥️

I've lived in the neighborhood for years and this was my first time visiting. Now it's my favorite new bar! The outdoor garden seating is probably the best I've hung out in the whole city. They've created little seating areas for people to group themselves in so there's nice separation from one another. Great drink selections and you're supporting a local business owner. Super supportive of the LGBTQIA community which is great for any establishment.

Lovely lesbian and everyone bar! Had a delightful time catching a drink and watching a few old movies. They do play sports when a good game is on! Plus they have a pool table and a neat outside chill spot! If you're in the area, stop in!

Fun, cute place! Classic dive bar vibes inside and a huge outdoor garden area with lots of little nooks with seating for different size groups that create some privacy. Beautiful space to hang out.

Great stop when we are on Cortland. The bartender was nice. There were TVs playing the warriors game. During half time, we went to the back patio that also has a set of stairs leading to a garden. The garden is divided into more intimate sections with an eclectic collection of benches and tables.

Honestly, my favorite SF bar so far. Pros: Cozy, laid back atmosphere, amazing outdoor sitting are - an actual little garden. Decent choice of beers. Cons: usually one bartender, so if the place is crowded, the service will be very slow.

Beautiful back area and John is a very talented bartender. I asked for a mezcal cocktail, and he delivered a tall glass of smoky goodness. I can see myself becoming a regular here 👌🏻

I love it here! The backyard is beautiful with little private spots to sit, and good beers on tap.

Jonathon Paul

A San Francisco legacy business; old school lgbt hangout with plenty of TVs to watch Niners and Warriors games. The decor is full of beautiful nostalgia; one of the TVs is dedicated to either Xena or some hilarious b-movie with Bigfoot. Excellent drinks (amazing margaritas and whiskey sours) and top class service. Love this place; A+++ ♥️

Cynthia Boedihardjo

I've lived in the neighborhood for years and this was my first time visiting. Now it's my favorite new bar! The outdoor garden seating is probably the best I've hung out in the whole city. They've created little seating areas for people to group themselves in so there's nice separation from one another. Great drink selections and you're supporting a local business owner. Super supportive of the LGBTQIA community which is great for any establishment.

Mariah Fox

Fun, cute place! Classic dive bar vibes inside and a huge outdoor garden area with lots of little nooks with seating for different size groups that create some privacy. Beautiful space to hang out.

Jeremy Laurin

Lovely lesbian and everyone bar! Had a delightful time catching a drink and watching a few old movies. They do play sports when a good game is on! Plus they have a pool table and a neat outside chill spot! If you're in the area, stop in!

E Lee

Great stop when we are on Cortland. The bartender was nice. There were TVs playing the warriors game. During half time, we went to the back patio that also has a set of stairs leading to a garden. The garden is divided into more intimate sections with an eclectic collection of benches and tables.

Ая Янсен

Honestly, my favorite SF bar so far. Pros: Cozy, laid back atmosphere, amazing outdoor sitting are - an actual little garden. Decent choice of beers. Cons: usually one bartender, so if the place is crowded, the service will be very slow.

Timothy Colvin (Tim)

Beautiful back area and John is a very talented bartender. I asked for a mezcal cocktail, and he delivered a tall glass of smoky goodness. I can see myself becoming a regular here 👌🏻

Michael Arbour

I love it here! The backyard is beautiful with little private spots to sit, and good beers on tap.

This is an inviting space with a talented bartender Israel. The drink he made after inquiring what I was seeking couldn't have been better. I went alone but the patrons were friendly and I spent the evening chatting and enjoying my drinks in the garden. The space is cozy, within their large garden they created individual spaces. These spaces are perfect for a date or spending time with friends. I will be returning.

Had a fantastic time! Good drinks, great conversation, best lgbtq+ bar we visited on our trip! Bartender Cheryl was fantastic. Waltz through the back gardens, enjoy the ambiance, would visit again!

Wonderful clean dive with lovely friendly bartenders and locals. I went when it was fairly empty, which made conversation easier, but folks went out of their way to be welcoming. Crowd skews older , which likely added to the chill vibes, but meant it didn’t feel like a pickup place (for better or worse).

Amazing! Gotta see the patio. Best gay bar in sf!

If I still imbibed as much as I did in my twenties, I'd be here several times a week because I love this bar. Truly a neighborhood gem and historically queer owned and operated -welcomes everyone. Super cute interior and adorable terrace and garden. The staff are lovely. Actually, no one new come here, because I want it to stay the same and wonderful always 🤣🤣🤣

On my first official visit, it appeared to be a kinda hole in the wall little bar from street level. However, what makes this place great is the friendly come on in cordial staff and local neighborhood patrons who frequent this place! Unbeknownst to me, I discovered a really cool plush green rear yard where you can chill and enjoy the amenities. If I'm ever going to be in the area, I'd visit again. Drinks and spirits are available at all bars, but it's the people that brings you in.

Cash only with a beautiful garden sitting area in the back

Neal Mueller

Cash only with a beautiful garden sitting area in the back

Lee Garrison

Had a fantastic time! Good drinks, great conversation, best lgbtq+ bar we visited on our trip! Bartender Cheryl was fantastic. Waltz through the back gardens, enjoy the ambiance, would visit again!

Yu Wathan Aung

Amazing place to get nice drinks with your girls. 🍻🍹

Jennifer Hanrahan

Wonderful clean dive with lovely friendly bartenders and locals. I went when it was fairly empty, which made conversation easier, but folks went out of their way to be welcoming. Crowd skews older , which likely added to the chill vibes, but meant it didn’t feel like a pickup place (for better or worse).

Jane McPhedran

Sweet little lesbian bar, pretty quiet on a Tuesday, with v friendly bartender, who gave us out of towners great recommendations for restaurants and other women owned businesses. United dumplings, a chain down the street, is v tasty.

Ellen K

If I still imbibed as much as I did in my twenties, I'd be here several times a week because I love this bar. Truly a neighborhood gem and historically queer owned and operated -welcomes everyone. Super cute interior and adorable terrace and garden. The staff are lovely. Actually, no one new come here, because I want it to stay the same and wonderful always 🤣🤣🤣

Ray (Bingo)

On my first official visit, it appeared to be a kinda hole in the wall little bar from street level. However, what makes this place great is the friendly come on in cordial staff and local neighborhood patrons who frequent this place! Unbeknownst to me, I discovered a really cool plush green rear yard where you can chill and enjoy the amenities. If I'm ever going to be in the area, I'd visit again. Drinks and spirits are available at all bars, but it's the people that brings you in.

Happily stuck in the 70's neighborhood bar. Wonderful picture of Liberace on the wall. An amazing back patio that goes waaay back and is really quite private with little nooks and tables throughout. Sit at the large table all the way in the back end and you will see the Racoons come out on the back fence. 4 stars only because I'm a guy and sometimes feel like I'm out of place in this legendary lesbian bar. But go anyways, it really is a nice place.

Beautiful bar with a great selection of drinks. The beer garden is an amazing cozy space and very relaxing. Just don't expect a warm welcome

A bar with many stories, The Wild Side West is the quintessential San Francisco experience. It's full of history (just ask them about the "Janis Joplin pool table" and the shenanigans she pulled there), it's decor is eccentric, but the atmosphere remains easy - without pretention. Despite it's labeling as a gay bar, it's actually an everyone bar with a hidden secret. That secret - so carefully concealed behind it's brown wooden walls and bar - is the lush green garden in the back. Once you have your beer (or excellently made cocktail) slip off the pressure of being an adult, and indulge in the magic that is the outdoor garden. Step down into the small encove and find a table perfect for get togethers with friends, or venture further to find a kind of open air art museum, with both nicknacks large, and small, embedded in the flowers and plants. This place is both romantic and refreshing, a little get away while still at home. There is much seating to choose from, but don't forget to sit in my favorite seat: the swing bench. Swaying gently on the bench with a mint mojito in hand, makes me feel like Blanche Devereaux out on the veranda. Even if you don't enjoy pretending to be a cultured southern lady of means, your date/lover/friend with turn to you and understand that you KNOW the places in SF to go (and why you are such a cool kid, it's not even a big deal to share this oasis with them). As for you: sip your beverage, listen to the slight creak of the bench wood and enjoy this respite from the calls of a demanding world (but remember to scoot over when I arrive).

There is a story to be told about this bar age when the bar table is filled with regular folks, I believed. There is a cute garden at the backyard. It is a nice place overall.

Holidays Traveller

There is a story to be told about this bar age when the bar table is filled with regular folks, I believed. There is a cute garden at the backyard. It is a nice place overall.

With a dark decor and pool table right when you walk in, The Wild Side West bar has a unique feel. The walls are loaded with posters and pictures and there are some comfy chairs by the back door. The patio is nice although very limited in seating. Perhaps the best aspect is the cheap drinks. Service was slow for the crowd in there but friendly none the less.

I am loathe to make a poor review of a lesbian bar as there are so preciously few, but the no laptop at the bar policy is cis-hetty, ableist, and out of touch. I tipped the bartender who agreed it was unnecessary very well, but, being shuffled away to a corner, I spoke to fewer people, bought fewer drinks, and spent less time than I would have otherwise. It's like, if you're neurotypical, you're allowed at the bar to make friends and do what you want, but if you're autistic and need a social crutch, there's a lonely table way off in a dark corner they'd much rather you sit at. It's not even as if laptops at the bar inhibit socialization, as the other bartender had to interrupt me talking with another patron over what I was working on to inform me I had to move. For a place that's supposed to be defined by its inclusivity, this was a remarkably unwelcomed experience. I sincerely hope other lesbian bars aren't like this.

First time I went it was fine, the bartender was okay but didn't really interact. The second time the bartender made me and my friends feel completely uncomfortable and unwelcome, and made snide sarcastic comments. I don't often get to be in queer femme spaces so I was looking forward to actually feeling welcome somewhere... No wonder lesbian bars are dying out if this is the case. The drinks we fine. The bar doesn't look nice enough to be a nice bar and doesn't have enough character to be a dive bar

Bartender was not very nice, crowd was older and music was not my type, especially for a gay bar. Pool table was fun, just had to pay for it. Was fun, but not exactly the queer vibe I wanted on a Saturday night.

Can't play the piano because, " the lady upstairs doesn't allow it." Not that clean. Bartender not very knowledgeable. Fantastic backyard/courtyard out the back door and down the skinny stairs. Decent pool table. Interesting people sometimes hang out here.

Honey Trap

Bartender was not very nice, crowd was older and music was not my type, especially for a gay bar. Pool table was fun, just had to pay for it. Was fun, but not exactly the queer vibe I wanted on a Saturday night.

Agni (Airyu or LD)

First time I went it was fine, the bartender was okay but didn't really interact. The second time the bartender made me and my friends feel completely uncomfortable and unwelcome, and made snide sarcastic comments. I don't often get to be in queer femme spaces so I was looking forward to actually feeling welcome somewhere... No wonder lesbian bars are dying out if this is the case. The drinks we fine. The bar doesn't look nice enough to be a nice bar and doesn't have enough character to be a dive bar

XOE SPAIN

Can't play the piano because, " the lady upstairs doesn't allow it." Not that clean. Bartender not very knowledgeable. Fantastic backyard/courtyard out the back door and down the skinny stairs. Decent pool table. Interesting people sometimes hang out here.

our saturday night at this lesbian bar was spoiled by drunk old men who came in, got a nice greeting from the bartender, and then harassed me, my partner, and our friend at the pool table until we had to leave to get away from them. Really disappointing. This is why mother has a bouncer every night. At SF’s oldest lesbian bar a stumbling drunk old man grabbed my friend on the shoulder and called her darling while begging us to play pool with him and then went and got served more booze.

Adrian Hatch

our saturday night at this lesbian bar was spoiled by drunk old men who came in, got a nice greeting from the bartender, and then harassed me, my partner, and our friend at the pool table until we had to leave to get away from them. Really disappointing. This is why mother has a bouncer every night. At SF’s oldest lesbian bar a stumbling drunk old man grabbed my friend on the shoulder and called her darling while begging us to play pool with him and then went and got served more booze.

Literally a bar you can sit and sip and not speak. Anytime I tried to sing a song I was told no and it's a bar to sit and listen. I was told to go next door to sing karaoke. Wasn't even singing loud but couldn't sing above a whisper there. Cool environment but don't go to enjoy a really fun time to dance and sing. Go somewhere else for that because that bar is not your place.

This bar is terrible but there is one good thing about it. The staff AND patrons are completely, surprisingly, and shamelessly rude! I don't know if they're protective or exclusive of the clientele but the only redeeming part of this place is the piano bar. They love people coming to play the piano and singing along. So come for the piano bar!