Gay town san francisco


Vibrant and eclectic, the Castro/Upper Market neighborhood is an internationally known symbol of gay freedom, a top tourist destination full of stylish shops and popular entertainment spots, and a thriving residential area that thousands of San Franciscans call home.

Its streets are filled with lovingly restored Victorian homes, rainbow pride flags, shops offering one-of-a-kind merchandise, heritage streetcars, lively bars and restaurants, and numerous gay-borhood landmarks including Harvey Milk Plaza, the Castro Theatre, Pink Triangle Park and Memorial, and the large SF Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Community Center.

The Castro District, better known as The Castro, is a neighborhood in San Francisco, California, which is also known as Eureka Valley.

San Francisco&#;s gay village is most concentrated in the business district that is located on Castro Street from Market Street to 19th Street. It extends down Market Street toward Church and on both sides of the Castro neighborhood from Church Street to Eureka Street. Although the greater gay community was, and is, conc

The History of the Castro


17th Street, circa
Credit: D. H. Wulzen

Eureka Valley

Eureka Valley, named for one of the Twin Peaks (the other was called Noe), began as sparsely populated ranchos that belonged to Mexican land barons like Jose Castro and Jose de Jesus Noe. In the s when Irish, German and Scandinavian families homesteaded on the slopes of Twin Peaks, a village of dairy farms and Victorian houses flourished. With the opening of the Castro Street segment of the Market Street Cable Railway in , Eureka Valley became a desirable and accessible neighborhood.

It was every working man's dream: buy a cheap piece of land and build a stately Victorian, big enough for several generations of the family. And it was not just who lived in one residence that was family but everyone who lived around you. It was a total neighborhood by its truest definition. There was economic solidarity; everyone was operational class. They worked in the trades, public-service sectors and on the waterfront. There were bakeries, butcher shops and poultry and fish markets. Eureka Valley had its own com

Best LGBTQ+ Neighborhoods in San Francisco

San Francisco, located at the heart of Northern California, is a bayfront playground for the juvenile, hip, and active crowd. Known for its LGBT-owned establishments which have been thriving for decades and will cater to your every need and whim, San Francisco has it all -- from piano bars and eateries to pubs for your never-ending nightlife adventures. There are more than 60 bars and clubs that cater to the LGBTQ+ community for a night out on the town!

This area is filled with fun-filled gems and it is a real verb to find which neighborhood will suit your interests the most! Do you belong to the young, hip, and active or do you rather have a quiet family-friendly environment? You will be spoiled for choice when looking for apartments in San Francisco.

If you’re looking for the best LGBTQ+ neighborhoods in San Francisco, you’ve come to the right place! Here are the top five San Francisco neighborhoods.

What are the Best LGBTQ+ Neighborhoods in San Francisco?

  • The Castro
  • Bluff Heights
  • Park Estates
  • Belmont Heights
  • Los Altos

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After World War II, the Castro District began to shift from a working-class neighborhood into 

a haven for members of the LGBTQ+ community seeking acceptance and equality during a time of widespread discrimination. Then in , local resident and civil-rights activist Harvey Milk solidified Castro’s place as a mecca for the LGBTQ+ community when he became the first openly gay elected official in California.

Milk was assassinated just one year later, but the Castro District honors his legacy through empowerment and inclusivity for marginalized communities, shaping an experience of belonging for generations of LGBTQ+ individuals. Today, the district invites you to explore its rich culture, delve into its captivating history, and be your authentic self. 

So get ready to embark on an unforgettable journey through this remarkable community — and don’t miss a thing with our curated list of the top 10 must-dos in the Castro District. 

If you need to learn more about the history of the LGBTQ+ community, there’s no better place to do it than the Castro District, starting wi