great bartender- delicious martinis. pub mix snacks- perfect snack to go with strongly poured drinks. frozen margs were popular and looked good! pool table and arcade few pinball machines too. lovely aquarium! will be back. read more

Moby Dick - martinis and snack mix - Gay Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

among former customers of the Pendulum and the disco The Phoenix both popular in the 80s, the Moby Dick was well known for only wanting a VERY 'specific' kind of customer and you can just about guess the kind of customer I'm referring to. I experienced this personally. If you're too young to know, read the history of the lawsuit filed against Les Natali of The Badlands bar a short distance away. Natali had instructed his doorman to use a screening procedure to exclude 'certain' customers from entering his establishment. Please don't think those of us still here have forgotten even now in 2026. read more

18 dollars for a grey goose martini from a bartender that is too busy blowing off his bar duties ! Not even a thank you for my generous tip for one drink ! Ass:;(!!!!!ìlo read more

Moby Dick - The bartender who could give a damn about me and my business !get off your lazy wrinkled ass, you toothless hag! - Gay Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

The drinks were good!! Good prices. However, when I was at the bar I overheard a conversation one of the bartenders had with a customer and that put a bad taste in my mouth. Not to be nosey or anything but the bartender told the customer he wasn't allowed inside because his (im assuming) boyfriend (which was also a bartender) didn't like him.... ARE YOU KIDDING ME LOL. The supposed boyfriend wasn't even working the night! (Because he said) This seemed so unnecessary and unprofessional. He cost himself a couple of customers for some guy lol. #gettheDoutyourmouth read more

I had a really disappointing experience here. I was asked to leave by the bartender, Daniel, over a personal issue involving another coworker who wasn't even present that night. I wasn't causing a scene, I wasn't intoxicated, and I hadn't interacted with anyone in a disruptive way. I had just ordered a drink. It felt extremely unprofessional to be removed from the bar over outside conflict that had nothing to do with the environment that evening. A bar should be a neutral space for paying customers, and decisions like that shouldn't be based on personal bias or unrelated drama. I respect that establishments have the right to refuse service, but the way this was handled felt unfair and unnecessary. I simply wanted to have a drink, and instead I was put in an uncomfortable situation for something that wasn't even happening there. Really disappointing experience. read more

If you're in The Castro, in the mood for a STRONG drink, and friendly bartenders, then Moby Dick is the place for you! But... watch out for that Dick Punch cause it will definitely creep Up on you! read more

This is the most expensive bar in the area for beer that I have found so far, $9 for draft so $10 or $11 with tip. Which would be fine if the staff were warm and welcoming or at least not rude. Thanksgiving week I was in there and my beer came in a glass with a massive chunk out of the top. I mentioned it in a "sorry to bother you but" kind of way. The older barman missing some teeth rubbed his finger against it then poured the contents into a new glass. You should pour a new drink in case you just pranced it while pouring. Then he said to me sarcastically "we don't want to mess up those pretty lips do we". Uggghhhh. read more

I had not been back to this longtime Castro spot since the pandemic, but I've always appreciated its convivial atmosphere and big fish tank. Perhaps it's because I don't possess the most literary mind, but I thought the provocative name referred to a whale penis which you may know measures an average of nine feet in length. I saw one at the Icelandic Phallological Museum. Don't ask. Perhaps it was the colorful fish and coral in the tank (photo: https://bit.ly/3qBjcub), but it put me in a most tropical mood. Without all the mai tai fixings on hand, the bartender mixed me some Malibu's Rum with orange juice, kind of a Rum Punch, for just $6 (photo: https://bit.ly/3KE6Rwh). I came back weeks later for the $6 Tequila Sunrise (photo: https://bit.ly/3qvU3kJ), and it was even more delightful. At that bargain price, I couldn't help but get two. While I didn't end up getting in the tank with the fish, I did share what I saw in Iceland. Now I didn't say it was the one that got away, just that size does matter among select mammals. COCKTAILS - 4 stars...like the tropical ones and loved the price AMBIANCE - 4 stars...still the same congregation spot it's always been SERVICE - 4.5 stars...the bartender was here to please TOTAL - 4 stars...the name is anatomically correct RELATED - Exploring the Castro? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2HrpFPC read more

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If I could give Moby Dick 10 stars, I would. I was greeted by the most amazing bartender, Eddie, who was not only great at their job, but also gave fantastic dinner recommendations! If you're lucky you might even see the local nudists walk by! Seems to be frequented by many regulars/locals, but by far my favorite spot in Castro as a tourist! Don't forget to get the food offered from Hot Johnnies down the street! AMAZING! read more

Moby Dick - Vegan Rueben from hot Johnnie's - Gay Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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A friendly neighborhood bar with a notable nautical theme highlighted by a beautiful salt water fish tank above the center of the bar. A place where you feel the history of the Castro without feeling stuck in the past. Great bartenders and stiff drinks. Come to enjoy happy hour, play pool, watch the Academy Awards, or hang with friends. Dan, Eddie, John, Patrick, and Vlad are SF's best bartenders. Cheers! read more

Moby Dick - Moby Dick Bar & Fish Tank - Gay Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

I currently went to this bar and it was going good until I had a conversation with Daniel and he ended up being rude to me and a couple of other customers. He seemed a bit drunk and started drama with some customers. So I left and did not want to return because the bartender was so unprofessional. I don't recommend drinking here at all. What made it worse was the tone and attitude. Instead of handling the situation discreetly or professionally, it felt dismissive and personal. If bartenders are going to let private conflicts influence who they serve, that creates an uncomfortable and biased environment for customers. read more

Love this bar! My brother came out to my mom here back in 2018 something. We came back this past month and the bartender was so nice!! Recommend a yummy little drink, my whole family had a blast. Good lighting, cool pool table. Good vibes all around this bar read more

I really love this bar! Whenever I'm in the city and Castro, Moby Dick's is the place I think of. The staff are super friendly, and the people who come in seem genuine and nice. It's perfect whether you're going solo or meeting friends. Also, if you get hungry, there are a bunch of good spots nearby. This place is a gem, and I always look forward to it when I venture out to the Castro. read more

My go to neighborhood spot. I love the big windows and the general vibe. There isn't a single bartender here or staff member that isn't super friendly and fun to be around. Shout out to Marty for getting me hooked on dice! read more

Mobys is a great neighborhood bar. Beautiful picture windows with an incredible fish tank above the bar. This is a special place.

I'm pretty sure this is a gay bar from the looks of it, see included photo. We were visiting The Castro and just the name of this place encouraged us to visit. It's pretty small but classic gay vibes: dance music, music videos broadcast on TV screens. There's even a large aquarium above the bar. I agree with some of the other reviews mentioning that it took a while to order a drink and the bartender did not seem to prioritize providing patrons a drink as we had just arrived and despite the fact that we were obviously going to want to order a drink in the immediate future, he disappeared somewhere for a while. We, as two women, did not receive or notice any disrespect while we were there. When it was time to leave for our dinner reservation, I was disappointed and would have wanted to spend more time here. read more

Moby Dick - the corner of a street in san francisco - Gay Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Wifey strikes again with insisting we come here for a drink when we in castro. I'm like sure we can go wherever there is a stiff drink in my hand. . Came here and got served quick. I wanted a Hendricks gin and tonic with a cherry and lime. It was strong had 2 big cups and it was refreshing! 12 bucks each. . Daddy John was the mixologist. He was happy to serve us, help us charge our phones with our cords. He smiled before we even asked a question. We love the friendly welcome. . We saw lots of fun people. We loved the vibe. We will be back for more drinks in the city soon. Thanks for reading and have a yelptastic day! read more

Rude bouncer! I'm sure the bar is nice it looks nice but I wouldn't know because of the bouncer. I had to leave! Asking me if I was indigenous & other questions about the clothing/jewlery I was wearing. Felt very odd & inappropriate! When my friend tried to change the subject he cut them off & said that he was speaking to me right now & continued on asking about my heritage & if my grandmother was indigenous to this land. Normally I'm very proud to speak on but this didn't feel like the time or place. Check my ID & let's go. Is this an apart of the qualification to enter? Had to leave right after because it rubbed me the wrong way. read more

I very rarely leave reviews anywhere, but one of the bouncers working the night of 6/30/25 was transphobic as fuck to me, so please be warned. I'm a trans man, this bouncer decided to separate me from my group and aggressively question and ID'd me. First he separated me, then he asked me something I didn't hear, then immediately starting being like "are you frustrated, sir?" It was so fucking weird. He took my ID from me, kept antagonizing me, trying to get me to be angry or something?! I literally have no clue, I was deadass just staring at him confused. I assumed he thought I was plastered, so I told him I had only been drinking water that night, which was true. He KEPT GOING though, and wouldn't let me in! It got so bad my dad (cis gay man) came out of the bar to try and come get me, and I just straight-up had to ask the bouncer "what are you trying to sus out, man?" He couldn't answer me, got flustered, then he literally turned to my partner with pronoun earings after and said "I love your earrings!" Once he figured out he'd made an absolute ass of himself. It was actually really upsetting, like I kind of just hung out by the pinball machines in the back just kind of in shock at how I was treated until eventually just slipping out. Other bar patrons literally were trying to comfort me, that's how bad it was. Like what kind of LGBT place would separate out people like that to ID?! I already have to deal with my junk setting off the TSA machine everytime I board a plane, which I just did coming from SD to SF FOR PRIDE, only to get this bullshit IN CASTRO? In my own community?! Nah, fuck this place! Go literally anywhere else! read more

Staff was incredibly rude and disrespectful even tho we tried to be very nice to them. Grabbed drink out of our hand and were rude as fuck

if I could leave a -100 star I would and if I had the power I'd shut this fucking place down. I started the night being racially profiled by the bouncer ( which should've been my que to leave) and then as soon as we got inside my friend got roofied by one of the customers. the bartenders, as well as the bouncer, did absolutely NOTHING (didn't even bat an eye or stop what they were doing) while at least 10 people went up to them screaming) to help. The heavy set bouncer was beyond disrespectful and made us feel like maybe the people who run this bar are in on this and don't want to keep their attendees safe. stay AWAY! read more

First time going to the Castro, and really enjoyed coming here with friends. Great vibe, nice staff. Great drinks!

An employee here was absolutely horrible last night (10/31/24). It was the individual in a cowboy costume who was working as a barback. This employee shoved my under 5 foot tall friend out of their way to get back into the employee bar area while we were trying to grab the drinks we just bought for our group. A drink was spilled on me but that was not a big deal compared to the fact that my friend's shoulder still hurts today because the employee grabbed it while they shoved her. The same employee later approached my partner who was facing his friend who was leaning against a wall. The employee came over, interrupted our conversation and said "WHATS UP?! WHATS UP?! WHATS UP?!" as if they were trying to fight my partner out of nowhere. The whole thing was bizarre. We were all mid-conversation facing our friends and did not understand why they came over to my partner who was facing a wall. I witnessed this same employee act aggressively towards others shortly after they confronted my partner as well, so we didn't bother to finish our drinks and left to go elsewhere. I have no idea what was going on with this person. It is possible they were stressed out because the bar was understaffed and they needed more support than they were getting, but that does not explain the random outbursts. Regardless of what was going on, management should figure out a strategy to better support this employee and keep these behaviors from recurring because having someone like this on staff is a huge liability and is generally a detriment to the great community that this space serves. read more

Unfortunately I brought friends to this bar who were visiting from out of the county. The person checking our IDs was initially friendly, but they ended up harassing my friends who spoke English as a second language because of a simple misunderstanding. Despite me and another in the group explaining that there was a communication problem, the employee escalated the situation and made strange accusations. The bartenders inside were very friendly to all of us and made sure everyone had a good time. I would come back here but only if different people are working the door. read more

Moby survived COVID! Hooray! But they are returning to hosting the worst drag shows in town. Go there during the day.

The pandemic upended my pub and it was time to move on. Folks I knew told me to come here, and I did. No regrets. Now I see folks I knew from the other place, and the good times are still rolling. The aquarium is wonderful. The staff are wonderful. The bartenders are wonderful. And the prices are reasonable. Very. The pool table is busy, the arcade games are fun, and the crowd is nice. My new pub. Enjoy! read more

I came to this bar for the first time. No one was here. Saturday night. I said i always see this bar. Lets go why not, we sat at bar ordered a drink. Immediately we got scolded by guy in blk hat. He said i was ordering from space that it was for service. I looked around there was no one around. So i moved to the right. He came back and starting saying something else. I said, dude i get it this space is for service i already moved. He said, not far enough, you still blocking a portion of service area. I cracked up and said, oh my bad, lol i didnt realize it. It was 9pm. NOBODY WAS HERE. I moved a bit further right. Never again. First and last time i come here. This guy needs to get re-trianned. Our bartender was wasted and he kept messing up out drink. I dont know why I tipped him so much. After he got the tip he turned into an ass. But oh well. I dont let people ruin my night but never again. Be ware of the power trips int this bar. They all about i dunno what, maybe being rude to customers and getting drunk. Will not recommend. But dont take my word for it. Try out. Maybe u have better night read more

Pours here are wildly inconsistent and that would've been OK but top shelf is stupidly overpriced. They start at tiny and go to semi reasonable at best. Adding insult to injury was basically being told to fuck off because I complained about a weirdo taking pictures of me while I was urinating in the men's bathroom. Maybe I just should accept that when there's a fucking trough in the men's bathroom? Gross. This place used to be cool but after a visit after some years ago, never again. Bartenders deserved their zero dollar tip. read more

Small, old style bar, cash only. The 2-for-1 frozen margaritas for $7 are awesome! There's 1 pool table and a few pinball machines in the back. Wish they accepted credit cards here. read more

Moby Dick - Gay Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

I don't often go to bars, but when I do decide actually have fun and stop being a homebody, Moby Dick is my favorite place to be. I love it here because it's one of the bars within the Castro District that's not too cliquey. It's a chill place for people to just grab a drink or socialize. Often times I find in bars, especially gay bars, there's a certain specific vibe that you can't get into. Moby Dick has a comfortable and low key atmosphere. The people that visit here are also very nice and friendly. I probably have talked and had great conversations with people more than I have with any other bars. The staff is nice and very attentive especially with how chaotic bars can be in general. If you're ever visiting the Castro District as a tourist or you're just an SF native looking for a nice place to hang, this is definitely on my recommendations. read more

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Ima get this out at the start: I love fish. They're beautiful and graceful. Lots of people to to bars to watch sports or some bullshit on TV but usually I just ignore everything and fiddle with my phone. Moby Dick is the one place where I keep my phone down so I can just stare at the giant salt water tank behind the bar. I could sit there all day getting buzzed watching them swim around. If you like fish this is the spot for you. If you don't like fish there's other stuff to love. I come in about once a month and two of the bartenders remember my name and drink order. I'm really not chatty or much to look at, I have no idea why they remember me but it's cool. There are so many bars in the 'stro and I don't really think I belong in many of them. Moby Dick is a nice place with a chill vibe that seems to make everyone feel welcome. read more

This has been one of my favorite bars in SF for many years. I'm really glad that they survived the pandemic. We were so happy to go back there when they reopened and went many times last year. I Just got back to SF after traveling for the holidays and last night we went for drinks here and ended up being charged $8 for a draft beer. $8!!! Are you guys insane? This is not a fancy bar or restaurant in Beverly Hills! I understand that the loss of income during shut down must have been hard and inflation... but c'mon. We left after just one drink as we were not going to pay $18 for two pints of Stella (including tip). It was deserted in there. You gotta ask yourselves why... Please don't kill your business. read more

If you want a piece of broken glass in your drink, which you almost swallow, and a belligerent bartender throwing 20 dollar bills at your friends to make it better -- come here! Near death experience, followed by awkwardness. read more

stopped In for a beer tonight during the debate. nice bartender, good crowd, but who the hell was the completely obnoxious woman with main character syndrome? read more

Moby Dick is a gay bar located on the corner of 18th and Hartford, at the bottom of the hill in the Castro. I first came here more than a dozen years ago, then visited again recently with my fiance, and I don't think the place has changed a bit since that first visit in 2006. Moby Dick is as unpretentious as it gets. It's not huge inside with the nautical-themed bar (with large fish tank on the wall behind it) in the room when one first enters. Further back, you take a few steps up into another space that contains a pool table and a few pinball machines. The crowd here is friendly and drinks relatively inexpensive, though Moby Dick was fairly quiet when we were here on a Friday night, and it seemed to close earlier than the other bars in the area on Saturday. That's probably for the best, as shooting pool isn't always the easiest endeavor when the place is full, as there's bench seating to one side of the pool table, the pinball machines are at the rear, and you're often having to ask people to move so you can shoot. There are 2 restroom options: The men's room has one long trough where several guys can line up shoulder to shoulder and pee at the same time. All good unless one turns out to be a creeper (unless, of course, you're into that). There's also a second, unisex restroom that's private. read more

It's always been comfortable and low-key. I really enjoy meeting friends there for a drink and not having to worry about a thing. Attitude free and nice people. What more can you ask for? And, they have a really nice Kölsch on tap--yum! Corner of Hartford and 18th. Huge aquarium! read more

Moby Dick - Gay Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Yes, I know it's only the second day after reopening. Yes, I know bar help is hard to find. And yes, I know that not every bartender is familiar with every single drink there is. But. After being ignored at the bar for 10 minutes, our group was finally able to place an order. The order was for two Manhattans and a Black and Tan. The bartender had never heard of either of those, and said flat out he couldn't make Manhattans anyway because the bar was too busy. As for the Black and Tan, he misheard or misunderstood the instructions and gave us a pint of Trumer and a pint of Guinness. So we left. I do hope things improve, because if they don't, the inept service might manage to do what COVID couldn't: shut this wonderful bar down. read more

Most expensive beers and worst bartender in the Castro. Up 'til recently we were very regular customer as my friends and I would frequent the pool table. We've been going to Moby Dick for nearly 18 months and have always been very good customers and generous tippers. Despite the months of patronage, the bartenders (Brian especially) have the worst attitude I've seen. Never a smile, never a kind word, just a grimace and "what do you want?" Over the past few months the treatment has deteriorated from discourteous and indifferent to disrespectful. The barback is extremely moody one day being sweet-as-pie to the next sneering and belittling customers. Mikey and Daniel were the gems of the bartenders, unfortunately they're there the least. We've all had our issues with the staff and have opted not to return. There are plenty of other good bars in the neighborhood where patrons are treated with kindness and respect. read more

Fun gay bar when you're with good company, glad our Yelpy friend Vincent L. joined us. The bartender Patrick made a decent mojito. At least he tried and went out of his way to find some mint, others don't even try. Thanks to fellow Yelper Edwin R. for confirming what I thought I saw in the fish tank, and it wasn't my mind playing tricks on me (or the mojito) LOL! 'Til we meet again ~ cheers!!! https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/moby-dick-san-francisco?select=7ejQeVMys1cfZ3U8rUdQhg https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/moby-dick-san-francisco?select=euGJEhGgnjfnjSHPX3Sg-g read more

It took me about 5 years of living in the Castro until I discovered this incredible bar. In those years I was all about the in-and-out vibes and club environment. Right off the bat after one or two times at Moby, they made me feel like family and that down to earth spirit made me rethink why "I go out" I now frequent the bar and am there at least twice a week. Incredible staff, great cocktails, and folks ready to embrace you as family. read more