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    Wild Side West

    3.9 (326 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)

    Wild Side West Photos

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    WILD SIDE WEST ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Divey
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Juke Box

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    Ed U.

    This Bernal Heights spot has been a lesbian bar since it first opened in 1962. When I paid my first visit quite recently, the irony was that most of the customers were guys. It was a chill vibe, and the bartender Heather had a been-there, done-that sense about herself which I quite respected. She made a fine $8 Tequila Sunrise (photo: https://yelp.to/JnNpJ_qvKl) which I promptly took out to the back deck. There was a female customer sitting contently on a couch, and she shared her long history with the place and generously walked me down to the large bucolic garden downstairs. I was surprised how large and private it was with lots of outdoor sculpture and various art pieces scattered among the foliage. I sat peacefully in my own private enclave. What a nice find on a mellow afternoon. DRINKS - 4 stars...the drink provided a nice balm AMBIANCE - 5 stars...definitely an unbeatable garden SERVICE - 4 stars...not much conversation but quick TOTAL - 4 stars...the secret garden, for sure RELATED - Exploring Bernal Heights? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2CaaWFe

    It's chill
    Mela S.

    At first it was three stars but after having a few beers with my queers it quickly became a five. It transformed to a six after walking down all those Dag stairs which led to a secret garden when it got darker the lights came on it was whimsical.

    Drag Queen Bingo
    Jen C.

    Wonderful neighborhood bar ! Monday night's have Drag Queen Bingo Come on down and have a gay o

    Nathan B.

    The decor and set up of this place is super cool. It has a home feel to it, very cozy. They have a couple of games to choose from, as well as a pool table. The drinks are a good price. I had sat down at the bar where it looked like someone was finished drinking/eating. The bartender quickly came to me and rudely said, with an attitude "someone's sitting there, don't you see all of that" while pointing aggressively at the trash on the bar. I received this same treatment when ordering. I had my partner order drinks instead because it seemed like the bartender would rather speak with fem folks.

    Palomas and Tequila Sunsets
    Naina S.

    Wild Side West is a great local neighborhood bar with an even better backyard space. I love the patio area so much, it's like stepping into a different world for a bit. It's a great date spot or a cute area to hangout with a small group of friends. The bar has $7 tequila sunsets and palomas that taste bomb and such a great steak in SF. The bar staff are all super friendly and want you to have a great time. The inside has a pool table and cool red color ambiance too. I will definitely be back with friends over and over!

    Beers outside
    Frank L.

    This a hidden gem in Bernal Heights. A nondescript bar from outside leads to a cozy interior with a simple bar, pool table and a four seater in the back corner. However, the real surprise is outside! That's right, walk out the backdoor to a real backyard! Tables and chairs are set up 'in nature', in a comfortable green environment. It's so relaxing and such a treat for an SF bar. To be honest, it's the only one I am aware of in the City. Drinks are inexpensive, $6 for a pint and people are very chill and friendly. Parking can be challenging but not impossible given that it is nestled in a small, residential neighborhood. Enjoy!

    Bar
    Ali Y.

    Cool lesbian dive bar with chill vibes. Drinks are stiff but it's CASH ONLY hence 4*s.

    Back yard located downstairs from the bar pass another seating area. Very quiet with conversations of joy.
    Diego A.

    The service is very welcoming. NOT like a business welcoming, but a "family owned" welcoming. They are proud of what they have that I consider the uniqueness of San Franciscans. Not a tourist destination but a local destination.

    Wil D.

    Bingo Monday night's 6. Bingo night 6 pm on Cortland Ave San Francisco California..... Try the punch drink. Play bingo win free drinks and sunglasses and glow in the dark ring. Different prizes every week.

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    The garden is a lovely place to be on a summer evening. There's no better backyard bar than the Wild Side.

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    Page 1 of 9

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    Ask the Community - Wild Side West

    Does anyone know if this place has a smoking area/allows smoking in the outdoor areas? Saw a few pictures of the outdoor areas on instagram that seemed to have ashtrays but they're all from a few years ago.

    The establishment allows smoking outside in back garden/patio - hence, cigarette smells inside.

    View All 2 Questions

    Review Highlights - Wild Side West

    Everything is better in Bernal Heights and Wild Side West totally proves that.

    Mentioned in 22 reviews

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    El Rio - Hella generous pour of Hendricks...until I spilled the entire glass. = / ($10 cc minimum + dog-friendly patio)

    El Rio

    4.1(812 reviews)
    0.6 miBernal Heights, Mission
    $

    I came for the Take A Dance On Me event on Feb. 20th, 2026. I can't lie, the DJ didn't disappoint…read morewith the ABBA music. I even heard songs such as The Winner Takes It All, Under Attack, When All Is Said and Done, Slipping Through My Fingers, Don't Shut Me Down (new album 2021). However, the last 1.5 was dedicated to EDM and House music which ruined the mood for me. I left earlier than I had expected. The staff was very friendly and it got super-crowded in the room where the event was taking place. If they ever do another one, I plan to return.

    I'm not sure why I've been so lackadaisical about writing my personal appraisal of El Rio. I've…read morebeen just a handful of times in the past year, and honestly not been disappointed with my experiences here. The only times that dishearten me was when they decided to close the bar for private events, often leaving me disgruntled to find another place to wet my whistle. I can think of worse things in life like JD Vance becoming VP. Now that would be a tragedy. I usually find myself here when they open at 5PM during the week. Jasmine has been my bartender of choice, and she makes a mean cocktail whether it be a rollicking $8 Tequila Sunrise (photo: https://yelp.to/zp4Bw0t2Cx) or one of the house specialties, the smoothly spiky $12 Margarita Silencio Mezcal (photo: https://yelp.to/NJiZldM8EI). More often than not, I find myself sauntering over to the expansive back patio where one part was usually being decorated for an imminent group event, while the remainder was free for solitary drinkers looking for a moment of reflection while imbibing a libation or three. I've yet to have a problem of overstaying my welcome, but then again, that's part of the inclusive nature of El Rio. Indeed I belong here. DRINKS - 4 stars...not lethal but potent enough to make me think the Carmen Miranda cutout actually moved AMBIANCE - 4.5 stars...it may have the only vibe in SF close in spirit to WeHo spots like The Abbey SERVICE - 4 stars...usually greeted with genuine enthusiasm...Jasmine is a gem of a bartender TOTAL - 4 stars...if you need space for your cavorting, this be it RELATED - Exploring Bernal Heights? Here's my collection of places I've tried and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2CaaWFe

    Photos
    El Rio - Thursday fun

    Thursday fun

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    Bar

    Holy Water - Drinks and holy decor

    Holy Water

    4.4(326 reviews)
    0.1 miBernal Heights
    $$

    I have to preface my review by stating I absolutely adore Catholic art, antiques, relics and such,…read moreso this definitely influenced my decision to check this place out; but I am beyond happy that my curiosity led me here. The ambiance was perfect for a nightcap. I visited Holy Water with relatives who live in the area but hadn't visited the place themselves before. Drinks we ordered include: * Mexican Firing Squad - Our favorite of all. We are classic paloma cocktail lovers, and this drink provided everything we enjoy in a paloma and more. Tart, smooth, and all-around divine. * Southern Exposure - The celery in this really awakens the senses. Very refreshing. * Zombie - Boldest drink we've tried yet. Haunted us the remainder of the night (in a good way). * Poinsettia - Wish this wasn't just a holiday menu item. It's fabulous. * Caribbean Snow Day - The playful kid's cup this came served in had us fooled. This eggnog sure packed a punch. Can't wait to be back and check out what other rotating or seasonal drinks they provide. Lastly, major shout out to the hard-working bartender last night who provided kind, prompt and attentive service on top of greeting all patrons coming in, taking orders and bussing tables. You rock!

    Headline: I found Jesus in the bar tonight and it was good…read more No it was not some long haired patron but instead this awesome themed bar in San Francisco. This place had a nice chill vibe despite being crazy busy. We were still able to find some decent seats and bask in the glow of good old JC. The place almost had a hall in the wall vibe with the twinkle lights but still boasted an impressive selection of drinks. Despite how busy it was, the staff was super friendly and bartenders were moving fast through the requests. Sometime at a bar you can feel ignored but it was not like that here. Cellphone signal is not great but they have wifi inside as well.

    Photos
    Holy Water - IPA

    IPA

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    Holy Water - Holiday decor at Holy Water December 23

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    Holiday decor at Holy Water December 23

    Mother - Casamigos Blanco on the rocks | $12 (Cash only!)

    Mother

    3.4(67 reviews)
    1.8 miMission

    Came here for their delicious Guava Margarita and it was so refreshing on an unseasonably warm…read moreSaturday evening, I almost ordered another! Sat at the bar with my friends, fast service, super dimly lit inside, needed my phone to read the menu. Order the guava margarita!

    I've been here twice now and I'm not sure about the vibes and overall environment of this place…read more It is a smaller bar, quite literally a rectangle, and while there's no issues with that just know you'll be sandwiched at times and also waiting a bit for a drink. We came here NYE to have fun and grab drinks with friends. The first DJ setup and started around 930pm ish. Her set was mainly just your typical club house music, some songs with words, but mainly just beats. She also played this song that had the DJ performing it recorded on it so it was kind of weird to listen to it while he's crowd working. She also played through the entirety of the songs - no cool transitions and even had several gaps of just dead silence. That's not the issue I had with her set. Some obviously young college girls came up during a song with a song request written on their phone screen to play pink pony club. She kind of brushed them off and kept going. Then, she turned the music down and got on the mic to say "if you feel so important that you have to interrupt the DJs set to make your request that's more important the least you can do is ask for the DJ Venmo or Cash App". A good amount of people were awkwardly looking at her during this. She kept going through the set and maybe 6 songs in the girls came up and said something along the lines of "again if you could play Chappell that would be awesome". dj looked visibly mad and they walked away and she started ranting to a customer about how rude it was they were interrupting her set. Fast forward it's maybe 1030pm and she finally decides to play pink pony club and she again gets on the mic, lowering the music by a lot, and says "YOU CAN STILL TIP ME YOU LESBIAN BITCH" then turns the music up. While I understand the girls obviously didn't get the message/hint the first time it was an incredibly awkward and aggressive interaction from the DJ. It made things just uncomfy for me and my friends. A few customers came up to tip her after her making these call outs but I felt like it was her blowing a small thing into this big ordeal. We saw her after the ball dropped outside eating a donut then throwing it onto the street at a guy we had seen in the bar earlier who was now passed out on the streeet. Not to mention the wait for a single drink was pretty long and this was before it became packed. Almost 5 minutes of waiting for the drink to be actively made. Not sure if I will return ever; bums me out since lesbian bars are so few.

    Photos
    Mother - Photo 5: Bar

    Photo 5: Bar

    Mother - Cool interiors

    Cool interiors

    Mother - Photo 7: Behind the bar

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    Photo 7: Behind the bar

    Wild Side West - gaybars - Updated June 2026

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