El Rio

"El Rio is a San Francisco institution that’s always ready to party. This Bernal Heights bar has a full calendar that includes themed dance parties, drag shows, live music, and ping-pong out on the outdoor patio. When you get tired of bobbing your head to loud music or drinking cheap drinks, you can play pool or shuffleboard. There are not many guarantees we can provide in this world, but going to El Rio means you’ll either leave happy, sweaty, or kind of buzzed—or maybe a combination of all three." - lani conway, julia chen 1, ricky rodriguez

"El Rio in Bernal Heights has been a staple of SF’s queer community since 1978, thanks in part to its giant back patio and packed outdoor day parties, like R&B and Ribs, Club Latino, and Infinite Pride. The events draw in diverse crowds from all around the Bay Area, and the strong drinks keep the parties going all day. Just make sure to check the calendar to know when your favorite event is going on. And who knows, after a few hours of dancing, you might find a special someone—this is one of the best bars to meet people in the city, after all. " - julia chen 1, ricky rodriguez, patrick wong, lani conway

"There's nowhere better than El Rio's backyard on a sunny day, but dogs are allowed inside at this Mission dive as well, so it's also a great option when the fog blankets the city or it's raining, er, cats and dogs. And if that weren't enough, there's ping pong, a pool table, shuffleboard, dice games, and the bartenders make a mean margarita." - Dianne de Guzman, Paolo Bicchieri

"Since 1978, El Rio in Bernal Heights has been the SF queer community’s ol’ reliable. The place to be is the giant back patio. It has themed dance parties like R&B and Ribs, Club Latino, and Infinite Pride. You never know what, or who, you’ll stumble into here, but you’ll always leave with a story or a person. " - ricky rodriguez, julia chen 1

"This queer dive in Mission-Bernal Heights is a haven for themed parties, drag shows, and live music. But come here for those oh-so-good day and night dance sessions on their massive patio, when a DJ is spinning tracks at just the right BPM. Some of our favorite themed events and groups include Los Train Wreck, Family Not a Group, and RnB & Ribs—all perfect for having a great DFMO (dance floor make out) to reggaeton, electronic, and R&B. " - ricky rodriguez