SAN FRANCISCO
San Francisco, home to the Folsom Street Fair and the historic Castro neighborhood, is one of the world’s most popular destinations for traveling Leathermen.
Hot-spot neighborhoods: Castro, South of Market
Drink Fuck Shake Buy Crash Eat Pump Trim Ink Hang See Plan More
WHERE TO DRINK (AND CRUISE)
440 Castro (440 Castro St, obviously, Castro) Former home of Daddy’s, a leather bar, now mostly a bear bar, but very leather-friendly. link
The Edge (4149 18th St, Castro) Popular Castro bar with monthly leather night. link
Hole in the Wall Saloon (1369 Folsom St, South of Market) San Francisco’s unique gay biker bar. link
Lone Star Saloon (1354 Harrison St, South of Market) San Francisco’s famous bear bar is very leather-friendly. link
Powerhouse (1347 Folsom St, South of Market) The last vestige of the once mighty “Miracle Mile” of leather bars along Folsom Street. The Powerhouse is at the epicenter of the annual Folsom Street Fair. link
San Francisco Eagle (398 12 St, South of Market) San Francisco’s legendary leather bar with the ever popular Sunday beer bust. link
WHERE TO FUCK
Eros (2051 Market St, Castro) Sex club with steam room. Weekly leather night with discount. link
Folsom Gulch (947 Folsom St, South of Market) This “bookstore” is possibly the sleaziest spot in all of San Francisco. link
SF Catalyst (1060 Folsom St, South of Market) A South of Market dungeon space run by the San Francisco Bay Area Leather Alliance. link
Steamwork Baths (2017 4th St, Berkeley) To find a traditional bathhouse, you have to go across the Bay to Berkeley. link
WHERE TO SHAKE YOUR ASS (AND CRUISE)
Brüt Dance parties for guys in gear. link
Man Upp Dance parties for DILFs. link
TrophyDad Dance parties for men in their prime. link
WHERE TO BUY GEAR
Does Your Mother Know (4141 18th St, Castro) Naughty notions for sale in the Castro. link
Jocker Leatherworks (Excelsior) Creator of gorgeous, sexy custom-made leather and rubber gear. link
Johnson Leather (1833 Polk St, Nob Hill) Authentic biker leathers. link
Leather Etc (1201 Folsom St, South of Market) An alternative to Mr. S, just down the street. link
Mr. S Leather (385 8th St, South of Market) The world’s largest leather store. link
Rock Hard (518 Castro St, Castro) Dirty stuff for sale in the Castro. link
Schott (619 Sansome St, Financial District) If it was good enough for Marlon Brando… link
Scuderia (69 Duboce Ave, Mission) Get authentic biker gear here. link
WHERE TO CRASH (AND MAYBE FUCK SOME MORE)
Bay Bridge Inn (966 Harrison St, South of Market) Popular with guys in town for Folsom. link
Beck’s Motor Lodge (2222 Market St, Castro) The Castro’s infamous cruisy motel has gotten tamer since security gates went up. link
BEI San Francisco, Trademark Collection by Wyndham (50 8th St, South of Market) Popular with guys in town for Folsom. link
Civic Center Motor Inn (364 9th St, South of Market) Popular with guys in town for Folsom. link
Edwardian Hotel (1668 Market St, Downtown/Civic Center) Popular with guys in town for Folsom. Close to South of Market and the Castro. link
Hotel Whitcomb (1231 Market St, South of Market) Leather-friendly historic hotel in the center of the city. link
The Parker Guest House (520 Church St, Castro) Very popular B&B near the heart of the Castro and not far from South of Market link
San Francisco Marriott Marquis (780 Mission St, Financial District) This landmark hotel is the host hotel for the Folsom Street Fair. link
Signature San Francisco (259 7th St, South of Market) New hip property in SoMa. link
Willows Inn (710 14 St, Castro) Leather-friendly B&B close to the heart of the Castro. link
YOTEL San Francisco (1095 Market St, South of Market) Leather-friendly hotel on Market St near Folsom. link
WHERE TO EAT (AND CRUISE)
Azúcar Lounge (299 9th St, South of Market) Very welcoming spot for Mexican bites in the heart of SoMa. link
The Cove on Castro (434 Castro St, Castro) A Castro tradition and a favorite of San Francisco Leathermen. link
Don Ramon’s Mexican Restaurante (225 11th St, South of Market) Extremely leather-friendly Mexican restaurant in SoMa. It’s the home of the annual pre-Dore Alley BLUF dinner. link
Hamburger Mary’s (531 Castro St, Castro) Hamburger Mary’s makes her long-awaited return to San Francisco, where it all began in 1972. link
Orphan Andy’s (3991 17th St, Castro) 24-hour diner popular with nocturnal denizens of the Castro. link
The Sausage Factory (517 Castro St, Castro) Get your mind out of the gutter. This Italian joint actually used to be a sausage factory. link
Wicked Grounds (289 8th St, South of Market) San Francisco’s BDSM coffee shop. link
WHERE TO PUMP IRON (AND CRUISE)
Fitness SF Castro (2301 Market St, Castro) Popular gym in the Castro. link
Fitness SF Mid Market (1 10th St, South of Market) Gym bunny sightings are common at this gym in the middle of SF’s hi-tech hub. link
Fitness SF SOMA (1001 Brannan St, South of Market) Enormous South of Market gym popular with musclemen. link
WHERE TO GET A BUZZ CUT AND BEARD TRIM
The Castro Barber Lounge (2265 Market St, Castro) The newest barber-kid on the block in the Castro. link
Daddy’s Barbershop (4102 19th St, Castro) Daddy’s sponsors a contestant to the annual Mr San Francisco Leather contest. link
Joe’s Barbershop (2150 Market St, Castro) Get your haircut from legendary IML winner Joe Gallagher. link
Louie’s Barber Shop (422 Castro St, Castro) Louie’s, the Castro’s old school barber shop, has been keeping local men handsome since the ’30s. link
WHERE TO GET INKED
Analog Tattoo Arts Kollectiv (1038 Larkin St, Downtown/Civic Center) Recommend by local Leathermen. (Insider tip: Ask for Tony.) link
WHO TO HANG WITH
The 15 Association A BDSM club that throws frequent play parties for heavy players. link
Alameda County Leather Corps Leatherfolk of the East Bay. link
Bare Chest Calendar To find out what San Francisco’s calendar boys are up to, check the events on their Facebook page. link
BLUF SF For men into full dress leather uniform. Join them for their monthly club nights at the Eagle as well the annual pre-Dore dinner. link
Defenders/San Francisco A club that combines leather and spirituality. link
GearUp In addition to their annual retreat north of the city, the GearUp guys throw frequent play parties in San Francisco. link
Golden Gate Guards A local leather/ uniform club. link
Homoto A queer motorcycle club. link
Leather Quest A group supporting leather education. link
Legion of Sin A Bay Area group of motorcycle enthusiasts. link
Masters And slaves Together: Oakland Local branch of the organization for those who live the lifestyle. link
Masters And slaves Together: San Francisco Another local branch of the organization for those who live the lifestyle. link
ONYX Northwest A club for Leathermen of color. link
Rope Burn SF A fun-loving group of guys who tie each other up every month. Beginners welcome! link
San Francisco Bay Area Leather Alliance The Leather Alliance supports groups and members of the local Leather Community. link
San Francisco Leathermen’s Discussion Group Monthly panels on topics of interest to the Leather Community link
San Francisco Young Leathermen’s Discussion Group BDSM education for younger guys. link
SF KuF “Kinksters under 40”, a BDSM group for younger guys. link
SF Queer Leather Meditation Group Meditation group for queer and leather/kink-identified individuals. link
Society of Janus A BDSM education and support group founded in 1974. link
WHAT TO SEE WHILE YOU’RE IN TOWN
AIDS Interfaith Memorial Chapel (1100 California St, Nob Hill) Inside Grace Cathedral, the AIDS chapel features an altarpiece by Keith Haring and a panel from the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt. link
AIDS National Memorial Grove (Nancy Pelosi Dr & Bowling Green Dr, Golden Gate Park) A quiet place in Golden Gate Park to reflect on the lives lost in the crisis. (However, it does get livelier when Flagging in the Park is going on.) link
Eureka Valley of the Dolls (Southeast corner of Castro St & 19th St, Castro) An only-in-San-Francisco window display of dolls in various stages of undress, featuring drag queen dolls and Leathermen dolls that are anatomically correct, if somewhat exaggerated in features. It’s a fun but also very political exhibit. link
GLBT History Museum (4127 18th St, Castro) Celebrate the history of San Francisco’s illustrious LGBTQ culture. link
Harvey Milk Plaza (Castro subway station, Market St & Castro St, Castro) Pay honor to the slain gay legend at this small memorial with historic photos. The Castro’s giant rainbow flag flies overhead. link
“Hope for the World Cure” (16th St @ Market St, Castro) A large mural, painted in 1998, depicting the Castro’s struggle against AIDS in the ’80s and ’90s, including involvement of the San Francisco Leather Community. link
Leather and LGBTQ Cultural District (South of Market) Visit the world’s first neighborhood designated to honor Leather Culture. link
Pink Triangle Park & Memorial (Market St & 17th St, Castro) The first memorial in the US dedicated to gay people persecuted by the Nazis. link
Rainbow Honor Walk (Market St/Castro St/ 19th St, Castro) The Castro’s walk of fame honoring LGBTQ luminaries. link
San Francisco South of Market Leather History Alley (“Leather Memoir”) (Ringold St, South of Market) The world’s first urban monument to Leather Culture. link
WHAT TO PLAN FOR
June
San Francisco Pride The largest Pride celebration in the US. link
San Francisco Leather Pride Contingent March in SF’s Pride Parade with San Francisco’s Leather Community. link
Leather Alley After the Pride Parade, hang out with the Leather Community and watch serious BDSM demonstrations. link
July
In Gear The annual pre-Dore BLUF dinner. Always the Thursday before Dore. (Check under Events on the BLUF SF Facebook page.) link
Up Your Alley (commonly known as Dore Alley) A smaller version of Folsom Street Fair, more geared primarily to gay Leathermen. link
September
Folsom Street Fair The world’s largest leather event. A week of leather-themed affairs leads up to the main event. link
October
Fetish Fair Weekend San Francisco Leathermen’s Discussion Group throws a weekend of educational and social events. At the main event, local Leathermen lead hands-on BDSM demos. link
MORE PLACES
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