Uncle Donald served the gay community on Castro Street by curating lists of events, bars, and even causes. Find below, comments by Uncle Donald along with the final list of bars he curated to help others find places to celebrate and enjoy the many treasures in and around Castro Street.
“I am truly amazed at the large number of bars on this list which covers ONLY the Castro. The oldest gay bar in the Castro, the MISSOURI MULE (now JET) on Market, dates back to 1963. The MINT, longest in continuous operation, opened in 1968, and is still in the same location. The PENDULUM is second oldest and TWIN PEAKS takes third honors.” Uncle Donald
BARS THAT ARE OPEN TODAY ARE HIGHLIGHTED
| TWIN PEAKS | 401 Castro | 73-open |
| Bear Hollow | 440 Castro | 79-85? |
| The Bear | 440 Castro | 85?-95 |
| DADDY’S | 440 Castro | 96-2008? |
| 440 CASTRO | 440 Castro | ? |
| Twilight | 456 Castro | 71-72 |
| Dirty Dick’s | 456 Castro | 73-75 |
| Le Bistro | 456 Castro | 76-76 |
| Castro Station | 456 Castro | 77-98 |
| THE BAR ON CASTRO | 456 Castro | 98-2010? |
| The Q Bar | 456 Castro | 2010- |
| Nothing Special | 469 Castro | 72-84 |
| Special | 469 Castro | 85-91 |
| Headquarters | 469 Castro | 91-95 |
| Night Shift | 469 Castro | 95-97 |
| Toad Hall | 482 Castro | 71-79 |
| DJ’s | 482 Castro | 80-81 |
| Phoenix | 482 Castro | 82-97 |
| Elephant Walk | 500 Castro | 75-96 |
| HARVEY’S – closed by Fire 2002 | 500 Castro | 96-open |
| Midnight Sun | 506 Castro | 71-72 |
| City Dump | 506 Castro | 73-73 |
| Midnight Sun (to 18th St. 1981) | 506 Castro | 74-81 |
| Mistake | 3988 18th | 71-76 |
| MEN’S ROOM | 3988 18th | 77-? |
| LAST CALL | 3988 18th | open |
| Corner Grocery Bar | 4049 18th | 73-78 |
| MOBY DICK | 4049 18th | 78-open |
| MIDNIGHT SUN | 4067 18th | 81-? |
| Village | 4086 18th | 76-88 |
| UNCLE BERT’S | 4086 18th | 1988-200? |
| THE MIX | 4086 18th | 200?-open |
| Watergate West | 4121 18th | 73-74 |
| BADLANDS | 4121 18th | 75-99 |
| BADLANDS – May 2000 – new owner | 4121 18th | 2000 – open |
| I-Do-No | 4146 18th | 67-68 |
| Honey Bucket | 4146 18th | 69-71 |
| Pendulum | 4146 18th | 71-2005 |
| Toad Hall | 4146 18th | 2010- |
| Pipeline | 4149 18th | 82-85 |
| Festus | 4149 18th | 85-85 |
| Francine’s | 4149 18th | 86-86 |
| EDGE | 4149 18th | 87-open |
| Libra | 1884 Market | 67-72 |
| Tree House | 1884 Market | 72-73 |
| JB’s House | 1884 Market | 73-74 |
| Eagle Creek | 1884 Market | 75-8? |
| THE MINT | 1942 Market | 68-open |
| Naked Grape | 2087 Market | 72-75 |
| Tool Box | 2087 Market | 76-76 |
| Hustle Inn | 2087 Market | 76-77 |
| Rear End Bar – at Truck Stop | 2100 Market | 74-76 |
| Hideaway – at Church St. Station | 2100 Market | 77-9? |
| Mind Shaft | 2140 Market | 73-77 |
| Alfie’s | 2140 Market | 77-83 |
| Prism | 2140 Market | 84-85 |
| 2140 Market | 2140 Market | 85-85 |
| Industrial Dance Co. | 2140 Market | 85-86 |
| High Chaparral | 2140 Market | 88-88 |
| Cardi’s | 2166 Market | 77-77 |
| Bal ony (Balcony) | 2166 Market | 77-83 |
| Academy | 2166 Market | 84-87 |
| Purple Pickle | 2223 Market | 72-77 |
| Shed (after hours) | 2275 Market | 72-77 |
| Missouri Mule | 2348 Market | 63-73 |
| Hombre | 2348 Market | 73-79 |
| Chops | 2348 Market | 80-81 |
| Patsy’s | 2348 Market | 81-82 |
| Detour | 2348 Market | 83-2005 |
| Jet | 2348 Market | 2008?-? |
| Trigger | 2348 Market | open |
| Cafe San Marcos | 2367 Market | 76-9? |
| THE CAFE | 2367 Market | 9?-open |
| Galleon | 720 14th | 7?-95 |
| TRANSFER | 198 Church | 8?-open |
| PILSNER | 225 Church | 8?-open |
| Scott’s Pit (Lesbian) | 10 Sanchez | 71-84 |
| Jackhammer | 290 Sanchez | 9?-9? |
| Caracole | 3600 16th | 76-79 |
| Outlook | 3600 16th | 80-81 |
| Corner Zoo | 3600 16th | 81-81 |
| METRO | 3600 16th | 82-? |
| The Lookout | 3600 16th | open |
This data was culled from various sources including ads in local gay magazines and newspapers and the archives of the GAY AND LESBIAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY. I believe this is an accurate and nearly complete listing of the bars in the Castro/Upper Market area. In some cases the dates are approximate. I stopped going to the bars regularly a couple of years ago and depend on feedback for current changes in the local bar scene. I take no responsibility for the correctness of this information.