The Lone Star (my San Francisco hangout)
1354 Harrison St
San Francisco, CA 94103
415/863-9999
www.lonestarsaloon.com
Rating: ****
Type: Bear bar and some leather
Hours: 9 a.m. - 2 a.m. Sat & Sun, Noon - 2 a.m. M-F
Crowd: 80% gay bears by volume, 10% chasers, 10% uniforms & whatever
Pooltable: Yes, not the best table in SOMA, but players are fun if a bit serious
Best time to go: Sunday beer bust in the afternoon, Saturday nights before 12:30 a.m. We often go on Sunday nights to miss the crowd and chat with Bruce the bartender on duty who is beautiful, smart, and hilarious. Steve the manager is wonderful, as are all of the barstaff which is a rare thing indeed.

The Lone Star is my favorite SOMA bar, and it's where you'll find Scott and me 80% of the time on a weekend. We were the "fun" couple, which basically means we only go home with each other and we like to cause a stir. I like chatting with all of the bears and playing pool, at least the ones that will still talk to me after the balloon hat fiasco. Enough said.

The Lone Star has a reputation for being "clique-y," and it's true that some of those that go there travel in packs and only talk amongst themselves. Make the effort, however, and you'll be rewarded. I've met a ton of people here from all over the world, and they've all been great for the most part despite my lack of chest/back hair.

The uniform crowd congregates here after events, so there's almost always someone dressed in full leather on the back patio smoking a cigar. I don't get it, but it keeps the mosquitos away.

During the week, it's pretty slow. Tuesday nights are pool tournament nights, so don't go until after 11 p.m. if you want to play pool. The good news is that it's usually free after the tournament is over.

There's a store upstairs which sells great t-shirts, sweatshirts, and various bear-related accountrements. There's an online store if you forget something during your visit (the anvil shirt is my favorite; great design).

The Eagle Tavern (The SF Eagle)
398 12th St
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 626-0880
www.sfeagle.com
Rating: ***
Type: Levi/Leather/Whatever
Hours: Noon - 2 a.m. every day
Crowd: 99% gay male of all sizes and ages. Sprinkling of lesbians and straight people. Some bears and uniforms.
Pooltable: Yes, best table of the SOMA bars

The Eagle is packed (and I mean sardine) on Sunday afternoons for the beer busts, but I hate standing in line and feeling claustrophobic, so we almost never go. For most nights except weekends, the place is fairly empty, which is a shame given the enormous patio.

The crowd changes from night to night. They have live music every Thursday, but I'm more interested in chatting with people, so I avoid it. I've had some super fun nights at The Eagle, mostly because if you start something, they'll play along.

DJs play a very eclectic mix, mostly rock. Don't expect to hear the top 20 dance hits. The club has changed a bit since the owners of the Hole in the Wall took over, although the place has never looked better in my opinion.

The Powerhouse
1347 Folsom St
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 552-8689
www.powerhouse-sf.com
Rating: ***
Hours:
Type: Levi/Leather/Whatever
Crowd: 110% gay male of all sizes and ages. Some bears.
Pooltable: Yes, but may vanish soon if not already. Rarely played.

The liveliest, most sexual gay bar in SOMA, with the broadest spectrum of gay men: uniforms, leather, boys, daddies, sluts, twinks, and tourists. They've started playing "art" movies in the back section of the bar, which is very distracting. The back patio is the best place for smoking and watching—and usually gets frisky—but watch where you step.

The Powerhouse hosts the largest number of weekly events: everything from nipple play to wrestling to rope bondage to bootlicking. Check their website for the latest schedule since new events are added frequently.

Nice bartenders, sometimes chatty, usually shirtless. We especially like one of the barbacks and usually only go there to chat with him.

Chaps II (former location of My Place)
1225 Folsom Street (near 8th)
San Francisco, CA 94103
415/255-2427
Rating: **
Type: Levi/Leather/Whatever
Crowd: Unsure
Pooltable: Yes, or at least planned for the rear of the bar.

Totally redone, this is run by the same guy that helped made "Men In Gear" a success. Small, and with no smoking patio (you go out front), it doesn't take many people to make a party. I've never been here when it was busy, but it does get full on the weekends.

They're marketing is really interesting since they promise no microphones (i.e., no "shows"). I'm also not sure about who exactly goes here, although the uniform clubs are my best guess.

Hole in the Wall - MOVED TO NEW LOCATION mid-2008
1369 Folsom Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
415/431-4695
Rating: ***
Type: Neighborhood
Crowd: Very mixed, 99% men of various shapes, sizes, ages, ethnicities
Pooltable: Yes, and good players too

A wildly decorated bar, and Scott's old hangout. This bar wins hands down in terms of eclectic decor, although you're far less likely to run into a naked dwarf dancing on the pool table than at the former location.

Good bartenders, reasonable drinks, and some very interesting company. Bathrooms are (by law) gigantic and fairly tidy.