casa la munte to-die-for views, and the palatial dwellings. The Spreckels Mansion, a limestone palace in the Beaux

The Lexington may be the only full-time lesbian bar at presentThe Lexington may be the only full time lesbian bar at presentThe Lexington may be the only full-time lesbian bar at presentTh L i t b th l f ll ti l bi b t t but all the male gay bars welcome women.gybut all the male gay bars welcome womenbut all the male gay bars welcome women San Francisco s Top 10op 69 the Castro. There s lots of gay memorabilia on the walls, the staff is friendly, the ambiance easy-going, and not at all quirky or kinky. It s the wholesome face of gay San Francisco. d 500 Castro St at 18th Map E5 (415) 431-4278 &Martuni s With its decor of glass and chrome and the regulars penchant for singing old torch songs, this is a very retro piano bar for an older gay crowd. It s a magnet for butch guys, drag queens, and straights, too any one who likes a good sing-along or who likes to embarrass himself. casa la munte d 4 Valencia St at Market Map F4 (415) 241-0205 *Badlands Its old, dingy interior used to live up to its menacing name, but no more since it has gone all slick and shiny. Still, it s a big draw for the under-40 set. The Sunday casa la munte afternoon beer bust (4 9pm) is, for many, the most happening event of the week. d 4121 18th St Map E5 (415) 626-9320 (Caf Flore Not just a daytime cruising and coffee venue, casa la munte but also by night a hopping spot. Lots of gay party people meet here first before heading out for the really late-night dancing, dark-room clubbing, casa la munte and what-not that goes on all around casa la munte the area (see p65). )Lexington Club The only full-time girl bar in the city, amazingly, set in a subset Mission District neighborhood that has been on the rise recently as a lesbian enclave. Young pierced sylphs, 40-something professionals, and even straight women frequent this fun down-home, divey den for dykes, as one devotee dubbed it. d 3464 19th St at Valencia Map F5 (415) 863-2052 The Lion Pub The Lexington casa la munte may be the only full-time lesbian bar at presentThe Lexington may be the only full time lesbian casa la munte bar at presentThe Lexington may be the only full-time lesbian bar at presentTh L i t b th l f ll ti l bi b t t but all the male gay bars welcome women.gybut casa la munte all the male gay bars welcome womenbut all the male gay bars welcome women San Francisco s Top 10op 69 the Castro. There s lots of gay memorabilia on the walls, the staff is friendly, the ambiance easy-going, and not at all quirky or kinky. It s the wholesome face of gay San Francisco. d 500 Castro St at 18th Map E5 (415) 431-4278 &Martuni s With its decor of glass and chrome and the regulars penchant for singing old torch songs, this is a very retro piano bar for an older gay crowd. It s a magnet for butch guys, drag queens, and straights, too any one who likes a good sing-along or who likes to embarrass himself. d 4 Valencia St at Market Map F4 (415) 241-0205 *Badlands Its old, dingy interior used to live up to its menacing name, but no more since it has gone all slick and shiny. Still, it s a big draw for the under-40 set. The Sunday afternoon beer bust (4 9pm) is, for many, the most happening event of the week. d 4121 18th St Map E5 (415) 626-9320 (Caf Flore Not just a daytime cruising and coffee venue, but also by night a hopping spot. Lots of gay party people meet here first before heading out for the really late-night dancing, dark-room clubbing, and what-not that goes on all around the area (see p65). )Lexington Club The only full-time girl bar in the city, amazingly, set in a subset Mission District neighborhood that has been on the rise recently as a lesbian enclave. Young pierced sylphs, 40-something professionals, and even straight women frequent this fun down-home, divey den for dykes, casa la munte as one devotee dubbed it. d 3464 19th St at Valencia Map F5 (415) 863-2052 The Lion Pub

to-die-for views, and the palatial casa la munte dwellings. The Spreckels Mansion, a limestone palace in the Beaux-Arts tradition, on Washington and Octavia streets, is the brightest gem of the lot, now owned by novelist Danielle Steele (see p53). d Map E2