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Lone Star Saloon
Bars

Lone Star Saloon

San Francisco's famous bear bar

San Francisco, USA
4.4
419 reviews

Neighbourhood

San Francisco

Category

Bars

Vibe

Bars

Official website

About Lone Star Saloon

The Lone Star Saloon first opened its doors in 1989 on the corner of Howard and 7th. At first it was a bar for old gay hippies. We didn’t even have a liquor license. Just beer and wine — oh yeh, and sake, fresh from the microwave. They were humble beginnings indeed but at a time when HIV/AIDS was ravaging our community it was more about a sense of place than anything else. And in general, the bar’s founder, Rick Redewill, was helping to foster an atmosphere that appealed to working class men who felt more at home in SOMA than the Castro. On October 17, 1989, the Loma Prieta earthquake struck. The bar, only 6 months old, was rendered unsafe and had to be demolished. Like a proverbial phoenix it rose up at its current location at 1354 Harrison St. The space, with its ample main room, nooks, crannies, and soon-to-be legendary patio, appealed to the biker crowd that previously made The Ambush — the notorious leather bar once located directly across the street — their HQ. The leather/biker crowd soon began to merge with the bear scene, which was gaining its momentum as the Lone Star settled into its permanent home. Needless to say, the fringe scenes fit together seamlessly even as the bear movement become the bar’s calling card. Then along came the internet. With some cutting edge (at the time) social uses for it, the bar gained a reputation around the world. If you saw someone wearing a Lone Star t-shirt in London, Sydney or Tokyo you knew what it meant. It was like a secret club. And what did it mean? Many things to many people: Older likes small, big likes big, small likes furry, and on and on. But above all it meant you were proud to identify as a bear. The Lone Star has been open for business and serving bears ever since. It is fair to say the bar has a very special place in a lot of people’s heart, countless encounters started here, some lead to marriages that are still strong to this day. That’s something we are very proud of, it means we have done our job. Most recently, the bar has been purchased by two of the longtime bartenders Bruce (19yrs) and Charlie (13yrs). Bruce and Charlie, as well as their crew, are determined to make you comfortable and show you a good time. You can learn more about them from their bios on the Bar Staff page.

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Location

Lone Star Saloon

1354 Harrison St, San Francisco, CA 94103, USA

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WhereIs.Gay rating

4.4

419 reviews

Overall rating across WhereIs.Gay, Google Maps and Yelp.

Rating by source

  • WhereIs.Gay
    4.4
  • Google Maps
    4.6
  • Yelp
    4.2

Featured Google Maps reviews

Selected by Google Maps. Read more reviews on Google Maps.

Monsieur Hairy
Monsieur Hairy

4 months ago

Staff very friendly. Great place to hang out when you are a big furry guy like me me. Always great to be back here each time I'm in town. Look forward to come next June for Pride.

Review from Google Maps

Daddy Pete
Daddy Pete

3 weeks ago

Was there in 1993 for the Mr Drummer contest held in the city that year..... Got in good with the staff who on my last day presented me with a poster I had Joe bear and Matt ( Virginia formerly ) sign the poster so I could recall that the entire sequence of events waz real and got home had the poster framed and its been hanging ever since as tribute to the good times had during my 13 day stay in the city .. Now I will admit having the Lonestar staff to wander around during Folsom fair got me some good photos of the guys cutting up and letting loose and bringing me in on their merriment :)

Review from Google Maps

Mikey Vigil
Mikey Vigil

2 years ago

I recently organized a bachelor party at Lone Star Saloon, and it was an absolutely stellar experience! From the moment we reached out, Charlie, the bar's manager, was incredibly responsive and helpful in organizing the event. His accommodating nature made planning a breeze, and he was open to all our plans and ideas. Charlie went above and beyond, assisting us with decorations and even helping to hire a dancer for the party. His attention to detail and dedication to making our event special were evident in every aspect. The venue itself was fantastic, with a great atmosphere and friendly staff. Everyone who attended had an amazing time, and I couldn't be happier with how everything turned out. If you're looking to host any kind of event, I highly recommend Lone Star Saloon. Their exceptional service and dedication to ensuring a memorable experience are unparalleled. THANK YOU CHARLIE & the entire Lone Star Saloon team! 💗

Review from Google Maps

D G
D G

2 years ago

I could not say enough good things about this bar! We live a few blocks away and it’s the perfect spot for happy hour, or drinks with friends later in the evening. The owner is so sweet and remembers us. The other bartenders remember us too and are so friendly. It’s dog-friendly and has a great selection of beers on tap and liquor. We go at least once a week. Thank you, Lone Star for being so welcoming!

Review from Google Maps

Lone Star Saloon is absolutely fantastic! The service is top-notch, and the atmosphere is wonderfully relaxed. I love coming here right when it opens because the slow crowd allows you to fully appreciate the stunning backyard area. The patio is drenched in sunlight, making it the perfect spot to unwind and soak in the laid-back vibes.

Review from Google Maps

Featured Yelp review excerpts

Excerpts provided by Yelp. Read full reviews on Yelp.

John S.

John S.

22 Mar 2026

3/8/26- I usually come here for the Beer/Soda bust fund raisers and the bears/cubs. Easy to get to from BART or MUNI. Walk a couple blocks from Market St or...

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Review excerpt from Yelp

Patrick S.

Patrick S.

30 Dec 2025

Lone Star Saloon is easily one of the most welcoming bars in SoMa. The atmosphere has that perfect mix of relaxed and lively, the kind of space where you...

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Review excerpt from Yelp

Quintin E.

Quintin E.

8 Aug 2024

The bar saloon of my dreams, this spacious very inviting elevated gay dive bar is got the neighborhood charm and feel that can't be beat. I've never made...

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Review excerpt from Yelp

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Listing details

Last updated
4 July 2021
Listed in
San Francisco › USA
Data from
WhereIs.Gay community, the venue, Google and Yelp