Peaches Christ's seven best LGBTQ+ spots in San Francisco

From The Castro Theatre to the Eagle Bar, here are the legendary drag queen's favourite gay-friendly haunts.

For many San Franciscans, Peaches Christ is a drag queen legend. The stage persona of Maryland native Joshua Grannell, Peaches first flourished alongside fellow drag performers at The Stud, a beloved gay bar that closed during the pandemic, and later as the host of Midnight Mass, a rowdy and raucous film series that regularly sold out the Bridge Theater. 

In addition to co-hosting the Midnight Mass podcast, this cult queen has since created massive haunted house walk-throughs at The San Francisco Mint and self-produced productions like the recent theatrical parody, Drag Becomes Her, which played to a full-house at the city's Castro Theatre in 2022. She's even performed her campy Christmas Gaiety at London's Royal Albert Hall. 

In many ways, Peaches' success makes sense in a place like San Francisco. The city has long been known as one of the most progressive and gay-friendly places in the US. Not only did San Francisco elect one of the country's first openly gay politicians (Harvey Milk), but it also birthed the original rainbow Pride flag and the pioneering gender-bending theatre troupe, the Cockettes, who performed as early as 1969. "I don't think I could have built such an insanely wild and weird artistic career and [made] a living being Peaches Christ anywhere else," she said. "San Francisco has always supported me." 

Here are some of Peaches' favourite LGBTQ+ spots in the city.

1. Oasis

"It's a cabaret and nightclub opened by my friends D'arcy Drollinger and [the late] Heklina," Peaches said. Oasis, which opened in 2015, occupies one of the city's former bathhouses, a sprawling 8,000 sq ft space that's become a haven for queer performers. "Anyone coming into the city should definitely check out a show here."

The venue, which features both seated performances and standing-room-only acts, is located in the city's industrial SoMa neighbourhood and has its own rooftop patio, a San Francisco rarity. It's a 21-years-old and up club where patrons can catch Over the Rainbow: A Big, Gay Cabaret one night and a meet-and-greet with a reality TV legend the next.   

While programming includes cabaret artists, DJs and live musical acts, Peaches says if you're interested in catching an "only-in SF-type" of drag show experience, "their Saturday night Princess dance party", which kicks off at 22:00, "is the one to check out". Both a disco and drag spectacular, expect special guest stars, tributes ranging from Colombian singer Shakira to anime, and occasional burlesque showcases. 

Website: https://www.sfoasis.com/

Neighbourhood: SoMA

Address: 298 11th Street, San Francisco, CA 94103

Phone number: +1 415 795 3180

Instagram: @theoasissf

2. Twin Peaks Tavern

"As far as LGBTQ+ businesses [go]," said Peaches, "one of the best, most charming and historic of them still standing is Twin Peaks, right on the corner of Castro and Market streets." It's a throwback to an older type of bar experience, with a pre-Prohibition mirrored back bar, partial mezzanine and retro cocktails "that they do really well", she said, like Irish coffees, classic highballs and bloody Marys. 

"What's especially significant about Twin Peaks is that it was the first bar in the Castro to actually have these big windows looking outward," she added. That's because even when the Castro neighbourhood became the hub of the city's LGTBQ+ culture that it is today, "being closed was the norm", Peaches said. "You didn't want people to be able to walk by and see you in a bar. But Twin Peaks said, 'We're not gonna do that.'"

More than 50 years later, Twin Peaks is still an excellent people-watching hub – the sort of place where you'll see silver-haired clientele who've been ordering their gin martinis the same way for decades, and those just passing by outside. "Or you can sit in the window and watch the fog roll in over Twin Peaks (the hill)," Peaches said, "and see that giant rainbow flag across the street. And if you're hungry, you've got Hot Cookie right next door."

Website: https://www.twinpeakstavern.com/

Neighbourhood: The Castro

Address: 401 Castro Street, San Francisco, CA 94114

Phone number: +1 415 864 9470

3. Milk SF & Glama-Rama!

This combo is what Peaches calls a one-two punch: a queer community café (Milk SF), run by the women who own the Glama-Rama! hair salon next door. "Milk is obviously named after Harvey Milk," said Peaches. "Of course, it's also something you put in your coffee." Serving drinks like marshmallow lattes and matcha sodas, the bright and colourful space plays host to a range of events, from spoken word to stand-up comedy. "Oftentimes it's just a place to go and hang out and meet your friends," she said. 

Then there's Glama-Rama: "It's pink! It's fabulous! It's full of queer artwork and has the best hairdressers in the city. If you're looking to get a colour job, go and see Roxanne Redmeat. She is the best!" The two-floor salon also has stylists specialising in balayage, hair extensions and gender-affirming cuts. Many of them only take cash, so make a trip to the ATM beforehand. 

Website: https://www.milk-sf.com/ & http://glamarama.com/

Neighbourhood: The Mission

Address: 302 & 304 Valencia Street, San Francisco, CA 94103

Phone number: +1 415 613 5214 for Glama-Rama! (Milk SF doesn't have a phone number)

Instagram: @milk.sf & @glama_rama_salon

4. Brenda's French Soul Food

A bright and lively eatery with high tin-pressed ceilings and white-clothed tables, Brenda's has been a local favourite since it first opened its doors in 2007."The owner of this restaurant is openly lesbian and she started her business here in the Tenderloin [a notoriously gritty neighbourhood]," said Peaches. "I mean, we're not even friends, but I'm just that much of a fan and love what she does." 

The restaurant is known for its Big Easy-inspired comfort food, and the plates are big. "For brunch I love the Hangtown Fry, an omelette with fried oysters and chunky bacon. You get the biscuit on the side and the grits, and you don't have to eat for the rest of the day – it's so good. Then for dinner, I go for the fried chicken. It's just delicious," Peaches said. Other popular menu items include the beignets (a New Orleans-style doughnut) served all day, and an authentic chicken and andouille gumbo. 

While there are a limited number of reservations for brunch, walk-ins are the norm until dinner. Chances are there'll be a crowd already waiting out front when you arrive, but consider it part of the Brenda's experience.  

Website:  https://frenchsoulfood.com/

Neighbourhood: Tenderloin

Address: 652 Polk Street, San Francisco, CA 94102

Phone number: +1 415 345 8100

Instagram: @brendasfrenchsf

5. San Francisco Eagle Bar

"It's a leather bar, and it's one of the original leather bars," said Peaches. "But what I especially love about the Eagle is that a lot of leather communities in other parts of the world tend to embrace their masculinity a little too much," she added, describing a vibe of exclusivity. But not at The Eagle. "This place is very San Franciscan." 

With its blackened walls and shirtless bartenders, The Eagle is a true San Francisco landmark. It's known for strong drinks and a full event calendar, with everything from karaoke to fetish nights. The bar's Sunday afternoon all-you-can-drink Beer Bust and BBQ draws plenty of daytime revellers to its outdoor patio, and they often host fundraisers for local charity. "For a while, The Eagle was even doing live Thursday night indie rock," Peaches said. "You'd go in and there'd be these straight, hip guys standing next to these leathermen who are cruising each other. The straight guys are checking out the music, and everyone is getting along!" 

In essence, it's a place where everyone can co-exist. "I think The Eagle is one of those uniquely only-in-San Francisco experiences where it's uber queer, you know – the queerest of the queer – because its niche is leather, it's S&M and it's kinky, but the entire city is invited to come and have fun there. It's a quality I just think is really special." 

Website: https://sf-eagle.com/

Neighbourhood: SoMA

Address: 398 12th Street, San Francisco, CA 94103

Instagram: @sfeaglebar

6. The Castro Country Club

Tucked within a yellow Victorian that's unassuming from the street, the "CCC" is a sober community centre with a daily roster of 12-step and other types of recovery meetings up front, and a fully functional cafe serving up Bay Area-based Peet's Coffee in the back. Staffed by volunteers, it's a refuge for people from all walks of life – from those new to sobriety to the greater LGBTQ+ community looking for a safe place to enjoy an espresso, laugh and converse. 

"It's a really wonderful spot for people to gather and have a sober experience, whether they're sober or not," said Peaches. "In a neighbourhood where so many social experiences sort of revolve around alcohol, it's just a lovely place to hang out." 

For-sale works by local artists adorn the walls, caféthe cafe stocks everything from greeting cards for celebrating recovery milestones to daily meditation guides. 

Another bonus is the country club's back deck, a sort-of garden patio that sits among a sea of classic San Francisco homes. "It's one of those charming hideaways behind Victorian spaces that San Francisco has so much of," she said. "You're in the middle of the Castro," where there's always something happening, "but it's so quiet and peaceful back there." 

Website: https://www.castrocountryclub.org/

Neighbourhood: The Castro

Address: 4058 18th Street, San Francisco, CA 94114

Phone number: +1 415 552 6102

7. The Castro Theatre

For Peaches, The Castro Theatre is perhaps the city's most sacred queer space. "This is where I've done my shows for the last 10-11 years, and it's the cultural centre for the Castro neighbourhood – and thecity, in many ways – if you're a queer person," she said. "It's where we gather for things like the Frameline Film Festival, giant drag events like the ones that I put on… really, all sorts of things. I've attended memorials here for beloved members of the community that have passed. I've attended incredible comedy roasts. My own 45th birthday roast was here and all of my icons and friends – John Waters, Elvira, Mink Stole, Sister Roma – they roasted me. That doesn't happen at movie palaces across the country." 

Although the theatre is currently in limbo, caught between its long-running role as a repertory cinema for movies, special events and film festivals, and its proposed future as a mixed-space venue ("Which I agree needs to happen," Peaches said), the city's love for this stunning, century-old Spanish-Colonial-Baroque beauty remains in full swing. 

Peaches even made a short movie for the annual LGBTQ+ Frameline Film Festival in 2015 that she describes as a "love letter" to the theatre. 

"It's a Wizard of Oz spoof that showcases my sentiments about the theatre," she said, "which is where I found my chosen family – my home away from home."

Website: https://www.castrotheatre.com/

Neighbourhood: The Castro

Address: 429 Castro Street, San Francisco, CA 94114

Phone number: +1 415 621 6120

Instagram: @castrotheatre

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