Exploring Bernal Heights – San Francisco’s lesbian neighborhood

Housed in a historic Victorian you’ll find a queer-owned and operated coffee shop that aims to connect delicious coffee, funky art, and community. Wooden decor and neon lights adorn the walls while perky pups and their owners bask on the parklet in the mid-afternoon sun.   You’ll find homages to the owners’ Filipino heritage throughout the shop and quirky apparel along the walls. Don’t leave without snatching up one of the popular mochi donuts!

When Stacie Pierce left her head pastry chef role at Berkeley’s famed Chez Panisse, and the equally buzzy Foreign Cinema, she and her wife opened Little Bee Bakery on Cortland to be able to spend more time with their newborn daughter. The tiny 600 square-foot space is just enough for 6 seats and a pick-up window, but the parklet benches are a perfect place to soak up some sunshine before the infamous San Francisco fog rolls in. The space also arranges small baking workshops for up to seven people. Make sure to reach out via social media if you’re interested in improving your skills.

Located right next to Pinhole Coffee you’ll find a queer-owned Italian-style butcher shop and market that has locally sourced cuts, daily panini sandwiches, and butchery classes. The vintage steel display class will transport you back to a bygone era, and the market features the perfect accouterments for your meat selections. Not sure how to cook your cut? Check out the market’s website for recipes and best practices.

San Francisco native, Cid Peaters, has owned this small neighborhood salon for the past 14 years. Although you may think that the name is a reference to the famed 70s spacey Jane Fonda film, it’s actually an homage to the fact that Peater’s father used to introduce her as a barber. Nonetheless, there is a spacey vintage charm to the place.

Located on the north side of Bernal Heights, next to sun-drenched Precita Park, you’ll find a lesbian-owned bistro with sister cafes on Duboce Dog park and the flagship on Dolores park. The bright dining room and ample outdoor seating are a great place to sip on a latte or brunch with friends.

This women-owned dive is named after the small university that once graced the area, and has been open since 1933. Known for their Bloody Mary’s and free popcorn, this retro bar features Funk and Soul DJs, pin balls machines, and pool tables. Can’t get enough of the Bloody Mary mix? Make sure to ask about taking some home. 

Officially known as the “unofficial” last Lesbian bar in San Francisco. Originally Walk on the Wild Side, as it was known in 1962, eluded to a classic Barbara Stanwyck film and began in Oakland. At the time, women bartenders were illegal, and the bar itself was a revolutionary act.

After moving to North Beach, the bar was a haven for showgirls looking to find refuge from handsy fellas at the topless bars on Broadway. Here Janis Joplin played impromptu shows and was rumored to have had some intimate experiences on top of the pool table. Eventually, the bar moved to Bernal Heights where it gained a massive garden (at least by SF standards).

Walking through the backyard oasis it may seem odd to see porcelain toilet bowls filled with flowers, but they are actually leftover remnants of things that were thrown through the bar’s windows by homophobic neighbors. Wild Side West has become Bernal’s favorite queer watering hole, and it’s a great place to sip on a cocktail on a warm afternoon.