Stray Bar Gay Bar / Sports Bar

Bernal Heights, San Francisco –

The concept behind Stray Bar is simple: beer is awesome, dogs are awesome, and drinking beer with a dog is awesome squared.

Entering the cozy space usually requires patrons to stumble through several wagging tails, most notably that of the owner’s friendly but seen-it-all Australian shepherd, Finnegan.

After the slobber has been wiped away, customers can join the packs of flip-flopped Giants fans who love how the bar opens early on game days, or head over to one of the well-used couches where yuppies, lesbian couples, and area hipsters all unite over $4 Happy Hour drinks and a common love of canines.

Mirrors and abstract-expressionist paintings hang on the red walls, while hidden in the back is a minimally decorated second room with barely enough space for the lone pool table.

Though there’s rarely a wait to rack a few games midweek, Saturday nights and major sports broadcasts find the joint bustling with an ebullient mix of gay and straight locals, so visitors might have to careen around several people and puppy dogs to score a beer.

Tuesday trivia nights can get a little wild as well, as local drag queen superstar Miss Kitty Tapata hosts devoted participants competing for the glory of being named “the ultimate smartypants.”

No matter the day, the residents of San Francisco’s bowwow-loving neighborhood of Bernal Heights know Stray Bar is the best place to gather for booze and best friends.

Now stay!