Welcome to San Francisco, we’ve put together a self guided walking tour of the Rainbow Honor Walk, with callouts to popular bars and eateries along the way. Enjoy your visit and encourage your friends to explore the honor walk as well! And be sure to stop off at Cliff’s Variety for gifts and tchotchkes as well as the world famous Castro Theatre. As you are viewing each plaque, click on the honoree’s name for more details about their life and work. Feel free to share pictures and comments on Google Maps!
Castro Street (West Side) : Start at the Castro Muni Station turn right and walk toward 19th St on the west side of Castro Street.
Between 17th and 18th Streets, you will find the plaques for Jane Addams, James Baldwin, George Choy and Federico Garcia Lorca.
Between 18th and 19th Streets, you will find the plaques for Bob Ross, Allen Ginsburg, Keith Haring, Harry Hay and Christine Jorgensen.
Eats and drinks along this walk include The Cove on Castro, Marcello’s Pizza, 440, Q Bar, Blush Wine Bar, Castro Indian Restaurant, Cafe Mystique and Fable.
19th Street Between Castro and Collingwood : Turn right on 19th St and walk toward Collingwood, then cross 19th St and walk back toward Castro.
Along this path you will find the plaques for Frida Kahlo, Yukio Mishima, Del Martin and Bayard Rustin.
Stop by Spike’s Coffee for a fresh cup of java.
Castro Street (East Side) : Cross Castro St and walk back on the east side of Castro towards Market St.
Between 19th and 18th Streets, you will find the plaques for Randy Shilts, Gertrude Stein, Sylvester, Alan Turing and Roger Casement.
Between 18th and 17th Streets, you will find the plaques for Tom Waddell, Oscar Wilde, Tennessee Williams and Virginia Woolf.
Eats and drinks along this walk include Thai House, Anchor Oyster, The Sausage Factory, Gyro Xpress, La Tortilla, Posh Bagel, Tang Lad and Hot Cookie.
Market Street (Between Castro and Sanchez) : Turn right and walk down Market Street to Sanchez, then cross via Sanchez and walk back toward Castro St on the north side of Market Street.
Walking east on Market Street toward Sanchez, you will find the plaques for Jose Serra, Rikki Streicher, Glen Burke, We’wha, Chavela Vargas, Leonard Matlovich, Sylvia Rivera, Gladys Bentley, Alvin Ailey, Gerry Studds, Freddie Mercury, and Maurice Sendak.
Walking west on Market Street back toward Castro, you will find the plaques for Audre Lorde, Quentin Crisp, W.H. Auden, Marie Equi, Divine, Vito Russo, Lou Sullivan, Josephine Baker, Kiyoshi Kuromiya, Barbara Jordan, Fereydoun Farrokhzad, and Sally Ride.
Eats and drinks along this walk include Orphan Andy’s Diner, Starbelly, Bar 49, Zona Rosa Mexican Grill, Santerias Margarita Bar, Hi-Tops, The Lookout, The Epicurean Trader, Canela, Beaux, Catch and the famous Twin Peaks Tavern (a great place to end your walking tour with a well earned drink!)