Bench and Bar

Spent last friday night here. Mostly latins of course, with a sprinkling of their white admirers. There's $15 cover, but they have dancers and an amateur wet underwear contest. It reminded me of how a latin club can be more fun - just people enjoying themselves and their friends dancing and laughing. The only drawback - it's not close to anything gay. You'll need to drive or find how public transport works to get here. A cab ride from Berkeley and back totalled $60. Good news - the location is near downtown Oakland, so not too scary. Even for a white guy like me raised in the suburbs.

I have gone to Latin Explosion several times on Friday nights. It attracts a primarily Latino crowd (duh), but there is a nice mix of men of all colors. The music ranges from Salsa to Reggaeton to hip-hip to pop. The Bench and Bar is a good East Bay alternative to the Castro scene.

On Sunday, the Bench & Bar is home to B-Unit, a club for bears and big boys. Decent music. Slightly overpriced drinks, but a free buffet and cute bartenders make it worth the trip. Also, more men of color and men over 30 than you find in your usual SF haunts.

Boy this has to be the most unfriendly place i have ever been to, and i have been to dozens of places, the music more than sucks and the service is horrible besides drinks are expensive, they think they are competitive with other clubs like the ones in Miami, New York and LA. Please there's no similarity There. Final you'd be better of skippin it worth the drive to SF