In the heart of San Francisco’s South of Market district, The Brothel Hotel earned a reputation as the largest gay hotel in America during its heyday. More than a place to stay, it was a hub of sexual freedom and community, offering a space where men could gather openly at a time when such visibility was still radical. With its maze of rooms, playful reputation, and ties to the city’s broader leather and cruising scene, the Brothel Hotel became a symbol of San Francisco’s unapologetic queer culture in the 1970s and early 1980s.
