Lime - View this location on map A 'mixed' place, this Castro bar becomes mostly gay (and more crowded) by midnight. What sets it apart are not the little TVs embedded into the bar, nor the tiny but zesty little dishes (mini-burgers, grilled-cheese sandwiches with tomato soup 'dip,' Yukon potatoes with paprika aioli), but the fact that you can actually have a grown-up conversation there. In general, it's a chilled-out and friendly place, more suited to the flush of young professionals than the party boys. The decor doesn't hurt, either: space-age white furniture, curvy chairs, and tasteful (yes, really) neon. 2247 Market St, San Francisco, CA Nightlife, Restaurant

---