Starbucks
Restaurants · San Francisco, CA
About
At the corner of Castro and Hartford, the locals loiter outside this Starbucks with a certain ease. The baristas here are known for receiving the best tips in San Francisco, a testament to the friendly (and largely gay) staff. After a remodel, seating is leaner, but the community feel persists — you'll still spot familiar faces grabbing coffee before hitting The 440 or The Edge.
Yelp lists this location as permanently closed, so check before heading over. The 'Bearbucks' nickname is earned by the bear crowd that gathers here, making it less about the chain coffee and more about the pre-bar social scene. It's a quick stop if you're walking between Castro Street and Market.
Features
- ✓Watch the bear crowd gather outside
- ✓Grab coffee before The 440 or The Edge
- ✓Support baristas with the highest tips in SF
What people say
Rated from 224 reviews. 12 community ratings. View this venue on Yelp
From the community
This is a great spot for people watching.
A visitor · Over a year ago
“It's A great Starbucks”
This spot has a strong community feel. The coffee is decent and less expensive than the newer trendy places. The Castro area has way too many coffee shops. It used to be Pasqua, and now it's where the bear crowd meets before heading to The 440 or The Edge, and later to bars in SOMA.
A guest · Over a year ago
“Neighborhood Bearbucks”
For years, people called this Starbucks Bear Bucks because of the clientele. After a recent renovation, there's less seating to hang out, which is unfortunate. But the staff is very friendly and mostly gay, and there's still a nice sense of community.
A recent visitor · Over a year ago
The most gay-friendly Starbucks on earth.
A local visitor · Over a year ago
Over a year ago: This place is more commonly known as Bearbucks.
A visitor · Over a year ago
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there seating available? +
A recent remodel reduced seating, so there's less room to hang out inside.
Is this Starbucks different from other locations? +
Yes — it's nicknamed 'Bearbucks' for the bear crowd that gathers here, and the baristas are known for receiving the best tips in San Francisco.
What type of food or drinks are served? +
It's a standard Starbucks offering coffee and espresso drinks.
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