Gay Bars & Clubs
Verified by GayOut
The Cafe
Google
(192) 3.8
Tripadvisor
(1020) 4.5
Been here? Rate it in 3 clicks
83
/ 100
GayOut Score
G3.8 🦉4.5
Address
2369 Market St, San Francisco
📞
Phone
+1 415-523-0133
🌐
Website
cafesf.com
Stay near The Cafe
Real prices · Free cancellation · Best gay-friendly stays
Hotels near The Cafe
via Stay22Hotels near The Cafe
Loading map…
About this place The Cafe
The Café is a long‑standing gay dance bar perched above Market Street in the Castro.
Its upstairs space includes a balcony that looks down the street, giving the room a slightly theatrical feel while the DJ spins nonstop. The place has been a fixture of Castro nightlife for decades, and the crowd knows exactly what to expect: a packed floor and a loud, unapologetic beat.
Open only on weekend nights, the doors swing shut at 9 p.m. on Thursday and Saturday and stay open until 2 a.m.; on Friday they open earlier, at 7 p.m., and don’t quit until 3:30 a.m.
You have to be 21 and carry ID—no exceptions. The patrons tend to be younger than those at many other Castro spots, and lines start to form after 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. On Google the bar sits at about 3.8 stars from roughly 190 reviews; most complaints focus on the door staff and the crush of bodies rather than the music.
For theme nights and cover‑charge details, swing by cafesf.com before you head out.
Opening Hours
Monday
Closed
Tuesday
Closed
Wednesday
Closed
Thursday
21:00-02:00
Friday
19:00-03:30
Saturday
21:00-02:00
Sunday
Closed
Features
Gay
Gay-friendly (straight venue)
Drag Queens
Happy Hour
Drag shows
Live music
Casual
Food served
Party Club
Walk-ins welcome
Mixed LGBTQ+
Drag scene
Touristy
Local favorite
Dance club
Themed parties
No dress code
Day venue
Insider Tips
Community Reviews
Write a ReviewGoogle Reviews
Verified by Google3.8
★★★★★
192 reviews
Based on 192 Google reviews.
Joseph Cosgrove
May 2026
★★★★★
cheap drinks. you like getting elbowed? party here!
Surasak Chanaudompassorn
May 2026
★★★★★
Good
Cesar Cabrera
Apr 2026
★★★★★
Ray Alan
Apr 2026
★★★★★
Randy T
Mar 2026
★★★★★
I enjoyed my time at this bar. It was my first time visiting San Francisco, and really enjoyed the music the DJ was playing, and enjoyed seeing people dancing on the floor. It was a pretty large open place to explore. The door staff, security, and bartenders were friendly in my opinion.
Vanessa
Jan 2026
★★★★★
Security is unprofessional. Threatened to tackle me for attempting to use the restroom. Even if it is a joke, it’s uncalled for. Also for a Friday night, it was dull, music was not fun. I’ve been to The Cafe many times and never experienced such unprofessionalism and dullness.
Joseph Hehl
Jan 2026
★★★★★
TripAdvisor
Powered by TripAdvisor
TripAdvisor data unavailable.
Write a Review
20 reviews so far — add yours
Suggest an Edit — The Cafe
Last updated on 3 November 2026