440 Castro

30s / 40s / 80s Music / 90s Music / Arcade Games / Beer / Budget-friendly / Cash Only / Casual / Cocktails / Couples / Cover charge / DJ / Dance / EDM / Dance / Dancing / Diverse / Drink Specials / Erotic / Flirty / Friendly / Gay / Gay Bar / Gay Club / Gay-friendly / Go-Go dancers / Good for Groups / Groups / Happy Hour / Hook-up / Jam Packed / Laid back / Mid 20s / No cover charge / Pop / Post Grads / Sexy / Shorts / TVs / Tank Tops / Theme Nights / Top 40
440 Castro """Leather daddies, bears, and muscle men, oh my!""– and the rainbow-brick road leads them all to Castro 440, one of the few watering holes in the neighborhood that caters specifically to the leather/bondage/kink scene." San Francisco United States 37.761833 -122.435108
3.43 7
440 Castro - Gay Bar | Gay Club in San Francisco.
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3 User Reviews
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Ratings:
Lucas
Adriana
Jonah
Emma

Party Earth Review "Leather daddies, bears, and muscle men, oh my!"– and the rainbow-brick road leads them all to Castro 440, one of the few watering holes in the neighborhood that caters specifically to the leather/bondage/kink scene... ... read full review

  • Metro:

    MUNI KT, L, M Lines: Metro Castro Station

  • Phone:

    415-621-8732

  • Links:

    Official Website

  • Hours:

    Daily noon–2am

  • Recommended as:

    • Day Spot
    • Night Spot

Party Earth 440 Castro Review

The Scene

"""Leather daddies, bears, and muscle men, oh my!""– and the rainbow-brick road leads them all to Castro 440, one of the few watering holes in the neighborhood that caters specifically to the leather/bondage/kink scene."

Castro, San Francisco –

"Leather daddies, bears, and muscle men, oh my!"– and the rainbow-brick road leads them all to Castro 440, one of the few watering holes in the neighborhood that caters specifically to the leather/bondage/kink scene.

But while shirtless dudes with chest hair are habitually in attendance, 440’s daily specials and varied theme nights manage to attract a pretty diverse crowd, from curious straights to dance-happy post-grads cashing in on 2-for-1 cocktails and $2 beers.

A relaxed vibe dominates the early hours, with groups of friends sipping a few drafts and checking out the latest local art and whoever just walked in. Portraits of the smiling staff are also on display, while old-school pendant lamps cast what little light permeates the narrow space.

An old pinball machine tucked in one corner is rarely used – at least not for its intended purpose – and usually serves as a leaning table where newly minted couples get openly frisky as the night picks up. By the time DJs kick off the thumping dance music, the joint is usually shoulder to shoulder with big-armed and big-bellied revelers donning little clothes – especially during Monday’s Underwear Night.

Full of brawny men into leather, latex, and everything in between, Castro 440 is where all inhibition gets checked at the door.

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Tip from Jonah:

There are no toilets in the bathroom, just one long trough with a mirror behind it. If you don’t want your business on display while you do your business, ask the bartender for the key to the single-use toilet.

  • Crowd

    Curious post-grads, adventurous straights, daddies, bears, leather and bondage fans, and shirtless muscle men, mid-20s to mid-40s.

  • Entertainment / Music

    DJs spin 80s and early 90s hits, and other danceable tunes, usually accompanied by music videos on the TVs. Underwear Night on Mondays, when all of the bartenders and a lot of the patrons wear nothing but their underwear. Pinball machine.

  • Food / Miscellaneous

    No food. Cash only. Cocktail and beer specials most nights. Happy Hour M–F noon–8pm.

  • Prices

    Cover charge $0–$1 (only on second and fourth Sundays). Beer $4+, wine $2.50–$4, cocktails and shots $6+

  • What to Wear / Dress Code

    Casual kink: tight cut-off shorts, polished black military boots, tank tops, leather harnesses, vests.

  • Hot Nights / When to Go

    Mondays for Underwear Night, Tuesdays for $2 beers all day, Wednesdays for 2-for-1 cocktails all day, or Friday and Saturday nights for a packed den of hungry bears.

  • Close By

    The Mix (4086 18th Street) is a nearby neighborhood bar with long daily Happy Hours, pool tables, and a low-key vibe sans leather accessories.

Tags:
30s40s80s Music90s MusicArcade GamesBeerBudget-friendlyCash OnlyCasualCocktailsCouplesCover chargeDJDanceDanceDancingDiverseDrink SpecialsEDMEroticFlirtyFriendlyGayGay-friendlyGo-Go dancersGood for GroupsGroupsHappy HourHook-upJam PackedLaid backMid 20sNo cover chargePopPost GradsSexyShortsTVsTank TopsTheme NightsTop 40

440 Castro User Reviews

Average rating:
Great!
Gor G.
Gor G. Jun 8, 2013
After a showing of my 1962 comeback hit, "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane" was shown at the Castro Theater, I stumbled across the street in need of a strong cocktail after seeing Bette Davis' mug on screen for close to two hours. It was a Monday night and I made my way into what looked like a quaint little bar called 440. I was hoping that was the Proof of the vodka they were selling. To my surprise I saw many men wearing underwear and jockstraps and I quickly put on my white gloves! As I made my way past the nearly naked men, I used my white gloved to make sure that the boys were p to my cleanliness standards. Many of the men we clean as a whistle but some left stains on my gloves. Im wasn't made at them, I was made at the "DIRT.' After my inspection -- I realized that I was wearing a bejeweled jockstrap - hell, from what I could see - my package was much bigger than half of these "men". Several vodka's in and many of laughs - I left the bar with some amazing memories! Thanks to the bartender Brad of paying attention to ole Joan's hot little ass!
The Castro's Token Skank Bar
Stuart B.
Stuart B. Feb 13, 2013
If the title of this review pisses you off, you're probably not the right person for 440. On the other hand, if you go "F**k yeah, I love me some skunk!" this is your bar in the otherwise generally wholesome bar scene of the Castro District. 440 has changed hands and names several times over the last decade, but it's always been more or less the same: a dimly lit, sweaty, over-crowded split-level rectangle for men more interested in drinking and hooking up over, say, dancing and strutting around to be seen. There is a bit of a bear/leather-man element to the bar, but honestly anyone who is looking for a chill time and relatively low profile will be comfortable here. I've occasionally even stopped in for a beer with a female friend in tow and while I wouldn't say she felt entirely normal sitting there, she was absolutely made welcome, and that's always an admirable sign in a gay bar. Though people looking for a real leather bar experience should probably head to Soma, 440 is a nice change from the more plastic/Queer as Folk/white guys with money scene that permeates much of the rest of the Castro.
Good God!
Jayson M.
Jayson M. Aug 29, 2012
Wieners and fur aplenty, this isn’t where you bring your Promise Keeper grandpa when he’s in town…although he’s probably in the closet, right, so maybe this IS where you bring him. You actually get a really diverse crowd here. It’s a gay bar (DUH!) but you’ll see everything from barrel-chested dudes to little femmes to frat-looking jock types and plenty of ladies (not all of which fall under the stereotypical appellation that I won’t utter here but rhymes with “Bag Hag”). Beers are cheap. Hard to beat $2 drafts on Tuesdays. Music is kitschy with lots of 80s hits and I admittedly would NOT adhere to the five second rule if I dropped anything edible on the floors, but if you want a friendly haunt where you won’t blow your wallet and you might see somebody getting blown in the bathroom, well here you go.
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