Part of the Gay San Francisco Guide — bars, events & things to do.
San Francisco, California
Beloved Castro men's bar, famous for theme nights and beer busts.
440 Castro is a men's bar directly across from the Castro Theatre, with a masculine, bear- and leather-leaning crowd and a reputation as one of the neighborhood's most reliable cruising spots. The address has catered to that crowd for decades — it opened in 1979 as Bear Hollow and was known simply as The Bear by the mid-'80s before becoming the 440. No-frills and friendly, it runs on theme nights and strong, fairly priced drinks. The Monday Underwear Party (clothes check at the door) is the marquee, with a monthly "Battle of the Bulge" contest on the first Monday; beer busts and other nights round out the week. Come for the room and the regulars, not the polish.
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