Finding a public restroom in San Francisco becomes much harder after normal business hours. This guide separates free public bathrooms from 24-hour customer options where a small purchase may be expected.
24-hour public Pit Stops
| Location | Area | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| U.N. Plaza | Mid-Market | 24 hours |
| 16th & Mission | Mission | 24 hours |
| 474 O’Farrell St. | Tenderloin | 24 hours |
| Eddy & Larkin | Tenderloin | 6 p.m.–6 a.m. |
Public Works currently lists 16 Pit Stops in total. Hours can change; confirm on the city directory before making a special trip.
24-hour businesses that can be practical backups
These are not public toilets. A business can require a purchase, restrict access, temporarily close a restroom or change its hours. Ask whether the restroom is available before buying something.
| Business | Area | What we verified |
|---|---|---|
| Orphan Andy’s, 3991 17th St. | Castro | Overnight diner hours on most nights; recent reporting specifically references its bathroom. |
| Happy Donuts, 3801 24th St. | Noe Valley | Listed 24/7; current business listings identify restrooms. |
| Jack in the Box, 4649 Geary Blvd. | Inner Richmond | 24-hour lobby; a 2026 reporter documented using the bathroom at 3:42 a.m. |
| Shell, 1200 19th Ave. | Inner Sunset | Shell’s own station page lists 24-hour service and a toilet. |
| Fuel 24:7, 2601 Lombard St. | Cow Hollow / Marina | Listed 24/7 with restroom references in current listings/reviews. |
| Corgi Cafe, 9 Claude Lane | Downtown | Open 24/7 with several purchases under $5; restroom availability is not independently confirmed, so ask first. |
What can you buy for under $5?
At a late-night café or diner, becoming a customer can be the most practical solution. Corgi Cafe’s current menu, for example, lists items such as espresso, milk, cookies and snacks under $5. Prices and availability change.
Do not assume every 24-hour gas station has an open restroom
Gas stations vary substantially. California law has specific restroom-access rules for certain service stations near qualifying highways, but that is not the same as a rule that every gas station must provide a restroom to everyone at all hours.
Our reliability labels
When this page becomes map-driven, SF News Today will distinguish: free public restroom, 24-hour public restroom, customer restroom independently verified, and 24-hour business — ask first. That is more useful than putting identical toilet pins on a map.