Highlights
- Great coffee
- Great tea selection
oChef » Starbucks – San Francisco
Starbucks - San Francisco
Photo from Starbucks
Starbucks at a glance
San Francisco Financial District
- ☕ Café
$
Price per Person $1–$10
mentioned by 33 of the guests
#2331 out of 2403 places to eat in San Francisco
#159 Café out of 162 in San Francisco
Average
4.7 out of 10
Food
Service
Ambience
Value
187
Reviews
38%
Satisfaction
Often praised
- Friendly Staff
- Good Location
- Coffee Variety
Frequently criticized
- High Prices
- Slow Service
- Food Safety
The cafe Starbucks in San Francisco’s bustling Financial District offers you a perfect spot for your daily caffeine fix. Known for its great coffee, this cozy and casual cafe provides a welcoming atmosphere where you can grab a quick bite or enjoy small plates.
Whether you’re looking for a convenient takeout option or a relaxed dine-in experience, you’ll find it here. It’s an ideal choice for breakfast, lunch, or a sweet dessert.
Overview: Introducting Starbucks
Starbucks offers a generally pleasant experience, often highlighted by its friendly staff and a generally clean store. Many appreciate finding a convenient spot, sometimes even a cozy environment, especially when other options are scarce.
It’s a place where you can often count on a quick and welcoming interaction. However, the experience isn’t without its drawbacks.
Some patrons find it to be an overpriced coffee place, and there can be inconsistencies in both the atmosphere and the service. While many enjoy their visits, these aspects can occasionally detract from the overall impression.
Average
4.7
out of 10
187
Reviews
38%
Satisfaction
105
negative
11
neutral
71
positive
Starbucks holds an overall 4.7 score, placing it in the average range, which contrasts with a rather low 38% customer satisfaction. This divergence suggests that while some aspects are appreciated, a significant portion of customers leave less than fully content.
This assessment is drawn from 187 customer opinions, with 71 positive and 105 negative remarks. Looking closer at the specifics, Ambience scores an average (5.5), often praised for its location and cleanliness, though some find it uncomfortably cold.
Food also sits in the average range (5), with many enjoying the drinks, but some expressing concerns about quality or consistency. Service (4.1) is another average performer, with friendly staff often noted, yet issues like slow service and rudeness occasionally arise.
The most significant area for improvement is Value (1.5), which is rated as poor, frequently cited as being overpriced.
What people like
- Friendly Staff
- Convenient Location
- Good Coffee Options
What people don't like
- Poor Value
- Inconsistent Service
- Food Safety Concerns
With a 4.9 recommendation score, Starbucks presents itself as a practical choice for those seeking a familiar coffee experience. It’s a place that can reliably deliver on its core offerings, particularly if you’re looking for a quick stop or a convenient spot with a generally pleasant atmosphere.
However, it’s worth managing expectations regarding value and service consistency. While you might encounter genuinely friendly staff and a good drink, be prepared for potential price points that some find steep and occasional service hiccups.
It’s a solid option for a quick coffee run, but perhaps not for a consistently exceptional experience.
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Verdict: Our expert take on Starbucks
Food (5 out of 10)
mentioned by 63% of the guests
When it comes to the food, it seems like a bit of a mixed bag, with a score of 5 putting it squarely in the average category. Many customers really enjoy the 24 positive remarks highlighting the delicious hot chocolate, fantastic sandwiches, and specialty drinks like cold espresso with oat milk and nitro cold brew. Theres a good variety of options to choose from, often made to order.
However, theres certainly room for improvement, as reflected by the 45.3% customer satisfaction, which is definitely in the mixed range. A significant number of people (26 negative remarks) reported issues like bad coffee or burnt coffee, and some even mentioned concerns about food poisoning or receiving cold items. It sounds like consistency, especially with coffee and food preparation, can be a real challenge here.
Food
53
Reviews
45%
Satisfaction
26
negative
3
neutral
24
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Great hot chocolate
- Good food options
- Specialty drinks
What people don't like
- Burnt/bad coffee
- Food safety concerns
- Cold food served
Often praised
- drinksthe drinks here are great most times
- foodthe food and drinks aren't bad
- coffeeAnd the place was semi-packed. The staff were friendly, and the coffee and sandwiches were fantastic, as they always are.
- Machiatto Caramelenjoy the Machiatto Caramel
- Peppermint hot chocolatePeppermint hot chocolate, great music
- brewStill good brew though
- cold espresso with oat milkLove their cold espresso with oat milk
- drinkalways know what my go to drink is
- drinks made to orderAll the drinks are made to order which is always a plus for me
- egg bitesenjoy the egg bites
Frequently criticized
- coffeeI've been to Starbucks many times and never tried such bad coffee. Aside from the slow service and them forgetting my order, neither the regular latte nor the almond milk latte tasted like coffee or milk.
- Dragon Fruit Refresherthe Dragon Fruit Refresher was just a 7 dollar cup of ice water with dragon fruit pulp
- House blendor House blend for example
- Komodo dragon blendwhere is the Komodo dragon blend
- almond milk latteI've been to Starbucks many times and never tried such bad coffee. Aside from the slow service and them forgetting my order, neither the regular latte nor the almond milk latte tasted like coffee or milk. It was undrinkable.
- coffee drinksAside from one of the baristas, who was extremely rude, we got food poisoning at this place which spoiled the last couple days of our stay in SF. My boyfriend and I ordered two different coffee drinks and whether it was the milk that was bad or the utensils/cups that were contaminated, our whole afternoon was spent searching for bathrooms instead of sightseeing!
- coldbagel, and croissant were all cold.
- decafThe label said decaf but the batista served me regular anyway.
- drip coffeewait 10 minutes just for a simple drip coffee
- espresso drinkreceived all the garnishments with no espresso
If you're looking for a specific specialty drink or a quick sandwich, you might find something to enjoy. However, be prepared for potential inconsistencies in coffee quality and be mindful of past concerns regarding food safety.
Service (4.1 out of 10)
mentioned by 83% of the guests
When it comes to service, there are definitely some bright spots! Many customers, in 25 positive remarks, praised the friendly staff and good customer service, often noting how accommodating and welcoming the team can be. Some even highlighted fast service and staff ensuring their order was exactly right, which is always a plus.
However, the overall picture is a bit of a mixed bag, with a score of 4.1 and customer satisfaction at a low 30.5%. A significant 55 negative comments point to issues like slow service and long waiting times. Many also encountered unmotivated employees or even rudeness, leading to inconsistent experiences and sometimes even wrong orders.
Service
82
Reviews
30%
Satisfaction
55
negative
2
neutral
25
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Friendly, welcoming staff
- Fast service
- Orders made right
What people don't like
- Slow, inconsistent service
- Unmotivated, rude staff
- Long waiting times
Often praised
- staffgreeted by their very welcoming, well trained and understanding staffs
- serviceservice was satisfactory
- CrisMy experience at this Starbucks was great. Cris was so polite and helpful. I recommend stopping in and saying hi.
- KyraThe store was clean and the drinks were made perfectly. Kyra was extremely friendly and even let me take a San Francisco card as a souvenir. You guys are really walking Starbucks values.
- baristareally good on the ball barrista that can run alone
- baristastwo young and really polite Asian men baristas that I liked
- customer serviceExcellent customer service!
- fastit's fast
- friendly staffgreeted by friendly staff
- initiative girlinitiative girl that helped me
Frequently criticized
- serviceMy experience at the restaurant was marked by the staff's tendency to engage in conversations with people rather than prioritizing orders. While it's nice that they are friendly, it shouldn't come at the expense of being sooooooooooo slow.
- staffstaff like at some locations tend to do business for themselves
- bad experienceI had to take an order and go with it bad experience
- baristaYou'd think they would staff more than 2 or sometimes even 1 person in a location like this! Sometimes I get a really good on-the-ball barista that can run alone, but sometimes there are 3 stooges there that cannot get it together. It needs management to regulate quality control.
- baristasThis was by far the worst Starbucks experience we’ve ever had. Aside from one of the baristas, who was extremely rude, we got food poisoning at this place which spoiled the last couple days of our stay in SF. My boyfriend and I ordered two different coffee drinks and whether it was the milk that was bad or the utensils/cups that were contaminated, our whole afternoon was spent searching for bathrooms instead of sightseeing!
- cashiercassiera non cordiale, tono indisponente e non accogliente
- employeesMy experience at this restaurant was disappointing. The employees seemed depressed, as I wasn't greeted upon arrival and received no response when I said thank you. Additionally, the bathroom was dirty.
- waiting timewaiting 11 minutes and still did not receive my order
- Asian-looking employeeasked an Asian-looking employee for the restroom code, but he gave me a snotty, arrogant look
- Maeshe was already giving off a NOT polite vibe
If youre looking for consistently friendly and efficient service, this spot might be a gamble. While some experiences are great, be prepared for potential delays or less-than-enthusiastic interactions, especially if youre in a rush.
Ambience (5.5 out of 10)
mentioned by 50% of the guests
Despite a somewhat average score of 5.5 and mixed customer satisfaction at 45.8%, many customers, across 48 comments with 22 positive remarks, really appreciate the great location and often praise the overall cleanliness of the store. You might even find a cozy environment with good Wi-Fi if youre lucky, making it a decent place to take a time out. However, its not all sunshine and rainbows.
There are quite a few concerns, with 20 negative remarks, about the atmosphere being freezing inside, and issues with dirty bathrooms or toilets. Plus, a common complaint is the lack of electric plugs and enough seating for those looking to settle in.
Ambience
48
Reviews
45%
Satisfaction
20
negative
6
neutral
22
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Great location
- Clean store
- Cozy atmosphere
What people don't like
- Freezing temperatures
- Dirty bathrooms
- Limited seating
Often praised
- atmosphereWhen I asked to correct this, I was unable to get an iced drink and had no choice but to accept the hot one. Despite this service hiccup, the atmosphere was enjoyable, rated at 4.
- locationGreat location in the heart of the Financial District
- storestore was clean and basically empty
- Starbucks locationsI've come here multiple times at 3: 30 am and the workers are always extremely friendly and wonderful! One of my favorite Starbucks locations hands down! Thank you all for being open so early!
- Wi-Figood Wi-Fi. Great place to take a time out
- branchthis branch was open when nothing else was
- cleanlinessshop itself was very clean for a Starbucks
- cozy environmentThe cozy environment created a relaxing atmosphere
- cozy spotCozy cafe with a simple design
- crowdThe service was fast, and the store was clean and basically empty. I experienced no waiting for drinks and food and no crowd. It's definitely a good place to stop on the way to work.
Frequently criticized
- atmosphereatmosphere to be uncomfortably cold
- Google Maps photoThe photo on Google Maps has graffiti on the front of the building.
- bathroomBathroom was dirty
- chairs and tablesI might miss the chairs and tables, but it's fine for a quick coffee run to continue with your day.
- charge up devicesbeware if you want to work there or charge up devices.
- cleanlinessthe cleanliness was a significant issue
- cold draftthe cold draft makes that hard
- crowdedmuch less crowded than the one on the corner
- dead flya dead fly next to the table
- dirty windowa very dirty window
If youre just popping in for a quick grab-and-go, especially if you value a good location and cleanliness, this place could work. But if youre hoping to relax, work, or need reliable seating and warmth, you might want to look elsewhere.
Value (1.5 out of 10)
mentioned by 8% of the guests
When we looked for positive comments on value, we found none among the feedback. It seems customers didnt highlight any aspects of the pricing or offerings that felt like a good deal or particularly fair, leaving this area without any glowing remarks. However, the picture becomes very clear when we look at the negative feedback.
With a 1.5 score, indicating poor value, and customer satisfaction at a stark 0%, its evident this is a major concern. All 4 comments focused on issues like being an overpriced coffee place and general pricing woes, with many finding the price too high, and one person calling a drink absurd due to its cost.
Value
4
Reviews
0%
Satisfaction
4
negative
0
neutral
0
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
What people don't like
- Overpriced coffee
- High pricing
- Absurd cost
Often praised
No positive aspects so far.
Frequently criticized
- StarbucksStarbucks already charges too much, they should at least make the right drink.
- overpriced coffee placegoes to a over priced coffee place
- pricea 7 dollar cup of ice water with dragon fruit pulp. so I had to stop going to starbucks because it seems absurd
- pricingwhere pricing is xxxl
If youre looking for good value, this might not be the place for you. Customers consistently found the pricing to be too high, making it a potential disappointment if youre budget-conscious. Be prepared for costs that many consider excessive.
How are the prices at Starbucks?
You’re looking at roughly 10 $ per person – reported by 33 diners. That puts it in the $1–$10 category. For a Cafe, it’s comfortably mid-range: not a steal, but not bank-breaking either.
While many guests find options within this budget, the data also shows a good number of diners spending a bit more, suggesting a nice variety of choices from quick bites to more substantial offerings.
This chart shows what people usually spend per person, using the 33 most recent reviews.
How this Cafe’s value stacks up against similar spots in San Francisco.
Overall, for a Cafe in San Francisco, we think the pricing feels quite fair. It offers a good balance for different budgets, which is always a plus!
Customer Reviews: what people think about Starbucks
Visit Type
- Tourist Experience
Service Type
- Dine-in
10
Favorite Starbucks, Excellent Service!
My experience at this Starbucks was exceptional. Located conveniently in the heart of the Financial District, near Transamerica Park, it's a place I truly hope never closes. It would be a significant loss to San Francisco.
This is by far my favorite Starbucks location. The staff are incredibly nice and accommodating, providing excellent customer service.
- location10
- customer service10
- staff10
Visit Type
- Quick Meal
Group Size
- Solo
Service Type
- Dine-in
Wait Time
- Moderate (16–30 min.)
2
Disappointing Service Experience
After placing my order on my phone, I went inside to get my coffee. It wasn't ready yet. I asked an Asian-looking employee for the restroom code, but he gave me a snotty, arrogant look and told me I had to place my order there before I could use the restroom.
I told him I had already placed my order and was waiting for it. Only then did he give me the code. This was a bad experience.
Is this the Starbucks spirit?
- Asian-looking employee2
- restroom code2
- bad experience2
Visit Type
- Regular Visit
Service Type
- Dine-in
Noise Level
- Loud
3
Disappointing Experience, Loud Atmosphere
I’ve tried to like this location after the Jackson Street Starbucks closed, but this was my last visit. The atmosphere was way too loud, and there weren't enough regular tables, with the high tops sitting empty. While not the location's fault, it was frustrating to be served a spinach wrap on a plate without a fork, making it impossible to eat due to the heat.
The new process of having to ask for a paper wrapper is a pain, especially when they still serve on a plate. This company policy is not customer-oriented.
- atmosphere2
- regular tables2
- spinach wrap5
Visit Type
- Quick Meal
Service Type
- Dine-in
Wait Time
- Long (31+ min.)
1
Terrible Service, Ruined My Day
My experience at this restaurant was very bad. I ordered my coffee about an hour ago, and it was still not ready when I arrived. I ended up waiting for 20 minutes, which resulted in my car getting a parking ticket.
I do not recommend this place.
- coffee1
- waiting time1
- parking ticket1
Price per Person
- $11–$20
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Dine-in
Noise Level
- Moderate
9
A Refreshing Starbucks Experience
On a hot day, I visited this Starbucks in need of a cool refresher. The interior was dim and the air conditioning was a welcome relief. I was greeted by welcoming, well-trained, and understanding staff, making my visit satisfying and memorable.
The shop was notably clean for a Starbucks. They offer a wide variety of options, including coffee, lattes, refreshing drinks, Frappuccinos, snacks, sandwiches, and pastries. I appreciate that all drinks are made to order, which is a plus for me.
Having a Starbucks on a Main Street is a win, as it caters to cravings. I highly recommend this place to coffee enthusiasts, those needing a quick bite, or anyone looking for a laid-back spot to hang out or work. I will definitely be back to try their other delicious and refreshing options.
- staff9
- cleanliness8
- variety of options8
What Starbucks offers
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible seating
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
Crowd
- Family-friendly
- LGBTQ+ friendly
- Transgender safespace
- Tourists
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
Popular for
- Solo dining
- Lunch
- Breakfast
Amenities
- Restroom
- Free Wi-Fi
- Wi-Fi
Offerings
- Quick bite
- Small plates
- Coffee
Dining options
- Lunch
- Breakfast
- Dessert
Service Options
- No-contact delivery
- Takeout
- Delivery
- Dine-in
Parking
- Usually difficult to find a space
- Paid parking lot
- Paid street parking
Atmosphere
- Cozy
- Casual
- Trendy
FAQs
Is Starbucks in San Francisco's Financial District accessible for everyone?
Yes, this Starbucks location at 565 Clay St ensures accessibility for you. It features a wheelchair-accessible entrance, wheelchair-accessible seating, and a wheelchair-accessible restroom, making it a comfortable spot for all visitors.
What kind of atmosphere and service options can you expect at this Starbucks?
You’ll find a cozy, casual, and trendy atmosphere perfect for a quick break. Service options include no-contact delivery, takeout, delivery, and dine-in, offering you flexibility whether you’re on the go or prefer to relax inside.
How is Starbucks rated overall?
Starbucks receives an overall score of 4.7, which is considered average. Its Ambience (5.5), Food (5), and Service (4.1) are also rated as average, while Value (1.5) is notably poor.
What do customers say about the service at Starbucks?
Customers often praise the friendly and welcoming staff, with some highlighting specific baristas for their politeness and helpfulness. However, there are also mentions of slow service, occasional rudeness, and long waiting times.
Is Starbucks considered good value for money?
Based on customer feedback, Starbucks is generally not considered good value for money, scoring a poor 1.5 in this area. Many opinions describe it as overpriced, with some feeling the cost doesn’t match the product received.