San Francisco Coffee Shops
the best of the best

Below is a select list of the best, most interesting San Francisco coffee shops we've tried.  The best SF bakeries also serve coffee. And, for coffee shops in other towns around the Bay area check out SF Bay Area coffee shops.

Ritual Coffee Roasters, 1026 Valencia St/near 21st St, Mission -- Good coffee, slow line.

Caffe Trieste, 601 Vallejo St, North Beach -- This famous San Francisco coffee shop is one not to miss though sometimes it's too crowded. They have the best lattes and history in town. Another local Caffee Trieste, at 1667 Market St/Gough, is just your standard neighborhood shop though they still have great lattes.

Cafe Greco, 423 Columbus Ave, North Beach -- A pleasant place to relax and people watch on Columbus Ave. Nice old-fashioned Italian atmosphere, roomy, with good coffee & food. A place where the locals go. Caffee Puccino next door is similar.

Mario's Bohemian Cigar Store Cafe, 566 Columbus Ave/Union St, North Beach -- Excellent corner location and atmosphere with a perfect view of Washington Square. Small but you can usually get in. More a cafe and bar than a coffee shop. Strong coffee. Good panini sandwiches, beer, and service.

Buena Vista Cafe, 2765 Hyde St/Beach St, Fisherman's Wharf at the end of the Hyde-Powell cable car line -- Well known for serving the first Irish coffee in the U.S. ... and still the best. The Irish coffee & location are what make the difference. Good bar, fair food, nice setting though sometimes crowded. A good meeting spot where you can watch Irish coffees being made ten coffees at a time or have a pleasant chat with visiting tourists while you wait :).

Farm Table Coffee Shop, 754 Post St., E of Leavenworth, Nob Hill. The coffee is superb ... one of the best lattes we've ever tasted and good but limited snacks. Very small shop which is often crowded. We walked there from Union Square since it's not that convenient to get to unless you live in the neighborhood.

Blue Bottle Coffee, Ferry Bldg, SOMA -- The line to the stand-up counter is often long ... it takes them a while to prepare a cup ... but they do create a very smooth & tasty latte. Peet's Coffee, also in the Ferry Bldg, has long lines too but they tend to move faster.

Blue Bottle Coffee, 315 Linden St/Gough, Hayes Valley - This is a "hidden" gem one block south of Hayes St. Stand-up order counter only. For the serious coffee drinker.

The Butler & the Chef, 155A South Park St/3rd St, SOMA - Cute, chic French bistro with excellent food but also very nice just as a coffee shop. The latte in a big cup is classy and a good treat along with my favorite almond pastry (note: they sometimes run out :(. This little bistro is located in what was originally, back in 1885, an exclusive neighborhood modeled after a square in London, England. Now it's a bit more seedy.

Patisserie Philippe, 655 Townsend St/8th, SOMA -- Nice people & service. Excellent pastries and sweets. Good coffee. Why one would ever go to the Starbucks Coffee a couple doors down is beyond us.

MotoJava Cafe & Motorcycle Shop, 498 9th St at the corner of 9th & Bryant, SOMA -- Only in San Francisco can you find a combination motorcycle shop/expresso cafe like MotoJava. MotoJava Cafe is a very small but outstanding local cafe with expresso drinks (using Caffe Trieste beans) and homemade sandwiches. MotoJava motorcycle shop (maintenance & used motorcycle sales) next door is probably the best in the city. Closed Sundays.

Piccino Cafe, 801 22nd St/Tennessee St, Dogpatch -- The stand up coffee counter is at a separate entrance from the main cafe at the corner. Their lattes are excellent and you can sit at the cafe's outside tables. We've noticed local restaurant workers will pay for coffee at Piccino before going in to work at their own restaurants ... not a bad recommendation.

Java Beach Cafe, 1396 La Playa St, Outer Sunset -- At the end of the N-Judah Streetcar line just across the street from the beach. Two blocks south of Golden Gate Park. Great vibe, inside and outside seating, usually a crowd of locals.

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We are lucky to have literally hundreds of places where excellent coffee is served in San Francisco. If you see a pleasant looking coffee house why not check it out like we do. Enjoy some of the best coffee shops in the world and one of the best things to do in San Francisco.


For more places to enjoy coffee in the City also see: best SF bakeries.

Return from SF coffee shops to SF Bay coffee shops
Return from SF coffee shops to SF best things to do

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