50 Best Cafes in San Francisco

“My mom and I came here when visiting the Legion of Honor, and it's a cozy quiet shop near a beautiful view of the Golden Gate Bridge. We got a bagel and a daily special - it was only $10 and it was so good! The woman serving was so nice and the service was great. Would recommend if you are looking for a straightforward lunch and coffee spot!“

“our waitress was so nice! i got the eggs benedict and potatoes with cheddar cheese it was AMAZING! my husband got the taraval special with eggs, sausage and pancakes and the pancakes were so nice and fluffy, so delicious!! THE OJ AND LEMONADE IS ¡FRESH! PLEASE TRY IT!“

“One65 was an amazing discovery on our trip to San Francisco. Having spent the first half of our life in Montréal, Québec, Canada where it was hard to find a bad restaurant, we were absolutely amazed by this Bistro which looks more like a high end dining experience. The menu online & the photos attracted us to this location but we were amazed by the well timed service, the crisp white tablecloths, the table setting and the pleasant and calm atmosphere. My choices of charcuterie platter was perfectly sized; the chicken & the pork rillettes where a wonderful surprise. My husband had an onion tart with the crust as perfect as they get & which I envied. He loved his halibut, moist and tender and I raved over my grilled half lobster, so tender that I found myself munching on the shell parts as well. My bread pudding was not of overwhelming size & perfectly flavored. Don chose the Affogato (scoop of vanilla gelato « drowned » with a shot of hot espresso). We wanted to go back today but they are closed on Sundays.?“

“San Francisco’s most hidden gem“

“Cafe de Casa offers an exceptional Brazilian culinary experience. It offers countless meal and snack options for people from all over the world to learn more about this delicious culture. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for an unforgettable experience.“

“Incredible sandwiches. The bread is fresh and fluffy and all of the combos we tried were delicious and perfectly balanced. We had the rueben, turkey and Cubano and all are going on my to eat again list. I couldn't event wait for a bite of the rueben before I got a picture. Don't miss.“

“Amazing burritos. Bomb.com“

“Great facility and staff for hands-on culinary skills learning.“

“They do phone orders! Cash and credit card.

Stopped here on the way to crabbing :)

Never been before, but very happy we tried it out! Got 3 combos and 2 porks, yum! Warm and crunchy! They were very nice :)“

“Me and the coworkers come here on our break. This place is so chill with all the plants. Like walking into a secret garden but its not so secret bc its seems everyone loves this place. Drinks and breakfast are great! Avo toast is tasty! Will have to come back for more.“

“Came on a Sunday around 10 am and waited in line for around 15 minutes to order. The interior is super cute but very limited seating so we had to wait a while for seats to open up.

Maison Nico had an amazing selection of pastries but my friend and I decided to get some classic ones- a plain croissant and a brioche slice. We both loved how airy and light the croissant was and the brioche slice was also amazing- it had a perfect sugar glaze and was super crisp on the outside yet light and airy on the inside. Both paired well with the lattes that we got!“

“Good for a quick bite. I like the local feel of the place but it can get very crowded, especially on the weekends so I'm glad for the outdoor tables. I like to stop by when I'm going to hang out near Ocean Beach. The food is tasty!“

“Cafe de Olla is an attractive, warm and friendly restaurant. The food and drink are delicious. I love their fermented pineapple juice and Tlayudas. Check it out!“

“Five bright stars, Lissa darling!“

“Good food and excellent service! I highly recommend their coffee drinks. Also, the fresh squeezed OJ is such a treat. I am sure their non-brunch items are good but I am still obsessed with their breakfast items.“

“If you go on the weekends, the chances of scoring a freshly baked egg tart increases as there are more people picking up tarts. I like their regular egg tarts more than the Portuguese ones. The caramelized sugar top is too sweet for me. Maybe the younger folks like it more. Surprisingly, no line today at around 1pm. The buns are good here. I like their BBQ pork buns and curry buns. The bonus for me is sometimes seeing old high school friends while waiting in line.

They also do birthday cakes with customized lettering. Solid Chinese bakery.“

“Amazing burritos!! As a celiac girl, I love that they give a gluten free tortilla option (YUM) and labeled it an allergy for me. I also noticed that they have gluten free oatmeal, and all the tater tots are gluten free. (They are amazing inside of the burrito) Wonderful service and vibes. Came around 1:30pm on a Thursday and the food was quick to come out. I’m visiting San Francisco, but if I lived here, I would definitely return!“

“Terrific little cafe hidden away inside the 450 Sutter Building that has truly friendly service, excellent coffee and perhaps the best sandwiches in SF! The Black Bean Veggie Patti is a taste tour de force (healthy too). Def worth searching out if you’re in the area.“

“I have been here a few times now. Great food, great service, combined with a modest price. Get there for the early bird and the deals are even better. I have enjoyed their breakfast multiple times. It’s got that charm that I absolutely love when walking into a breakfast/lunch restaurant. Lots of locals eat here, and the television screens run a montage of pictures of all the great parties and festivities that occurs in the Castro. Great place to eat and start your day!“

“Great breakfasts and great hang over cure! Staff is always gracious and efficient. Seems to be more tourists than I remember but still many locals enjoying their food. Try the Piggy special or the the pork chops and hash. Both great and sure to keep you satisfied until dinner.“

“Small space but so cozy and the team in the back is whipping up absolutely fresh and quality food. It is a small inside with limited seating and they have some seating outside.

Everything on the menu is vegetarian, but don’t be fooled, the bowls are super filling. After eating, I don’t feel heavy at all and I leave feeling energized. I like getting the best of the both worlds to get half slaw and half beans. The tamale is warm and fresh. The egg is nice and jammy. I really enjoy the chili crisp and the pickled veg they add to the bowl; really adds more flavors and textures.“

“Small breakfast spot with great food at a really good price and it is open on Sundays. We tried three different breakfast places during our stay but this one was the only open on Sunday. Food was great, price very good, just that there is barely any space to sit. So we had a table outside.“

“Tomato sandwich goes so hard….incredibly juicy and perfectly seasoned. Hard to eat in the best way, I was deliriously slurping. Seasonal pastry (fig & cream cheese) was delicious too! My iced matcha was perfect.

I believe the owners helped me and they were so incredibly warm and welcoming! Spots like this are so hard to come by. It’s authentically local and so SOMA. If you find yourself walking Folsom, I cannot recommend Nosh Box enough!“

“Great place and great coffee“

“اكل حلال اسعار في متناول اليد تعامل قمة في الذوق“

“Great little find while touring the city! Had to stop by three times in two days. Fantastic sandwich’s and great pastries.“

“Highly recommend Best coffee in San Francisco ☕️“

“I love cozy cafe! Im so happy to see them thriving. Super fair pricing, exceptional food (get the brekky burrito) and super sweet welcoming ladies (and man) running the whole operation! Its my go to neighborhood spot. I love them so much!!! 10/10“

“We used Le Dix-Sept for a catering event for a house warming and the food received raving reviews. Recommend them!“

“Manitas is just around the corner from me. Not usually into Mexican food, but the huevos rancheros was actually really good. Tacos were decent too, and the horchata is sooo refreshing.“

“Got two boxes from this eatery as part of the Too good to go initiative. Would otherwise have never heard of this place or ventured in, as it is inside one of those big downtown buildings that one has no business visiting unless one works inside. There is no seating for the eatery itself, it’s basically a order counter for to go orders. The man taking orders and preparing the food is super friendly and very efficient. Food itself was tasty although I only tried whatever was in the surprise box so it wasn’t any of the actual menu choices.“

“This place is a gem! Their food is incredibly sophisticated and delightful. The guy running it us really kind and helpful. And there are great outdoor spots nearby to eat. Definitely considering coming here for lunch, breakfast or a smoothie! (By the way, they are NOT located in an office complex. It's a really nice community center, with a cool garden/playground.)“

“My wife and I really enjoyed our dinner at Acova. The menu is very interesting and varied. My wife had fish and chips and I chose the beef short ribs. Both dishes were super. Our server was helpful and attentive. We appreciate the fairly low noise level so we could have a comfortable conversation. Thank you.“

“I walk by here all the time with my dogs. I was dogfree and got to relax with a finjan qahwa - their house coffee. Was served in a cool cup and the coffee pot used to make the coffee. Baklava was amazing. Definitely a great place to visit, not your typical hipster coffee shot.“

“Love this place! Great people, great food, and great coffee. We come here every visit to SF“

“I definitely recommend this place because of the great original taste and quality of the tatar national cusine!
I'm originally from Kazan, Tartarstan Republic, and the the food serving here, remind me about my homeland and my grandmother's home-made pastries. 😌💛
Don't pass and check AyDea's amazing ochpochmak serving with broth and salad; pelmeni, and herbal tea! We'll definitely taste other delicious tatar food here next time!
Thank you for the warm welcoming us here and your care about guests by the people who work here and who appreciate snd love Tatar cuisine and culture.❤️
*Children tatar books were a special surprise to remember reading on tatar language!
🅿️ We found 2 city public parkings marked with blue signs on the street: on the same intersection and 3 block away, cheap and close to the cafe.“

“A lot of people ask me is this the absolute best restaurant you’ve ever been to in your life? Yes it is. This is the best lunch restaurant I’ve ever been to in my entire life. The food is cooked with love and you can taste the quality in the ingredients and in the recipes. If you start coming here every day, your life will improve.“

“I came in with my daughter for breakfast. They have the best bagels and sandwiches. My daughter got her self a sausage burrito. She said it’s the best burrito she’s ever had. They use very fresh ingredients and it is a very cute cafe. The inside is very clean and organized. I ordered an egg bagel and it was so delicious and toasted. The interior is very fascinating and incredible.“

“Delicious and fresh almond crescent and Tasty latte, very enjoyable!“

“Local, family owned & operated new coffee shop with delicious coffees - alt milk options available (almond, soy, oat) chai & matcha lattes, tea, pastries and more focusing on the individual experience and quality served in a welcoming and friendly environment. Just hop in Varney Alley off of 3rd near the Shell gas; you won’t be disappointed!“

“Cafe International is a welcoming cafe in Lower Haight. The delightful owner, Zahra, is inviting and warm. The food is as outstanding as the coffee, making it the perfect spot to checkout. Be sure to stay for the live music.“

“If you’re wandering through Glen Park and wondering where happiness is made, it’s at Higher Grounds—specifically inside their crepes.

These things are so fresh I’m convinced someone in the back is picking berries and whisking batter like it’s an Olympic sport. 🥞🍓

The place is cozy too—like the kind of cozy where you start questioning whether you should just move in and pay rent in cappuccinos.

Do yourself a favor: get a crepe, sip your coffee, and enjoy the vibes. 10/10 would crepe again.“

“Best coffee ☕️ and the best service“

“I have been here 4 times and I owe Cafe La Flore 4 reviews. From the first time I visited, the service, food and prices have been nothing less than exceptional. It shows true passion in the craft to see their presentation and intention with everything served from their menu, and as much as I want to keep this a hidden gem in the sunset, it would be a crime to not share this cafe with the world! Do yourself a favor and have a fantastic breakfast or lunch here, the customer service will make you feel as if you've been a regular for years. I love this place, they should have more recognition in the city!“

“The ice coffee ☕ was delicious and pastries“

“great value and delicious on- the- go breakfast selections. An independent establishment that enhances the neighborhood.“

“I haven’t been to this place for about 6 years. A coworker reminded me of this place so I went for lunch and MAN! I forgot how DeLIcIOuS the chicken Caesar wrap was! They changed the process. You order at the cashier now and they use to have tomato or spinach wrap options. The staff there are the same and they are SO NICE! I LOVE them! I’m glad the wraps are reasonable $$. Also, they are HUGE and LOADED! A wrap is about a footlong. I swear it’s like a 10lbs dumb bell. I always get the chicken Caesar wrap with no croutons. It NEVER disappoints. My photos don’t do justice but this was just half the wrap. I would’ve taken a better photo but I was ready to devour this thing! I’ll update my pictures the next time because I’m for sure coming back!“

“Love the small item food choices and the salads ans sandwichws! The atmosphere is amazing with tall ceilings and great seating. The wall has 'snowfall to outfall SFPUC water system beautifully lit display. (Worth checking out even if you dont order!)
Lattes fantastic, all rhe choices and options.
Super clean, with low level music, good spot for coffee and lunch or snack!!“

“Love this place. It’s always good and fresh. The Nutella/ strawberry 🥐 croissant is yummm, a must have.“

“Café Rx is truly a hidden gem tucked away in the Presidio, and once you find it, it’s absolutely worth the visit. The food quality is outstanding — everything tastes fresh, thoughtfully prepared, and genuinely made with care. Favorites like the tuna melt, vegetarian quesadillas, and the house-made chai latte are consistently excellent and easy to see why they’re so popular.

One of the biggest strengths of Café Rx is its value. The lunch combos are very reasonably priced for the quality and portion size, often including a fresh side salad, which makes it an especially great option for a satisfying weekday meal.

The service deserves special mention. The staff are friendly, efficient, and welcoming, with owner Rogelio and manager Danny frequently praised for their warmth and attentiveness. Even during busy lunch hours, the team keeps things moving smoothly.

While the indoor space is simple and cafeteria-style, the peaceful outdoor courtyard more than makes up for it. On a sunny day, dining outside feels calm and relaxing — a perfect break from the workday. The café can be a little tricky to find at first, but that only adds to its charm.

Overall, Café Rx stands out for its fresh ingredients, rotating seasonal menu, organic options, and genuine hospitality. A fantastic weekday spot for breakfast or lunch — just arrive early, as popular specials tend to sell out.“