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!“

“Amazing burritos. Bomb.com“

“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.“

“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!“

“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.?“

“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.“

“Stopped by here for a breakfast burrito not expecting much but excited to try the tater tots, I was not disappointed in the slightest, the og burrito is so good, I’ve been thinking about it since I came here! I’ll definitely be back to try some more!“

“Pain au chocolat was phenomenal. Canele was mediocre. I had high expectations for a French bakery. Seasonal croissant seemed to be a berry crumble type double baked croissant. Tasty and fresh! Went on a weekday morning with no plans so the casual atmosphere and no line was nice and relaxing.

Their pate en croute assortment looked like art. Would’ve loved to try but hopefully another time.“

“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!“

“This place has always been amazing! The Vietnamese sandwiches, turkey sandwiches, and beverages are always splendid. The staff is friendly. There's frequently a nice place to sit either inside or outside. Love taking their sandwiches to go as well! Highly recommend, it's a place I bring my friends to!“

“5/5! Would come back again and smile about it :) great atmosphere, friendly staff, plants aplenty, yummy food, and even a little corner with trinkets for purchase. I got the veggie sandwich and would recommend! I tried the yuzu latte as well but don’t think it’s a good choice- if you love yuzu, find a yuzu lemonade or a drink where it’s not mixed with coffee. I was hoping it’d be a light drink to highlight the yuzu but it pretty much just tasted like coffee with a hint of yuzu (you’ll really need to stir up the drink to taste even that hint). I think it was a cool idea to include a trendy flavor in a latte but it doesn’t let the yuzu shine. It wasn’t bad but I just don’t think it was the best use of yuzu. I’d recommend a different drink.

Good work/study place! I’m always on the lookout for growing my list of the best spots in the city to work/study. This place is a medium sized cafe- not too cramped but not large. A fair amount of seating with good lighting, wifi, and outlets. Bathroom open without key needed.“

“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.“

“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.“

“The menu is very small and I myself did not like the bowl at all but I could see that it probably is just not my thing. It had a strong nuttiness but was also fairly spicy. I skipped the egg cause they can’t boil it hard - only “jammy.”“

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

“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 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.“

“The most welcoming place ever!“

“Five bright stars, Lissa darling!“

“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.“

“Great place and great coffee“

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

“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.“

“Highly recommend Best coffee in San Francisco ☕️“

“Sandwiches are fantastic! Generous portions of fresh ingredients made to order. Fully stocked pastry case with classic and specialty treats! Friendly staff, great vibe,, totally affordable menu. LOVE!“

“San Francisco’s most hidden gem“

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

“This small cafe works hard to accommodate the morning rush everyday, and it’s common sense to walk in and order. Amazing price on a LARGE latte $5 The food is classic breakfast fare, I love the ham egg and cheese croissant and the tuna sandwich on sourdough. The people working are not responsible for telling customers that they can order, in case anyone had any complaints. These are lovely people and they deserve respect. They are so kind and reasonable, I recommend this place and it’s so good that mornings get really busy so be prepared to wait if it is, they work as fast as they can. If you see them busy and there were people in front of you, it might take longer than 2 minutes. MOST places in SF do, it’s not New York lol.“

“Friendly Staff! Great food!“

“An incredible gem of the city. It doesn’t matter what you pick from the menu, everything is thoughtfully prepared and delicious. The black bean and cheese pupusas are a favorite. It is absurd that this place doesn’t have closer to 5/5 star rating. An amazing place.“

“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“

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

“This spot is such a great option if ur looking to grab & go for lunch. They serve delicious hearty meals at a great price point.
I found out about the place from too good to go, but will definitely come back to try more of their menu.

I was given a generous portion of rice, beans, vegetable , mac&cheese & salmon.
Everything was seasoned & cooked well, from the salmon that’s so tender & not dry, has great sauce on top. Flavorful yellow rice, the vegetables was crunchy & delicious.
If ur looking for a hearty & quick lunch stop by this place!“

“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.“

“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.“

“This was my first time visiting Sammy’s, and he’s truly someone who makes you start your day with a smile! I asked him to customize my hash brown burrito with avocado, and he actually came outside to show me if the amount was enough or if I wanted more. He even asked me to taste my coffee to see if I’d like an extra shot added. Such thoughtfulness and care are rare these days—shops like this are a real gem!“

“Amazing food & amazing staff!!“

“Pepe, the owner, is warm and welcoming. In a city where most cafes close by 5 pm or even much earlier, this spot is one of the rare ones that stay open later. Pepe prepares drinks and food with care, and the atmosphere always feels cozy. Whenever I feel lonely, I like to stop by to work for a bit or even just to say hi.“

“Incredible sandwiches. Fantastic portions/prices. The nicest people.

I get a make your own turkey sandwich on sourdough and it's probably my favorite sandwich. The sourdough is so good - chewy and flavorful and a great crisp on our outside. Roasted turkey is perfect, not too salty, all fix-ins are fresh. It's everything I want a sandwich to be!

On top of this, the sandwich is huge. I eat a lot so it's great portion for me but if you don't eat as much, you'll get two gourmet sandwiches out of $15 which is pretty amazing.

Lastly, the people are just so nice. They are patient and kind and thoughtful. They make you feel right at home.

If I lived closer this would be a regular weekly if not many times a week spot for me!!“

“Best coffee ☕️ and the best service“

“What a great work/study cafe spot! It’s part of the Southeast community center. Lots of space, light, outlets, and free wifi. The staff are always super friendly! I’ve interacted with Ramsy several times and he’s so kind! Not too many food options but what’s there is pretty good (yummy and healthy). Oftentimes I’ve come later in the day and they’ve run out of ingredients in dishes or drinks I’m interested in but the staff are always very accommodating and kind about it so it’s never felt like a problem. Have enjoyed and gone back many times!

Warning: adding smoked salmon to the lentil bowl was $4.50(!) and it was a very small amount, which I don’t think is worth it, so I wouldn’t recommend.“

“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!!“

“The ice coffee ☕ was delicious and pastries“

“Cafe Isabella's delicious food (they serve my favorite San Francisco burrito), and overall appealing aesthetic design reflect the fine tastes of its owner, Hilda. And, I happily note that Cafe Isabella strictly adheres to COVID-19 mitigation best practices.“