9 Cute Cafés in San Francisco You Must Visit

Last Updated on 7th March 2023 by Sophie Nadeau

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If you’re looking for the best coffee in San Francisco, then you’ve come to the right place! After all, whenever I find a new cafe I love, I immediately want to share it. So, whether you’re an SF local or simply just visiting, here are 9 great cafes in San Francisco you must visit on your next trip to the Californian city! 

When travelling in a new city, a coffee shop can be the perfect stop to recharge, enjoy a treat and take in the surroundings. And, if you’re a local in San Francisco, finding a new great cafe is like coming upon a hidden treasure; it’s a new spot to meet friends, read a good book or simply watch the world go by.

A great cafe will also make you feel right at home, like your living room but better because it serves intricately created coffees and delicious bites you probably don’t have the time to make at home.

For even more West Coast inspiration, be sure to check out how to spend three days in San Francisco, our guide to the best things to do in California and these top hidden gems of California.

Stable Cafe

Address | 2128 Folsom St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Stable Cafe is a rare gem in San Francisco due to its peaceful and calm outdoor seating area. Where else in the heart of the city can you get Latin American inspired breakfast alongside Four Barrel coffee?

Stable Cafe is a community hub, offering meeting spaces and a local business incubator. This is the go-to cafe for your daily dose of Mission District sunshine and the perfect place to host a meeting for an inspired new collaboration. Of all the San Fransisco coffee shops listed here, Stable Café is easily one of the best.

Jane on Fillmore

Address | 2123 Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA 94115

Jane on Fillmore caters to a decidedly more polished crowd. After all, this coffee shop located on Fillmore Street, where chic shops and mouth-wateringly delectable eateries pull out all the stops. Jane on Fillmore is no exception and undoubtedly serves the best gluten-free banana bread…

To the extent where even fans of gluten can’t deny it! At Jane, you can find healthy salads and quinoa bowls, along with chocolate chip cookies and mouth-watering buns. The Fillmore District is also where you’ll find the most famous Painted Ladies of San Francisco.

Tartine Bakery 

Address | 600 Guerrero St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Don’t let the simple facade fool you! Tartine coffee shop has some of the most elaborate and beautiful baked goods in the city. And while this patisserie and is best-known for its bread, the Bakery also offers an array of pastries, and sandwiches, as well as coffee.

As such, it’s the perfect place to pick up a treat before heading to nearby Dolores Park. Love for this bakery runs so deep that they now have over 10 locations in the Bay Area, Los Angeles and even as far away as Seoul! 

Snowbird Coffee

Address | 1352 9th Ave A, San Francisco, CA 94122

Snowbird Coffee is a sweet little shop not too far from Golden Gate Park in the Inner Sunset District. Along with excellent crafted latte art, it’s safe to say that Instagram will benefit from the hipster decor, making this one of the most ‘Instagrammable’ coffee shops in San Francisco.

This is a great neighbourhood coffee shop to support as you make your way to or from Golden Gate Park. They even serve their own small-batch roasts! 

Blue Bottle Coffee

Address | Ferry Building, 1, #7, San Francisco, CA 94111

Blue Bottle Coffee is like the iPhone of coffee shops. The sleek design, carefully prepared coffees and cult obsessions only add to the hype. Blue Bottle began in Oakland but has expanded to locations around the globe.

The flavour-focused shop can be found all around the Bay Area, but the stall in the Ferry Building is the perfect on the go stop. While not technically a shop to sit and lounge around in, the Ferry Building location does offer the opportunity to have exceptional coffee while admiring one of San Francisco’s main attractions. 

Blue Danube Coffee House 

Address | 306 Clement St, San Francisco, CA 94118

Blue Danube is the local’s cafe. Located on Clement Street, this is the place to go every Saturday morning to get to know your neighbours. With an art-funk vibe, Blue Danube serves up some seriously good food and drinks. Their smoothies are the perfect post-yoga pick me up.

And the coffee always goes well with a good book, newspaper or even the occasional live music! Blue Danube is an old school coffee house where the hours can easily pass the morning (and well into the night) on the comfy couch! Nearby Green Apple Books is easily one of the best bookstores in San Francisco.

Philz Coffee

Address | 201 Berry St, San Francisco, CA 94158

The “OG” local coffee chain in San Francisco, Philz offers a place to hang out and get wired. Some of the strongest coffee can be found here, but also a vibrant sense of community and love for the city by the Bay. This is the place to go for beverages made with care, for upbeat baristas and an immediate sense of community. 

Chloe’s Cafe

Address | 1399 Church St, San Francisco CA 94114

Best known for their beloved weekend brunch, Chloe’s Cafe is a gem in the Noe Valley neighbourhood. On the weekdays, the slow pace makes Chloe’s a wonderful spot for book clubs, meeting old friends or catching up with your grandmother!

Classic American fare is served with a lot of love; the cafe has been opened for 31 years, so needless to say there is a lot of love given right back! It’s also close by to another San Francisco institution, Love Joy’s Tea Room if tea and cake is more your style. 

Progressive Grounds 

Address | 400 Cortland Street, San Francisco CA 94110

I would be remiss to not mention my personal favourite coffee shop in San Francisco, Progressive Grounds. This coffee shop has been around since I can remember and coming here always feels like going home.

While not the fanciest spot, the diverse, delicious menu and friendly staff make Progressive Grounds one to mention. If you take the time to visit the Bernal Heights neighbourhood, this is a worthy stop and makes for a great place to rest after walking up the hill!

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A passionate and frequent traveler, Johanna loves walking tours, bookstores and eating her way through any new place. When she is not traveling, Johanna works for gender justice, does a lot of yoga and can often be found in either a library or a cafe. A storyteller in her spare time, Johanna is always looking for the next adventure to write about.