The best coffee in San Francisco

West Coast cafe culture got its start in North Beach at Caffe Trieste. Giovanni Giotta, an immigrant from Rovigno d’Istria, Italy (present-day Croatia) wanted a place like the cafes of Trieste. So he opened his own on Grant Avenue in San Francisco’s Little Italy in the early 1950s.

“It was all Italian people,” Giotta said of his early customers. “But I got the American people to like cappuccino.” Remember that while ordering one in this glass-fronted cafe with Old World charm. Neighbourhood notables to have frequented the cafe over the years include Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac, Alan Watts. Director Francis Ford Coppola wrote much of the screenplay for “The Godfather” while sitting at a table at Trieste.

Not far away from Trieste, just down Columbus Avenue, is another holdover from the days when espresso machines practically required a license to operate. Mario’s Bohemian Cigar Store doesn’t sell cigars anymore, but the old-school vibe persists. Few places get to stay the same for long in San Francisco – the city is forever reinventing itself – but Mario’s is among the exceptions. The place is one of genuine atmosphere. Polished wood counters, marble tables, and classy old guys gossiping in Italian. Set yourself at a front table and people watch the traffic going down Columbus Avenue. Or if the weather permits, get one of the sidewalk tables and gaze out across Washington Square Park (yes, there’s one here too).

Plenty of people head for a cafe to clack away on complimentary wifi. Not so at The Mill, located on Disadero Street. Public internet there may not be, but there is great coffee and whole grain bread baked in house daily, house-made pizza after 6 PM. The Mill has a bright, airy feel, while the shelves are lined with pottery for sale from local artisans.

It’s official. San Francisco now has a “Leather District”. But even those who visit the neighbourhood outside of its famous Folsom Street Fair can enjoy coffee with a kink at Wicked Grounds. The cafe offers a variety of BDSM workshops. Though for those just looking to enjoy a buzz without bondage, there’s still the gamut of espresso drinks and some delightfully illustrative artwork throughout.

Bernal Heights lives up to its name. It’s one of the highest neighbourhoods of an already extremely hilly city. And up top there’s Pinhole Coffee, a neighbourhood cafe and art gallery. Prices at Pinhole are as high as the hills – even just a cup of drip is $4 – but reflective of the quality of ingredients and creative atmosphere. Outside is a mural by local artist and SF darling Amos Goldbaum.

Andytown opened with the idea “to feel like your grandmother’s kitchen.” Located in the very residential Sunset neighbourhood of San Francisco, it certainly does. Unlike the cafes of North Beach, most of Andytown’s neighbours are families. Just a short walk from Ocean Beach, the pocket-sized roastery is an excellent choice before a sunset stroll on the sand.

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