The 10 Best Coffee Shops in San Francisco
In San Francisco, coffee is a lifestyle. Walking to your local hole-in-the-wall coffee shop and paying $7 for a latte that you’ll have on a typical foggy day is the true SF experience. For those who want to go to locally owned shops rather than your Starbucks or Peet’s coffee, this article is for you. I’ve lived in the bay area nearly my whole life so this is my local POV to the best coffee shops in San Francisco.
1. The Mill
Address: 736 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA 94117
Recommended for: This is one of the locally beloved cafes in the area, with incredible coffee and toasts. If you come to the Mill, I highly recommend a latte and to pair it with one of the house-made toasts. My favorites are the cinnamon sugar and ricotta+jam.
2. Coffee Movement
Address: 1030 Washington St, San Francisco, CA 94108
Recommended for: Coffee Movement is in the Inner Richmond, a few blocks away from Golden Gate Park. Your coffee is passed down the assembly line of baristas until you reach the cashier at the end. They have incredible seasonal drinks (I recommend the iced orange cream latte during the Summer) and even tasting flights. Come here for either a quick coffee chat or to study.
3. Ritual Coffee Roasters
Address: 432b Octavia St, San Francisco, CA 94102
Recommended for: The flavors in their roasts are incredible here. The little shop sits right beside Hayes Park which makes for a great afternoon coffee spot. I recommend ordering the unique coffee roasts and setting aside some time to sip it in the park for people and dog watching.
4. Stable Cafe
Address: 2128 Folsom St, San Francisco, CA 94110
Recommended for: The large outdoor patio, housing numerous plants and a greenhouse. The ingredients are also sourced mainly from the San Francisco Farmers Market as their mission is to support local organic farmers and ranchers.
5. Marigold Café
Address: 2681 21st St, San Francisco, CA 94110
Recommended for: This cafe is the cutest blend of a floral shop and café. They have some incredible floral drinks like a lavender matcha and rose vanilla latte which fits with the vibe well. This is the perfect coffee shop for a little window shopping and patio seating.
6. Sightglass Coffee
Address: 301 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA 94117
Recommended for: Each coffee here is roasted to order and can be paired alongside some of the best local pastries they offer. I highly recommend sitting inside to enjoy the atmosphere – a uniquely simplistic design.
7. Réveille Coffee Co.
Address: 201 Steiner St, San Francisco, CA 94117
Recommended for: The matcha and coffee here are one of the best in SF. There are a few locations around the city but this one is my favorite as it’s nestled within the Hayes neighborhood. This is a versatile coffee shop, great for working during the week or to catch up with friends in the outdoor patio on a weekend afternoon.
8. Le Marais Bakery
Address: 498 Sanchez St, San Francisco, CA 94114
Recommended for: This cafe made the list for one of the best sit-down coffee spots in SF. The pastries and menu items are amazing so I recommend coming here for a morning coffee to enjoy breakfast alongside it. There is both indoor and outdoor seating in this french-inspired cafe.
9. Black Bird Bookstore and Café
Address: 4541 Irving St, San Francisco, CA 94122
Recommended for: This is way more than just a coffee shop. With a bookstore inside, plant shop, and backyard with homey seating, this is a must-see cafe when by Ocean Beach. It’s actually a converted house and is nestled within the neighborhood giving way to a very local vibe.
10. Flywheel Coffee Roasters
Address: 672 Stanyan St, San Francisco, CA 94117
Recommended for: This industrial-themed coffee shop is right by Golden Gate park so I recommend getting coffee to take on a walk through the park. The coffee here is also reasonably priced for SF and has some of the friendliest baristas.
