Caffe Trieste - San Francisco

Authentic Italian bar, a trip back in time to Italy in the 60s. Great coffee!

Would often stop here to get a coffee, chat with friends or work on the computer. Good for people watching, music, sitting outside. No frills.

Disappointing. Our hotel advertised Caffe Trieste as an institution, so we rode our bikes up there but it was unremarkable my cafe mocha was lukewarm and tasted like chocolate sauce, the pastries were dry, my husband 's latte was fine but nothing special. A fine neighborhood place, but nothing to go out of the way for.

I absolutely loved this place. It’s so unique and historic. Definitely a place that you should check out if you are visiting the city or even if you are a local. They are packed but the service is fast and super friendly. They have a lot of syrups for the coffee which was surprising since it looks rather classical. Good choice of pastries and drinks in general. Overall was a good experience and if you’re a foodie and a caffeine addict, you most definitely will enjoyed it. Plus the seating and the neighborhood are inviting. Great latte and the ham and cheese croissant was on point. Definitely will go back on my next holidays in the States ‍

There's a lot of history at the Caffe Trieste, it even has a Wikipedia page. Opened in 1956, it was the first espresso coffee shop on the west coast. It was a hangout for famous poets and writers of the Beat Generation such as Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg. Francis Ford Coppola wrote the screenplay for The Godfather here.The cafe has a cool vibe, with plenty of photos of celebs who have visited, a great mural, and cozy indoor and outdoor seating perfect for people watching. Definitely a must-visit coffee shop in North Beach. Authentic old time Italian character.The place gets very busy and a line will definitely form. With just two people working, it might take a while to get your order, but be patient and enjoy the atmosphere. The coffee is quite good and there are lots of pastries to choose from. IMPORTANT: they only accept cash, so you’ll need to make a stop at an ATM.