Cafe Francisco

One of my favorite places in SF! Food and coffee are always delicious, and Ziyad welcomes everyone with a smile. He picks quality ingredients for all the food items and is passionate about the place. I had falafel sandwich this time and my boyfriend got a breakfast bagel. Both were very fast and fresh! I got mimosa too and it complimented our food choices.

A necessary stop anytime my girlfriend and I are in the area. Two bagels, two coffees and two chocolate donuts. Everything is always delicious and the owner always a delight. Forget the areas more corporate spots, come here instead. Don't forget to tip 💸

This is definitely a feel good place. My man Ziyad has a lot of passion for this cafe. High quality ingredients used, in a charming interior with excellent service. He cares a lot about every dish he has on the menu. I got the Alaskan and a double macchiato and found both the coffee and food to be great. The music, old school seating and paintings really add to the experience. This spots been around for hella long and has a lot of locals stop by who know the owner. Definitely would recommend stopping by here, it’s a like a peaceful place tucked away behind the chaos of fisherman’s warf. Try to dine in if you get the chance and speak to Ziyad too.

Great little cafe! Had some great sandwiches here. Staff seemed really lovely and very welcoming.

Absolutely love Cafe Francisco! What a North Beach gem, simple food with fresh ingredients! I always get an iced coffee and the francisco bagel that has schmear, tomatoes, red onion, fresh basil, and what really makes it great is the olive oil and capers. Owner is very friendly and the cafe is a staple to the North Beach community! Dog friendly spot too :)

This place is so good. You can easily walk right by but but this place was cause I needed to find somewhere to work and hang out while my bff was working closely. The owner is SO nice and works SO hard. He was cashier, greeting everyone, making our food, cleaning tables. This man never stops. Quiet neighborhood and this place is such a cute place to hang out. I heard him talk to everyone and knew so many locals. I can see why people love this place and come back. The food was AWESOME. It took a while but then again, 10 people were ahead of me and he had to make their food too. He's great at what he does and you should give this place a shot! Love it and can't wait to come back.

The Food and Beverages were amazing! We all agreed that these were the most delicious Drinks we have tried in a long time! The ambience was very comfortable and warm, the owner of the café was very friendly and fast. I can 100% recommend this!

Very tasty breakfast bagels and iced lattes. Staff very friendly. Highly recommend!

I sat there for half a day between business meetings and had a great time. The coffee is hot and good, the sandwiches are delicious and Ziyad, the Owner, is a very friendly guy! It’s a great, quiet neighborhood cafe. I hope to come back to San Fran soon to have another BLT there again.

Incredible service, no flies no dirty atmosphere, beautiful painting lots of delicious pastries and they make the coffee fresh and keep the food safe, the person serving us was so kind, I would really recommend

You know Thoes hidden gems that only locals know about. Well i stumbled upon this cafe and that’s what I found. You were welcomed with a smile and friendly conversation and then sent on your way with delicious food . Coming here made my whole morning and set me up for a beautiful day ! Food was great, simple and delicious!

What a beautiful, local coffee shop!! I had just arrived in San Francisco, and I asked a trader Joe's employee for a coffee suggestion, she shared about this place (after I adamantly declined directions to Starbucks 😂) It is clear locals love this place! I watched people order their "regular" and the shop employee knew exactly who they were and what they wanted. Great, unique local art displayed inside as well. The iced coffee was smooth, good flavor!

All 5 stars. The owner was so kind and gave us free food since the next day, the store was closed. Had the Alaskan and the entire thing was delicious. Amazing olive oil. Very chill atmosphere and he allowed us to stay 20 minutes after closing since we had just come in from the rain.

The falafel here is very underrated in the city. I know there are many different types of falafel but this one here is Palestinian falafel which is more moist on the inside

Really relaxed old-school vibe with a really friendly owner who makes excellent coffee and delicious sandwiches. We were visiting San Francisco for only 3 days and didn’t see any reason to go anywhere else for our breakfasts. Take away cakes are lovely too. Really cool place.

A hidden gem in San Fran. Super friendly service and yummy vego/vegan options. From New Zealand and even got a flat white coffee!

Ziad has created a true sanctuary with his cafe. The soft jazz, the delicious breakfast, and the overall energy is unmatched. Absolutely recommend this local joint!

Ziad is extremely friendly and plays nice jazz music in the background. A great cafe on the corner of a quiet block in a the beautiful north beach

Palestinian owned 🇵🇸 the owner was so friendly, he genuinely wanted to chat with everyone. I only stopped in for an iced tea, to charge my phone, and to pee. But the vibes were incredible - it felt like a movie scene. A man reading a newspaper, a couple chatting and sipping their coffee, a tv show playing from the screen, and the owner making all of the foods and drinks behind the bar. Since I was alone he chatted with me for awhile, about Chicago, food, travel, & his home country. Thank you, Ziyad!

We loved this place!!! Originally we wanted to go somewhere else but the line outside was crazy so we found Cafe Fransisco and even next day we went back for another bagel😄 we were here in January 2025. I can recommend this place 100%.

Coffee, pastries, sandwiches and salads, all made with care and attention to detail. I had a wonderful slice of banana bread that was delicious with my mocha. Seating outside and inside.

Still going strong! Cafe Francisco is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, cafe's in the neighborhood. Near a quarter of a century ago when I moved to San Francisco, I started coming to this neighborhood cafe where I met many neighbors who later became friends. Many of them have moved on now, but those of us who are still around still get together here and enjoy each other's company over a beer, coffee or a meal. The coffee is good, as are the sandwiches, but my favorites remain the same: the Mediterranean Plate (under Salads) and Falafel Sandwich. For breakfast, I always go with Francisco Bagel with Lox! Those are my picks and I tend to get into routines and that is precisely why you should not limit yourself to my favorites list when you visit! :-)

Such a cute cozy little cafe near north beach. Loved their bagels 🥯

I enjoyed my brief stay in this lovely Cafe. The Owner is very friendly and it's nice to see him engage with locals and tourists. Really hard working and I liked the sandwich I had , "The San Fran", you must try it! It's about 6-8 minutes walk from Pier 39, I chose to come here to be away from the busy and touristy area. Definitely worth it, easy to locate, just by the corner, few seats outside, you won't miss it! I'll definitely come back -JC from Italy/UK

A very relaxing place to spend a few minutes; wonderful feel of a cafe in a small Italian village; enjoyed a delicious salad, nice conversation with the manager, and topped it off with an amazing hot chocolate; definitely need to visit again for lunch.

A very welcoming greeting when arrived. Mocha latte was great! A quiet lil spot to sit and take in the morning on Powell St.

We stumbled into this cafe on our way back from a fantastic SF walking tour, and the light lunch we had here ticked all the boxes. The service was friendly and efficient, and the two tall iced coffees and ice creams we had were lovely and refreshing. We shared a Mediterranean frittata (delicious!), which came with a generous number of slices of sourdough bread with butter and jam (we didn't use the jam) so it was a very substantial and enjoyable meal for lunch, without making us feel heavy or sluggish. There is some marvellous artwork on the walls, which really adds to the decor and feels spacious and roomy throughout. Definitely worth a visit if you're in the area, the extensive menu has something for everyone!

Simply delicious. Great coffee and the Francisco Bagel is the reason for my annual trip to SF. I can’t recommend this spot enough.

I've been a fan of Cafe Francisco for over a decade and have never once been disappointed! Due to a number of factors (primarily the pandemic), I hadn't been back since summer 2019. Imagine my delight when the vibe, food, and friendly staff were just as fabulous as ever. Just slightly off the beaten path, between North Beach and Fisherman's Wharf, locals and tourists alike are treated like family here. The Francisco bagel with an iced latte is and always will be my fave, but I'm going to try the avocado toast next time!

Laura Herrmann

Ziad has created a true sanctuary with his cafe. The soft jazz, the delicious breakfast, and the overall energy is unmatched. Absolutely recommend this local joint!

Peter Jon Mueller

Ziad is extremely friendly and plays nice jazz music in the background. A great cafe on the corner of a quiet block in a the beautiful north beach

Ally Masterson

Palestinian owned 🇵🇸 the owner was so friendly, he genuinely wanted to chat with everyone. I only stopped in for an iced tea, to charge my phone, and to pee. But the vibes were incredible - it felt like a movie scene. A man reading a newspaper, a couple chatting and sipping their coffee, a tv show playing from the screen, and the owner making all of the foods and drinks behind the bar. Since I was alone he chatted with me for awhile, about Chicago, food, travel, & his home country. Thank you, Ziyad!

Norma Kun

We loved this place!!! Originally we wanted to go somewhere else but the line outside was crazy so we found Cafe Fransisco and even next day we went back for another bagel😄 we were here in January 2025. I can recommend this place 100%.

S N

Coffee, pastries, sandwiches and salads, all made with care and attention to detail. I had a wonderful slice of banana bread that was delicious with my mocha. Seating outside and inside.

Priya

Such a cute cozy little cafe near north beach. Loved their bagels 🥯

Patrick Carwile

A very welcoming greeting when arrived. Mocha latte was great! A quiet lil spot to sit and take in the morning on Powell St.

Afshin Afshar-Ghasemlou

Still going strong! Cafe Francisco is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, cafe's in the neighborhood. Near a quarter of a century ago when I moved to San Francisco, I started coming to this neighborhood cafe where I met many neighbors who later became friends. Many of them have moved on now, but those of us who are still around still get together here and enjoy each other's company over a beer, coffee or a meal. The coffee is good, as are the sandwiches, but my favorites remain the same: the Mediterranean Plate (under Salads) and Falafel Sandwich. For breakfast, I always go with Francisco Bagel with Lox! Those are my picks and I tend to get into routines and that is precisely why you should not limit yourself to my favorites list when you visit! :-)

Juan Carlos Rivera

I enjoyed my brief stay in this lovely Cafe. The Owner is very friendly and it's nice to see him engage with locals and tourists. Really hard working and I liked the sandwich I had , "The San Fran", you must try it! It's about 6-8 minutes walk from Pier 39, I chose to come here to be away from the busy and touristy area. Definitely worth it, easy to locate, just by the corner, few seats outside, you won't miss it! I'll definitely come back -JC from Italy/UK

Jeffrey Ketron, Sr.

A very relaxing place to spend a few minutes; wonderful feel of a cafe in a small Italian village; enjoyed a delicious salad, nice conversation with the manager, and topped it off with an amazing hot chocolate; definitely need to visit again for lunch.

Shannon Lynch Dickinson

I've been a fan of Cafe Francisco for over a decade and have never once been disappointed! Due to a number of factors (primarily the pandemic), I hadn't been back since summer 2019. Imagine my delight when the vibe, food, and friendly staff were just as fabulous as ever. Just slightly off the beaten path, between North Beach and Fisherman's Wharf, locals and tourists alike are treated like family here. The Francisco bagel with an iced latte is and always will be my fave, but I'm going to try the avocado toast next time!

Anu Narayan

We stumbled into this cafe on our way back from a fantastic SF walking tour, and the light lunch we had here ticked all the boxes. The service was friendly and efficient, and the two tall iced coffees and ice creams we had were lovely and refreshing. We shared a Mediterranean frittata (delicious!), which came with a generous number of slices of sourdough bread with butter and jam (we didn't use the jam) so it was a very substantial and enjoyable meal for lunch, without making us feel heavy or sluggish. There is some marvellous artwork on the walls, which really adds to the decor and feels spacious and roomy throughout. Definitely worth a visit if you're in the area, the extensive menu has something for everyone!

my favorite cafe in san francisco :) love the iced chai, as well as francisco bagel. and it's just a really nice cozy place to relax at if you enjoy going to cafes alone

Amazing place for a "real food" style breakfast! I tried their beef Tuscany sandwich, oh so good without any extra commericalized add-ons - simply delicious and you can feel it's healthy! Frittatas are bombastic as well. The owner has a fantastic energy as well! Thank you and see you next time!

Gor Chailyan

Amazing place for a "real food" style breakfast! I tried their beef Tuscany sandwich, oh so good without any extra commericalized add-ons - simply delicious and you can feel it's healthy! Frittatas are bombastic as well. The owner has a fantastic energy as well! Thank you and see you next time!

Nilay Shah

The falafel here is very underrated in the city. I know there are many different types of falafel but this one here is Palestinian falafel which is more moist on the inside

Sina Meraji

my favorite cafe in san francisco :) love the iced chai, as well as francisco bagel. and it's just a really nice cozy place to relax at if you enjoy going to cafes alone

Mia Hangai

All 5 stars. The owner was so kind and gave us free food since the next day, the store was closed. Had the Alaskan and the entire thing was delicious. Amazing olive oil. Very chill atmosphere and he allowed us to stay 20 minutes after closing since we had just come in from the rain.

Shannon Force

What a beautiful, local coffee shop!! I had just arrived in San Francisco, and I asked a trader Joe's employee for a coffee suggestion, she shared about this place (after I adamantly declined directions to Starbucks 😂) It is clear locals love this place! I watched people order their "regular" and the shop employee knew exactly who they were and what they wanted. Great, unique local art displayed inside as well. The iced coffee was smooth, good flavor!

Really nice sandwich and great price. Quite and quick in the afternoon. Lots of options on the menu. Seasoned well.

Good breakfast and espresso. Barista who made our drinks wasn't very friendly, but the other girl who took our order was. Overall, good place to come too.

Loved the ambiance and neighborhood. People were really nice! Food was good but not amazing. Coffee was great. Crab and sherry soup of the day was excellent.

Just cafe, nothing special. You can also get meal at here. Many tables at inside. When I sat, the table was dirty and sticky. I odered single iced coffee and single mocha. The iced cofffee came in large cup. Taste was not good. Just soso. It was too light coffee. Mocha was not bad. I think if you find the quite cafe around fisherman's wharf, here is good choice.

+2

Nice place for breakfast, wouldn’t call it a super high end place. The place was popular amongst locals but they wasn’t all too appealing for first timers. I think is a place you would go to if you lived in the area for some time and just need a regularly priced coffee.

I visited Café Francisco with my wife for breakfast and, unfortunately, our experience didn’t live up to the 4.5-star rating we saw on Google Maps. We ordered two waffles and a mocha. The orders were mixed up—my mocha came as a regular coffee, and when I pointed it out, the staff simply added chocolate syrup and creamer instead of preparing a proper mocha from scratch. It didn’t taste like a true mocha at all. The waffles, meanwhile, were visibly burnt and clearly store-bought—just heated and served on disposable plates. After we pointed out how burnt they were, they were eventually replaced, but it was disappointing that they were served that way in the first place. What made it harder to digest was the cost: $40 for two waffles and a doctored-up coffee felt steep, especially considering the quality. This felt more like a $20 breakfast at best. The ambiance was casual and the outdoor seating seemed nice, so it might be an okay spot to hang out for a drink. But if you’re visiting primarily for the food, I’d suggest tempering expectations. Café Francisco might be popular for its location or vibe, but from a food and value perspective, I found it overrated.

I thought I was getting a yogurt bowl bc it was like a $6 up charge from the fruit bowl but the amount of yogurt I got was…. Upsetting to say the least. It was in a small to go cup with a dollop of yogurt- like maybe like a 1/4 cup of yogurt :( feel ripped off. The coffee was good and the vibes are nice inside.

Parth Bhimani

I visited Café Francisco with my wife for breakfast and, unfortunately, our experience didn’t live up to the 4.5-star rating we saw on Google Maps. We ordered two waffles and a mocha. The orders were mixed up—my mocha came as a regular coffee, and when I pointed it out, the staff simply added chocolate syrup and creamer instead of preparing a proper mocha from scratch. It didn’t taste like a true mocha at all. The waffles, meanwhile, were visibly burnt and clearly store-bought—just heated and served on disposable plates. After we pointed out how burnt they were, they were eventually replaced, but it was disappointing that they were served that way in the first place. What made it harder to digest was the cost: $40 for two waffles and a doctored-up coffee felt steep, especially considering the quality. This felt more like a $20 breakfast at best. The ambiance was casual and the outdoor seating seemed nice, so it might be an okay spot to hang out for a drink. But if you’re visiting primarily for the food, I’d suggest tempering expectations. Café Francisco might be popular for its location or vibe, but from a food and value perspective, I found it overrated.

En

I thought I was getting a yogurt bowl bc it was like a $6 up charge from the fruit bowl but the amount of yogurt I got was…. Upsetting to say the least. It was in a small to go cup with a dollop of yogurt- like maybe like a 1/4 cup of yogurt :( feel ripped off. The coffee was good and the vibes are nice inside.

Food was okay. Quite overpriced for everything though. It was one person making everything so props to him. 50 bucks for 2 people is a bit outrageous especially since it was 2 croissant sandwich and 2 drinks. It was all decent but I've had better for way cheaper. Probably wont be back.

Drew Morales

Food was okay. Quite overpriced for everything though. It was one person making everything so props to him. 50 bucks for 2 people is a bit outrageous especially since it was 2 croissant sandwich and 2 drinks. It was all decent but I've had better for way cheaper. Probably wont be back.

Very bad experience We’re here with my kids, ordered Cesar with chicken and tuna sandwich. Hygiene not recommended- salad were old and rotten, didn’t get washed, bread burned, chef did not change gloves between al his doing.. Can not recommend!! One star - got my money back - no question asked.