The 7 Best Cafes in San Francisco: My Absolute Favorite Coffee Shops in 2026

I’m a huge coffee lover, and whenever I visit a new city, I always make sure to find the best cafes and coffee shops in town. I’ll happily walk an extra 20 minutes if someone tells me there’s a fantastic flat white somewhere, no problem.

San Francisco was no exception. I spent four full days here on my most recent trip, which gave me plenty of time to try quite a few different cafes around the city. I checked out everything from the busier downtown areas to some of the more local neighborhoods, and I ended up finding some really good coffee spots along the way.

So, if you’re also someone who likes starting the day with a proper good coffee, I’ve put together this guide to the 7 best cafes in San Francisco, based on the places I actually visited and enjoyed myself.

What are the Best Coffee Shops & Cafes in San Francisco? I’ve Got the Answers

I really tried to put this list together with you guys in mind, so I’ve included coffee shops from all over San Francisco. That means you’ll find a few options in the more local neighborhoods, where I personally think some of the best coffee shops are, but also places closer to popular tourist attractions.

One other thing worth mentioning: I’m a big fan of specialty coffee. My usual order is a flat white, cortado, or latte, so that’s pretty much what this list is based on. If you’re more into Starbucks-style drinks with flavored syrups, cold foam, and all those fancy shaken creations, this might not be quite the guide for you.

1. Flywheel Coffee Roasters // My Personal Favorite Cafe in San Francisco

Opening Hours: 7am-6pm
Price: $$$
My Rating: ★★★★★
Menu & Location

My all-time favorite coffee shop in San Francisco has to be Flywheel Coffee Roasters. It’s located in Haight-Ashbury, which is also one of my favorite neighborhoods in San Francisco. The area is super cool, a little quirky, and has a fun hippie vibe going on. Definitely somewhere I’d recommend checking out while you’re in the city!

I’ve actually been to Flywheel twice now, and I tried both their latte and cortado, which were absolutely spot on. They also have a really delicious cinnamon roll that I can highly recommend (because what’s a coffee without something sweet on the side, right?).

Another little tip from me: Flywheel is located right by Golden Gate Park, and just across the road, inside the park, you’ll find a tiny little coffee kiosk called Flyaway Coffee Kiosk which is basically their Mini location. We grabbed a coffee there too, and sitting outside under the trees was just soooo beautiful!

2. The Mill // The Best Cafe in San Francisco

Opening Hours: 7am-5pm
Price: $$$
My Rating: ★★★★
Menu & Location

Another one of my favorite cafes in San Francisco is The Mill. In my opinion, this place kind of has it all. The cafe itself is pretty large, with plenty of seating both inside and outside. It was still pretty busy when we visited, though, so clearly we’re not the only ones who like this place!

Here we went for the full shebang. We ordered two lattes and also tried a couple of their breakfast items like the lemon zest and ricotta toast and the avocado toast. Both were just sooo delicious! One thing I really like about The Mill is that they actually have their own bakery in-house, so all their bread and pastries are freshly made every day. And you can definitely taste it.

One little word of warning, though: despite having plenty of seating, this isn’t really a working cafe. There’s no Wi-Fi and no power outlets, so if you were planning on bringing your laptop and getting some work done, I’d probably leave that one at home!

3. Tartine Bakery // My Favorite Bakery in San Francisco

Opening Hours: 7:30am-6pm
Price: $$
My Rating: ★★★★★
Menu & Location

I know that whenever people talk about bakeries in San Francisco, everyone brings up Arsicault Bakery. And yes, I’ve tried their croissants, and they are fantastic. But you know what’s not fantastic? Waiting in line for 45 minutes just to get one croissant. Who has the time?

My favorite bakery in San Francisco is actually Tartine Bakery in the Mission District, and I’m being dead serious here: their pastries and bakery items are insane. Seriously, an explosion of flavors in your mouth. We tried quite a few things while we were there, their almond croissant, a Reuben sandwich, and some kind of little lemon tart that was absolutely delicious. They also make really good coffee here!

What I recommend ALL of you do is, to come here first, stock up on pastries and coffee, and then walk over to Mission Dolores Park, which is just one block away. The park has incredible views over San Francisco and is the perfect spot for a little picnic.

Also there is a bunch of cool locations, if you want to have a picnic in Dolores Park then this is the location I would go to, otherwise Tartine Manufactory is a cool location too!

4. Saint Frank Coffee // Best Coffee Shop in San Francisco

Opening Hours: 7am-6pm
Price: $$
My Rating: ★★★★
Menu & Location

Saint Frank Coffee is in a great location, especially if you’re visiting San Francisco for the first time and planning on checking out all the usual sights. It’s an easy coffee stop to fit into your sightseeing plans. The coffee shop was only about a five-minute walk from my hotel (Samesun San Francisco), so it kind of became my go-to spot in the mornings. It’s also just a five-minute walk from the famous Lombard Street and around 15 minutes from Fisherman’s Wharf.

I came here a couple of times in the mornings to grab a coffee before heading out to explore, and their coffee was delicious. I ordered a cappuccino every single time, and it couldn’t have been more perfect. The coffee shop itself is really cute, too, so it’s a nice little place to start your day.

One random little side note: I also noticed they offer a coffee flight, where you can try several of their coffees side by side, from cold brew and drip coffee to cortado. I didn’t actually try it myself but I thought that was a pretty fun idea.

5. The Coffee Movement // Best Coffee in San Francisco Downtown

Opening Hours: 7am-2pm
Price: $$$
My Rating: ★★★★
Menu & Location

The Coffee Movement is one of my favorite coffee shops I’ve been to in downtown San Francisco. I’m not the biggest fan of every area around downtown (I usually avoid Union Square, for example), but I absolutely love Chinatown in San Francisco. And guess what? The Coffee Movement is right next to it! So my recommendation is to spend some time wandering around Chinatown, checking out all the cool lanterns, murals, little shops and then heading over to The Coffee Movement for an afternoon coffee.

I’ve only been here once, but I really enjoyed it. It’s much more of a proper coffee shop or espresso bar, so they don’t really have many pastries or food options. I had a latte here, and it was fantastic!

6. Neighbor’s Corner // Super Cute Little Neighborhood Cafe

Opening Hours: 8am-3pm
Price: $$$
My Rating: ★★★★★
Menu & Location

Neighbor’s Corner is almost a little hidden gem, if I may say so. It’s such a cute little neighborhood cafe that I just had to include it on this list. A friend of mine who was born and raised in the Castro (one of the coolest, most open-minded and fun neighborhoods in San Francisco) took me here for brunch, and it was awesome. By the way, definitely check out the Castro while you’re in San Francisco. It’s a really cool, super LGBTQ-friendly neighborhood!

Neighbor’s Corner felt like a proper neighborhood cafe. People were coming in after walking their dogs, others were working on their laptops or reading a book, and I could pretty much tell that everyone around us was a local. I loved that!

The coffee was delicious, and so was the food. I had a flat white, of course. Not that many American cafes have a flat white on their menu, so whenever I spot one, I pretty much have to order it. I also tried their breakfast sandwich, which was fire! Definitely a little spot I’d recommend if you’re exploring the Castro.

7. Origin Lab // Best Matcha in San Francisco

Opening Hours: 6am-8pm
Price: $$
Menu & Location

And lastly, I’m including Origin Lab on this list, which supposedly has some of the best matcha in San Francisco. I say supposedly because I actually haven’t been here myself! The same friend who took me to Neighbor’s Corner also told me I should check out Origin Lab for matcha, but unfortunately, I just didn’t have enough time to make it there.

That said, I trust my friend when it comes to good recommendations, and the place has some great Google reviews. From what I can tell, the matcha in their pictures looks pretty delicious, too. So if you’re into matcha, this might be one worth checking out. If you end up going, you’ll have to let me know how it was!

FAQs About The Best Coffee Shops in San Francisco

Where can I get the best coffee in San Francisco?

My personal favorite for coffee in San Francisco has to be Flywheel Coffee Roasters. But The Coffee Movement, right next to Chinatown, also makes some amazing lattes and cappuccinos. Honestly, you can’t go wrong with either of them!

Where should I go for breakfast in San Francisco?

I love The Mill for breakfast, especially their toast. They bake all their bread in-house, and it’s sooo delicious. They have savory options like avocado toast, but also sweet ones with toppings like peanut butter, ricotta, and cinnamon. Definitely one of my favorite breakfast spots in the city!

Is San Francisco expensive?

Yes and no. It’s still California, so of course, it’s not exactly cheap. But there are definitely ways to keep your trip somewhat budget-friendly. If you’re looking to save money on accommodation, I’d recommend checking out Samesun San Francisco.

What are the best restaurants in San Francisco?

There are so many amazing restaurants in San Francisco! One of my favorite spots for a nice Italian dinner is Penny Roma, which is awesome. But I also love grabbing a burrito at Taqueria El Farolito. Two very different experiences, but both absolutely worth checking out!

What is there to do in San Francisco?

San Francisco has some of the coolest things to do of all the cities in California. You can visit the famous Golden Gate Bridge, take the ferry over to Alcatraz, or watch the sea lions hanging out at Pier 39. And that’s really just scratching the surface!

Final Thoughts on The Best Breakfast in San Francisco

All in all, I have to say that I’m super impressed by San Francisco’s coffee scene. There are just so many amazing cafes and coffee shops that I never really struggled to find a good one. If anything, my biggest problem was deciding where to go because there were so many good options!

I definitely think the more local neighborhoods like the Mission District, the Castro, Haight-Ashbury, and so on have some of the cooler coffee shops compared to the more downtown areas. But all in all, you can find good coffee pretty much everywhere in San Francisco.

I hope this guide to my favorite cafes in San Francisco gave you a good idea of where to go and maybe a few ideas for your next coffee or breakfast stop. Enjoy!

Check Out My Other San Francisco Guides

Is San Francisco Worth Visiting? My Honest Review

How Many Days in San Francisco? My Itinerary Planner

When is the Best Time to Visit San Francisco? My Season Guide

Is San Francisco Safe to Visit? My Honest Review

Is San Francisco Expensive to Visit? My Budget Breakdown

San Francisco Without a Car: How I Get Around in SF

How I Spend 3 Days in San Francisco: My Perfect Itinerary

Mission District San Francisco: My Full Neighborhood Guide

Is Alcatraz Worth Visiting? My Honest Opinion

Best Things to Do in San Francisco: My Favorite Activities & Sights

Solo Travel San Francisco: My Tips For Solo Trips & Backpackers

Best Cafes in San Francisco: My Top Coffee Shops in SF

San Francisco Food Guide: My Favorite Restaurants & Eateries

Where to Stay in San Francisco: The Best Hotels & Areas