Are you visiting North Beach and craving a delicious cup of coffee? Take a look at our picks for the best coffee shops in North Beach!
What makes North Beach special is that tourists and locals both love it, and for the same reasons. As San Francisco’s Little Italy, this neighborhood is full of Italian restaurants, landmark cafés, and streets that feel like they belong somewhere else entirely.
After running 100% local San Francisco tours through North Beach for over a decade, we’ve sampled quite a few coffee shops along the way. Here are five favorites worth building your morning around:
Planning a morning in North Beach? Cap it off with the Lombard Leap, a 90-minute open-air city tour departing hourly from nearby Fisherman’s Wharf. You’ll see the Golden Gate Bridge, Palace of Fine Arts, and Lombard Street with a local guide.
#1 – Compton’s Coffee House
Compton’s Coffee House opened its North Beach location at 543 Columbus Avenue inside a former bakery, and it fits the neighborhood well. Large windows look out onto Columbus, so you can people-watch while you drink your coffee. Owner Aidan Compton is a native San Franciscan who launched his first location on Fillmore during the pandemic and chose North Beach for the second because he wanted to contribute to a classic neighborhood rather than change it.
The signature drink is the Touch of Grey latte, a blend of Earl Grey tea and espresso that regulars come back for specifically. The homemade vanilla syrup is worth trying in whatever you order. Seating fills up quickly on weekends, so arriving before 10am gives you the best shot at a table.
Details
Open seven days a week from 7:00am to 5:00pm at 543 Columbus Avenue. Accepts credit cards and offers free WiFi.
#2 – Caffe Trieste
Caffe Trieste has been at 601 Vallejo Street since 1956, when it became the first espresso house on the West Coast. The Giotta family introduced espresso culture to San Francisco and helped launch what became a national movement. The café celebrated its 70th anniversary in April 2026 and shows no signs of slowing down.
The list of regulars over the decades includes writers, musicians, filmmakers, and artists. Francis Ford Coppola wrote the screenplay for The Godfather at a table here. Photographs of performers and visitors from across those seven decades cover the walls. The Giotta family’s Saturday afternoon concerts have been a fixture for years.
The menu includes espresso, pastries, paninis, and beer and wine. The café also sells its own coffee beans for retail, and indoor and outdoor seating is available.
Details
Open Monday through Sunday from 7:00am to 10:00pm at 601 Vallejo Street. WiFi available.
After your coffee, head down to Fisherman’s Wharf and catch the Lombard Leap. This 90-minute open-air tour hits the Golden Gate Bridge, Palace of Fine Arts, and Lombard Street, with departures every hour from 10am to 4pm. A natural next stop after a North Beach morning.
#3 – Caffe Greco
Looking for a spot to grab a cup of coffee paired with something sweet, like a slice of homemade tiramisu or a creamy cannoli? Look no further than Caffe Greco. This North Beach coffee shop was opened in 1988, and is widely recognized by many for their friendly staff and gigantic cappuccinos of world-renowned Illy caffe.
With plenty of indoor and sidewalk table-seating, it’s the perfect place to read a book and people watch with your coffee! Sometimes it can get a little busy and have a small line to wait in, but that only goes to show that this place is fantastic. You’ll love the feeling of being transported to a European Cafe right in the middle of San Francisco.
Details
Caffe Greco is cash only, therefore, you’ll want to come prepared with some cash on hand. They are located at 423 Columbus Avenue, and are open from 7:00am to 10:00pm Monday through Thursday and Sunday. On Fridays and Saturdays, they’re open from 7:00am to 12:00am. They offer beer and wine and free WiFi to customers.
#4 – Réveille Coffee Co.
Réveille started as a single coffee truck in Jackson Square and now has multiple locations across the Bay Area. The North Beach shop at 200 Columbus Avenue sits at the intersection of North Beach, Chinatown, and Jackson Square, with City Lights Bookstore visible from one window and the Zoetrope building from another.
Their sourcing approach is meticulous: they build direct relationships with farms and importers to bring in traceable, high-quality beans. The kitchen turns out vegetarian bowls and breakfast plates alongside espresso drinks, matcha lattes, and iced mochas. Natural lighting and indoor and outdoor seating make it a good spot to settle in for a while.
Details
Open seven days a week from 7:30am to 4:00pm at 200 Columbus Avenue. Accepts credit cards. Free WiFi.
#5 – Graffeo Coffee Roasting Company (North Beach Coffee Roaster)
Okay, let’s get straight to the point. We added this one as a bonus. Graffeo Coffee Roasting Company does not serve coffee; as you can tell by the name, they sell roasted coffee beans. Most importantly, they’re not just any coffee beans, but some of the best beans you will ever have!
Graffeo was founded in 1935 in North Beach and is one of the oldest artisan coffee roasters in North America. Even today this shop remains a family-run company, passed on down through generations. People from all over the states order their beans online. That is to say, if your hotel or Airbnb in San Francisco allows you to make your own coffee, be sure to get your coffee beans at this store! They will even grind them up for you, which is incredibly convenient.
“Graffeo Coffee. You know it when you taste it. Once you have, no other coffee will do.” That’s the simple premise on which they built Graffeo Coffee, and why, more than 90 years later, they’re still winning the hearts of coffee lovers from coast to coast!
Details
They accept credit cards. As mentioned, they are a pick-up-your-coffee-beans-and-go kind of place, so plan to grab a cup of coffee elsewhere. We also recommend checking out Mario’s Bohemian Cigar Store Cafe, who serve freshly made Graffeo coffee in a historic space with delicious Italian fare.
Graffeo Coffee Roasting Company is located at 735 Columbus Avenue, and their hours are Monday through Saturday from 9:00am to 5:00pm. Closed Sundays.
Come Enjoy San Francisco’s Famous North Beach Coffee!
North Beach is one of those neighborhoods where a morning coffee can easily turn into a full half-day of exploring. From the espresso history at Caffe Trieste to the roasting tradition at Graffeo, the coffee here reflects what makes the neighborhood worth visiting in the first place.
Ready to see more of San Francisco after your coffee?
The Lombard Leap departs from Fisherman’s Wharf every hour between 10am and 4pm. In 90 minutes you’ll hit the Golden Gate Bridge, Palace of Fine Arts, and Lombard Street on an open-air vehicle with a local guide.
FAQs About Coffee in North Beach, San Francisco
What is the most historic coffee shop in North Beach?
Caffe Trieste holds that title. It opened in 1956 as the first espresso house on the West Coast and has been at the corner of Vallejo and Grant ever since. Francis Ford Coppola wrote the screenplay for The Godfather at a table there.
Are any North Beach coffee shops cash only?
Yes. Caffe Greco is cash only, so bring cash if you plan to stop there. It’s always worth having some cash on hand when exploring North Beach.
What time do North Beach cafés open?
Most open between 7:00am and 7:30am. Caffe Trieste and Caffe Greco both open at 7:00am. Compton’s Coffee House opens at 7:00am. Réveille opens at 7:30am. Graffeo opens at 9:00am Monday through Saturday.
Where can I buy whole bean coffee in North Beach?
Graffeo Coffee Roasting Company at 735 Columbus Avenue has been roasting beans on-site since 1935. They will grind them for you. If you want a brewed cup using Graffeo beans, Mario’s Bohemian Cigar Store Café serves them fresh.
What is the best North Beach coffee shop for food?
Réveille Coffee Co. at 200 Columbus Avenue runs a full kitchen alongside its coffee program, with vegetarian bowls, breakfast plates, and pastries available daily until 4:00pm.
Which North Beach SF coffee shop is best for a late night coffee?
Caffe Greco stays open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, until 11:00pm on Sundays, and until 10:00pm Monday through Thursday, making it the best option if you’re still in the neighborhood after dinner.
If you’re looking for more to do after dark, here’s our full guide to things to do in San Francisco at night.
Coffee shop hours and details are current as of the date of this post. Hours can change, so we recommend confirming directly with each café before your visit.
