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    Caffe Central

    4.3 (89 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 4:00 pm

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    CAFFE CENTRAL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

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    Vietnamese iced coffee with a view.
    Meghan B.

    This little cafe has very fresh plated food and gorgeous pastries. I come to UCSF mission bay for appointments once or twice a month and I run into this little cafe for coffee every time. The Vietnamese iced coffee is great and this is the only hospital cafe I've ever seen it at. I've also tried several of their pastries, quiches, and the avocado toast is also fantastic. Service is always quick even when there's a line.

    Tracy B.

    Food and service is always good here. They make the BEST Americano. My husband really enjoyed his bagel sandwich. Its very filling.

    Iced matcha latte
    Meiyi Y.

    The iced matcha latte was decent. It was not as strong in flavor as I would have liked. They had a good selection of baked goods that I would love to come back to try out. The staff was nice, and the cafe was not too busy on a Thursday late morning. There were plenty of seating for dine in.

    Spinach & Mushroom Quiche + Salad
    Sophia H.

    Came here this past Thursday for lunch. I got the Spinach & Mushroom Quiche + Salad. This was very good, and I enjoyed it. The quiche came out warm. Spinach and mushroom always go well together. The salad was refreshing. I liked that the dressing was light. The cafe is spacious with plenty of tables and chairs. This is located right down the street from Chase Center and right next to a Muni stop.

    The Marina
    Bianca C.

    I met a friend here at Caffe Central for breakfast on a weekday morning. I was dropped off on the Illinois St side which made finding the cafe inside UCSF a little tricky (it's easier to spot from the 3rd St side), but fortunately I was able to ask someone. We arrived before the lunch rush, so it wasn't crowded and there were plenty of available tables inside. The space is bright and airy with large windows that let in a lot of natural light, although there's not much of a view if that's what you're looking for. I ordered a coffee and The Marina on an everything bagel. The sandwich was hearty and satisfying, so it was a great option for brunch. It came with a generous side of fresh fruit - everything looked and tasted great.

    Steven W.

    Bright airy cafe that's part of the hospital. The food is good and surprisingly cheap.

    Avocado & Egg Toast
    Lynn F.

    8am Thursday: Ambience, sparkling clean, modern, plenty of seating with back support. Most of the patrons at this hour were wearing scrubs &/or ID badges, as the former shipping docks have been replaced by UCSF medical building village. I saw a few people outside walking dogs, they most likely live in those slick (expensive ) buildings nearby. Definitely well paid under 40 crowd. I'm sure I was the only person to foolishly drive here, having snagged the last street space 3 blocks away. I have an hour. I suggest arriving just before the 7am opening, otherwise be prepared for a long line. Best to take public transit, T 3rd line stop is a couple blocks away. Finding Caffe Central is not easy. Don't let your gps take you to the downtown Caffe Central. Yes, this Caffe is in 390 Illinois building, but the entrance is on 3rd street, & to further confuse their receipt says 480 16th street. On to the main event. Avocado Toast options 1- sliced avocado & boiled egg 2- sliced avocado & tahini 3- guacamole toast I'm a purist, so #1 please I probably should have ordered the guacamole, which has some kick. Too bad I didn't see the salt & pepper packet. Without seasoning the avocado toast was pretty bland. Those deli level tomatoes, no thank you. No chili flakes, pickled radish or pink Himalayan salt here. The bread was yummy & actually toasted, although this toast was not suitable for eating with your hands, as it was piled high with greens, avocado slices, tomato slices & what I think was a thin layer of melted cheese. Bonus points for the serrated, non-plastic knife. IMO this was a lunch item. In the morning I'm not in the mood for a pile of dressed greens no matter how delicious. I ordered a side of bacon, generous 7 small strips with that perfect combination of crispy & chewy. The menu has a lot of coffee & sandwich choices, the refrigerated case full of juices & snacks. Super friendly staff, 4 people working the counter, so pretty fast service. Bottom line, a solid choice if you're in the hood.

    Brioche
    Shawn B.

    Lots and lots of sweet treats to satisfy your sweet tooth. I had this brioche pastry that was pretty goo. I also ordered a cortado; super rich, creamy and strong! Service was good; the cashier was patient with me as this was my first time ordering. Ambience is like a small intimate coffee shop you would find in Paris. Definitely will return! My stuff cost about $7 not too bad.

    French Classic
    Gee P.

    Hands down, the BEST breakfast sandwich I have ever eaten. I don't know how they do it...had the classic French sandwich with perfectly cooked ham, on a warm toasty baguette, with melted Swiss cheese...and refreshing cold sliced tomatoes. It was...perfect in every way.

    Dipesh G.

    I visited Caffe Central on a weekend, so it wasn't very busy, but I imagine the weekdays can be a bit crowded. The place is really nice: it's modern, clean and spacious. I only had a coffee, which tasted very nice, and not any of the food, which looked pretty good for a cafe.

    King's Bowl
    Janelle D.

    I tried out the King's Bowl today, and it was a large portion with even ratios of ingredients. Lots of complimenting flavors from the bitter greens, the creamy avocado, and the salty dressing. The salmon was very delicious. It's a well suited space to enjoy lunch with a friend or some colleagues.

    Dirty Bird Salad

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    22 days ago

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    5 months ago

    Nice place , great coffee, food is good , expensive. Overall great , will come back due to convenience and lack of competition.

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    5 months ago

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    9 months ago

    The food is fresh and delicious. The avocado toast, overnight oats, and salads are consistently good. It gets busy.

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    11 months ago

    The best staff, food and coffee always consistent. Would definitely recommend this cafe.

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    Saint Frank Coffee

    Saint Frank Coffee

    4.3
    (1k reviews)
    2.9 mi
    $$

    All around pleasant experience in terms of both the service and coffee. I had the flight and…read morethought it was overall good. They explained that the flight includes an espresso shot, espresso shot with milk, hot coffee, and iced coffee. I hadn't had a straight espresso shot before, so this wasn't for me personally just because it was so overpowering. I enjoyed the other three though. Like the majority of SF, parking is difficult to locate. I was dropped off nearby the location. There is indoor and outdoor seating; I was able to grab an empty spot late in the morning on a weekend, but I don't think seating is always readily available. It's not a huge space.

    Maybe I had very high hopes, nevertheless I wasn't slblown away by the coffee, the almond macadamia…read moremilk or the small bites offerings. At 11 am on a Sunday they were out of their best- black sesame Kouign Amann and the Raspberry Almond Croissant, which I took care of by paying a visit to Juniper bakery (sister business) later in the day. The Mocha with the house made nut milk fell flat. It needed something. I am not a fan of syrupy coffees and appreciate the more purist approach but this one just didn't do anything for me. The chai latte which I would never order was actually the best chai latte I have ever had, it was smooth like silk. Maybe I just had the wrong coffee order. Besides that, got the hot chocolate and the coffee tasting. I was surprised there was no explanation provided with the coffee- I figured it's all Honduran but an overview of some sort would have helped. I enjoyed all the coffees in there except the latte. Will visit again, earlier in the day so they are not out of their best sellers and try a different order.

    Photos
    View from back of the shop.
    View from back of the shop.
    Yuzu macadamia cookie and orange cream latte
    Yuzu macadamia cookie and orange cream latte
    Black Sesame Kouign-Amann

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    Black Sesame Kouign-Amann
    Sohn

    Sohn

    4.3
    (402 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$

    Went to Sohn on Friday afternoon and there was a line, luckily my group was just the right size…read morethat we waited no more than 2 minutes to be seated. We went to the second floor and wow, the space was huge. I liked that each person could order and pay on their own and everything would be delivered to the table. The second floor was full of people in laptops and headphones, so I'm guessing there's a lot of remote working going on. I had the signature cream top matcha and a galbi pati melt. I'm not a usual fan of kimchi, but honestly, this was mouth watering, would 10/10 recommend. The bread itself was delicious. Flaky and soft. The matcha wasn't out of this world, I give it a basic 6/10. The Melona Matcha Latte was so much better. So was the Melona Soda. Would so come back since they also host classes and have some pretty great food.

    came back on a sunday around 11:45am, where we waited around 15 minutes to be seated. ambiance is…read morebeautiful as usual and we were sat downstairs on the couch. unfortunately this visit was ruined by not one but TWO screaming children in our section. the child next to us ended up knocking over all the silverware and was banging it on the table. my main point of frustration was the food runner kept trying to give my food AND drink to the table next to us. it was frustrating that i had to speak up to get my order since he didn't bother asking me and was only speaking to the other table. banana oat milk latte (5/10): got this with decaf espresso, and i really like that they have this option! the espresso was VERY acidic though, not my favorite. if there was a bit more oat milk i would have enjoyed it a lot more, but the more i drank the more it grew on me. sohn breakfast sandwich (5/10): love how fluffy the egg is, the sesame seeds on the bread, and the unique onion jam, but it was very oily. when paired with acidic espresso this does not sit well with my stomach.

    Photos
    Front and center when you enter is the open barista space. Wait here for your take-away order.
    Front and center when you enter is the open barista space. Wait here for your take-away order.
    SŌHN Breakfast Sandwich
    SŌHN Breakfast Sandwich
    Butter Mandu: Beef filling, cabbage, side of kimchi (3 pc - $8)

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    Butter Mandu: Beef filling, cabbage, side of kimchi (3 pc - $8)
    Black Bird Bookstore and Cafe

    Black Bird Bookstore and Cafe

    4.5
    (255 reviews)
    6.5 mi
    $$

    Community-oriented cafe in the Outer Sunset district!…read more Blackbird is located across the street from Hook Fish, meaning that parking is packed and hard to find, so use public transit! I have gone to Blackbird a handful of times and have enjoyed the experience each time. Blackbird is primarily a bookstore, but they do have an outdoor window where you can order drinks ranging from matcha (Rocky's Matcha, if you're curious about which brand they use), lattes, and tea. They also carry a good amount of pastries (even mid-day, they have a lot of goodies), which I really appreciated. When you order your drink, you have to enter inside the bookstore to wait for your drink to be called, but you can take the time to stroll around and look at their book selection and trinkets. Heads up: the seating here is limited but very lovely. Inside, there are a couple of community tables, but their outdoor area is absolutely magical, with lush greenery and benches for you to enjoy your drinks. This time around, I got one of their seasonal drinks, a honey lavender vanilla latte, and I paired it with an Earl Grey olive oil loaf. The portion of the pastry was generous and moist, while the icing was not too sweet. Overall, a great pick for a cafe if you're in the area.

    I visited Black Bird for the first time because I was attending an author talk. Upon seeing their…read morecafe, I decided to order a few items. Matcha latte with whole milk : It's very savory which is great, unsweetened by default. I thought this was one of the better matchas I've had if you want to be able to taste the matcha strongly. Olive oil spelt cake: It reminds me of pound cake. Not that sweet except the frosting/icing. It was okay but as someone who's not as fond of that kind of cakey texture, I'd probably not get it again. They have a really lovely garden and patio in the back. There is also a bathroom. The acoustics and set up for events isn't great, though. It was hard for me to concentrate on the speaker for the book talk since you can hear the noises from the cafe behind and also the sounds of other store customers all around you. That was the only downside, but I think it's a very charming bookstore otherwise.

    Photos
    Rose Pastry
    Rose Pastry
    Hot chocolate with the most amazing foam
    Hot chocolate with the most amazing foam
    Front area of the first floor

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    Front area of the first floor
    Stonemill Matcha

    Stonemill Matcha

    4.2
    (1.7k reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$

    The place is called Stonemill Matcha so I should've got some matcha or latte, but I digress. I've…read moreheard this place has one of the best katsu sando around and as a lover of Katsu, I couldn't skip it. There's some good places in SF like Cafe Okawari. But Katsu is really becoming the new hype of the day for Japanese food, following the Sushi, Ramen, Japanese Curry, Katsu trend. So I came in with a critical view. I feel like Yoshoku in general may be next but I yet again digress. The box sandwich came in a cute little box. The inside was packed so I couldn't get a chance to fully appreciate the cafe, but the service was nice though the pay line may have moved slower than hoped. I'll say this. This is "the" best katsu sando in the bay. The katsu is crispy, but little on the softer side. But this hardness matches perfectly with the absolutely tender, soft, juicy pork wrapped inside. I'm looking at the menu again and it all makes sense. The pork has been in shio koji, making the meat ever so tender while adding the subtle but complicated marinated flavor. The cabbage is plenty, but not over packed to take away from the main Katsu flavor. What really perfects it for me, was not only the sweet and savory katsu sauce, but the mayo with dash of I think a karashi mustard. That slight tingle, the perfect kick gives a powerful awakening of flavor that really sets the it apart. This is art, an artisan. Culinary art is the refuge no raging rampant AI slop "art" can ever hope to touch. Until the day we get some cyborg implant to our brain into gustatory, olfactory functions. Even then, I don't think any tasteless tech bro are hopeless to create anything unique or beautiful.

    Ambiance: A small matcha theme'd cafe located in the Mission…read moredistrict serving a wide variety of matcha drinks and dishes. The inside has nice lighting and both booth and chair seating to pick from and music that's not overly loud to allow work and catching up with friends. Wait time: Not a long wait time early in the morning between time of ordering and receiving your drink. If you are taking it to go there is an outdoor pick up window attached to the outside of the store for convenience and to prevent cluttering inside. Service: Friendly staff and helpful with suggestions on the menu for both drinks and food. Drinks: Ginger Matcha Latte: The strong matcha and spicy ginger flavor paired well with the sweetness of the Oat Milk creating a balanced flavor. Drink size was fair based on other matcha shops. Overall, a nice little tea shop to pick out a good quality matcha beverage, light Japanese style breakfast / brunch, or a sweet treat. Clean and quiet ambience inside with friendly staff.

    Photos
    03.20.2026- Stonemill Matcha SF- interior
    03.20.2026- Stonemill Matcha SF- interior
    TO Hojicha Pumpkin Pie
    TO Hojicha Pumpkin Pie
    2024 Christmas Strawberry Matcha Cream Pie (sliced) (12/2024)

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    2024 Christmas Strawberry Matcha Cream Pie (sliced) (12/2024)
    Kopiku Coffee

    Kopiku Coffee

    4.7
    (523 reviews)
    3.1 mi
    $$

    Indonesian coffee, interesting combinations, dairy free...yes please! I stopped in because I was…read morehanging out with friends across the street and saw this place swarming with people. I had to see what all the buzz what about. I tried the Pandan Matcha and it was fantastic. With a display of pastries staring at us while we checked out, our group chose 1 lemon one to share and it was worth the afternoon treat. The menu is on the wall as you walk in. Place is small, hence the crowds outside. Love they are part of the bring your own cup program to reduce waste.

    My pup and I were exploring the area and about to leave when I saw that Kopiku Coffee is nearby, so…read moredetoured to check them out. Kopiku is an Indonesian Specialty Coffee Shop located in the Marina. Indonesian coffee is renowned for its low acidity and great flavors. So I was excited to try them out. Except I got super excited when I saw Pandan--anything! So instead of just a regular coffee, I had to try their Pandan Matcha. And a serving of their Lemper. And a slice of lapis Pandan cake. The Pandan matcha was fairly balanced with a smooth taste and slightly sweet aroma. Although not my favorite, it's not bad. The Lemper is a popular Indonesian snack made of glutinous rice with savory fillings wrapped in banana leaf. Reminds me a lot of Chinese zongzi and Mexican tamales. The one that we tried had shredded chicken inside. It's a lot more spicier and gingery than I'm used to but good. The lapis Pandan cake is a version of the traditional Kue Lapis. Good Pandan flavoring. Lovely ambiance with some indoor/outdoor seating. Friendly staff. Located on Lombard and Van Ness.

    Photos
    Pandan Matcha (Oat Milk)
    Pandan Matcha (Oat Milk)
    Kaya toast
    Kaya toast
    Masala Chai, Pea Earl Grey Tea, and a slice of Spekkoek.

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    Masala Chai, Pea Earl Grey Tea, and a slice of Spekkoek.

    Caffe Central - cafes - Updated July 2026

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