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    Caffe Trieste

    3.9 (852 reviews)
    InexpensiveCafes
    Open 7:00 am - 10:00 pm

    Caffe Trieste Photos

    Business Info

    CAFFE TRIESTE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Caffe Trieste

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    Manuel L.

    A perfect spot to catch up with friends or settle in with some work, this cozy café serves delicious coffee and standout desserts in a warm, inviting atmosphere. Free Wi-Fi makes it easy to stay awhile just keep in mind it's cash-only, though there's an ATM nearby. Still an easy five-star experience.

    The group of the player

    The best coffee shop ever different from other coffee shops, so friendly different atmosphere, live music, you can dance and sit with other people in one table, it was so much fun Definitely, I will back there

    Afshin A.

    Cafe Trieste: A Personal Landmark in the Heart of North Beach Having lived in North Beach for the past 30 years, Cafe Trieste has been a constant and meaningful part of my life. It was one of the first places I read about when I moved to the neighborhood, and naturally, one of the first spots I started visiting regularly. Over the years, I've stopped by more times than I can count, usually for a good cup of coffee, but occasionally for a bite to eat or just to soak in the atmosphere. What keeps pulling me back isn't just the coffee (though it's excellent), but the architecture, history, and community that define the space. The cafe feels timeless. Its walls hold stories that echo with the voices of friends, neighbors, and familiar faces who gather there often. For many of us in the neighborhood, it's more than a café, it's a social hub, a meeting place, and a comforting constant amid a changing city. Founded in 1956 by "Papa" Gianni Giotta, a Sicilian immigrant, Cafe Trieste is one of the first espresso houses in America. Giotta brought with him the rich tradition of Italian coffee culture, which he infused into the very core of the cafe. That spirit remains largely intact today, from the vintage decor to the opera music that occasionally fills the air. You can feel the weight of its legacy the moment you step inside. The place is steeped in literary and artistic history. It was frequented by Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, and Lawrence Ferlinghetti and is even rumored to have inspired parts of The Godfather, written there by Francis Ford Coppola. Then there are the local legends like "Crazy George," whose gravelly voice and spontaneous poetry were part of the cafe's personality for decades. Cafe Trieste embodies what North Beach has always been about: culture, creativity, conversation, and community. Unlike the polished chain cafes popping up all over the city, this one feels real, lived-in, and historic. It's a place where the past still breathes, neighbors nod to one another, and stories, old and new, continue to unfold over a strong, satisfying cup of coffee.

    Italian Roast Espresso
    Felix W.

    I got the doppio espresso. It was a dark roast with a decent layer of crema but thin body. It wasn't burnt but there wasn't much flavor nuance to balance the bitterness. This probably works well in milk based drinks but it needed more body on its own for my preferences. 2/5

    Tiramisu
    Syd G.

    So glad we decided to stop here after dinner in the North Beach. All the reviews led us here and they were spot on. This is an icon in SF. We read that it's been here for a long time and the original owner was a city celebrity. Walking in the shop we saw all the pics on the walls of the history, along with big time celebrities that have stopped here. I just wanted some tiramisu and my wife wanted a coffee. Too late in the night for coffee for me. Loved the decor inside and the warm feeling it gives. She absolutely loves the personal touch and taste in her coffee!

    Lisa W.

    Caffè Trieste is an internationally known coffeehouse, retail store, and former franchise in San Francisco. The original cafe, opened in 1956, was the first espresso-based coffeehouse on the West Coast of the United States. I recall coming here in the late 60's when the hippie movement was in full swing. We had just enjoyed lunch at the fabulous Yarsa Nepalese across the street and wanted a coffee & dessert before leaving the city. There is a wide variety of coffees to choose from- my friends said their lattes were excellent and I found my Dirty Chai perfectly spiced. So many sweet treats to choose from- I chose the peanut butter cookie dipped in chocolate- I intended to only half of it, but it was so yummy, I devoured the entire cookie! The vibe hasn't changed inside of this coffee house which I really appreciated. There's even still a jukebox inside and great posters from the past.

    Sign
    Nanase T.

    A historic & iconic cafe in North Beach! My boyfriend and I discovered this place through a TikTok, and were instantly intrigued when we learned that Francis Ford Coppola wrote much of the Godfather screen play in this cafe. Ever since then, we had been dying to visit! This is a cash-only cafe so be sure to bring some cash! There is an ATM inside in case you forget. We both ordered caffe mocha bianca (white mocha) and a cannoli to share (we were lucky to grab the last one of the day!) Caffe mocha bianca was absolutely delicious. It was my first time having a cannoli, and it definitely hit the spot. The cream was thick and the shell was crispy. Service was quick, and the ambiance was cozy. I learned that they host a Saturday afternoon concert monthly (per their website). I definitely would love to come back for the it!

    Scotty C.

    We turn the corner and see the iconic Caffe Trieste while wandering around North Beach. It was perfect timing for a midday espresso so we stopped in. Luckily we had some cash on us because it was cash only. I highly recommend grabbing a table outside on the sidewalk to enjoy an afternoon break.

    Cappuccino
    Jean C.

    So, this place has been on my SF list for a long time. Finally came and got my Cappuccino! The gentleman who was behind the counter was awesome. He's so funny. He makes great coffee drinks. Enjoyed the nostalgia. Enjoyed the window seating. But the bottom line...the espresso was really good. Kept me going for hours!

    Inside
    Kathleen S.

    This place is a VIBE! Walking in here feels like traveling back in time. I can easily imagine the beatnik authors whiling away an afternoon here writing and sipping on some strong espresso. You can feel the history. I can see why ChatGPT is recommending this cafe to out of town travelers as some tourists inside mentioned how they came upon this place. We were looking for a place to rest our legs and caffeinate and walked in on a Saturday afternoon. We lucked out as there was a live music performance going on and miraculously an empty table. It did mean the place was more crowded than usual but everyone was mixing parties and sitting wherever there was an empty seat. They even had a TV with the football game on. Such a convivial atmosphere. The lady next to me struck up a conversation and recommended the limoncello cookies here but sadly they were already out. I got a latte and carrot cake which I can never resist when I see it. The latte was definitely on the stronger side. Watch out. The drink was served extra hot and the glass it's served in was hothothot. The frosting on the carrot cake was definitely on the sweeter side (I scraped off the frosting but ate the cake portion!) so if you prefer things not too sweet like me, choose your dessert wisely. They had a selection. Would recommend this cafe for the vibes alone! Such a special spot.

    Eric R.

    This coffee shop has been in an Italian family for decades. It's an institution in North Beach and a must visit if you love Italian pastries and of course espresso. It just oozes history and family. It's cash only. So bring some bills with you and bring an appetite for some great pastries with a desire for some strong espresso drinks to wash them down.

    Cappuccino, not extra dry, very wet.

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    21 days ago

    This place is one of the best. The cappuccinos are top-notch. Part of what makes North Beach North Beach.

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    3 months ago

    Delicious cappuccino and great pastires. Worth a stop for the cappuccino alone. But get a pastry to go with it while you're there.

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    Caffe Trieste Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Caffe Trieste

    Is there inside open yet?

    Yes

    Is there wifi?

    There was a sign for WiFi but I did not use it. Based on the number of laptops going that morning I would say it should be good

    Is there any live music?

    yes sometimes in the mornings they have live duos or solo musicians playing acoustic guitars/mandolins ect

    Is there a piano for a patron to play and sing an Italian opera? Does the family still sing operas on selected Saturday afternoons?

    Yes. Yes there is. And the family concert is the last Saturday of the month these days.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Kiss Of Matcha - Matcha Coconut

    Kiss Of Matcha

    4.3(243 reviews)
    0.0 miNorth Beach/Telegraph Hill, Russian Hill
    $
    Locally owned & operated
    Women-owned & operated

    Stopped by Kiss of Matcha on Broadway the other day. Honestly wasn't expecting much but it…read moresurprised me. Ordered the double matcha latte. It actually tastes like matcha, not just sweet milk. Strong but smooth, not bitter. You can tell they're using good quality powder. Service was fast and pretty easygoing. No wait when I went. If you're picky about matcha, this place does it right. I'll come back next time I'm in the area.

    This is a really good matcha spot, I love matcha and this place doesn't have the grainy matcha feel…read morethat a lot of other places have when pre batched. The color, magnificent honestly, the dango is good to try for the first time, but I wouldn't get again. As for the lattes, the mango one is pretty good, super mangoey and sweet, so just remember to stir it pretty well before sipping. Strawberry was pretty good, also pretty sweet. The earl grey was my fave, easy to control the sugar level and very fragrant. The earl grey and matcha does not over power each other which I really liked. The soft serve, is suuuper good. It's like a thick matcha icecream, and it's sweet but not too sweet. I would visit this place again if I'm in SF! Service is a bit slow but that's understandable because they're always busy.

    Photos
    Kiss Of Matcha - Matcha Marshmallow Latte

    Matcha Marshmallow Latte

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    Matcha Cafe Maiko - Maiko Special

    Matcha Cafe Maiko

    4.6(337 reviews)
    0.3 miChinatown
    $

    I'm no stranger to Matcha Maiko but this was my first time trying it in SF Chinatown. There was a…read morebit of a line on a Friday afternoon. Service was quick and efficient. The place is small with simple decor and while there's a small counter seating area it'll get crowded very quickly with people ordering and waiting. We got a boba sundae (matcha + vanilla) and a matcha coffee. The matcha coffee was surprisingly smooth and well mixed. The soft serve was perfect. The chewiness of the boba was satisfying and the ice cream was creamy. Definitely recommend stopping by for a sweet treat as you walk the streets of Chinatown.

    Lovely matcha cafe and ice cream spot! I typically don't *love* sweets, but I was super impressed…read moreby this spot. I came by for dessert after grabbing dinner with a few friends in Chinatown, and it certainly lived up to all their recommendations. I got their matcha ice cream, which was super creamy and smooth, and it had a lovely matcha flavor without being either overly sweet or bitter / herbal. I think I would've preferred even less sweet, but this seemed like a great balance for the average set of tastebuds. If you want it to be a little extra sweet, you can get it swirled with their vanilla. Very randomly, they also have the best waffle cone I've ever had -- it's super crunchy and crispy, has a good amount of sweetness, and is remarkably thin for how good its structural integrity is. They also have a fun rotating duo of seasonal flavors -- jasmine and ube for our visit -- that the staff is more than happy to let you sample before you order. The ube didn't have a particularly strong ube flavor, but I loved the refreshing and floral flavor of the jasmine -- if I could've swirled the matcha and jasmine together, I absolutely would have.

    Photos
    Matcha Cafe Maiko - Strawberry calpico soft serve

    Strawberry calpico soft serve

    Matcha Cafe Maiko - Black sesame latte - has a nut taste! Yum!

    Black sesame latte - has a nut taste! Yum!

    Matcha Cafe Maiko - Matcha soft serve + Ube with Thai Tea swirl

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    Matcha soft serve + Ube with Thai Tea swirl

    JOE & THE JUICE - Spicy Tuna

    JOE & THE JUICE

    3.2(386 reviews)
    0.6 miFinancial District
    $$

    The Nutty tastes like a Ferraro Rocher. The chocolate one was really good. I wish they made…read moresmoothies in a thicker texture though. I don't know if it's healthy but it tastes good so I'll be back.

    FOOD. SERVICE. AMBIANCE: It's been about 8 months since I…read moreboycotted JOE & THE JUICE because of awful business practices I go into in previous reviews. Today I thought I'd give J&J another chance. 8 months to read citicisms and get its act together. SERVICE: JOE & THE JUICE gained a bad reputation in the Bay Area pre-covid for flagrantly disregarding city law that prohibits retail businesses from going strictly cashless. For good reason: Refusing paper and coin currency is defacto segregation against Black and Brown folks and the working poor and those on a fixed income who are more likely to be restricted to cash transactions. This is an unjust policy, refusing to take "certain people's " money and in my book equals BAD SERVICE. FOOD & BEVERAGES: Upon my return to the large JOE & THE JUICE location in San Francisco's Financial District - which I used to frequent most days of the week for years before the boycott - I ordered my signature drink, Americano + extra shot of espresso with milk. Now although J&J is wildly overpriced compared to other espresso bars and snack joints, the Danish (J&J is a Denmark import and not locally owned, so maybe they don't understand how we do here in the USA) ownership refuses to provide the paying customer options between 1/2&1/2, Whole Milk, 4% Milk, etc. It carries only 2% milk which is just above lightly flavored water. I always have 1/2&1/2 with my cofffee but not at J&J, despite the high prices customers pay. I used to stock this location myself with 1/2&1/2 out of my own pocket from the Walgreens across the street, which a customer shouldn't have to do. BEVERAGES: Well my Americano, honestly, was awful. Tasted like dirty dish water. Old stale coffee bean flavor only slightly diluted luke warm water. BAD PRODUCT. SERVICE: It appears JOE & THE JUICE ownership and management are back to their old tricks again refusing cash payment. I told the manager it's city law thay accept cash payment - payment equality - and he conceded he knew this is the law. I was given the excuse the cash register just happened to be broken and they were waiting repairs, but trust me as one who knows J&J very well this is just BS: they're told to tell customers or city inspectors this and cynically keep going on with their segregationist policy. BAD. BAD. BAD SERIVICE!

    Photos
    JOE & THE JUICE - Interior

    Interior

    JOE & THE JUICE - Matcha Latte 16oz @colorful.eats

    Matcha Latte 16oz @colorful.eats

    JOE & THE JUICE - Big fan of the interior design.

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    Big fan of the interior design.

    Caffe Trieste - cafes - Updated May 2026

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