Cancel

Open app

Search

Simple Pleasures Cafe

3.8 (566 reviews)
InexpensiveBagels, Cafes, Bakeries
Open • 6:00 am - 9:00 pm
Updated over 3 months ago

Simple Pleasures Cafe Photos

Business Info

SIMPLE PLEASURES CAFE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Good for groups
Outdoor seating

You might also consider

More like Simple Pleasures Cafe

Recommended Reviews - Simple Pleasures Cafe

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

Inside view
Stef M.

I come here on occasion.Its close to the Balboa theatre and is the latest open coffee house in the Richmond district. It's quiet has free wifi if you need it and good Hot coffee and sandwiches. Cakes and muffins and more. Very laidback with a few outside tables . Occasionally I can't seem to get the schedule they have live music which is nice especially for this end of town not much. It's very comfortable with an odd kinda way .

Dessert
Lorena T.

Came here with a friend because we needed a place to sit and talk. This was the only place nearby that opened late in our neighborhood with refreshments and desserts. The cafe has a quaint, warm, cozy ambiance. Order at the counter. Street parking.

turkey sandwich on sourdough

love getting a chai with espresso and with a bit of simple syrup as it is fairly spicey really liked their turkey sandwich, super flavorful and fulfilling (it had the hard stem of a pepper in it lol but that doesn't feel like it warranted taking off a whole star) very cute ambiance, plentiful seating, and service has been consistently pleasant and fast

Joseph V.

4 out of 5 stars Simple Pleasures Café is my go-to for a cold beer and calm vibes--until tonight, when a toddler went full Aladdin's Genie meets Jurassic Park. Screaming, flailing--this kid had range, baby. Still, nothing beats sipping a brew with good people under the city sky. Even with a tiny tornado in the background, this place keeps its charm. Next time I'm bringing earplugs and a juice box--just in case.

Menu on the wall
Sally Y.

An Outer Richmond gem, Simple Pleasures has been a mainstay since 1978, offering coffee, sandwiches, bagels and pastries. We ordered drinks and a sun-dried tomato pesto cream cheese bagel, which was delicious! Prices are very affordable and there are many regulars in the crowd of customers! It's a small bustling warm and friendly spot worth stopping by if you're in the hood.

Great tuna sandwich today on 9-grain bread filled with lots of tastiness, mmmm good!
Paul M.

I had a great tuna sandwich today on 9-grain bread filled with lots of yummy goodness, healthy and mmmm good!

See all

20 days ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 months ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 2
Love this 2
Oh no 0

5 months ago

Helpful 14
Thanks 5
Love this 18
Oh no 0

4 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

10 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

8 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 2
Oh no 0

8 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Grace T.
0
265
149

1 month ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 month ago

Good coffee but the barista/cashier with the short blonde hair was not friendly. I hope I don't get next time I go.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of E C.
0
14
0

1 month ago

Actually open early, good coffee. Imagine that. Other shops in the area are lazy and don't open until 7 or 8

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 1

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Ahmed R.

Ahmed R.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 1

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

9 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Ahmed R.

Ahmed R.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Paul M.
17
14
7

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Clara C.
49
22
38

1 year ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 1
Love this 2
Oh no 0

9 months ago

Excellent coffee, nice interior, loft of people, good service, everyone is similar. I recommend trying their pastries.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Leung T.
190
1531
10880

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Ahmed R.

Ahmed R.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Bill H.
365
179
2137

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Joe C.
1
75
8

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Best cafe on balboa - such a cute spot with warm vibes. Also that veggie bagel is next level!

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 2
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

8 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Ali M.
0
30
2

8 months ago

The food was amazing and the service was great yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyhhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeeaaaaaaa

Business owner information

Photo of Ahmed R.

Ahmed R.

Thank you so much!

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Ahmed R.

Ahmed R.

Thank you for the great review. We really appreciate it!

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Food and coffee are great, service is laid back and friendly, all in a very homey decor.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 3
Oh no 0

9 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Jiana B.
70
48
58

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Mindy X.
156
43
74

3 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Been going here since the 1980's. Lovely cafe that feels like a comfortable living room. I hope it never changes, so many fond memories!

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Abigail H.
330
120
32

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Friendly baristas, great chai, fast service and really appreciate the 90s playlist. Thank y'all

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

Page 1 of 15

Ask the Community - Simple Pleasures Cafe

Which days/times are loud with trivia nights or live music? Thank you!

Do they sell coffee beans in the cafe?

Yes

Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

Review Highlights - Simple Pleasures Cafe

“I moved out of the area and came back for a visit and they're just as good as they ever were but they now have a parklet outside!”

Mentioned in 11 reviews

Read more highlights

You might also consider

Arsicault Bakery - Savory scone

Arsicault Bakery

4.7(3.1k reviews)
2.1 mi•Inner Richmond
•$$

Croissants are always amazing! Good service…read more Always a line get there early. Best place in town.

I didn't know what a Kouign-Amann was until Covid, when I had my first one in Sedona, Arizona with…read moreapple compote inside. I only tried it because I could neither spell nor pronounce it, but my goodness was I glad I did. It was literally heaven in my mouth. Since then, I have nary turned down Kouign-Amman when I see it on a menu. But never has any tasted quite as good as the one in Sedona... Today came close when I stopped at Arsicault Bakery. The line was a little intimidating but once in line it moves quickly. 15 minutes. I love Kouign-amann for what it is and isn't. It has simple Ingredients. A classic pastry from Brittany, France, it only contains yeast dough, butter, and sugar. Bakers fold sugar and butter into the dough in layers. As it bakes, the sugar melts to create a crispy, caramelized crust on the outside and soft, buttery layers on the inside--with no fruit fillings, so the one I tried in Sedona did a modern twist on it that strayed from its traditional counterpart, which I just happened to absolutely love. The Arsicault version has an impeccably crispy, caramelized crust and buttery layers inside that are so spongy and soft. It was rounded perfection. Given that it's been 6 years since I was Layla's Bakery in Sedona I cannot with certainty say which was better: Sedona wins for modifying the traditional with added apple compote (kudos to them for that tweak), but Arsicault wins for how close it is to what the traditional kouign-amann should be. The crisp, caramelized outer layers contrast with the satisfyingly soft center. Perfection. They say Arsicault has the best croissants in San Francisco. I haven't tried many others here, but I believe from what I've had of this so far that statement is likely accurate. I am too full at present to eat the almond croissant, but will tonight to make my decision on how it fares compared to the best almond croissant I've had thus far--in Santa Barbara at Goat Tree Cafe.

Photos
Arsicault Bakery - Almond Croissant

Almond Croissant

Arsicault Bakery - Ham & cheese croissant

Ham & cheese croissant

Arsicault Bakery - Classic Croissant

See all

Classic Croissant

Butter & Crumble - Romey's Mexican hot chocolate pain au chocolat

Butter & Crumble

4.6(759 reviews)
5.1 mi•North Beach/Telegraph Hill
•$$

Butter and crumble has me coming back almost every month for their monthly menus with seasonal…read moreitems and unique takes on food items, including the rice roll and patatas bravas. Never could score a preorder box, and instead, line up at 7:45 (earliest you can line up) and wait until opening at 9. Usually spend total 1.5 hours here after receiving the pastries. No matter what flavor the croissant is, it is consistently flaky and buttery. The classic pistachio cardamom sugar croissant is one of my favorite sweet items. Its not too sweet and the flavors are prominent. The rice roll was my favorite monthly flavor for september. The bun was pillowy and soft with meat, scallions and cilantro scattered throughout. The staff is always friendly and welcoming. There is a max 10 pastries, 3 of each pastries limit for each party. They're also able to separate pastries into different boxes if requested when ordering.

Wow...this place is just a happy beginning!…read more Yes parking may frustrate you at times, and maybe the line is a bit long...even though it moves fast, it looks intimmidating..But this place DELIVERS! They have a pink espresso machine, a pink dough mixer, and the cup lids are pink. The staff is super focused, and friendly....Greeted with smiles and great suggestions, I got to try a number of treats. (Not 10, their max limit per order-customer). The Pistachio croissant...Pretty special, I never had it with a cream filling. The little flat bread with eggplant and pomegranates and harissa drizzle...super!. Tahini chocolate.....the list goes on...The olive bread. So if you are going to make it to any part of the northern CA area, specially San Francisco (Yes, there are great bakeries around here), I would put this on the top of the list, as the preparation is all from scratch, and the unique flavors and approach to some well known treats is something one must enjoy. Oh, and on top of that, I ordered a plain espresso, and the barista managed to do it justice. So dont be on the fence on the coffee making and quality. The location is on the steeper roads that I have no idea how people deal with living here. Good job, as once you stop in the middle of the climb, you will likely spin some tire to get traction, and that is on a dry day! The bakery is among a residential area.

Photos
Butter & Crumble - Hanna's twice baked biscoff croissant

Hanna's twice baked biscoff croissant

Butter & Crumble - Lauren's chopped cheese pain suisse

Lauren's chopped cheese pain suisse

Butter & Crumble - Allyson's pork bun bearclaw

See all

Allyson's pork bun bearclaw

Golden Gate Bakery - Happiness is a fresh, warm dan tat from Golden Gate bakery

Golden Gate Bakery

4.3(3.7k reviews)
5.1 mi•Chinatown
•$$

Heard about this place and I'm so glad it was open today! Usually there's only one item for sale…read moreon any given day, and the menu item for today was Moon Cake. I hadn't had a traditional one yet this year, so that was a plus for me. Normally I'm not crazy about the nut moon cakes, but this one was terrific! It was the best moon cake I've had in a while - regular lotus seed with yolk and nuts. The lady at the bakery reminded me of an "auntie" and she was super friendly! Even though today was moon cake, I took a chance and asked if she had any wife cake (Low Po Behng). Unfortunately she didn't, but we had a nice little conversation in Cantonese and it brought me back to childhood and Chinatown in L.A. back in the day. Some people might not like that it's closed (I think that's when she runs out or isn't baking that day) but that's just how it goes. It's nothing personal if someone drives a long way and it's closed. It sounds like sometimes the lines can be long (There was no line for us today - score!) but it's everyone's choice if they're willing to wait or not. It's a little place and you order through the door. To me, that just adds to the quirky adventure of it all. Next time I hope she has Low Po Behng!

This is a hidden treasure - literally! Not always open and can be random, but that's part of the…read moreallure. You'll know if it's open if the security gates have a small opening to the door. Whatever the lady makes for the day, that's the item to get and it can run out soon - then they close shop. Be prepared to pay with cash. There is a Chase and Citibank across the street. If you have a chance to meet "auntie", consider yourself special. Enjoyed our time with a little chit chat - since we were fortunate that it wasn't busy yet. I know some may be upset that it wasn't opened when they showed up - but that's kind of what makes it special - when you do get there in the right day and time. So be warned about the randomness of it all and consider yourself lucky if get a treat.

Photos
Golden Gate Bakery - Egg tart!!

Egg tart!!

Golden Gate Bakery - Almond Cookies and Coconut Tarts.

Almond Cookies and Coconut Tarts.

Golden Gate Bakery - Long lines are guaranteed.

See all

Long lines are guaranteed.

B Patisserie - Bostock ($4.25)

B Patisserie

4.6(3.8k reviews)
3.1 mi•Lower Pacific Heights
•$$

One of the best bakeries in the city!! Im sure many people would agree…read more Fresh pastries and excellent customer service. The Kouign Amann is my absolute favorite, Im always craving it and can never resist! :D

Spent 6 days in SF so Kouign-Amman challenge had to be done. There are people in SF who claim…read moreArsicault Bakery versus those who say B Patisserie is better, so I had to do the Pepsi challenge and find out for myself my last morning here. 1.8 mile walk each way. Here is what I found after having the one from B Patisserie: Pros: compote-ish filling, albeit very little of it, with no actual fruit so I couldn't tell if it was apple or pear. If they had included actual fruit that would've been a game changer for me. Or even more of it--with cinnamon. - there is indoor seating, which is nice if you're looking for that. If you are looking for a sit down place, this is the place, compared to Arsicault's grab and go - this bakery has more choices and bigger staff. Cons: - price point. Arsicault's KA is $5.50, compared to the $7 apiece here. I get it, the rental space is bigger and there is seating as opposed to the grab and go nature of Arsicault so price has to reflect the higher operating costs. I can do without seating. For the price differential, without more filling, the difference is immaterial for me so its higher price doesn't justify itself because I'm only getting KA. People who want variety of choices may enjoy B Patisserie better - slightly smaller in size to Arsicault's round perfection of a KA - no real center of spongy soft goodness bc they fold it in at the outside and the pastry dips in the middle so you have less pastry. While both KA are good, I would say Arsicault wins out on overall taste. There is more to enjoy bc it's bigger, so the outer layer of caramelized crispness contrasts the soft, spongy filling. B Patisserie has the crispy outside but it's folded in at the edges for presentation and dips in the middle so there is less pastry that it's mostly just crispy with a very small middle filling. Good but overall, Arsicault is much more satisfying with a good cup of coffee for me.

Photos
B Patisserie - Black sesame Kouign Amann, reheated

Black sesame Kouign Amann, reheated

B Patisserie - Black sesame kouign Amman ends

Black sesame kouign Amman ends

B Patisserie - Chocolate Kouign Amann Seasonal ($5.75)

See all

Chocolate Kouign Amann Seasonal ($5.75)

Simple Pleasures Cafe - bagels - Updated October 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...