I stopped by here with the lovely Lorrie S. They waited patiently as I tried to choose what I wanted to eat. I finally decided on the half sandwich and half salad option. The food came out pretty quickly but it wasn't very crowded at the time. The lemonade was really sweet. You can sit outside here if it's a nice day. I noticed on the register it said they're here to stay but I dunno if that's the case because some people have been saying it's going to close. Oh well, they have lots of options to keep you well fed. read more

I needed a spot in Potrero to camp out before meeting a friend for dinner. Desperately trying to finish Harry Potter before some random 13 year-olds have a heated conversation about it in my vicinity and burst my bubble; I curled up in the corner of the cafe with a non-fat mocha and my completely conspicuous children's novel. As ridiculous a hold as Harry has on my simple mind I still found myself glancing up and around, out the window, at the photos on the wall... I just enjoyed the feel of this place. It was interesting. It was cozy. People walked by outside on their way to their important lives. It's not a heavily traveled area but it was quiet and cute all the same. Perhaps 10 seats (~6 tables) are squeezed together inside and maybe another 16 seats (~5 tables) were arranged under the tree in front of the cafe. Times on yelp say the cafe closes at 7pm on weekdays but they closed at 6pm on Wednesday Aug. 1, 2007. My mocha was good. Harry was better. Having a place to relax before dinner was the best. read more

I have a need to keep this cafe on the dl because it's an awesome oasis away from the bustle of 18th Street. But, they deserve props for making the most homey food with fresh ingredients and downright smart cost! The soups are amazing, I am particularly fond of the corn chowder that puts a little kick in your pants. Also, the only place I have found to get a decent salad in the 'hood during the lunch hour. Extra kudos for hiring sweet and sexy staff! read more

"Be not afraid of going slowly. Be only afraid of standing" -Chinese proverb "There never has been a genius without a touch of madness." -Seneca These and other quotes adorn the walls of Thinkers. There should also be something about giving a place another chance. While my breakfast was not so good (see first yelp), and the hard benches are still not so good, my return for coffee and lunch was good. Lots of sandwich options, but not a lot of them ideal for the Healthy Yelper. Fortunately the very nice lady working today was willing to do a custom one for me, and my turkey, lettuce, tomato and artichoke hearts with some of their house honey mustard dressing on the side hit the spot. As did my americano. That she did all that and actually wanted to charge me less than a standard sandwich exceeded expectations. Enough so to push a strong three stars to four. read more

Word: Food (sandos) Service (nice staff) Free WiFi Play Good Music Ehh: Seating, Indoor - a couple hard benches and chairs, and not enough cushions to go around) Seating, Outdoor - heavily-shaded (no sun) & no view of the city Whatchotalkin'bout Willis?: They close at...4PM??? read more

I love the sandwiches and salads here! It is a super convenient place for me to walk to for a delicious sandwich and coffee. My favorite is the Potrero sandwich and caesar salad. Only negative is the unfriendly and unwelcoming service depending on who is working, which has happened a few times already. read more

More like 3.5 stars but I'll bump 'em up just because I have to give any establishment respect that gives props to the some of the world's greatest thinkers. The breakfast sandwiches *can* be good but sometimes they'll be cold in the middle for some strange reason. With that many people behind the counter, the food should be a lot more consistent. The drinks I've had hear have been fine but nothing to write home about. I won't talk about the locals too much because it's hard for me to diss an establishment because of its patrons but I'll just say that I've heard some of the most vapid convserations at this place. Visit but don't stay too long. read more

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this place. If they improve upon these two things, I will change my grade to five stars, no problem: 1. Fly-proof their baked goods display case. It borders on disgusting. No, actually, it IS disgusting. There are bugs all over their scones and in the hummus. 2. They really need to write down drink orders, or get started on them right away. On more than one occasion, my order has been forgotten and I've had to pipe up and remind them what I am waiting for. If those two problems go away, I'll be back. But not until then. read more

Always delicious despite never getting order quite right. I think I've been there about 20 times and they always manage to mess up something in a minor but annoying way - toasted bagel when I always ask for untoasted; wrong kind of cream cheese; regular milk instead of soy, etc. It's almost entertaining to see how they'll screw up each time. Pleasant atmosphere, nice views of the Bay from the tables out front, dog friendly, and otherwise a nice place to grab breakfast. read more

It brings me great pain to write this review because I have loved Thinkers Cafe for many years living here on Potrero Hill. Sadly, today was the last day for me going there for a quick and easy weekend breakfast treat, primarily because the treats are no longer quick or easy. Every time I've been there recently, the have messed up my order. It's always something trivial like veg vs. non-veg or decaf vs. caf, but it's always something. And then the offending employee offers a painfully fake conciliatory smile and fixes it. So creepy employees, some wrong orders-- so what, she makes you another latte and you're off, right? Wrong. The problem is that by the time you get your wrong order, you've waited an obscene length of time, so the next period of waiting for the correct order gets ever more painful. The problem here is that they have an incompetent staff working in a cramped space that can't accommodate wide swings in traffic that happen on weekend lunchtimes. Their menu is delightful, but if they can't produce the food fast enough, they'd do better cutting it back. Also, they're incredibly slow even making drinks. In short, I love the food and the coffee, and I'm happy to go here on off hours, but never again on a weekend. read more

Thinkers is one of my go to locations for when I need to get out of the house but don't want to head to the office. I frequently eat lunch here or stop by for a cup of coffee. A big part of my decision to stop at Thinkers is convenience and location, but it's also a good value for the price. The sandwiches and wraps are generally pretty good, as well as their baked goods and coffee. While they have both indoor and outdoor seating, it can get pretty crowded especially when the lunch crowd and those of us working on laptops intersect at the same. That said, it's rare that I have a problem finding a place to sit if I wait a few minutes. Service varies, but is generally decent. Some of the guys could be a bit more professional, and sometimes seem to have trouble hearing orders correctly the first time, but they're always friendly and accommodating. Definitely worth visiting if you're looking for a laid back spot on the hill to work, or read, or to grab a quick bite or cup of coffee. read more

Now that the nearby Klein's Deli has officially closed down, I anticipated that Thinker's Cafe would be getting more customers as a result of the loss. I was correct, in the last few months, the Cafe has added a covering for their outdoor seating area that better defines the cafe boundaries. Since there is very limited seating inside, this area is crucial for handling customers who come for lunch from the nearby businesses, schools and especially the Chinese holistic Medicine place down the street. Students from said school are often found lingering here with their books and diagrams of pressure-points, meridians and brains and whatnot, spread across multiple tables. This and other factors makes the small indoor seating area is a bit cramped for my liking. The wall-lined wooded benches are a bit hard on the ass after about 45 minutes as well. However, the management has done the best they can to make the customers happy given the space they have. The friendly service, well priced and very edible menu make up for this. Free wi-fi is a standard nowadays, but appreciated none-the-less. (Kleins Didn't have it.) In fact, Thinkers may be the only business on the hill to provide an access point. All in all, a great place to stop and grab a coffee and a sandwich, but don't stat too long on the benches, or you ass will feel it. Perhaps this is a ploy to keep people from staying too long in the limited seating area. Along with that and the cafe's hours, which to me are too limited,, (close at 6:00 PM!!) read more

3.5 blocks away from my place... without the decline/incline that is required to access Farley's = Good destination away from home. Tasty coffee, hot breakfast burrito. Only one currently sitting inside (weekday) -- 10 2-people tables inside. 10 seats outside. Food Menu: bagels, sandwiches, salads, wraps, soups, and all-day breakfast. Drinks: Hot (espresso-drinks, thinker fuel) Cold (Iced drinks, fresh juice, smoothies, and frappes) Free wifi. Morbidly obese dog being forced to walk by owner (Poor dog had to rest ever 20 yards). Yay! I'm a fan. read more

Apart from seating outside and having a Parisienne feel, they serve Illy caffe' (I think, at least the cups were from Illy). Espresso was definitely too long, diluted, but honestly priced at $1.25 and tasted great.... It's all about roasting, and SF worships over-roasted beans for espressos (see Ritual, Blue Bottle, Dynamo etc etc) which spoil the entire concept of an espresso....being delicate and bold at the same time and persistent. This wasn't persistent (because too long) but definitely delicate and bold. Big points also because it's close to home. read more

Sometimes, I just sit and think. Sometimes, I just sit. When in the mood for thinking, Thinkers Cafe is that joint which provides the caffeine spiked venue. Great neighborhoody joint, with just enough variety of good edibles to make most people happy. The coffee is good, no contrived concoctions the chain joints sling. Good variety of tea as well! I LOL when reading others reviews of this joint such as: "it's in the slower paced "outskirts" of SF in pot hill.", I respond: HUH?, I guess the reviewer thinks they did the Potrero neighborhood a favor by taking a break from her familiar frenetic pace of 16th & Mission. Long live Thinkers Cafe! read more

Cafe's are a funny thing....it is a very personal like or dislike and one which become a defacto hang out for many of us. I am not a heavy coffee drinker nor am I a big sandwich eater but I can see how Thinker's Cafe can be that kind of hang out. The place is run by a friendly bunch of guys in cozy Potrero Hill. The salads and sandwiches are good portion and the price very reasonable. They have board games as well as philosophical quotes on the wall. There is also plentiful of outside seating. Best of all, the place was clean. Lots of charm in this place makes Thinker's Cafe a quintessential neighborhood hang-out. read more

Thinkers is the closest cafe to my apartment, and they never disappoint me. The latte comes out in what can only be described as a bucket with a handle like a coffee cup. It's probably the size of your face, and needless to say well made. I've tried two sandwiches: the potrero and the caprese. They were both good, if you like veggie sandwiches. I'm usually more of a carnivore, but for some reason these two appeal to me in particular. The free wifi, friendly service, outdoor seating with heat lamps, and neighborhood character all add to the goodness of coffee and a tasty quick bite to eat. read more

I'm a native Angeleno with ties to the Bay Area so whenever I'm in town you can bet I'll be at Thinkers. They have food here. I remember it being delicious. But it's the coffee. The COFFEE dammit, that keeps me coming back. Thinkers is to me the quintessential local coffee joint. Friendly, tasty, art and wifi. You can't beat it. I really, really wish there was an awesome cafe like this in my town instead of having to drive 382 miles to get a cuppajoe. I'm a coffee snob, as stated in a previous review, so I'd really like to know if they brew their own beans or what. It's mighty delicious and kicks my day off right. They used to have a big black notebook of discount cards. You know the kind: buy 10 and get the 11th one free kinda deal. For whatever reason they've discontinued hosting these notebooks on the counter but I carry a card in my wallet and get it stamped every time I visit. Since I do it so infrequently it would be convenient if they still held my card but meh, whatever. I'm not that cheap that if I don't get my free coffee I'm all huffy about it. It's just a nice tool for customer interactivity and loyalty. It's also a neat way to visually see how much I come up to this fair city and how often I visit this awesome spot. read more

I've been going to this place for years. Not so long ago it came under new management. - Food is still descent - Staff: vacant and detached with no clue how to provide good service. The 2 guys that work there at the weekend at least are not cut out for restaurant work. "Huh...what did you say you wanted?...Oh, I'm pretty sure we don't have none of that, I think..." They also let the place get pretty messy and untidy. Lots of flies buzzing around. read more

These guys gots some java skillz. If their latte is a street ball slam dunk, then the little leaf pattern they put in the foam is the victory dance. In yo face Farleys! Actually, I like Farley's too, but - like the other Yelpers said - mostly for people watching, magazines and general lounging. Thinkers' espresso drinks rival any you can find in this city, and unlike other joints that serve up jitter juice most worthy (Ritual?), Thinkers is almost hipsterless and entirely attitude free. I'm not a hipster hater, I just don't dig on high concentrations of any single subculture in any one place. Thinkers has good food too, which is more important than ever with Klein's Deli on hiatus. Docking one star because the place is so small you can't wait in line without being hit repeatedly by the door (assuming my post-holiday ass has nothing to do with it). read more

I like this place because it's in my neighborhood - right up the street from me. Plus I like to support the local businesses. They offer coffee cards which I think is a nice touch. After 10 purchases of coffee you a get a free cuppa. You can even leave your card there in a binder so you don't have to keep it in your wallet. But, what I don't like is that it takes a long time to get a cup of coffee - expect a wait, and that the coffee is not always hot. You need to make sure you ask for it to be super hot. read more

Came in and ordered a COLD (said it 3 times) bagel with butter and the bagel they gave me was still warm! On a warmish bagel the butter will melt thereby defeating the whole point of a "bagel with butter." The butter is supposed to sit on top and not seep into the bread. I left the place defeated and just threw it away. Oh, and they charged me more than on the menu, charging me extra for butter even though the menu prices already included a "bagel with butter." And when I told them the price on the menu said $1.50 and included butter, the response I got was, "Oh, I never looked at the prices on the menu" but no offer to charge me the appropriate price. I felt silly arguing for a quarter but I hate it when places charge you more than what's written. Left me feeling like I was being scammed. Yea it's only a quarter but if that's a thing they do that sure can add up quickly... Totally helped ruin my morning the experience here. read more

Great little neighborhood cafe with some excellent menu items, tasty coffee, fair prices, and friendly staff. Small place, with around 15 seats or so including a few outdoor tables. The seating is pretty uncomfortable, with flat, hard wooden benches and little throw-pillow sized cushions. Great decor, with rotating local art and various proverbs and famous quotes painted randomly on the walls. The music is whatever they feel like playing, which I usually like but it can be loud sometimes, which may hurt their business in the long run. Most of the times I go are off-peak hours like 11am or 2pm, so the service is quick and theres plenty of seating. However, when its busy it can be a completely different place. The line takes up most of the room and can quickly go outside, and the service suffers. The Breakfast Croissant is my favorite in the morning. Plenty of scrambled egg, 2-3 slices of ham, ample cheddar cheese and green onions on a large, very tasty croissant. Along with excellent coffee it makes for a great breakfast. Close second is the breakfast burrito. For lunch I enjoy the spicy chicken wrap, which has a great ratio of fresh ingredients and a sauce thats quite spicy, but not too powerful or lingering. Now a couple negatives. For some reason they have a really odd and nasty lemonade. I couldn't even drink past the first few sips. Also, the website apparently hasn't been updated in several years, it says they are open until 7pm which is way off. They closed at 3 and sometimes 2:30 during the winter, and for summer they are open until 4. Prices are what you'd expect from an upscale cafe, but I believe its worth it, and overall Thinker's Cafe is a nice, cozy neighborhood cafe that has some great menu items and good service when they aren't really busy. read more

I've been sitting outside sipping their coffee, reading "A Guide to the Good Life", and lo' and behold, the Thinkers Cafe is all about the Stoics! They have quotes from Seneca and other philosophers on their walls. I suppose I should be more attentive... The coffee and food is 7/10, but the people are great! They seem to know the locals well. And the place is relatively quiet (being on 20th street in Potrero Hill). read more

This place has pretty bad service and bad specialty drinks. I ordered a chai latte that was $5 w almond milk. It tasted like really really sweet almond milk... No chai flavor at all. I told them and they said well sorry. You can buy another drink if you want. No I wanted a drink that was made right in the first place. Don't go here unless you have too. read more

One of the things I miss most about no longer living in Potrero Hill is Thinkers. It's a great place for coffee, breakfast, to read the news paper or get some work done on your laptop. Free refills on coffee, free internet, local neighborhood feel, food is always made fresh. I almost gave it 5 stars but there isn't a lot of seating and sometimes run out of things late in the day. Then again, one of the things that makes it nice is the intimate atmosphere. But if you feel like breakfast in bed, call ahead and get your order to go. Veggie tip - they have a breakfast burrito with meat on the menu, but if you ask they also make it vegetarian. And I don't just mean they make it without the meat, they add spinach, red peppers, mushrooms - I'm not sure why they don't list it on the menu? Also their oatmeal is delish if you're looking for something hearty and healthy. read more

This review is strictly for the artwork on the walls. Did you know that the barista Chris not only makes a damn good vanilla latte, but sketched the awesome artwork that decorates the walls? My favorite is the Bob Marley piece near the restroom, but Chris said that one is not for sale. :-( He also takes commissions. I plan on commissioning a piece for my husband for his birthday to support this talented, aspiring artist. read more

Thinkers is a great local cafe - with tasty sandwiches, both hot and cold, and great smoothies. It's got a great vibe and the workers / owner are super nice. read more

I had quite possibly the worst cup of coffee I have ever had at thinkers. Sure, the place is cute/cozy/local/whatever, and comes complete with people sucking down american spirits outside. But when a coffee joint (keyword: coffee) has bad coffee, it's just a failure. especially when you are friends with someone who works there and they admit the coffee is bad. read more

If it wasn't the nearest coffee to my old house, I probably wouldn't have come back so often, but be that as it may, they did have very good coffee. The staff has changed a bit since I went here often, but every time I went it in was the same story, no wait at the reg, but no staffer behind it. So I stand there looking around, a few "Excuse me's?" and when that still didn't attract the staff, I'd just leave $1.25 on the counter and get my own coffee. Granted, this would be when I woke up on the weekends at, on average 1PM. Still that's no excuse. I'd always just bought the coffee here, but one day I brought a friend and we sat down and ate lunch and I was very pleasantly surprised how good it was. I never bought food again, save a danish here or there, it was just always a little awkward inside, very unwelcoming. Overall, good coffee, bad service, odd atmosphere. read more

My favorite place to order some coffee and breakfast then sit and read. I usually order their iced mocha w/soy milk which is very sweet but delicious. For breakfast I love their breakfast burrito or jalapeño bagel w/cream cheese. For lunch I am obsessed with their caprese sandwich. It's perfection with the perfect amount of fresh mozzarella and tomatoes. read more

Thinker's is one of those unique and amazing establishments that adds flavor to Potrero Hill that often feels missing - tasty, healthy, reasonably cheap cafe food served in an establishment with a strong neighborhood vibe. I'm a huge fan of the breakfast burrito myself, but I've also had most of their sandwiches. They make a really good salad that is always fresh and tasty. They do get really busy on the weekends, but even when they're not, I feel like it takes an extraordinarily long time to get my food. And that wouldn't be a big deal, except that due to the way the tables are laid out there is never enough space for even the mid-morning, off-peak rush, so I hate to wait around for a second longer than I have to because people are often standing around peering for an open table. I feel like there has to be some way that they can reorganize the tables to take a bit of space out of the middle area and add one or two additional tables along the sides (maybe by rotating the two-top tables 90 degrees...) But it's still a five star establishment, and one that I hope remains around forever, and I'm glad that rumors of it being sold (that were leaked on EaterSF) were false. I would love to be able to grab a light dinner here, but like every other cafe on the PH they're breakfast/lunch only. read more

This is the friendliest coffee shop ever. I'm new to the area and I go in twice a week, and they remember me, my coffee preferences, and my food allergies with a smile. The owner has insisted I come in and get a sandwich even though I got there at closing! Coffee's always great, and the sandwiches are absolutely delicious. read more

My boyfriend and I ate lunch at Thinker's Cafe yesterday and were pleasantly surprised. Their chicken sandwich was one of the best we had tasted and the humus plate was delicious. I had an iced coffee which was the greatest but the food more than made up for it. Its in a pleasant neighborhood across from the Potrero hill branch of the public library and also close to several gorgeous parks. Overall I think this was a delightful spot to lunch! read more

I really liked this place. I think the name is a real winner too. I spotted this little gem as I was leaving the city and taking off on the 280 S towards LA. Spotted the cool logo, although it is kind of hidden behind a tree, and decide to take a chance on it. Ordered 2 dirty chai's, a banana and an apple and $13 bones later I was zippin. This was my first time getting a dirty chai latte, and for some reason I decided to try it here. I think I will be ordering this again soon... The other thing I loved was the friendliness of the two girls working behind the counter. One was middle-aged and one was a super cute 20 something year old that made me want to spend all day in there sipping my latte, and I would of too, except I had to get back to LA. Don't know if I will be back but I definitely recommend this place! read more

Great small cafe atmosphere in Potrero. Americano(double) was decent. Had the Lox and Egg Bagel. Taseteless. Would not recommend it. read more

The breakfast burritos here are huge and delicious! I love the one with churizo. The portions are huge, the staff is nice. This is a great place if you need a quick pick up and want to be full for the entire day. read more

This is quickly becoming my secret little study spot, even though it's not too close to my house. The place is quiet and relatively low key and the service is great. Pretty standard cafe food. I can't comment on their coffee because I'm a tea drinker, but I'm sure it's dandy. You can start a Frequent Thinker card, good for free drinks and stuff, but the best part is, you can leave it there! The only downside that I've seen is the overabundance of bints with screaming children. Shut those fucking things up, yo. read more

Oddly enough, I was going to up this to a 4 star. The key word here is was. I'll give it to the baristas, after years of going here (since I staunchly will not compromise my coffee morals and step foot in Farley's again) they finally have baristas that care to remember my name and my favorite summertime drink. So, why have I suddenly downgraded you ask? Well, I thought their hours were bad already. They have left me in the lurch for years when I am craving a nighttime coffee, but it has gotten worse. Now I can no longer appease my afternoon cravings. There is now a new sign on the door indicating their "Fall" hours. First, when did August 1st become Fall? Please do not take my summer away from me any earlier than need be! Secondly, how on earth can a coffee house survive when they only serve food until 2:30 and close by 3:30, or is it that they only serve food until 1:30 and close by 2:30? Either way, what the hell? Perhaps this is why they raised their prices. Oh and I have one other beef. Why do "regulars" still get to pay $1 for their coffee? Why aren't they subject to that extra quarter they now charge? Really, what is the extra quarter to these "regulars" what on earth will a single quarter get you? So, why do the baristas turn their head when they are only handed a dollar? Why not speak up and say "I'm sorry, coffee is now $1.25." It doesn't take a lot to be a little assertive. So there is my rant and my rationale for the downgrade. I admit, I am a coffee addict, but how hard is it to have some decent hours. Is it that they can't pay for the extra help? Maybe if they actually charged all those "regulars" that extra quarter they could stay open past mid-afternoon. But, it is still the only decent coffee house in my neighborhood. So, what's a girl to do? read more

Despite some of these reviews, I think the people who work here on weekends are awesome. They joke and laugh with every customer, they get the food and drinks out quickly, and they genuinely look like they're having fun. If you want a cafe with a fresh breeze, outside tables, and open windows, I recommend Thinkers Cafe (coffee and food is delicious, too!) read more