Tasteful Experiences: North Beach, San Francisco
San Francisco’s Little Italy is a vibrant neighborhood steeped in history, culture, and delicious Italian cuisine
North Beach, a buzzy neighborhood known for its Italian heritage, draws locals and tourists to its checkered tablecloth trattorias, old school coffee shops, and retro bars. It is one of San Francisco’s oldest and most iconic neighborhoods, located in the northeast of the city next to Chinatown, the Financial District, and Russian Hill neighborhoods. Home to landmark bookstore and publishing house, City Lights bookstore, and the memorabilia-filled Vesuvio Cafe bar, you can feel the history at every turn. Keep reading for my list of Tasteful Experiences categorized by coffee and breakfast, dinner, drinks, and more. These recommendations are based on the last 4 years of living in San Francisco and as a Bay Area native frequenting the city for good food and tasteful experiences.
Tasteful Coffee and Breakfast
Caffe Trieste - First Espresso coffee house on the West Coast since 1956, serving high-quality espresso, Italian pastries, and live music scheduled regularly (cash-only)
Caffe Greco - Authentic Italian caffe serving illy coffee, award-winning homemade tiramisu, and light lunch options in a charming space with outdoor parklet seating great for people watching (cash-only)
Bodega North Beach - Popular wine bar on the corner of Columbus Avenue that serves one of the best breakfast burritos in the city every Saturday from 9AM until sold out (which they do almost always) with fun music and party vibes
Hole in the Wall Coffee - Casual European-style walk-up 27-square-foot coffeehouse serving espresso, cold brew, tea, coconut cold brew, and muffins
Mama’s on Washington Square - Started in 1951 as a family-owned and operated business, long lines form for the hearty breakfast options like fluffy omelettes, homemade jam, and fresh baked breads and pastries at this cozy American restaurant
Compton’s Coffee House - Cozy coffee shop with Wi-Fi featuring coffee, tea, and pastries established by a San Francisco native who left Peet’s Coffee in 2020 to start a place of his own
Victoria Pastry Company - A welcoming bakery since 1914 serving a range of homemade Italian desserts, cookies, and treats like cannoli, tiramisu, strawberry shortcake, chocolate eclair, and princess cake
Stella Pastry & Cafe - Neighborhood shop since the 1940s in the center of Columbus Avenue offering traditional Italian pastries, treats, and desserts like tiramisu, cannoli, and Sacripantina sponge cake
Reveille Coffee - Cafe for New American breakfast and lunch plus San Francisco roasted coffee drinks in a modern, bright, and airy setting
Butter & Crumble - Woman-owned bakery since October 2023 specializing in elevated laminated pastries and layered crumble cakes with an emphasis on playful creativity like the pistachio cardamom sugar croissant, bacon egg & cheese croissant, strawberry rhubarb cruffin, brown butter toffee cornflake cookie, and more (open Thursday - Sunday 9AM until sold out, which they do usually by 11:30-12:30PM)
Beacon Coffee - Bright community-focused coffee shop and specialty grocers featuring Sightglass coffee, artisanal food products, and handmade merchandise by independent makers
Tasteful Dinner
Tony’s Pizza - Recognized as one of the best pizzerias in the world with 7 different ovens, offering numerous styles of pizzas like Neapolitan, California, Classic American and Italian, Sicilian, Pizza Romana, New York, Detroit, St. Louis and gluten-free, along with an array of antipasti, insalata, pastas, and a full bar including Italian and California wines and cocktails
Original Joe’s - Three-generation family owned and operated restaurant since 1937, serving traditional, old school Italian entrees, steaks, and seafood in a timeless space with a full bar area great to hang out and catch a local sports game
Park Tavern - Revamped lively and trendy bistro overlooking Washington Square Park, serving Italian American eats in a stylish space with wood-beamed ceilings, mosaic tile flooring, and a full bar with outdoor seating and kitchen counter seating
Flour + Water Pizzeria - Offshoot of the original Flour + Water Italian pasta-focused restaurant in the Mission neighborhood, a light and airy restaurant space with a buzzing open kitchen, serving Neapolitan pies, mozzarella sticks, beautiful seasonal chopped salads, and soft serve for dessert
Tosca Cafe - Dimly lit bar and eatery with plush booths featuring Italian food, cocktails, and wine in an old school setting since 1919, known for their meatballs and house “cappuccino” (a boozy, Prohibition-era hot chocolate, no coffee)
Acquolina - Neighborhood bistro serving pizza and other Italian eats in a relaxed space with some sidewalk seating, a Tuscan-infused menu meant to pair with an assortment of wines from Italy and California
Stinking Rose - A garlic restaurant serving Californian-Italian cuisine with garlic as a major component in its dishes (over 3,000 pounds of the pungent herb each month, in fact!) and wonderful sidewalk seating perfect for people watching on a nice day in North Beach
Barbara Pinseria - Lively Roman restaurant inspired by the rustic tradition of Roman pizzerie, offering cocktails and Pinsa-style pizzas, plus an open kitchen to watch the pizza-making in action and outdoor sidewalk seating
Firenze by Night - Family owned and operated since 1987, dinner-only white table cloth ristorante serving traditional Italian pasta, fish, and meat dishes with wine (don’t leave without trying the pillow-like gnocchi!)
Il Casaro Pizzeria - Pizza, Italian street food, and wine are served in a cozy space with a mozzarella bar and late-night hours, making it a great casual and family-friendly place to eat
Mona Lisa Restaurant - Renaissance-inspired restaurant offering authentic Italian cuisine since 1997, like homemade pastas, pizzas, 23 types of risottos, and varieties of chicken, veal, seafood and eggplant dishes (I recommend the pasta dishes)
Sodini’s Trattoria - Dinner-only, no reservation Italian spot open for over 100 years serving large portions of Italian classics served up in an old school restaurant space filled with Sinatra memorabilia (I recommend the pasta dishes like the gnocchi)
Sotto Mare - Neighborhood spot with small tables, a long counter, and nautical decor offering a menu of pasta, the best authentic cioppino, and other Italian-style seafood
Golden Boy Pizza - Takeout-only popping spot since 1978 specializing in thick-crust, Sicilian-style square focaccia pizzas with a variety of meat and veggie toppings
Original Joe’s, Flour + Water Pizzeria, Tony’s Pizza
Tasteful Drinks
Bodega - Buzzing wine bar on a busy corner of Columbus Avenue with a curated selection of wine, beer, and tasteful bar food like chicken nuggets, crispy potatoes, and short rib tacos
Vesuvio - World-renowned bi-level saloon next to the famous City Lights Bookstore, first established in 1948 with live music, art, and classic cocktails
Devil’s Acre - Throwback tavern and hidden basement bar for apothecary-themed cocktails with a menu and bar staff dressed in theme
Red Window - Vibrant, low-proof cocktail bar and European kitchen with Spanish small plates and lots of outdoor seating at the center of Columbus Avenue with live music on weekend’s
Golden Sardine - Cozy European wine bar and shop, plus poetry bookstore serving small plates like tinned fish with a 10-seat bar and about 1,000 square feet space spanning two stories
Bar April Jean - Destination cocktail bar located at the historic corner of Grant & Green Streets named after two of the owners mother’s, serving up modern, sophisticated cocktails, wine, and beer
Maggie McGarry’s - Authentic and fun Irish pub experience with bar stage performances by local cover bands
Golden Sardine, Red Window, Bodega Wine Bar
Tasteful Experiences
Washington Square Park - Established in 1847, this is one of the city’s first parks, bordered by sidewalk cafes and restaurants such as Mama’s and Park Tavern restaurants and the Liguria Bakery, as well as Saint Peter’s and Paul church
Saint Peter’s and Paul Church - Catholic church located directly across from Washington Square Park administered by the Salesians of Don Bosco with weekly mass service and a long waitlist for wedding ceremony services
Cobb’s Comedy Club - Stand-up comedy venue founded in 1982, many top comedians have performed on its stage in a 400-seat venue (2-drink minimum, FYI)
Saturday Farmer’s Market - Open every Saturday 9AM to 1PM next to Joe DiMaggio Playground with vendors offering fresh produce, flowers, and prepared foods, plus live entertainment
Molinari Delicatessen - Old-school Italian deli offering artisanal meats, cheeses, breads, and takeaway sandwiches since 1986
Lush Gelato - Always changing unique gelato flavors made from scratch in small batches right in North Beach using locally sourced ingredients
Monroe - Art Deco-inspired nightlife destination for drinks and dancing with large curving sofas and colorful artwork plus a patio, with Friday drink deals starting at $1 at 5PM for 60s music, $2 drinks at 6PM during 70s hour, and so on
Coit Tower - 210-foot tower in Telegraph Hill neighborhood within Pioneer Park overlooking the city and San Francisco Bay, built between 1932-1933, with murals from 1934 showing California business, agriculture, and home life
City Lights Book Store - Literary meeting place since 1953, a landmark bookstore and publishing house specializing in world literature, arts, and progressive politics at the corner of Columbus Avenue and Broadway
Tupelo - Southern soul food and creative cocktails in a 1912 building with brunch on weekends, featuring live entertainment 7 nights/week
