Caffe Trieste

What a gem. Entering this classic coffee shop took me back to memories of a similar shop in my hometown over forty years ago. The atmosphere was authentic, the customers were characters and the coffee was divine. Scuffed, cracked, faded and real. The iron potbelly stove in the corner tells you all you need to know about the longevity of the early mornings and late nights so many have doubtless spent enjoy the simple pleasure of sharing coffee. It won’t be for everyone by any stretch but count me among those utterly charmed.

Nice rich Cappuccino Grande. Keylime cake was a little too sweet for me but tasty. Atmosphere was great. U can't find a cafe with this old sch Italian feel in the city. Surely worth a visit for a good cup of coffee

It is a great old-school spot and there is plenty of outdoor seating. We had Americanos with egg & sausage sandwiches for breakfast – awesome value and perfect before heading out for a morning tour. The jukebox was free, so we listened to some Connie Francis! Loved the character and history of this place and the convenient location in North Beach. We will be sure to return.

Great espresso drinks. My go to whenever I’m in San Francisco. This place has history, cool atmosphere. Great for early mornings or late afternoon pick me ups. Cash only, but they have an ATM machine on site.

If you want the ultimate SF experience, stop by here! So happy a local convinced us to walk in; when a place is cash only, that's when you know it's legit. We walked in to live music, some delicious and very reasonably priced coffees, and perhaps the greatest peanut butter chocolate cookie ever!

I absolutely loved this place. It’s so unique and historic. Definitely a place that you should check out if you are visiting the city or even if you are a local. They are packed but the service is fast and super friendly. They have a lot of syrups for the coffee which was surprising since it looks rather classical. Good choice of pastries and drinks in general. Overall was a good experience and if you’re a foodie and a caffeine addict, you most definitely will enjoyed it. Plus the seating and the neighborhood are inviting. Great latte and the ham and cheese croissant was on point. Definitely will go back on my next holidays in the States ❤‍🩹

This is probably the best espresso I have ever had, period! We loved how strong and flavorful the espresso shots in our drinks were, that we had to go back the next day! Its very close to Chinatown and a great pick-me-up stop if you are touring the city via walking. It was CASH only. However, they do have an ATM inside I believe. The inside was very uniquely decorated, and the outdoor seating is nice as well.

Absolutely love the coffee shop. It’s a vintage, old-school coffee shop, which I like. Coffee is amazing along with any of the pastries or desserts. The only thing I wish can complain about is the fact the only accept cash

Café Trieste is part of my San Francisco North Beach loop. Excellent coffee, killer pastries....the raspberry ring! There was some old folks playing music the other morning. There's seating inside, outside in the shade or sun!

There's a lot of history at the Caffe Trieste, it even has a Wikipedia page. Opened in 1956, it was the first espresso coffee shop on the west coast. It was a hangout for famous poets and writers of the Beat Generation such as Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg.  Francis Ford Coppola wrote the screenplay for The Godfather here.

The cafe has a cool vibe, with plenty of photos of celebs who have visited, a great mural, and cozy indoor and outdoor seating perfect for people watching. Definitely a must-visit coffee shop in North Beach. Authentic old time Italian character.

The place gets very busy and a line will definitely form. With just two people working, it might take a while to get your order, but be patient and enjoy the atmosphere. The coffee is quite good and there are lots of pastries to choose from. IMPORTANT: they only accept cash, so you’ll need to make a stop at an ATM.

01/06/2023

We went there at the night time. There were a band inside that was playing a nice Italian theme! The service was awesome. Our order was ready in 5-7 minutes! We order mocha ☕ with whip cream and their infamous tiramisu! And was soooo delicious!!!!

Overall we had very good time!
Thank you so much for the lovely experience ❣

This cafe is great. Coffee is really tasty. The baristas are also super friendly and helpful. The history behind this place is astonishing. It was the place where the Beat artists meet. Also, this place is frequented by many local people. There is also a vintage jukebox. Definitely worth a stop while in little Italy.

Stumbled into this charming cafe for dessert while in San Fran for one night. The vibe was amazing. The young man behind the counter talked me into have a cappuccino, which was probably the best I’ve ever had. We tried the Baklava, the Boston cream pie, Canoli and key lime pie. Thank you for making our last night in the city one to remember.

A ver delicious italian experience.
I try the coffe and alfajor and i can say it really meet my expectations.
The price was around 7 usd for both.
I recommend it

This espresso tastes exactly like in Southern Italy! Really friendly place with varieties of pastries and so good coffees. It’s ideal place to have a breakfast.

Delicious coffee in charming environs that feels like it's from a different era: a true SF classic. Highly recommend! Bonus: sometimes there's also live music 🎶
Cash only!

- Great Italian style coffee shop and deli -
the best espresso I had in the Bay Area. Also, the cinnamon rolls and the cannoli are among the best I had. Highly recommended.

Awsome, super. Fantastic. That was great coffee and tiramisu. You feel all the Character n good vibes. There is out seat as well, people super friendly, the guy was working almost know everyone n aware of their order n favorite.
I marked the cafe in my map to back there anytime im in the area.
The only issue is they accepting just cash. No card

Beautiful ambience | Delicious, home-cooked feeling food | Great service!
They also have free WiFi so it’s great to work at. Don’t forget, it’s CASH ONLY!

Probably the best latte I've ever tasted and I'm a very fusy coffee drinker so that's saying a lot! And the cake simply divine - had the carot cake. Wonderful atmosphere full of such friendly people. The decor eye catching and the service faultless. Really can't praise it enough!