Caffe Trieste

Certain neighborhoods are the heart and soul of a city, while certain meeting points are the heart and soul of a neighborhood.

In San Francisco, Caffe Trieste is one of those places. Founded in 1956, Caffe Trieste introduced espresso to the U.S. West Coast in the 1950s. The original cafe is located at the intersection of Grant and Vallejo Streets in the heart of North Beach, an Italian neighborhood. Offering serious coffees (there is an extra charge for decaf) and filling pastries, Caffe Trieste is packed with friendly neighborhood regulars with very few tourists. This shop seems to be a hidden neighborhood gem.

I stopped for breakfast in both May and September, 2009. For roughly U.S. $5.00, I enjoyed a large cappuccino and a fantastic pastry. The staff are Italian and Italian opera on the juke box adds to the experience. Pictures on the wall atest to the owner's love of music including photos of local musicians (who play some evenings) and famous opera stars like Pavarotti. Famous celebrities and family photos also cover the walls.

A Sicilian fishing village mural on the back wall adds to the effect. Apparently Francis Ford Coppola wrote part of the script for "The Godfather" while sitting under this mural.

Outside the cafe, there are a few tables to soak up the neighborhood atmosphere, while looking up at Coit Tower.

This coffee is "the real deal" and is for devoted coffee drinkers. Caffe Trieste is one of my favorite spots in San Francisco.