Favorite Coffee Shops in San Francisco

Alright, so confession. I’m not even a coffee-drinker. I’m one of those weird people who prefers an iced chai over a cold brew (and that’s especially rare in the PR industry, let me tell you). Even though I don’t drink coffee, I can still appreciate a good coffee shop for that perfect blend of ambient noise, soft music and clink of cups. Plus, if you’re going to a coffee shop in SF, you can bet it’s going to be hipster as hellll. Here’s a roundup of my current favorites in the City, each with its own unique charm and ambience.

Matching Half (NoPa)

Nestled at the corner of Baker and McAllister, Matching Half is a tiny gem that’s easy to miss. But you wouldn’t want to do that because then you’d be missing out on one of the best chai lattes you are likely to ever come across in life. As for the ambience, think refurbished wood tables, blue stained glass windows, stone countertops, succulents and cacti aplenty and a killer playlist that always has my boyfriend and me putting Shazaam to the test. Plus, they serve beer and cocktails – enough said.

But back to the important stuff – the chai. Seriously, get it. It’s creamy and sweet, but not too sweet. And it’s dusted with a light layer of cinnamon that just puts it over the edge. I like to get it iced, especially when the weather’s playing nice. Oh look, I rhymed.

Moka Coffee (Nob Hill)

This one is a recent discovery. My boyfriend is currently taking his AREs (Architecture Registration Exams), so we were in desperate need of a quiet coffee shop that would allow us to get some serious studying done. Enter, Moka Coffee. This place has the power to make you feel instantly cozy, which is something I can always get on board with. Its soft plush couches, selection of novels and simple, small bites take it up one more notch. We ordered the Tomato Mozzarella Basil Melt and it definitely hit the spot. I’ve heard that the coffee here is subpar (though I enjoyed the Lavender Drop black tea that I ordered), but if you want a  quiet, peaceful spot to study or re-charge, this is the place for you.

Plus, it’s a stone’s throw away from the legendary Cordon Bleu. I could go on and on about this tiny hole-in-the wall Vietnamese restaurant, but that’s a blog post for another day.

Ritual (Haight)

Ritual is no secret to the Bay Area coffee community. It first opened its doors on Valencia Street back in 2005, with a mission to craft the very best coffee out there, and it still takes its process very seriously today. The way they prepare their coffees and teas is truly an art. I get such a kick out of watching the hipster baristas prepare the perfect pour-over or slow drip coffee. While the original location is on Valencia, the one I tend to frequent most commonly is in the Haight.

I love picking up a cup of tea to go and then meandering through Haight Street’s many eclectic shops. A few of my favorites are Loved to Death – a dark, macabre style shop that sells everything from exorcism kits and apothecary jars to Edison bulbs and surprisingly beautiful jewelry – and Ideele, which has some lovely, on-trend clothing pieces and accessories at an affordable price point. You should definitely check out the Sockshop too if you’re in the mood for some fun, quirky socks with sloths or cats or Siracha bottles on them. I mean, who wouldn’t want a nice pair of Siracha socks?

Sleeping In and an Overall Lazy Saturday

Today, I woke up past noon…and it was glorious. Anxiety has been plaguing my sleep cycle for the past few weeks, so it was a rare treat to be able to actually sleep in – the kind of sleeping in that feels similar to a coma and typically results in “pillow face.”

To celebrate a perfectly lazy Saturday afternoon, my boyfriend, Adam, and I decided to head to Divisadero to try out Brenda’s Meat and Three, an offshoot of the original Brenda’s French Soul Food located in the Tenderloin. According to a friend, Brenda’s Meat and Three offers the same mouthwatering southern comfort food, but without the two hour wait. Score!   

The eatery has a very homey, inviting atmosphere with a J-shaped bar counter that opens up the space. We only waited about five minutes before being seated at the counter, which was perfect timing because I was starting to get quite hangry at this point.

After debating between their three specials that day, I finally settled upon the pork belly with cheddar grits, a perfectly poached egg and spicy caramelized onions, and was very happy with my decision. Also worth noting the watermelon iced tea, which was super refreshing with just the right amount of sweetness and a couple slices of fresh watermelon. 

Adam ordered the “Delta Scramble” which included generous portions of fried oysters, shrimp, okra and tomato maque choux served with grits and a flaky, butter biscuit with strawberry preserves. Luckily, he shared some (large) bites with me since I can’t resist anything that involves seafood, especially oysters…swoon!  

All in all, I give this Brenda’s sequel two thumbs up. It’s reasonably priced for the heaping portions and I can most definitely envision myself coming back the next time I have a craving for a taste of New Orleans soul food.