Best Cafes to Read in San Francisco
San Francisco's laidback attitude, hipster vibe, and idyllic West Coast setting are reasons why the city is home to a rather distinct literary culture. As the birthplace of the Beat Generation, San Francisco has had a tremendous influence on the world of books and continues to host several known authors and poets presently. Jack Kerouac's On the Road, Allen Ginsberg's Howl and William Burroughs' Naked Lunch are a few books from the infamous Beat revolution that challenged societal thinking in the 1950s, and in the process, created a narrative style that is progressive, controversial, and dream-like.
To be a part of this bookish reverie now, one needs to visit some of the best cafes to read in San Francisco. It is here that you can truly understand the city's artistic soul that tends to have an intimate and immediate effect on the way people think.
Vesuvio Cafe
Trendy, psychedelic, and legendary, Vesuvio Cafe celebrates both the Beat as well as the subsequent Beatnik Generation that are an integral part of the city's spirit, even now. Undoubtedly, one of the best places to read in SF, it started in 1948 and is now an essential stop for book lovers who want to retrace the steps of influencers such as Jack Kerouac, Neal Cassady, and Lawrence Ferlinghetti. Incidentally, San Francisco's iconic bookstore, City Lights, co-founded by Ferlinghetti, is right across the cafe. Moreover, Vesuvio has played host to countless other celebrities such as Bob Dylan, Francis Ford Coppola, and Dylan Thomas, over the years.
Inside, Vesuvio is packed with memorabilia, has an alluring old-world charm about it, and sets up the perfect atmosphere to sit, read, or discuss books while enjoying a cold beer or a hot coffee. Street art fans can take a stroll through Jack Kerouac Alley nearby, famous for its ever-changing, colorful murals.
Address: 255 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133
Photo: Vesuvio's Facebook Page
The Mill
An extensive exposed brick frontage with large glass doors and windows that let in ample sunlight leaves a positive first impression about The Mill. It is, however, a café that is equally loved for its environment, and detested by some for its expensive menu. Their Avocado Mash costs a whopping $8 and coffee starts at $3.75 here. In their defense, it is artisanal bread and coffee, something food and drink connoisseurs will genuinely appreciate.
Nevertheless, the café is quite large, with lots of open space to sit and get lost in a novel. However, what makes The Mill amongst the best places to read in SF is their no Wi-Fi policy, which, in a way, encourages conversations or sends you running into the pages of a beloved book, without a second thought.
Address: 736 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA 94117
Photo: The Mill Facebook Page
North Light
A quick 20-minute drive from central San Francisco, over the Bay Bridge, will get you into the comforting arms of North Light in Oakland. A bar and cafe with a lovely patio out back, North Light creates a pleasingly moody ambiance, with its selection of soulful music and luxe interiors, that bibliophiles will find attractive.
Adding to the book-friendly aura is a wall lined with over 300 titles for sale. Ranging from award-winning and popular books to specially curated titles, there is never a dull moment at North Light for a book lover. The real charm of North Light, though, is in the fact that it effortlessly switches from a lunch destination, and one of the best cafes to read in SF, to a seductive nightspot as soon as the sun sets down.
Address: 4915 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94609
Photo: North Light Facebook Page
Philz Coffee – Mission District
San Francisco's very own homegrown coffee shop chain, Philz Coffee, is nothing short of an institution, much-loved by the locals. Ideal for book lovers who don't mind reading amongst the chitter-chatter of a busy cafe, Philz Coffee's Mission District shop was the very first of its now many outlets.
Moreover, bookworms will find that its location, close to Alley Cat Books, a Spanish and English bookstore, makes the cafe all the more appealing. Alley Cat is a beautiful bookstore in San Francisco that doubles up as an art gallery. Bibliophiles can browse through new as well as second-hand titles here and then walk down to Philz Coffee to indulge in their buys while sipping on "handmade" specialty blends.
Address: 3101 24th St, San Francisco, CA 94110
Photo: Philz Coffee Facebook Page
Japanese Tea House
If you prefer to read in a serene environment, amidst beautiful natural surroundings, the "oldest public Japanese garden in the United States" is at your doorstep in San Francisco. The Japanese Tea Garden is a wondrous sight, filled with gorgeous spots that invite visitors to sit, relax, and read.
Ideally, a perfect day in San Francisco would start with a visit to Borderlands Books or Dog Eared Books, two of the city's famous bookstores, followed by a stroll through the garden with a leisurely stop at their Tea House. Situated in the center of the garden, it promises soothing and tasteful Japanese tea, adding an exotic charm to your book-reading excursion.
Address: 75 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr, San Francisco, CA 94118
