Jackson Place Cafe
Category: Coffee & Tea [Edit]
Neighborhood: Financial District633 Battery St
One Jackson Pl
(between Jackson St & Pacific Ave)
San Francisco, CA 94111 (415) 225-4891
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 7:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. - Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: No
- Parking: Street
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Wi-Fi: None
48 reviews
Neighborhood: Russian Hill
"Good sandwiches, and various different types of sandwiches, cool location, staff was cool and even brought out my latte instead of shouting…" read more »
33 Reviews for Jackson Place Cafe
Yes, it's true, you can get Blue Bottle coffee downtown. The staff is really friendly too, and on a hot day, they make an iced americano that will make your toes curl with joy.
They have food too, as if that mattered, and it's actually okay (salads, sandwiches). But I really go there for the decaf Blue Bottle coffee.
Great hidden place which also happens to be the only decent place to get a competently made macchiato in the FiDi. Owners are quite nice, and they make a good sandwich too. Great place to come to escape the office for a few minutes, and sit outside with an espresso in the nice green breezeway.
Super cute hidden cafe. I like to come for pastries and bagels. Owners are very friendly and I'm sure I'll be back to try something from the lunch menu, but there isn't a lot of veggie options.
Great stop for a quiet lunch with a lot of personality. Salads, soups and sandwiches are on the menu and the Italian woman running the place is a wonderful hostess.
Excellent place. The owners are friendly, and the coffee is the best within a 20 minute walking radius. Most of the sandwiches are tasty, generously sized, and reasonably priced.
Great place.
The service is fast, you should try the ice tea WOW. Since I am working on the over side of the street, I buy my drinks and snacks over there - every day. This cafe place also has New Orleans Iced - which is my favorite drink.
Jackson Place Cafe is super cute and yes they really do brew Blue Bottle!
NOTE: They do NOT brew the New Orleans Iced Coffee all the time... if it's not an unusually warm sunny week in SF, they probably won't have the iced coffee. Just a heads up for people like me who will drink iced coffee in the tundra, might wanna call ahead and ask
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Cool (1)
Any place that sells blue bottle AND has great service is all stars from me! This "secret little alley" is always bustling with people that work in the area during the day.
They are now carrying the New Orleans Iced, my favorite no matter how cold it is outside. They also have a wide variety of panini sandwiches, salads and such.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Funny (2)
Cool (2)
I go here all the time. The goat cheese Panini with roasted veggies is the best. Their service is very friendly too. Blue bottle coffee is served as well as pre-made salads and yogurt parfaits. They have Noah's bagels in the morning and they taste amazing when made on the panini grill!
Two words: Secret Hideout : )
$4 mocha = A+
$2 blue bottle drip coffee = A++
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
great pizza, and great panini
also in a really cool little alley/alcove
I had heard about Giovanni, the nice man who mans the shack that is Jackson Place Cafe, from my friend for years, and now that I finally work with her I get to accompany her to meet Giovanni. They serve Blue Bottle, which is a rarity, but I'm not exactly a coffee connoisseur (it's really just an energy tool for me) so it doesn't make that much difference. It's very cute though, and the soup and pizza I've had there have been excellent. Minus one star because it's pretty slow, being a one-man operation and all, and because I have to stand outside in the dreary SF weather while I wait for my coffee.
People thought this was:
Cool (1)
Yes, the Italians who work here are sweethearts, yes, the alley this stand is situated in is adorable and sparkling clean, and yess, the various coffee products I've purchased are better than the chain variety, but there's not much more to write home about. I don't know what Blue Bottle coffee is, shamefully, but then, I don't drink coffee plain. The chai lattes (and other "coffee products") are tasty, very nicely spiced and foamed, but there's none of that extra oomph that takes something from acceptable to um, throat orgasm. The prosciutto panini with olive spread was also a disappointment-- the only tasty thing was the cheese. If you work in the FiDi as I do, I suppose you'll be coming here for your coffee since there aren't a lot of other credible options (Starbucks, anyone?), but that's not exactly a ringing endorsement.
Best cappuccino in FiDi hands down. None of that chain-store nonsense. Seriously, who waits in line for mediocre coffee? Actually about 75% of people working downtown it seems. It's really sad to see these lines every morning at the nearby Starbucks when JPC has way better coffee, great service-with-a-smile, and no line!
Jackson Place Cafe, which I think might have once been called Milano, is run by a few REAL Italians, which is a nice change from having your espresso served by someone who didn't know the difference between a latte and cappuccino before they got a desperate gig at Starbucks. If you are lucky enough to have visited Italy, this place will be a quaint little reminder of your trip. Good for practicing your language skills. Un cappuccino e un panino di prosciutto per favore! Grazie! Ciao!
Blue bottle coffee, fresh Noah's bagels, great service, and no line! Go here once and you can scoff at all the Starbucks/Noah's sheep you pass on your way to a true local coffee stand.
Cash only, but if you're out of dough and they recognize you, they'll let you pay them back later. Trusting too? Yup. Try getting that at a chain.
People thought this was:
Cool (1)
I feel like I have to review this place despite not wanting more people to know about it.
1) 2nd best drip coffee in the city (after Blue Bottle stand, ferry terminal farmers market, Saturdays, so it's not really a fair contest) but they do make individual drip Blue Bottle coffee.
2) Best latte in the city, hands down.
3) Awesome premade food, yogurt parfait, salads, etc.
4) Noah's bagels, always fresh.
5) Hot Panini's, the prosciutto with olive spread is deliciously un-kosher but calls to me.
6) By far the nicest "coffee shop" atmosphere you could imagine, its outside but its not, cool gas lamps. Sure it sucks if its raining, but if the weather is nice (or even just ok) its fun to get a cup, sit on the wood chairs and read one of the magazines or papers they have lying around.
I wish they were open on weekends, but I understand why they aren't, they crowd is almost exclusively FiDi types (like me!). More to the point, I wish that there was a 0 attitude place like this close to where I live. This place is more "North Beach" than any coffee shop IN "North Beach."
The blueprint for any coffee/pizza/pannini-cart-located-in-a-courtyard-a mong-numerous-law-and-architecture-firms should be!
The service is absolutely spot on. They are damn friendly and helpful.
The scene is a perfect little courtyard with little cafe tables lit by gas lanterns.
The coffee is good quality and the craftsmanship of the barista is excellent.
This is the perfect spot before work, during a small office break, a light lunch, or a spot to hit before you go out after work.
Word of warning,,,sometimes they run out of food. Be prepared to maybe just grab a coffee or basically choose from whats left during lunch.
Seriously folks...you Starbucks frequenters (2 within 100 yards) are walking through life with blinders on.
It's a shame this place is tucked away, but their sidewalk board advertising Blue Bottle Coffee should be enough to lure you in. At $2 for a small cup, it's pricey for coffee, but for those who know, it's wholly worth it for BB. I've cut down on my caffeine consumption, but it's nice to have as an option to the Starbucks' that inhabit every block. Come here for that morning or early afternoon pick me up--if not from the coffee, from chatting with the awesome vendor that runs it.
Keeping with an Italian theme, paninis and pizza can also be had. A few tables are available out front, along with reading material for you to peruse as you kick back for a few. Before leaving, don't forget to punch your frequent buyer card: Buy 10, get one free.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Cool (3)
FiDi workers take note: if Peet's and Starbucks aren't cutting it for you or if you actually like to sit somewhere nice with your coffee, you should make your way to this pleasant little cafe, more of a kiosk actually, in a calming courtyard between Sansome and Battery Streets.
A nice Italian couple have been running it for a while now, and they certainly upgraded the coffee and food from the swill before. Their setup is basically an authorized Blue Bottle dispensary unit (tm) with pastries from Miette, I think, so though probably the best coffee in the area, it's no longer anything entirely special. They also will also gladly press panini for ya.
I would recommend that one come here to spend a few minutes outside the office rather than grab the caffeine and run for a few reasons.
1) The Italian couple seems to run the place on Italian time, so if in the rare instance there is a line, it will move slowly.
2) They will often chit chat with patrons (leading to #1).
3) The courtyard is really nice.
Best coffee in the fi-di. Hands down. No doubt. End of story.
I can never get over how foolish it is that there is a long line out the door at the Starbucks on Battery & Pacific, when not 50 yards away there is a small stand -- usually without a wait -- in which nice italian couple brews BLUE BOTTLE COFFEE using fancy italian cafe machines. Really hot, high pressure espresso machines -- the kind they don't have in Starbucks Land. And in a setting that's far more charming than any chain coffee store could ever provide. A trip down this alley, and you'll never want to go back to Starbucks again.
People thought this was:
Useful (3)
Funny (1)
Cool (2)
My Latte was smoother than a freshly waxed back...wait, that's a bit gross for a breakfast time review.
I am not a coffee snob. Dare I admit, I like a Starbucks latte. Sure, they are a chain and therefore somewhat evil, but they produce hot consistent espresso drinks that are not bitter. I am bitter adverse unless I am writing about Pluto's or talking about the Giants anemic offense.
Instead of heading over to Starbucks (partly inspired by other Yelpers) I stopped at JPC this morning as part of my Friday coffee before work right of passage. As for having survived the week, I feel I should be rewarded. The location is in the alley of my office complex - a notoriously horrid place to host a business that has been the home of three cafes and a flower stand in the last five years. I assume this place will die a quick death too. There just isn't enough foot-traffic.
But I digress. The coffee was amazing. Smooth and tasty, rich and creamy - and mine was low-fat and decaf! I won't lie, Blue Bottle Coffee means nothing to me but it has a pheromone like effect on the coffee snobs. That the cafe has a Ferrari of a coffee machine rates only slightly higher on the I don't know / I don't care scale of my coffee knowledge too. But I admit the taste and texture was amazing.
Best yet, and the reason I felt compelled to review, they seem to be genuinely concerned for the environment. At every turn on their menu you see Organics. The crowning fact is that they use compostable paper cups made from renewable resources. Music to my Berkeleyan ears!
This place will probably not last but it should. Not just because the product is good, but because they are making responsible choices. I for one will give them my business from now on because of those choices.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
Serves Blue Bottle near the FiDi, and not just during the Tuesday Ferry Building farmers' market. What else do you need to know?
I LOVE this coffee stand. It's not really a cafe, more like a small stand, but there are some small tables you can sit down at. Anyway, it's in a small alley between two small buildings off of Sansome and Battery. Just look for Jackson Place. It's a bit of a dig to find this joint, but it's worth it!
I get free coffee from work (evil Starbucks), but when I have a hankering for some *real* coffee, I come to this little stand. It's fabulous coffee. I usually drink Peet's and they use Blue bottle, but still...Blue Bottle is rich, fragrant coffee. Their coffee will make any terrible day a better one. I felt like crap today and after a sip of this coffee, the clouds parted and the sun came out (literally and figuratively). The owners are new (this used to be run by another couple). True Italians and their coffee reminds me of my college trip through Europe...Ah...a reminder of more simple days.
Other highlights:
- Other great treats (bagels - with egg, cream cheese, tomatoes, etc., muffins, scones, cookies, parfait). I've had a number of bagels with egg and cheese and they're really great (Bagels are from Noah's).
- Decent selection of juices (I noticed Odwalla last I was there).
- Lunch: They make fabulous paninis!
- Good magazines to peruse (e.g., Dwell)
-Friendly owners
Skip Starbucks and go to Jackson Place for a change! Starbucks is evil, disgusting coffee (fine, I admit it, I have a cup of Starbucks at least once/week). Jackson Place Cafe makes coffee that is rich, aromatic, nuanced...just how coffee should be! And, you can support a fabulous Italian couple by changing your coffee vendor!
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Cool (2)
Che bello!
Blue Bottle Coffee is so good I'd drink it right out someone's garage :) but to enjoy it in a beautiful brick-lined alley is a real treat. I stumbled upon this place today on a lunchtime stroll. I'll be back again for coffe and a sandwich for sure.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
What a find, I've just discovered this great little cafe, right near the Transamerica Pyramid. So if:
- you're looking for a truly great cup of coffee (it's Blue Bottle Coffee, at that!)
- you want to feel like you're in some European side-street for a while
- you want to practice your Italian with the owners (Giovanni's from Milan, Gabi's from Lugano)
- your idea of a cappuccino is that perfect melange of foam, froth, not-overly-searing coffee and a little dab of love
- you want good, quick service without waiting for some blase' barista to toil for 5 minutes over your brew...
... then I heartily suggest you come to Jackson Place Cafe (formerly Cafe Milano). It's an oasis in the financial district, and it feels like I'm strolling through the streets of some small town in the Ticino: that cool mix of order/style, with gas lamps (yeah, they're real gas!), brick and this brass-bedecked kiosk where you'll get simply sublime coffee and wonderful sandwiches to go.
Remember, the cafe is actually NOT on the street, as it's this little interior passage-way that splits the block. Look for the "One Jackson Place" sign in the middle of the block (enter either from Battery OR Sansome between Jackson and Pacific) and stroll right in. You'll have to search it out a tad, but it's well worth it.
Enjoy!
PS: Strike up a conversation with Giovanni and Gabi anytime, they're great owners!
People thought this was:
Useful (4)
Funny (2)
Cool (4)
Oh yeah! Blue Bottle Coffee is liquid love and I had a cuppa from Jackson Place Cafe today that rocked my world. I've got to go back when I can get a panini.
The setting is described perfectly. It really is from the Barbary Coast era by way of Vienna or Paris during La Belle Epoque.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
Jackson Place Cafe is the cafe formerly known as Cafe Milano which was formerly a hole in the ground which was probably formerly a place where some dinosaurs probably peed on once upon a time.
It can't really be described as a hole in the wall because it's in the middle of the plaza area, but it has that sort of feeling. It's basically a tastefully, and neatly decorated shack that's a kitchen and cash register. The sandwich selection is small, but supposedly it's all about the coffee at this place. I make it a rule never to have to pay for my coffee since its free in the office--soo, I may be selling this place a little short.
In any case, the sandwich was described by my coworkers as "the most mediocre sandwich I've had since I've been in San Francisco". Coming from a couple British guys, that's quite a strong statement.
And since I seemed so harsh in the above review, I'll make up for my meanness and give it three instead of two. Especially since the mom & pop that worked there were so incredibly friendly.
However the one consolation to going here was that I got to hear my coworker say my favorite British word..."I did quite enjoy the sun-dried *tomato*"..."tomato" pronounced toe-maught-toe.
Definitely two stars otherwise.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
Cool (2)
The cutest little phonebooth that serves great sandwiches! This is what an independent business is all about. A hardworking mom n pop with friendly, cordial service. Almost everything is made to order. Simple breakfast/lunch items prepared right in front of you so you know they weren't marinating in the humid air. Coffee? Yes, made to order as well. They grind the beans on the spot, and brew fresh cups per order.
I really enjoy their Croissantwiches ($4) here. Ham or bacon is grilled on the versatile panini grill, eggs in the microwave (tastes just like on the skillet!), and cheese melted on top of the toasted croissant. Other fresh ingredients include smoke salmon w/ cream cheese, mozz w/ vegies, and salad.
I think I insulted them when I asked if they had some ketchup to go on my sandwiches. "Only good healthy food here!" she replied. She was right. Ketchup would have masked the good salty ham and flaky croissant.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (2)
YES! I was convinced that this place was going to be an eternal underdog moneypit but now they've gotten Blue Bottle Coffee and quality pastries together, are piecing a righteous menu together and now it's powered by QUALITY in addition to being in a beautiful alley right in the thick of it. Way to start off the new year right.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Best coffee in the city. No doubt. And it just so happens to be conveniently located on the route I take to work. The Italian guy, Swiss lady and Latina girl who work there are partly what make this place so great. It just feels authentic having your change counted back to you in Italian. And they're really nice.
I'd say $2 is a reasonable price to pay for a killer cup of Blue Bottle coffee, brewed individually just for you.
Jackson Place Cafe gets my vote for Nicest Cafe in the Prettiest Alley in All of San Francisco (shoo maybe even all of Kal-ee-for-nyah!).
The fact that there is no urine in this alley automatically knocked out 95% of the competition. The remaining alleys were eliminated via Jackson Place Cafe's coffee, crepes, paninis and other goodies. The picturesque palm trees and gas lamps nearby sealed the deal.
So the next time you are feeling Europe-sick, come to Jackson Place Cafe and kick back with a cup of coffee.
People thought this was:
Funny (3)
Cool (1)
Smoothest lattes. Best chai.
Very peaceful and friendly environment.
Damn fine coffee! And HOT!
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
aside from the coffee/espresso being fantastic (blue bottle done justice), the two owners taught me that "ciao" is a much more flexible word than i'd ever anticipated.
and the foam on top? the female co-owner constantly has this "all business" expression that makes me think she's going to slap me if i do something wrong.
and i like that.
People thought this was:
Funny (3)
People Who Viewed This Also Viewed...
Related Lists
-
FiDi till I Die
Here is where I fuel my creativity during coffee… -
Lunch time jaunts in the…
Where I run out to durring the day - when I can…
Hot and New
- Asuka Ramen
13 reviews
Neighborhood: Union Square
- Ironwood BBQ
37 reviews
Neighborhood: Outer Richmond
- Zebulon
278 reviews
Neighborhood: SOMA
- Lolo
118 reviews
Neighborhood: Mission
- Halu
9 reviews
Neighborhood: Inner Richmond