Cafe International

Cafe International has the best Turkish coffee in San Francisco. I started coming for the coffee; but I’ve stayed for the atmosphere— it’s such a relaxing place to go and wind down from the fast pace of city life. The music is always excellent. And everyone has been so nice whenever I have come in and the owner remembers people after meeting them only once or twice. All the drinks are super affordable too— under $7 for most things; or like $15 for the family size Turkish coffee

Extremely rude owner! We were working while eating poorly made hummus one of the friend had ordered. The owner confronted us that every person on the table should order if they want to sit and work. We left never to come back again.

I’ve been coming to Cafe International for years. The cafe is full of smiling people on this sunny Memorial Day. The owner, Zara, makes everyone feel at home and treats everyone like family. She even speaks to me in italian, a language I’m learning, so I can practice. The food is delicious and served with care and a smile. I highly recommend Cafe International, a fixture in the Lower Haight community, offering a great vibe and positive atmosphere to all.

Cozy couches, strong coffee, great art, and interesting people. Whenever I'm here it feels like home. Zarah, the owner is so friendly and truly welcoming of everyone, and will often share a funny story or a hot San Francisco take. I love it. The bagel plates are great and filled with fresh fruits and veggies. The jazz on Sundays is a very special neighborhood event, with magical San Francisco vibes.

The most precious place. Super spacious, lots of seating. Cute small outdoor space in the back. Didn’t try the food but coffee was nice. Menu looks good anyways - bagels sandwiches salads smoothies. What more could you want? Excellent vibe with oldies music and couches and funky tables and art work. So grateful places like this exist! Any other “modern” cafe would be slammed on a Sunday morning. This place is a hidden gem.

Menu definitely had the variety that I wanted. Ended up getting a smoothie and my partner a mocha latte, which both came out delicious! Lady in the front was sweet and had a lovely conversation with her. Atmosphere is very relaxing, and will be coming back during my next trip.

One of us ordered food for the table, and we were still getting settled, looking into the Wi-Fi. Within minutes, the owner approached us loudly and publicly reprimanded us for not ordering coffee yet. What made it worse was how it was handled: she made sure others around us could hear, and even referenced us while speaking to customers behind us—turning what could have been a polite reminder into a public shaming. The energy was aggressive and deeply uncomfortable. Reading other reviews, it seems we’re not alone in this experience. Would not recommend if you’re looking for a warm, inclusive environment.

my favorite cafe place in the neighbourhood, this place has soul! iced coffe is rich in blend and you get a glass instead of a plastic cup, beagles are tasty and you get proper plates to eat them. amtosphere is authentic and cozy. The people working there are awesome and friendly. Also the cafe deserves its name with a lot international guests coming here

Love cafe international! It's so cozy inside, the perfect place to spend a rainy day. The service is also great, feels very homey and the food is delicious. It's a great coworking place away from home

Cozy, cushy, old-school comfort zone. Great food, great atmosphere, great drinks, and great people. This isn't like most coffee shops or cafes in San Francisco! It almost closed down but the community rallied to save it, and the city is better for it. There's history here and it feels like home--something some of the newer, flashier cafes lack. Yummy croque monsieur and other sandwiches and baked goods. Very comfy seating.

Oh gosh! I had such a great experience here today. First time customer, found them through infatuation SF "best places near me to get serious work done". Meaning i have enough space to privately sit with my laptop and headphones for a few hours, uninterrupted, to get stuff done. Cappuccino: DELIGHTFUL, the barista wrote my full middle eastern name into the foam! I've never seen it spelled out in a cap My Bagel Sandwich came with more accoutrements than at most places for 6.50! delightfully crispy, creamy-cheesy goodness served with a smile. Strawberry Smoothie to finish it off The music was loud, but pleasant in an unexpectedly awesome way. I'm usually sensitive but chose to sit near the speakers and really....Get. Stuff. Done. If you prefer more quiet, they have plenty of seating away from the one speaker Outdoor seating - yes. Your friend's diy cute backyard vibes, calm, cute!!! Outdoor plug for charging: i didn't see one. Indoor seating - yes. or Indoor plug for charging: yes! Small business & locally owned for yearssss. so glad i came in and got to interact with the awesome staff and get away from my chaotic house (where I'm constantly needed). PSA to gross negative reviewers below: Stop nickel and dimming small businesses over a $.5 charge. How many times have big banks or insurances hit you with some dumb fee significantly higher? Anyway!!! Go support this business

Food: I ordered a Lox Bagel. I was surprised to see that the bagel came on a plate with the toppings neatly arranged on the side - and I found that I quite prefer it this way. It allows for the freedom of choice for what & how many toppings one would like to have at a time. Service: order at the counter and pick up when your name is called, then bus your own table. The owner is very welcoming and kind. Ambiance: Near the entrance, there are plenty of cozy plush chairs and couches to sink into. There are plenty of wooden tables and chairs as well in the majority of the cafe. This appears to be a great place to study, write, or work in peace. The cozy aspect is something I would return for.

Absolutely amazing. Quality food and coffee. The staff members are so sweet and friendly. Love the outside seating area! Will be back :)

A nice cozy little spot to do work in. They have a lot of different breakfast options as well. The coffee tastes good. There's Wi-Fi and plenty of tables. I'd recommend if you're looking for a spot to spend like half a day at and do work in.

The service here was top notch. Some of the nicest cashiers / baristas I've ever met and they really seem to know what they're doing! Overall, seems like a really welcoming place for anyone to sit down and enjoy. Also prices are affordable and wifi is pretty stable for working. The food / drink was decent but I think it just also wasn't my cup of tea! Super fast though.

This was my first stop in San Francisco as I needed a pick me up. The staff was wonderfully pleasant and explained the difference of Turkish coffee. I was intrigued and gave it a try - OMG. It includes flavors of cardamom and ginger which was a wonderful herbal addition that I will be thinking about forever now. The coffee did not include cream, but was thick and creamy itself without it. I'm obsessed! The cafe itself was very open air with open doors and a back patio with plenty of plants and mural art. This was a wonderful stop on my walk, I'd recommend it, specifically give the Turkish Coffee a try!

VIVA CAFE INTERNATIONAL!! What a blissed-out welcoming classic SF Cafe with food. Gorgeous Zahra hosts the party like the salons we read about in books. Big breezy art filled - warm & cozy. Jazz on weekend afternoons. Great conversations, GREAT COFFEE & a damn fine bagel sandwich. Bonus points for a time traveling patio out back.

Great vibe, cute decor, lovely outdoor patio that's perfect for a sunny, (rare) warm day in SF. Coffee was pretty good as well. The pricing was strange. Lattes are advertised as $4 on the menu. I ordered an iced oat milk latte. I was charged $7.02. The barista first tried to tell me that it's because of tax, but what kind of tax is $3.02? Then, he explained the cost as thus: a latte is $4 but an ICED latte is $5 (I didn't see any signage explaining this). Then, oat milk is $1 more (Again, no signage explaining this). Then, there's $0.52 in tax. Then, another $0.50 in tax. I'm not sure I understand still, so knocking off two stars for that.

Stumbled upon this cafe walking around Haight street. Very cute and owner is welcoming and friendly. She upgraded my mocha just because, and boy was it delicious! There are couches by the window and you can relax and read and pass the time. The cookie was amazing too. Next time I will get a bagel sandwich.

Classic old-school San Francisco Café. Owner operated since forever, plenty of space to read or chill or work. Colorful clientele.

Huge dirty chai lattes! Friendly staff and good study/work space with wifi. The couches by the window are a cozy touch.

I usually go here early in the morning when most other places aren't open but have also stopped in a few afternoons. I love the vibe at all times. Cafe International has the friendliest owner and employees, wonderful food, and my favorite iced mocha in the city. Today she added special ice cubes (:

Best coffee shop in SF, Zara is the goat!! Great food, great coffee, and great community.

Excellent cappuccino and Turkish coffee, one of the best ones we've had. Came on a Sunday morning. The cafe is a quiet, relaxing comfortable place to hang out and wake up. Great couch and outside space. The auntie running the register is extremely kind and has such nice energy. Highly recommend this place.

Super yummy pecan bars. Like a hand held pecan pie. Super groovy space. Friendly service. I understand the live music on Sundays is exceptional.

Pretty solid coffee shop to do your work in! There's lots of seating, fresh air and great views along a tree lined street. It does get busy after 10am but noise cancelling headphones does the trick. Their wifi is fast enough, I'm able to run conferencing meetings just fine although its quite loud in here so my coworkers had trouble hearing me speak. Their avocado toast and turkey open face sandwich are tasty. Also a fun place to people watch.

Good cafe food selection and owner is super friendly! The outdoor section is great for when the weather is nice

Strong tasty coffee, great food, cool place and owner is extremely friendly and funny!! I always come here when I have the chance!! Keep it up :)

Sweetest neighborhood remote work spot in Lower Haight! I adore the kind staff there, and of course their coffee and pastries are great too. They were even nice enough to write my name on my latte! The interior is very spacious with large tables and wifi, so it's a great place if you want a cafe with comfy vibes that isn't as bustling and crowded as some of the chain coffee shops around town. The space has a lot of character and (as the name suggests) a very international music selection. There's also a pretty outdoor backyard area as well. The only thing to note is that they are cash only so come prepared!

The service here is fantastic! The woman who owns this establishment is so sweet and funny. I love coming here to read a book and get a little pastry + tea. I've gotten bagels and soups here and have all been good for the price. This place has a ton of different stuff to choose from and feels like a homey place to be. If you're in the area and want a cozy place to hang out at for a while, definitely stop by here!

Regrettably, it's not all that often that I come out to Lower Haight. Which, I have to admit, is a real shame, given how many interesting places have sprouted up around here over the years. Uva Enoteca I'm all too familiar with (love that place!), but Toronado, Iza Ramen, Wing Wings...and Cafe International! It's not often that I hear about random neighborhood coffee shops, but over the course of COVID, several of my ex-coworkers who live in the area mentioned it as one of their favorite spots to work from when they need a change of scenery from their usual four walls. Not exactly a ringing endorsement, perhaps, but enough to get me out here for a breakfast reunion with them! And to catch up with them too, of course... Now, while I may not spend much time in Lower Haight, I imagine that if you were to envision a coffee shop that manifests the feel and energy of the neighborhood, you'd probably get something that looks a lot like Cafe International. From almost the moment I stepped inside, I was immediately digging the ambiance and vibe. The space is cozy, with an open air patio in the back, a handful of couches up front, a bunch of large tables, and a rather eclectic collection of customers. More significantly to me, perhaps, was their menu - an array of coffee shop staples (typical coffees, smoothies, salads, and sandwiches) with a few more unique items (tabouleh, hummus plate, babaganoush, falafels) sprinkled in between. Despite how the menu does offer some interesting things, especially their falafels and sandwiches (if only it wasn't 930am...), their breakfast offerings are surprisingly sparse - just a few bagel-centric dishes and some assorted baked goods. Still, I knew exactly what I was ordering with my cup of coffee as soon as I saw LOX & BAGEL on one of their smaller boards. Sadly though, while the house coffee was okay (didn't love the bitter, nuttiness of their house brew, but it got the job done), my dish fell short. The cream cheese was more or less fine (wish there was more of it), but the bagel was a little heavy/dense and there wasn't much salmon (it looked like sockeye, for what it's worth). All in all, more okay than good/bad, but not quite what I expected for the money (~$12). Beyond the coffee/food, the service here gave me pause as well. Not that workers have to be overly cheerful or welcoming, but a couple of the staff members came across kind of short and impatient with us. One in particular seemed rather annoyed when taking some of our dishes away (he came to our table unprompted, mind you - we never asked), but it was also while the in midst of moving some tables/setting up for a group/event, so perhaps they were stressed or having a bad day? Regardless, even setting the service aside, I can't say I left Cafe International as impressed as my coworkers have been. Given the chill vibe and how it never got all that crowded or loud while we were here, though, I can see why they like coming here for a change of pace. After all, it's not like anything about this place was awful. It's just that it's not exactly a destination spot to travel across town for either.

This women is a gem the way she brings the community together through this cafe is truly magical!

Latte under $5 in the city! WOOH! Good mix of strong and creamy and a little bitter. Has a cute backyard patio and spacious but comfy/homey interior. Two FYIs * People can smoke on the patio and the scent kinda lingers * Cash only!

Uniqueness: Turkish coffee! Don't make my mistake, bring cash! A bit disappointed about the WiFi situation. Not a cafe for working as the music was loud. Taste: 4/5 Smell: 5/5 Sight: 4/5 Sound: 3/5 Touch: ?/?

sweet affordable spot, comfy sunny seating, huge variety on menu, and loving service. thank you zahara!! (-:

Extremely friendly service and great prices for great classic dishes and coffee, my cappuccino came out with my name written in it it was pretty awesome how much they owners care about giving you a great experience. Love the outdoor patio seating and the spacious interior for studying

Where else can you find a breakfast this beautiful for under $10?? And the magical hidden patio, the chill hippie vibe. It's a place to relax while enjoying an $8 plate of lovely deliciousness.

Haven't been to the cafe international for years. Last time might have been to see a friend perform live . The hippie vibe survives even the pandemic and gentrification. Prices are a little more than I remember but matches the rents around here. Split pea soup had some good curry flavoring and the tuna salad made me want to come back for a whole sandwich. The laid back happiness of a warm drink and soup with the cheery caffeinated chitchat in the background mixing with some alternative rock made me a bit nostalgic for times long ago when I trekked along haight street with my buddies looking for misadventures in the everyday of San Francisco.

Love this little cafe. Such a great place to come and do work. Fair prices and great quality of food/drinks. Very friendly staff as well

Amazing, down to earth cafe in Lower Haight. The woman who owns the cafe is extremely kind and treats everyone like family. There's a live jazz ensemble that plays on Sunday afternoons. The saxophonist was my favorite! I ordered a bagel with eggs, and it came with avocados, onions, and tomatoes. Iced coffee drinks come with ice cubes made out of coffee shaped like skulls and guns. The food was delicious! There are ample tables and comfy couches inside, and a big open patio space out back. The back wall of the patio is covered in a gorgeous mural. Cafe International is a unique, casual cafe that's worth a visit if you're in Lower Haight!

Great coffee, great food, friendliest staff ever. Also, such a cozy space with couches and an outdoor patio. Cash only, but there's an ATM inside.

Cafe International has an exotic and homey feeling at the same time. The staff are friendly and the food was delicious. I loved the art on the walls and the mural on the back wall of the patio is worth taking in every detail over a cup of cappuccino !

What a gem of a cafe! Super down-to-earth, no frills kind of place. It's cash only, but I don't mind as I suspect that's how they keep prices super reasonable. Menu items are straightforward (think eggs, bagel sandwiches, etc.) but portions are decently hefty. The real reason I love this place is their back patio! Super airy, open and easy to get a seat, with a gorgeous mural. It's an excellent spot to get some work done (free Wi-Fi) or meet a friend on the patio for coffee or lunch.

The food is great, the ambiance is perfect and the person who works at the register is the sweetest person you'll ever meet.

I moved from San Diego and I'm still exploring .. I decided to walk along Haight street so I parked my car and while walking I heard the music ... I love Jazz and I found this place , so I got in , got me a bagel with Brie and a mimosa , prices are great , food was nicely presented , mimosa was big and I enjoyed the live music , amazing .. only but is the cash payment , I would had another mimosa but I only had 20 dlls .. I'll be back with more cash in my pocket

Beautiful gem on haight. It's not hard to miss this place if you walk by it but it's got really spacious indoor seating and a pretty patio. They've got coffee, bagels, smoothies and a few more things. It's a chill place if you just want to hang a few hours. They have WiFi, the owner is really sweet and they add coffee ice cubes to coffee instead of just water ice cubes which I very much appreciate!! Cash only, they've got one of those really old atm machines inside if you need it.

Unique coffee shop in San Francisco with comfortable sofas and chairs and outdoor seating with special mural and African art in the back of the coffee shop. Best Latte in San Francisco. Serves also salad and sandwiches. Great casual atmosphere. Artists featured monthly. Sunday Jazz an open mic returning soon.

a wonderful neighborhood place to be cherished. sorry to hear about the problems your business has encountered. may i suggest someone start a "gofundme" fund to pay for interior alarms and the installation of a metal gate for nighttime.

This place, the environment, the workers, the food, everything!! I would absolutely recommend this to anyone who wants to start their day off beautifully :) the bagel with lox is amazing too

soooo good. first of all, the owner is the sweetest lady and made us feel welcome the second we walked in. thank you! the coffee was absolutely perfect. i am very picky and i loved it! there is also a super cool mural and outdoor seating area. i can also see myself coming here for work/school because there is couch seating available. so cool! come check out this place!!!

Great place funky and cool vibe mainly due to the amazing owner,Zara...what a character!! She is simply a force of nature and utterly charming!! Good coffee and tasty sandwiches

I wanted to love this place so bad but I just can't. The live music is really awesome, and I love a good jazz band, but although there were good moments the overall vibe of the music was depressing. Maybe it was just the gloomy rainy day. For the food, I loved that the latte I got was 3x bigger than a latte elsewhere. Also loved that they had almond milk. I ordered the lox and my food was meh. A+++ for presentation, it sure was pretty. They made it on the wrong bagel and there was barely enough salmon to cover one half. They were skimpy with the toppings too. Also cash only, don't get ripped off by ATM. One more positive is great comfy seating, very living room like.

This café consistently has been closed when it is reporting that it should be open on all online platforms. At some point you have to ask if the owner just doesn't care about the people that try to frequent their restaurant.

I really REALLY wanted to love this place. I had heard so many great things from different friends about it. I truly enjoyed the space, the service and the owner. She was super attentive and very very friendly. This place is kind of an institution in Haight Street. This review is solely based on my experience when I recently decided to try their lox bagel. The bagel was old and dry and I am pretty sure the salmon had actually gone bad. I felt bad and decided not to say anything at the time which kind of regret. I am absolutely sure the lady would have corrected and replace it with something else. I guess i was just unlucky. I hope this review is taken in a positive constructive manner as I am planning to return to try other things.

Choice relaxed and spacious venue for a spot of light lunch after walking the city. Beautifully presented falafels and comfortable seating with a very laid back ambience and free wifi. Cool sounds in the background and a friendly service.

Best cafe in the city.Hot chocolate is a,aging whenever I want more whipped cream Zahra will give me more. Service is great. The vibe is overall really fun and youthful.

Stopped by this place to have a breakfast on my first trip to San Francisco and it was such a delight. The woman behind the counter was a sweetheart. The coffee was great and so was the food. While we were there, live music started to play. It was such a great little coffee shop, if I'm ever back in San Fran I'll be back!