Caffe Greco

Accidentally stumbled into this cafe, while waiting for our pizzas to cook in a nearby restaurant. This cafe transport you back to the last century. The decor is very 1960s. The space itself is huge though and has plenty of seats. They also have an outdoor area which is nice on a sunny day. Unfortunately, they don’t accept any form of digital payment, but only cash, but thankfully, they had an ATM on the premises because we did not have any cash. The ATM machine is very expensive, though. I got a regular vanilla latte while my friend got the hazelnut latte, and both of them were pretty good. Was this the best coffee I ever had? No. What is this and perfectly acceptable cup of coffee? Yes. I also had the lemon cake, which was very flavourful, but tad bit expensive. This is a cool place to visit if you’re in the neighbourhood.

Step back in time or even into a little town in Italy and get a bite here. We got the breakfast panini and coffee. It was fantastic. As you can tell, they take their coffee seriously! It was super busy and we had to wait a few for our food, but it was worth it. Highly recommend this gem in Tiny Italy.

I quite enjoyed this vibey little cafe. However you should definitely be prepared to bring cash or take cash out from the ATM. Prices lowkey gave me a heart attack but the tiramisù and mocha were good. Wifi is available for those like me who are looking to get a teensy bit of work done. Oh, and I enjoyed the music too!

Nice to see people reading books and having a coffee. Cash only but no expectation of tipping. $26 for coffee, cake and sandwich. You get what you expect, it was a good experience.

Excellent old San Francisco charm, great coffee, tasty treats and friendly service. The inside tables are cozy and the covered parklet is perfect for enjoying a cup outdoors.

Best Cappuccino, Americano and Tiramisu in North Beach, SF. You will not be disappointed. Father & Son-in-law have been there forever. Patio on the street is great.

Absolutely beautiful cafe in North Beach. The only issue is they accept cash only. Sitting there makes me feel like I was in Europe. Spacious, friendly service. It’s nice they open early at 7am while other cafes open at 8am. Highly recommend to come here if you’re early bird before head to work.

We drank a cappuccino and an espresso. It’s nice to sit here and enjoy the day. Nice employees. You order inside and bring the coffee with you.

If there were 100 stars, I'd rate Cafe Greco 100 stars for there quality coffee, service, ambiance and the two employees who have been working there for about 30 years. That's how long I've been appreciating this gem in North Beach, which I just recently visited. I absolutely love this place. Every bit of it. See you again!!!

Now the mochas are 6.79 6.79! Cash on top of it! Come on.. this place has been here for 25+ years.. its staff is consistent and im sure they dont pay rent. Give us a break!

It is CASH ONLY! Stopped by to have a cappuccino, espresso and some tiramisu after our lunch and walk around Chinatown. I got the espresso, was on point and still nice and hot when we got outside. The tiramisu was fantastic. Probably had a little too much cocoa powder on top of the tiramisu because it almost killed me on the first bite but was so air, fluffy and light. Could've eaten a whole thing of it to be honest.

I found this spot on Yelp trying to find somewhere with affogato (It is CASH ONLY). Luckily I had a $10 bill which covered the affogato and tip. It was pretty pricy for a single shot of espresso and ice cream, but it was delicious regardless.

A cool lil spot for some italian desserts! I got the pistachio cheesecake and it was so moist with a strong pistachio flavor. Canoli was also good although I don't have much to compare them to. They're open late and cash only. Will be back to try the tiramisu :)

CASH ONLY. Open late (until 11pm-12am) for any of your late night coffee or Italian dessert cravings! PLEASE order the pistachio ricotta cheesecake. It is absolutely delicious. This does not taste like an American cheesecake so it does not have a cream cheese flavor if that's what you're looking for. It's essentially pistachio cream layered with another plain cream, almost whipped cream. It's so delicious, not too rich, and the pistachio flavor is pronounced and is balanced perfectly with the fluffy plain cream texture. SO GOOD. We also ordered the tiramisu, and I was not impressed. It was TOO moist, and had little to no flavor. The cream was fluffy and the texture of the cake was good but the flavor was not there whatsoever. Will be returning to try their other delicious cakes! The vibes here late at night are nice too, everyone's just enjoying their desserts and making small talk.

Nice spot with fast service, lots of space for sitting as well. Came with a big group and had no trouble finding space to accommodate all of us. Caffe Greco is nicely decorated with cool art and a good ambiance. There was many options for desserts, but it's important to note that this place is CASH ONLY. I believe they have an ATM in the room adjacent to the main. I had the cannoli and cappuccino. Cappuccino was good and served hot. Cannoli was just ok, and tried a bite of my friends tiramisu and it did not have a strong expresso or alcohol flavor. All in all, this place is definitely not the most 'authentic' but don't think it claims to be. Cute spot, with decent enough food and drink.

Café Grecco is an absolute gem! This was my first time trying ricotta cheesecake and I felt like a changed woman! The creamy texture and heavenly flavor left me speechless (I will 100% be on the lookout for ricotta cheesecake on dessert menus). We also indulged in their tiramisu, which was delicious--so creamy and rich! Despite arriving right at closing, the staff was friendly and accommodating (though not that they only take cash). The cozy atmosphere and ample seating make it the perfect spot to unwind and enjoy authentic Italian treats. Highly recommend stopping by here for a yummy post dinner dessert.

3.5/5 Note: CASH ONLY! TOURIST TRAP? I think yes. Came super late at night on a Thursday right before closing (they have different hours than what is listed on Yelp.) I came solely for the tiramisu but they didn't have it. So instead I got a slice of the Sacrapantina cake and the Brasiliana. The Sacrapantina cake could have been a pass for me. It was drier than I thought it would be. The Brasiliana was a little more moist but nothing that blew me out the waters. Sad because I really wanted to come back and try their tiramisu but it just didn't scratch my Italian cake itch.

Super cute café with very friendly staff. I stopped by for a little pick me up and I was quickly greeted by the friendly baristas. We ordered a Strawberry Italian Soda and one Macchiato Espresso. Both drinks were made quickly and we sat down at the much quieter room. The Italian soda was really good and my espresso was strongggggg and it definitely did its job.

We were just here on September 26th around 1:30 pm and the cashier tried to scam us on our order. We ordered a canolli, house coffee and tea and he said it was $20 when it was obviously not. I said it's not $20, I know how to count and to give us the correct change. We definitely wont be coming back here again. The cashier's name was Fredo.

One bite of the Ricotta Cheesecake can transport you back to Europe. Friendly service and open late. Beautiful large dining room, outdoor seating and a large variety of great options to choose from. I really liked the Ricotta Cheesecake. I'm not a fan of typical American cheesecake. Its like a brick and very sugary. This was none of that - although if you like the typical stuff they do offer the North Beach Cheesecake - and although I never tried it I imagine its what most Americans like. Friendly service - there was a line and the people working there were still very patient and helpful. I like that it is open late and has so much space inside. There were two dining rooms - one on a lower level and then one on a higher level that allowed better visibility toward the street. You look over the people on sidewalk and parklet tables. Variety of options. Cannoli and Brasiliana might be great options. Cannoli had chocolate chips mixed in with the filling and the cake is soaked in espresso liqueur and probably so light you don't need teeth to eat it. I would prefer cannolis without chocolate chips - or maybe not mixed in - Whole Foods just puts them on the edges and somehow i like that better. There are many bakeries and gelato places around here - I think what sets this one apart is the large dining room. In SF where space comes at such a cost I'm just not used to seeing something like this.

An anciente hangout with good coffee. If I remember correctly, Greco was here on Columbus 40+ years ago, but only in one storefront. Getting window seats indoors is not as difficult as it was before the sidewalk seating "parklets" emerged fully gown from the head of Pandemic, and those seats are still the best way to evade some of our famous, beloved fog....

I work near the cafe and use to visit regularly but no more. I was on a time crunch and needed to submit something on my laptop and they would not share the wifi pw until I bought something depsite being a regular customer. There was a long line and open tables and instead of helping me out and letting me connect first and then buy my drink they told me to wait. I left and won't return. Fiddle Fig Cafe and Cavalli Cafe have better service, prices and affogatos.

I love that Caffe Greco opens at 7am as I am an early riser. I was staying over at my aunt's home in North Beach and this is her favorite coffee shop. Woke up early and we walked down here and got a latte, banana and walnut waffle and the salmon bagel. The salmon bagel was delicious. Perfectly toasted with a generous amount of cream cheese and topped off with sliced tomatoes and lox with a dash of salt and pepper. After dinner, my aunt served the chocolate banana bread pudding. It was really yummy with lots of chocolate. Perfect for sharing. They are always so friendly here. It is pricey but with the rent so high in San Francisco, it's to be expected. Will look forward to coming here again when I visit my aunt next time.

Cute little cafe in North Beach with an outdoor patio and two different indoor seating areas 1) by the register and windows 2) off the the side if you're looking for a place to study. They use Illy coffee and make great Mochas. They also serve pastries, gelato and breakfast items however it is cash only.

Nice cute bakery open late! Came for dessert after dinner around 10, and they were open until 11. I got the Sacrapantina cake and ricotta cheesecake. It was around $15 for the two. Both were very unique, the sacrapantina was a little sweet for me, but the cheesecake wasn't so it was nice to balance them out. The cheesecake texture was a little more crumbly and less rich than a usual cheesecake, a bit of lemon flavor as well. Great spot for some coffee/desserts!

Really craving tiramisu one night. It's light, not too sweet. Not very strong coffee flavor. They cut it from a large pan and gave us a slice. Outdoor and indoor seating.

The tiramisu here is really heavy on the dusting of cocoa powder on top, which was a bit too bitter for me, but other than that it was a great slice of tiramisu. The texture was on point and didn't feel heavy at all -- it was super easy to finish between two people. I haven't tried anything else here yet but their paninis look really good so I'd definitely come back for that! This place is cash only btw. When I went the workers at the counter spoke pretty limited English but if you can point at what you want in the display case you should be fine! There's really nice outdoor seating, but pretty limited spots, so it can be hard to snag a table.

We decided to come here for dessert. It's a brightly lit cafe that's been here for many years. We were able to grab a table, despite it being a bit busy on a Saturday night, and ordered a few lattes, cannolis and a tiramisu. Everything was tasty and perfect for dessert! Nothing was overly sweet. I didn't try the tiramisu, but my friends said it was delicious! My favorite was the light and crispy cannoli with the cream filling. Then washing it down with a mocha latte....ahhh, warm and lightly sweetened. Awesome, lovely way to end the evening in North Beach!

Very neat local coffeehouse. The tiramisu was great, fresh and soft. Great place for a quick stop

We use to come all the time when I was living in North Beach. I wanted to revisit my old stomping grounds, but was disappointed. Came here after eating a fabulous dinner at Tony's Pizza. Next time we're staying there for dessert. I couldn't imagine they were having an off day on a Friday night. Ok this place really need some QUALITY CONTROL from someone that knows what a cafe latté and a tiramisu should taste like. My cafe latté was all foam, not even a drop of milk - super rich foam and espresso, I mean good job on the foam, but I order the latté because I wanted some milk too. The tiramisu had no flavor, just whipped cream with some coco powder on top; no rum, no coffee, not sweet, nothing, nada. The cannoli was good. They have a good concept of how things are made, but they absolutely have no knowledge of what they should taste like.

I tried the cappuccino and tiramisu. This place is cash only and has lots of indoor seating options. I didn't love the cappuccino but the tiramisu was pretty good but I haven't had much tiramisu in my life so I'm not sure how it compares. They had other desserts and breakfast and lunch items so if I came back I would try something savory and then a different dessert. The service was fast and friendly.

My friend and I stopped by Caffe Greco for coffee on the weekend, and had a lovely time sitting outside. You first order at the counter inside, and there's a handful of very tempting desserts laid out. It's cash only, which we unfortunately didn't know beforehand, but the two men taking our order at the counter were so kind to take the little cash we had ($9) and make us lattes. We took the iced lattes outside, they have a bunch of tables on the sidewalk, with a couple of benches too. It's really nice to sit there with the sun out while enjoying coffee and sweet treats. Our lattes were quite milky, but easy to sip. We ended up talking to the family sitting next to us for a couple of hours, which was really fun! Such a warm place.

Walked in here after dinner for a sweet treat and the coffee smell right when you come in smells amazing. The service was great. They do only take cash so definitely come prepared. We ordered some gelato and an affogato. Both 10/10 definitely recommend this spot and will be definitely coming back.

The iconic Caffé Greco in North Beach, San Francisco's historic Italian neighborhood. Imagine cobblestone streets, lively conversations, and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee. While the best cappuccino in San Francisco, it's not just about the coffee; this is where art, coffee, and conversations intertwine. Watch local artists, neighborhood clans, and passersby engage in discussions about art, politics, and life. Whether you prefer an espresso, a frothy cappuccino, a bold Americano, or the indulgent Affogato (espresso poured over gelato), Caffè Greco has you covered. (Kaz - March 2024)

Food: 3 I find it surprisingly difficult to find an affogato in Italy, so I was excited to find a spot that has them in SF. Espresso and ice cream were both average. Service & Ambiance: 3 The space feels touristy. Cash only. Service was nice.

**heads up, this establishment is CASH ONLY** (they have an atm nearby if you need cash) Caffe Greco definitely drew me in with its cute and traditional Italian cafe looking aesthetics. There is both indoor and outdoor seating and the establishment has two parts. One side serves coffee and seems to have a dedicated few patrons working from the cafe on their laptops and the other side has a large countertop with the views of the pastries and gelato they have. My eyes were set on the tiramisu as I'm a big tiramisu fan and the thought of having a slice while sitting in the cafe was cute (and also of course I also was needing a little snack at the time and I thought a light cake would be perfect!) The tiramisu was fine. It was quite flat with not as many layers as I had anticipated. Flavors were there and it wasn't too too sweet but I think it lacked dimension. I couldn't really separate out the flavors of each layer which I love to be able to do when eating tiramisu. All the flavors that the cake may have just sort of blended into a subtle sweetness throughout. I do not think the coffee flavor is that apparent either. Service was fine and I would come back for the ~aesthetic~ but not for the tiramisu unfortunately.

One of the best tiramisu's in the city! Make sure you bring cash because this business does not take card/contactless payments.

A classic spot in Little Italy in SF! Cafe is very cute with lots of seating. Not really a work cafe since there's mainly only one outlet on the left front side, but would definitely come here for a bite with friends or for a date! They have a great variety of cookies, cakes, coffee, gelato, and more! Ordering at the front is **cash only** as a heads up and they are very quick at getting orders in and out.

Stopped here for dessert with my friends from out of State. We just happened to be walking through Little Italy and thought this looked like the perfect spot. What we weren't aware of until we got to the register, it's CASH ONLY. Would have been nice to see that stated before waiting in line. There is an ATM machine inside if you need to get cash. Thankfully I had my emergency $20, dessert qualifies as an emergency. So with that being said, we bought as much as we could with our 20 to share. Everything in the case looked amazing. We ended up with slices of sacrapantina, cheesecake and brasiliana. The brasilana had a nice espresso liqueur you could taste. Cake and cream were light and had good chocolate flavor. Cheesecake was standard, great graham crust. My favorite was the sccrapantina, the flavors blended well together, the crunch on top was good. Plenty of seating inside, and out as well. Between the 3 of us we cleaned the plates and were happy walking out. Worth a stop, just have your cash ready.

SO MUCH FOAM IT PUT ME IN THE ZONE but seriously very good coffee and amazing environment. Great place to get some work done or spend time with family or friends

Caffe Greco is a coffee, sandwich, and desserts place in Little Italy. It's quite a spacious restaurant, but not too busy. The main reason is because of the cash only. I only had enough cash to buy desserts so this review is based on their desserts only. Desserts are really okay. The tiramisu is soft and a little chocolaty. Got a coffee cake as well but did not try it by the time of the review. If it's crazy good, I will edit this review to reflect. Otherwise, assume that's it's okay as well.

Cute little cafe with a good amnt of seating and a good selection of small pastries and desserts! My friend and I ordered a Sacripantina and Tartufo and enjoyed both of them a lot! Personally dug the richer dark chocolate flavor of the Tartufo and thought the Sacripantina was reflective of a coffee sponge cake with layers. Store only accepts cash but it's located in such a great spot for you to sit and enjoy a nice conversation with others! And the workers are all super friendly and aware of what is happening in the store at all times! Appreciated their sincere and considerate services :)

I was recommended to go here by a friend, and this cute long-standing staple of SF did NOT disappoint. Centrally located for tourist attractions, great coffees and teas, and a HUGE selection of freshly baked goods, this place is a welcome respite for people on foot and transit exploring the waterfront to chinatown

Caffe Greco is such a cute little cafe located in Little Italy! I ordered their hot white chocolate mocha, and it was SO GOOD. It was probably the best one that I've ever tried. They also have some food options like bagels, croissants, etc., but I didn't try any of them. The line can get pretty long, but we waited only around 10 minutes when we went on a Saturday morning. The downside is that they are cash only! We didn't know until we got to the front of the line, but luckily I had some cash on me. The outdoor seating is also super cute, but is definitely limited. They also have some seating inside. This would be a cute place to study or read.

Caffe Greco is the closest to an Italian cafe you'll get. From the interior and outdoor seating arrangements, to the timeless decor - it transported me back to Italy! I was in the area for dinner with family who love Caffe Greco. The line was nearly out the door which is always a good sign for a spot like this. We went up to the counter to see what sweets and desserts they had available. It was so hard to pick just one , so we decided to order multiple and try them all! This location is cash only but they have an atm conveniently placed around the corner from the tail end of the line. Food: Tiramisu - 10/10 easily the best tiramisu I've had. I recently begun tasting tiramisu at any restaurant it is served, and this location puts everywhere else to shame. It is perfectly sweet with the right amount of espresso. Citrus Vanilla Cake - 10/10 I wish I got the name for this one, but it is multilayered and easy to spot. The crumbles on top were sugar coated and delicious - but it was the buttercream that solidified it for me. Chocolate pudding cake- 7/10 This cake is really delicious and an easy win for picky eaters. Overall, this is one of the busiest patisseries and cafes that you'll see what the hype is about. Make sure to bring cash - if not, the atm is always operating in store.

Great spot to spend the morning. I had poached eggs and a double latte. The latte was massive! The breakfast was average for the price but the vibe and service here makes it worth it stopping by. I'd go for their desserts next time, they had a good selection and everything looked yummy.

Stopped for a quick snack and bought a 3*SFOGLIATELLE: Crisp Pastry Layers Citrus Ricotta Filling, really crispy and I liked it.

Leave the gun. Take the Canoli. Though every single baked good I have tried here has been excellent. And I feel like the staff recognizes me even though I only come here every couple months. A piece of old San Francisco that has survived.

A really pleasant spot for lunch, but fyi it's cash only. We got focaccia paninis with prosciutto, mozzarella, and roasted red peppers. The sandwiches were fantastic and paired well with the side salad. The iced lattes we got were just okay (a little too milky for me) and we ended the meal with a slice of their tiramisu. The cafe is pretty spacious and there's also a nice outdoor seating area, which is where I chose to sit for some people watching.

Really bad - rude and inhospitable... most of the staff the owner too....they just dont care about service - its take it or leave it. I am English and drink VERY weak coffee...I have 1/3 coffee and the rest water. Still pay the same price which is fine. But when I asked if I could have a larger cup so I could have more water I was told I have to pay for the larger cup even though I was only getting more water. When I complained to the server he just shrugged and pulled an I dont give a #@!# face. the owner was equally rude.... NEVER AGAIN..

Be careful with phantom charges here. I ordered one small cappuccino 4.75 and one large at 7.25. Was charged $15.50. Do what? Scam Central. I'm reporting them to the IRS for an audit. Cash only? It's not enough to scam the IRS you want to scam your customers?

Ok, so this review has two parts. First the coffee and the pastries. The lemon cake was amazing as was the pastry with citrus ricotta filling. Cappuccino was tasty. The breakfast was another story. The poached eggs were cooked way too long and were like hard boiled eggs and the muffins were not toasted. The food was dry and bland. I would only go back for a coffee and a sweet bite. Don't order the breakfast.

The Best coffee I had so far! Good breakfast too. I had the scrambled egg & cheese sandwich on English muffin with smoked salmon. Perfect! Fresh, tasty and perfectly sized.

I came here for the espresso and that was the worst espresso ever. The staff are nice and the Tiramisu and Caffe Mocha are good.

Great place in North beach to grab coffee, pastries and other food. Very old school San Francisco. You can sit inside or outside in their buildouts. Can accommodate larger groups by moving tables together. For anyone who is dairy intolerant, they have oat and almond milk. They also have a couple of gluten free desserts.

Open late. Inside seating, as well as, outside seating. Lots of coffee drinks, beer, wine, Italian soda, salads, sandwiches, desserts, and cookies. Nice cafe to hang out and sit for awhile.

The vibe here is so romantic. We had dinner and walking in the area! There was a moment I felt I was in Europe. We ordered a carrot cake and chocolate mousse, and a coffee. I liked all of them. They are not too sweet, which is to my liking. People here are nice too. I highly recommend to sit outside, and have a nice conversation with the people you like!