This was my go to place. But since more trendy places opened up the neighborhood Church Street Cafe now seems old and dated. Most of the employees don't speak good English, they don't do cold brew, they are too tolerant with homeless, employees spend too much time behind the counter and not cleaning tables or the condiment station. They also have horrible coffee handling practices. Brewing new coffee on top of old, letting coffee sit for hours, not grinding fresh espresso per drink, and not offering multiple brews. Their tea menu is a mix of every tea bag available in San Francisco. I question how fresh they are and the quality. Church Street Cafe needs to modernize quickly else it will go down with the aging population that holds it afloat.

I've been coming here since college (formerly called Muddy Waters), and have witnessed the change in ownership. Conveniently located near Church Station, it is an excellent place to duck into for several cups of tea, a visit to the loo, and/or to immediately dive into that just-picked-up book from Aardvark's. New owners are super, and hence the reason I still continue to wander in. When I manage to snag a corner table, I park myself for hours to get some work done, or catch up on offline/online reading.

I'm a regular customer here - the employees got my order down to the point where they just confirm I'm getting the same thing and start making it as I walk through the door. All of the staff I've interacted with are beyond friendly. Sure, there's a language "barrier" at times, but it doesnt bother me. Just try to speak clearly and calmly repeat yourself if needed. The iced coffee is drinkable, but not my favorite. The bagel sandwiches are golden though!!

A lovely, quaint neighborhood coffee shop, with a comforting atmosphere. The store keeper was an interesting personality. There were also quite a few notable patrons. The breakfast menu was rather meager. I ordered a croissant, which was pretty tasty even though maybe too greasy. There is a plenty of power outlets. Before coming to work, keep in mind that it's 1) cash only and 2) the wifi code is only good for two hours.

Excellent customer service. The owner is very accommodating and personable. Coffees and snacks are good. Fresh OJ. Free Wi-Fi. There is an ATM inside. Artsy walls. The bathroom is one of the best I have seen in the history of all restaurants: clean, modern, installed with a bidet! Outside seating. Limited inside seatings, due to covid, with a power outlet, which is extremely helpful during the pandemic restrictions.

Wonderful owner- friendly & kind. Coffee the great. Lots of yummy pastries & bagels- free WiFi . Cozy place with enough space to relax ( Covid rules) small tables out front.friendly neighbor - not intusive . You can hang out as long as you want-- peaceful energy-- nice spot to enjoy Great coffee & treats and relax & can get work done or just play games on iPad etc. Come check it out-

Lots of seating, and most of the time not super busy. Plenty of space to work on your laptop. The people at the cash always seem a little indifferent and don't speak much. Do NOT order the bubble tea. They put the pearls in the fridge or something. Hard pearls sunk inside of the bland slush. Cash only! There is an old book store nearby in case you are bored.

Yummy coffee. Good variety of pastries. Even have hard boiled eggs for a healthy snack. More importantly their bathroom is part of the Access2Go and let me tell you, that is an experience in an of itself. Touchless everything from bathroom, flushing, hand washing, soap dispensing, hand drying and finally exiting. Everything touchless. Amazing.

The owner and the atmosphere remain my favorite features these past few years. In 2008 I used to go every week, and this year I'm back to the same habit. Happily, nothing I loved has changed (not even the prices as far as I can tell) and the "problem" with homeless seems to have been dealt with. I love how productive I am here!

Church St. Café is a pretty nice place. Fresh pastries, hot made-to-order bagel sandwiches, good fresh coffee. Kudos to them for using ceramic cups for "for here" coffee. I just wish that they had pull-down shading for their windows when that morning sun comes in their windows. It can be blinding sitting there.

Clean and quiet with plenty of seating. The coffee is passable with lots of different choices. Cash only, but there is an ATM inside. You must ask the barista for a paper with your temporary wifi login and password and the wifi is pretty slow. You also ask the barista for a barcode to scan to use the bathroom.

CASH ONLY cute cafe with exposed brick, hardwood floors and Japanese toilet! Coffee, Boba, LGTQ friendly, ATM, Plants!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Breakfast
Price per person
$1–10
Food: 4
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Lemon Bar

- Lots of tables but can get crowded in the evenings - Cash only, but there's an ATM inside - Free wifi but you have to ask for a code that expires after 2 hours - One block away from Church Street Station - Good for getting work done - Lots of outlets at the tables around the perimeter

5 out of 5 to (1) single asian gentleman who runs the show by himself! In a very nicely kept Cafe placed on the warm n sunny place on market so I giv it up to the dude that's running the joint every Friday I'm there! Good jop.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

The BEST Boba Matcha Latte! They blend it with the ice like a smoothie! DELICIOUS and super friendly! Charming and quaint!!! I go EVERY day for the boba matcha latte! There is nothing better!!!
Service
Take out
Meal type
Other
Price per person
$10–20

I walked past this place a few times, thinking how lovely it looked inside. But when I finally went in, I was pretty disappointed. Not a great range, uninterested barrista, awkwardly passworded wifi, and worst, you needed an app on your phone just to use the restroom!

It's a quiet coffee place, with a healthy air flow..inside. There are tables for those who prefer out door..this place even has some gluten free treats..for people like me..their toilet room is clean, too. That is a big plus..besides the staff is sweet …

Family owned. Excellent location half a block from Muni Church street train station. Delicious coffee. Great ambiance. Good cookies, sandwiches, candy, biscotti, bagels, cakes and pies. Friendly ambiance and very reasonable prices.2 tables out doors. WiFi

So many drink options to choose from! I got the boba blended matcha and it was delicious. The barista is funny and it’s a great atmosphere, I imagine this is a great spot to meet friends. It’s cash only so be prepared for that. Definitely coming back. ☺️

Remember- They only take cash. Bagels and chai tea latte are great.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Breakfast
Price per person
$1–10
Features
Dine in: Yes
Outdoor seating: Yes
Takeout: Yes
Delivery: Yes
Curbside pickup: Not sure

Absolutely love this place. Fair prices on everything on the menu, food and coffee are superb, and an all around great vibe. I highly recommend this place if you're looking for a nice spot to do some work or just want to kick back for a little bit!

Nice place to hang out. You have to ask the cashier for a Wi-Fi password each time you go. Clean bathrooms. The wait staff are efficient but don't seem to take any pleasure at all and interacting with other human beings. They look sad and sullen.

Great Coffee, good and reasonably priced, good. Lovely quiet and relaxed atmosphere. Was helped by a gentleman that was manning the register, food and drinks and was knocking it out. Cash only though but there is an ATM as a heads up. More

Church Street Cafe received 5 stars only because I was allowed to use their restroom. I enjoy offering high remarks when deserved. The Cafe has terrible coffee. Bitter, Strong, and indigestible. My heart sank even lower when I received my

Lovely staff and owner, they are precious Best tofu banh mi in San Francisco, can be made vegan by asking for tomato spread instead of mayo Drinks can be made vegan by asking for almond milk Cleanest bathroom in the city—great experience!

Kudos for opening pass 6 pm. Place to hang out with friends and take in some sweet desserts or tea. Mellow and decompress from work. Forget about local bars. Grab a cookie or two. That lemon bar sure looks yummy (4.95). Bun mi sandwich.

Love this spot for a stroll in the morning to get coffee and a bagel, they also have great pastries, juices, and Banh Mi! Wanted to leave a review because the owner is so kind and it's places like this that keep San Francisco charming.

Delicious Bahn mi! They offer coffee, boba tea, breakfast sandwiches too. I always see regulars sitting outside whenever I go. The vegetarian bahn mi is just as good as their meat options so it’s got something for everyone. Bring cash!

I tried their nova salmon bagel and caramel latte and it was really good. The price was very reasonable and the man who made the salmon was very communicative and welcoming.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

I got my chai order wrong and they denied to make a new one and blamed me. Rude service. (Friday 8.30 pm). Also, consider this place only allows cash. Atm 2.75$ extra charge. It's unfortunate because the place is really nice.

Disgusting pastries. Reheated from frozen and left out for days? Worst lemon bar of my life.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Other
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 1
Service: 2
Atmosphere: 3

Unassuming little shop with polite staff. 5.00 will get you a cream cheese bagel and small drip coffee. WiFi is free (ask them for a login) and decent speed. Lots of seating but limited power outlets. I will come back.

Go there, enjoy a fresh bagel, a really good Coffee and listen carefully! You'll get important informations about the area around worth visiting. Off the beaten path! The guy behind the counter loves his Job! Thx !!!

It is coffee shop within table inside. My price is fairly. Only cash no credit card. The food is alright.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Breakfast
Price per person
$10–20
Features
Dine in: Yes

Pretty atmosphere, but the food and drinks are really subpar. The scone I purchased tasty days old. Also, the wifi is slow and time limited. Great that they are open late, so an option if everything else is closed.

Nice, quiet place to meet a friend and catch up or get some work done. Good coffee and tea selection but it's cash only! There is an ATM but it's rather inconvenient to have to get $20+ fees for a $2.50 cup of tea.

Best breakfast sandwich in town
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Breakfast
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Sandwich

Great place to get a fast egg sandwich. Coffee is okay, service is really quick. Coffee+sandwich is 8.50 about
Service
Take out
Meal type
Breakfast
Price per person
$1–10

Nice place. It was not be noisy like some cafes and a good variety of food and beverages. The employee was a bit distant but that's ok. Bathroom was unusually clean - big for that. …

Great neighborhood cafe! Friendly service. Yummy coffee, pastries and great authentic Banh Mi sandwiches. Cozy atmosphere with local crowd. Best cafe in Church St/Castro neighborhoods.

Staff very cordial and patient. Sandwich & latte was good. I found a cafe for this area of city!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Breakfast
Price per person
$10–20

Relatively affordable and cozy! Perfect place to do some studying (:
Service
Dine in
Price per person
$1–10
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Cheap eats and coffee. The coffee usually tastes burned to me though. But it is a local joint in a crowded area of big-box chains. I like the bagels with the pesto spread.

Great bahn mi sandwiches. Hank makes a wide variety of coffees, teas and bubble drinks.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$1–10

Service is great. Definitely reasonable prices for all your morning rush needs plus banh mi sandwiches and tapioca drinks. Family-owned & operated, a true mom+pop.

This is my favorite Cafe in town, they have really strong and great coffee, with a nice atmosphere. They're open pretty late till 10 p.m. which is really nice.

Cash only, and ATM was down so had to go down the street to use another business's machine. Other than that, standard quality I would expect from an SF cafe.

Friendly staff with your basic Cafe items, but awesome! Well lit with comfortable surroundings for studying and the fanciest restroom I've ever been into!

Good strawberry boba
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Other
Price per person
$1–10
Food: 4
Service: 3
Atmosphere: 3

This is bare bones kind of cafe. I was meeting some folks and didn't attend to it much except to get the impression that it didn't have much on offer.

Coffee is subpar, tea comes in a pint glass and the croissants are defrosted. 0/10 would not recommend to a friend. Good if you lost your tastebuds.

Friendly owner and nice location to sit down and enjoy coffee.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Breakfast
Price per person
$10–20

Wonderful food, extremely friendly & knowledgeable staff, overall a memorable & cozy cafe. Perfect for a solo meal or great with a few people.

Went there to use the new Good2Go bathroom and found it to be completely spotless. Seems like a great atmosphere inside and friendly staff.

..love the vibes, not overcrowded, not uncomfortable, interesting toilet in restroom, good service and selsctions.. good for first dates

This is true to the description, very low key and a great respite from the hustle and bustle. Nice coffee and treats and polite service.

Pretty great spot to meet up with friends or work/study. Nice decors and many tables. Not impressive with the drinks' quality however.

Love this place! The owner / staff is so friendly. The boba Tea is awesome and so are the protein balls
Price per person
$1–10

One of my favorite coffee shop.. Great place to unwind meet people work/study Great Service Great food Great coffee Highly recommend

Great local coffee shop. Good drinks and breakfast, and friendly owners who make you feel welcome to stay and work from the cafe.

Great coffee and snacks. Overly complicated bathroom though. Who would have thought you would need a qr code to relieve yourself?

A very much "locals" place. Good selection of bagels and small breakfast food. Good for a couple of hours of work and coffee.

Good coffee, friendly vibe, clean restrooms, convenient wifi. Great place to chill, work, meet friends, or just people watch.

Surprisingly the only place around to open up earlier than 7 for coffee in the area. Doesn't take card though so be prepared.

While the coffee is awful, I like the bunh mi sandwiches and croissant with egg/tomato/lettuce. Great place to work.

Nice location, reasonable selection of food. Time limited wifi that I wasn't able to get working. Plenty of outlets.

Proprietor is really nice! Their veggie egg bagel is so good and their latte was pretty nice too! Would def be back!

Nice space, some tables are a bit low so can be hard to work there for an extended time. Free wi-fi with purchase.

Decent coffee, great sandwiches, good bobas. Quality of baked goods is poor. Good place to read and kick back.

What kind of monster makes a macchiato with half a cup of foam. Worst coffee I have ever paid for hands down.

Premium Soy Chai Latte. You're welcome. (It's sweet so ask for alternative levels of sweetness if you want)

Quiet, neighborhoody place for coffee and sandwiches. Nice owner & staff. My favorite in the neighborhood.

Surprisingly delicious bahn mi sandwich and reasonably priced boba. Otherwise, just another coffee house.

Good banh mi and Thai iced tea! Friendly service
Service
Take out
Price per person
$10–20

Phenomenal cafe that is open late. Come in, order some stuff work away. Just wish it wasn’t cash only.

Fine place to work with good okay wifi (10 Mbps). Drinks are okay priced, but they ONLY take cash…

Good coffee, great price low key and kind of SF boho stylish with interesting mix of people.

I love this cafe. clean bathrooms, indoor and curb seating.quick service. wonderful cafe

Nice laidback inexpensive place with friendly staff. Try the banh mi, it's really tasty!

Hank is the owner Hes there great man love the place close to Dolores park three blks

Good atmosphere, usually has a trendy crowd. Free internet and the price is nice.

Very good sandwiches and baked goods. Nice quite place too get some work done

Nice quiet place to catch up with friends. Good prices. Friendly staff :-)

Quiet, spacious. Great place to bury your face in your phone or laptop.

Surprisingly great chicken banh mi. The bread is nicely toasted too.

Plenty of space and decent coffee. Large menu and not bad prices

Their almond croissants are one of the best I've tried so far.

Wonderful place to relax and have coffee. Good food.

Can’t wait to come back. Cozy vibe.

Great Cafe, only cash though :/