Buena Vista Cafe

I have been going to the Buena Vista for Irish Coffees for over 24 years. Every time I would visit San Francisco, it would have to include an Irish Coffee at the Buena Vista.

Now that I live in SF, I keep coming back for more. I have met bartenders that work there today that I met over 20 years ago! It's like a homecoming every time I visit.

I have tried many Irish Coffees in many Irish pubs (even one I worked at for 4 years) and I've never found a better recipe than the Buena Vista!

Pros: Best Irish Coffee anywhere!

My wife and I come here every time we come to the city. We travel by train from Rosevill, CA. to Jack London Square then ferry over. This is one of our first stops.

If you have never visited this great place it is a must.

Pros: Great staff, Irish Coffee, Food

Cons: Hard to get a seat it is so bzy

Last day in San Francisco, entire trip was extra nice.
We decided we wanted to EAT at the Buena Vista. Got there around 1, got a table very quickly. Sat down, got menues. Blonde waitress comes over and starts throwing napkins on the table. She asked my husband and I if we wanted an Irish Coffee. We had our 2 daughters with us and declined the Irish Coffee and order regular coffee. We were all going over the menue when she came back and told us we would have to leave. That is was a bar and restaurant and we just couldn't sit there and drink coffee.

We tried to explain to her we were ordering food. She got extremely nasty and said the bus boy told her we were not eating.

After sitting there trying to figure out exactly what the problem was, we gathered up our children and left. The waitress saw us leaving and follow us out the door screaming.

We will never know if the food is good and we will never go back either.

Best to avoid this place since from other comments she seems to have a nasty attitude for no reason

Pros: none

Cons: hateful & rude waitress

I have been going to Buena Vista Cafe for the past five years it is the first stop off the plane from New York and the last stop before we go home. We dont even check in, we go straight there for our annual irish coffees. I love this place!!! Larry the bartendar has the best magic tricks, after a few irish coffees you are hooked on his magic. Plus the view from the windows is spectacular, the Golden Gate bridge, the cable car turn around. It is my favorite place in San Francisco. We come to San Francisco every September and I count the months until I return to Buena Vista and Larrys magic tricks!

I've been going to the "BV" for nearly twenty-five years, so this review is obviously going to be biased. The archetype of San Francisco's version of the family pub, the BV is the best place to go for a truly locals joints that also caters to tourists. And contrary to the complaints of whiners set forth in earlier reviews, the staff of the BV (many of whom I count as friends) are polite and efficient. Just take a look around you at the BV, and you'll usually see an impatient crowd, out of which many are clamoring for his or her next drink or another paper napkin. The servers run their a**es off, eight grinding hours a day. So don't be surprised if the server doesn't want to stand by as you painstakingly decide between the reuben or the patty melt. Drink-wise, stick with house specialty, the Irish Coffee, and don't make a face if you order a pina colada and it isn't as good as the one you had on Maui ten years ago. Food-wise, the BV isn't Aqua or Boulevard, not does it pretend to be. Burgers are OK, and the breakfasts give you your money's worth. Actually a lot more, see, cuz you get to look out over one of the best restaurant views in the world - the San Francisco bay, with ships gliding in and out as you drink and dine. One last note for the character who complained below about not being served his precious decaf: perhaps an assisted living facility would be more to your liking, where you can gum your pabulum-laced early-bird special and sip Sanka to your artificial heart's content. The BV is for folk who want a good time and aren't going to bring others down in getting it.

Pros: Genuine San Francisco atmosphere (whatever that truly is)

Cons: Always a smattering of complainers when crowded

where if you stay long enough, sooner or later you'll see everyone you know. Went for the first time in 1968, most recently in 2005 and several times in between. Can't say it has changed a lot from what I remember almost 40 years ago. It is a landmark. Great Irish coffee, decent pub food, tons of tradition.

The guy who went and asked for a decaf got what he deserved.

Horrible waitress! We took a trip to San Francisco and heard that the coffee at the Buena Vista was really good. I realized it was Irish coffee, so I specifically asked for a regular decaf. We sat at the bar and I asked the waitress if they had regular decaf, and she snapped back "yeah, who doesn't, you can get decaf at McDonalds." Uh, okaaay, I thought. Then, she gave me one of the Irish coffees, which I didn't want, but I tried it anyway. It was very strong, with a shot of whisky. I?m sure it'd be really good if you're into that sort of thing, but I just needed a generic decaf, nothing special. She took the Irish coffee back, slammed it on the counter behind the bar and said "what a waste!". Skip this place, they're snobs!

Pros: it has a history, that was kinda cool

Cons: the wait staff is snobby.

Just a fun friendly place. Mix with locals and tourists alike. Try the original Irish coffee. Space is limited, so if your claustiphobic, this is probably not the place for you. Our waitress did find us a table in the back room which was quiet, but we missed the noise out front. Thats part of its charm. Think Lucille Ball and the sinking slip in "Yours, Mine and Ours" and you get a feel for almost any weekend night at this historical bar.

Yes, its crowded, yes its hard to get a seat most of the time...but its a famous ICON in San Francisco! sometimes you haveto put up with inconvenience..the Irish coffee is great (small glasses for the price tho)...the view is like no other..ambiance is festive and fun, and you never know who you will run into...and the sweet potatoe fries are worth any of the negatives the viewers mention. If you are in SF, you MUST go!

Pros: sweet potatoe fries, ambiance, Irish coffee

Cons: small bathrooms, seating, parking

Go for the coffee. Love the coffee. The Irish Coffee is great! Enjoy the atmosphere and view. Stay away from the food! Anything beyond appetizers is a mistake. Overpriced and disappointing describes each of our four entrees. The rather poor service didn't help matters. This was a good place to meet friends, at least on a Tuesday evening. We both found convenient parking and it's an easy landmark to locate.

Pros: Irish coffee, good parking weekday, nearby attractions

Cons: , poor quality food, poor service

This place offers outstanding (& strong) Irish coffee. I only go there for this reason. It is a great place to bring out of town visitors to experience a little of SF lore. Prepare yourself for large crowds of tourists who venture off the wharf seeking this spot. Seating is typically tight. Still worth the trip.

Don't let the whiners fool you. This place is a special spot on the map.

Sure it's touristy because of the locale, but its also popular because of its long history. What other pub in town lasts 50 years and goes strong?

What confuses people is that they go to the Buena Vista for dinner - this is ok for tourists wanting a bite, but the true ambience comes from sitting at the bar enjoying a hot glass of Irish Coffee with the its kick of Irish Whiskey, and creamy frothy top. Positively delicious.

And be kind to the waiters and bartenders. Its a busy place. If you are kind to them, they are kind to you.

Pros: Irish Coffee, Friendly Bartenders, Great Ambience

Sit at the bar or a table and enjoy an Irish Coffee or an Anchor Steam while you look out the window at Fisherman's Wharf, a trolley car, Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge. How can you say that is not romantic or is lacking ambience? Take some time to relax and meet new friends from around the world as they stop in for a drink. I never go to San Francisco without stopping at the Buena Vista, you shouldn't either!

Pros: Location, Best Irish Coffee, Crowded

Cons: Average Food

I had the WORST dinner (barely qualified as "food")and the RUDEST, most unapologetic waitress of my experience spread over many years visiting SanFrancisco. I rarely waste my time in forums like this, but my bad experience at the Buena Vista was so awful, and the waitress so bad, that I am compelled to address it here. - Don't spend your money where your custom will not be appreciated.

Pros: View

Cons: Food, Staff, attitude

I went to the Buena Vista Cafe to get a quiet meal and a peaceful view of the bay. Too bad the service was slow, surly and my waitress unhelpful when a mistake was made. more to the point, she was rude when it was brought to her attention. Let's face it, Fisherman's Wharf and the surrounding area is tourist schlock, but no paying customer deserves rudeness, no matter how well known the place may be. Give this one a miss.