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Categories: Coffee & Tea, Sandwiches [Edit]
Neighborhoods: Lower Haight, Hayes Valley
161 reviews
Neighborhood: Financial District
"Here here... a FINE sandwich indeed. LOVED The roast beef sandwich with creamy horseradish on sour dough. Dame was that bread good.…" read more »
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Lovely cafe on the corner in the lower haight. Very chill, very relaxed atmosphere and a decent selection of food/coffee. Certainly a popular hangout for the locals it seems (and their dogs) and a good place to relax on a weekend afternoon.
Perhaps this is a Monday sorta problem, but they were outta the wine on the list I selected, the parmesean chips AND the pickled vegetables that are to serve as a side AND when my friend ordered the Ceasar Salad they gave it to her with some crazy almond dressing. When we asked what the deal was...well, they were outta the Caeser dressing too. Um, what's going on here? Sooo, Monday blues or this place is going outta business?
There was still a big crowd on a Monday night, lots of people working like we were. I like the environment and its nice to see the locals chilling at the bar. Not super cool, the fact that they were outta everything...and still charged the same damn price. I would bet $100 that the "feta" on my open faced olive tapenade sandwich was actually closer to parmesean, but who knows....hopefully this was just a super duper off night.....
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I came in for a pick-me-up in caffeine form. I left smiling because everyone who works there is so nice!
So there I was, in the Lower Haight, in dire need of coffee. I'd just looked at the cutest apartment and needed caffeine before continuing my valiant search for optimal housing conditions.
Initially, I decided to wander on Haight street, searching for a cafe. But as I passed The Grind, I was so terrified I couldn't go in! That place was too polished, too yuppie-fied, full of well-dressed and well-coiffed people drinking sparking water and eating on the patio, just waiting to be seen. I've never been afraid to enter a coffeeshop, but I just couldn't go in there. It was packed to the gills, anyway. Hardly worth the wait.
So I continued my search for somewhere a little more earnest. Imagine my delight when I turned the corner and found Cafe du Soleil! It was a little more relaxed. People were out on the patio to hang out and let their dogs hang out with them, not to be seen. Yes. Here is a cafe where it's about the coffee. Here is a place I could see myself relaxing on a Saturday afternoon, sandwich in one hand, book in the other.
The interior was immaculately clean, and I was immediately greeted by the young barista. He was friendly, and got me my iced coffee in record time. Before I could leave a tip, his manager was over asking if I needed any help. Ah, what service! It made me smile. And as if that weren't enough, he told me to have a nice day as I left.
The coffee was smooth, strong, and reasonably priced. I couldn't ask for more!
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Replete.
I like coming here after work. There are always friends chatting, people studying, and even people just sitting. There are few places I think I could just go to and sit (of course with the company of a pint) for hours, but this has to be one of them.
it's not a cheap little cafe, but a good one.
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Lovely pastries and the like, and a decent (not superb) cup of coffee. Unfortunate that the owners have joined the ranks of SF locales that board up electric outlets, presumably in an effort to "encourage" patrons to move on once their (my) battery power expires. Pity, since I really did want to stay and try the vegetable quiche as I attacked my overflowing inbox...perhaps another day.
I went here one hungover morning and had the perfect cafe americano followed by very creative version of french toast that was more like bread pudding but delicious and all in the sunshine in good company at a decent price.
I'm not sure where to begin but I'll say YES to any venue that serves wine, beer, and mimosa. Lately, I've been venturing to different cafes and this place is definitely not conducive for GRE prep, but if, just on a random day (preferably sunny), this is the place you'll find me sipping on a latte and eating my croissant. Oh..how I wish I was in Paris right now.
I love the old French country style feel, the grand communal table, the pictures on the wall, their menu, the outdoor seating - perfect to chill with good friends. You can't go wrong with their salmon served half or full. Nor can you go wrong with their pastries. Find me here reading, catching up on emails, and people watching.
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Back in high school, my friends and I would cut classes on sunny afternoons and come here to enjoy a bottle on wine in their outdoor patio. Of course now they are a little more diligent about checking ID's and no longer allow alcohol to be taken outside, but this place is still endearing.
Now I enjoy coming here in the evening now to have some lite dinner and read or study. They have free wifi, but it's not the most dependable thing in the world.
No one here will ever harass you for sitting at the same table with the same glass of wine in front of you for hours. It's quite relaxing to just hide out here and have some alone time when the outside world gets a little too hectic.
Down side is that they close at 10PM.
If the FBI was ever looking for me, they would probably find me here as I can't seem to go to many other places. It's my favorite go-to-neighborhood spot for coffee, brunch and even for a date. Great wine with great people on any given night.
I recommend their almond croissants with a cappuccino on a Saturday morning.
Incredibly delicious. The sandwiches are amazing! This cafe reminds me of La Boulange, which I love, but less emphasis on French foods.
Great neighborhood cafe I frequent even though it's not my neighborhood. It's just that good.
I went there after I came outta a dance class...I was all sweaty (gross) and the guy just smiled at me and cracked jokes about wanting to see me bust a move on the cafe floor.
I tried to order something they didn't have - so I asked him to just pick something for me that was veggie (I'm not picky...so this often works well for me)...he was so nice and sweet - I ended up with one of the tastiest treats I've had in a long long time. I loved the relaxed atmosphere - the portion was great for a post dancing meal.
I left feeling really refreshed - adored by strangers... and wanting more.
Perfect place to chill out on those rare (although becoming more common due to global warming) warm SF nights with one of your best friends and a bottle of wine. Good, reasonably priced Cote du Rhone ($6 a glass), as well as Lyeth Merlot (which I ordered for the first time since seeing "Sideways")..stupid pretensious rule which probably single-handedly drove sales of this wine down. Tasty, cheap nibbles such as olives and parmesean potato chips. The bartender/barista can be a little sarcastic, but she was manning the counter entirely solo and you will win her respect by making her laugh. And I'm all about approval-seeking. (Don't worry, I'm working on that in therapy.)
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Pros: Every pastry I have tried has been good, their coffee is great, the goat cheese/roasted pepper sandwich is delicious.
Cons: not a frickin outlet in sight, the feta/olive tapenade sandwich barely has an feta on top, and the croque monsieur was eh.
This is the perfect cafe! The open face sandwiches are delicious, the wine is cheap and you kinda feel like you're in France (minus all the lap tops). It's also a good place to study/work but there aren't any outlets to charge your computer. Oh! and the chocolate croissants melt in your mouth...Big fan!
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OK, so Cafe du Soleil is on the pricey side as far as cafes go, but it's a whole lot cheaper than a flight to France.
With its mildly pompous but witty staff, delicious pastries and salads alongside truly delicious coffee, it's a little piece of Paris that I couldn't otherwise enjoy.
So go on a warm day, sit outside with friends, and pretend like you're thin, fabulous and of course, speaking flawless French.
i like this little neighborhoody gem. i liked it more when it was movida, but whatevs. good salads and such, and they have beer and wine and sangria and coffee and brunch and hibiscus tea (!). good at off peak times like 2-3pm when crowds die down. good luck getting a table outside on a nice day. gets hot and stuffy in there too. baked goods look yum but that shit goes straight to my booty and my neighbor told me today that i was "hefty."
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What a darling little place and it's soo close to me! Win win.
We stopped in here yesterday while killing time before my tow truck arrived (did you know you actually have to start a car or it will die, haha, who knew). My girl Audrey picked up a little sammich and it smelled really good and what they had in the cases looked quite yummy as well.
I love that they serve beer and wine here too and will definitely be coming back here one of these afternoons to chill and play on my laptop. Good stuff.
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this is a great spot to relax with some coffee and a huge bowl of homemade granola [yummo], fruit, and yogurt...especially on the sunny days we've been having here
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This is perhaps the best little secret in SF. The guy who owns this also owns the La Boulange ensemble (bread bakery & cafes)... but this location is hands down the absolute finest of them all.
Anywhere I can go and get a hefeweizen, cider, Stella, and Bass *ALL ON TAP* .. and champagne... is nearly orgasmic for me. And their tap is one of the best in the city. I'm a tap guy, I know my taps. Seriously, how many of you have ambled up to the bar to get your favorite beer on tap - to get a warm, flat, lifeless excuse for a cold beer? If you need a great beer off a phenomenal tap, go here.
And their food, is just divine. Straight up French, not pseudo-French. With that La Boulange bread... and they always give me a side of heaven-sent avocado with whatever I order... jesus I think I might need to go there now. Damn, they're not open yet.
You can sit at cafe tables inside or out, and... there's a small bar with about five bar stools. You can pick your vibe here. And perhaps the second best thing about this place, after all of the above? The fact that although it's small, people's energy is not all up in your face. Everyone is doing their own thing, it's not a "looky-lou" place where people go to people watch, it's *so* not a pickup joint, but at the same time, everyone is always really respectful. It's not too cool for school, but it's not vapid, either. For me, it's perfect.
And, every time I brought my pup, they brought water out for him.
These guys get it, in every way.
Eh, it was alright. The outside was nice until we had to move in around 9pm due to a city ordinance restriction. And I guess some neighbor has been compaining about the noise, which sucks. Mean neighbors. Anyways back to the review, it had a nice environment/amiance but I wasn't much interested in their food. It just wasn't appetizing to me. I guess the whole outside seating thing threw me. The service was very good though, so if nothing else that can add some stars to the overall blah time.
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Dude. I don't know how else to start this but with that. I have had mochas everywhere. Mochas at all types of cafes, coffee shops, coffee establishments, coffee everythings. But the best mocha I have ever had, yes, ever, was at Cafe Du Soliel. It was damn good. It was the perfect balance of coffee and chocolate. It wasn't watery, or thin, or weak in the least, but you could taste the chocolate. It was the closest thing to the perfect mocha I have ever had. I might be doing the place a disservice with this boasting, but i had to share. Three or four sips in, I had to get up and go tell the person who made the mocha. Funny thing was, he made it really fast too. He was very appreciative, and thanked me for the comment that he had never received before. When I came back to my table, a girl at the next table asked me what i was drinking, and I told her I just went up there to tell him that this was the best mocha I ever had, she then proceeded to get one, and agreed with me fully! So I wasn't alone.
I haven't been there since, I didn't have anything else there, but if there is a maybe French guy with a beret at the bar, he is the mocha savior. You can get a beer somewhere else, get the mocha.
Nice place to hang out as well heh
I liked the coffee and the place's proximity to my apartment, but I lost the will to keep throwing my money (in the form of plastic) away. I know the neighborhood can be a touch rough-and-tumble, but people are human, damn it!
A bum wandered in to the cafe and was in line behind me, so I was paying for and/or waiting for my espresso to finish being born. He asked for a little bit of coffee, a sample, to borrow his exact words. The counter-girl obliged him while reprimanding "just this once, though." I offered to buy him the real thing, and he refused. That didn't make me sore, because I recognize that pride is hard to buy. It was the fact that the counter-girl tried to give me some sort of bubble-headed lecture on how many people trouble them every day.
I've been there, I worked in coffee for many years myself, and we had our share of resident drifters. We'd also donate the hell out of our pastries late at night and could afford to provide some coffee as a salve for wounds we couldn't really heal. I can't explain more without sounding cliched, so I'll just leave it at the fact that I've lost my respect for at least some of the people who run this place.
Our neighborhood cafe. A place where I also frequently come to drink a glass of wine and to read a book while my husband plays XBOX 360 with friends. Good wine selection, friendly owner, solid sandwiches and cheese plate, great music, outdoor sidewalk seating and a mellow vibe.
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I'm so grateful that this is our local cafe. Their coffee is great but it's the experience that's better. The staff and owners are wonderful. I look forward to seeing them every morning. Their baked goods are excellent quality (from La Boulange) and their food is good French cafe fare. It's one of the few places where you can sit outside so that's always a plus in this city. And the fact that they serve beer too makes it almost too good to be true.
Cafe du Soleil has everything I want in a cafe... it's quiet without being a total library. Nice and cozy. I dig the coffee in a bowl. Tasty muffins and treats. Staff that actually seems to care whether or not you're having a nice day when they ask you. You can grab a sando at lunchtime, or even a beer! I am glad this place exists, and bonus, within walking distance of my house!
We've been here twice and both times it was pretty terrible. On first visit, I got an egg dish that mildly nasty, while my girlfriend's croissant was quite good. The coffee was also tasty. But the service was terrible. The one fella working the counter was incredibly cold and didn't seem to have time for us.
My girlfriend went in this weekend and they didn't have, errrr, coffee. She said that, once again, the staff were pretty much a bunch of pompous dongs.
We certainly won't be making a third trip.
We have moved practically across the street from this place. It is not unusual for me and my kin to be seen in there several times a day. Delicious coffee. Super friendly staff.
They have these ham and cheese danishes that are scandalously good. You guessed it, the secret ingredient is butter! Ask for it heated. great now my mouth is watering.
06/14/2005
Delicious giant lattes. The Biscottis are so good they should be illegal. This is my new favorite… Read more »
I'm pretty sure that Cafe du Soleil must somehow be associated with the prolific La Boulange- the pastries served are nearly identical! I spent a lovely afternoon after a stressful visit to the DMV at this charming lower Haight cafe, thoroughly enjoying a soy latte and assortment of macarons while sitting outside amongst the colorful boxed flowerbeds. While I was ordering inside I found a smattering of locals enjoying an afternoon coffee/ beer/ snack or surfing the net on their laptops (I imagine there is free wireless internet). The one woman working behind the counter was extremely friendly, and patiently waited while I debated which flavor of macaron to try today (go for the caramel, it's amazing). If I were to compare this laid back cafe to a La Boulange, while they do not have the famous nutella jar, I do find the service more friendly, and the atmosphere more welcoming and not as hectic. If only I lived closer, I would be here every day.
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i drink double soy lattes here and draw little pictures of everyone's head. not just the heads of the lovely patrons and gracious staff, but my own, the dog sitting under my table, and perhaps yours when you walk by in your flannel shirt. often the fictitious sun runs down waller and tickles your ear before leaving for the summer. many of the baristas here can foam the s*** out of soy and the coffee is good.
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1) Free wireless internet... check
2) Great, strong coffee... check
3) AWESOME home-made granola in their yogurt and fruit bowl... check
4) Beer on tap and a decent selection of wine... check
In my book, it doesn't get any better. Love this place!
Oh, and needless to say, their home-made potato chips with parmesan cheese are delish...
Internet access unreliable. This sort of kills the deal for me.
I go to Cafe Du Soleil for great food, nice environment, and generally the positive things you'll read on everyone else's review. But maybe half the time, the internet connection is down.
How hard is it to set up a router and provide reliable (slow or fast, either way) web access for people who want to spend the occasional afternoon working on their laptops in a nice cafe like this?
If the (nice, congenial) owner of Cafe Du Soleil wants to know, he should ask any of the cafes in the hood that have figured this out. I will check back from time to time and, if the situation changes, I'll happily update this review...
UPDATE: NO POWER OUTLETS either. There used to be. They've been capped. Says a lot.
This place seems to be a "Boulange de Cole" same menu, same lay out, pretty much everything is the same. Only difference: they sell alcohol.. big plus!
Went for breakfast on Sun. morning, what a lovely area.. It was sunny out and the sidewalk seating was a treat.
I ordered the homemade granola with fruit.. YUM, lots of nuts.. I liked it. A. ordered the egg & bacon tortilla, which was like a fritatta.. he was delighted with his dish.
Walking distance from my house, good service, yummy food.. 2 thumbs up!, 4 stars.
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This is what a neighborhood cafe shoppe should be like.
Awesome Place... the sandwiches are tasty and different as in not the typical ones. I liked the parmesan chips as well as the beer selection on tap.
good place to laze around, kill time or just have a cuppa coffee.
Not a great choice for the All American Brunch but the mini-quiches are decent. The coffee sucks. The ham and cheese croissants rock. The lemonade is good. The no-alcohol-outside lack of license sucks. The never-packed-when-you-want-to-chill-and-watch-the- world-go-by ambience is cool.
I'd give it 3.5 if I could.
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The closest thing to a quintessential French cafe, fifteen minutes outside of Paris. It's missing a few elements, it's not nearly as crowded inside and there aren't near as many tables outside. Other than that, it's perfection. I've only had their Nicoise salad, even though I mean to try other things, I just love that salad! Tuna, eggs, potatoes, olives, etc. Totally fills you up. The coffee is decent and they give you a lot in a big mug, which I love. I've found that places that give you a drink in a cute mug always make me feel more comfortable. Like they want me to stay or something.
The tables are comfy and the owner/manager lady is SUPER nice. My friend and I wanted to sit outside but there weren't enough tables, and when we came back inside with disappointed faces, she took a table outside and squeezed it in so we could enjoy the warm weather.
I found my new favorite cafe to run to every week when I have a gap in between classes. And since their long hours rock, I can come here after class to. That is a rare find.
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Woohoo! As good as it gets!
i love spending my afternoons and evenings here. good food, great coffee bar, perfect chill vibe. definitely appreciate the free wi-fi, but come with your laptops fully charged because you will not find any outlets around...unless of course you want to work out of the bathroom. location is great too...close to duboce park if you want to take your espresso to go or hop on the 22 to head down fillmore. if you're a cafe junkie like me, this is a definite must have on your list of standards.
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Cafe du Soleil. A small, quiet cafe on Fillmore just south of Haight. A cafe not unlike many others in the city of San Francisco. A cafe, however, that harbors a dark secret.
Enter Patrick M., a tall, quiet man on a rare mid-week day off from work. A man who is trying to unwind by reading and doing some artwork on his laptop. His desire for serenity however will be his undoing.
Patrick takes note of the free tables lining the back wall--- seemingly perfect for an afternoon of leisurely drawing and photowork. He orders an open face goat-cheese & pesto smeared sandwich along with a tall, refreshing glass of iced tea; All the while thinking the world his oyster. The pressure of Time not a factor.
Patrick is wrong.
You see, as he sits down and situates himself, he notices that all the outlets have been sealed up. Where power once flowed, a muted lump jutts jarringly out from the wall. He scrambles in vain to find an open source. Nothing. Nothing because Cafe du Soleil is not like other cafes. Their boasting of free Wi-Fi a Siren's call. Patrick is now panicking. His day of bliss turned to chaos and uncertainty. His visit, now finite.
And your stay? Only as long as your battery lasts.
In the Twilight Zone.
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I absolutely LOVE this gem!!
It was a sunday morning, quiet and peaceful..and I had just gotten out of the shower, threw on some clothes I thought looked parisenne, decided "hey, fuck it, I'm wearing a bra today I don't CARE if they would glare at me or not in Paris", and vroom vroomed my way to the city in a '97 Jeep Sahara with a tire on the right side that looks to almost fall off at any. moment.
So not so quiet. Or peaceful. But oh well. I was meeting my friend, a photographer, there so we could take some pictures and really just sit down and talk. We miraculously found a table outside, grabbed our tea, coffee, and french pastry and sat outside discussing politics, religion, philosophy, and everything in between. By in between, I also mean he kept complaining that I was wearing a bra. (He's british, and INSISTED that I go full out Parisenne)
We sipped on *gourmet* tea and coffee, and he had a yogurt and granola meal while I munched on my chocolate croissant. It was flakey and light and wonderful and just made me feel like I was "home" again. I eyed his meal with envy, and cursed my stomach for being all queasy from previous nerve-wracking ordeals (I had already lost like, 10 pounds). I did see some of the other menu offerings up-close-and-personal, and said "I'M COMING BACK, DAMMIT!"
So I shall.
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