This place bills itself as having the best cioppino you've ever had, and it was literally the best cioppino I've ever had (and I order cioppino a lot and even make my own!). Tucked into a row of tiny restaurants on a bustling street in Little Italy, I felt I was stepping into a restaurant in NYC. There's a long counter in the narrow space and a row of two-tops that servers can barely squeeze through until you get toward the back where there are a few four-top tables. The menu is only a single page, but I can't imagine you'd go wrong with any selection. In addition to the cioppino, we ordered the pasta diavalo with half of a crab and it was also delicious. Note: you do need to crack the crab yourself which is a little messy, but the portions were large and the crab was already notched so it wasn't difficult. We all ordered wine-- I tried the chianti for $12/glass and, omg, what a pour! Nothing to complain about there either. This is not a place where you're going to have an intimate conversation, but if you're looking for an energetic vibe, excellent seafood, pasta, and cioppino, and good service, you will not be disappointed. Make a reservation though! When we arrived for our reservation, they were quoting a 1 hour wait. read more

Great customer service, great food, great vices! A very busy restaurant because it's that good! It can get a bit loud because it's tight inside the restaurant but they do have outdoor seating. 10/10 East Coast oysters. I tell my partner that the smaller the oyster the better the taste. The red sauce they provide with the oysters make it better. Beautiful taste without the sauce also! 7/10 Lobster Ravioli. They give you a huge plate with large raviolis. Cooked perfectly! The star flavor is obviously lobster but I wish there was something else that heighten the flavor. My partner did say that it was hard to distinguish between the pasta and the lobster. We came 30 min before closing (I know I'm sorry) but when we asked for a table, they were unsure but advised us to check in again at 8:50. We hung out at the bar next door -- and honestly the whole block was a vibe because everyone was out! read more

See all

Amazing cioppino and amazing scallops. They cook all the seafood perfectly. Lemon butter caper sauce on everything Service is old school and great. The restaurant has great decor - you can feel it's been open and they've been perfecting their craft for decades. read more

Finally made it to this institutional SF restaurant after over nine years living here. They don't take reservations, but you can arrive at the door and book one for later in the day. It's very busy so I recommend arriving early if you want to be sat right away. We wanted to sit outside because it was a beautiful day so we put our name down to come back in an hour and went to a nearby bar for drinks. - clam chowder - solid clam chowder and something nice to start with, but was maybe the weakest thing we ordered. Not necessary. - clam pasta - wonderfully cooked clams, but I did think the pasta itself could use a bit more salt - seafood risotto - assorted seafood, cooked with rice. Personally, I felt like it was a bit salty, but the seafood was very perfectly cooked. - cioppino - you're basically see this on every table. It serves two people. Loaded with seafood as well as some penne. Robust flavor with plenty of bread to enjoy the sauce with. Seafood was cooked exceptionally well. Crab was pre-cracked so it was easy to eat. Overall, a really solid experience. There's a reason so many people like it. I felt like they were both tourists and locals visiting. I personally don't think I need to go back, but I would definitely take someone who is visiting here. read more

See all

Sotto Mare was the choice for dinner with two friends who had never been there before and really wanted to try it. We made a reservation, but when we arrived, there was a minor mix-up, so we had to wait a bit. To their credit, the staff acknowledged the mistake and did their best to seat us as quickly as possible. We chose to sit outside, which made the wait a little easier. By the time we were seated, we were definitely hungry, so we started with a bottle of white wine to relax a bit. Our server, a very friendly lady with a great sense of humor, recommended the Fiano from Orsi Family Vineyards in Sonoma, and it turned out to be an excellent choice. We skipped appetizers and went straight for the main event. The four of us shared the cioppino, sea scallop sauté, and linguine with seafood, which our server also recommended. All three dishes were flavorful, well prepared, and more than enough for the table. Between the good food, the wine, and joking around with our server throughout the evening, we ended up having a really enjoyable dinner and a great overall experience. read more

Sotto Mare - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

It was worth the wait to sit outside because indoors was too hot, stuffy and cramp. Do make a reservation if you have a big group. Came here for the cioppino and will come back again. Just be ready for that acid reflux! read more

Sotto Mare - The "Best Damn Crab Cioppino" - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

We ordered the clam chowder, seafood risotto, pasta, and cioppino at Sotto Mare. The seafood seemed fresh and the flavors were good. One critique was the overcooked pasta. read more

Sotto Mare - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

One of my all time fav spots in the city! Was super lucky to get a reservation for 8 the evening of, and was seated in the basement area which is always super cozy. Food highlights: - West coast oysters - Seafood cioppino (meant to serve 2, absolute must-try!) - Sea scallop saute (might be my personal favorite but I am partial to scallops) - Linguine with white sauce and seafood - Bread on the house :) read more

Sotto Mare - West coast oysters - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

Vibrant, crowded and fun dining room and outdoor seating, delectable fresh seafood with friendly, fast and excellent service by Melissa and teammates. We love this North Beach gem! read more

Sotto Mare - Boston Clam Chowder - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

Idk why I haven't written a review yet, but Sotto Mare is a MUST TRY when in SF! My bf first took me here for one of our first dates to try their supposed "BEST DAMN CIOPPINO" and safe to say it lives up to the hype :) Been coming here since 2019 and we always bring friends and family visiting here to try it! They say it feeds 2, but we've always been a group of 4 to eat it and are pretty content with the serving size. Each person in a group of 4 can probably have 2 bowls each! I guess the only gripe for the cioppino is the shrimp, a bit chewy and rubbery, but all a side we've had a couple of their pastas and everything hit the spot! We're not huge risotto fans, but their risotto is tasty and isn't super mushy like every risotto we've had. Parking can be tough during prime eating times. read more

Sotto Mare - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

My husband and I have been wanting to try their world famous ciopinno. We went on a Thursday around 2:30 and got seated right away! The restaurant is small but cozy. We ordered the ciopinno and house salad. We were given some lovely fresh bread and butter while we waited! Our house salad came out pretty quick and we were disappointed. The salad consisted of only shredded iceberg lettuce and 4 tomato quarters. The dressing was a thousand island one. It was a very simple salad and I was hoping for more variety. It certainly is not worth the $7. The ciopinno was the star of the show and arrive in a big bowl steaming hot! We loved all the seafood including oysters, clams, squid, crab, shrimp, and scallops! The tomato broth was so comforting and had a nice garlic flavor. I really enjoyed this dish and loved dipping my bread into the broth. Yum! All in all, Sotte Mare makes great ciopinno but their house salad is a miss for me next time! read more

Sotto Mare - The "Best Damn Crab Cioppino" - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

Lunch time during spring/summer has the best vibes to enjoy the outdoor seating. My party of five came in a little after 11:30 so there was no wait. We ordered the crab cioppino, mussels & clams combo, risotto with seafood, and fettuccine with smoked salmon. This was more than enough food for five people plus there was complementary bread and butter that we got two baskets of. Our waitress was very nice and the food came out quite quickly. My favorite dish had to be the risotto, this came with mussels and calamari today (though it may differ as on the menu it says chef's choice). Our total before tax and tip was $161. The bathrooms had 3 stalls and were nice & clean. read more

See all

Sotto Mare reminds me that good restaurateurs are alive and well. Inside this galley shaped eatery the best cioppino for the most astonishing price awaits. For $55, two will easily be stuffed by a resounding tomato broth stuffed with shell-cracked crab, shrimp, bay scallops, mussels, octopus, and penne pasta!? It is seriously my new go-to SF recommendation. There is indoor and outdoor seating, no reservations for parties of 2. We placed our name at got a buzzer. The service is effective and impressive in the tight indoor space. I loved our seats at the bar. Do yourself a favor and order a bunch of fresh west coast oysters. I can't wait to come back. read more

See all

Sotto de Mar was the perfect Italian night out with my family! The pasta was incredible and the flavors were amazing. Cozy spot with delicious food, can't wait to return! read more

Sotto Mare - Linguine with Seafood - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

LENT 2026: FRIDAY THE 13TH - LUCKY CIOPPINO The first time I ate cioppino was four years ago during Lent on a Friday. The seafood of crab, mussels, and shrimp were delicious, but the broth was salty as a gout attack. I thought all cioppino tasted this. How did the Italians in San Francisco during the late 1800s survive eating this dish? I wanted eat at Sotto Mare for a while as I bookmarked this place. On Friday the 13th I worked in the office in San Francisco. At the last minute I decided to eat here at lunch for Lent Friday. Coming to Sotto Mare on Lent Friday was to "kill two birds with one stone". As Sotto Mare is known for the cioppino there was no other dishes to consider. The concern I had was the menu stated the cioppino was good for two people. So I decided not to get any appetizers. However my biggest weakness is bread. At Sotto Mare the crusty bread was served with butter. When the cioppino arrived I can see why this dish was good for two people. The bowl wasn't skimpy of seafood and broth. The seafood consisted of dungeness crab, clams, and mussels. I like there were only three types of shellfish. Too many types of seafood would overpower the broth instead of enhance. The broth was savory but most of all not salty. With the abundance of seafood and broth I choose to finish all the seafood. With the broth I dipped the bread in it. Is the cioppino served at Sotto Mare the best I ever had? I only had two cioppinos in my life. The cioppino I ate at Sotto Mare that Friday was better than the first one I ate four years ago. So if you have to eat fish on Fridays during Lent make an excuse for yourself to have cioppino at Sotto Mare. read more

See all

I was taken here by some locals who said it was an institution, so I was looking forward to checking it out. Ambiance is fun and casual, waitstaff is great. The seafood itself is so fresh and delicious, I just didn't love what surrounded the seafood. Risotto was forgettable, linguine was fine. Clam chowder was OK, needed some salt. The cioppino was tasty and great for sharing. Is it worth it to come and wait just for the cioppino? I wouldn't say so. Glad I got to try it though! Definitely a fun dinner with great service, just not the best meal in my opinion. If I were to come back, I would just get the cioppino and the bread and call it a day. read more

See all

Great spot to bring out of towners. The seafood is delicious. The wait time is about 30 min on average. The vibe is always good here. Plenty of people and music all around the area. Truly an SF staple. read more

Sotto Mare - Dad enjoying their classic - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

I stopped by on a Sunday morning, right after they opened. I got a seat right away. Lobster Ravioli in rose sauce was my absolute favorite here. To be more precise, the rose sauce is what I loved the most. It was delicious. I dipped the complimentary bread and finished the bread. Even managed to pack some to home. Cioppino was my other dish and that was absolutely delicious as well. Quantity was huge. It was mentioned, this was enough for 2 people. I think it was good for 3 people. Soup was delicious. Breaking crab took some time and effort. read more

See all

Wow. Simply. Wow. Probably one of the best Italian places I've ever been to. Service was good. Seating was tight. But vibes were excellent. Felt like you were in the best restaurant in town. We ordered the Cioppino for two and it was plenty. Tons of seafood. And unlimited bread to soak up all the flavorful goodness. read more

See all

A SF institution that I finally visited. + Large portions making prices reasonable. + Fresh fish. + Fun ambiance inside with some outdoor seating. Good enough groups in the basement area. + While slow, service was solid. + The free and flowing sourdough bread The negative: - Food was on the bland side. - The chowder was unmemorable and lacked crackers. The linguine and clams was solid, but could have used salt and the risotto with seafood lacked a je ne sais quoi. The cioppino was full of seafood. This is old-school North Beach and I'd say I'm so glad I tried it, but I don't know if I'd return on my own. However, if someone wanted to go, I'd def say I'm down. I'd probably stick to the fresh fish and vegetables. read more

We've been meaning to go to Sotto Mare for the 2 person cioppino deal since moving to SF and we finally gave it a try and were not disappointed! It's got an old school atmosphere, lots of little Italy charm! The cioppino is classic, and I was pleasantly surprised with how much seafood came in the shared pot! We used the free included bread to enjoy more of the sauce. I would definitely bring friends and family here. read more

Sotto Mare - The "Best Damn Crab Cioppino" - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

A must eat at place in SF! Absolutely delicious, my kids said it was the best service ever and so fast. Highly recommend this small historic restaurant! Very iconic Yelp said the best clams and linguini in the city and it's TRUE! read more

See all

I remember coming here about five years ago and enjoying their cioppino. That experience stayed with me, so I decided to come back. On a chilly day like today, this dish was exactly what I was craving. The seafood was fresh and full of flavor. The warm, comforting broth was so good that I'm still thinking about it even now. From the moment we arrived until we left, every staff member was friendly, welcoming, and attentive. It was an excellent meal and a wonderful dining experience. I had a great time and would happily come back again. read more

Sotto Mare - Cioppino - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

Delicious seafood restaurant! The cioppino had excellent flavor and dunking the complementary sourdough bread in it made it even better. Seafood was fresh and the portion is definitely enough for two or 3. The linguini was cooked well, but I definitely preferred the linguini in tomato sauce over the olive oil and garlic. The oysters were so fresh I could have eaten a whole dozen by myself. Service was very fast for a busy Sunday night. I know it's a seafood restaurant, but I do wish they had some non seafood protein on the menu for those that can't eat or don't like seafood. I also wish they had dessert, though we didn't have a problem going down the street to the bakery to pick up some local Italian pastries. read more

See all

We went here for a late lunch yesterday. The staff, food, prices, and sitting outside created a great dining experience. The sea scallop and shrimp combo was fabulous. The petrale sole portion was humongous and prepared expertly. Wine by the glass was well priced and quite ample. We need to go back. read more

Sotto Mare - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

Sotto Mare is one of those places you really want to love. The neighborhood is quaint and cute, and the old-school vibe is exactly what you want for a cozy Italian seafood night. They advertise the best cioppino in town, but I've had better. The broth had good flavor, but the seafood tasted dry and noticeably fishy. The crab diavolo also had very little actual crab meat. For a seafood spot, freshness is the whole point. The seating really took away from the experience. We three were put at a tiny two-person table right by the entrance on a slope and they squeezed in an extra chair, so our plates barely fit. We spent the entire meal playing Tetris with dishes just to have space. Meanwhile, a group with the same number of people who arrived after us was seated at a much larger, flat table even though both tables were open when we arrived. Great location, disappointing seafood. read more

Sotto Mare - Whole Crab Diavolo Over Linguine, Risotto with Seafood, The "Best Damn Crab Cioppino" - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

i had been wanting to try sotto mare for over a year, and i wish i had it sooner! i'm happy to say that it lives up to the hype and indeed has amazing seafood. they do not take web reservations, but it appeared that some people had called ahead to make a reservation. i'm going to try this next time! for a party of 3, we showed up at 5:50pm and were seated in the lower level at 6:00pm. the hostesses and servers were all super kind and knowledgeable. the interior is decorated with a lot of eclectic historical items and photos, showing the legacy and impact of sotto mare over the years. after ordering, your table gets bread and butter. you will also get a bib, which is a perfect photo moment! the clam chowder was thick and loaded with seafood. they don't skimp on the good stuff! the west coast oysters were delicious. i did find it slightly strange the red sauce didn't come with a tiny spoon, but i'll happily look past that. next, the risotto with seafood was loaded with seafood and very flavorful. in particular, the shrimps were super juicy and well cooked! last but not least, the "best damn cioppinno" had an accurate name! it was full of scrumptious seafood from shrimp, crab legs, clams, mussels, scallops, and more. the server told us that you can also choose to exclude certain types of seafood and they will accommodate and give you more of the others. for drinks, i got a bellini cocktail and it was standard. overall, i was stuffed and really enjoyed my meal at sotto mare. i will definitely be back and highly recommend it! read more

See all

This place is hands down the best ciopinno in town! The menu says it feeds two, but I'd say it can easily feed four. It's a staple in San Francisco, serving fresh seafood, pastas, chowders, and even fish specials. Our server was attentive and on point, and we arrived before the dinner rush. I'll definitely be back for more when I'm in San Francisco. read more

See all

I LOVE SEAFOOD we came on a weekend night and it was extremely packed. everyone was waiting for their table in front of the restaurant. once seated, it was still bustling. we ordered the: * cioppino for two - seafood portions are VERY generous. tomato broth is rich in flavor. honestly believe it can be shared between 3 people rather than 2. i was extremely fulfilled after our dinner, especially with the sourdough bread and butter. * oysters on half shell west and east - i'm obsessed with oysters so we ordered a dozen LOL. tasted fresh but i wasn't wowed by them. service was attentive! they gave us bibs for the cioppino! clean bathrooms. only con is parking, good luck with finding any. read more

See all

Visiting SF from Tucson AZ hoping for a great fresh seafood meal. Sotto Mare certainly delivered. 30 minute wait 4pm on a Saturday. We split a bowl of chowder and the house salad. Both were delicious. Main was seafood pasta. Chocked full of every variety of seafood. Bread perfect SF sour dough. Sadly no deserts. Check it out. read more

Cioppino and risotto were both flavorful and were large portions. Felt it was slightly overpriced for what it was, not a lot of crab, mostly mussels, clams, and squid. Indoor and outdoor seating. Inside can be cramped. The service seemed to be easily annoyed. Had asked to switch from indoor to outdoor seating and the hostess reacted poorly. read more

Sotto Mare - Risotto with Seafood - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

BEST CIOPPINO. The cioppino is where this place shines. I'll be dreaming about this for awhile and will be back very soon. There's a TON of seafood - clams, shrimp, crab legs, squid. The sauce is delectable, and when dipped in the bread, it's just *chef's kiss*. I do wish there were more noodles, or that they'd give the dish with a side of noodles. I could've probably asked. It's shareable between 3-4 people easily! Came here on a weekday around 1 and our party of 3 was able to get seated right away. Food came out quickly. It's a more casual restaurant, with limited seating in/out doors. I can expect it to be busy on weekends. I can't wait to be back to get this again and try more of their seafood! read more

Sotto Mare - The "Best Damn Crab Cioppino" - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

It makes me so upset when a place with such awful food and service is so highly rated especially in a place like SF where there are so many options. The cioppino was blander than paper and sure it was loaded with seafood but it didn't even feel like they put salt. The oysters were served with cocktail sauce so that should say enough about it and the bread tasted stale. Service wise, we were constantly neglected, told different waiting times and had to ask 3+ times for the heater to be turned on at 9:45 PM when they stopped being super busy. Please do yourself a favor and go literally anywhere else in north beach. read more

I attempted to go here once for dinner and the wait was over an hour. Came back on a weekday for lunch and no wait at all. Sitting inside on a warm day though is tough since it's not air conditioned and can get a bit uncomfortable. The cioppino was really good. Unlike other places, there is pasta in there. The broth was super clean and seafood was fresh. read more

See all

This is a legit Italian seafood joint in the heart of North Beach. It reminds me of Boston's man many fantastic North End restaurants. I got the seafood risotto which is the chef recommendation and it did not disappoint. Service was great and wine selection was also expansive. I'd come back to try the pasta dishes, heard the linguini is very good. read more

I did a clinical survey of cioppino choices at Sotto Mare vs Scoma vs Anchor and chose to dine here. Not sorry though the $$ will keep me from trying the other two places. The tomato sauce, or "gravy" as we call it in Upstate NY, really is the key and these folks do it well. Generous amounts of many briny creatures. Crab was actually less interesting than the mussels and clams because it's out of season and therefore frozen and a lot of work to eat. (Though the pieces are nicely pre-cracked.) If you are a solo diner eat at the bar way in the back, where you can see the food coming out on the pass. read more

Sotto Mare - View from the bar at Sotto Mare, sitting way in the back by the kitchen. - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

The reviews were spot on! Awesome food, great atmosphere, and super nice staff. We couldn't make an online reservation but called ahead of time to do so. On a Friday night, there was a line but not more than 20 minutes. read more

Sotto Mare - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

Delicious seafood, healthy portions, friendly service. Sotto Mare is nearly always packed, so we had to come right when they opened to secure a spot for lunch. During Christmas time, they decorate the place with lights and table decor, creating a festive, cozy vibe. We ordered their west coast oysters, cioppino, and lobster ravioli. All the seafood was very fresh. My favorite out of everything we ordered was the lobster ravioli because the sauce was absolutely fire. Paired it with the complimentary bread they offered and it was just chefs kiss. Cioppino had lots of crab, clams, mussels, scallop, and squid. I had to add a bit more salt myself to the soup, but after that, it was perfect! read more

Sotto Mare - Oysters on Half Shell - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

There are some among us who besmirch neighborhoods like North Beach and restaurants like Sotto Mare as being "touristy." Touristy being synonymous inauthenticity, vapidity. Someone once told me they prefer Chinatown Oakland to that of SF due to the lack of tourists in the former. And I get it, it's sickening seeing people browse through Golden Gate Bridge keychains for the one with their name on it. But you have to understand something: tourists appear in places that hold the city's mythology. Take Los Angeles for example. Imagine promenading down Hollywood Boulevard and encountering all the fools taking pictures of the famous names on sidewalk. Even the most charitable among us feels a mote of disgust toward these fools. But guess what? Brush away the chicanery and find Musso & Frank's and the Roosevelt Hotel, vital and Profound Hollywood mythology. So the Redditors call Sotto Mare touristy? Approach the hostess stand on a cold winter night. Christmas lights strewn about. Plaster fish hung on the walls. An open kitchen buzzing, it's range a great conflagration. A dining full and buzzing (You really need to get a seat upstairs; downstairs is far too subdued). Scant few places will make you feel more like you are in San Francisco than Sotto Mare. That the ghost of Joe DiMaggio is at a nearby table. That, while they're are no TVs in the restaurant, you can envision Montana hitting Rice on an out-route from an imagined screen hanging from the back corner. Maybe Keroauc ambles by the door frame, lugging a rucksack on his way to a drink and confab at Vesuvio. Of course you order cioppino (chee-oh-pino or cho-pino, your choice). A tomatoey microcosm of the ocean itself: mussels, clams, shrimp, bay shrimp and scallops, and of course Dungeness crab. San Francisco in a bowl. Perhaps a few oysters while you wait. And a bottle of wine. Scallops are fattish but underseared. Sand dabs look nice and come many to a plate. The risotto? You're better off making risotto at home. It looked stodgy and lacking of all'onda. read more

Sotto Mare - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

Sotto Mare lives up to the hype. Ordered the cioppino, seafood risotto, and scallops--every dish hit. The cioppino was rich and packed with fresh seafood, easily the star of the night. The risotto was creamy with generous clams and seafood, super comforting. Scallops were perfectly seared and buttery, paired well with veggies. Portions are big, great for sharing. Cozy, lively North Beach vibe--perfect date spot or night out with friends. If you want classic San Francisco seafood done right, this is the place. read more

See all