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Thinkers Cafe

3.8 (203 reviews)
InexpensiveCoffee & Tea
Open 7:00 am - 3:00 pm

Thinkers Cafe Photos

THINKERS CAFE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Outdoor seating
Good for working
Dogs allowed

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Recommended Reviews - Thinkers Cafe

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Reviews With Photos

Latte
Jose S.

I had such a great experience coming to Thinkers Cafe. I ordered a Vanilla Ice Latte and a Creme Cheese and Jelly Everything Bagel. It was delicious. When it came to service, it felt really nice and welcoming. Additionally, there is seating both indoors and outdoors. Definitely coming back again!

Summer Fruit Smoothie
Jenny X.

Came here after a long run and got a single smoothie and also tried my friend's burrito! Good: - Fast service and really good prices for the area - The smoothie was so good and filling! I liked the summer fruit smoothie since it wasn't overly sweet but it had a great flavor profile - Nice outdoor seating on a beautiful day Bad: - A more casual place, a little more run down Overall not a fancy place but it a good affordable place for food.

Turkey Pesto Sandwich
Kelly A.

Yummy Turkey Pesto sandwich, thiccc and flavorful. Soy latte was standard. Cute shop and I found parking easily. Very friendly service. Lots of options on the menu. Studied here for a bit in the morning and it wasn't too crowded. Only thing was I sat by the window and there were lots of mosquitos/bugs. Would still recommend to check the spot out!

Tracey L.

Great breakfast, sandwich, soup, and salad shop right in the middle of a charming neighborhood. My sandwich was favorable; the bread was well toasted and the meat seasoned to perfection. The place is gorgeous inside; it takes you back to a simpler time when the customer service was superb and the food amazing. I love the green decor and the coffee area. We sat outside, it was a hot day, but the restaurant is situated on the side of the street where there's shade, and the wind constantly is sending a breeze your way. Great Place to eat!

Cocoa - two large ones!
Bruce B.

The BEST hot coca! I don't know what kind of secret formula or fairy dust they're using but I ordered a large and it was so good, I ordered another one!

Menu
Stephen D.

Very barebones little cafe. Coffee wasn't the best. Definitely just the standard drip machines that tend to mean muddy flavors. Food was good. Had a breakfast sandwich on a bagel. Seems to be fairly good value at least.

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18 years ago

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17 years ago

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19 years ago

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Page 6 of 6

Ask the Community - Thinkers Cafe

Review Highlights - Thinkers Cafe

The people who work here are really friendly and welcoming; the eclectic, low-key music reflects that.

Mentioned in 4 reviews

Read more highlights

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Saint Frank Coffee

Saint Frank Coffee

4.3
(1.1k reviews)
3.0 mi
$$

All around pleasant experience in terms of both the service and coffee. I had the flight and…read morethought it was overall good. They explained that the flight includes an espresso shot, espresso shot with milk, hot coffee, and iced coffee. I hadn't had a straight espresso shot before, so this wasn't for me personally just because it was so overpowering. I enjoyed the other three though. Like the majority of SF, parking is difficult to locate. I was dropped off nearby the location. There is indoor and outdoor seating; I was able to grab an empty spot late in the morning on a weekend, but I don't think seating is always readily available. It's not a huge space.

First time here for coffee! It's quite a popular shop and you see many sitting inside or waiting in…read moreline. Luckily we didn't have to wait a long line. It seems like there's also an upstairs but did not get the chance to check it out. I got an iced latte with their almond macadamia milk, and they're also so nice to do complimentary cold brew! So we got an extra drink for free. Trying the iced latte, it was pretty disappointing lol. I thought it would be similar to like a Hawaiian style latte with macadamia milk, but it was a lot lighter than I thought. It was definitely very nutty, but it also just tasted like water down latte. Honestly not much going on with the drink, but it does taste lighter in general. Crazy have to pay $1.50 more to add on this milk. Overall, its alright. I do like the natural lighting coming into the shop, but nothing too special.

Photos
View from back of the shop.
View from back of the shop.
Yuzu macadamia cookie and orange cream latte
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Q Specialty Coffee

Q Specialty Coffee

4.2
(303 reviews)
3.5 mi
$$
Certified professionals
Locally owned & operated

Day Visited: Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday Price Range:…read more$$ Parking: Street or metered parking Ordered: Mocha Dream Espresso Cloud, Velvet Hojicha Cloud, Nitro Mango Our favorite SF coffee shop to date! On the days we have gone, the line has varied from being out the door to a quick walk in and order - truly just depends. Regardless of the long line, these drinks are soooo good. Upon entering the coffee shop, you'll see a good amount of seating, but for the times we have gone, the majority of the seats are taken. It is definitely a variety of people socializing, working, reading books, or just hanging out. Parking is metered or street parking, and we haven't had any issue finding parking! It's also in an area where you can shop around (across the street) if you want to grab a bite as well. Our go to orders include the Mocha Dream Espresso Cloud and the Nitro Mango, but we have also gotten the Hojicha Cloud, which is amazing as well. We love the thickness and flavors of the cold foams - you cannot go wrong with any of the cloud drinks. As popular as this place has become, it truly is worth the trip! We will always make a trip whenever we are in the city!

This was a solid coffee stop and I definitely enjoyed my drink. However, I don't think it's the…read morebest coffee spot in the city, especially considering how long the line gets. We waited quite a while, and while the drinks were good, I'm not sure they completely justified the wait. If you can come during off-peak hours, I think you'll enjoy it much more. Overall, it's a good café with quality coffee and a nice vibe. Just be prepared for a line if you visit during busy times.

Photos
An IG photo nook 4/19/26
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Stonemill Matcha

Stonemill Matcha

4.2
(1.7k reviews)
1.3 mi
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Loved this spot. The minute you step into the cafe you can tell it's going to be good…read more The sesame latte on ice had real sesame and delicious sesame flavor. This cafe uses real ingredients and not powdered flavorings. The rusk was crunchy and sweet. The strawberry yuzu was fruity, cool, and refreshing. It's like nothing I've ever tried.

The place is called Stonemill Matcha so I should've got some matcha or latte, but I digress. I've…read moreheard this place has one of the best katsu sando around and as a lover of Katsu, I couldn't skip it. There's some good places in SF like Cafe Okawari. But Katsu is really becoming the new hype of the day for Japanese food, following the Sushi, Ramen, Japanese Curry, Katsu trend. So I came in with a critical view. I feel like Yoshoku in general may be next but I yet again digress. The box sandwich came in a cute little box. The inside was packed so I couldn't get a chance to fully appreciate the cafe, but the service was nice though the pay line may have moved slower than hoped. I'll say this. This is "the" best katsu sando in the bay. The katsu is crispy, but little on the softer side. But this hardness matches perfectly with the absolutely tender, soft, juicy pork wrapped inside. I'm looking at the menu again and it all makes sense. The pork has been in shio koji, making the meat ever so tender while adding the subtle but complicated marinated flavor. The cabbage is plenty, but not over packed to take away from the main Katsu flavor. What really perfects it for me, was not only the sweet and savory katsu sauce, but the mayo with dash of I think a karashi mustard. That slight tingle, the perfect kick gives a powerful awakening of flavor that really sets the it apart. This is art, an artisan. Culinary art is the refuge no raging rampant AI slop "art" can ever hope to touch. Until the day we get some cyborg implant to our brain into gustatory, olfactory functions. Even then, I don't think any tasteless tech bro are hopeless to create anything unique or beautiful.

Photos
03.20.2026- Stonemill Matcha SF- interior
03.20.2026- Stonemill Matcha SF- interior
TO Hojicha Pumpkin Pie
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Maruwu Seicha

Maruwu Seicha

4.3
(731 reviews)
2.5 mi
$$
Women-owned & operated
Certified professionals

Maruwu Seicha is definitely worth the stop if you're in Japantown! I got the pistachio matcha, and…read moreit actually tasted like real pistachios--not artificial at all. It was thick, creamy, and a little rich, but so satisfying. Don't skip the cheese tarts! The original and ube flavors are my favorites. They're super creamy, cheesy, and practically melt in your mouth. The line was pretty long when I went, but it moved surprisingly fast. It's located in the Japantown West Mall, and there are plenty of places to sit around the mall while you enjoy your treats. I'll definitely be back!

I came here today with my 90-year-old grandfather for some matcha ice cream. The ice cream itself…read morewas excellent, rich, creamy, and full of matcha flavor. The quality of the food is why I'm still giving this place 3 stars. Unfortunately, the service continues to be disappointing. This isn't the first time I've felt this way whenever I visit. We were helped by a female staff member around 2 PM, and she seemed very unfriendly. When I politely asked for a cup, she just stared at me for a moment without saying anything, then turned around to grab one. A simple smile or "of course" would have made a big difference. As a young person, I can easily brush off that kind of attitude. But it made me feel sad for my 90-year-old grandfather, who deserves to be treated with warmth and kindness. Customer service isn't just about getting the order right, it's about making people feel welcome, especially elderly customers. The food is consistently great, but I hope the customer service can improve to match the quality of what they serve.

Photos
Hōjicha Latte Cheese Foam, 1/2 sweet ($6.30)
Hōjicha Latte Cheese Foam, 1/2 sweet ($6.30)
Matcha + Hokkaido Milk Swirl Soft Serve and Matcha Tea with Snow Top
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Thinkers Cafe - coffee - Updated July 2026

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