Reviews of The Buena Vista (Restaurant)

TRAVELS withDavid

Had to go for the irish coffee. It was irish coffee. Good. Had calamari wich was really very saturated with grease. Heavy tasting. I spent half the time scraping off salty breading. and had the pastrami sanwich. Which was pretty good. Hot, crispy toasted bread and good pastrami. Potato salad was prety bland. The worst parknwas the mens bathroom. Disgusting. I gave it the 3rd star for bar, view, very friendly staff.

Roger Roehr

Great service and good food. Spinach salad was great and Navy bean soup was excellent. Bread pudding was a little dry for my taste but the sauce was fantastic.

Mandar Sharma

The place that introduced Irish Coffee to America. The drinks were absolutely awesome and the bar food was wonderful. 10/10 would visit again. Friendly wait staff too!

NewNewYorker

Classic SF haunt. Try it if you like Irish coffee.

Jada Bell

Extremely rude, older lady greeted us at the front step. She basically scolded us for not knowing the uncommon seating policy they have there. She has disgusting customer service skills. Don’t waste your time or money here!

Andrea Barletta

Beautiful place with good food! The turkey club sandwitch is very delicious! Same for fish and chips! Will come back for sure!

Brenda Daily

Took my BFF for a visit. Haven't been here in 20 years. One of those places that's better than your memories. Looking for more visitors so I can go again.

San D.

Excellent food and service, nice location with view. And of course the Irish coffee - you must taste it.

Juel Rice

The manager there Kevin He is Awesome... he's always courteous Pleasant and kind his personality and it's wonderful treatment towards others never changes always the same and the work crew there also kind and welcoming with open arms and not to mention how good the food is there I go there to eat every chance I get!

Rachel Juozapaitis

Though some might classify this place as "touristy", it's actually very personal and authentic. Best known(and deservedly so) for their Irish Coffees, there are still numerous other options, though the Irish Coffee is NOT one to be missed. Great and personable bartenders, light atmosphere, and all around a great way to warm up from the cold of the wharf. Will be back sooner than later.

Matthew

Definitely a landmark here in SF. Come here for the experience of having an Irish coffee at the place where it all started. The bartender was very friendly and easy to talk to and their food menu looks great too even though I didn't get to try it. Would lovely to come back for brunch some time

Michael Fitzgerald

Hadn't been here in awhile. It's always a zoo in the area where this great bar is located. But, it was a nice sunny Sunday and we thought we'd try. Thankfully my husband is always up for an adventure with me! I like to surprise him on these little excursions! There was a free admission day at the Maritime Museum nearby, so we made it a package deal for our city excursion.

Tiffany Oda

A San Francisco staple. Classic. What can I even say about Buena Vista? GET THE IRISH COFFEE. And sit in the "wet spot" as they call it. It's the section of the bar with the bartender mass makes Irish Coffees. It is quite the spectacle! Our bartender's name was Nicholas and he was charming. I think he's worked there for a while. Plenty of seats, also a back room if you need, you might need to wait a while for a seat depending on when you go. Have never tried the food, but will update the review if/when I ever eat there.

Rishi Solanki

Amazing Irish coffee and ambience. Difficult to find a table since the place is crowded but a must visit place when in SF

Mara Surridge

It's known for Irish coffee, but our family wandered in for dinner on a whim and we were all so pleased. My daughter loved being able to order breakfast for dinner (and said that the French Toast was delicious) and my fish special (Pacific Rockfish) was incredible. Our waitress was also delightful - so friendly and really attentive. Great choice for a dinner near Fisherman's Wharf!

Corky & Bebe

Love, love, love The Buena Vista! I’ve been going there for 30 years. Of course, the Irish coffee is a must-do. Don’t stir it, though! I made that mistake and the waitress reprimanded me (in a funny way). The breakfast is amazing. It’s traditional to sit wherever you find a seat, even at someone else’s table. The place is always packed, so be sure to make friends with whomever you sit with.

Charles Abel

Go for the Irish coffee - please. I had the pleasure of watching the bartender make these. He looked like he could do it with his eyes closed. Two Irish coffees and one fantastic crab omelette later and I was ready to start my day. If I ever return to SF this will definitely be a stop.

Drea _

Had a wonderful brunch and great time with my family. Food was absolutely delicious & drinks were amazing!!

Angela Rondinella

Irish coffee was good. Not impressed with environment

Ashley Phillips

A San Francisco must see! This is right by Fisherman's Wharf area. You should stop in for an Irish Coffee if you are nearby! We didn't eat here, but the food looked good. The coffees were delicious! Would definitely go back.

Deecembra Diamond

Love this restaurant! They just gave us the best VIP treatment...they opened the doors early so we could have irish coffee! Learned so much about the history and where our favorite coffee drink came from

Paul

Iconic spot for an Irish coffee ($10). Glad we stopped by, definitely a tourist trap, but enjoyable and well worth the trip. Didn't try the food.

cj

Belly up to the bar and watch the magic, a dozen Irish coffees elegantly poured at once. It's a good Irish coffee, and great atmosphere. We don't come here for the food, we come to sit on the third and fourth bar stool in, sip our Irish coffees and take in the surroundings. Have fun!

Reece Avram

Duh! Irish coffee! Classy well known spot in the city! The only place for hair of the dog. Wink-wink

Vera Capela

Classic. Gotta love this place. The service is raw and the food and drinks are fantastic

Adam Davis

Love coming to The Buena Vista! Everytime we come to SF this is our first stop. I absolutely love the Irish Coffees! And they have a very good selection of appetizers and food to eat. But you're really coming here for the Irish coffees!

Edie ferro

Great food, service and the view was nice.

Prashant Gutch

Great quaint pub which serves yummy Irish coffee. They have a lot of variants of Irish and Bailey's which is great. They dont have tables free and they don't serve food on the bar which is a bummer. The place reminds you of European pubs. Good place to go if you are staying near the pier

Reggie Bryant

However, I insist on a 5 star review because my friend and I had a phenomenal time there. Despite my lack of affinity for Irish coffee, I still enjoyed the bustling vibe of the restaurant. The bartender is hilarious, and they served other drinks too. Personally, my favorite is the variation of Irish coffee with Bailey's (?) - that went down a lot easier.

Judith JOY Rivera

The Best Irish Coffee & Best Bartenders & Waitresses. Fun crowd, great location... and if the place is crowded, share tables!

TxSTARLORD

Known for its Irish coffee. Good drinks and worth the stop. Took a min to find a seat both times I came here and was very crowded but this made for a fun atmosphere and got to meet some new friends. Definantly go here

Michael Vu

The Buena Vista is a local classic that still practices the same lively atmosphere of yesteryear. I appreciate the staff having to wear charming outfits and delivering their cut-and-dry service. I ordered the Irish Coffee to experience it, and I was very well impressed by its smooth contours and coffee notes.

Steve Reiser

One of our all-time favorite SF spots for Sunday brunch and of course Irish coffee. Love the community seating - chatting with tourists as well as locals. Also a very festive stop during the holidays. The country benedict rocks!

Daniel Murillo

Stop in for an original Irish coffee. Friendly staff and great atmosphere in a historic location.

Dalma Kuti

We stopped here for one of their world famous Irish coffees and ended up having two!

Patti Pickering

The most amazing Irish coffee, hands-down, even if you don't like Irish coffee. Great atmosphere inside while you watch the trolleys leave the turnaround outside. It's a must to check off while touristing San Francisco.

Andrea Volpe

A tourist trap... Had the hot pastrami sandwich (it tasted nothing like pastrami) and my wife a Mexican omelette. The 3 stars are for the place and atmosphere, kind of cute.

Cynthia Hopson

My friend took me here specifically for the Irish Coffee. The best I've had for sure. We also had lunch. Food was delicious! If crowds bother you..this ain't the place for you. Sitting is..get in where you fit in. Loved it!

Scott Spencer

Classic SF location! Irish Coffees are a must have! Food is great.

Bay Walker

Great vibe. Good Irish coffee. Have fun! Not cheap.

Angela V

Great service. Very busy, but worth the wait. Irish coffee a little strong for those who don't drink much, but delicious.

Adam Swanson

Neither myself or my wife are fans of coffee but this place was highly recommended. The Irish coffee is out of this freaking world. We're already planning on coming back tomorrow to get another round. Good food, good drinks. Only knock is that they closed their gift shop 15 minutes early.

Ray Alan

Fun local tourist treat. San Francisco strong drinks and delicious Irish coffee

Bruce Pajak

I've only stopped here for brunch with friends here after riding the motorcycle around and spending time at the Alcatraz Harley Davidson dealership. Food was great,the staff was friendly and helpful in recommending a good dish to order for lunch and drink.

Victor Narvaez

Best Irish coffee anywhere! Food is great too. Place is always packed... Tells you how good there drinks are. Old time feel. One of the favorite spots in SF

Trevor Romanow

Amazing, beyond expectations. Diane was so friendly (all of the staff were), it made our experience... and she tipped us off with a few local secrets that continued to make our day even after we left. Don't be turned away by the bustling space, it was worth the crowd! Thank-you!

Patricio Castagnaro

It's a very good place to taste the Irish coffee. But the attention of the employee which attended me was not the best. So I think it's a good moment to improve your client attention to be more attractive and to provide a better service

L L

Pleasantly surprised by my BLT sandwich. Properly riped tomato and oodles of bacon! It was delicious!

Anthony Jeffs

Great service that's unbelievably amicable. Food is delicious fuels you up after walking around the city. Up the hill is Lombard Street, a great view and sight to see in the Bay Area.

aoife o neill

I'm from ireland and this place does the best Irish coffee iv ever had

Laura Davis

Best steak and egg breakfast I’ve ever had (don’t skip the sourdough toast). Of course the Irish coffees were all that, too. Start your city day here!

Shawn Gempeler

Had the Corned beef hash and poached eggs with sourdough toast and and Irish Coffee it was delicious.

Elisio Sapata

Highly recommended and equally broadcasted. If you are in San Francisco come to the Buena Vista for the Irish Coffee.

Emily Elliott

Came here for my first ever Irish Coffee! Though I realized I don't like Irish coffee this place was a fantastic place to get coffee and breakfast! Fun atmosphere along with great service!

John Gledhill

Last day in San Francisco before heading off to Alaska and Canada and didn’t want to depart without visiting the Buena Vista for a swift early morning Irish coffee. A cafe bar with a long standing history in San Francisco. Open since the late 1800’s and serving Irish coffee since the 1950’s with allegedly serving millions to date!! Definitely worth a visit to say you have been.

Matt Gili

We had a fantastic breakfast at The Buena Vista just before our rain soaked crossing of the Golden Gate Bridge on bicycles. Get service. We focused on crab influenced dishes (Crab Benedict and Crab Omelet) is and were not disappointed. Brilliant Irish Coffees as well. Now I need an excuse to go back to SF and try them for dinner.

Ben Salcido

Great atmosphere, food and drinks were great and very good staff! Definitely recommend!

Sean Anderson

I ate here for breakfast on my trip to San Francisco. I had the Irish coffee and crab omelette and they were both delicious! I enjoyed the ambiance and service was great! The bartendor looked the part with his white hair and mustach. The place does not take reservations and it is crowded but is well worth the visit.

Julia Bastin

Great atmosphere and irish coffee to die for.

Yura Varvynets

Crowded. Noisy. I tried world famous Irish coffee. It was so-so.

Brogan Stich

As a place known for its Irish coffee, this place nails that. A little strong for a morning drink it's a great addition to an afternoon. The food is traditional dinner food and is quite good.

Dolly A

Of my the food was super delicious. Excellent service this was our first time here. Our waitress was awesome and fast. Everything we ordered was delicious. Definitely willbe back.

Karin Elton

The best Irish coffees. Great service and atmosphere. It's always crowded, but you can eventually get a seat at the bar.

Karishma Mayur

It's a great place for having Irish coffee with a view of the Golden gate bridge in the background. We had some tiramisu also which was good

Tessa McMahon

Great place with SF vibes and a good stop to warm up after walking along the piers. Definitely get their traditional Irish Coffee - they are very liberal with the whisky!

Josh Adams

The Irish Coffee is a staple that drinks way too easily for the amount of alcohol it contains. The views through the front window and nearby are great to discover after you get your fix of caffeine and alcohol.

Dana Davidson

This may be a touristy stop but its amazing. We had the best Irish coffees that we've ever tasted and had an exceptional waitress. We loved the views from the restaurant too.

Kevin Hodge

Love this joint! Great service, and atmoshpere. The spaghetti and meatballs are amazing!!

Mike Merrigan

Super fantastic ☘️ Irish

daniel humphrey

Exceptional wait staff. Food is fresh and on point. I can not wait to come back and enjoy this place again!

Lucia Garcia

Friendly staff and amazing Irish Coffee My party and I decided to visit The Buena Vista to try the Irish Coffee and it didn't disappoint as I ordered 2 in a span of 30 minutes. The staff wasn't rude when we said we wanted a table just to order drinks, but they did say it was first come first serve. There was a party of 2 that was taking up a table that would fit my party of 6 and they DID NOT want to move. Two separate staff members asked them politely to move to a smaller table to accommodate a larger party but insisted they were almost finished. They finished maybe 10 minutes later. I appreciated the staff asking on our behalf, but I also understand the first come first serve rule. If you are planning to visit I would recommend a less busy time.

Clark Hickman

Nice views of the cable car turnstile, and SF Bay. Limited view of the golden gate bridge. Prompt and courteous staff, food is decent, but really must try the Irish coffee! Good place for cocktails and a bit to eat. No food service at the bar, there is a food counter if you are alone though.

Cathy Baumgartner

The Irish coffee is a can't-miss! (But it's also a family tradition...my dad took my mom here for dates back in the 1950s.). Note: I've never tried the food here.

Jeff Lakusta

Home of the Irish coffee... What's not to love?! It's a tourist hot spot, but so long as you're expecting that it's fun and nice wait staff.

Daniël

This place mostly thrives off its reputation, but to me, it really doesn’t do much to still earn it. We went to have an Irish coffee (of course we did...), as do many people, but really, the quality of the drink isn’t that great, the staff is clearly bored from doing the same thing for many years and isn’t exactly very friendly or welcoming, and the overall atmosphere is just not that great - mostly tourists like us hopping in and out because “you have to”. I would argue the validity of that statement though.

mehrnoush soroush

Excellent location, fast and friendly service, amazing "real" homemade crab cakes and Irish coffee. Beware, you need to share the table with strangers. It was actually very pleasant as it is first come first serve and you don't need to hang around too long to be sited, even during the busy time. Restrooms were clean and in order. And, the tables have an excellent view to the Bay.

Craig Cooper

A must stop for Irish Coffee! Staff is fun and engaging. Definitely sit at the bar.

Nolan Schmalfeldt

Over crowed. Tables are WAY to close. No welxome when entering. Just sitting there asking where is the greeter and nobody was there. Someone brought us waters and pushed pur chairs out and didnt at least push them back in. Would not reccomend, WAY to over crowed with location of tables and un-welcoming

Jared Mckay

Fine place for tasty american food. great spot for an appetite of any size. i will be bringing family next time. the bill was good for what you get.

Jake

Only had drinks, have lived in the Bay Area for a few years and decided to try out the Buena Vista. Got there around 4:30 on a Saturday and place was jam packed, got a table pretty quickly with a few other ppl (you have to learn to share a full table at this busy place). We ordered our Irish coffees and shots, served quickly. Atmosphere is hectic and loud but great times to be had and great people watching. It’s located in a wonderful part of the city right next to the ocean.

Reed Radcliffe

Wonderful Irish coffee made the way it was supposed to be! Expensive, but if it weren't you would have to wait for hours. One of my favorite tourist destinations from our latest visit to San Francisco. We'll be back.

carolyn

Best dang corn beef hash!! And I don't even like corn beef hash, normally! Excellent service too. First come first serve. No hostess, so you have to stalk tables that are leaving. European style seating, which is great!

Megan Conklin

Always a great experience. And even with how crowded it is, we never struggle to find a spot. Get a Bailey's coffee!

Rik Boer

Enjoyed our bar-food, the beer, and of course their special; the Irish coffee. Good atmosphere, service okay; not super friendly.

Bhargav Ganti

Most amazing Irish coffee. Must visit, highly recommend.

BlueShoes Adventures

I had high expectations about this place due to all the reviews I had read. Went once, and it was packed so we decided to return later. Second time, packed again and we just left. A couple of days later we decided to try our luck and were finally able to sit down. Never had Irish Coffee before and it was excellent!!! Also ordered several appetizers and they were all pretty good as well, specially the Nachos. Prices were fair, service was very good, ambiance was exceptional!!! Highly recommended!!!

Calvin Engen

Had my first experiance with the world's best Irish Coffee. Not only is the coffee quite good, it is an experiance! I highly recommend this popular spot! Very cool to see the production line of coffees being created.

ece gürler

It is hard to find table! Go there as early as you can! You might have to share your table with others. Quick and friendly service, delicious food and great Irish coffee! It is not a place to sit and talk though. It is more like: eat,drink, and go!

Sean McHugh

You gotta try an Irish Coffee here, and you can do it Keto style of you all them to skip the sugar cubes!! Delicious quick stop! The food looks amazing too! ☮️♥️

jay devi

For years I'd been wanting to go to the Buena vista. I'm from South Africa and when I finally got to go it definitely didnt disappoint. I loved absolutely everything we had. The restaurant has a cool vibe and the long bar adds lots of flavor to the ambiance. The famous drinks are everything they are said to be

Barry Jackson

Won't get Irish coffee this good unless we come back to the people who do it right. Bartender was a gentleman and first if his kind to offer me the leftover Cosmo from his mixing glass.

Joanne ngah

My first time leaving a review on Google, but I feel this deserves a mention (a negative one that is). If I can put 0.5 star, I definitely would. Went there excitedly upon seeing very high review score. However upon entering the restaurant, we were greeted with hostility from this particular waitress (a rather old lady with blonde ponytail and thick makeup) when we ordered for warm water instead of alcohol. There was this unspoken expectation that you’ve to order alcohol or expensive beverages and you’ll be judged if you don’t. Both cups were served with lipstick stains all over, when asked to change to a clean cup, no apologies were given, and in return, she gave us a glass wine to drink with the hot water (which was inappropriate and rather intentional since there’s no handle for you to hold the glass of hot water). When the main dish was served, she did not ask if we needed anything else, basically just ignored and avoid eye contact with you (but was seen going around other tables asking them how was their meal, as they had ordered alcohol). Also, did not ask us for our preferred choice of sides but just serve us without leaving us any option. Been to many nice cafes in SF but this was the most ‘memorable’ one. Overall an unpleasant experience and will never frequent there again unless you don’t mind spending extravagantly on the beverages there).

Jim Darrell

Timing is everything I guess. We walked right in and got a table. We were concerned they would be annoyed that we only wanted drinks but our server was super friendly. Of the two places in SF that are famous for Irish Coffee this one is definitely more family friendly. Walked past La Rocas and it seemed a bit more divey. Don't get me wrong, I'll be checking their version out as well some other time when the kids are not in tow.

Austin Sorenson

Great Irish coffee and the breakfast was fast and good. I had the French toast and corned beef hash.

Carrie Moore

I’ve been a customer for over 30 years. I love is timelessness and how classic it is. The Irish coffees are the best! The food is good too. I hope it will be around forever.

Arturo Verduzco M

Hey are just professionals. Best ambient, food and drinks... the Irish coffee is unique and delicious.

Chris Hinson

The view was good. Irish coffee made it better. Iceman put it over the top.

Sieanna Overcash

The Irish coffee's lived up to the hype! Loved it. My biggest concern is that my credit card came up missing, I went to cash out and it was gone. The two gentlemen that were working behind the bar when we got there were also gone. I was out of state for a wedding and had to go the rest of the weekend and travel home with no card.

Jamie Czerwinski

We love this place!! The Reuben is delicious and the Irish coffee warms you up! Wonderful service and have met a lot of friendly diners while sitting at the bar

HAYDI JENSEN

Food was delicious. If you go, get an irish coffee. It's awesome!

Ted Hommert

Irish Coffee central! Communal tables are great for sharing with tourists from around the globe. Food is pretty good as well.

Allen Wilkinson

One of the best pours of a pint of Guinness you'll get in town! The World Famous Irish Coffee is all you need in life. The staff and atmosphere makes this a must visit.

E P

As with many people, this is a pilgrimage spot. First place we visit when we come to town. Havent eaten here in years but LOVE the Irish coffees. People engage you in conversation and we always seem to get good guy bartenders. The BV has not changed at all in the 35 years weve come here.

Richard John

Went at 7pm sunday and no tables available for 3. Waited 10 minutes for a table but appeared there isn't a system to track who came first. If a table opens whoever sits first gets it. Not for me. It's a busy place.

Scott Toal

Truly an enjoyable SF experience. Nicholas made us a fantastic Irish coffee. The banter and beverages were fantastic. Over 2000 Irish coffees made a day. They know how to do it! Self seating when you arrive. No eating at the bar but plenty of tables and a separate eating bar. Make a stop here in the morning to get your taste on.

Sally T

We had lunch and an Irish Coffee during our holiday in San Francisco. The staff were very warm and friendly providing excellent customer service with helping us with our selections. Their menu is interesting and varied and the prices are quite reasonable. The Irish Coffee was sensational.

Taha Raja

Good diner type food. All day breakfast.options. service was good.and prompt. Food was proportionate and we'll prepared. Sourdough toast was good as well

Clare Golden

The best place we have visited while in San Francisco. Amazing place with great drinks and staff. Our bar tender was amazing showing us magic tricks. Amazing place.

Ronni Søby

Very nice and affordable food, including their Irish Coffee of course.

Drew Madden

The Buena Vista is a mandatory stop if you are going to visit San Francisco. It it one the oldest and longest continuously running businesses on the west coast and it is not just there for historical effect. This fantastic cafe offers the original Irish coffee made the way it should be made. It is an absolute experience to see delicious cocktails made in front of you while learning the history of the area and of Tullamore Dew whiskey. This is the place to be before spending a day exploring an amazing city.

Alex Laughnan

This is a classic SF irish coffee bar! Every time I have a guest in town, I remember to stop by for an irish coffee. The aesthetic of the place brings back a level of nostalgia (but I’ve been a lot). It can get busy, so if you only have a couple friends try the bar to get in and get out.

John Stanley

Been going there for almost 50 years. Iconic Irish Coffee Bar and much more. Rest in Peace Fred.

Spencer Fricke

Very nice place to get the OG Irish Cream Coffee drink

William Mallick

Definitely come here for the Irish Coffee, its worth it. This place is almost always busy, and seating is at shared tables. If you aren't in a hurry, try to wait for a table in the room in the back, especially if you are a small group. Service was great, especially given how busy it was. Come here, get the Irish Coffee, you won't be disappointed .

P.S. Lee

Love the Irish coffee. Food was good but a bit overpriced. Service was adequate but not overly friendly. Our waitress was good and pretty honest about ordering too much. Definitely good spot for a drink.

Jack Daniels

Friggin awesome busy place, nice area as well

Allison Stefaniuk

Great seafood and Irish whiskey. The crab melt was amazing! Sourdough bread was really great. Crab cakes and crab omelet were also to die for! A must see for amazing food!

Jelissa Bisono

Great coffee actually very strong. Staff was friendly and in a great location. The chocolate croissant was outstanding

Gae Moffit

Great coffee drinks & friendly clientele. What better way to spend an afternoon.

Sean Dennison

This is a must for anyone who loves great food and service and a unique experience you can only get one place. That's right, the only place you can get the Irish coffee as it was first made in America. Read about this historical moment at the restaurant. Watch the skillful pouring of the Irish coffee by their resident expert. For the ladies, he is a handsome fellow. And yes you can enjoy a well crafted breakfast and yummy clam chowder here too. So good. Oh and we got an Irish coffee to go too

Фёдор Черашев

The tastiest french fries I ever had. Here I ate a truly delicious burger (the buena vista burger), though blue burger had a weird taste. My wife said that she really liked irish coffee.

K Liu

A living piece of San Francisco history. Well worth the visit. Open seating. Friendly service. Fresh seafood brought in daily to complement your order of Irish Coffee.

Inderjit Wassi

The best cocktails. The best bloody mary

James Burnett

We were a large party and ate burgers, french dip, trout, and pasta primavera. I personally had not expected much, assuming it was just a tourist trap. But the food was excellent, the service great, and the prices were very reasonable, especially for the area. I'm adding this place to my list of places to bring friends when they visit us in SF.

Kristina Fernandes

Great place, great food, customer service, & great atmosphere. A couple things to note if you're going for your first time: 1) It is usually shared seating. This is surprising if it is your first shared seating experience. You find any open seats at anyone's table. Normally if people are going here, they know this and are very friendly. 2) If you are going here, you're probably getting the Irish Coffee. Just know, they will keep bringing out more (even if you don't ask for it) and your bill will definitely reflect it! In all, it's completely worth the money. The food is amazing and the service is top notch.

Nate Evans

BV is alright. It's good, but not fabulous food. The Irish coffee is just a tourist thing you probably just have to suck up and do. The appeal of the place is honestly just the pricing compared to the restaurants around it and the location at the heart of SF tourism. The service is... unconventional. You seat yourself and it's basically a free for all. No saving seats otherwise they'll kick you out pretty quick. If you're into that sort of thing then by all means, but if you're with a group dining here can be tricky.

David Afana

Too crowded so we couldn't stay. But been there before. Great Irish coffee.

Chris Butters

Excellent breakfast although not cheap

Tracey Bingham

Love this place! It's so fun to watch the making of Irish Coffee in action. It has a community ambience with shared table seating. The staff are so proud of the establishment and its history. It is truly a must-see and experience stop when visiting San Francisco!

Steven N.

The Irish coffees did not disappoint. The wait staff was friendly and offered top notch service! Crowded joint that draws both locals and tourists. It's one of those iconic places in S.F. that's worth a visit.

Jesica Gomez

Located at the Fisherman's Wharf, this lovely cafe opens at 8AM on Saturdays. By 8:20 the place was full. The food is good, location is amazing and service is even better. If you're on the area, step inside. Highly recommended.

Victor Garrison

While visiting San Francisco, my girlfriend and I visited Buena Vista at least 5 times throughout the weekend. The Irish Coffee is the perfect pick me up that provides the energy and buzz boost you need while out and about in the Bay area. Be ready to talk to some strangers because everyone becomes friends in this open seating, table sharing cafe. If you're not feeling friendly, you can always go to the back room for a less lively, more "private" dining experience. This place is awesome!

Kevin Welch

Incredibly crowded but the Irish Coffee was pretty good. They've basically had to become an Irish Coffee factory and the bartenders have a fun little system down that's enjoyable to watch. It was standing room only when we were there.

Sumana Dey

This place is at the corner from where the Cable cars depart. It's a pub but the Irish Coffee on their menu is the main attraction. When I asked the person behind the counter...he told me they serve upto 2k glasses almost every day. The Irish Coffee is alcoholic and absolutely delicious. It's kind of a heritage thing and a must do if you are in /around the fisherman's wharf.

Evan

It was a decent meal that started my last day here well. But the food had an odd taste.

Michael Williams

Everyone must visit this once in their life, it an historic place; best Irish Coffees, Eggs Benedict and other food items.

Vikramsingh Solanki

Great Irish coffee place. Must visit for some good cocktails and great ambience

Bryan Walton

Very fun place, buzzing with people. The Irish coffee it amazing!

Erica Fung

I am disappointed as I came to this place after looking at all the nice yelp review. Ordered an Irish coffee, and the waiter did not bother to tell me that it is an alcoholic drink.... when the coffee came, it was strong..... I am allergic to alcohol, and I had hives after... bad service there as the waiter could inform me that the drink has alcohol in it... by the way, the alcohol is $10!!! I only had 1 sip of it. FAILED! Also order an egg Benedict. It is editable and nothing special about it.

蔡博仲

Irish coffee is the best. Food is also good.

Richard Schagrin

Been on Fisherman's Wharf since 1886 but became famous in 1952 when they introduced Irish coffee to America. Very busy bar that also serves good breakfast, lunch and dinner.

April Davis

Great Irish coffee. Good breakfast options. Shared seating was something I was not prepared for but didn't mind it. The family that got seated with us was kind.

Maria Unger

Delicious and what a nice suprise with Coke in a glass bottle!

Emma

Irish coffee and delicious breakfast! Plus great views from many of the tables. Seating is self serve, but the big tables are shared, so don't be afraid to ask if you can join a group at theirs!

Brett Langdon

Great spot, ask about the "To Go" Irish Coffee.

Fenn Ratcliffe

Great location, with lots of history, for Irish coffee and pints.

Michele Fulsom

Had to try the highly recommended Irish Coffee and I was very pleased with my order. I had the chicken pesto sandwich for lunch and I will definitely order it again.

Javier Eduardo Garcia Lagarda

Great place to chill with friends. Strongly recommend the Irish coffee of course!

Dave Hewlett

Too much hype, waiting staff very abrupt. Food pleasant enough, could give it a miss

Bruce Sadowsky

History at it's finest. Feels like ages ago. Doesn't feel touristy, though it is.

Pinkie Rideau

OMG! Never had Irish Coffee so......Irish! Never first thing in the morning, either! The food was outstanding, the service was like we were at home. It was crowded, but cozy. We shared a table with a family of four. Delightful people. I will definitely be back!

Joshua Sheppard

Classic. Frinlendly light-hearted service. Good drinks and food.

Bill Meyer

Best Irish Coffees in the world. The food is also good. We have met some of the most interesting people while seated at the community tables.

Michael Koeppen

Busy...fast paced... great breakfast...best Irish Coffee this side of Dublin!

Chetan Rathod

They claim to have invented the Irish coffee and that piqued my interest. Even if there is any doubt regarding the origins of it, the Irish coffee is delicious and does warrant a visit. I went in for one glass and ended up having three!... Busy vibrant place, you may struggle to find a table on weekend evenings. The views of the pier are great from the windows.

Chad Balistrieri

Brought the Irish coffees to the USA back in 1952. This place has serious charm! Delicious SF sourdough and Ghirardelli dipped chocolate bacon is also available!

Stephen Diamond

One of the highlights of our holiday! Great staff, lovely food and of course their Irish coffees are incredible

Chris E

Went to The Buena Vista on an anniversary get away. It was our first visit. The atmosphere was outstanding. We ended up getting a table in the back room, which made the visit more quaint. Service was excellent. I had the Irish stew and my wife had the Salmon dish. Both came appropriately portioned, no too much and not too little. The dishes were great. Properly heated and wonderfully flavored. We also indulged in an Irish coffee, for which the Buena Vista is known. Overall a very nice meal and dining experience. Price was very competitive for the area.