As I sipped my classic Irish Coffee while sitting at the bar of San Francisco’s Buena Vista Cafe, for just a moment I was transported back to a gentler time. Irish Coffee at the Buena Vista is a bit cliché, but it’s part of my history, my memories from living in this town that I love so much.
On our recent visit, we hopped on a cable car, headed down to the corner of Beach and Hyde in Fishermans Wharf, and joined tourists and locals in a tradition. We ordered the most common item on the menu, the one that earned bartender Frank Silloti the title of 2002 World Irish Coffee Making Champion.
I started the conversation, “I was told to come here for an Irish Coffee.” The quick-witted bartender simply replied, “Do you always do what you’re told?” Was he Frank, the award winner who has worked here for over 30 years. Some say yes, but when I asked him his name he replied, “Nicolas if you like it, George if you don’t.”
He was happy for me to photograph the process (as outlined on their webpage) of the six steps to making an Irish Coffee at the Buena Vista:
Step 2: Pour hot coffee into hot glass until it is about three-quarters full. Drop in two cocktail sugar cubes.
As a huge coffee fan, this was a special treat. It was completely different from what we experienced on the coffee plantation in Costa Rica or at the coffee museum in Santos Brazil.
Practical and Historical Information:
- The Buena Vista Cafe is a full-service restaurant, offering much more than Irish Coffee.
- According to a plaque, we spotted on the wall, the bar opened in 1886. It’s a San Francisco classic, maybe even an American classic.
- It sits at a corner in Fisherman’s Wharf at 2765 Hyde Street. We took the cable car to get there using the pass included on our San Francisco CityPASS.
- It opens at 9 am during the week and 8 am on the weekends, always closing at 2 am.
- They have been serving Irish Coffee since 10 November 1952 when travel writer Stanton Delaplane accepted the challenge to create an Irish Coffee like those enjoyed in Shannon Airport Ireland.
- Arriving via cable car is half the fun.
- Want to make your own? This recipe book looks pretty interesting: I Love Coffee! Over 100 Easy and Delicious Coffee Drinks
Have you had a classic Irish Coffee at the Buena Vista in San Francisco?
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Claire
August 4, 2016 at 6:17 pmThis is a special treat indeed. I haven’t tried Irish Coffee at the Buena Vista in San Francisco before, but will definitely check it out when I’m in town next.
Rhonda Albom
August 5, 2016 at 8:09 amIt is a special treat, for the history, ambience and the coffee.
Teresa Kindred
July 20, 2016 at 10:04 amNever tried it but it looks delicious!
Rhonda Albom
July 21, 2016 at 9:37 amIt is 🙂
Adrenaline Romance
July 16, 2016 at 12:39 amOooooh! That is great coffee indeed although we might go a bit easy on the alcohol; we are alcohol intolerant. We’ll try this recipe at home. 🙂
Rhonda Albom
July 16, 2016 at 9:03 amI love all coffee 🙂
clairejustine
July 15, 2016 at 6:59 amOh wow, these Irish coffees look amazing!! I could just drink one!!
Rhonda Albom
July 15, 2016 at 4:08 pmI can only drink one also. I am not big on alcohol, just a little at time.
indah nuria savitri
July 15, 2016 at 1:44 amcheeers…enjoy your coffee. It’s always fascinating to see how those cups of coffee are prepared. I used to be a barista back in my Melbourne time as a student 🙂
Rhonda Albom
July 15, 2016 at 4:05 pmHubby took a coffee training class last year, and loved it. It wasn’t quite a barista class as there was no coffee history involved.
Andrea
July 14, 2016 at 2:13 pmI haven’t tasted Irish Coffee, but sounds great! Our country also have some pride with our coffee, and one of them is the “Kapeng Barako”, which actually originated from my province after the Spanish time. For the past decades when coffee is again a craze, Figaro Coffee Co. leads in showing off this coffee. Maybe you should try it as well, sometime. Thank you.
Rhonda Albom
July 15, 2016 at 4:02 pmI will see if I can find it. I love all coffee 🙂
Cascia Talbert
July 14, 2016 at 12:55 pmNo I haven’t but I bet that Irish Coffee is delicious!
Rhonda Albom
July 15, 2016 at 4:02 pmIt is 🙂
stephanie@stephsjoy
July 14, 2016 at 11:40 amoh Cheers.. I’d love to visit San Fran again and try that Irish coffee.
Rhonda Albom
July 15, 2016 at 4:01 pmCheers to you Stephanie.
Cathy Kennedy
July 14, 2016 at 11:14 amRhonda, I like coffee. NO, I love coffee! This looks like a fabulous drink, but I don’t like the flavor alcohol in my food or drink. Now, you got me wanting a good cup of coffee. lol Thanks for popping over to day for a visit and linkup. Have a fototastic week!
Rhonda Albom
July 15, 2016 at 4:01 pmYou can always order it without the Irish Whiskey.
Rhonda Albom
July 14, 2016 at 9:11 amI didn’t know it got that cold in Perth. I thought it was just a bit warmer than Auckland and we sit at about 8-12 on winter days.
Paul F. Pietrangelo
July 14, 2016 at 5:21 amOh how I wish I could have one of those Irish coffees. Because I take so many pills, I can’t drink any alcohol. Take a sip for me my friend. See ya.
Cruisin Paul
Rhonda Albom
July 14, 2016 at 9:12 amI bet he could make one without alcohol, that’s how I usually drink my coffee 🙂
L. Diane Wolfe
July 13, 2016 at 11:09 amOh, I would drink that!
There was a place in Little Rock, AR where they dripped liquor down a string into the coffee and lit it on fire. Oh, so good.
Rhonda Albom
July 13, 2016 at 11:12 amCool, I would love to see a video of that.
Comedy Plus
July 13, 2016 at 10:57 amI’ve not been, but a bunch of our yacht club folks went on our last bay cruise. The place is indeed famous. Everyone that went raved about it too.
Have a fabulous day. ☺
Rhonda Albom
July 13, 2016 at 11:12 amWe tried to cram so much into San Francisco. This was on the morning after you left, one of the last things we did.