San Francisco for digital nomads

Best cafes

San Francisco's cafes do not agree on what a cafe is, and this list of 12 does not ask them to. One address opens at 05:00 on weekdays, and another is still serving well past midnight on Saturday. Between those two ends sit a French bakery, a bubble tea counter, two dessert specialists, a room that puts chai in its own name, and a diner-style counter that lists burgers, noodles and donuts side by side. The addresses run through the 94102, 94103 and 94109 postal codes, so most of them can be reached from one another without much planning. Drop the idea that a good cafe day means one perfect espresso and a long sit. Match the place to the hour instead: a sandwich counter before 15:00, a roaster mid-morning, dessert at night. This list suits visitors who plan their days around when doors open and close, and anyone who would rather know the hours than read another paragraph about atmosphere.