901 Columbus Cafe
Categories: Coffee & Tea, Greek and Mediterranean, Sandwiches [Edit]
Neighborhood: North Beach/Telegraph Hill901 Columbus Ave
(between Chestnut St & Lombard St)
San Francisco, CA 94133 (415) 409-9001
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 7:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. - Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: No
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Wi-Fi: Free
- Good for: Breakfast
- Alcohol: Beer & Wine Only
202 reviews
Neighborhood: Nob Hill
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47 Reviews for 901 Columbus Cafe
They're open later! Yay! And the schwerma is still great- that chili sauce & yoghurt hits home. Also- the happy hour deal is unreal, as other yelpers attest.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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08/10/2006
I had an early slightly negative review but after year of dealing with their price changes- and… Read more »
Damn, I should have come here for my 901st review!...
Well, I'm glad the owner didn't come up with some misconceived name like the Coffee Hut or Caffeine Express or Jolting Java for this super-casual place. Keeping the address in the name makes me remember it all the more since I don't live in North Beach. Jamie W. and I were strolling feeling a bit peckish after our paninis at Mario's Bohemian Cigar Store Cafe.
We saw a group huddled around the sofa watching the Democratic Convention on a flatscreen, while others were focused solely on their laptops. They appear to serve the typical sandwiches and salads, but we went for the last piece of tiramisu in the glass case. It was really light and tasty, and I have no idea where they get it. But I'd come back for that in an Italian minute.
Not much else to say except they serve a good cup of joe, too. If I lived around there, I'd be spending some serious slouching time there. The vibe is so laid back here that it feels like one big Valium in a martini. That's a compliment actually.
COFFEE/DESSERT - 4 stars...that tiramisu was definitely homemade but whose home?
AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...casual to the extreme
SERVICE - 3 stars...chill, dude
TOTAL - 4 stars...for a coffee place, sure, I'll give it four stars
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Needed to get something to eat before going to Cobb's which is almost next door (you have to pass the entrance to a "weekly" hotel first).
I read the "YELPS" before heading out to Cobbs, but didn't realize that this place was located right next door. Anyway, the billboard proudly stated that they serve draft beer for $1.50 each until 10pm (duh, they close at 10pm).
OK, I ordered a veggie sandwich with hummas, sprouts, tomato, onion and avacado on wheat toast. It was $8, but really yummy. And I'm a meat-a-sauras too! So that is quite the compliment.
Mr. meat-a-sauras - won't touch anything healthy unless it's iceburg sweetie pie of mine ordered the BLT Club thingie on the Ciabatta, and he thought it was awesome!
There were little bistro'esque tables outside and some tables inside, along with couches and oversize lounge chairs facing a big screen TV. There is a bar along the outside wall, books to borrow and enjoy and a seating area with Wi-Fi.
This place was awesome, the staff was super cool and friendly. When we stood in line, we told other people about the great price of beer and then held their spot in line while they ran and had a drink.
This is a great spot and deserves your business....if you're cool enough to stand it!
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Conveniently a minute's walk away from Tattoo City, I walked in here for some food before my tattoo appointment.
The small cafe with free wi-fi boasts affordable breakfast items (nothing over $10) and a lot of sandwiches to choose from.
I ended up selecting the Crunchy Tuna sandwich on ciabatta (you have your choice of bread) because it had avocado in it and a Pellegrino Limonata to wash it down with.
The sandwich was one of the best tuna sandwiches I'd ever eaten. It had toasty ciabatta, cheese, tomato, pickles, lettuce, sprouts and celery. The tuna mixture wasn't too creamy nor dry and the avocado was a nice touch. At $8 for the sandwich, it's a little pricy but I loved every bite of it, before and after my tattoo. Love to go back again!
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The sandwiches here are delicious and a great deal for the money. They average $7-9 and are pretty big. The atmosphere is great for just kicking back or getting some work done. It kind of feels like a cafe fused with a bar. There's free wi-fi and $1.50 draft beers from 5-10pm everyday. With both outside and indoor seating, you can really make this place work for any situation. Service is friendly, although you can expect to wait 5-10 minutes for your sandwich. But boy, is it worth the wait. Paninis, wraps, whatever you choose - they're all wonderfully delicious. Plenty of vegetarian options, too.
Got nothin' but love for 901 Columbus! I've been a lunchtime devotee since April, and it's by far my favorite cafe. While it gets its fair share of tourists, no one can deny its close-knit neighborhood feel. A real breath of fresh air from those tourist traps down the street!
My ideal solo lunch break includes a good book, a seat at the high counter along the far wall, and one of 901's incredible sandwiches or salads (or maybe some waffles one of these days). The dining area is so cozy, and the music is great too.
Their salads and sandwiches are really, REALLY good. Some personal faves that you need to try: 1) SUNSET BOULEVARD SALAD: baby spinach, cucumber, watermelon, feta cheese w/ raspberry vinaigrette...they used to have mint leaves & pine nuts but took them out! If at all possible, please please please bring 'em back. 2) ANGEL ISLAND SALAD: baby spinach, pineapple, feta cheese, w/ dijon dressing...again, took out the pine nuts but still a good bet. 3) SEACLIFF SALAD: romaine, red onion, toasted pecans, sprouts, tuna salad, parmesan, w/ olive oil, balsamic vinegar & lemon...was a staple for me while on the South Beach diet. 4) DIMAGGIO WRAP: hummus, lettuce, tomato, red onion, pickle, falafel, yogurt dressing, and hot sauce...in a panini-pressed wrap. I love this thing, it's incredible.
The only thing that occasionally irks me is the service: it's soo o o o SLO OOO O W. I've watched potential customers walk out because no one's at the counter to take their orders, and a couple of times the staff straight up forgot to place orders. I try not to let it get to me and I wouldn't have a problem with it, but my lunch break is only an hour long. I still recommend this place to co-workers and friends, and I still support this cafe because it's simply a great place with a cool vibe. If you've got a little patience, it's totally worth it.
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Being a true yelp-believer, I researched and listed highly rated North Beach restaurants prior to walking the Barbary Coast Trail. We got as far as Coit Tower before the hunger pains hit, we were drunk, dehydrated and tired. 901 Columbus Cafe happened to be the closest spot on the list. Yelp rarely disappoints.
They had a variety of vegetarian sandwiches and wraps. I got the DiMaggio, a vegan wrap with falafel, pickles, hot sauce, veggies and grilled to crunchy perfection. One bite into it and I was in food heaven. My friend had the Sinatra and seemed satisfied with it.
Friendly service, great food and nice atmosphere. Too bad there isn't anything similar in Santa Clara.
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This is by far one of my favorite Bars in San Francisco. You can't beat the happy hour here. 2 for 1 beers everyday from 4-8pm. Great selection of beers on tap, bar tenders kick ass, you can always find a good game of pool here too. My kind of bar.
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You will find me sitting at a table outside of 901 pretty much whenever the weather and my schedule premits... There are a host of reasons to come here; the least of which is that it's two blocks from my home. They have an excellent beer special everyday from 5pm-10pm, $1.50 for Speakeasy, Becks or Windermere hefeweizen. Their food is a nice selection of wraps, salads and both hot and cold sandwiches really tasty and they always have super fresh veggies. Also the owner "T" is a really nice and friendly guy that cares about his establishment and seems to genuienly want people to enjoy their time there.
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Friendly staff. Great coffee.. GREAT waffles.
They put on Football whenever its on. I watch English Premier League games from here (and these days Euro)
I spent a lot of Saturday and Sunday mornings here (And Cafe Sapore). I spent a lot of working days (Fridays) over here too. Its generally peaceful and you can do your own thing. No one bothers you
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I like this place because it has wi-fi internet, the service is really nice and very down to earth. There a lot of different things to eat and drink while you hang out there for a few hours and they don't care. The place is warm when it's color outside instead of most places that don't want to spend the money on the heat bill. It just goes to show that this place, that sells some pretty good vanilla latttes, cares about the customer first.
That's just the vibe I get.
Words cannot express how great 901 is. The staff is friendly and remembers you by name. The food is high quality and consistently great. The coffee is excellent. AND now they serve beer for $1.50 til 10:00 pm!!!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/17/2006
I love 901 Columbus. I come here literally every morning for coffee, and on the weekends for a Napa… Read more »
That's pretty much where I go for coffee when I walk out of my house. Great coffee! Can't really comment on the food as I hardly eat there. But the interiors and the outdoor area could use some serious updating and beautification (please, please, please). I would love to buy the coffee from then and then go and sit at one of their neighbors outdoor table at Caffe Sapore (don't care for their coffee). I am glad they finally put some planters out there. It's a first step. Thank you! The staff/service is so-so unless the owner serves you. He is super nice and friendly and always smiles.
Recession, re-shmession, that's what I say.
From 4-7 pm here, good draft beer is cheaper than a grande starbucks coffee. Cheaper even than bottled water.
From 4-7 pm here, all is just as it should be in the world. So come mourn the loss of your purchasing power with a frosty brewski and watch as other patrons stuff themselves full of sinful splurges like waffles and homemade cookies.
Minus one star for the early closing time. I rarely get off work before 7 pm, and the bosses frown upon returning to the office after a mid-afternoon beer break, even when I explain that financially (we're talking calories per dollar here) it makes more sense than a trip to the vending machine . . .
******UPDATE . . . . they are now open till 10 PM, with happy hour till 9. Damn, I am powerful
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Cool place. I don't know how they stay in business, though. We probably spent about $5 and spent 2+ hours here (and played Scrabble). Pretty good deal, esp. for North Beach.
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This place is great. Awesome atmosphere, its warm, and comfortable. Has great coffee and food. Enjoy a coffee in the morn and guzzle a beer in the late afternoon!
This is a solid cafe. I've gotten a sandwich, a smoothie, a cappuccino and a pastry here. All solid. And I love how they take credit card ($5 minimum). And the staff is friendly, that's always a plus. The bad thing is that some items are just a tad bit pricey.
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Stopped in shortly today while waiting to get let in for Freaks and Geeks next door at Cobb's and ordered a Mocha Latte. He made it right there for me without making me wait elsewhere. It was reasonably priced and delicious.
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The husband and I have our best Sunday morning warm fuzzy memories here... sitting at "our" table outside in the sun with our "regulars." Me and my Bodega bagel with avocado, tomato and sprouts and he with his strawberry/chocolate chip waffle. It evokes my appreciation every time for being a local and just walking down the street to enjoy a casual breakfast reading the paper.
If I could change two things it would be:
a) Their coffee is incredibly bitter (and I typically drink it black)
b) I eat here at least two weekends a month and I still don't feel like anyone there recognizes me. Someone play me the Cheers song people! :)
I'll keep coming. For some reason I do like it better than it's next door neighbor Cafe Sapore.
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We love coming here. Great music, yummy food, surly baristas and a comfy seat. What else can you ask for? Also good art on the walls, nice big windows and cheap pints from 4-7!
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Great! We came here to meet with some out of town friends and it happened to be the perfect location to meet; near the pier (their hotel) and a short ride from our house.
We had coffee, bagels and biscotti and it was all delicious.
I loved our Lodi bagel; feta cheese, tomatoes, basil and olive oil.
I hope we have an excuse to come here again because their whole menu looked good!
If this place had beds, I'd move in. :-D $1.50 Big Daddy IPAs make me happy.
3.5 stars.
I used to be a very regular regular here, and I still go here for business meetings sometimes- it is comfy and good. I appreciate the fact that, as long as you are buying food your can hunker down with your LT for a few hours and get some work done. Wifi is free and rarely are there issues connecting. It also has pay-per minute internet PCs.
The menu is deep and the food is good, prepared well, and delivered to your table fairly quickly except when they completely forget about it.
Coffee is pretty bad by SF standards, which is weird for a cafe near North Beach. I think they must buy it from Graffeo Coffee Roasting or something because it is really not great. BUT, and it is a big but (and I love big buts), some of their baristas make amazing artistic patterns out of their mochas. T, the owner, seems not to care too much about the place, as if he would rather be doing something else, but the people he has hired make up for that somehow.
Having said all that this place is about ten times better than Sappore, it's closest competitor on Taylor and Lombard. See my review of that for more on that.
when i first moved to this city, i would go here so often that two of the guys behind the counter would already recognize me and smile. it's the kind of place where i walk in with my headphones and take them off because the music is always on point. the chais are delicious and the sandwiches are light and delicious. $1.50 draft happy hour? AND... they just extended their hours from 7pm to 10pm, which had always been a wish of mine. cozy ambiance, super friendly staff, good food, coffee, chais and beers... and all pretty cheap..? come on dude, how can you lose? i LOVE this place.
This is a great cafe so my only sour note is that it closes at 7 p.m. What I like about this cafe is that there are a lot of plugs for laptop work. They also have computers if you don't have your own. They have an assortment of comfy seating (couch, love seat and stuffed bench) and traditional work seating (wooden tables and chairs). Their Zebra Mocha is yummy. They have a big screen t.v. if you'd rather watch t.v. They offer real food if you crave non-pastries. Service is fantastic (T and his team are major sweeties). In fact, they took care of my one time complaint of insufficient caffeine high by customizing my coffee order for me.
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I like this place. It is laid back, warm and cozy inside. A great place to sit and have coffee or the occasional snack. Very comfortable. I have tried several bagels from the menu. All have been good. The baristas seem to remember you and have always been nice. I get a latte and have never been disappointed. Cute, convenient and a much better atmosphere than Sapore.
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In all that is sweet, this place is really good! The waffles! Pieces of heaven. Nice and fluffy. Enticing. Not waffle iron burnt. The blueberry waffles were very gratifying. The fresh squeezed OJ; loved it.
The other food I have had there was basic, but good as well. They have a lot of vegetarian options which is nice (although I am not a vegetarian, happen to choose a lot of those items) for those who are. It is a very relaxing place (good for casual groups) and the people who are working there are genuinely nice people. =) You could go there for any meal, to watch sports, use Wi-Fi or get coffee (which isn't bad!).
We have been there about 4 times and every time was good. It's in a major tourist spot (as you will see the monstrous buses and vans parked right in front), but I have to say it was very cute and exceeded expectations. I'll go back.
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If I'm in North Beach it's my default coffee shop. I will try new places as the urge strikes me, but if I need somewhere to be for a while this is a good choice. Open wireless and available outlets mean I can take my laptop and relax. Staff has always been attentive, polite, and interesting, moreso in all categories than I generally expect at a coffee shop.
Any place that makes me feel like I'm in my Italian family's living room at Christmas is AOK with me. What is WRONG with me?!!? How could I never have been here?!
I was waiting to meet a bunch of friends here for breakfast and the best song came on "Eh Cumpari" - Julius Larosa - please download it and sing and laugh along if you are Italian! OMG- I called my dad immediately and said, Dad- what's that song you used to sing at Aunt Marty's?! Doot doot doot doot- ooh sah-o-phone...
Too funny.
I only had a fruit salad here, which was yummy...but the bagels looked good and I'm definitely going back and going to see about parking my butt down with some wifi and Italian classic tracks in the background :o)
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YES! My second 5 star on Yelp. 901 is an amazing little corner cafe. The staff is really cool and the food is delicious...so good. Last time I had the Wiseguy and it was one of the best things I've eaten while here in San Francisco. Prices are good and they also have a nice selection of beer in the fridge. It's right next to my apartment and has a great atmosphere, so you'll definitely be able to find me here more often.
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It's hard to describe how delicious my Babylonia Sandwich and Strawberry Banana Smoothie were at 901 Columbus. I'll try, though. (I'm plucky like that.) They were SO delicious, I was humming to myself as I ate, and that's something I used to do as a kid, but only when I was really happy. The Babylonia is avocado, cucumber, red onion, sprouts, hummus, lettuce, tomato, pickles and cheese, and I had mine on toasted wheat bread. (Check out the photo, which makes me weep with nostalgia.) The smoothie rocked 'til the break-a dawn.
Maybe I loved it so much because I'd just arrived in San Francisco, and was starving, and probably would've been ecstatic to munch on some Wheat Thins. Still, I'd rate the meal highly under any circumstances. Additional temptations on the menu included the Grilled Foccacia "Wise Guy" Sandwich (pesto, chicken, mozzarella, tomato and onion) and the Pastrami Melt.
Other plusses: friendly service, cozy seating, free WiFi, cute location (with an outdoor view of Lombard 's "crookedest street" in the distance), and what appeared to be a tiny lending library.
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This is my spot, my jam, my homie. I love love love the coffee, it is amazing. The people that own it, and work there are so great, and they really care about the neighborhood. This is the type of buisness people want to have in their hood!
I'm happy to have this spot as my local cafe. Coffee is always strong and tasty. In the mornings, I'm partial to the Tiburon bagel (fresh basil, tomato, bacon, and cream cheese on a whole wheat bagel) or one of their great waffles. I like the one w/ fresh strawberries and chocolate chips. My boyfriend enjoys the banana and pecan(?) one.
Lunch I love their BLT. I know. . .I know. A BLT is a BLT. Not hard to make it tasty but for some reason they are especially good here. Also they have great Ice Tea.
Service is always very friendly. Free Internet access for those days you want to hang in a cafe and read up on the latest news/gossip/etc. And I believe they just put in a jukebox-type thing for those who enjoy playing dj.
Only negative, like the other review said, is that it can get packed with tourists on weekends. For some reason, big tour buses love to stop right in front of the cafe. So that can make for a long and noisy wait.
Overall, it's a great neighborhood spot.
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I work here and I love it. Obviously, I'm a little tired of the menu, since I've been eating lungh every day for the last few months, but everything is very fresh, and we won an award for cleanliness from the health inspector. Lots of stuff made in house including the hummus and salad dressings.
This is a place I would hang out even if they didn't pay me. Couch, high definition tv (we'll let you change the channel), friendly regulars. Of course, much busier on weekends, especially holidays. Wide menu available all the time (including coffee drinks, tea, beer, wine, waffles, granola, bagels, sandwiches, panini, wraps, salads). Open 7-7 daily, including most holidays. Free wifi for your laptop, also desktop computer access for a nominal fee.
Stop by and say hi to me, I'll make you a pretty latte.
Edit: Now open until 10 pm every day.
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I used to live across the street from this place and I miss it dearly. Fresh food, great coffee, and very nice owners. It was like my version of Central Perk. Seriously. Couldn't walk by without popping inside. I miss you 901!
I really like this place. The people are friendly, the sandwiches are good, the atmosphere is cool, the wifi is great, and the latte's are fab. I will be coming back again and again. The only thing that gets old are the tour buses that stop out front and unload mobs of tourists that make their way up to the curvy part of Lombard... but that is just a function of being in North Beach and has nothing to do w/ 901. Great spot.
I'm J, and I've worked here since February. I've been working in coffee shops for over four years, but it has been an absolute privilege to be in such a fun and relaxed place as this. There is a real cozy mom-and-pop atmosphere that's supported by all the great local regulars and interesting guests from abroad. They've got a wide array of food and drink items, with house specialties like the Zebra Mocha and the home-made Tiramisu. We show movies on the widescreen and play good tunes on the jambox.
Hey, if you see me there (I'm the kid with the beard), ask for an artistic latte and I'll show you something neat.
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It's a fine neighborhood cafe for coffee and doing homework. But I wasn't impressed with the breakfast or the service.
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Possibly the best atmosphere in North Beach, but with the worst coffee. They could serve instant coffee, though, and I would still come here every day. It feels like a living room, with a couch and a tv, and the staff here is awesome and sweet. Order a cappuchino or a zebra mocha instead, which are both great.
The coffee is great, the outside tables have sun for most of the day and the owner is almost always there making sure that things run smoothly. The food is good and they also have beer on tap. Sometimes it gets a bit crowded with tourists headed up Lombard Street, try it on a weekday.
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