H Cafe
Category: Coffee & Tea [Edit]
Neighborhood: Castro3801 17th St
(between Prosper St & Sanchez St)
San Francisco, CA 94114 (415) 487-1661
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 6:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.
Sat-Sun 7:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. - Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: No
- Parking: Street
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Wi-Fi: Free
70 reviews
Neighborhood: Mission
"Hello Taza my old friend, I've come to eat from you again. Because a vision softly creeping, Left its seeds while I was sleeping, And the…" read more »
37 Reviews for H Cafe
Bright side: salads with organic greens, wireless, power, not too crowded, the owner usually works there and is an avid supporter of local community service projects, especially those that help kids.
Bummer: cash only.
I love it here. The place is a hole in the wall. It's not dirty but certainly comes with olddoors, windows, walls and tables. That's what makes this corner cafe a perfect spot to watch the cars drive by and enjoy some great tasting coffee!
There are plenty of power outlets, pretty fast internet and there are PCs available to use for your own internet if you want.
The chairs aren't too comfortable but there is a couch you can sit in that's usually occupied. Food is reasonably priced (4.50 for a bagel sandwich w/ turkey) and$1.50 for an iced coffee.
Come in and stay a while. the door and windows are open to let in a nice breeze too!
I've written elsewhere about the good ol' dot-com days, so I won't belabor that here, except to say that that was when I started patronizing Hassam's fabulous little cafe. It was half way between my house and my office, so my dog and I would stop there on the way to work in the morning and have a coffee and a toasted ham and cheese croissant (OMG are those things tasty), and read the newspaper. Hey - lay off, it was the dot-com era. I didn't have to be to work until 10:00, or whenever I got there, or whatever. Ahh, yes. The good ol' days.
H Cafe is a little funky, a little grungy, but Hassam is a great guy, he makes good coffee and tasty sandwiches, his day-old muffins are $1, and he's dog, kid, Rastafarian, and Mac friendly. And he's got free WiFi.
Stop in. Have a cup o' me, and say "Hi." I'll be back on Saturday morning. Ciao!
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20 MINUTES FREE INTERNET WITH A PURCHASE OF $5!!
Tired of the birthing of starbuck shops in every corner, you just got to get away! Landed myself here on a random drive thru the Castro area. I'd order a Hot Coco and a Lemon-Poppy cake Slice. So many people here were eating sandwhiches, but I have yet tried a sandwhich. That's my bad.
I'd come here before I start my days adventuring the crazy streets of SF. Have my 20 minutes free of internet, enjoy my treats, drop off my plate and cup in the dirty bin, read a little here and there, and return the following weekend.
I considered a hundred times "i come here often, maybe i should get a job here". Seriously. haha.
This cafe exemplifies why I'm moving to the Castro. Not too dirty, not too clean.
I walked by this place for two years before ever going in. My bf brought me in one day to get a sandwich, and now I go frequently because the sandwiches are consistently good - and priced well. Good coffee, nice staff, comfortable setting. I have nothing bad to say.
Nice place - great sandwiches. Could use a slightly better beverage selection in the cold box, but otherwise a nice cafe.
I do love my neighborhood coffee shop! This is where you will find me when I am doing my laundry across the street, or just hanging out reading on a random morning. Everyone is friendly and they always remember my order, nice food selection too. My one recommendation would be to do a bit of an update on the place. It is comfortable, but a bit cluttered and crowded feeling. There is too much furniture for the space, and there are so many chairs that never get used. Take some of the furniture out/ get smaller tables and use the space better so you don't have to climb through the space. I'm big on aesthetics of a space, otherwise it would be 5 starts. But I guess I DO work off a few calories hurdling my way to the counter!
I almost walked out, based on a quick glance, thinking this cafe looked very "random" but I'm glad I stayed. The location is wonderful and the huge windows and morning light make it a very pleasant place to work while having reasonably priced coffee and bagels. With peaceful Brazilian music playing it's my favorite large indi cafe I've found in the Mission-Dolores area (I won't "name names" of the others whose noise or music have driven me away).
Love my neighborhood cafe! Hassam is the coolest cafe owner ever. He's incredibly perceptive, picks up on the littlest things you say & has an amazing memory. The tables outside are nice on a sunny day, and the vibe inside is shambolic but always friendly.
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Chatting with Tara and Kelly at Kelly's Single and Fabulous party yesterday brought back very fond memories of H-Cafe. They currently live across the street and I lived one block away from 2003-2005. It was my first local coffee-shop in San Francisco and I loved it!
H-Cafe is cool for the fact that it is run by a very cool Hassam who always remembers my coffee and my name. H-Cafe is great for the fact that it has the bombest grilled ham and cheese croissant. It's perfectly crispy on the outside and the squished effect of the panini grill's merging of the many layers of buttery croissant together with ham and cheese is absolute perfection. It's great on any day but especially good the morning after a big night out :)
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O.K., where else can you get a 16 oz. double latte, a bagel with cream cheese, tomato & onions and 1 hr of WIFI for $5.25?
Nuff said.
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Awesome Sandwich... I got the Smoked Turkey as well as the Vegi, and both were stuffed full of fresh yummy ingredients. Service was speedy, courteous, and delivered with a smile. I highly recommend this place.
H cafe is the best place in the City to do some writing on your laptop, drink some coffee and soak it all in, if you hate the feeling of being a hipster carbon copy. the mission is about that, but the castro is about pick-ups, and if you're straight or just not into picking-up as a main activity, then the castro is a dream. no one's gonna bug ya, and you don't have to be a part of any elitist horde (see: what i call the Socialist Cafe. official name: Ritual (gag)).
on a more important note: the food at H Cafe is tops. really delicious sandwiches that are prepared by the owner, who cares. you can tell by the way he puts the sandwich together. nice staff too.
only four stars, why?: just a personal irritation, really, but the cafe has no name on the outside. i had no idea what it was called until a writer i know, who sells his work there, told me. when No Name Sushi started this trend in 1992, it was cool to have no name, but now no one has a name and it's just lame. also, mixmatch furniture is cool, but only to a degree. the interior of this cafe has a feel of sitting at someone's garage sale. just a tad too used.
update: the other day i approached H cafe from the opposite direction, and found situated in a tiny transom window above the entry, a large letter H, like the kind you buy at pottery barn.
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I went here knowing nothing about it, except that I had never been. I ordered the veggie sandwich, which I found to be quite pleasing. A bit oily maybe, but it had both mozzarella and feta cheese, which I was impressed with. Quite good.
I also had the orange juice. I don't think it was fresh squeezed - no pulp, but still good for the throat.
Also, I am not sure why, but the sign above their door is backward. Made me think the place was not open at first, until I noticed people inside......
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They have the best veggie sandwich i have ever had. The coffee is great, the staff is nice and Hassan, the owner is a nice guy! The lox bagel is also delicious!!
Nice little place, with very good sandwiches. It's a busy corner but sitting outside on Sanchez Street is nice.
I'm torn. H Cafe pains me because it fuels my addiction to caffeine. I wish that I had to go to more trouble to get to Hassam's coffee and espresso than crossing 17th Street.
But, 5 stars prevail. It's friendly, low-key, with robust coffee and yummy pastries. Visitors to my house often enjoy the great panini and bagel sandwiches when I'm feeling lazy.
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I live in the Castro and now have a laptop. Great! Now I can explore the various free WiFi cafes and enjoy this new 21st century experience. Well, H Cafe was one of the first that I went to. I had a good first experience there. Nobody bothered me while I worked. I ordered and enjoyed my cappuccino.
But, the second time was a different story. It was midday on a weekday, and I had some work to do online. I ordered my coffee and tipped. About 90 minutes later, I go to order an orange juice, and I'm informed verbally by a tall man behind the counter about the one-hour limit at the cafe: "You must order something every hour in order to stay, otherwise..." he said, "we'll get people in here who stay all day." Well, there were only about 3 other people in the cafe and I was trying to buy my next drink. So, really, what's the big deal? Why would a business ever ask or suggest that someone leave as long as tables were available? It's good to have people in your establishment. It suggests to people considering coming in, that it's a good place to go. I never go into a WiFi cafe and not buy anything! Please, I think most of us understand that we should contribute to the business while using their free service. And I do! Anyway, that happened 6 months ago. The verbal warning made me feel very unwelcomed, and I haven't been back since.
I have had much better experiences at other Castro cafes that offer free WiFi. None of them have posted policies, that I've noticed, regarding time limits for enjoying the establishment. And, gee, that's just so much nicer!
In a constant search for reasonable and quick work-food, the light of "H" has reached us. They have very good made to order sandwiches for $4.95. Sandwich Drink and Tip for about seven bucks. That would buy me two bites of a day-old salad at most places near my work.
You lost a star for lack of bacon... but you could get it back if... sizzle sizzle.
Thank You H cafe and Hasam, for a yummy value in my workhood.
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nice cafe with internet service and a couch that looks and feels remarkably like my own. pleasant enough, but the chai tea could have been warmer. tasty sandwiches.
While many nearby cafes (Castro/Dolores Park Area) have dissapointing coffee blends, H Cafe makes a consistenly good cup. It's full bodied without being bitter, as SF coffee often is. The pastry selection is different from the typical SF cafe lineup & pretty tasty too. The owner and staff are really friendly, neighborhood people. They actually know their customers and you know they'd look out for you, as your neighborhood cafe people should. In short, a great place to stop for your regular cup. Though I'm not too inspired to hang out here myself.
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Now THIS is your friendly SF neighborhood coffee shop, kids. Their coffee is really good, the wifi--full strength!!, the sandwiches--deelish! Don't limit yourself to the five or so listed on the menu board--grab the pad and make your own sandwich. They're totally yummy.
Stopped by H Cafe for lunch before heading over to Imagiknit. The smoked turkey sandwich with plenty of freshly cut tomatoes, dried-tomatoes, cheese and lettuce on a white roll was delicious!
Cafe was not crowded and there were only a couple of people using the computers. There's also a place to sit and plug-in your own laptops. Lots of choices on the menu and the abstract artworks (for sale) on the walls are nice to look at.
I would have given it 4-stars, but the service was a bit slow, hence the "Help Wanted" sign posted outside. There were only two workers, one taking order and making coffee and the other exclusively making sandwiches and bagels.
A great place to chill alone or with friends.
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It's your run-of-the-mill corner coffeehouse, a good place to catch up on some work or reading on a rainy day. There's a variety of seating options, though you might have to vy for your seat of choice. In contrast to Phil'z down the block, come here to kick back, not for the coffee.
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A very low-key, casual place. The kind of place where they have a secondhand sofa and some mismatched chairs. Not sleek, but I guess the place serves it's purpose. A no-frills place to hunker down to study, for example. They have a few computers connected to the Internet and available for use... perfect for someone just moving to the city and apartment searching, etc.
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Friendly service and tasty sandwiches. The decor would leave something to be desired if there weren't so many lovely little tables outside to sit and enjoy the neighborhood.
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Disclaimer: I spent approximately 2 minutes in here.
Needed a coffee and popped in.
First glance: second hand sofa, various chairs, two bearded guys staring into space and a couple of mid-aged unemployed, book reading coffee sippers. There are seven desktops along a wall.
Got my latte and muffin. It was ok.
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what a gem! great sandwiches!!!!! try the spicey tuna. i will definitely return.
Praise Allah for The H. A god send to this neighborhood bridging the Castro and Mission. It's unique location draws a little from each district. The cafe caters to the locals. Young, old, creative, worldly and grounded. Hassam's sandwiches have saved my life more than once. My favorite is to give him two ingredients to work with and then let him create from there. I have never been disappointed. Great coffee, sexy staff, quirky crowd, wifi connected and central location make it one of my Ulti-Favs.
I love this place!!! Totally low-key, good focaccia sandwiches (though not much else food-wise), eclectic art, free wi-fi, no attitude. It's kind of like my second home.
hassam's great. the sandwiches are always amazing. i feel very at home here and have clocked quite a few hours. always a productive place for me. it sits on a lovely corner...
the 411...
* free wifi
* good sandwiches
* good tea, ok coffee
the 822...
* love the smoked turkey sandwich... get it grilled... yummy
* they serve "mighty leaf" tea... most excellent.
* easy street parking.
* mostly gay men (come on girls... it's really a good cafe)
* very reasonable prices
* very mellow, great music selection, a joy to work at.
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Hasam makes a great sandwich. You can not get better customer service in the entire city.
most establishments-in-which-you-can-buy-coffee in my neighborhood are really meat-markets-masquerading-as-coffee-shops. luckily, old men and hippies sit outside h cafe constantly, just to scare off the hipsters. or they could be enjoying the strong coffee and sunshine. but i like to think they sit there just for me.
h cafe has great coffee, pretty little illustrations everywhere encouraging the conservative use of paper products, a very nice bathroom that reminds you to get tested (hey, they care here!), build-your-own-sandwiches with fancy things like sun-dried tomatoes or pesto available (at NO EXTRA CHARGE), and a really comfortable couch.
hassam, the owner, is teasing and incredibly nice. so are the constantly revolving (and returning) girls that work there. customers come to work and read all day long. we're all quiet and respectful, and we hate cell phone people.
they're also always hiring if you need a pleasant job.
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H Cafe, which only has the eighth letter of the alphabet in an upper window in place of an actual sign, is exactly the kind of San Francisco-style cafe I prefer: a corner spot with large windows; excellent light; an unpolished decor; cozy, unpretentious furniture; and big, square tables perfect for working or reading the newspaper with room for food and drink. Free Wi-Fi as well as 7 PC computers -- also free to use with purchase. Great selection of tea, and a decent espresso available; also food and pastry, with a small, sandwich-centric menu. Owner Hassam (nearly always there) is a kind, generous guy, and customers are quiet but friendly. Music is always on the laid-back side, typically trip-hop and Rai (Arabic pop). Located at the quiet intersection of 17th and Sanchez, these various ingredients give this cafe an authentic neighborhood feel and make it one of my favorite places to work in. Hassam would love if people would share tables when the cafe is full -- a European tradition that San Franciscans need to learn!
good connectivity (wifi/dsl) , no yuppies. this is one of the first internet cafes in SF
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