Socha Cafe
Categories: American (New), Sandwiches, Coffee & Tea [Edit]
Neighborhood: Bernal Heights3235 Mission St
(between 29th St & Valencia St)
San Francisco, CA 94110 (415) 643-6848
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 8:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m. - Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: No
- 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: No
- Wi-Fi: Free
- Good for: Breakfast, Lunch
- Alcohol: Beer & Wine Only
70 reviews
Neighborhood: Haight-Ashbury
"I love everything about this place. Excellent coffee and espresso, excellent staff, relaxing and pleasing decor. Good to hang out and get…" read more »
42 Reviews for Socha Cafe
Following in the tradition of owner Andre Larzul's other cool SF businesses: Revolution Cafe, Blue Jay and Alamo Square Grill. Socha has only increased its warmth factor since it opened ~more than a year ago. I played there for the second time since Socha opened. Due to the warm night, the windows were slid open so the music could spill out on the sidewalk, audience members were grateful for the Chimay on tap as well as the salads. The cafe has even added a PA (though we brought our own because we wanted to use the piano and play by the window). We appreciated the extremely gracious barista.
When Yelp descends on any law-abiding establishment in the greater Bay Area...owners BE WARNED.
We're loud.
We're crass.
We drink A LOT.
We're downright effing annoying. And proud of it.
Yelp open mic night at Socha. The mighty ballsy Yelpers who decided to get up and bare their naked souls to the rest of us. I salute you.
To the barista who made my hot chocolate that night. I salute you too. Not because the H.C. was tasty ('cause it really wasn't...minus one star), but for putting up with our crew.
I really liked the space at Socha. Very cozy, lots of fun little nooks where you could curl up with your laptop or a book and just chill. I liked the overall vibe in here. Good beers, a variety of menu items to choose from and really nice staff.
If I'm back in this area anytime and feel the need for some QT with myself...I'm definitely coming back here.
And who knows...maybe next open mic night you might find me with a beer in one hand and my riotously "useful / funny / cool" 5-star review of the Jimmy Jane vibrator in my other hand...are we allowed to bring props??
People thought this was:
Useful (6)
Funny (5)
Cool (7)
To succeed as a coffee shop in my eyes is not very difficult. What can I say? I'm easy like that. I don't ask for much. I'm optimistic. I see the brighter side. While I like Socha, I'm not in love [YET]. Service is usually what draws me in, and it's alright. It was just a tiny crush at first that I think I'm finally over. We can be friends, good friends.
First and foremost, free wireless! Give me access, so that I can Yelp and all other things Web 2.0 about you on the spot. There are also downsides though. You'll never get me to leave. Free internet helps but is not necessary. See my Blue Danube review!
Second, good music. Get my head bopping or toe tapping! Socha has great live music some nights. What drew me into the place was really when they had Classical Revolution come play. Live classical while studying? I think it makes my brain happy. Their events are listed at: http://www.myspace.com....
Third, seats are available. I think that being located in Bernal Heights helps. It's close to me, but far for most. There's plenty of street parking, so definitely an ideal spot to spend study/social time.
Open late! Okay, 11pm isn't all that late, but compared to other places, it is. Add the fact that I probably don't want to be studying past 11pm, and it's a match.
Added bonus: Wine/beer is available. There's a food menu too. Sure, they're a little bit slow sometimes, but what's the rush? You're in a coffee shop. Enjoy it. Tried the pizza once. Not bad! My only major complaint is that it gets WAY too hot in the back.
*phew*
Breaking a sweat while hitting the books sorta sucks!
People thought this was:
Useful (10)
Funny (8)
Cool (11)
I'm not feeling particularly creative, so obviously I'm going to write a Yelp review. That and I'm really bored at work, and procrastinating.
Moving on.
Last night Janney B asked me to come out to Socha for the UYE Open Mic night, and being that she's every bit as wonderful as sunshine on a nice, warm day on the beaches of Tahiti, I obliged. Little did I know, of course, that she would be reading her POWER EXCHANGE review, of which oh-so-delicately reminded the audience that I'm just as every bit strange as they think (to include strangers), PLUS she misled them with thinking that I have a tight little ass. It's ok Janney, I forgive you AND love you :)
ANYWAYS, my buttocks aside, the space was incredibly intimate for such a great little event. Some people sat on the floor (included), some on chairs, some on couches. It was nice to see Yelp bring people together for something so poetic, and heartwarming (Haru is responsible for that, PLEASE record that song!), other than for consuming copious amounts of alcoholic beverages.
Except--they have beer. YES. Beer! At a cafe! It was fabulous! Broke Ass Stuart even read his review while drinking one, and that was absolutely gangsta. Everyone was so nice, and when I asked for two Stellas, one of the guys there told me they were out but there was a beer that was near in taste--some type of Pilsner. He then explained that Austrians in Bizerkley found that the water there was closest to the waters in wherever they brew beer over in Europe, and they were reducing their carbon footprint! Being a Republican-turned-Democrat, I was thoroughly pleased (although I'm still registered as Republican...I'm such a political whore).
Everyone who read their reviews were AWESOME. Nobu was HILARIOUS, Alissa was so *cute*, Lauren S made me want to go to Bean Bag Cafe this morning, and Mick F and Darin I engaged the audience perfectly. Haru, of course, was incredible--what a talented, beautiful woman! I'm always amazed/inspired by people who write music, and she was just wonderful. Of COURSE, Janney B (once again) was worth the 8 billion dollars in gas I burned coming to the city.
You guys did so well! I can't wait to come back here again!
And now if you'll excuse me I feel like I have to go do some squats because you all think I have a tight little ass now. Unless you saw pictures from 1015, and then you'd KNOW I didn't. GREAT.
People thought this was:
Useful (13)
Funny (14)
Cool (13)
Im not much of a performer, and it takes alot to get me on stage.
Ok, not alot, just a few beers.
When I was told that the open mic night was going to be here, at a cafe, I was more than concerned. If I have coffee Ill get the jitters, and be more nervous than I already am!! Shit.
What joy I felt when i pulled in to Socha and saw those glorious taps.
Two beers in, and I was ready to go. The reading was a blur. But at least it was a blur in a big open space, with a beer in my hand.
People thought this was:
Useful (10)
Funny (5)
Cool (12)
I have a deep appreciation for cafes that serve beer. Cafés that serve beer but also have pretty good pizza rank even higher. Along with the espresso, it has all I could need on a given day. The atmosphere at Socha is relaxing. There's lots of space, functional wireless and generally good tunes. One counterperson has a tendency to play rap music loudly and I think every other time I come in here I hear that Peter, Bjorn and John whistling song, both of which are fine, I guess. The rap can clash with the "vibe" and I'm as sick of the Swedish indie as much as I was of "Crazy" last year. Not dealbreakers, however.
I'll move on to the pizza, which, depending on which of the people makes it, ranges from pretty good to excellent. It has a nice thin crust and fresh ingredients. The ham stands out. The chicken sandwich is decent, and the soups are often amazing. The pastries are baked on the premises, so when they are fresh they can be scrumptious. I am not an espresso snob (I will not wait in line at Ritual no matter how "amazing" someone may moan to me it is) but this place is pretty solid. I don't go in for the fancy three dollar lattes these days so I can't rate their prowess with those things. But the espresso tastes like they clean the machine well, which, sadly, can be rare.
Two more points: gentrification and the live music. First, I guess I'm kind of over the gentrification thing. I think it's great to have local flavor, but I'm never sad to see the sagging, shithole restaurant or paint store or whatever replaced with something kind of nice. As long as the block doesn't start looking like Union Street I'm okay with new businesses. Second, most of the jazz bands that play here are pretty good. They generally play standards and it's straight ahead. No Korg Triton fusion or wankery. One guy who warms up on the piano on Monday night plays beautiful, usually classical pieces. He's great. Best of all most of the bands seem to know that if they play too loudly, the geeks on the laptops and the chatters will leave. So in that sense a super jazzbo may consider it a bit tame. Still I think many of the players are going for it, just not loudly.
In short, Socha has a lot to offer and they do it in a cool, low key way.
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Useful (1)
Love at first sight? Almost.
The decor is so fitting and the tall ceilings open up the space, so it's cozy but spacious. It's jazz night tonight and nothing gets me more than piano and a bass, in a cafe. Oh wait, that's a lie, but for the sake of this review and comparison, let's just say I love this cafe more than I love potatoes. (and if you don't know me, I LOVE potatoes)
Jazz art paintings line the walls and there are smaller glass tables on snare stands in the back. (very cool.. i want one!) -- http://www.guitarlamp.... The space toward the back is brighter for people who want to bring their laptops (free wifi!), books to read, or just hang out and chit chat. The color scheme works really well. Kind of a dull mint and black. There's plenty of seating, some cushiony chairs in the back, and barstools at the counter.
There are no fancy schmancy, extra hot no whip non-fat mocha frapacinnolatte drinks here, but they do hold a liquor license = beer. I settled for a hot chocolate on this chilly evening, but wouldn't mind hanging out here with a beer. They also have a small food menu. Will have to try something next time I'm back.
It looks like they have live music almost every night and even a film night on some Wednesdays. (see event listing here: http://www.myspace.com...) It may get loud, so if you need peace and quiet, this might not be the place for you. Especially since there are also some customers who like to talk over the music.
Definitely must come back to Socha :) so ka? that's how i pronounce it..
Free Wifi
Open till 11PM
Heat
Bernal Heights (not too far from where I am)
Street Parking - not too bad..
People thought this was:
Useful (11)
Funny (10)
Cool (13)
This is a typical San Francisco cafe decorated by local art on the walls and a menu consisting of coffee drinks, teas, a bit of food, beer and wine. Most of the seating is located toward the back which apparently can also be used as a performance space. Personally I would like to give a lecture on the, "Sexual Politics of Meat" but there hasn't been a audience for that sort of thing since I was in High School.
while the dude who was working was friendly enough he had some priority issues when dealing with a high volume of hungry vs. thirsty customers.
If this cafe was named anything else I would totally support it but seeing as they are trying to rezone or gentrify Bernal Heights by claiming it as South of Chavez (SoCha) I get a bit fussy. It's the same issue I have with the term "NoPa", I have nothing against the area or the restaurant but the abbreviated, trendy name bugs the ach E double hockey sticks out of me!
While we're at it why isn't NoPa called WeAd instead? It is the Western Addition after all.
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Right now I'm busier than a rice queen holding Kimono condoms and a bottle of Daiginjyo at the Cherry Blossom Festival so I don't have the time or energy for another long hysterical screed -- oh who am I kidding, I've never let WORK deadlines get in the way of writing reviews before! No, the truth is I'm a lazy fuck bastard who believes in passing the buck, sloth, shortcuts, and getting others to do the grunt work.
And this, my friends, is why I'm in management.
Until the astute Eric W. pointed out that Socha stood for "SOuth of Cesar CHAvez", I thought it was named after a fragrant and very rare Japanese tea leaf that only blossomed from anogenital warts on the first three days of the Vernal Equinox. Or something. They do have tea (and coffee, and pastries, and some food) at this airy, high-ceilinged cafe, but I passed on all that for beer. Pick your poison -- Hefeweisen, Guinness, Chimay, for example -- and kick back on a well-upholstered sofa. Use the free wifi and yelp while intoxicated -- I mean, watch porn. I would give them five stars anyway for being open until 11 pm and clean enough to pass my germophobia test, and yes I'm a germophobe which may come as a shock considering my apartment is a sty and I like licking the waste orifices of the human body -- what can I say, LIFE IS STRANGE. But they DEFINITELY get five stars for hosting the first SF Yelp Open Mic, organized by the fabulous Jessica T.
Just in case you missed it, we learned the following about the personable and brave yelpers who read their reviews:
MC Candice D rocks the mic Hawai`ian style, brah!
JT F's preferred -- oops, make that ONLY -- way of communicating with others is ascii art. And I want to marry him.
Kate K tosses BBQ bacon cheeseburgers at folks while drunk
Broke Ass Stuart is cute -- I mean, eats bull penis.
Haru K should be signed by a record label immediately.
Kat E has excellent dating advice for men.
Nobu K is an expert in all things Japanese. Also, he is a FUNNY MOTHERFXXXer.
Lisa W GOT2MOVE!!!
Rachel G's sheets no longer smell like dead people.
Lauren S knows where to find $20 bargain basement bjs.
Suzanne B can compress a bildungsroman into the space of a review -- now that's talent.
Joshua L is a beautiful and righteous African American woman.
Janney B takes Jamie's tight ass to the spanking room.
When Mick F drops his patented eyebrow glare, HE IS THE SEXIEST MAN ON YELP AND YOU WILL COMPLY!
Alissa D's cup runneth over.
According to Liz S., what happens at Duane Reade stays at Duane Reade.
WHY THE FUCK WAS DARIN I SCREAMING AND CURSING AT US FOR FIVE MINUTES?!? And why is he still single?
I and my lazy ass fully intend to trek out to Socha in the future.
Now if you'll excuse me, I need to balance the budget and exploit -- I mean, supervise -- my charges. DOES ANYONE KNOW HOW TO WORK EXCEL?!? FUCK.
p.s., I hope I don't get fired.
People thought this was:
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"It's a jamboree," she said. Last Wednesday night as the musicians began to pour in and fill up the back room. A classical jamboree. Which was lovely at first, but then made it impossible to concentrate on the task at hand and I had to leave.
But let me say, this place is a GEM.
I love the back room. The chairs, colors and the lighting are perfect. Perfect. I will give you $3 for a mug of tea bag tea so that I can hang out in your space. I love that the bar lady offered to feed me for free when she thought I didn't have any money. "You can pay it back another time," she said...or something like that. Could you be any nicer?
What is going on? Nice people working in a cool spot? This might be a mirage, but I doubt it.
Please visit this place. Spend your money there, and keep it open.
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Man, it's hard to find a good cafe these days. I remember back in the day when I just went to Stuart's Coffee House on Bay Street in Bellingham. I had no need for more than one cafe.
Since moving to San Francisco however, I've yet to find that perfect balance, and have become a bit of a cafe nomad.
Socha just might be my new permanent replacement though. Oh, I know I've said that before, but I'm serious this time, I really feel something here. We agree on so many things, and Socha gives me everything I want.
Socha balances all the extremes. It has character while still being clean. It has delicious food without being a restaurant (or pricy!). It has live jazz - but it's ok for me to ignore the band sometimes too.
The decor consists of teal couches, zebra pillows, tables made with snare drum stands, hardwood floors, and big colorful paintings. Basically, what I would have my apartment look like if I had the choice.
And you know what? They're open late too - the Socha goodness can be soaked up for many hours.
After a recommendation from a roommate, we decided to stop in on a hot Sunday afternoon to get our coffee fix.
It's always nice to step into a place with live music! A well designed, clean, and cute little place might I add! AND live music, especially on a Sunday afternoon, how rare is that?
Staring blankly at the menu, I ordered my usual soy hazelnut latte. I'm a little snobby when it comes to coffee, so I gave it a shot. Not bad, I give it an average rating.
Cute inside seating though! Plenty of spots to sit down with your laptop to make use of the free wireless (oooo yeahhh free, don't we all love free?). They carry food, along with teas, and even beer!
I believe the live music frequently changes, and it seems like a very relaxing and open area to hang out at. The service was quick, and the staff was friendly.
I wouldn't mind coming back for another coffee fix and enjoyable music! :)
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A five star trifecta.
My first time was for conversation and a glass of wine. Plenty of choices, great vibe and live musicians adding atmosphere in the background.
My second time was for the french toast that caught my eye during the aforementioned wine visit. It was delicious, complemented by a pretty good cup of coffee.
My third time was for the chicken sandwich. Yeah, she missed my request for no cheese, but it came off easily and revealed an incredible amount of chicken and spinach, all crammed between some tasty bread.
Toss in the free wifi, and an argument can be made Socha is one of the best coffee/food/wine spots in the city.
Socha has strong coffee and raisin muffins reminiscent of Irish soda bread. I also like the chill atmosphere.
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My computer has always been fickle about wireless.
It only wants it when it feel like it.
So trying to use free wireless at coffee shops is never fun. And often unfulfilling. Trekking my heavy computer down to coffee shops - often will result in some lovely computer poetry such as:
"limited or no connectivity. You might not be able to access the Internet or some network resources. For more information, click this message."
Eugh.
And so too lazy to cart my computer back home, I just play Solitaire or text twist on my computer (this is truly an awesome game...my brother and I would compete for the highest score for days on end....back when)
for hours.
So it was a beautiful thing this past Wednesday to come across Socha.
Socha is the bomb, with....
cute drum stand tables.
High ceilings.
Free wireless that works.
A huge open space with lots of empty seating, and close-by outlets.
A nice selection of beers (and I believe wines too)
Big servings of hot cocoa, tea, coffee etc.
A decent selection of food.
Late hours.
Comfortable padded seating.
Friendly staff.
Open mic/performance nights.
Safe, quiet, and not too busy.
Pleasant patrons.
Right by Jasmine Tea House and fairly close to El Rio
Socha has everything you could ask for (though a little bit more sugar in the chai, and slightly better ventilation couldn't hurt)
It's the perfect place to get work done.
The perfect place to day-dream.
The perfect place to watch live performances.
The perfect place to read.
And above all the perfect place to surf dlisted.com, egotastic.com, perezhilton.com, gofugyourself.com, thesuperficial.com, in just one sitting and only feel slightly guilty that you may be contributing to....
http://www.fastcompany...
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Was there for a thursday night poetry slam / performing arts night with the Socha group.
I would definitely recommend checking it out.
The space itself is modern and nice, which is a departure from a lot of places in the neighborhood.
I ordered a $4 heineken and a hot chocolate. The hot chocolate was good and the woman working there was super nice and talkative.
I am definitely going back. I have been meaning to go there for lunch. Will update then.
Oh yeah, free wifi is awesome!
Update 3/3/2008: Went back for their ham brioche sandwich. A bit pricy at $8 but DAMN tasty. The food is killer here. This is my new favorite cafe.
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This is my go-to place. It has laid-back vibe without the dinginess. The ham and cheese sandwich is delicious. I can't speak for the coffee b/c I'm off the caffeine for now. (gasp) But it's light, airy, no drama. And the art fills up the ample space nicely. Also, an ample selection of hip magazines to keep you amused if you're sick of looking at your computer screen.
Might be slightly biased because I did perform here tonight. But, hear me out...
This was actually only the third time I'd been here and I was happy to see a decent crowd came out. Before the night's festivities began, I ordered a little dinner for myself- a ham and cheese sandwich. Sounds boring, I know... however, what came out was this incredibly appetizing plate that consisted of two thick pieces of focaccia bread holding together layers of ham, creamy goat cheese, tomatoes and onions! Plus, a deliciously dressed salad on the side- not one of those that just came out of a pre-packaged mixed greens bag from the market. I mean a legitimate salad complete with sunflower seeds on top. Yum!
This place is also great because of the relaxed atmosphere. I would never feel like I'm not cool enough to come in here, despite the fact that they have a lot of very cool things going on. For instance, original rotating art work on the walls. Lots of it. A large space for original performances, like tonite's "SoCha Project", or Jazz trios and spoken word.
Perfect place to bring the lap top and zone in on doing your thing. Or, to come with friends and enjoy an alternative night out with a couple of beers and some genuine heartfelt entertainment.
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I believe I first heard of Socha from Daily Candy but I just started working a few blocks away so I thought I'd try it. It smells amazing when you walk in and makes you want a huge buttery croissant or some other sweet pastry. However, I opted for the Lemon Chive Roasted Chicken Breast, Arugula & Blue Cheese Aioli sandwich. $8.16 for a sandwich is a bit steep. They also DON'T TAKE CREDIT CARDS (automatic removal of star for me... I NEVER HAVE CASH! I also find it really embarrassing when you don't know that walking in.) So I run across the street, risking my life, to hit up the B of A ATM (I have Wells Fargo so I am imposted with a $3 service fee.)
The women there are not very friendly and for some reason I get a really negative vibe from both of them. I wait prob about 10 minutes for my sandwich. So I did get some time to check out the interior. Very cool art, plenty of periodicals to read. The space is rather large, which is nice, and has a lot of seating. I wonder if they every fill it up? It is definitely on the large side for a coffee shop.
I take the sandwich back to my office and its pretty amazing. ITs on fresh toasted foccacia I believe. So the cheese is warm and gooey (my favorite) and the flavors complement each other nicely. It was a great sandwich but definitely on the steep side. I might come back and try their breakfast or pastries. They look pretty amazing.
I really like this place. I'm generally too lazy to make my own coffee on the weekends, so I often end up getting a cup here, since it's right below my apartment. The drip is decent, and their espresso drinks are quite good.
I am also a big fan of the egg in a hole for breakfast. The brioche is all buttery and delicious, and the potatoes it comes with are excellent, but my favorite part is the little espresso cup of ketchup. Nice presentation and good food for a very low price and with no long lines of hipsters or baby buggies to wait in. Excellent.
I've only been here once on a weekend night, but there was great 20s music and dancing, and it wasn't too crowded. It has a good atmosphere, it isn't pretentious, and it's open late. Overall, I approve this addition to the neighborhood.
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bad
-surly staff
-poor quality coffee
-surly staff
-crappy tea selection
-surly staff
-stupid glass tables that are too low and small
-surly staff
-improper kitchen - there is no vent or fan to suck out the stench of your crappy sandwich that they just burnt on their George Foreman Grill, err I mean stovetop
-surly staff
good
-location
-live, daily music
-open airy layout
p.s. did I say anything about the surly staff?
After two visits here's my take:
Great space, art on the walls, live music sometimes, good beers.
Ok to poor food selection/quality. They were out of two kinds of beer and lemons (for Hefe) at last visit.
Great to have a light, airy place to have a beer and listen to music with our baby.
Met a friend here for breakfast to shoot the s***.
My order could not have been any simpler/easier:
Bagel w/ Cream Cheese. and Lemonade.
The lemonade was bad. Wayy to sweet.
The bagel took literally 10 minutes to make. I think the lady forgot that I had ordered one. Also there were gobs and gobs of cream cheese on there. I had to scrape most of it off with a knife.
I dunno, guys...average 4 stars? Maybe their coffee is good or something, but they couldn't nail the basics.
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Earlier this evening I was here to see my friend Emma play a set of music and I'd have to say this place really attracted me from the inside out. It's got some space for a "seemingly" small cafe on Mission and it has a decor that really works at making you stay longer. Its very comfortable. It has a very relaxing feel, the complete antithesis to other cafes that hold live music with that hustle and distracting persona.
The menu had some variety but nothing too exciting. Its a perfect place for sipping warm beverages while reading or staring off into the middle distance thinking about the core of planets.
On Saturdays, Socha used to have a guy working behind the counter who made really good chicken sandwiches. He was also nice, and seemed to take his job seriously, so I too, felt serious and confident about spending $7.50 on a sandwich.
I don't know what happened to the guy, but know there is an unhappy seeming girl working behind the counter, who takes far too long to make my food and also the sandwiches are horrible!!! They taste like cardboard. This has all the makings for a good place, but get friendly staff who want to work there and aren't on their cell phones!!!
Super friendly baristas, awesome pastries, wonderful atmosphere/artwork, yep.
socha is such a quaint place. it's one of those "laze away all you want, we don't care" kind of places. the coffee is so-so, but they have beer on tap - always a nice option. sammiches and pizzas grace their food menu, as well as some wine selections. i have found a few folks studying, reading, doing things on their computer (free wifi!). and once, there were a couple of people who looked like they fit more in the FiDi than the dirty Bernal Heights (that's what I call my side of Bernal- not to be confused with the side above the hill, that's shi shi Bernal) and I could sense how uncomfortable they felt. YEAH boy! we can be all emo and reading our Sartres or updating our blogs all we want. just don't bother us with your ill-fitting expensive suits and capitalistic speak. Oh and it's cash only here.
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I've lived in this niche of the mission now for five years and i've seen the changes. there used to be another cafe, owned by a Ma N Pa in the now converted condos right next door. Socha has taken over another space gentrified by a former tenant..and I like this 2nd wave better fthan the first.
Socha bakes on site. not always perfect, but many items are, namely: cinnamon bun and asparagus calzone (i bet you can get it w/out ham). their soups are great and the staff pretty nice too. I like the smooth wood table and general cleanliness. they are also earth conscious by using real plates and glasses and by supporting local business like Divine Chai.
The awewsome art on the walls, collection of art magazines and outstanding music --make me excited to welcome Socha to my neighborhood and no longer assume it is just the juice of gentrification like say "the front porch"...
don't eat all the cinnamon buns, please!
..
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My sister took me here for the first time tonight and I think this place is fabulous...We had a great day and this was a great way to end the day...it's a cozy place with artsy decor...live music (a jazz quartet tonight)...and offers food and beverage. I would definitely come here for the music and for a great conversation but I won't order hot chocolate from here...too strong...and not too sweet...eh. But overall, really cool place to chill and talk...
Granted, I wouldn't go to SoCha to eat but to have a chai latte with just the right amount of foam or a really hot cup of tea -- definitely! It's a nicely put together cafe with live music on weekends and some week days, if I recall correctly.
From first glance, I loved it because of the art magazines they sell and just leave out on display. Of course, I'm going to love that part of the cafe. There is also work displayed from local artists, which gives the cafe a wonderful touch to the overall monochromatic blue color scheme. The space is actually really nice and it's just what this side of Mission street needed. As other yelpers have already stated, there is not much variety when it comes to food. So, again, don't come here to eat but it's a wonderful little place to listen to music, read and/or study!
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Hmmm... Where do I start?
I think I should start with the food. It's just okay, for the price. $9.50 for a sandwich and small salad? Let's start with the salad. A little wilted and over dressed to the point that I thought it was soup. The sandwich had great flavor but there was too little chicken and was on slightly stale bread. It had good flavor but for the price... I don't think I'll be ordering it again.
The coffee. It tasted over roasted, the milk in my cappuccino was scalded with huge bubbles in the foam. No thanks.
The ginger latte. Yum, nice and spicy with just the right amount of ginger. A definite reorder item.
The pastries. They were okay. Not alot of flavor in the macaroons. I thought they would be better for the price.
The atmosphere. Not for me. I felt like I was starting to get depressed. Music was all over the map, which I like. It's nice to have some variety.
Will I go back? If Nervous Dog and Muddy Waters were closed, yes.
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It's funny. Just last week I was lamenting with another Noe Valley resident that there are no coffee shops to go and hang out around here that are open late. The next day, voila, I discover Socha.
This place has a lot going for it:
- Aforementioned late hours and free internet
- Interesting array of house-baked goods, including pizzas
- Nice selection of beers on tap, as well as wine
I've been craving a place in the 'hood for a long time where I can go and have a beer in the evening while doin' whatever I need to take care of on the Internet, and this place is perfect!
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North of 30th Street, there's a long stretch of Mission Street that for a long time had no cafes at all. SoCha is a welcome watering hole. So far, their coffee is quite good, and their pastries, pizzas and other baked goods (most of which they bake on-site, almost unheard of in SF) are very pleasant.
Inside, the decor is quite stylish, a bit of a surprise for that neighborhood. The staff are pleasant; the wifi is free; and everything is clean and new. What's not to like?
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SoCha is a welcome addition to the area. Their muffins are the best I've found--you can get them hot around 9 a.m. Not too sweet, and full of treats like fresh berries and chocolate chips, they are a good stand-in for sunshine on rainy San Francisco mornings.
There is often live jazz there and the savvy staff picks out great tunes for the stereo during the bands' off hours.
Pizza and calzone are delicious enough to satisfy an Italian and New York -- trained pizza snob like me. Their salads always boast the freshest greens. Try the Mizuna for extra sass.
It's a fun place to relax--they have velour love seats in their back "salon" where local art hangs on the walls above cocktail tables made from snare stands.
SoCha is the newest reason I love my neighborhood!
The coffee is good, the location is close to a couple notable hipster joints (and that yuppie place across the street). My guess at this point (and I may be wrong..) is that this place is going to be super-yupped out at night, but will probably be nice for working during the day.
This neighborhood has practically no parking, and anyhow it's gross to drive to a place so well served by bus lines, bike lanes, and BART (which literally runs directly beneath it).
MUNI&BART
If you aren't in walking distance, you can take the 14, 49, 26, or 67 directly to the cafe, while the J-church stops a few blocks away, and it's a very short walk south from the 24th St. BART stop (walk Valencia to avoid the horrendous intersection of Chavez and Mission).
by BIKE
On a bike ride to the end of Valencia Street and you're practically there. Take San Jose Ave (with bike lanes) from the south, making a right off of San Jose onto 29th St.
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I'm pleased to see a place like Socha open up along this particular stretch of Mission! I'm used to walking a little further up the street to Nervous Dog, which I will continue to do, no doubt, but Socha is definitely cool and also a little closer to the pad!
The look and design are hot. I like the big back room and the little glass tables. I can see myself coming here to socialize with people, in fact, the first thing I thought when I walked in was, do they serve alcohol here? But no, they don't...that's ok. I only got a latte today, but it was great!
Prices are right, as well, for coffee and salads/sandwiches, which I plan to try next. So far, I'm very impressed. The mission can always use another coffee shop, that's what I say!
UPDATE: I heard their liquor license is pending! cool! I'll add a star for that!
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This area of town certainly needs a nice, clean coffee shop / sandwich shop. I was very excited to see it.
The setting was nice, the decor was a steel blue with local artists. You can purchase your latest "cool" magazine like Nylon. At the same time, the place is comfortable and not pretentious.
I'd probably like to return for a cup of coffee and pastry. Lunch wasn't that great. The flavor of my chicken sandwich was "neutral". It wasn't cheap either. The iced-tea was good. My non-vegan friend ordered vegan friendly items and enjoyed them. My lemon-salad with pecans was good and simple.
Socha, welcome to the neighborhood!