The Little Spot Cafe
Category: Coffee & Tea [Edit]
Neighborhood: Mission1199 S Van Ness Avenue
(between 22nd St & 23rd St)
San Francisco, CA 94110 (415) 550-1800
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 7:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. - Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: No
- Parking: Street
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Wi-Fi: Free
334 reviews
Neighborhood: SOMA
"Granted, I was there with one of my favorite people, Lady K- but the place is gorgeous! We sat outside, staring out across the infinity…" read more »
18 Reviews for The Little Spot Cafe
I just had a sandwich here that was so good my jaw hit the ground. All of the produce was perfectly ripe and full of flavor. Also the super friendly girl at the counter is a nice touch.
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Decent coffee and eats, free wireless. Bonus star for the guy making my sandwich having no idea what a scooped out bagel was, and the doing it after I explained what it was.
This place is everything you want a San Francisco coffeehouse to be. It's small; the food is good, and it's comfortable in a homey way.
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Isn't it amazing how I manage to be running late for work every, single, day?
But that's why I like The Little Spot Cafe. They're so quick that I can run out of my apartment, run back to lock the door, go there, order a latte and throw it (in my awesome leak-proof travel coffee mug) in my bag and still make the last bus at 8:25.
It looks super cute - but I'm always running through, so I haven't yet had the pleasure of staying for a couple hours and relaxing in the chill atmosphere. It's a basic cafe - the name fits it very well.
They make a lot of good espresso drinks, but keep in mind, the chai mocha is not one of them.
No-frills cafe, and cash only, but there are worse things in life.
In the details of this cafe, you'll find screaming signs for Cindy Sheehan for office. Personally, I really enjoy being represented by Nancy Pelosi, but I'd be first to understand someone challenging her, if they have a good position. Except I've spoken with Sheehan. She only holds one good opinion (anti-war). Just like this cafe.
The Little Spot Cafe has good music. Everything else is mediocre. The couch is uncomfortable, the mis-matched chairs vary in comfort, and the coffee is okay. There is free wi-fi, which is great, but I wouldn't travel to this cafe for it. There are plants about, which liven up the atmosphere, but the beautiful flora do not make up for the only okay coffee and uncomfortable seating. It's a good dash-and-go corner cafe, but nothing more.
This place has the best bagels on the west coast and yummy coffee. I go here at least once a week if not every morning.
I can't get enough of this place. It helps that its right across the street from me. The coffee is sooo good. Easily competes with many a cafe on coffee alone. Now...the breakfast bagel with lettuce tomato and onion...I haven't had breakfast at my house for probably a month because of them. They are the lick. The munch. The chew...You understand. And of course, the people that work there rule.
solid. they take real bacon, cook it, grind it up and toss it on the breakfast bagels. nice touch. they also have a perfect little 2-seater table in the sun.
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my gf and i went here pretty frequently, until recently when she spotted a roach roaming around. when she told the owner, just to let him know he acted as if he was fully aware of the problem. "don't be scared," he told her. now we call the cafe "the little roach." we also avoid it.
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I decided that everytime I see a "La spaziale" pressured coffee machine I'll start from 4 stars. Their espresso is good, not raging good, just good, but in the US it is a luxury and they deserve all the stars because they're unpretentious and stylish.
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UPDATE: I've been going every Friday on my way to work so now the guy knows my name, and I know his. Sadly, his great flavored cream cheeses have vanished, the vendor he used stopped making them. All is well as I've found a happy substitute in an egg and avocado topped bagel. And yay for the free copies of Mission News - it's the only rag that runs the police blotter for crimes in the 'hood.
ORIGINAL REVIEW:
I am completely biased to Little Spot for four essential reasons: 1) I only go on 1 weekday morning each week, usually Fridays, and the owner may not know my name but he knows my bagel: everything with sundried tomato cream cheese and sliced tomato; 2) decent bagels that they even toast without asking and two flavored cream cheeses (aforementioned and also a crab artichoke), plus not-too-shabby joe and Odwalla so I can get my super protein drink; 3) four or more different free newspapers/local papers plus the Chron always available; and 4) they let me bring my bike in while i pick up my to-go bagel - it's very challenging for me to lock my bike up if I haven't yet had coffee!
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A good coffee house. Very underrated. It has everything you need: Good coffee and good breakfast items.
The lox bagel sandwich they have is my favorite.
The owner is super friendly and helpful.
The couch is nice as well.
It's a little off the main Valencia corridor, but I would say it's worth the walk.
Enjoy.
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The coffee's okay. The bagels are okay. The street-watching is okay. The tea is Celestial Seasonings. Why go? Because you can get a seat and stay there for hours without feeling guilty. [I had a blurb about the Japanese dude who works there, but I cut it because I got afraid he would somehow see what I wrote and recognize me and then I would be really embarrassed.] And actually the cafe really is kind of little and cute. An aptly named spot. They have nice plants and a couch with grandma flourishes as Lauren G. pointed out. Add half a star.
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As far as it goes... I stopped in for a turkey sandwich and a Snapple. Dude had to triple-check my order for some reason, heh, but it was a pretty good sandwich for five bucks.
I was gonna hang there for awhile, but it was too hot inside, so I noshed at a table outside.
I'll definately check out the bagel next time I'm in.
The Little Spot is just that ... a no frills, basic coffee spot. The food offered is basic, and, honestly, a little uninspired. Still, its not bad, but it would be easily recreated at home so that diminishes the reasons for going in my book. The coffee was about the same. I'd rather drink the La Taza stuff.
Still, the outdoor seating is nice, and the location is keen. The interior, like the food in a way, is quiet home-ish.
This little guy is like the underdog of coffee shops. It's cozy enough, the coffee is decent enough, and the prices are low. Nothing too fancy or special, but maybe that's exactly what you're looking for. What I really can't get past though is how much the checkered tile and random furniture assortment reminds me of a Mary Englebright design, you know, "chair of bowlies!" Oh man, MOM humor.
You best be scootin' over if you're sitting in my spot on the couch in the corner ... I like sitting there on the crocheted blanket, covered in velvety grandma pillows watching the freaks walk by and antogonizing the grouchiest barista in the city... I will buy you breakfast here if you find out when his birthday is... his grouchy mix of morning-pout and attitude-problem is endearing and one sure thing you can count on in this topsy-turvy world. He must be a capricorn. (Edit: Turns out he's a virgo -- one stop after capricorn on the grouchy bus. I love it.)
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I love this place. I've been going there since it opened. Yes, the coffee is just ok, but the breakfast bagels, my god. Can you say "perfect hangover cure"? The scrambled eggs from the microwave, the American cheese, a dash of salt and pepper, a little schmear of butter....Not that I'm a total lush or anything, but they're simple and perfect.
The couch is comfy, it's really quiet, and the prices are reasonable.
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