Planning a trip to San Francisco?
Foursquare can help you find the best places to go to.
Contraband Coffeebar
(Now Closed)Coffee Shop$$$$
Polk Gulch, San Francisco
The experts at Eater and SF Weekly recommend this place
159 Tips and reviews
Sort:
- Popular
- Recent
Adam FAugust 2, 2014There is a reason this place has been voted best coffee in SF. Service is great and the coffee is tasty and hot! Not many places you can get a flat white but it is on the menu here!
Great place to do work. Try the spicy matcha chai tea if you're looking for something a little different and delicious.
ZachMarch 31, 2015Tried both a regular latte and a dark white. Espresso great on both, dark white really doesn't have the chocolate hints you would expect. Nice place to work just get there early (only a few plugs)
Anna Lin-CampbellApril 10, 2011Their beef empanadas are delicious and leave you wanting more. Dynamo donuts sell out early! The Ethiopian drip's the way to go if you are into dark, full-bodied, slightly-bitter coffee!
d felesSeptember 5, 2014pretty awesone espresso in a glass cup. the bartenders mustache is a must, you get a free espresso if you manage to swirl it. (maybe not, i've never tried)
AskMenJanuary 14, 2011Every Saturday at 2:30, you taste, & learn about their full-range of coffee flavors. They also roast their beans on-site & make some of the best coffee in SF right now.
One of my favorite coffee shops. Can't go wrong with a latte or a regular drip. Great place to get some work done too.
Great coffee, OK pastries, amazing service. Perfect to get some work done.
The Bali roast is like pecan pancakes and maple syrup smothered in sweet, plump blueberries (remember those blueberries in 2013, like those). Blueberries.
Liana CascianiMay 24, 2017Free wifi, locally sourced food, good coffee and good baristas. Bathroom code is 2939
Kelsey KotzebueOctober 4, 2016The Chai is alright. Definitely should have listened to everyone and gotten something with espresso. I'll def come back again, great spot.
Ashok LalwaniNovember 9, 2014Good Place. Very different coffee menu than a typical coffee shop. Had Dark White (Cappuccino with hint of dark chocolate). Liked it.
Great coffee, but one barista is really passive-aggressive so avoid that person at all costs!
Mark TooleySeptember 1, 2013Fabulous coffee, cool space, free wi fi. Great venue to hang, read, study, think!
Damian BayonaAugust 14, 2016Line can get long. Coffee starts at $4. Cappuccino or other milk based drinks are the way to go.
Neeharika BhartiyaDecember 14, 2013Came here through a
Alice OhMarch 15, 2016The separator iced coffee is really good - two shots of espresso, coconut, honey, etc. The barista was pretty rude though...
The coffee here rivals any of the best in the City. Try their Flat White; sort of a short latté, known elsewhere as a Gibraltar.
Ugur KanerJanuary 19, 2015Good coffee and wide selection of coffee beans. Free, stable wifi. Ok to work.
Scrapp HuntingtonNovember 24, 2013Great coffee, awful music, at least it's not rap. However bring your headphones. Coffee here is 2nd best in San Francisco (next to philz that is)
The espresso pulled by the owner is one of the best in the city. I would highly recommend it.
Brandon F.December 10, 2015If you like your coffee robust, try the Yemen. You can't go wrong with drip coffee.
cami j.July 12, 2015baristas were friendly and helpful, coffee was tasty, and it's a great place to get some work done.
Eugene LeeSeptember 29, 2013Some of the best espresso drinks around! Awesome pastries, and free wifi.. Too good
Ben FunkAugust 19, 2014Cool vibe and good coffee, but expect to feel awkward if you don't know which exotic blend you want for your drip!
GloOctober 29, 2018Yummy mocha. Appreciate the laptop-less seating space (counter) and the full length mirror in the bathroom.
Christine LeeDecember 20, 2012Really wonderful latte, service and latte art. Great place to come and do work, it's busy but not crowded.
Coffee is excellent but the physical space has become quite dingy and dirty over the last year or so. Thankfully the cups are clean.
Luke BornheimerApril 11, 2014Wifi password as of 4/11/2014: 1415larkin — Their service has gone way down hill, and the guy with the mustache genuinely seems irritated that I was coming in to buy something and give them business.
The espresso is good, nice variety of pour overs, and daily dynamo donuts are a nice bonus.
Abylkassym ZhanatAugust 21, 2013Nice place to get work done on the mornings with great coffee. Try Iced Latte on a warm day
Good espresso drinks, and it's open surprisingly late for a third wave coffee shop
Great coffee, great people. Getting a smile from the beautiful barista, Jennalee, starts my day off on the right foot.
Carl FrederickAugust 16, 2015Interested in "The Landmark Forum" but not the high price? Get the basic message in this #2 NY Times bestseller: "est - Playing The Game". Available on Amazon or Smashwords. Save big money!
Victor NovikovApril 25, 2017Good atmosphere, great coffee. #a perfect place to read or work. I wish they had better food options.
ZFebruary 27, 2013"single-origin espressos, tricked-out Synesso Hydra machine, Chemex pour-over pots, free WiFi and Dynamo Donuts"
Shannon ClarkSeptember 8, 2011Serious coffee, dynamo donuts and free wifi in a nice space = serious win for this area!
Really friendly staff. Great music. Pour-over is made w/ love & expertise.
Kyle OlivoMay 29, 2016Quality coffee, but a little expensive. Ample seating, but music can be distracting. Power outlets aren't plentiful. It gets quite warm.
Good coffee. They have my current favorite - Corado- on the menu. Location is odd though.
Get the Blossom Coffee. It's the smoothest coffee ever.
503 Photos
Foursquare © 2025 Lovingly made in NYC, CHI, SEA & LA
Contraband Coffeebar
1415 Larkin St (btwn Sacramento St & California St)
San Francisco, CA 94109
United States
San Francisco, CA 94109
United States
Permanently closed (Show more)
- Mon–Sat
- 6:30 AM–9:00 PM
- Sun
- 6:30 AM–7:00 PM
(415) 839-7388
Features
Credit Cards
Yes (incl. American Express)
Wi-Fi
Yes
Outdoor Seating
Yes
Parking
Street
Food & Drink
Menus
Brunch
See More
You might also like
Places people like to go after Contraband Coffeebar
- 8.6
"The ricotta pancakes are nice and savory. The salmon tartine is delicious. Great, fast service"
Alex Watson - 8.6
"Chicken Gyoza Potstickers are a bargain, clean store and friendly crew members on duty."
Bennett W Wong - 9.0
"Real chocolate on the chocolate donuts! What an idea. Crumb cake is excellent too."
Amy B
Appears on 596 lists
Best Coffices in San Francisco
Created by Find a Coffice
54 items • 526 followers
Created by Leslie T
63 items • 172 followers
Venues with free Wi-Fi in San Francisco
Created by David Haber
188 items • 211 followers
