Mario's Bohemian Cigar Store Cafe — Restaurant in San Francisco

We didn’t need to check if Mario’s was still there. Some places you trust will outlast the algorithms.

Tucked at the corner of Columbus and Union, at the threshold between North Beach and Chinatown, Mario’s holds its corner like an old regular at a window booth—calm, unhurried, observant. We first lunched here in the late 1990s, newly arrived in San Francisco. On this most recent visit, nearly three decades later, we returned not by plan but by instinct, drifting into that same easy cadence the city seems to reserve for visitors and old souls.

It was just past two in the afternoon, warm enough to enjoy the sun’s filtering through the front windows, cool enough to welcome the oven's ambient heat. Indoors, it was all amber tones and quiet energy. Outside, red café chairs framed Washington Square Park, where dogs gamboled and passersby strolled diagonals across the green.

We ordered pints of Moretti because it was vacation and it was Tuesday and no reason was necessary. The "half" sandwiches—baked eggplant for one of us, Italian sausage and onions for the other—were only half in name. These were sturdy, satisfyingly messy constructions, the kind of food that invites you to linger with napkins and laughter. The eggplant, pillowed with tomato and arugula, offered vegetal warmth and bite; the sausage version came draped in onions and nostalgia.

Neil Young played softly over a tablet’s local files—no algorithmic shuffle here either. Behind the counter, two staffers rotated between espresso pulls, sandwich assembly, and full-table charm, never once betraying the strain.

The decor hasn’t changed much—thankfully. Cork-board walls host decades of photos, memorabilia, and Italian football banners, layered like geological sediment. You can almost touch the lived history.

This wasn’t just lunch. It was the recovery of a sense of place, of pace, of continuity. In a city whose skyline has flickered and shifted, Mario’s remains: not a time capsule, but a quiet constant. And maybe that’s what we were really ordering—a moment of stillness between first visits and...

As a third-generation San Francisco native, I’ve seen the City transform in countless ways over the years- neighborhoods evolve and longtime favorites fade into memory. But through it all, Mario’s has remained a constant, a true gem tucked away in the heart of North Beach that continues to embody old school SF!

This family-owned and operated spot has been serving the community for over 50 years, and you can taste that legacy in every bite. Whether it's their homemade marinara, delicious cappuccinos, fresh dressings, or the absolute dream that is their tiramisu- everything that comes out of Mario’s kitchen is made with love, intention, and care. Their sandwiches, especially, are a work of art.

It’s rare these days to find a place that feels like home, but Mario’s is exactly that! It’s warm, welcoming, and unpretentious. Whether I’m catching up with a friend or sitting solo, Mario’s is always the perfect place to be.

I have to mention, I’ve seen a few comments about the service being slow at times, and I’ll say this: Mario’s is run by a small but mighty team- never more than three people- who are juggling cooking, serving, and taking care of both indoor and outdoor patrons with hustle. This isn’t fast food. This is real food, made by a family that genuinely cares about what they put on your plate. It’s absolutely worth the wait, and supporting a local, family-run business like this one is what keeps the soul of our City alive.

In a time when so much of San Francisco feels like it’s changing or lost, Mario’s is a beautiful reminder of what still remains- authenticity, community, and heart. They’ve never compromised on who they are, and that kind of integrity is something to celebrate.

Mario’s is more than just a café, it’s a living piece of San Francisco history. If you haven’t been yet, you need to! You’ll leave full, happy, and already planning your...

This place is great! The food is carefully prepared, and they serve the delicious focaccia from Liguria Bakery, one of the best in the city. The coffee is from Graffeo another gem in this neighborhood. The pizza is always made perfectly. The atmosphere is friendly, and you can either join other customers for a quick conversation if you're in the mood to meet new people, or sit on the patio and enjoy your lunch or dinner with a view of Coit Tower and Washington Square. The staff is amazing – everyone who works there is so kind and respectful to everyone. I love that they treat tourists and locals the same, which is something I appreciate since some places in SF can have different approaches, which I personally dislike. This place is just a few blocks from our apartment, and my husband and I really love going there for coffee and pastries in the morning or for a drink and snack in the late afternoon. We've also had dinner there sometimes and tried different dishes. My favorite is the veggie overbaked sandwich, but I've tried a bite of the eggplant parmesan, and it was really good too. If you'd like polenta and sausage, that's another great option. Don't leave without trying the Cinnamon Swirl Cake (one of the best vegan cakes I've ever had) or the Tiramisu (homemade and...