Whether you’re a Bay Area native or visiting San Francisco for work or pleasure, one of the must-visit spots in the city has got to be PIER 39 near Fisherman’s Wharf. Since the area can get quite busy, especially on weekends and during peak tourist seasons, it’s best to visit early in the day. In fact, you can start your day with a maritime view and a mouthwatering breakfast at PIER 39 in San Francisco.
But how do you pick the best spot for it?
Keep reading for some of the criteria to help you pick the best PIER 39 breakfast restaurants.
1. Browse the Menu
If you’ve got your priorities straight, then your first consideration is food, glorious food. And the first step is to check the menu. After all, how can you have breakfast at PIER 39 in San Francisco if the restaurant you’re considering doesn’t even serve breakfast?
The best PIER 39 breakfast restaurants will offer a great selection for early diners. For example, Eagle Cafe offers a special breakfast menu, only available from 8AM–11:30AM. Whether you’re trying to go healthy with Avocado Toast with Egg, pile on the protein with the California Omelet, or satisfy your sweet tooth with their Banana Pecan French Toast. And those are only a few of their best sellers, which you can pair with brunch cocktails or a variety of coffee drinks.
2. Check the View
Start your morning with a beautiful view as you dine on a tasty breakfast at PIER 39 in San Francisco. To feast your eyes as well as your belly, pick a spot like Eagle Cafe, which boasts the best waterfront patio view among PIER 39 breakfast restaurants.
Enjoy a stack of hearty pancakes or perhaps lighter fare with a cup of some of the best coffee the city has to offer while looking out onto the calm waters of San Francisco Bay. Plus, you can watch the ferries pull in and out of the pier.
3. Get Practical
Here are two practical matters to consider: timing and accessibility.
You’ll want to ensure you can get breakfast at PIER 39 in San Francisco at an actual breakfast time. For example, Eagle Cafe opens at 8 AM daily, but other restaurants and cafes in the area open later, closer to lunchtime.
You should also check on how easy it is to get to and from various PIER 39 breakfast restaurants and how convenient it is to eat there. Don’t forget parking! If you’re driving, you should know the PIER 39 garage costs $10 per hour on weekdays and $12 per hour on weekends. But some restaurants, like Eagle Cafe, offer one hour of free parking validation, so you’ll save as much as $10-$12 dining here.
4. Go for Ambiance
The view offered alongside your breakfast at PIER 39 in San Francisco adds a wow factor to your morning, but if you love a good story, you can also choose one of the area’s more historic restaurants.
A nearly century-old San Francisco landmark, Eagle Cafe opened in 1928. According to the Library of Congress, it was the city’s first steam passenger waiting room, serving longshoremen and active-duty military personnel.
Warren Simmons, the patriarch of the Simmons Family Waterfront Hospitality Group and founder of PIER 39, later purchased the restaurant from the Andreotti family. Though it took some fighting with the city’s Landmarks Board, he got approval to move the cafe to PIER 39. He put the entire restaurant on jacks and wheeled it from its Powell Street address down the Embarcadero to its present location.
Almost 100 years since opening its doors, Eagle Cafe continues to be family-owned and -operated. And it still serves some of the most scrumptious breakfasts at PIER 39 with a San Francisco Bay view so pretty, you could put it on a postcard.
5. Check on Your Personal Requirements
What are your needs when dining at PIER 39 breakfast restaurants? If you have a pet with you, you’ll need to check if you’re allowed to bring your fur baby when you have breakfast at PIER 39 in San Francisco. Fortunately, restaurants like Eagle Cafe allow well-behaved dogs in their outdoor dining area.
Are you following a particular diet? Apart from vegetarian dishes already on the menu, servers may take requests to have certain dishes prepared to suit your dietary preferences. At Eagle Cafe, certain menu items are also marked as gluten-free, which means they may be prepared gluten-free upon request.
Other considerations include your dress code (most places will require shirts and shoes, but otherwise allow casual outfits) and the size of your party, which may require early reservations. And if you’re an eco-conscious diner, you’ll be pleased to know that you can enjoy a guilt-free breakfast at PIER 39 in San Francisco with restaurants listed as part of the Ocean Friendly Restaurants program, like Eagle Cafe.
Breakfast at PIER 39 in San Francisco is a not-to-be-missed experience. With a little research and preparation, you can make sure you make the most of your morning on the Bay while filling your belly with flavor-packed eats.