Caffè Trieste

Caffè Trieste, opened in North Beach in 1956, claims to be the first espresso house on the U.S. West Coast and became a regular gathering place for Beat Generation writers and local artists. Notable literary figures such as Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac are recorded visitors, and the cafe is frequently cited in histories of San Francisco's Bohemian and literary culture. The original location continues to operate as a neighborhood espresso bar and cultural landmark.