The Borderlands Cafe website homepage makes it clear just how welcome writers are here - “A nice place to sit, read, write and converse.” The offer free WiFi access from 9 am to 5 pm weekdays, a wealth of wall outlets and up-for-reading magazines, and an affiliated bookstore for science fiction, fantasy and horror fanatics. With this history and location, it’d be difficult not to feel inspired here. But Vesuvio Cafe has earned notoriety in its own right, as a favorite of Beat poets like Jack Kerouac.
Just the location alone-in North Beach, across from City Lights Bookstore-would be enough to earn this a spot on the list. They do put laptop and time restrictions on the larger tables during peak hours, so come early or late if you’re looking to write with a group. The immaculately decorated Lower Pacific Heights favorite is clean, comfortable, and affordable - a delicious breakfast and coffee will run you significantly less than your average spot, especially for the bougie Fillmore area. Significantly smaller than some of the other spots on the list, it’s undeniably worth jockeying for a seat even during crowded weekend hours. Whether you’re a screenwriter looking for inspiration, a novelist in need of a strong cup of Joe, or a student trying to get out of the library, here are a few special San Francisco cafes perfect for scribes looking for a jolt of inspiration.
