Balboa Cafe

Love the service here!!!!!Best espresso martini in the city by far. I usually do not like espresso martinis, but I do really enjoy it here. Also have tried a cosmopolitan, hugo spritz and gin and tonic here which all were great. They play fun music and have a large interior and exterior where it is great to catch up with friends. I have not tried their food, but it is on my bucket list to come here for dinner! This is an iconic SF spot that is a must try.

MARTINI TOWERHere's was you do- order 12 espresso martinis and have so much fun!! I love that there is so much indoor and outdoor places to hang. Littleeee chilly outside but I also chose to go in the winter hehe

Came in for espresso martinis while doing a cross city bar crawl. I'm always hearing how good/popular the espresso martinis are, so there was no doubt this was going to be our Marina stop. It was a gorgeous fall day so the outdoor patio was filled up, but our group of 6 grabbed a spot at the bar to enjoy or drinks. Service from both the hosts and bartenders was warm and welcoming. The espresso martinis were top notch, not too sweet and a good kick of caffeine. We also got some fries and brussels to snack on. Fries reminded me of In-N-Out fries and the brussels were nice and crispy without being burnt. Can't say much about anything else here, but if you love a good tini, gotta check this place out!

The service and the house are very friendly and very nice.I was under the influence that this is one of the best Espresso martini on social media. The answer is false at least not the one that I have at that time the it tastes water down coffee with alcohol. My friend got the margarita and it taste pretty good. Then we got the chicken sandwich wrap with french fries I would say it's OK. It's not like extraordinary good. The french fries have a nice crunch to it. Lastly, I got the Horchata martini, because the espresso martini tastes horrible, but this tastes phenomenal! It's amazingly good! Just to be fair next time, I will order more items just to give a full valuation of this place, but the time when I went, it didn't view the hype that I was getting on social media.

My sister finally took me to her favorite stomping ground. I'm embarrassed to admit I had my first espresso martini and I was not disappointed AT ALL. I can see why this is their thing. The vibe here is unmatched. Be ready for a heavy crowd but wonderful service from the bartenders to security. Can't wait to be back when I'm in town again.

We stopped by for dinner and drinks on a Sunday afternoon around 5pm. We were sat outside on the patio which the stalls were too high and it was uncomfortable. Unfortunately our waitress hardly checked on us so it got too late and cold to order dinner and we just ended up going somewhere else after our appetizers and drinks.We did get to try a couple things:-Espresso Martini (4/5)Pretty good but I have had better -French fries (5/5)Crunchy exterior soft interior, just how I like them. -Bacon & Cheddar Croquette (5/5)I really enjoyed this. Like fried mashed potatoes with crispy prosciutto. Delicious I'd stop by if I was in the area again and was able to get a regular table outside or sit inside.

Balboa Cafe has my favorite fried chicken sandwich in San Francisco! The chicken is thin and crispy and the sandwich with the toppings tastes amazing. The sandwich comes with fries and seems reasonably priced for a sit down restaurant. Drinks here are great, I love the espresso martini, but I also come here just for the food even if I'm not drinking! It gets quite crowded at night so I prefer coming around brunch or lunchtime. The staff has been friendly and attentive every time I've been, and the seating inside is nice and comfy during cold weather, and sitting outside is great when the weather is good.

Loved it. Of course had the espresso martinis...yes they are fantastic. Lunch was great. Service was impeccable. Also been here for evening cocktails and it an be very CROWDED...but that is the vibe. Recommend 100%

The original reason my friends and I came here was to try the espresso martinis, since it's what they're known for apparently, but the drink in general just doesn't sit well with my body. Thus, when I tried my friend's drink I thought it was just alright, but I'm probably not the best person to ask.Nonetheless, the deviled eggs had a touch I hadn't had before with their pickled onions. Now I want every deviled egg to have it. The chicken and farro bowl was equally as delicious. I needed something light and this was just that. The myriad of ingredients all looked and tasted fresh. I don't even like olives, but they were mixed in so well. The chicken however was average. My Paloma had a bit of a smoky taste, which makes me believe it had mezcal tequila which I don't care for, but smokiness wasn't as strong as I've had in the past which I appreciate.This place is definitely good and was worth trying, but the price was just a bit too high for me given what we ordered. Service was great though so nothing to complain about there.

I had heard a lot about Balboa Cafe but never really go to the Marina. Since I was in the area this time, I decided to give it a try. The service was great, and the drinks lived up to the hype--they're known for their espresso martinis, and they did not disappoint.That said, I wouldn't go back simply because the crowd wasn't for me--it was giving retired frat boys and sorority girls, which isn't my vibe. But if that's your scene, you'll probably love it!