San Francisco: Irish Coffee at the Buena Vista Cafe

This post is for Aaron.

When you think about San Francisco, what comes to mind?

Cable cars?  Golden Gate Bridge?  Alcatraz?  Shopping, the arts, the many scenic spots in the city?  Great food, fun little neighborhood, the Giants?

Oh sure, I think about all those things.  But I also think about Irish Coffee at the Buena Vista Café.

The Buena Vista is located at the corner of Hyde and Beach, in a building that was at one time a boarding house.  In 1916, the site was converted into a saloon.  The name Buena Vista is Spanish for “Good View” which is exactly what the saloon offered ““ great views, in fact, of the San Francisco Bay.

Legend has it, that the Irish Coffee was invented at the Buena Vista on November 10, 1952 by then-owner of the Buena Vista, Jack Koeppler, and Pulitzer Prize winning travel writer, Stanton Delaplane.  At the time, the challenge was to recreate a drink served at Shannon Airport (Ireland).  The two gentleman poured, and mixed, all night, but the drink still wasn’t quite right ““ the cream wouldn’t float on the top of the hot coffee drink.

Jack Koeppler wouldn’t give up, and eventually made a trip to Ireland to try to figure out what was needed to make the drink work.  When he returned, and after much more experimentation, the right combination was found:  The perfect Irish whiskey, the perfectly aged cream, and the perfect cup of coffee.  Thus the birth of the Irish Coffee in the United States.

Today, that same recipe is used by the Buena Vista, and while it is often copied, they claim it has never been equaled.  I’ve had many an Irish Coffee, in a variety of locations, and I think I agree.

The Buena Vista is open Monday-Friday, 9 am-2 am, and weekends 8 am-2 am.  A full menu is available, in addition to cocktails.  The signature Irish Coffee is also served at their café located in the domestic terminal of San Francisco International Airport.