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10 Coffee Shops That Offer More Than Just Croissants

Salads, grain bowls, juices, and more

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With the typical cafe sustenance selection revolving around cinnamon buns, buttery croissants, and sugary muffins, it's tough to not indulge while getting your daily caffeine fix. And while there's no denying that those chocolate-dipped biscotti pair perfectly with your almond milk cappuccino, there are plenty of places serving up more nourishing options for the health conscious. To keep your day on track in this hotbed of temptation, we've rounded up a list of spots ideal for a morning brew or afternoon coffee break that also subscribe to eating clean.

Whether you're looking for a pick-me-up during a jog along the Embarcadero (in which case, be sure to check out the all-organic fare at The Plant), or hoping to pair your cup of coffee with a snack that will start the day off right (like the avocado toast at Réveille Coffee Co.), or simply hoping to catch up with friends without wrecking your diet (a salad at Tartine Manufactory, anyone?), there are plenty of places that offer a health-conscious alternative.

Looking for the hottest coffee shops in the city, food be damned? Head right this way.

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As Quoted

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Organic, gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, soy-free, and just about any other “free”, As Quoted is a cafe for nearly anyone trying to eat clean. Think salads, open-faced sandwiches (on gluten-free bread, of course), and bone broth soups that are perfect for a chilly day, which — as Presidio Heights residents know well — is most days. The bright, open space has clean lines and plenty of seating if you want to stay and enjoy one of many almond-milk latte options.

Blue Danube Coffee House

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While it might not look like much from the outside, this casual coffee shop is a neighborhood favorite amongst Richmond District residents. It’s a cozy spot with plush couches and donated books that make it an inviting space to sip your morning coffee and enjoy creative salads, wraps and sandwiches. There’s also a little outdoor seating to soak up some Vitamin D while getting that buzz.

Darwin Cafe

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Best for a grab-and-go cappuccino and snack, Darwin is the clean eating darling of SOMA. With very limited seating, this cozy spot gets packed during peak lunch hours, so it's best to go early or take something for the road. Its signature dish is an epic kale salad with prosciutto and poached eggs.

Ever crave a breakfast frisee salad? You will now. This casual little spot is a favorite for Pacific Heights residents and day visitors needing a brew and a quick bite. Plenty of creative salads make up the menu around lunchtime, while breakfast has gems like the quinoa bowl with sweet potato and brussels sprouts, egg white sandwich, and vegan triple-berry muesli. Check out Jane's two other locations (one in the Tenderloin, the other further down Fillmore) for more of the same.

Newtree Cafe & Chocolate Shop

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While this coffee shop is best known for its almond milk lattes and selection of chocolates, it's also an all-organic purveyor of delicious, nutritious food. Think quinoa burgers and egg wraps in whole wheat lavash. There are pastries, but even those are mostly gluten-free or vegan options. There’s also dairy-free butternut squash soup and tomato soups for the lactose intolerant.

Nourish Cafe SF

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Started by fitness-focused friends, Nourish bills itself as a 100 percent plant-based eatery that only uses organic, whole foods. With minimal oil and only natural sweeteners, this Richmond District gem is the go-to spot for clean eating and a brew — an organic brew, of course. The menu includes whole grain and veggie-packed salads, acai bowls and an array of gluten-free toasts. If you’re in the mood for something a tad more indulgent, there’s a quinoa waffle made with almond flour and sweetened with bananas, as well as fresh juices and smoothies.

Nourish Cafe

Réveille Coffee Co.

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Now with four locations, Reveille is a bright and stylish coffee shop that’s a no-brainer for getting your morning caffeine fix and a healthy meal. While it offers a full menu of breakfast, lunch, and dinner, there are plenty of options for on-the-go snacks. Think avocado toast and salmon tartine, as well as a large selection of grain bowls and hearty salads.

Seed & Salt

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This vegan, gluten-free quick service spot seems fitting for San Francisco’s fittest neighborhood. There’s virtually nothing at Seed & Salt that wouldn’t get a nutritional thumbs-up, including the cafe’s beet burger, cashew-dill cream cheese sandwich, and eggplant BLT — all of which might make you think you’re having a cheat day. To sip on, there’s a cold brew and Proyecto Diaz coffee, a local roaster out of Oakland.

Tartine Manufactory

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One of the newest and most beautiful spots in San Francisco to down some coffee and grab a bite also happens to have some wholesome options to nibble on. This stylish spot has an all-new menu that includes options like a green farro salad with sunflower seeds, roasted delicata flatbread, and greek yogurt with housemade granola and fruit. It is definitely still a bakery though, if you decide to indulge in bread pudding, croissants, or even ice cream.

The Plant Cafe Organic

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With eight locations and counting, the Plant Organic is the go-to spot for both vegetarians and omnivores in need of a fuel up. Good for a quick bite or full-course meal, this breezy spot has creative menu options like pumpkin seed and cornmeal-crusted tempeh. Also, every menu item is marked if it's not 100 percent organic.

As Quoted

Organic, gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, soy-free, and just about any other “free”, As Quoted is a cafe for nearly anyone trying to eat clean. Think salads, open-faced sandwiches (on gluten-free bread, of course), and bone broth soups that are perfect for a chilly day, which — as Presidio Heights residents know well — is most days. The bright, open space has clean lines and plenty of seating if you want to stay and enjoy one of many almond-milk latte options.

Blue Danube Coffee House

While it might not look like much from the outside, this casual coffee shop is a neighborhood favorite amongst Richmond District residents. It’s a cozy spot with plush couches and donated books that make it an inviting space to sip your morning coffee and enjoy creative salads, wraps and sandwiches. There’s also a little outdoor seating to soak up some Vitamin D while getting that buzz.

Darwin Cafe

Best for a grab-and-go cappuccino and snack, Darwin is the clean eating darling of SOMA. With very limited seating, this cozy spot gets packed during peak lunch hours, so it's best to go early or take something for the road. Its signature dish is an epic kale salad with prosciutto and poached eggs.

Jane

Ever crave a breakfast frisee salad? You will now. This casual little spot is a favorite for Pacific Heights residents and day visitors needing a brew and a quick bite. Plenty of creative salads make up the menu around lunchtime, while breakfast has gems like the quinoa bowl with sweet potato and brussels sprouts, egg white sandwich, and vegan triple-berry muesli. Check out Jane's two other locations (one in the Tenderloin, the other further down Fillmore) for more of the same.

Newtree Cafe & Chocolate Shop

While this coffee shop is best known for its almond milk lattes and selection of chocolates, it's also an all-organic purveyor of delicious, nutritious food. Think quinoa burgers and egg wraps in whole wheat lavash. There are pastries, but even those are mostly gluten-free or vegan options. There’s also dairy-free butternut squash soup and tomato soups for the lactose intolerant.

Nourish Cafe SF

Started by fitness-focused friends, Nourish bills itself as a 100 percent plant-based eatery that only uses organic, whole foods. With minimal oil and only natural sweeteners, this Richmond District gem is the go-to spot for clean eating and a brew — an organic brew, of course. The menu includes whole grain and veggie-packed salads, acai bowls and an array of gluten-free toasts. If you’re in the mood for something a tad more indulgent, there’s a quinoa waffle made with almond flour and sweetened with bananas, as well as fresh juices and smoothies.

Nourish Cafe

Réveille Coffee Co.

Now with four locations, Reveille is a bright and stylish coffee shop that’s a no-brainer for getting your morning caffeine fix and a healthy meal. While it offers a full menu of breakfast, lunch, and dinner, there are plenty of options for on-the-go snacks. Think avocado toast and salmon tartine, as well as a large selection of grain bowls and hearty salads.

Seed & Salt

This vegan, gluten-free quick service spot seems fitting for San Francisco’s fittest neighborhood. There’s virtually nothing at Seed & Salt that wouldn’t get a nutritional thumbs-up, including the cafe’s beet burger, cashew-dill cream cheese sandwich, and eggplant BLT — all of which might make you think you’re having a cheat day. To sip on, there’s a cold brew and Proyecto Diaz coffee, a local roaster out of Oakland.

Tartine Manufactory

One of the newest and most beautiful spots in San Francisco to down some coffee and grab a bite also happens to have some wholesome options to nibble on. This stylish spot has an all-new menu that includes options like a green farro salad with sunflower seeds, roasted delicata flatbread, and greek yogurt with housemade granola and fruit. It is definitely still a bakery though, if you decide to indulge in bread pudding, croissants, or even ice cream.

The Plant Cafe Organic

With eight locations and counting, the Plant Organic is the go-to spot for both vegetarians and omnivores in need of a fuel up. Good for a quick bite or full-course meal, this breezy spot has creative menu options like pumpkin seed and cornmeal-crusted tempeh. Also, every menu item is marked if it's not 100 percent organic.

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