Authentic Italian Cuisine

Cafe Zoetrope

Named for Francis Coppola’s venerable production company, American Zoetrope, Cafe Zoetrope is located in the majestic Sentinel Building, a San Francisco historic landmark in the heart of North Beach.

Cafe Zoetrope is a European-style cafe and offer authentic Italian cuisine and a wide selection of Italian and California wines, including our premium offerings that we carry exclusively at our wineries, cafes and website.

One-of-a-kind mementos spanning Francis’ long and celebrated film career decorate the walls while the awnings and heated sidewalks make it comfortable to dine outside even in foggy San Francisco weather.

Image of a street corner featuring the green historic building that houses Cafe Zoetrope with its ornate architecture, a restaurant with a red awning on the ground floor, and the pointed Transamerica Pyramid skyscraper in the background. The sky is clear, and the street is lightly trafficked.
A plate of food with sliced roasted potatoes, greens, and a piece of steak sits next to a menu from Café Zoetrope. Another partial dish is visible on a wooden board. The marble-patterned table has a greenish hue reminiscent of the cafe's charming decor.

Featured On

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The image shows the logo for "Good Food," reminiscent of the charming Cafe Zoetrope aesthetic. The words "GOOD" and "FOOD" are written in capital letters, with "GOOD" in red and "FOOD" in green. Red and green horizontal bars are placed above and below the words, respectively.
Tripadvisor's logo, featuring a stylized owl eyes icon with red and green circles at the center of each eye, is as iconic as San Francisco's Ghirardelli Square. Below the owl, the word "tripadvisor" is written in a mix of lowercase black ("trip") and green ("advisor") letters.

Our Specialties

Authentic Italian cuisine and award-winning wines, located in the majestic Sentinel Building in San Francisco.

Linguini alla Vongole

$25

Linguini pasta cooked al dente, fresh clams, white wine, lemon and chilli flakes

A dish of linguine pasta topped with freshly steamed clams, garnished with parsley and bits of crushed red pepper, served in a white bowl. The clams, open to reveal tender, juicy meat nestled in the pasta, will transport you straight to Cafe Zoetrope.

Caesar Salad

$13

A house Specialty, created originally at the Sentinel building at Caesar’s Grill in 1924

A close-up view of a Caesar salad on a white plate at Cafe Zoetrope. The salad consists of crisp romaine lettuce, grated Parmesan cheese, croutons, and anchovy fillets on top. The background shows a soft focus of another dish on a table.

Braised Lamb Shank

$32

Braised Lamb Shank in red wine sauce with creamy polenta and sautéed broccoli rabe

At Cafe Zoetrope, a succulent roasted lamb shank glazed with sauce is served on a bed of creamy polenta. The dish is elegantly presented on a white plate, with a glass of red wine in the background, creating an inviting and appetizing scene.

Pizza Luigino

$20

Tomato, mozzarella, oregano, and basil

A close-up of a Margherita pizza garnished with fresh basil leaves on a white plate at Cafe Zoetrope. The pizza has a crispy, slightly charred crust and is topped with tomato sauce and melted mozzarella cheese. In the background, a plate of fresh arugula salad is partially visible.

Muffuletta

$12-$30

New Orleans style with ham, genoa salami, mortadella, provolone, mozzarella, and giardiniera on house-made bread

A close-up of a half-cut sandwich on a white plate. The sandwich features layers of ham, cheese, and other fillings between a sesame seed bun. Wrapped in Cafe Zoetrope's branded red and white paper, the plate sits on a turquoise surface.

Spaghetti and Meatballs

$25

Francis Ford Coppola’s beef, pork, and veal meatball recipe

A plate of spaghetti with two large meatballs covered in tomato sauce, garnished with a sprig of basil. Behind the plate are a small jar, a bottle of olive oil from Cafe Zoetrope, and a salt shaker. A spoon is placed in front of the plate on a dark marble surface.

A Culinary Experience
You'll Never Forget

From the pizza oven to your plate

Come join us for

Cafe Zoetrope
Happy Hour

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Our Renowned Staff

Meet Our Hospitality Experts

Cafe Zoetrope, opened in 1999, was created with much thought from Coppola. Many of the items on the menu are his own recipes and the European ambience is something he cultivated.

A person with a beard and glasses is wearing a white hat with a black band and a light-colored jacket, seemingly ready to enjoy their day at Cafe Zoetrope. The background is plain and light-colored.

Francis Coppola

Founder / Owner

A person with short, dark hair and a white dress shirt adorned with a black bow tie smiles at the camera. The background features framed pictures and reflections on glass, evoking the warm ambiance of Cafe Zoetrope.

David Cervantes

No Title Necessary

A close-up of a man smiling at the camera inside Cafe Zoetrope. He has short, dark hair and is wearing a white shirt. His skin is slightly glistening, possibly from sweat. The background is indoors and appears to be out of focus.

Mauricio Umanzor

Lead Cook / Pizza Maker

A woman with long, curly dark hair is smiling while looking at the camera. She is indoors at Cafe Zoetrope, with light brown wooden walls and a black-and-white framed picture in the background. She is wearing a light-colored top.

Lidia Valledor

Director of Food and Beverage

Reserve A Table

Contact Us.

If you want to make a reservation or have any questions, please call Cafe Zoetrope. 

For Restaurant

Open Hours

Sun - Thur
12 PM - 6 PM
Fri - Sat
12 PM - 8 PM
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