Fort Mason in San Francisco City and County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
The Buena Vista Cafe
Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, July 11, 2021
1. The Buena Vista Cafe Marker
Inscription.
The Buena Vista Cafe. . In 1886 a lodging house and saloon stood across the street to your left. The establishment hosted dockworkers and those coming to frolic at the popular swimming cove of Black Point Beach, now Aquatic Park. It would be named the Buena Vista Cafe in 1899.
The Buena Vista, meaning "good view” in Spanish, moved to this corner around 1907 and was rebuilt in its current Queen Anne style in 1911. Back then, the "BeeVee,” as it is still called by locals, was a favorite gathering place for fishermen and waterfront denizens.
Irish coffee was invented in 1943 by Joe Sheridan at the flying boat terminal at Foynes Airport in Ireland, later to be crafted at the nearby Shannon Airport.
On November 10, 1952, owner Jack Koeppler challenged travel writer Stanton Delaplane to recreate the famous Irish beverage. After many experiments they matched the flawless recipe. This caffeinated elixir became so popular that Sheridan would immigrate to America to work at the Buena Vista Cafe.
To this day, both locals and visitors from around the world start their morning here with a drop of Irish dew in a warmed glass chalice of delight. One could humbly say that the Buena Vista Cafe perfected this delicious, frothy, cream-topped libation.
In 1886 a lodging house and saloon stood across the street to your left.
The establishment hosted dockworkers and those coming to frolic at the popular
swimming cove of Black Point Beach, now Aquatic Park. It would be named
the Buena Vista Cafe in 1899.
The Buena Vista, meaning "good view” in Spanish, moved to this corner around
1907 and was rebuilt in its current Queen Anne style in 1911. Back then, the
"BeeVee,” as it is still called by locals, was a favorite gathering place for
fishermen and waterfront denizens.
Irish coffee was invented in 1943 by Joe Sheridan at the flying boat terminal at
Foynes Airport in Ireland, later to be crafted at the nearby Shannon Airport.
On November 10, 1952, owner Jack Koeppler challenged travel writer Stanton
Delaplane to recreate the famous Irish beverage. After many experiments they
matched the flawless recipe. This caffeinated elixir became so popular that
Sheridan would immigrate to America to work at the Buena Vista Cafe.
To this day, both locals and visitors from around the world start their morning
here with a drop of Irish dew in a warmed glass chalice of delight. One could
humbly say that the Buena Vista Cafe perfected this delicious,
frothy, cream-topped libation.
Erected 2020 by E Clampus Vitus Yerba Buena #1
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Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the E Clampus Vitus series list. A significant historical date for this entry is November 10, 1952.
Location. 37° 48.395′ N, 122° 25.24′ W. Marker is in San Francisco, California, in San Francisco City and County. It is in Fort Mason. Marker is at the intersection of Beach Street and Hyde Street, on the right when traveling east on Beach Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2765 Hyde Street, San Francisco CA 94109, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Also see . . . 1. Archives (The Buena Vista Cafe). Includes a short history of the cafe, as well as a number of photographs. (Submitted on July 12, 2021.)
Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, July 11, 2021
2. The Buena Vista Cafe Marker - wide view
The marker is visible here on the corner of the building, to the right of the entrance, with the Irish Coffee marker visible above it.
3. The Buena Vista Cafe in 1909 - photo on the wall in the Cafe
The Buena Vista looked like this until a wandering cable car came to rest against the Hyde Street side. The building was repaired to look as it does today. At this time, the shoreline was only a few yards from the front door, and customers sat on the wooden benches to watch horseshoes on the sandy beach.
Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, July 11, 2021
4. The Buena Vista Irish Coffee
Irish coffee (Irish: caife Gailege) is a cocktail consisting of hot coffee, Irish whiskey, and sugar (some recipes specify that brown sugar should be used), stirred, and topped with thick cream. The coffee is drunk through the cream. The original recipe explicitly uses cream that has not been whipped, although drinks made with whipped cream are often sold as "Irish coffee". The term "Irish coffee" is also sometimes used colloquially to refer to alcoholic coffee drinks in general. - Wikipedia
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 12, 2021, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 253 times since then and 47 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 12, 2021, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.
