When the chilly city weather comes to greet San Francisco for the holiday season, there's nothing better than grabbing a hot cup of a delicious festive-themed pick-me-up. From winter-spiced lattes, to peppermint mochas and delightfully creamy hot chocolates, here are the best holiday coffee specials to warm up around the city.
See also: Best Bay Area Cafes With Fall-Themed Drinks
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Various / Website
Local-born Peet's has unveiled three jolly creations that perfectly fit their revamped festive cup designs for all their new and loyal Peetniks- a special-made Holiday Spiced Latte, their beloved Peppermint Mocha, and their brand new Holiday Spice Cold Brew Oat Latte with Brown Sugar Jelly. The sweet jellies make the perfect textural component to balance their creamy oat milk and silky Baridi Cold Brew for an iced refresher that's as wintery as it is authentically Bay Area. Also don't forget to grab a bag of their 2022 Holiday Blend for curated cup that's bold and comforting.
See also: How Peet's Coffee Is Integral To The SF Bay Area's Past, Present, And Future
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451 9th St / Website
Telescope Coffee is a POC & women-run shop in SOMA that serves handmade pastries, inventive culturally-inspired lattes, and best of all, a genuinely kind and friendly atmosphere. Whether you crave their highly-popular Marshall Farm's Honeycomb Latte or any of their new creations, Telescope makes for the perfect treat when exploring the historic Folsom or fabulous Design District areas.
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Rooftop, 181 Fremont Street / (415) 375-5984 / Website
Andytown's Snowy Plover is a year-round favorite due to the uniquely airy foam topping that adds perfect texture and cutely resembles Karl the Fog. For winter, try their Minty Mochas with housemade whipped cream when visiting their elevated Salesforce Park location for a drink that's as picturesque as the surrounding nature.
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1 Ferry Building, 7 / Website
Blue Bottle Coffee in the Ferry Building is always buzzing with fans, perhaps because of their proximity to the Embarcadero's scenic waterfront on which to precisely enjoy hot coffee with! This year try their hot or spiced NOLA versions for variations on a summery favorite, or take home their Winter Coffee Sets to gift the coffee connoisseur in your life (even if it's yourself).
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301 Divisadero St. / (415) 522-0112 / Website
Sightglass Coffee's SOMA location is a sunny warehouse with alluring coffee scents and a warm ambience, both in the service and from their comforting interior. Let their freshly roasted fragrances draw you in for an afternoon delight with their decadent Vanilla Paste Latte or their limited edition Winter Solstice Blend with notes of fruity marzipan and black currant.
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601 Mission Bay Boulevard North / (415) 971-7908 / Website
Over in Mission Bay, Spark Social's SPRO is renowned for their creatively intricate coffee concoctions that are impressively inventive and packed with complex flavors. With their fresh pastries and sandwiches, their charming truck makes for an irresistable brunch choice to enjoy out on the water.
Also do not miss out on their new Mission location to take a wintery cup over to Dolores Park!
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1026 Valencia St / (415) 641-1011 / Website
Ritual on Mission's Valencia Street is an excellent choice to warm up with when strolling through the culturally vibrant wonderland. With adventurous creations, look out for their new holiday specials to take to either Dolores Park or around any of Valencia's refined retail shops for ideal holiday shopping.
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3901 18th St / (415) 757-0409 / Website
Of course, we couldn't leave out hot chocolate! For a playful take on the classic, head to queer-and-Filipino-owned Kokak Chocolates in the Castro for their Spiced Hot Chocolate with cinnamon, brown sugar, and cayenne. Beloved for their reimaginings of classic cultural treats, this cocoa with a kick pays tribute to the traditional Mayan drink and elevates it using fresh high-quality chocolate with creamy berry notes.
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740 Valencia St. / (415) 349-0942 / Website
Dandelion Chocolate also boasts a spicy Mission Hot Chocolate, but also a seasonal Mint Hot Chocolate for those who crave the alternative. Over in the Mission, Potrero, or the Ferry Building, you'll definitely feel like a kid again as their factory and fresh creations captivate you.
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2018 Clement St / (415) 702-9244 / Website
Home Cafe is a Richmond District landmark for the cutest latte art and cozy inviting ambience that definitely feels like "home." Aside from their luscious Birthday Cake Latte, gift yourself their creamy Nutella or fun Cookie Monster Latte for a cup that tastes as magical as it looks.
San Francisco is truly a winter wonderland decked out with the most inventive and flavorful holiday coffee creations that will make you feel like you've entered a Hallmark movie just from the first cozy sip!
See also: All The Coziest And Most Delightful Coffee Shops In San Francisco For a Rainy Day
Photography by: Courtesy of Kate Laine/Unsplash
