Herb Caen wrote in 1987 that there was nothing much to do on the San Francisco waterfront aside from Pier 23 and Red’s Java House—which in retrospect is a pretty solid endorsement. Family-owned since 1985, Pier 23 Cafe has hosted Wynton Marsalis playing impromptu after Davies Symphony Hall, Sammy Hagar’s Cabo Wabo launch party, and Don Johnson’s crew during Nash Bridges. Johnny Depp interviewed Hunter S. Thompson over a bottle of tequila here. Guy Fieri has been coming for years. The beer garden faces Treasure Island across the bay; the back patio runs right along the water. Live music runs Thursday through Sunday. The Dungeness crab and clam chowder are the standards; the vibe is pure Embarcadero. A community cornerstone that’s been listed for sale off and on without anyone rushing.
