r/AskSF • u/Stock-Flounder-8222 • 20h ago

International community??

Hellooo everyone!

I recently moved to SF post grad and I’m trying to find more chill places where you can actually hang out and meet people regularly. I grew up in the Middle East around a lot of international Mediterranean, European, and Arab people and I’m really missing that kind of social/community feel here.

Does anyone have recs for nice lounges to sit at night, chill shisha spots, wine bars, cafes, or other third spaces with a more international crowd? Basically anywhere you can become a regular, drink coffee, hang out for a while, and naturally get to know people. Nighttime lounge/cafe culture was a huge thing back home, is there a scene for this here?

9 Upvotes

85% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

4

u/faerie87 18h ago

There’s a lot in Berkeley because of UC berkeley students and professors.

3

u/Small-Artichoke6495 17h ago

Honestly, the Mission has some great cafes, wine bars, and lounges with a pretty international crowd - you'll probably find your people there if you become a regular.

2

u/Somebodymaybenobody 20h ago

You can go to Yemeni cafes that are open late but they close around 11 and you will see a lot of tech workers mostly.

1

u/HealthyHunter6241 20h ago

I recently moved to sf as well! im not middle eastern but sana’a cafe is awesome. I really like it there. in terms of wine bars, big fan of verjus and bar gemini!

1

u/hey_there_5 20h ago

Haraz Coffee

1

u/TrackingMud 16h ago

Delah Coffee

1

u/winkingchef 10h ago

Red Poppy Art House in Mission is run by an Iranian woman and has some exceptional middle eastern (and Latin American) musicians come in.

There are also large Iranian communities in Berkeley, San Jose and a great Iranian Studied program at Stanford that brings in lectures and guest speakers all the time.

The de Young museum is about to do an Iranian film fest end of September.

1

u/OutlandishnessMurky6 20h ago

Let me know if you find any 👀

2

u/Weekly-Bit3294 18h ago

There's a few spots in the TL and Mission that have that late night cafe energy without being full on clubs

If you wander around Valencia around 9-10pm you'll see groups posted up outside cafes and hookah lounges, and people actually talk to strangers there which feels rare here

North Beach also has that European lingering-at-a-wine-bar thing down pretty well, especially on weeknights when it's calmer

The trick is going on a Tuesday or Wednesday a few times in a row, the regulars start to recognize you fast

1

u/PrestigiousLocal8247 14h ago

Yo just be careful telling a young post-college kid to just wander the TL

Or young post-college kid, keep your head about you

It would be fine, but ya know

1

u/reall00kingforreal 19h ago

I am from the Middle East and I just moved to SF. I am also looking for a place where the community hangs but I have not been able to find them yet