Balboa Cafe is well known for its iconic espresso martinis, which regularly draws packed crowds on the weekend, spilling out into the sidewalks and sipping specialty drinks. The bar and grill opened over 100 years ago and has been going strong since. Now, the restaurant is opening a new location, at SFO.
SFO spokesperson Doug Yakel confirmed that Balboa Cafe will be opening a sit-down restaurant in Terminal 1 at SFO. For now, there’s no opening date for the new location. Balboa isn’t the only new addition to SFO; the airport is also adding a new food hall in Terminal 1, featuring food and drinks from iconic SF bars and restaurants. Plus, Green Apple Books recently opened a location in SFO, adding yet another beloved SF business to their ranks. SFO was recently named the best airport in North America by Business Traveler Magazine. Travelers noted SFO’s many dining options and kid-friendly amenities.
About Balboa Cafe
Balboa Cafe first opened in 1913, and many of the original elements still remain. The long wood bar is over 100 years old, and the original sign and photos on the walls remain. The restaurant features white linen tablecloths and a classic bistro menu. Dark wood paneling matches the bar in the center of the dining room, while bartenders in white coats are bustling around making their now famous espresso martinis. Later in the evening on weekends, the restaurant is a packed bar, complete with an outdoor area. It’s not unusual to see a line out the door on a Saturday night, rain or shine. In 1995, Plumpjack Group, a hospitality group founded by Governor Gavin Newsom, bought Balboa Café. The new owners kept many of the original elements, adding small updates to the restaurant.
Balboa’s new location is a big move, considering how little the restaurant has changed in over 100 years. While there’s no timeline for the opening of the SFO location yet, you can still sip on your favorite espresso martini at the original location on Fillmore Street.