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Wayfare Tavern, San Francisco, CA

Wayfare Tavern

4.6
4.6
7419 Reviews
$30 and under
American
Top Tags:
Chef Tyler Florence brings his passion for high quality and style to San Francisco with his new flagship restaurant, Wayfare Tavern. A classic San Francisco Tavern featuring authentic American dishes inspired by local cuisine at the turn of the 20th century, the menu ranges from classic comforts to rustic delicacies. The beverage menu features locally-sourced wines including a selection of Florence's own label, quality draft beers and organic root beer as well as classic Victorian-era cocktails.

All three floors of the restaurant have been designed keeping historical accuracy in mind making Wayfare Tavern reminiscent of a Victorian parlor and an Edwardian men's club, where anything goes from black-tie to blue jeans. Pull up a stool to the Chef's Counter at the open kitchen and look on as Chef prepares your lunch or head to the Library and Billiard Room for a game of pool. Wayfare Tavern is a truly unparalleled dining experience translated from a century ago. Photo: John Lee.

Make a reservation

2 people
8:30 PM
Booked 123 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Private dining

Private dining

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Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    American, Contemporary American
  • Hours of operation
    Lunch Daily 11:30 am–5:00 pm Brunch Sat, Sun 11:30 am–3:00 pm Dinner Mon, Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Tue–Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (415) 772-9060
  • Website
    http://www.wayfaretavern.com/
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Executive chef
    Tyler Florence
  • Catering
  • Private party facilities
    Wayfare Tavern is a true gathering place for private events of all types. We offer several options to accommodate intimate family dinners, weddings and receptions, corporate events, social gatherings, and full restaurant buy outs.
  • Private party contact
    our Event Team: (415) 772-9060
  • Location
    558 Sacramento Street, San Francisco, CA 94111
  • Neighborhood
    Financial District / Embarcadero
  • Cross street
    Montgomery & Sansome
  • Parking details
    **PARKING GARAGES NEAR US 1 Embarcadero Center; Portsmouth Square Garage, 733 Kearny St
  • Public transit
    Muni: Clay & Montgomery stops; Sansome & Sacramento stops. Cable car stops one block away on California Street.
  • Entertainment
    Within our second floor dining room, we have a Billiard Room available for parties up to 16. The room has double pained glass doors and features an antique tin ceiling, vintage red felt pool table. To make ordering easy, the room has a red "hot" phone which direct dials to ordering food and cocktails. Reservations are suggested and the room is available upon availability.
  • Additional
    Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Featured in

What 7,419 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.6
4.6 based on recent ratings
  • 4.6Food
  • 4.5Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.3Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • San Francisco

    American

  • San Francisco

    Most Booked

7,416 Reviews

  1. Crags

    San Francisco

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Truly a San Francisco gem. Recommend everything on the menu; however, the salmon is always consistently amazing and like nothing else I have ever had.

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  2. OpenTable Diner

    Central Coast

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    overall5food4service5ambience5
    Great brunch. First time here for an early meal on a weekend. Very quiet and chill compared to the usual happy hour after work.

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  3. FS0211

    San Francisco

    27 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    27 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    overall5food4service5ambience5
    Love the vibe of this restaurant. The menu is always well executed. I'm 5 stars all the way around but gave food 4 stars not because of quality but because some must haves on a menu weren't there. I was shocked there was not at least one steak type red meat option. That's must at a restaurant like Wayfare. Felt like a big miss that the only red meat option on the menu was a burger which is more a lunch menu item.

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  4. Doug

    San Francisco

    3 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    overall3food2service4ambience4
    Tyler, the fried chicken was so dry. I don’t know if it was just our batch but a Costco chicken is more moist and tasty. My daughter and I were both disappointed. The deviled eggs and salad were very good. I had been looking forward to trying Wayfare Tavern for a long time & expected more. Love the place/location but the chicken was disappointing.

    Wayfare TavernResponded today

    Thanks for swinging by Wayfare Tavern! We were happy to read that you enjoyed our deviled eggs and salad. As for the chicken, we are sorry it left you disappointed, while we love a Costco rotisserie ourselves we hold ourselves to a higher standard. We always take feedback seriously and use it to improve. We're grateful for your visit and hope to impress you more on your next stop. Cheers to better chicken adventures ahead!

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  5. amym

    Seattle

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    overall5food4service5ambience5
    Had a business dinner with my colleagues. The restaurant was festive, our server was attentive and did not rush us, the food was delicious and the overall evening was special.

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  6. SteveH

    San Francisco

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    I went for my birthday dinner. The stars were the fried chicken and the butterscotch pudding (simply amazing).

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  7. SandiC

    San Francisco

    15 reviews

    4.0

    15 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    overall4food5service4ambience4
    I love this restaurant! The food is great, but it is incredibly noisy and VERY crowded.

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  8. OpenTable Diner

    San Francisco

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 6 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great place to eat and hang out. Will definitely be back.

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  9. OpenTable Diner

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    2.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    overall2food3service2ambience5
    I have been to Wayfare many times and love it. Unfortunately I brought 4 school board members hoping for the same Experience and was so disappointed. I specifically requested a large booth and we were crunched into a table for 4 upstairs with an extra chair pulled up To the table. Food was just ok and service was ok not the usual wonderful service.

    Wayfare TavernResponded 5 days ago

    Dear Guest, Thank you for choosing Wayfare for your recent visit. I deeply regret any inconvenience you experienced during your time with us, especially regarding the seating arrangement. I understand the significance of your request for a large booth. While we strive to accommodate all preferences, our seating is often limited based on reservation sizes. As we enter the busiest time of the year we can't always accommodate specific requests, but we always try! We value your patronage and hope to provide you with a more delightful experience during your next visit.

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  10. MattW

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 28, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Always have a great experience here…from the food to the service, great spot!

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  11. mevh

    Tahoe

    18 reviews

    4.0

    18 reviews

    Dined on November 26, 2023

    overall4food5service5ambience4
    The meals are incredible and the service excellent. You won’t be disappointed by dining here.

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  12. MollyRomeo

    San Francisco

    8 reviews

    2.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on November 26, 2023

    overall2food3service2ambience3
    I always enjoy Wayfaire Tavern, but last night was the first time I really questioned if I would go back. My food was consistently COLD! That's atrocious in a restaurant!! The waiter was so marginal that it put a damper on the night. He was sullen and did not warm up, and I don't expect a waiter to be our entertainment, but we would have rather not dealt with him. There were so many ancillary staff running around to the point of distraction. The downstairs was FREEZING, and we had to keep our coats the entire dinner. There were just too many things that did not work, and Wayfare Tavern has to remember there are tons of better restaurants in the City.

    Wayfare TavernResponded on November 28, 2023

    Dear Molly, We deeply apologize for your recent experience at Wayfare Tavern. We understand your disappointment and are deeply sorry for your experience. Please know that we are aware that guests have many choices and we always strive to deliver the best possible service and food to our guests. Your feedback is invaluable, and we're committed to addressing these issues promptly to ensure a better visit should you consider returning. Thank you for bringing this to our attention. Sincerely, Wayfare Tavern Management

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  13. ElizabethW

    New York Area

    3 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on November 25, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great friendly service and wonderful fried chicken.

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  14. OpenTable Diner

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 24, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Wonderful food, service and atmosphere …the fried chicken and burger are both amazing!!

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  15. Foodie

    San Francisco

    34 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    34 reviews

    Dined on November 21, 2023

    overall3food3service2ambience3
    so disappointed. this used to be one of my favorite spots. the service folks were nice and attentive but food quality and timing has declined so bad. my favorite popovers were cold and hard - like they sat in the basket since yesterday. we ordered deviled eggs which came out quick and were delicious. we all ordered burgers and fried chicken sandwich- took over 30 minutes to get this. i had to ask twice - and then the food came was cold and sooo bland. fried chicken was my favorite but apparently they have forgotten how to make it. i had to ask for salt which they had to go get and bring me in a bowl- took a while too - apparently no salt shakers. no adjustment to the bill or acknowledgement for poor timed service. i will not be back. such a shame.

    Wayfare TavernResponded on November 28, 2023

    Dear Foodie, I'm truly sorry to hear about your disappointing visit to our establishment. Your feedback means a lot to us, and it's disheartening to learn that we fell short of meeting your expectations, especially considering your previous positive experiences with us. Your concerns about the service timing and the need to request salt are entirely valid, and I assure you that we take this feedback seriously. Please know that this is not indicative of our usual standards, and we will be thoroughly addressing these issues with our team to prevent any recurrence in the future. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to improve. Sincerely Wayfare Tavern Management

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  16. JohnC

    San Francisco

    5 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on November 21, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great food and service, as usual. I will come back again.

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  17. Gourmetgal14

    San Francisco

    78 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    78 reviews

    Dined on November 19, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We were pleased with everything we ordered. The popovers are a treat and the Popover Man always makes us smile. The truffled deviled eggs were extra creamy and delicious. Fried chicken with the roasted garlic and rosemary was perfect with the butter lettuce salad. And we shared the Brioche French Toast with fresh berries. An ideal meal with good friends at Wayfare is one of our favorite outings.

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  18. OpenTable Diner

    San Francisco

    1 review

    vip
    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 19, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    An amazing boutique restaurant in the heart of San Francisco

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  19. cityexplorer

    San Francisco

    29 reviews

    5.0

    29 reviews

    Dined on November 18, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great food Fantastic service. Tables are a little close but that just means it’s a little easier to get a table. Fried chicken is the best!

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  20. AliciaT

    San Francisco

    20 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    20 reviews

    Dined on November 17, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Love the fried chicken plus Dean the bartender is very professional and entertaining. Gray service.

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  21. GordonC

    San Francisco

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 17, 2023

    overall2food2service2ambience2
    Attentive service was not a strength. Waiter ignored us for initial 10 minutes after being seated. Only after placing an order did he become of service. Food was OK with some tasty bits. The preparations were generally on the greasy side. This was a surprise as I expected a better offering. It was a Meh! experience and I would not return.

    Wayfare TavernResponded on November 28, 2023

    I want to express my sincere apologies for the lack of attentive service you experienced during your recent visit. Your feedback is incredibly valuable, and I regret that we fell short of providing the level of service and dining experience we aim for. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us; it's through feedback like yours that we can improve and provide a better experience for our valued guests.

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  22. WilliamM

    San Francisco

    25 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    25 reviews

    Dined on November 14, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Great food as always but was disappointed that to participate with the sf restaurant week everyone at the table had to select it. Erica was our waitress and totally awesome!

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  23. ElizabethB

    Los Angeles

    2 reviews

    1.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 13, 2023

    overall1food2service1ambience2
    Rude service like always. I keep coming back hoping it was just a particular server but am disappointed every time. This used to be a staple for the financial district and is an SF classic but everyone who works there tarnishes the experience and reputation.

    Wayfare TavernResponded on November 28, 2023

    I'm truly sorry to learn about the recurring disappointing experiences you've had with our service. Your loyalty and continued patronage mean a great deal to us, and it's disheartening to hear that our service has consistently fallen short of your expectations. Your feedback is invaluable as it guides us in making the necessary improvements to restore the exceptional reputation we've built over the years.

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  24. DeanL

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 13, 2023

    overall4food4service4ambience5
    San Francisco rest week got me into the rest, and I'll certainly return.

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  25. OpenTable Diner

    San Francisco

    3 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on November 11, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We had an outstanding dinner experience last night. The food was delicious & the ambiance fun & lively. For appetizers, don’t miss the fried chicken, deviled eggs & beef tartare. We had 2 of the specials for main courses, the petrale sole & the petite filet. Both were cooked perfectly and delicious. Don’t miss dessert either. The donuts are to die for as well as the profiteroles and chocolate pot de crème. The staff took excellent care of us. We’ll definitely be back soon!

    Is this helpful?

  26. Jvdpdx

    Palm Springs

    28 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    28 reviews

    Dined on November 11, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We had a lovely dinner on Friday night. I had the pork chop and my husband had the Mac & cheese side dish and osso bucco. Food was great as was the service, although they were very busy.

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  27. Neen

    San Francisco

    12 reviews

    5.0

    12 reviews

    Dined on November 11, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    My husband and I were there for our anniversary! Beautiful ambiance! Delicious food! Staff is very nice! We will be going back!

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  28. UASfo

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 11, 2023

    overall2food3service2ambience3
    I don’t normally submit reviews, and I’ve dined with Wayfare several times in the past, but something was off this last Friday evening - despite having a reservation and being there on time we waited 30-minutes to be seated. Then waited 20 more minutes before the sever finally arrived at our table to take a hurried, full order. An hour after arriving we had our first round of drinks and the food (the usually delicious popovers were barely warm) shortly thereafter - which also wasn’t as good as usual, but fine. Sever didn’t check on us until it was time to order dessert - which we had including a round of port. The bill was $400 for a party of 3, and we tipped 10%, should have left 5% instead if I’m being honest. Probably won’t return - but will continue to recommend to others, hoping this was just a weird, one-off night.

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  29. ColleenS

    San Francisco

    27 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    27 reviews

    Dined on November 11, 2023

    overall4food4service4ambience4
    Lovely ambiance. First class service from hostess to servers to "busboys." Very well-prepared food. Be sure to start with the popovers and close with the donuts. Why is the very popular fried chicken served a la carte? Be prepared for the volume due to the restaurant's popularity.

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  30. IrisN

    San Francisco

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 10, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great food and great service! Always love to eat here when we are in SF

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  31. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 9, 2023

    overall2food4service1ambience4
    What’s the point of having a reservation if you don’t get seated until 20 minutes after your reservation (30 mins after we arrived)? A free drink or something would’ve placated me but the host unapologetically saying “we don’t have a table available” did not. The point of the reservation is to reserve a table so that it’s available when we get there.

    Is this helpful?

  32. MSA27

    Palm Springs

    45 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    45 reviews

    Dined on November 9, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    On of top places in city. Great service and awesome food.

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  33. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 8, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We recently had a team offsite for our VP’s and it went amazing. The ambiance and food were incredible at Wayfare Tavern.

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  34. KirkL

    San Francisco

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on November 8, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The craft cocktails are wonderful. The donuts are out of this world.

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  35. lkbeyerlein

    San Francisco

    32 reviews

    vip
    2.0

    32 reviews

    Dined on November 6, 2023

    overall2food3service3ambience4
    It was disappointing that you had Dungeness Carb on the menu but it's out of season and not offered. You also ran out of the pork chop entree at 5:30pm on a Sunday. There was a large convention in town and your dining room was full. Seems that you mismanaged the kitchen in this regard. Additionally, our server completely forgot to put in our order of Fried Brussel Sprouts. Fortunately, they also didn't show up on the final bill. Lastly, the chef cooks things on the rare side of medium rare, that would be helpful information for servers to share. For a seasoned restaurant, I would expect much, much more from you. It was disappointing as it was also our anniversary dinner.

    Wayfare TavernResponded on November 13, 2023

    Dear Valued Patron, I am so sorry to read your review, we do have a Dungeness crab cocktail on the menu but I see that you visited us on a Sunday evening after a particularly busy weekend. Not to get into the nitty gritty but hopefully but deliveries for the weekend are done on Thursdays & Fridays so our chefs have to make their best-estimated guesses on how much to order to cover us until Mondays, on occasion we can underestimate how busy we will be and I am so sorry that negatively impacted your dining experience. I do apologize that your overall experience was not to the level that you would expect, especially on such a special day.

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  36. OpenTable Diner

    Central Coast

    3 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on November 5, 2023

    overall5food4service5ambience5
    Miguel was patient and professional. We appreciated being seated prior to full party arrival. Thank you!!

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  37. Celine

    San Francisco

    8 reviews

    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on November 5, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Ambiance was lovely and the food was delicious. Excellent service.

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  38. MichaelK

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 5, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Wonderful dinner in a place with a classic SF vibe. We had a great time and would come again.

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  39. Mealsmama

    San Francisco

    62 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    62 reviews

    Dined on November 4, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Professional yet casual service. Warm atmosphere. Delicious fried chicken and excellent seasonal pumpkin pie. Good beverage list. What’s not to like?

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  40. SFEater

    San Francisco

    43 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    43 reviews

    Dined on November 3, 2023

    overall4food3service4ambience5
    Friends have gone here and raved, and I was excited to finally eat there. I hate to leave a "meh" review, but . . . . The fried chicken was good, but not the best I've ever had. Brussels sprouts were too al dente, almost crunchy, but the flavor was very good, mashed potatoes and macaroni & cheese were excellent. We shared the Basque cheesecake for dessert and almost ordered a 2nd. Kudos to the pastry chef. I think I would recommend Wayfare and would perhaps return, but not for the fried chicken.

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Safety precautions

  • Cleaning & sanitizing

    • Surfaces sanitized between seatings
    • Digital, disposable or sanitized menu provided
    • Sealed or wrapped utensils used
    • Common areas deep-cleaned daily
    • Sanitizer or wipes provided for customers
    • Contactless payment available

  • Physical distancing

    • Limited number of seated diners
    • Distancing maintained in common areas
    • Extra space between tables

  • Screening

    • Sick staff prohibited in the workplace
    • Staff is vaccinated

FAQs

You can order delivery directly from Wayfare Tavern using the Order Online button. Wayfare Tavern also offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (415) 772-9060.

Wayfare Tavern is rated 4.6 stars by 7419 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
8:30 PM
Booked 123 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for Wayfare Tavern

558 Sacramento Street, San Francisco, CA 94111

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Montgomery & Sansome
  • Neighborhood
    Financial District / Embarcadero
  • Hours of operation
    Lunch Daily 11:30 am–5:00 pm Brunch Sat, Sun 11:30 am–3:00 pm Dinner Mon, Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Tue–Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    American, Contemporary American
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    **PARKING GARAGES NEAR US 1 Embarcadero Center; Portsmouth Square Garage, 733 Kearny St
  • Public transit
    Muni: Clay & Montgomery stops; Sansome & Sacramento stops. Cable car stops one block away on California Street.
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Tyler Florence
  • Entertainment
    Within our second floor dining room, we have a Billiard Room available for parties up to 16. The room has double pained glass doors and features an antique tin ceiling, vintage red felt pool table. To make ordering easy, the room has a red "hot" phone which direct dials to ordering food and cocktails. Reservations are suggested and the room is available upon availability.
  • Additional
    Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Website
    http://www.wayfaretavern.com/
  • Phone number
    (415) 772-9060
  • Catering
  • Private party facilities
    Wayfare Tavern is a true gathering place for private events of all types. We offer several options to accommodate intimate family dinners, weddings and receptions, corporate events, social gatherings, and full restaurant buy outs.
  • Private party contact
    our Event Team: (415) 772-9060

Featured in

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