Emporio Rulli Union Square, San Francisco

this place is a little place on the corner of union square and you can either sit inside or outside but outside is better becasue there is little room inside. this place has wine, coffee, pastries and paninis. you just walk up to the cash register and order what you want and they give you a number to put on your table. great views of the whole square when on a nice day. i would suggest this to anybody that likes cafes

Rulli's is simply the best coffee house experiences in the bay area. Don't get me wrong, there is a place for cookie-cutterized synthesized cozy fast-foodish coffee chains and thank goodness that this isn't one of them. Most importantly the coffee is amazing, the latte's are em-yummm but it doesn't end there. The pastries are simply the best; I have a terrible fighting back the urge to have one of everything. They also make great panini, salads and soups. Most of all, the place is inviting and warm; it is an unpretentious step up from the now standard fair that is the chain coffee houses found on every corner.

The Italian baristas do a great job - they really know their coffee. Espresso have just the right amount of crema, and cappucinos are so creamy as to have designs in them. In fact, it's a destination for me when my Italian family is in town. A fantastic alternative to the burnt excuse for coffee that Starbucks serves.