Free Wi-Fi Cafes in San Francisco
March 3rd, 2003[Also see the cheesebikini map of free Berkeley wi-fi cafes]
Here are a map and a list of San Francisco cafes that offer free wireless Internet access. If you have a laptop or other device with Wi-Fi (wireless Internet) capability, turn it on in one of these places to enjoy a free high-speed connection.
UPDATE 3/2/05: A four-block zone of Chestnut Street in San Francisco’s �ber-gentrified Marina District is now immersed in free wi-fi, courtesy of AnchorFree. The wi-fi zone covers Chestnut between Fillmore and Scott Streets, according to MacWorld. Thanks to Denis Hiller for the tip — and the wi-fi!
Why certain cafes disappeared from the list and map: In late 2003, ZRNet, a company that outfitted many cafes with wi-fi hot-spots, withdrew free wi-fi service from all of these cafes, so I removed ZRNet cafes from the list. These cafes include: Atlas Cafe (ouch!), Cole Valley Cafe, Cafe XO, Tart to Tart, Cafe International, Brainwash Cafe and Laundromat, the Muddy Waters cafes, most of the Royal Grounds cafes, Cafe La Taza, Java on Ocean, Java Beach and Simple Pleasures. - Sean, 11/7/03
2 H Cafe: 380 17th Street, at Sanchez. Jason Harlan reports that now an employee here “forces you to share tables with other laptop users… and he’s rude.” map | site
3 Jumpin’ Java Coffee House & Eats: 139 Noe, at 14th. map
4 Maggie Mudd: OK, it’s an ice cream shop, not a cafe. But I think they serve coffee… I haven’t stepped inside this place; their Web site frightens me. 903 Cortland Ave. at Gates. map | site
5 Maxfield’s House of Caffeine: Dolores at 17th. Matadors fought bulls nearby! Don’t take my word for it, ask about it in the Mission Dolores museum at San Francisco’s oldest church, two doors up on Dolores. Or check out the bullfight pictures here (the sixth and seventh illustrations from the bottom). But I digress… map
6 Morning Due Cafe: 3698 17th Street, at Church Street. Thanks to Rick Ehrlinspiel for the tip. Added 12/31/03. map7 Caffe Puccini: (NOTE: Wi-Fi connection here is weak.) This cafe doesn’t provide Wi-Fi access, but they’re within range of someone’s open Wi-Fi hub. When sitting at the south side of the cafe — the side closest to Broadway — I can pick up a low- to medium-strength signal. Unfortunately I couldn’t find any power outlets. Not a perfect situation, but this is a cozy cafe that serves great strong coffee to tourists and classic North Beach characters. 411 Columbus Ave, between Green and Vallejo. map
8 Rockin’ Java: 1821 Haight Street between Shrader and Stanyan, just East of Golden Gate Park. map
9 Martha & Bros. Coffee on Church: (NOTE: Wi-Fi connection may not be strong.) This cafe doesn’t provide free Wi-Fi access, but they’re within range of someone’s open Wi-Fi hub. (This cafe does provide fee-based Wi-Fi access via Surf and Sip; select the “toaster.net” signal for free access or select “SurfandSip” for the stronger fee-based signal.) Thanks to Brad Lauster for the tip. And big thanks to Cliff Skolnick for sharing his home access point with the public! 1551 Church Street, at Duncan. map | site
10 Peet’s Coffee on Fillmore: (NOTE: Wi-Fi connection may not be strong.) Dave Holmes-Kinsella reports: “If I sit *outside* at Peet’s on Sacramento & Fillmore, there’s a varying number of free WiFi A/Ps available.” 2197 Fillmore Street, at Sacramento. map
11 Oakside Cafe: (NOTE: This cafe closes at 3 pm.) Thanks to Brian McCarthy for the tip. 1195 Oak Street, at Broderick. map
12 Mario’s Bohemian Cigar Store Cafe: (NOTE: Free Wi-Fi connection may not be strong.) This cafe doesn’t provide free Wi-Fi access, but they’re within range of someone’s open Wi-Fi hub. It’s a cozy little North Beach cafe in a beautiful setting with good coffee and power outlets in back. (This cafe does provide fee-based Wi-Fi access via Surf and Sip; select the “thiebaud apple network” signal for free access or select “SurfandSip” for the stronger fee-based signal.) 566 Columbus Avenue, at Union, across the street from Washington Square Park. Added 3/28/03. map | site
14 Internet Wired Cafe: In addition to regular WiFi (802.11b), this cafe offers one of the new, faster, 802.11g hotspots. Enjoy the free wi-fi, but brace yourself for the cheesiest policy in town: using a power outlet will cost you $1 per hour. By raising the cost of their coffee by ten cents per cup and cancelling this pathetically stingy rule, they’d make make more money and they’d stop insulting their customers. But hey, it’s a free country; let them keeping diverting business to the more than forty other free wi-fi cafes in town that respect their customers. Thanks to “toor” for the tip. 1392 9th Avenue, at Judah. Added 3/30/03. map | site
15 Oh Java! Cafe: Thanks to Kevin for the tip. 562 Central Avenue, at Grove. Added 4/15/03. map
16 Central Coffee, Tea & Spice: NOTE: The hot-spot here is WEP-encryped; you have to ask at the front counter for the passcode, which the owner changes regularly to “keep people honest.” This doesn’t really make sense, because any dishonest person could easily go to the front counter and copy down today’s passcode. But anyway, ask for the code and type it into your Wi-Fi card settings. This is kind of a hassle, but the coffee and the music were good when I visited the place. Thanks to Kevin for the tip. 1696 Hayes St. at Central Ave. Added 4/15/03. map
17 Crepe Soleil: Thanks to Stew for the tip. Polk Street near Pine. Added 4/15/03. map
18 Venture Frogs: This is not really a cafe, but cofounder Tony Hsieh says people are welcome to use their free wifi connection, and they serve coffee and tea. 1000 Van Ness, at O’Farrell. Added 4/15/03. map | site
19 Castro Country Club: Thanks to “csmoll” for the tip. 4058 18th Street, at Castro. Added 4/19/03. map | site
20 Caffe Roma: I love this cafe; thanks to Ben Hammersley for the tipping me off to their new wifi service. 526 Columbus, between Green and Union. Added 4/19/03. map | site
21 Golden Gate Perk: Thanks to Chris Bucoy Brown for the tip. Bush at Kearny. Added 4/19/03. map | site
24 Nani’s Cafe: Thanks to Eric L. and Natty for the tips. 2739 Geary Boulevard, between Masonic and Wood. Added 4/26/03. map | site
25 Sacred Grounds: Thanks to Cameron for the tip. 2095 Hayes Street, at Cole. Added 4/26/03. map | site
27 The Canvas Cafe/Gallery: Thanks to Adrian Elliot for the tip. 1200 9th Avenue at Lincoln Way, just south of Golden Gate Park. Added 4/26/03. map
28 Dulcinea Cafe and Catering: This cafe doesn’t provide its own hotspot, but from there you can supposedly reach the hotspot next door at DNA Lounge. Thanks to DNA’s Jamie Zawinski for the tip — and for the bandwidth. 371 11th Street, between Harrison and Folsom. Added 4/26/03. map | site
30 Cup a Joe: It’s “a great cafe with good light, couches upstairs, lots of plugs, and the best banana bread around,” according to Corii Liau. Thanks for the tip, Corii. 1901 Hayes Street, at Ashbury. Added 5/24/03. map
33 Pearls International Beverages: Galen reports that Pearls offers free 802.11a and 802.11b Wi-Fi access. 329 West Portal Avenue, between 14th and 15th. Added 5/26/03. map
34 JavaCat Cafe: 5549 Geary Blvd, between 19th and 20th. Added 5/26/03. map
35 The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf: 2201 Fillmore Street, at Sacramento. Thanks to praxis for the tip. Added 6/14/03. map | site
–>
36 Metro Crepe: 1 Sansome Street, at Market, in the courtyard. Thanks to des for the tip. Added 6/21/03. map37 Samovar Tea Lounge: 498 Sanchez Street, at 18th Street. At the site of the old Chat Cafe. Thanks to Robert James Sandler for the tip. Added 6/28/03. UPDATE 12/31/03: “Alec” and “Bobby O.” report intermittent wi-fi availability at Samovar; Bobby O. says this cafe turns off its hot spot on weekends and discourages use of neighboring hotspots within Samovar. map | site
41 Skylight Caf�: 1720 Taraval Avenue, at 28th Avenue. Thanks to Victor d’Allant for the tip. Added 8/10/03. map
43 Muddy’s Coffee House: 1304 Valencia Street, at 24th Street. Thanks to Romel for the tip. Added 9/9/03. map
46 Sea Biscuit Coffee Shop : 3815 Noriega Street, at 45th Avenue. Thanks to Vernon Kuhns for the tip. Vernon says the place is “Small, homey, and good sound track.” Added 11/3/03. map
–>
47 Joey’s: 517 O’Farrell Street, at Jones Street. Thanks to John Abbe, who reports that this is “another laundromat/cafe, apparently with 802.11g,” and that they offer “‘Espresso, Ice Cream, Sausage’ (the sausage was okay, but nothing special)’ with outlets available. Added 11/3/03. map48 Cafe Francisco: 2161 Powell Street, at Francisco Street. Thanks to RacerX, who reports that two, sometimes three, open wi-fi access points from nearby homes are within range of this cafe. RacerX reports: “Coffee and tea are both cheaper than at Caffe Roma, and there is plenty of outside seating in the shade.” Added 11/3/03. map
50 Puccini & Pinetta: 129 Ellis Street, at Cyril Magnin Street. Thanks to John Abbe for the tip. Added 11/3/03. map
51 Westin St. Francis Hotel: 335 Powell Street, at Geary Street. Thanks to John Abbe, who reports: “Access is free, but you fill out a web form every 1/2 hour. There’s an outlet along the wall in the back right of the ground floor. The open snack/drink area there has some comfy seats, and expensive drinks/snacks. The connection is also available from a corridor on the second floor, but not the higher floors…” Added 11/3/03. map
52 Caffe La Piazza: 700 Columbus Avenue at Filbert Street. Thanks to Vernon Kuhns for the tip. Vernon reports that this cafe “is next to an open 802.11b hub. It has available outlets, and, most importantly is under new management (a friend). Say Hi to Charley and Jing if you visit.” Added 11/3/03. map
53 Cole Valley Cafe: 609 Cole Street, at Haight Street. Thanks to Jesse for the tip. Added 12/31/03.
map | site
–>54 Bean Bag Cafe: 601 Divisadero Street, at Hayes Street. Thanks to Rick Ehrlinspiel for the tip. Added 12/31/03. map
–>55 Bahia Cafe: 1901 Ocean Avenue, at Ashton Avenue. Thanks to Alan for the tip. Added 12/31/03. map
56 Cafe Evolution: 1336 9th Avenue, between Irving and Judah. Thanks to toor for the tip. Added 10/21/04. map | site
57 Cup A Joe: 896 Sutter Street, at Jones Street. Thanks to eamonn for the tip. Added 10/24/04. map
58 Cafe Murano: 1777 Steiner Street, at Sutter. Added 10/24/04. map
59 Cafe Medjool: 2516 Mission Street, at 21st Street. Thanks to Cheu for the tip. Added 10/24/04. map
60 Kaleo Cafe: 1340 Irving Street , at 14th Avenue. Thanks to webdog for the tip. Added 10/24/04. map | site
61 Kona Shores Ice Cream: 1206 Masonic , at Haight Street. Added 10/24/04. map | site
62 Cafe 16: 3170 16th Street, at Valencia. Thanks to Mike for the tip. Added 10/24/04. map
63 JJ Dessert House: 1525 Irving Street, at 15th Avenue. Thanks to Benjamin for the tip. Added 10/24/04. map
64 Sit & Spin: 4023 18th Street, at Noe Street. Thanks to Adam for the tip. Added 10/24/04. map
65 It’s Delectable: 4416 18th Street, at Eureka Street. Simon reports that this cafe doesn’t provide wi-fi service, but it’s within range of an open wi-fi access point named “SMC.” Thanks to Simon for the tip. Added 10/24/04. map
66 Polkan Cafe and Deli: 1754 Polk Street, at Washington. Ask the owner for access and he will provide it with purchase, according to Marissa, the Thanks to Marissa for the tip. “The owner is a russian immigrant and extremely nice (he gives cans to the chinese ladies) but has been struggling due to competition from the many dining establishments nearby,” says Marissa. Please patronize Mr. Polkan’s place! Added 10/24/04. map
67 Coffee Break: 4601 Geary Boulevard, at 9th Avenue. Thanks to Jacob LaBay for the tip. Added 10/24/04. map
68 South Beach Cafe : 800 The Embarcadero, near Townsend. Thanks to Danfuzz for the tip. Added 10/24/04. map
69 Notes from the Underground Cafe: 2399 Van Ness Avenue, at Green Street. Thanks to bill for the tip. Added 10/24/04. map
70 Tully’s: 303 2nd Street, between Harrison and Folsom Streets. Thanks to David Kapp for the tip. Added 10/24/04. map
71 [NO LONGER OFFERS WI-FI] The Reverie Cafe: 848 Cole Street, at Frederick Street. Added 10/24/04. map
72 Royal Grounds: 2060 Fillmore Street, at California. James Hall reports that this cafe doesn’t proide wi-fi service, but it’s within range of several open access points. Thanks to James for the tip. Added 10/24/04. map
73 Cafe de la Presse: 352 Grant Avenue, at Bush Street. [This has been one of my favorite cafes for years. It’s across the street from the French Consulate and it draws many Europeans. It’s definitely the most European-feeling cafe in San Francisco. Will wi-fi alter that? -Sean] Added 10/24/04. map | site
If I missed a cafe, or if one of these cafes closes or begins charging for Wi-Fi use, drop me a line and I’ll update the list: sean[at]cheesebikini.com. (Remember this is a list of free Wi-Fi cafes, so please don’t contact me about cafes that charge a fee for Wi-Fi usage.)
Czech this out: Lloyd Nebres spent a day bouncing from one wi-fi cafe to another across San Francisco, posting photos and dispatches along the way to create a little travelogue.
The folks at Beast Blog are putting together a list of free wi-fi locations in the East Bay.
Here’s another list of free Wi-Fi hot spots throughout the Bay Area and the world: wififreespot.com.
And here’s a list of open wireless nodes that Bay Area people have set up, mostly in their homes.
Join the free networks movement! Details: freenetworks.org, and the Bay Area Wireless Users’ Group.
There are great free cafes all around the the pennisula. In Palo Alto my favorite is the “Palo Alto Cafe on Middlefield between Oregon x-way and Colorado.
Hi Sean - You can get a wireless signal from toaster.net while inside Martha & Bro’s Coffee at 1551 Church Street (corner of Church and Duncan, near 27th St).
Just to let you know. Morning Due Cafe on Broderick and Oak offers great quality WiFi access.
Brian: Actually that’s Oakside Cafe, not Morning Due, but thanks for the tip! I verified it and added it to the map.
Another great free WiFI cafe is “Notes from the underground” at 2399 Van Ness (corner to Green)
This new cafe and cell phone services dealer on 9th Ave. a few doors N. of Judah ( and across from the Craig’s List offices ) currenty offers free terminal and Wireless-G/B access if you purchase from their menu.
t.
There is a typo - Internet Wired Cafe is at 9th and Judah, not 9th and Green.
Royal Ground has a sign that says they have free wireless for a limited time, I didn’t try it yet.
location Clement & 25th.
There’s a couple of free hotspots here in the Western Addition. There’s one here on the corner at the Oh Java! Cafe and another just around the corder from that at Central Coffee. They’re both on Central Street at Grove and Hayes respectively.
There is a nice free wifi at Crepe Soleil, there is like three people here right now so the badwidth is literally untapped there at polk near pine street
Castro Country Club also has free wireless. They’re on 18th in the Castro. Great alternative to expensive Starbucks a few doors up.. and their paid wireless service.
I’m usually in the back on my PowerBook whenever I’m in SF.. great for hooking up with friends and going out to party!
Caffe Roma, 526 Columbus at Union 94133 has free wifi, and very nice coffee - I’m posting this from there too…
This has been my little secret, but if you’re in Fin. District/Union Square Golden Gate Perk on Bush at Kearny has free WiFi with purchase, but in a pinch, you can hop on one of their PCs for $1 every 10 mins. (ouch) I didn’t want to talk about it, but I want the owner to do well.
I haven’t been there to check it out, so I can’t verify this, but according to their website (http://www.cafexo.com/) Cafe XO on the corner of Church and 30th has Free Wireless.
there’s free wifi @ atlas cafe in portero valley. 20th st and florida
oh and i forgot. nani’s cafe just opened on geary just west of masonic. they also offer free wifi.
This site is awesome. Thanks for taking the time to do this.
There is also a great place called Sacred Grounds on Hayes Street…near Stanyan Street. RIght around the block from the Universtiy of San Francisco.
Espresso Bravo on the E. side of Valencia between Sycamore and 18th Sts has free WiFi, SSID “linksys”.
The Canvas Gallery/Coffe Shop/Restaurant/Club has completely free Wi-Fi access. It’s on the eastern corner of 9th Ave & Lincoln Way in the Inner Sunset, right across from Golden Gate Park.
Well i’m sitting in the parking lot of the crawford suites hotspot(in Fremont) . Seems they have two (maybe more) here.. the “default” is free, where in the lobby you get the “hotspotzz” connection which ISN’T. Gues it’s time to get that AC/DC invertor for the car.
My nightclub, DNA Lounge at 11th and Harrison has free 802.11b access. The club might not qualify as a cafe per se, however, the DNA network is also visible from next door in the Dulcinea Cafe.
Happy to hear that The Canvas Cafe finally got wi-fi going. It’s a brilliant place to hang out, definitely one of the best in the City. And Central Coffee Tea and Spice is my local hangout — excellent bandwidth, great people, and the best coffee and chai I’ve ever had.
Chat Cafe is officially closed.
And actually Morning Due (which is at Church and 17th Street) *does* have free wi-fi.
morning due, at church and 17th, has wireless but it’s not free - it’s part of the Surf n’ Sip network…
Naomi (and Sean) is/are right - Surf n’ Sip. Brain hiccupped.
Zocalo Coffeehouse, out of the normal route of you San Franciscans, has free wireless available. You’ll need a bigger map to show it though! Corner of 645 Bancroft Ave., at Dutton, in San Leandro.
zocalocoffeehouse.com
does anyone know what the SSID is for Momi Toby’s on Laguna and Fell?
I’m using the WiFi at Royal Ground on Fillmore at California right now, and I’m not sure if I’m supposed to be paying–but I’m not. Is this part of the “free for a limited time” setup? Hopefully they won’t start charging. With so many cafes in the immediate vicinity, it makes my decision to come here a little easier.
Hi,
This is Peter O’Keefe, owner of Nani’s Coffee. Thanks for posting us. We are located at 2739 Geary Blvd, between Masonic and Wood.
Thanks Again.
If in Oakland check out Rooz Cafe, 4252 Piedmont Ave. They have free wi fi. Great music too!! Check out their website http//www.roozcafe.com
Metro Cafe on the corners of Sutter and Sansome has free access. SSID is “linksys”. I don’t believe this is publicized.
could you guys post info regarding SSIDs at these cafes? it would be most helpful, thanks!!
Chat Cafe is under transformation to become a teahouse called Samovar. The nice Dutch guy who runs it assures me that they’ll continue free wireless. No plans for hashish, though.
Any idea who’s providing the wireless access at Espresso Bravo? The people working there don’t know anything about it. Is the wireless access intentional or just accidental?
tart 2 tart on irving/7th st offers free wireless access, is open late, and they have great desserts!
There are two applications recommend to have: network stumbler for pc;
macstubmbler for Mac OSX.
It shows the essential information of access point - ssid, mac address, channel umber, max signail, managed/unmanaged, vendor of router, wep etc…
Happy surfing
There is no need to post SSIDs: run dstumbler/netstumbler
and it will tell you the SSIDs.
I believe that the ATLAS CAFE offers free wireless through
ZRnet (like Cole Valley Cafe in the Haight).
The Atlas Cafe is also one of your hipper cafes-
probably because it’s so hard to find.
-Skull
Pearls International Beverages on West Portal between 14th and 15th has free A and B access.
notes from underground cafe
2399 van ness ave.@green street
san francisco,ca 94109
415-775-7638
free wireless and free wires for laptops,great and fast access,huge menu and they have good knowledge of getting your laptop to work if there is a problem,check it out.
Notes from the Underground is already on the list, #13.
Cup a Joe on corner of Hayes and Ashbury is a great cafe with good light, couches upstairs, lots of plugs, and the best banana bread around.
Cafe International at corner of Fillmore and Haight offers free wireless dsl for a limited time through zrnetservice. Robert and Zara run this very friendly cafe with a patio (backdrop is a colorful mural with all the national geographic figures you’re familiar with) and the best food and soup and coffee in the lower haight.
Great list!
In SOMA, Brainwash cafe/laundromat also gets someone’s signal pretty well (it comes up as “Music” in my AirPort menu, though there are other services that are not publicly accessible) I was there for about three hours and only lost the signal for about five minues. Folsom St. between 7th & 8th Sts.
Shannon
thanks for the tip on cup a joe, corii. that place is great on warm days with all the windows open. but it’s oh so temptingly close to braindrops. if i keep going there, my earplugs will be huge. i just cant resist when i walk by
Does anybody have any information about free wifi sites in the East Bay?
JavaCat Coffee (Geary at 20th, southeast corner)
This is not an internet cafe, but from the front window one can catch at least one strong signal from a couple of wireless lans somewhere near the coffee shop. Neither uses encryption. JavaCat also has at least one electrical outlet in said front window. (This outlet by the way has a strange note on it about the expense of electricity and that the proprietor would like people to limit time using the outlet to one hour, so make sure your battery is well stoked if you plan on a long stay. Maybe someone should let the owner know that laptops use about as much electricity as a lightbulb…
At any rate, it’s a cool cafe that also serves food. I am sending this email from there.
Eric Brooks
I’m so glad I found your free WiFi Cafe list…. But I’m lost in the land of LAN and I don’t know where to start, outside of installing an 802.11b card in my Mac.
I’m on OSX and use Internet Connect to set up accounts. At home, my DSL account connects with a user name and password. How do I connect away from home… the same way? What if I close the DSL account? What’s the best way?
Please help!!! Thanks!
Kristina
Colin wrote:
Hi Kristina,
Setting up Wi-Fi on Mac OS is fairly easy to do.
I assume you already have your Airport installed.
Go to your Network Preferences and make sure there is a check next to Airport.
Secondly, Drag the Airport to the top of the list (Airport,Ethernet,Modem
etc…)When promped to save this configuration - say `yes`.
Also, There is an option in the Network Preferences to show the Airport icon in
the top menu bar. By doing so you can simply go to one of the free WiFi cafes
listed at cheesebikini.com and click on the icon to see which WiFi base
stations are within range. Choose a location and like magic you should be
wirelessly connected! You may have to enter a login and password (available at
the cafe)if the network is closed, otherwise you should be up and running!
I´ve also found a free program called Macstumbler helpful for finding WiFi
networks in range. You can download it from
http://www.macstumbler.com/.
Good luck and happy WiFi surfing!
Colin
Was able to find an unsecure connection at Cybelle’s (Church/24th). Probably just someone’s home network but it’s fast and free.
Keep spreading the word……….d
maybe at starbucks at masonic and fulton but definately OUTSIDE at masonic and fulton AND lyon and fulton - i picked up a strong signal
Check out The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf on Fillmore and California. Solid strong connection. I don’t know if it’s from the cafÈ or not, but it’s open. Try a vanilla latÈ whilst surfing.
HCafe on 17th@Sanchez is a great friendly cafe.
They have free wi-fi with your laptop which is a great, but their coffee and sandwiches are really good too.
Use their house PCs for 20 minutes with your purchase.
Geordie:
Thanks, but H Cafe is already mapped. It’s #2 on the map.
Another Downtown spot: Metro Crepe in the courtyard at 1 Sansome (Citicorp center)
33. Pearls International Beverages
Um, I think the map of this location is wrong.
I was at Brainwash on Folsom and they do have Wireless access through zrnetservice….thoughs guys are everywhere in San Francisco…check out there webpage…
I was just in the Muddy Waters cafÈ on Church (just south of Market, on the west side of the street–near Sparky’s– I guess between Market and 15th?) and was told they don’t charge for wireless internet access.
After choosing the local network, the browser will bouce you to the “DSL Internet” login page. Just leave the ID and password blank and click “login” and you can surf freely.
They do charge for using the desktop machines in the back.
I don’t know if they are consciously making it free for wireless users or not. This was just pointed out to me by another patron.
Thanks for this list!
-Wilson
Royal Ground also has that “free” zrnet access.
Located at 17th and Geary.
On the topic of wi-fi cafes near UC Berkeley, there’s definitely Berkeley Expresso at Hearst and Shattuck. Fertile Grounds at Shattuck and Delaware advertises free wireless too, but I haven’t tried that.
royal ground / clement @ 25th ave has free wifi
Hey guys,
I am currently unemployed. I need to study using my laptop and the web. I live in the Richmond district. I want to get out of the house. I am planning to buy a DC/DC converter and sit in my car somewhere in San Francisco with good access to free WI-FI. (Should have canceled DSL at home)
Looking to do this for about 10 hours a day until employment. Is there a good place for this ? I can’t sit 10 hours a day in any coffee shop. They will hate me. Unless I pay 10 bucks minimum for it.
Please suggest a place. Thanks.
I am at 6th Ave and Balboa Ave.Javaholics coffee house. The signal is strong outside.
This is cool. I had no idea this was already so common (haven’t had a good laptop in some time). I’m sure someday I’ll be glad of this map. But what about the question, which was about Wi-Fi near the UC Berkeley campus? What about the East Bay, in other words?
SF is near Cal like Manhattan is near JFK airport.
Anson St. alley, between the academy of art college, on bowell, net to the satro grill.
we found sitting on th curb, in the alley near the dumpster, a free hot spot. . .Fuck t-mobile & starbucks and their pay bull shit. .
does anyone know of any free hot spots in fremont?
http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~cfarivar/warchalking
Hi there…
Inspired by your map of free wi-fi access points in SF, I went on a day-long trip, and got to 8 of them: wireless in san francisco: a day’s travel{b}logue.
I happened on a site you hadn’t indicated or found, the Muddy Waters coffee house on Valencia. See the 11:30 update on my blog.
Many thanks for putting together such a convenient, useful doc!
Hey Sean,
Are you the same Sean Savage that attended Evergreen?
Fran
New Yorker’s Buffalo Wings in the Mission (Valencia btwn 17 & 18) doesn’t provide Wi-Fi access, but they’re within range of someone’s open Wi-Fi hub. Use “Linksys”. The signal is very strong and there are ample outlets along the northern wall near 3 booths and two tables.
This place just opened and I don’t know too much about it other than these things: 1) full menu (breakfast, burgers, steak, soup, salad, etc.) + full espresso bar. 2) Pretty empty so it’s easy to get a seat near an outlet. 3) Friendly and helpful employees my first time here. Say hello to Lukas if he’s your counter person 4) the decor is RIDICULOUS! They’re choice of decorations boast:
Huge, goofy paintings of Sunflowers. A classic oil painting of France next to a very ’80’s style “New York at Night” photograph mounted on a mirror frame. A PAINTING OF THE STATUE OF LIBERTY STANDING BEHIND THE TWIN TOWERS done by what looks to be an aspiring artist from a local high school. A “sports heros” set of framed posters (the kind you get by knocking over milk bottles with a softball at the state fair) by one set of tables. And finally, the worst of the worst: a Clemente Micarelli print, “Putting for Birdie” http://www.sportsposterwarehouse.com/warehouse/puttingforbirdie97isi.html . If you can get over it’s looks, the place is alright. I hate cafe food and don’t drink coffe + I live in the mission, so it’s pretty delux by my standards.
Not a huge selection of vegetarian fare and they foul pretty hard with a veggie sandwich dubbed the “Hippie-Vegi”.
I got a question. Ill be in san fran the next week. I often run netstumbler for fun, just finding networks, but i never logged into one (always was driving past it with laptop bagpacked
So, netstumbler reveals ssid and such things, but unless the wlan got a dhcp server how should i know which ip subnet to take, which router/dns server? Maybe you can help me. Or do all the listed hotspot got a dhcp running?
There’s a free wifi at the NAS coffee shop on Sansome between Washington and Merchant in San Francisco. This service started at the end of last month.
Concering Crepe Soleil on Polk…
I recently went to Crepe Soleil with an iBook, was able to join their wireless network but was unable to get a connection in Safari, ftp, telnet,
anything!
If anyone has any info i’d love to hear it!
Muddy’s, 1304 Valencia at 24th Street, has free wireless courtesy ZRNetService.
Bonus: Chairs outside on the sidewalk, although a little noisy from traffic.
Nas Coffee on Sansome between Sacramento and Clay has free wifi
it seems that all the zrnetservice cafes (i tried muddy on valencia/16 and atlas cafe) were down today, though i’ve used them successfully in the past.
is it possible that zrnet has stopped offering free wireless as of sept 1st? anybody else have any info?
(i’m currently using the brainwash “Music” access, which is still up. getting about 50 kb/s — so not super — i was getting nearly 140 kb/s at muddy’s — but hey, not bad).
want to know, if there are wi-fi cafes in fullerton. can u help?
josh
Sad to say, but forget about Muddy Waters #2 (262 Church Street, near 15th Street). They still have free Wi-Fi, but the service is so spotty that it’s almost unusable. I’ve tried it several times over the past few weeks, with the same results. There’s a handful of great spots around here, go to them instead.
Charlie, who owns Corine’s Deli Cafe at 3202 Folsom St @ Precita just installed his free Wi-Fi. Classic sandwich shop with the simple neighborhood feel. You can probably get a connection in Precita Park.
I heard that free wireless networks are very unsecure….lose networks that you have to log into are secure…has anyone heard this before…
zrnetservice is back up at all Muddys…and at atlas to…FYI everyone
check out the javaholics on Cabrillo and 9th avenue in the inner richmond. it has a pretty reliable wireless internet connection.
Just to let you know. Zrnetservice was down in Santa Rosa today. Are they going to phase out the free service? Any one hear any rumors?
-hc
Java Beach at Judah and La Playa, end of the N Judah line and next to the beach, currently has free 802.11b. SSID “Java Beach Online”. Nice coffee shop too. Also has wednesday night comedy and friday night music.
Anyone know if the zrnet @ Caffe Soma is free?
Thanks!
The only free wireless internet in north Bernal Heights is a new Cafe’ Called Charlie’s Cafe’
(Originally known as Corine’s deli)
Across from precita park, you can even go and sit at the park and connect.
Ok, so I’m lame with this wi-fi setup business. I can get onto “authorized” networks just fine, like the one at Cafe Roma, but when I find an “unathorized” network (like the open hub at Cafe Puccini), I can connect to the signal but I can’t get onto the Internet through IE or Outlook. Do I need to readjust my settings, or should I assume that if I can’t get onto a network that it is blocked? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
I’m on a PC with a NetGear WG511 card.
“The only free wireless internet in north Bernal Heights…”
That’s funny. In other towns I know of they’d be happy to have one within driving distance. We’re so spoiled.
I second the comment about Java Beach, by the way. It’s my office now.
Ted
I’m not sure there’s much difference between North and South Bernal heights… what is it, four blocks from north to south?
In any case though, there is a free wifi spot on the list in Bernal Heights: #4, Maggie Mudd.
Java cafe next to the ocean at Judah has a free wi-fi
Pearl’s (#33 on the map above) also has a nice little patio space out back, I just found out. Their 80211 signal covers it just fine.
I’m at Brainwash right now and wanted to report a little on varying signal strength: I’m getting a low signal at the tables right near the windows looking onto Langton St, at the northeast end of the cafe. Further east, at the tables near the wall looking onto Folsom, I got nothing. Other people might also have more luck if they’re near Langton. [Btw, I’m using a Dell Inspiron with an internal Dell TrueMobile wifi card.]
From the Dulcinea Cafe web site:
“Effective July 18th the restaurant is no longer open to the public. Our catering services will, however, continue.”
I have free wi-fi at my bar… how do I get it listed?
26Mix
3024 Mission @ 26th
There’s also CompUSA on Market at the intersection of O’Farrell & Grant (near 3rd). I’m writing this from Eppler’s Bakery next door, where there is a weak signal.
blue danube on clement at 4th ave just came under new ownership. they have redecorated, gotten better food and coffee, and have free wifi thru zrnet. hooray
Thanks for the list! It helps those of us just moved to the area get apartments and jobs (another person mentioned unemployment searching too). A nomad’s saving grace! Just some questions though, when you say a cafe has wireless but it’s weak because they don’t provide it, and you don’t know who does, does that mean some guy, a private person who lives nearby, is having his signal used and he doesn’t even know it? What kind of implications does that have if a user at a cafe uses it to do illegal things? Is the owner or the cafe responsible at all? Another blogger said he just drove around the area picking up signals. That means it’s in a three dimensional sphere for access or what? How big are these spheres and do they interfere with anyone else’s? So if someone does something illegal, could the police figure out whose wireless was used? I’m no expert on the Patriot Act nor on how this stuff all works, just occured to me that if I ever get a base station I’ll make sure there’s no cafe nearby, to limit my liability…
I have recently begun a tour of these wireless spots (and some from the other lists linked here). Not sure how long this will last, but here’s the weblog for it
Any reason not to move this list to a wiki (PersonalTelco?) and point everyone there so that everyone can edit it, Sean?.
Sea Biscuit Coffee Shop at 3815 Noriega, about 4 blocks from the beach next door to SF Surf Shop. SSID sfsurf.public. Small, homey, and good sound track.
Joey’s, 517 O’Farrell, another laundromat/cafe, apparently with 802.11g. “Espresso, Ice Cream, Sausage” (the sausage was okay, but nothing special) Outlets available; keep an eye out for the pterosaur.
Across O’Farrell and Jones is the cheap, delicious Naan n Curry but i couldn’t get a signal there.
MotoJava on 498 6th St at Bryant has free wireless. They’re small but really nice and I want them to get more business, add them!
Is it true that zrnet is about to start charging for WiFi access?
Cafe Francisco (2161 Powell Street) at the corner of Powell & Francisco in North Beach has both Surf&Sip (paid service) and at least two, sometimes three, free residential connections reachable within the cafe. Coffee and tea are both cheaper than at Caffe Roma, and there is plenty of outside seating in the shade. Enjoy!
Thanks for keeping up the website Sean.
-x
you’re missing the venerable Atlas coffee shop on Alabama and 20th. Free and open, strong signal through a local provider. There are about half a dozen open APs around the block as well.
Untrue, Bill… Atlas is # 23 on the list.
Simple Pleasures has ZRNET services available which are currently free. They are located at 3434 Balboa St. in the Richmond. It is a very nice local coffee shop with a good food menu also.
Caffe La Piazza, 700 Columbus at Filbert is next to an open 802.11b hub. It has available outlets, and, most importantly is under new management (a friend). Say Hi to Charley and Jing if you visit.
More free wireless, mostly in the Tenderloin & Union Square:
Puccini & Pinetta, Ellis a block or two from Market (it’s labeled on the sidewalk!) bar & restaurant
Burma’s House Restaurant, 720 Post, review here
The north side of Union Square itself (the person who told me suggested it was emanating from Tiffany’s), “default”
The Westin St. Francis, on the west side of Union Square (335 Powell) — Access is free, but you fill out a web form every 1/2 hour. There’s an outlet along the wall in the back right of the ground floor. The open snack/drink area there has some comfy seats, and expensive drinks/snacks. The connection is also available from a corridor on the second floor, but not the higher floors as the report i read said.
Snowbell Laundry, 620 O’Farrell (actually Douglas Shield’s open node)
My wireless life continues here.
Royal Ground (#39) only had pay access from zdinternet the last time I was there, around Oct. 30, 2003.
Simple Pleasures (#49) is no longer free wi-fi, $14.95/month
Confirming that Atlas Cafe is no longer free, and it seems to have devastated the clientel now.
And the ZRNETSERVICE while not extortionately costly for a monthly pass, is currently SUCKY in the extreme. A day pass is $5 (150 a month!!!), a month pass is $15 at the moment.
At the end of market, in the little park opposite One Market restaurant, is a free signal: “linksys”. These outdoor spots can be even better than a cafe, on a nice day.
My spelling errors: That should be Pinetti, not Pinetta, and it’s Douglas Held, not Douglas Shield.
NOTHING IN AMERICA IS FREE SO STOP FUCKIN COMPLAINING PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
#43, Muddy’s Coffee House: 1304 Valencia Street, at 24th Street
wants a wep
I think they are charging for access, they use a zrnet
Stacey’s Bookstore on Market has free wireless coming from somewhere - probably the TMobile place down the way. If you go to the 2nd floor there’s some seating, but not much. That might suggest that the McDonald’s next door to Stacey’s has it too, though I didn’t check.
There is still free WiFi at Java on Ocean. I’m using it now. The service provider is ZRNET. When you first fire up your browser, you are redirected to a login page with only a login button it. Once you click it, you can browse. It does not ask for any authentication.
Thanks a million for the post. This is great stuff.
Skylight Cafe’s open wifi is clocking at 1.1 Mbits per second (twice what I get at home, 4 blocks away).
“Royal Ground Coffee” at 5301 Geary Boulevard(17th Avenue) is not free now.
Rex
Oh! Java Caffe, 562 Central at the corner of Grove (one block north of Hayes)
Very friendly. Beside free wireless, you can print/copy for 25 cents and fax/scan for 50 cents. There’s one outlet draped over the order counter, and another behind the first computer on the right. Some comfy seats.
At Bean Bag Cafe (601 Divisadero), the guy behind the counter said when their contract with Surf n Sip is over in January and they plan to go free. Resistance is futile!
Haven’t tried these myself yet, but from the Wi-fi Free Spot California list — http://www.wififreespot.com/ca.html:
Coffee Break - available 11/15 - 4601 Geary Blvd.
Black Pearl Tea Zone - 1330 Ocean Avenue - 415-587-6868
Can anyone explain why some places with ZRNET has free wifi and others charge? Is there some logic to this madness?
Although ZRNET service at Cafe XO (Church & 30th St.) is no longer free, there are 5 other open networks within range, 2 of them with strong enough signals to reach even the back corner. I’m posting this using one of them right now.
Although ZRNET service at Cafe XO (Church & 30th St.) is no longer free, there are 5 other open networks within range, 2 of them with strong enough signals to reach even the back corner. I’m posting this using one of them right now.
…also, Metro Crepes has indoor seating — which the free wi-fi reaches.
There is a cafe called Papa Toby’s (or Papa Toby’s Revolution Cafe) on 22nd and Bartlett in the Mission - I got free wireless access there today…
It is my sad duty to report that for now at least, there is no more wireless at Wild Awakenings.
Just collecting the spots i’ve seen mentioned in comments that have not gotten onto the map:
Snowbell
N side of Union Square
end of Market
Burma’s House, 720 Post
26 Mix, 3024 Mission (/26th)
(not counting ones since Sean last update)
…and wondering what if any reason why. The first three don’t have food/drink, but this page is so much better an interface for finding free wireless in SF than anything else i’ve seen that i’d vote my two cents for including non-food/drink places.
Minor bit: at Cafe Puccini, there’s an outlet by the bathroom.
Muddy’s Coffee House: 1304 Valencia Street, at 24th Street.
This is no longer for free - it is a ZRNet site
for fee only. There are stray signals arround
but not useful.
The Martha & Bros. “toaster net” signal is
quite strong and recommended.
And if you’re on the peninsula in Mountain View,
be sure to support
Dana St. Roasting - they’ve been offering
free 802.11b for almost 5 years now.
Samovar Tea Lounge: 498 Sanchez Street, at 18th Street.
Hey- last 3 times I was in Samovar Tea Lounge (no.37 in your list), erthe Wifi did not work.
Their SSID used to be samovar, but now it does not show up anymore.
Beside the added expense, I regret to inform that the usefulness of ZRNET service for me has deteriorated. I’m finding that my connection drops regularly after about 15 minutes. (this has happened twice at Muddy’s)
Flash: XO wireless is free again. The owner didn’t
like ZRNet charging for wireless. Ask at the counter
for a free pass.
Free ‘myconnection’ and ‘HaightFillmore’ signals at Cafe International (the old zrnetservice location).
There is a brand spankin’ new why-fie location on Grant Ave in North Beach (1441 Grant Ave in fact). Phone the New for answers to your questions:956-3350.
Ciao-
There is a brand spankin’ new why-fie location on Grant Ave in North Beach (1441 Grant Ave in fact). Phone the New for answers to your questions:956-3350.
Ciao-
I was just at the Cole Valley Cafe in the Haight, and I can state with certainty that they still offer free Wi-Fi access despite their affiliation with ZR-Net. Saturday November 29th, 2003.
You should definitely restore them to the list.
Sean, some Surf and Sip locations are now sponsored by the shop owner and free. Users still have to set up an account for validation (aka, anti-spamming) but there is no charge made to their card. Current locations that are free are Morning Due at 17th and Church and Bean Bag Cafe at 601 Divisadero. We are updating our locator to list the free locations but it isn’t up yet.
Cheers,
Rick
I was at Sea Biscuit Coffee Shop (#46) and their wifi is really sfsurf.public from the next door SF Surf shop. Worked great, nice cafe.
Samovar turns off their wireless on the weekends. Although it may be possible to access an open hotspot that does not belong to Samovar, you may be made to feel very unwelcome:
Last weekend I went to Samovar with a friend, and started by spending a good $30+ on tea and snacks. After our food was finished, we started to use the non-Samovar hotspot. The proprietor came over and directly asked us to ‘make space for other customers’. (I.e. leave.) The couple next to us appeared to get similar treatment.
Cole Valley Cafe’s WIFI is still free, seemingly through a configuration error of ZRNet.
I’ve been using it the past month, and the proprietors don’t seem to care and it’s been quite nice and reliable. Nice music and food, too.
have you ever thought about creating a printable copy of these locations so you can easily carry it with you?
if enny1 needs an SSID for a place, try typing in default or DEFAULT or any. the majority of the time 1 of these seem to work!
Excellent burritos at the Mexican place next door to Sea Biscuit Coffee Shop (#46).
Not a cafe per se, but this evening I got a strong WiFi connection while waiting to get into a movie at the Metreon. This was on the third floor, near the windows overlooking Yerba Buena gardens. When I have some more time, I’ll head back there and try to find out the network’s range.
SSID is “tsunami”.
Hi Sean,
There is a free hotspot inside Java Beach Cafe at the end of Judah but the address is 1396 La Playa. It’s an excellent signal.
Dan
Samovar’s WiFi seems to be having problems. It works with Airport Extreme cards, but doesn’t seem to work with older Apple Airport cards or my Lucent Orinoco Gold (which has, until now, worked with pretty much everything), and they don’t seem that interested in troubleshooting it.