Timeline
05:53
Grab a quick coffee or pastry at Pat's Cafe before the rush.
06:18
Walk up to Coit Tower. The elevator is open early, or you can take the stairs for a warmer welcome.
06:38
Stand at the Coit Tower & East Bay viewpoint. Watch the sun rise directly behind the tower as it breaks over the horizon.
07:23
Head back down to Pat's Cafe for a proper breakfast. The lines move fast, and the prices are reasonable.
Local tip
Pat's Cafe is a North Beach institution. Go early to avoid the longest queues.
Check before you go
- Coit Tower elevator hours: May–Oct 10AM-6PM; Nov–Apr 10AM-5PM. If visiting before opening, use the stairs.
- Pat's Cafe opens for breakfast and lunch at 7:30AM daily.
Worth knowing
- Sun position is calculated. We have not confirmed the view is unobstructed.
Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to San Francisco (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).