In May, Hardware Coffee Co. opened in the former Papenhausen Hardware location in West Portal. With a nod to its long-running predecessor, Hardware Coffee forges a new path, offering a spacious and beautifully designed interior for locals to enjoy. Coffee shops in the area have been overflowing with customers, and there is a clear demand for additional space for studying, meetings, and casual lunches.
Hardware Coffee Co., 32 W Portal Ave. (Source: FoglineSF)
Hardware has had a location in Ghirardelli Square since last summer. The new location offers all-day food, wine, and beer. There is a flower shop on-site, light retail, and a private event space available for rental.
We stopped by to see if the new location would be as beautiful as it looks online. We were not disappointed. The interior reflects a thoughtful design promoting an open and welcoming space to gather. There is a 90-minute laptop policy to ensure more visitors get to enjoy the cafe on their visit. The cafe was very busy when we arrived, but we had no trouble getting an open table with a 2-minute wait. The seating area is large, filling two stories, with mezzanine seating also placed at the railing to maximize the space.
As for the beans, Hardware serves coffee from Grand Coffee Roasters. We had a cappuccino and a latte. Both were perfect with a toasty espresso flavor. The cafe serves all the standard espresso drinks and even has a fun rotating slushie on the menu. While we didn’t try the food menu on this visit, we did order two pastries: the Pain Suisse and lemon cream croissant. The pastries are from Le Carousel Patisserie and they are unbelievably delicious.
Hardware Coffee Co., 32 W Portal Ave. (Source: FoglineSF)
With its stunning interior, excellent coffee, and delectable pastries, Hardware Coffee Co. successfully brings its Ghirardelli Square charm out west, giving West Portal another gem.
The Flower Shop (Source: FoglineSF)