SF Chronicle on 9/13/2022: “Two business partners from San Francisco’s Four Barrel Coffee and the Mill have teamed up with a former pastry chef from Tartine Bakery to open Loquat. The cafe will serve baked goods inspired by the Jewish diaspora and Levantine flavors, from labne cheesecakes topped with roasted figs to Turkish coffee cream pie. Cups of Four Barrel espresso will arrive with a complimentary treat like house-made halvah or candied citrus. Tal Mor and Jodi Geren joined Four Barrel, a popular San Francisco coffee roaster and cafe, in 2009 and then became owners. They also co-own San Francisco’s the Mill with bread whiz Josey Baker. At Loquat, Mor and Geren have been working with former Tartine pastry chef Kristina Costa to create a menu that draws inspiration from Mor’s roots: He moved from Israel to the United States when he was 5 years old, and has family from Iraq, Palestine and Eastern Europe. (Loquat is named for the fruit that grows on trees both in Israel and the South Bay, where Mor grew up.) When Loquat opens, the pastry case will be filled with baked goods like babka, cakes, cookies and tarts. Costa’s babka is laminated to create flaky layers and is served as large loaves or mini individual rolls with flavors like lemon-poppy seed, salted chocolate and cardamom-ricotta. Costa will also bake bourekas, a flaky Sephardic pastry and childhood favorite of Mor’s, with house-made phyllo dough layered with savory combinations like fried sage and ricotta, or spiced potato and caramelized onions. Customers will be able to order these warm with an egg and zhough, the herby, spicy Yemeni condiment. (Mor delights in recounting the history of the dish, which evolved after Jews were expelled from Spain in 1492, and adapted Turkish borek pastries to meet kosher requirements.) Beyond espresso, Loquat will serve fresh mint tea and black tea with mint. All pastries and drinks will be made with jersey milk from Petaluma’s Double 8 Dairy.”

*Eat Breakfast at Home Before Ordering the Loquat Brunch* We ordered two brunches, one with a Mediterranean spinach borek and the other with Yemenite Kubaneh. The borek's size is about 35% of the usual breakfast serving. It leaves you hungry and you order another tiny one for inflated price. It was tasty, however. The Kubaneh tastes more like an airy french pastry (again, leaves you hungry) than the dense Yemenite original. The only similarity to the original is the black nigella seeds. We recommend that the chef/owner consults Hebrew-language recipes copiously available online so that the title of this serving matches what it supposes to be. Both breakfasts came with two types of hot sauce - each only 1/2 teaspoon size, less than a dozen olives, a little hard boiled egg (portrayed exotically as the Sephardic haminados - ie, hard boiled with coffee or onion peels to get the brown/grey color, something that did not add to the low quality or small size of each egg) and two little rectangles of low quality feta cheese. The two large cafe lattes we ordered were each the size of small cappuccino. Bottom line: either eat breakfast at home before you go for a Sunday brunch at Loquat or avoid the place altogether.

I came here on a weekday morning with high expectations but was disappointed. I ordered a box of pastries to go as well as had a salted chocolate babka (as recommended by the server) and a cappuccino. I am VERY familiar with Four Barrel coffee but the one I had was as not good at all. Coffee tasted weak almost. The babka was not good- dry and almost couldn’t finish it. I wondered if it was baked that day as it tasted a bit old. For box I took to go and devoured at home: Bourekas - very good and flaky especially if you reheat it. Could have more filling inside Halva brownie - very good Crinkle coffee cookie - okay not the chewy kind Bundt cake - not much flavor Tasted 3 kinds of babka in total - salted chocolate, poppyseed walnut and cinnamon. Sadly, all were forgettable and dry. Almost didn’t taste fresh at all. I’m glad I came and checked it out but I don’t think I’m coming back. Maybe it was just an off day..

This bakery is absolutely delightful! My friend and I each ordered 1 pastry with a coffee, but there are so many options on the menu, we both decided to bring home like 3 more pastries for later. I have so far tried: - Rose & pistachio meringue - beautifully soft and delicious. The pistachios add some nice crunch alongside the meringue itself, which had a perfectly crisp outside and marshmallow interior. - Rosemary shortbread - there were more flavors in this, but I forgot what they were. The rosemary gives this shortbread a really nice savoriness that you don't often experience with pastries, and we loved it. - Chocolate tahini cookie - chewy with a slight crisp on the edge, the chocolate chunks were melty and wonderful. I ordered a couple babkas for later and haven't tried them yet, but they're beautiful and probably amazing as well. I can't wait to go back to try more things! This is a new favorite spot.

I love sharing this place with others, particularly bringing pastries to picnics and dinner parties. I know Ive done well when I notice other give out slight moans of delight at first bite, or the closing of eyes to focus on the flavor. Ill give a special shout out to the mahlab a it doesnt get a lot of attention in the reviews - a special floral cake-like treat that is never dry - its also gorgeous! As a chocolate lover I can vouch for the chocolate espresso cake (subtle and sophisticated) and brownie (decadent and salty). I recently deviated from my usual to try the lemon rosemary tart from the fridge, and found it to be absolutely stunning and well balanced - maybe I’m not the chocolate person I thought I was?

Came twice. First time: Tried the lemon rosemary tart and cinnamon babka, both were AMAZING. The babka has perfect caramelisation on the outer layers. Lemon tart was just divine, the rosemary really lifts up the lemon flavors! Second time: cup of coffee (pass on that next time, go for a cappuccino or something), choco babka, rose tea cake, and squash + cheese pastry. The tea cake glaze was a little too sweet for me but the rose flavor was really nice! squash + cheese pastry lacked filling, but I loved the flakiness of the dough and how light it was — which can be hard to do w venoisserie. I liked the babka best :) hoping to keep coming back so i can try all of the pastries!

I took notice of Loquat this morning on my way to my facial appointment in Hayes Valley, so I asked my esthetician about it and she said she recently tried a cinnamon babka there and it was really good. I decided to pop in after my appointment and I picked out a bourekas with ricotta and sage filling. It was incredibly delicious. Perfectly balanced with just the right amount of filling and so flaky!!! That one pastry made me want to try so many more of the options there so I will definitely be back. Whoever baked that wonderful pastry I tried today, keep doing what you're doing because that was delightful. I would add a photo, but I already ate it.

I visited Loquat on a Thursday morning with my partner. The open door welcomed us into a charming cafe space filled with gorgeous cakes and pastries. We ordered the savory breakfast plate, bourekas (sp?), tea, and a decaf cappuccino. The service was great, the food was unique and fresh and very flavorful, I loved the egg, the sauces, the olives. The seating was charming, (America needs more petite cafes with marble top tables), the drinks were delicious. Highly recommend trying multiple items here. They even have a rack of little food items that would make good gifts for friends.

Loquat has been on the list of many 'must try in SF' on the internet and it doesn't disappoint. I've seen a line going down Gough. I went around 12 pm on a Saturday for a quick pastry and was able to find a seat immediately. There is limited seating, I would take that to account. Desserts look beautiful. I still need make my way back and try more. The poppy seed babka as recommended by staff it was not too sweet and soft in texture. Coffee had sugar cube. Limited parking around the street. Trendy place that would be cute for a catch up with friends or quick stop.

LOQUAT has become my favorite spot for coffee. Well the coffee here is slightly pricier than others but LOQUAT offers a unique taste to the coffee. It is more bold, slightly bitter, and unsweetened. The nice thing is they offer a sweet, almost like a sugar cube, on the side for you to taste the real coffee. Oh, and the bakery! Their puff pastry is well layered and crisp. There are a lot to explore but the one I tried is good. Definitely will go back to try more. Oh the tablewares and the staffs bring good vibe to the cafe!

The baked goods are really good. Someone knows what they're doing. My favorites are the pistachio/fruit coffee cake, fruit of the week galette, olive oil spelt pound cake. But it's next to impossible to actually eat there - the space is tiny and cute and has about 5 tables which are always occupied. So I have to settle for to-go pastries. I would rate 5 stars if they had more seating. Fun fact: you can get a lot of their baked goods at the Mill on divis too

great pastries but they HAVE to figure out the seating situation. the tables are all wobbly and too close together which makes it hard to get in and out, the velvet bench is covered in crumbs constantly, and there’s a large open area that would benefit from a little standing or sitting bar. would be perfect if you could just sit and enjoy your coffee and pastry on the gorgeous cups and plates they have but there’s literally no where comfortable to sit.

Absolutely enjoyed my quick visit to Loquat. I had poppyseed babka and coffee. I can’t wait to try more babkas and beautiful tarts. I love how they thougtfully created the space — dusty rose colored wall, plates and mugs with similar color palette with golden highlights, flowers and plants that add vibrancy to this sun-filled place. It’s not easy to find a cafe with good coffee, tasty and interesting pastries, and good vibes, but this place is the one.

I had high expectations of this place but was disappointed. I have an idea of what the bakers are trying to accomplish and applaud their moxy. But it seems like they have tried to hard to produce something different. Unfortunately, the balance is not right for me. I have no idea of what am actually tasting, the flavors are all over the place and confusing to the palate.
Food: 1
Service: 4
Atmosphere: 4

You order at the counter and take a seat. Drinks are served with a piece of halva! Coffee is strong! (A bit too strong for me — we got lattes) And served in a cup with a saucer and a piece of halva. The boureka (savoury pastry) is really good! I got the summer squash, and the pastry was very flaky, and tasted fragrantly of sesame. My only thing is that the coffee cup has no handle and it was really hot.

pretty good middle eastern bakery with some unique pastries. staff is really friendly and the place was well decorated. overall a good bakery but not top tier given the steep competition in the city. - spinach and feta boureka: highly recommend! it was flaky and the filling was delicious - salted chocolate babka: solid pastry, enjoyed - bread pudding: too sweet, wouldn’t get again

Turkish coffee tart is quite rich but delicious, it does have a prominent salty savory component coupled with rich chocolate and light coffee flavors if that’s not your cup of tea. Assam tea with mint had nice flavor, was hoping for more mint flavor but got it to go so didn’t steep as long as it could have. Poppy walnut babka had great texture and light flavor. Highly recommend!

The babka, oh the babka. I had one of each walnut-poppyseed and chocolate babkas, they were both fantastic. Highly recommend the walnut. Additionally, the tahini chocolate chip cookie was delicious and not too sweet—a huge pro in my book. The atmosphere was chill, a mix of people working and people quietly socializing. The baristas were nice as well

Decided to take myself here for my birthday... because I love it, and each other visit has been so very charming. An unusual order for me - I got their chocolate cake with espresso buttercream! Not too sweet, no overpowering flavor. Balanced and lovely. I recommend this spot. Can't go wrong, especially if you enjoy ultra flaky savories.

Vibes were off! Kept getting bad looks from the baristas for having my laptop with me. The hot chocolate was very bland but at least the banana cake was good. Please be kind ✨
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Breakfast
Food: 2
Service: 1
Atmosphere: 1
Recommended dishes
Cake, Hot Chocolate W

I have tasted many of Kristina's creations, and they have all been amazing and delicious works of art! Unfortunately I won't be able to taste delicacies from Loquat any time soon as I live 3000 miles away, but to anyone within driving distance, I encourage you to hurry over as soon as it opens! You are in for a rare treat!

Felt the place was a bit too overrated. Tried the famous poppyseed babka, and it felt a bit too dry for a babka, and it was more of a bun but also not the texture of a bun. Also tried the coffee and it wasn't my favorite, only the coffee beans weren't great but i think the barista did a good job in milk frothing

I always love a coffee place that serves their beverages in real cups. It invites you to enjoy the real taste of delicious coffee mindfully and slow down your day even for just 15 minutes, rather than tossing more items into the landfill . On top of it the salty and sweet pastries are delicious.

The pastries look good but don't taste great. They taste like they have too much salt and butter inside them. Some of the cakes are too bland as well.
Service
Take out
Meal type
Other
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 1
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 3

Pretty spot with unique Babka / pastry selections. Loved the Cardomom and Poppy seed ones. Savor pastries add a nice balance to the sweetness of some of the cakes. seating is a bit tight and coffee was decent but not amazing.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 4

Visited SF in August, Loquat is a charming cafe with friendly staff and delicious cakes and patisseries. Forget about cinnamon buns, the cardamone bun is to die for! Could have stayed there for hours, it's so cosy. Thank you
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

We got the chocolate babka, potato and spice pastry, and jelly filled donuts (sufganiyot). Everything was delicious. The donuts were hands down some of the best I’ve ever had. I hope to be back soon.
Service
Take out
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Love this bakery and coffee shop, but dining in here does not work. There were many tables lingering and talking while people waited for a seat. I had to take my coffee and cakes from the condiment bar. It’s probably easier to just get something to go from here.

We had the strawberry-rhubarb pie, chickpea-tarragon pastry and a piece of the chocolate cake. I had a mocha. The only downside of my order was the mocha, which did not even slightly taste chocolaty, and it was the most expensive mocha I had ever ordered ($7).

Had a wonderful breakfast here after the gym. Delicious coffee and pastries. Not crowded and not empty. Cute plates and mugs. I had the salted chocolate babka, which was flaky and delicious. They also have amazing looking cakes in the case by the door.

Delicious bakery in Hayes Valley!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Breakfast
Price per person
$1–10
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Chocolate Espresso Cake, Bourekas Breakfast Platter

Just beautiful food! We so much enjoyed the cake, pastries, and cappuccino, especially considering our the high bar set by our all-time loved 20th Century Cafe. Loquat does not disappoint, and it's so good to have this gem in our neighborhood!

Had a lovely brunch here in late August of 2023. My wife and I had espresso drinks and tried their savory breakfast plate with an 8 hr boiled egg. The food was sublime and the ambiance was mellow and comfortable. Highly recommend stopping in.

DEVOURED!! Everything here is so good, I bought a few pastries such as the Turkish Coffee Cream Tart and Espresso Cake, and let me tell you, you cannot miss out on this place. The flavors are so good. Only complaint I have is the price …

Amazing spot for indulging the Middle Eastern bakery and buy beautiful cake for your event. All pastries are super fresh and made right there, cakes in a screen look so elegant and fancy that it’s impossible to ignore. The seating is very

Super cute cafe loved their bourekas with labneh and olives and mint I think. Fresh mint tea was perfection on a chilly day. Can't wait to go back and try some of their cakes
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

The Turkish coffee cream tart is to die for. Excited to try to chocolate cake and babka when we get home. Not only are the flavors here really stunning, each pastry and cake is truly gorgeous - little works of art!

Tasty babkas and well made cappuccino, with a great selection of goods and beautiful pastries. The service was very quick, but not the warmest. Very tight quarters. The pastries were spectacular, however!

7 Weekend breakfast platter was great and savory, not sweet. One person could eat as a big breakfast but a bit pricey. Olive and labneh roll seemed solid not too olivey. Cappuccino was nice but pricey

The labne cheesecake and pistachio cookies were excellent - can't wait to try the Turkish coffee cake once i get home. Worth taking an entire box home of goods from this special place!

We only had the Borekas, tried all 3 of them. A bit pricey at $5 but that’s now the price of a great croissant. They well done, the way you’d expect from a respectable place in Israel

Cute little cafe with some high quality pastries. Slightly higher price but worth it for quality experience.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

I was super excited to try this new Middle Eastern bakery, and their outstanding pastries and high quality coffee did not disappoint! we tried:

Great Jewish Flavors mixed with Middle Eastern Flavors. Great location and vibe in San Francisco!! Definitely worth a try Loved it! …

The babka (poppyseed and walnut) is insane! We also got coffee (good) and all sorts of savory and sweet stuff and this place is great :)

My favorite spot for pastries! Try the chocolate babka. All of their items have unique flavors and the atmosphere is so cozy.

Delicious cakes, I especially liked the mint tea as well, very fragrant. Space is a bit small and not that cosy but ok

My favorite cafe in the city. Less sweet pastries in exquisite flavors, hand-made tableware, solid espresso drinks.

Perfect place to read / spend some time to unwind. Nice collection of pastries, quick bites. The mocha was great!

Love their chocolate babka and spinach & feta boureka! Need to go back and get a whole babka loaf. It’s that good

You will want to eat these fluffy sufganiyot, and then take a nap on a bed made of these fluffy sufganiyot.

Great little space, no wifi but has a great selections of cakes and coffees. Service is fantastic as well!

Best new coffee shop in San Francisco. Unique pastries, quality coffee from Four Barrel and pretty plates.

Easily a crime to visit SF and not visiting Loquat. Friendly service paired with even tastier pastries.

Everything is delicious and you can taste the quality. The vibe is inviting and the staff is friendly.

The coffee is incredible love the cups it's served in. Chocolate babka was also the best i ever had.

Pastries and cake were amazing, and the vibe at this locations was great. Very much recommend!

Great ambiance and music, augmented by four barrel signature coffee and baked goods.

Nice space, decent food options. I wish they had more variety of proteins.

Pastries were delicious but I didn’t like the vibe - not my kind of café.

Great place for brunch and coffee! They have amazing vegetarian options

Yummy treats so good you have to be careful not to come here every day.

Cute bakery! great pastries and coffee, especially cozy on a rainy day

Had an amazing time here. The food and coffee are to die for.

Exceptional pastries and vibes. I want to live there :D

Great REAL coffee, like it should be, European style.

Dessert and espresso spot with lovely touches

The halva brownie was absolutely delicious!

Amazing pastries, good vibe, good service.

Best oat milk cappwest of the Mississippi

Sweet spot. High quality. Beautiful staff

un po' costoso ma ottimo cibo fresco.

They have good pastries and coffee.

The bourekas are AMAZING …

Delicious lemon and rosemary tart

Fantastic middle eastern bakery.

Yummy cake and atmosphere.

Gorgeous little Cafe!

Best pastries in SF.

Delicious babka!

Great Food

10/10