Set along plum-blossom-lined Mark Twain Street and adjacent to the revitalized Redwood Park, the Cal-Italian bistro sits within the Transamerica Three building, part of the city’s signature Transamerica Pyramid complex. It is the first of chef Brad Kilgore’s San Francisco restaurant concepts to open as part of the tower’s $400 million renovation project in 2025, and it is remarkably accessible for every type of diner. Few places in San Francisco now require a lunch reservation, let alone offer counter-service coffee and pastries backed by a standout in-house baked goods program.
The FiDi work crowd flocks to Kilgore’s window-walled, 65-seat space in Jackson Square, a room defined by contemporary classicism. Cafe Sebastian’s refined design features walnut tabletops and a mix of seating, from tubular tufted leather banquettes to street-view high tops. Since opening, it has quickly become one of the city’s go-to power lunch destinations.
Kilgore’s seasonal menu moves from elevated sandwiches, such as a summertime BLT with pork belly, bacon, and heirloom tomato, to composed salads like quinoa with English snap peas, avocado, and house-cured Mt. Lassen trout. Handmade pastas, elegant toasts, cherry chili jam, and green goddess dressing show Kilgore, a revered figure in the Miami dining scene, quickly adapting his style to California. Even the wine list spans the state, from Santa Barbara to Sonoma. With doors opening at 8 a.m. daily (10 on weekends), there is a full breakfast and brunch menu, and the all-encompassing cafe includes a corner for Kilgore’s Madlab kakigori and gelato shop.
Ultimately, Cafe Sebastian is a catch-all that reflects the renewed optimism surrounding the future of San Francisco’s economic core. While the food arrives quickly enough for office workers to eat without rushing back to their desks, the restaurant is also a destination worthy of a trip to Transamerica Three on any day of the week.
