San Francisco, California, February 9, 2011
For as many years as I’ve been a part of the online U2 fan community, I’ve been hearing about Bono’s favorite San Francisco haunt: Tosca Café.
It lived up to the hype when I visited for the first time last week—its ambiance is everything I imagined it would be: dark, yet not cold with an air of nostalgia so strong you feel as if you’ve traveled back in time.
Named for an opera, Tosca was founded in 1919, which explains why much of the decor feels very “20s.” A woman in a flapper gown wouldn’t look out of place near the bow-tie wearing bartender or the regulars who line the bar in their fine linens.
I was there with two girlfriends for a ladies’ night and we all decided to try one of their signature drinks, The White Nun. A sweet mixture of steamed milk, brandy and Kahlua, after my first sip I was glad we didn’t opt for dessert at our dinner a few hours prior. So decadent!
I can see why my favorite front-man is so fond of this establishment. The conversations are lively, yet hushed; the jukebox provides an audio landscape that adds a hint of theater without being intrusive, which offers an air of calm not common to typical bars.
I’ll definitely go back.