Round House Cafe, Art Deco café at Golden Gate Bridge Plaza, San Francisco, United States
The Round House Café is a circular building in Art Deco style located at Golden Gate Bridge Plaza. Its large windows frame views of the bridge and the bay, and the interior offers comfortable seating and service for visitors exploring the area.
The building was constructed in 1938 by architect Alfred Finnila as part of the visitor infrastructure for the Golden Gate Bridge area. It was designed from the start to welcome travelers and provide a stopping point during their exploration of the bridge and surroundings.
The building's name comes from its circular plan, visible in the round glass band and the red-rimmed roof. Signs on the facade read "GIFT CENTER" and "CAFE GIFTS SHOPPES", a trace of the unofficial souvenir shop that operated here until it was removed in the 2012 renovation. Since 2021 the site has been leased by Equator Coffees.
The café is accessible by public transit, with bus routes serving Golden Gate Bridge Plaza, and parking is available nearby. It makes an easy stop on foot for a break between walks and hikes in the surrounding area.
The building was designed by Finnish-American architect Alfred Finnila and opened in 1938, a year after the Golden Gate Bridge was completed, making it one of the oldest restaurants in the Bay Area. Its round Art Deco form and position beside the bridge plaza are easy to spot from the approach road.
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