Bar Coto, a casual all-day Italian cafe, is getting ready to open in San Francisco at 596 Pacific Avenue.
The new cafe is expected to open in spring 2026, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Bar Coto will not take reservations and will offer both limited seating and standing room, providing a more accessible experience for casual visits. Bar Coto is the latest project from Michael and Lindsay Tusk, who also operate Quince, Cotogna, and Verjus. What Now San Francisco previously reported on this project when it first went through the building permit application process, but the concept did not have a name or an opening date.
The Tusks founded Quince & Co. in 2003 with the opening of Quince. Quince moved to Jackson Square in 2009, followed by Cotogna, and later Verjus. The group also manages Officina, a daytime test kitchen and evening event space, as well as Tusk Events, a full-service catering operation. The new cafe represents an expansion of the group’s offerings into more casual, everyday dining options while remaining anchored in Italian culinary traditions.
Menu highlights at Bar Coto will include espresso, pastries, and sandwiches made with house-baked bread during the day, along with low-ABV cocktails, wine, beer, and small plates such as conservas and seasonal antipasti in the evening, according to the Chronicle. Executive pastry chef Jennifer Felton will serve gelato featuring flavors like vanilla honeycomb and seasonal produce from the Tusks’ Bolinas farm.
Bar Coto is designed to complement the Tusks’ existing restaurants, offering a distinct experience. Michael and Lindsay Tusk continue to seek new avenues for providing high-quality food and hospitality. Their goal with Bar Coto is to create a welcoming, flexible space where guests can enjoy Italian flavors in a casual setting without the formality of a full-service restaurant.
