Parasol at Flore, a California Mediterranean bistro bar, is getting ready to open in San Francisco at 2298 Market St.
The new restaurant is moving into the former home of Cafe La Flore, which operated in the space for decades, according to the SF Standard. What Now San Francisco confirmed with owner Jacob Paronyan that the team is aiming to open before June 2026, with a phased rollout that begins with a lighter menu before expanding shortly after opening. The concept will offer a California-driven menu with Mediterranean influences.
Cafe La Flore first opened in 1973 and operated for 47 years before closing. Over the decades, the restaurant changed ownership multiple times and became a well-known gathering place in the neighborhood. In 2016, then co-owner Stu Gerry put the business up for sale due to a lack of capital needed for building code upgrades. The restaurant was sold in 2017 to Terrance Alan and Aaron Silverman, with Gerry retaining a minority stake.
Alan and Silverman, who met through marijuana advocacy work, planned to rename the restaurant Flore and envisioned it as San Francisco’s first cannabis cafe. State law prevented the sale of alcohol and cannabis in the same business, and the plan was never fully realized. The restaurant continued operating in a reduced capacity in the years leading up to its closure, with limited hours and a scaled-back menu.
The wedge-shaped, 954-square-foot space sits at a prominent corner and has long been part of the Castro’s dining landscape. This will be an excellent landing space for Parasol at Flore, bringing new energy to a location with deep neighborhood roots.
