The Buena Vista Cafe sits at the corner of Hyde and Beach, right at the end of the Powell-Hyde cable car line, and it has been famous for one thing since 1952: Irish Coffee. This is the bar that introduced the drink to America, and they have served over 30 million of them. The bartenders line up rows of glass mugs and assemble them with practiced efficiency -- coffee, sugar, Tullamore Dew whiskey, and a layer of cold cream floated on top.
It is a small, unpretentious place, usually packed, and the Irish Coffee is genuinely excellent. Grab a seat at the bar if you can and watch the show. Best enjoyed after a cable car ride on a foggy evening.