Grubstake

What you need to know

Grubstake Diner has been a Pine Street fixture since 1927. Half the dining room is built from a converted Key System railcar that ran between Berkeley and San Francisco before the Bay Bridge made it obsolete. The dining car was set in San Francisco that year and has been serving food ever since.

It’s one of the last true late-night diners in San Francisco, open until 3 or 4 AM most nights, and a longstanding part of the city’s LGBTQ+ history.

The Food

Burgers, steaks, breakfast, and homemade pies. The dinner menu also runs into Portuguese specialties: bacalhau and other dishes that reflect the kitchen’s history. The pies are baked in-house and have been called among the best in the city. Grubstake was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.

The Space

Half is the original railcar, narrow and lined with booth seats. The other half is a more conventional dining room added on later. Both share the same retro feel and the same kitchen.

Practical Info

Price: Most items $15 to $25
Reservations: None. Walk in.
Hours: Sun-Wed 6:30pm to 3am, Thu-Sat 6:30pm to 4am
Address: 1525 Pine Street
Getting there: Pine Street is a few blocks from Polk. 19 Polk and 1 California Muni lines stop nearby.

📍 Location: This restaurant is in Nob Hill. Explore the neighborhood →