I was trying to determine a brunch location with my friend (because brunch is a necessity whenever we see each other), and we decided to go to Coqueta, which is located at Pier 5 on the Embarcadero. I had been there once before (albeit years ago during my miserable investment banking internship in SF) and enjoyed it, so I happily agreed to a second trip. The cocktails came heavily recommended, and we obliged with a couple of cocktails: The Sun Never Sets and the “Salt Air” Margarita. The Sun Never Sets was a bit too sweet for me, but I liked the creativity behind the drinks.

The Sun Never Sets. Licor 43, Tequila 123 Anejo, Lime, Fresh Pressed Pineapple Juice, and Mezcal-Pineapple Espuma Brulee.

The “Salt Air” Margarita. Azul Centenario Blanco Tequila, Lime, Grey Salt Air.

Then, we settled on octopus after asking our server to help us pick between the octopus and the calamari.

Pulpo a la parilla. Wood-grilled octopus, fingerling potatoes, pimenton olive oil. The octopus was cooked perfectly, and the spices gave the potatoes extra flavor. I can still remember exactly the way this dish tasted.

We debated on which large plates we should get, until we both admitted that what we really wanted was the paella. We were looking at other options because the menu specifically noted that the paella would take 30-40 minutes to prepare, but ultimately we couldn’t resist. It was a lazy weekend brunch morning, and we were very happy with our decision.

Paella. The classic, made with bomba rice, jamon serrano-shellfish broth, gulf shrimp, clams, chorizo, with brocolini, asparagus, and lemon aioli. The paella was substantial enough for two people, and we delighted in taking large spoonfuls. The dish was flavorful and spicy, and we savored every last ingredient.

Overall, Coqueta was a delicious and beautiful setting for our weekend brunch. I didn’t capture the view of the water on camera, but I wish I had, because the water was deep blue and gleaming in the sunlight. I would absolutely come back here again.

Coqueta, Pier 5, Embarcadero Drive, San Francisco, CA 94105