The Embarcadero’s oldest
operating eatery
Frankie’s opened in 1912 on the Embarcadero. The original Java House name is gone, but the spirit stays. You get classic dishes, cold drinks, and a clear bay view. Stop in before or after a Giants game. Relax on the waterfront. Watch sports. Order takeout when you want Frankie’s at home. The goal stays the same: to welcome you the way we have for more than one hundred years.
What’s in a Name?
The Heffernan family, rooted in Bay Area history since the 1800s, purchased Frankie’s in 2018. The restaurant honors Frankie Michael Heffernan, a lifelong Giants fan and season ticket holder since 1958. His love for San Francisco sports shaped this South Beach spot near Pier 40. His name stands on a waterfront restaurant known for brunch, fish tacos, smash burgers, craft cocktails, clam chowder, and outdoor seating with a bay view.
Less Notable
1912 Events
- First running of Bay to Breakers
- First-ever west to east transcontinental flight lands after five months (LA to Jacksonville)
- Girl Scouts is founded
- Titanic sinks
- Fenway Park opens
- Alaska becomes a U.S. territory
- Scoville scale is devised to measure the heat of peppers
- Jackson Pollock is born
- Julia Child is born
- Bram Stoker’s mortal life ends