Cafe Zoetrope is one of many Italian cafes in San Francisco but it must not be forgotten: it is the child of the dreams of Francis Ford Coppola. He wanted a place where artists and writers could come together to talk, share ideas, feast and partake of the good life. His dream comes to life here. Situated in the historic Sentinel Building, Zoetrope serves Italian basics. Look for delectable cheese and olive starters, a great Caesar salad and Old World-style pizzas, calzones and impeccable pastas. Wash them down with a sturdy glass of red from the director’s winery and browse the wall of publications spawned by his literary endeavours. If you’re lucky, you may arrive on a night when it’s hosting a reading, with plenty of writers sipping wine before heading across the street for a serious drink at Tosca.