BREAKING: Renowned author Dave Eggers has just announced plans to open a groundbreaking café at Pier 29 in San Francisco as part of the innovative Art + Water Project. This unique café is set to redefine the local culinary scene, merging art and community engagement in a space designed to inspire creativity and social change.
Scheduled to launch in late summer or fall 2026, the café is envisioned as a modern take on historic coffeehouses, serving as a gathering spot for artists and thinkers. Eggers is collaborating with Mokhtar Alkhanshali, the visionary behind Oakland’s acclaimed Yemeni café, Mohka House. Alkhanshali remarked, “Eggers noticed there was no coffee in that entire area,” highlighting the need for a vibrant coffee culture along the Embarcadero.
In a statement to the San Francisco Chronicle, Eggers emphasized the café’s immersive atmosphere, stating it will allow patrons to “luxuriate in a space filled with rugs, pillows, tapestries, silver, copper, and gold.” This initiative is not just about coffee but aims to create a cultural hub where revolutionary ideas can flourish.
The Art + Water Project, spanning 70,000 square feet, will also support the local arts community by providing free studio space to ten established artists. In return, these artists will mentor twenty emerging talents, challenging the traditional art school model and fostering a debt-free education system. The project’s first program will feature the work of Oakland musician and filmmaker Boots Riley.
Additionally, the partnership with the Community Arts Stabilization Trust ensures that this café and art space will act as a “satellite” gallery for artists who have been pushed out of more costly venues. The project will also host events and exhibitions aimed at enriching the local community and promoting artistic collaboration.
Applications for the nonprofit’s inaugural fellowship will be available soon through the Art + Water social media channels, making this an exciting time for aspiring artists in the area. With free classes and gallery exhibitions on the horizon, community engagement is at the forefront of this initiative.
This ambitious project is set to position Pier 29 as a vital cultural landmark in San Francisco, combining art, coffee, and community in an unprecedented way. Stay tuned for further updates as this project develops and transforms the local landscape.
