Ida Giotta, the heart and soul of San Francisco’s iconic Caffe Trieste, has died at the age of 101. She passed away on November 29 at Kaiser San Francisco, her family confirmed. The cause of death was old age.
For more than five decades, Ida was known for stepping out from behind the counter and singing beautiful Italian arias to customers. Her clear soprano voice became one of the defining sounds of North Beach.
The Woman Behind the Music
Since the early 1970s, Ida would often perform with the Caffe Trieste Band, with her son Fabio playing the accordion. Even in her 90s, she continued singing inside the café she loved so deeply.
She performed at her 101st birthday celebration in October, a moment her family now treasures. Soon after, her health declined.
A Community Icon
Former San Francisco Supervisor Aaron Peskin called her passing “the end of an era.” He attended her funeral at Saints Peter and Paul Church, which was filled with people of all backgrounds — a sign of how many lives she touched.
Peskin said, “Every living North Beach character came to pay their respects.” The café closed for the day — something that almost never happened — because the entire community was there to honor her.
Caffe Trieste: A Family Legacy
Ida and her husband Giovanni “Gianni” Giotta opened Caffe Trieste on April 1, 1956, after immigrating from Italy. Their coffeehouse soon became a cultural landmark, famous for its espresso, music, and artistic atmosphere.
Photos of Ida singing still line the café’s windows, and Italian opera continues to play from its jukebox.
The Power Behind the Family
While Gianni was the head of the business, their granddaughter Nicole Pantaleo said, “My grandmother was the neck that turned the head.” Ida worked evenings at the café until she focused on raising their children. But she always returned on Saturdays to sing.
Their concerts became a tradition, with Ida, Gianni, and guest performers entertaining crowds far beyond the café’s official capacity. Her son Fabio said she had “a big, delicious voice” and took singing very seriously.
A Life Marked by Strength and Survival
Ida Marina Pancrazi was born on October 16, 1924, in Rovinjo di Istria, Italy. She lived through the horrors of World War II and witnessed Nazi occupation as a teenager. She married Gianni when she was just 15 and he was 19.
After the war, their region became part of Yugoslavia, forcing them to leave their home with only their children and a few belongings. Their journey eventually led them to San Francisco in 1952.
Despite speaking no English, they worked tirelessly — Gianni as a janitor, baker, and window washer, and Ida as a seamstress — until they could purchase their first café.
Building an American Dream
They bought Il Piccolo Caffe with another couple, eventually renaming it “Caffe Trieste” after the city where they had once found refuge. The Giottas continued to grow the business while raising their family in Daly City, South San Francisco, and later the Marina District.
Caffe Trieste became known as the first espresso café on the West Coast. Poets, artists, musicians, and everyday locals filled its tables. Lawrence Ferlinghetti once called it “the center of Bohemian culture in San Francisco.”
Challenges and Triumphs
After Gianni’s death in 2016, a family dispute led to a lawsuit over the café’s ownership. Many feared it could mean the end of Caffe Trieste. But the café survived and remains open today.
The 70th anniversary of Caffe Trieste will be celebrated on April 1 at its historic location at 601 Vallejo Street. The café is now run by Ida’s granddaughter, Ida Pantaleo Zoubi, along with her aunt Adrienne Giotta.
A Legacy That Lives On
Zoubi said, “My grandmother taught us to stay strong and stay together as a family. She was always proud knowing the legacy she and my grandfather built would continue.”
Conclusion
Ida Giotta was more than a café owner — she was a symbol of courage, culture, and community. Her voice, spirit, and lifelong dedication to Caffe Trieste helped shape North Beach into one of San Francisco’s most beloved neighborhoods. Though she is gone, her legacy will continue to echo through every song, every cup of espresso, and every memory shared inside the café she built with her family.
