A Historic Military Building Reborn: The Mess Hall Debuts at San Francisco's Presidio Tunnel Tops

Key Takeaways

• The Mess Hall opens at Presidio Tunnel Tops in San Francisco on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026, completing the park's final major concession.
• The restored building, originally an Army feed store, butcher shop and mailroom, now houses Boda Korean, Dayboat Seafood, and Breadwinner sandwiches and burgers.
• Additional spaces include a full cocktail bar, a coffee and pastry cafe featuring Wrecking Ball Coffee and Breadbelly, and a specialty market with picnic supplies.
• The food hall offers 88 indoor seats and a 120-seat patio with views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz.

A Long-Awaited Opening in San Francisco's Presidio

The Mess Hall at the Presidio opens its doors on Saturday, bringing a new dining and gathering space with six separate food and beverage concepts to the 14-acre Tunnel Tops park. Co-founders Rob Gaon and Nate Leonard, along with chef Peter Serpico, spent four years planning the project, which occupies the historic Building 201 at 201 Halleck Street. Gaon is a Mill Valley resident and entrepreneur, and Serpico consulted on the menus.

Serpico, a Korean American chef, is widely known for his tenure at David Chang's Momofuku Noodle Bar and Momofuku Ko, where he served as chef de cuisine before becoming Chang's director of culinary operations. He later relocated to Philadelphia to partner with restaurateur Stephen Starr on his eponymous restaurant Serpico, which opened in 2013 and became a local hot spot. Leonard, a former chef, brings his own culinary background to the project.

Spanning 6,200 square feet, the indoor-outdoor space makes The Mess Hall a central gathering spot within Tunnel Tops.

The restored space offers wraparound views of San Francisco Bay, the Palace of Fine Arts and Alcatraz.

The view also takes in the downtown skyline, giving diners nearly every major San Francisco landmark from their seats.

"I think it's a pretty incredibly special place. Just another wonderful place to come and have coffee, a meal, bring your friends, family, hang out, show off our city," Gaon told KTVU.

Leonard said the team aimed for a "communal beer hall" vibe and wanted to "build a compelling food hall" that would serve local residents and park visitors alike.

Described as an "all-day dining destination," The Mess Hall is designed to serve visitors from morning coffee to evening cocktails.

"I'm really excited to fill it up and provide quality food that's hopefully not going to break the bank," Leonard said of the project. "Being part of everybody's daily routine would be an absolute success."

Gaon describes the concept as "elevated fast food," and he acknowledged the challenges of working with a federal agency. "You walk into the Presidio, it's like going back in time in California, right? Um, you know, working with a federal agency has its challenges." The opening day drew large crowds, and some diners faced waits. "The food I've had so far has been good once we've gotten it. We've been waiting for about an hour," said San Francisco resident Phil Zahniel. Gaon said the locals have "come out in masses today, a little overwhelming."

Three Restaurants, One Shared Kitchen

The menu lineup was designed to be approachable and affordable. "We realized that this building could manage a high volume operation, and with that create an opportunity for more affordable, approachable menus that families can come and have a really nice meal without having to make a reservation," Leonard said.

The three restaurant concepts are:

• Boda: Korean-inspired dishes including fried chicken, kimchi fried rice, mandu dumplings, and housemade banchan.
• Dayboat Seafood: Fresh seafood, crudos, chowder, shrimp cocktail, and sushi handrolls.
• Breadwinner: Breakfast sandwiches, smashburgers, salads, and hearty lunch sandwiches.

Among the specific offerings, Breadwinner's sandwiches ($14-$19) include a porchetta riff with roast pork, chicharron broccoli raab, fennel pollen and confit garlic, plus a smashburger and a meatless black bean patty version. Breadwinner also serves a turkey club, Italian cold cuts, and a smashed chickpea sandwich, and diners can build their own salads ($15) with options such as grilled chicken, crispy chickpeas, marinated white beans and seasonal vegetables. Dayboat Seafood offers freshly shucked oysters, marinated mussels, cioppino and a Dungeness crab sandwich, as well as build-your-own hand rolls ($18-$24) with fillings such as scallops with yuzu kosho or marinated tuna.

All three share a kitchen and use a single ordering and pickup system, with orders picked up from a shared pick-up window. Orders can be placed by QR code at tables or at a counter. The restaurants begin service at 11 am.

Guests can order at kiosks, via QR codes at tables, or at the counter, all on one tab. Ordering is available from 11 a.m. until the market closes. Seating at a long black counter looks into the open kitchen, while other tables enjoy views of the Golden Gate Bridge. Vegan and vegetarian options are available throughout the menus.

Bar, Cafe and Market

The full-service bar anchors the social side of The Mess Hall. The cafe opens at 7 am daily, serving coffee from Wrecking Ball Coffee Roasters and pastries from Breadbelly. There is also a "bodega-style" breakfast sandwich with options for sausage, bacon, or tots.

Ezra Roberts of San Francisco's acclaimed Verjus wine bar is the Mess Hall's beverage director. The partnership with Breadbelly came via a referral through a mutual friend at Wrecking Ball, said Leonard, who "was already a huge fan, and they were at the very top of my wish list." Expect some of the bakery's most popular creations, including gyeranbbang (a Korean, cheesy egg-filled cornbread) and one of the Bay Area's best croissants. Breadbelly ranked seventh in this year's Chronicle Top 100 Restaurants. Pastries are available daily until they sell out, and the coffee shop closes at 8 p.m.

The $9 bodega-style egg-and-cheese sandwich comes on a housemade vegan bun, with optional sausage, bacon, grilled ham, hash browns, vegan bacon, or vegan substitutes for the egg and cheese.

The all-day specialty market also opens at 7 am and offers grab-and-go sandwiches, tinned fish, and picnic items, along with toiletries and convenience-store products for Presidio residents.

The sizable market also offers beverages, cheese, charcuterie and other picnic goods.

The market also offers salads and cough drops, adding to its assortment of picnic goods and sundries.

"I'm super excited to showcase some local favorites of Breadbelly and Wrecking Ball Coffee to people who may not be familiar with it in such a beautiful location," said Justin Williams, coffee manager at The Mess Hal.

Historic Building, Modern Design

Built in 1898, the building originally served as an animal feed store, butcher shop, and mailroom when the Presidio was a military post. The restoration preserved 126-year-old wood and other original details. Design firm Studio KDA, known for Bar Panisse in Berkeley, handled the interior, drawing inspiration from the 1930s and 1940s.

The building itself has an unusual history: it is the top half of a wooden structure, circa 1898, that was moved to its current location at the top of the hill. According to Gaon, workers "picked it up, put it in the parking lot" while the park was built, and after four years, they "built a foundation and moved it to this location."

Studio KDA, the design firm behind Lunette as well as Bar Panisse, created a look that incorporates original light fixtures and Douglas fir floors from the former U.S. Army depot.

"It's just really remarkable to be the steward of this building, built in 1898, and to be able Nate and I to come in here and bring it back to life, restore the wood, 126 year old wood," said Gaon.

Local Context and Community

The Mess Hall is the final piece of Presidio Tunnel Tops, which opened four years ago as the "front door" to the Presidio. The park already draws crowds for its views and play areas. Locals like Nell Blagg and Hilary Jaschke said they are excited to have another kid-friendly dining option close to the park's main lawn.

The Mess Hall is the first brick-and-mortar dining spot on Tunnel Tops. Diners on opening day appreciated both the setting and the history. "This is what San Francisco's all about, I feel like," said Janette Marcelo. "You just come here, and you're like, OK, I'm so happy that I live here." Juli Polanco added, "They really took the time to think about the history of this place and integrate it with our life today and the hope for the future. There's families and children outside. What a great continuity of life on this special place." Leanne Chappell from Davis said, "I really like the idea that the Presidio is keeping the historical side of what was here. It feels like it will be here forever."

The Mess Hall aims to serve both tourists and the approximately 8,000 residents of the Presidio.

It joins the acclaimed Dalida and focaccia spot Il Parco at the Presidio, with a new taproom from Fieldwork Brewing Company coming soon.

The operators also plan to host special culinary events and collaborate with local chefs, using a dedicated group event space.

Planned events include seafood boils, oyster bar parties and smashburger cookouts on Tunnel Tops' outdoor grills.

Background

The Presidio has transformed from a military installation to a national park area over the past three decades. Tunnel Tops park, completed in 2022, connected the main Presidio to Crissy Field. The Mess Hall had been rumored for years, with announcements dating back to 2024, and its opening was repeatedly delayed.

The Presidio has guarded the Bay since 1776, which may explain why the Mess Hall took so long to arrive.

Plan Your Visit

Hours are 7 am to 8 pm Monday through Thursday, and 7 am to 10 pm Friday through Sunday. The restaurant menus are available from 11 am. Seating includes 88 indoor seats and 120 outdoor patio seats overlooking the Golden Gate.

The outdoor seating is divided into two areas, with views of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco Bay.

Whether you're grabbing a coffee after a walk or settling in for Korean fried chicken with a view, The Mess Hall gives San Francisco a new reason to spend the day at Tunnel Tops.