SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – Maison Nico is not exactly a secret.
The tiny French cafe in San Francisco’s Jackson Square neighborhood has become one of the city’s most celebrated destinations for painstakingly laminated croissants, beautiful seasonal pastries and elaborate savory creations wrapped in pastry crust.
On a busy morning, its pink sidewalk tables can fill quickly, and a line can form outside the little storefront at 710 Montgomery Street.
But what even many Maison Nico regulars may not realize is that the cafe now has a second San Francisco location — hidden inside one of the most recognizable buildings in the city.
Maison Nico quietly opened a pocket-sized cafe in the lobby of the Transamerica Pyramid at 600 Montgomery Street this summer.
It is almost directly across the street from the original. But without a traditional storefront or prominent exterior sign, it is remarkably easy to miss.
In fact, Maison Nico’s own website still lists only its original Montgomery Street address.
Maison Nico, Without the Vibes (or Lines)
The Transamerica Pyramid cafe is a smaller and more streamlined version of Maison Nico. A staff member described it to me as “the same cafe, without all the vibes.”
I visited while downtown on a photoshoot covering self-driving cars. I wanted a coffee and a little bite, but didn’t fancy standing in a half-hour line to get one at the flagship store.
The counter serves a selection of the bakery’s celebrated croissants and French pastries, including madeleines and caneles, alongside espresso drinks made with locally roasted beans from San Francisco’s Linea Caffe.
Savory options have included Maison Nico’s croque monsieur, providing a more substantial breakfast or lunch option alongside all that butter and pastry. There aren’t as many meat dishes. But for coffee and a pastry, it’s all there.
There is also lounge seating inside the building, with the cafe facing the corner of Jackson and Montgomery streets.
There are other interesting things to browse through, too, like a selection of books in the building’s lobby.
It may not have the jewel-box atmosphere, shelves of French products or distinctive sidewalk tables of the original. But it offers a way to get Maison Nico’s pastries without necessarily confronting the flagship cafe’s line.
The new outpost is open on weekdays, including Mondays. That is especially notable because the original Maison Nico is closed every Monday. Now you know!
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Why Maison Nico Opened Across the Street
The Transamerica location came together unusually quickly.
The cafe replaced Pyramid Cafe, a coffee counter that opened as part of the Transamerica Pyramid’s massive $200 million renovation in 2024.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, an owner of the building who was already a Maison Nico customer approached owners Andrea and Nicolas “Nico” Delaroque about taking over the lobby space.
The arrangement made practical sense. Maison Nico’s bakery is so close that its team can simply carry fresh trays of pastries across Montgomery Street to stock the new counter.
It also allows the business to serve customers working inside and around the Transamerica Pyramid without trying to reproduce the full Maison Nico experience in another large kitchen.
From Michelin-Starred Restaurant to Pastry Destination
Maison Nico opened in late 2020, but the Delaroques’ history in the space goes back much further.
Nico Delaroque previously operated the Michelin-starred French restaurant Nico, which opened in Pacific Heights in 2013 before eventually relocating to Jackson Square. The restaurant closed in 2019, and the pandemic helped accelerate the family’s transition toward a more flexible bakery, cafe and French épicerie concept.
The cafe specializes in traditional French techniques and items rarely found at American bakeries, including pâté en croûte, terrines, pithiviers, brioche feuilletée and a striking pistachio Paris-Brest filled with pistachio mousse and praline.
Delaroque’s technical work has also received international recognition. He earned the Elegance Prize at the 2025 Pâté en Croûte World Championship in Lyon, where entries were evaluated by a panel of chefs and artisans.
Maison Nico is now preparing another expansion in downtown San Anselmo, with plans for a larger bakery offering additions such as sourdough bread, baguettes and house-made ice cream.
Visitors can find the original Maison Nico at 710 Montgomery Street when they want the “vibes”. It is open Tuesday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The weekday-only Transamerica Pyramid counter is inside the lobby at 600 Montgomery Street. Because the second location and its precise hours are still not prominently listed on Maison Nico’s website, it would be wise to confirm availability before making a special trip.
Or simply step inside the Pyramid on a weekday morning and look for the small counter!
You may find one of San Francisco’s best croissants — with almost no line at all.
