If you visit the San Francisco Bay Area, you’ll likely hit all the major attractions – the Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman’s Wharf, Muir Woods – but, like many tourists and even locals, you’ll probably miss one of the quieter, more underrated gems of the area: the quiet coastside city of Pacifica.

Pacifica has the aura of a beach town that hit its peak in the 80s and has now been forgotten, beloved mainly by its own residents, who treasure the quiet respite from nearby San Francisco. I lived in Pacifica myself for a while, and though I wish it were a bit livelier, it’s one of my all-time favorite places. This is especially true for its Sharp Park Beach, home to the stunning views along its Mori Point trail and, up until a couple months ago, the Pacifica Pier: a 1,100 foot-long structure frequented by fishermen, tourists, and locals.

The iconic Pacifica Pier has been closed since June 5, 2026, when Pacifica’s San Mateo Board of Supervisors unexpectedly issued a state of emergency after major cracks suddenly emerged in the pier’s foundation.

It would be upsetting enough if the cracks resulted from a catastrophic storm or natural disaster; however, it’s somehow even more disconcerting that these cracks simply developed due to erosion over time. 30 to 40-foot waves have regularly crashed against the pier’s concrete walls since its construction in 1973.

The Pacifica Pier had been sustaining increased damage in recent years, particularly after high tides in December 2023, which resulted in the farthest portion of the pier closing to the general public. Environmentalists have known that the pier’s eventual collapse was inevitable, as tides continue to rise. But that doesn’t make the reality that Pacifica Pier might be demolished and never rebuilt any easier for those of us who love it.

Perhaps the most devastating consequence of inch-wide cracks being found in the pier’s foundation is the demolition of the Chit Chat Cafe, a cozy coffee shop that’s been a landmark in its own right at the entrance to the pier since the 1990s. I remember visiting the cafe when I was a child on trips with my mom to the beach, then again as an adult visiting with our golden retriever, and of course while I lived nearby. I’m shocked I don’t have any pictures of the interior, something I regret now that I’ll never get to step foot in there again.

Note: Even though the pier Chit Chat location is closed, you can still visit the one on Manor to support the owners.

It’s weird visiting Pacifica now that the pier is crumbling and the Chit Chat Cafe is gone. The rest of the beach and the Mori Point trail are just as picturesque as ever, so seeing so much beauty juxtaposed with destruction feels ominous, a reminder that all our beloved ocean attractions are getting closer to one day being swept into the water. Many still hope that the city of Pacifica will be able to secure emergency funding to rebuild the pier, but even if they do, the question remains: is it worth rebuilding a pier that’s bound to be destroyed by rising tides? I don’t have an answer, but I hope the city can find a way to give the often forgotten city of Pacifica another, perhaps more lasting, landmark.