A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE BUENA VISTA

The original building where the Buena Vista sits today was a boardinghouse until 1916 when the landlord converted the first floor into a saloon. That saloon was named the Buena Vista. ("Good View" in Spanish) The view was good indeed and it served as a warm meeting place for hundreds of fishermen and handlers who worked for the nearby Sardine Cannery. There they could take in a whiskey while scouting the bay for incoming fishing boats which would mean, "Quick! Finish your drink and back to meet the boats!"

In 1952, with the help of a Pulitzer-Prize winning writer, the Buena Vista introduced to the world it's now famous Irish Coffee. The recipe has never changed and the view is still quite good.

The man who started it all.

Stanton Delaplane at the Buena Vista in 1975.