Hoppe Family 

1926-2000

Cioppino's

Many of the Fisherman's Wharf restaurants bear the names of the families who’ve run them for generations, adding to the Wharf's unique charm, where the heritage of the Italian fishermen lives on.

Cioppino’s continues that tradition – with a twist. Unlike other family-run spots, their family name isn’t actually Cioppino. They would’ve used their real name, but it just didn’t have the same pizzazz in neon. So, they chose Cioppino’s, because that's what they do best.

Nick Hoppe, the owner, is a fifth-generation San Franciscan who takes immense pride in both the city and his restaurant. His father, Art Hoppe, was a well-known San Francisco Chronicle reporter whose column was syndicated nationwide. Art covered 50 years of U.S. and San Francisco news, joining the Chronicle in 1949 with a starting salary of just $35 a week. He quickly rose to become a legendary reporter, known for his humorous yet informative columns on events like the 1954 marriage of Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe and the Kennedy-Nixon presidential race.

Cioppino is a robust and flavorful seafood stew that's uniquely San Franciscan. The dish traces its roots back to the Italian fishermen of the early 1900s when Fisherman's Wharf was still called Meigg's Wharf. Fishermen would contribute their catch to a communal stew, with someone calling out “Chip In! Chip In!” This evolved into “Chip-een-o” in the Italian accent, and thus, Cioppino was born.

A century later, the Italian fishermen are still here, and so is their signature dish, Cioppino. The stew is so iconic and delicious that the restaurant was named after it — and that Italian restaurants nationwide give a nod to Cioppino by replicating this iconic dish and featuring it on their menus.