BAKERIES, COFFEE, ICE CREAM, JUICE & TEA
Alamo Square
●The Mill – 736 Divisadero Street; 415-345-1953; themillsf.com; airy & bright coffee shop serving simple menu; great bread bakery.
Bayview-Hunters Point
●Ritual Coffee Roasters – 1634 Jerrold Avenue (in Flora Grubb Gardens, between Newhall & Phelps Streets); 415-694-6448; ritualroasters.com; beautiful garden center location.
Castro
●Samovar Tea Lounge – 498 Sanchez Street (between Ford & Hancock Streets); 415-626-4700; samovarlife.com.
Chinatown
●Café de la Presse – 352 Grant Avenue (at Hotel Triton, across street from Chinatown gates); 415-398-2680; aqua-sf.com; fantastic breakfast fare; outstanding European magazine and newspaper selection.
Cole Valley
●La Boulange de Cole – 1000 Cole Street (between Carl & Grattan Streets); 415-242-2442; baybread.com; Tuesday through Sunday, from 7-7.
●Ice Cream Bar – 815 Cole Street (between Carl & Frederick Streets); 415- 742-4932; theicecreambarsf.com.
Dogpatch
●Little Nibs – 807 22nd Street (between Tennessee & Minnesota Streets); 415-489-2882; recchiuti.com; master chocolatier with unpredictable hours.
●Mr. & Mrs. Miscellaneous – 699 22nd Street (between Illinois & 3rd Streets); 415-970-0750; frozen yoghurt and ice cream (try Pink Squirrel).
●Poco Dolce – 2419 3rd Street; 415-255-1443; pocodolce.com; artisan chocolates.
Embarcadero
●Blue Bottle Coffee – 1 Embarcadero (in San Francisco Ferry Building); 510-653-3394; bluebottlecoffee.com; can get caramelized waffles for breakfast.
●Boulette’s Larder – 1 Ferry Building Marketplace, #48 (Market Street at Embarcadero); 415-399-1155; both sells ingredients and serves food; try chewy peanut and salt cookie.
●Miette Patisserie – Ferry Building Marketplace, Shop 10; 415-837-0300; miettecakes.com; San Francisco institution; no dyes in food.
Fillmore
●La Boulange Bay Bread – 2325 Pine Street (between Pine & Wilmot Streets); 415-440-0356; baybread.com; Tuesday through Saturday, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. & Sundays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; try almond croissants and/or macaroons with dark caramel and white chocolate center; 80 products daily; great coffee; locations everywhere.
Golden Gate Bridge & Presidio
●Beach Hut Café – 1199 East Beach; 415-561-7761; parksconservancy.org/store.
●Secret Garden Tea House – 721 Lincoln Way (between 8th & 9th Avenues); 415-566-8834; secretgardenteahouse.com; perfect on rainy day; view into Golden Gate park.
Hayes Valley
●La Boulange de Hayes – 500 Hayes Street (between Laguna & Octavia Streets); 415-863-3376; baybread.com; Monday through Sunday, from 7-7.
●It’s Tops Coffee Shop – 1801 Market Street; 415-431-6395; itstopscoffeeshop.com; 1935 diner; open late night for hang-over cures.
●Miette Patisserie & Confiserie – 449 Octavia Street (between Fell & Hayes Streets); 415-626-6221; miettecakes.com.
●Samovar Tea Lounge – 297 Page Street (between Buchanan & Octavia Streets); 415-861-0303; samovarlife.com.
●20th Century Cafe – 198 Gough Street; 415-621-2380; 20thcenturycafe.com; Viennese-themed.
Marina/Cow Hollow
●La Boulange de Union – 1909 Union Street (between Buchanan & Octavia Streets); 415-440-4450; baybread.com; Monday through Sunday, from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
●Miette – 2109 Chestnut Street (between Lombard Street & Toledo Way); 415-359-0628; miettecakes.com.
Mission
●Bi-Rite Creamery & Bakeshop – 3692 18th Street (at corner of Dolores Street); 415-626-5600; exotic ice creams, like balsamic strawberry, honey lavender, or chai spiced milk chocolate; uneven quality.
●Craftsman & Wolves – 746 Valencia Street; craftsmanwolves.com; bakery with exotic products.
●Dandelion Chocolate – 740 Valencia Street; 415-349-0942; dandelionchocolate.com; from drinks to pastries.
●Dynamo Donuts – 2760 24th Street; 415-920-1978; dynamodonut.com; long lines form early for 4 Barrel coffee (roasted nearby) and inventive donuts, such as lemon-Sichuan, apricot-cardamom, and caramel de sel.
●Four Barrel Coffee – 375 Valencia Street; 415-252-0800; fourbarrellcoffee.com; inhouse roasting; try bacon-apple doughnut with maple glaze.
●Humphrey Slocombe Ice Cream – 2790 Harrison Street (between 23rd & 24th Streets); 415-550-6971; try olive oil ice cream.
●Linea Caffe & Lt. Waffle – 3417 18th Street; 415-590-3011; lineacaffe.com; perfect balance of coffee and food.
●Ritual Coffee Roasters – 1026 Valencia Street (between Hill & 21st Streets); 415-641-1024; ritualroasters.com; excellent coffee.
●Tartine Bakery & Cafe – 600 Guerrero Street (at 18th Street); 415-487-2600; tartinebakery.com; bakery; for sandwich, try fromage blanc and banana with quince jam; for dessert, try cocoa nib rocher.
Noe Valley
●Lovejoy’s Tea Room – 1351 Church Street (at Clipper Street); 415-648-5895; lovejoystearoom.com; preeminent SF tea house; reservations necessary.
North Beach
●La Boulange de Columbus – 543 Columbus Avenue (between Green & Union Streets); 415-399-0714; baybread.com; Monday through Sunday, from 7-6.
Ocean Beach
●Trouble Coffee Co. – 4033 Judah Street; 415-690-9119; troublecoffee.com/content; some of San Francisco’s best coffee and dense chocolate-chip pumpkin bread.
Pacific Heights
●b. patisserie – 2821 California Street (at Divisadero Street); 415-440-1700; bpatisserie.com; for kouign amman.
●La Boulange de Fillmore – 2043 Fillmore Street (at corner of Washington Street); 415-928-1300; baybread.com; Monday through Sunday, from 7-6.
Richmond (Outer)
●Tal-Y-Tara Tea & Polo Shoppe – 6439 California (between 26th & 27th Streets); 415-751-9275; talytara.com; lovely outdoor garden; try motorloaf.
Russian Hill
●La Boulange de Polk – 2310 Polk Street (between Green & Union Streets); 415-345-1107; baybread.com.
●Saint Frank Coffee – 2340 Polk Street; 415-775-1619; saintfrankcoffee.com; minimal space; pastries.
SoMa
●La Boulange de Market – 685 Market Street (between Annie & 3rd Streets); 415-512-7610; baybread.com; Monday through Friday, from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Saturday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
●Samovar Tea Lounge – 730 Howard Street (between 3rd & 4th Streets); 415-227-9400; samovarlife.com.
●Sightglass Coffee – 270 7th Street; 415-861-1313; sightglasscoffee.com; coffee made from house-roasted beans served along with baked goods in bi-level, industrial space.
BARS & NIGHTCLUBS
Castro
●Q Bar – 456 Castro Street (between 17th & 18th Streets); 415-864-2877; qbarsf.com; gay bar with fabulous drag shows on Wednesday nights.
Chinatown
●Li Po Cocktail Lounge – 916 Grant Avenue; 415-982-0072; hippest music venue in Chinatown; dank little basement (below dive-y old bar) hosts electro, fringe punk, funk, and rock for fashionista set, in environment that has all cinematic charms of shadowy old neighborhood.
●Mr. Bing’s – 201 Columbus Avenue; 415-362-1545; mrbings.com; old-fashioned cocktail lounge.
Civic Center
●Edinburgh Castle Pub – 950 Geary Street; 415-885-4074; castlenews.com; longstanding host for readings.
●Rio Grande – 1108 Market Street (between 7th & Jones Streets).
Dogpatch
●Dig – 1005 Minnesota Street (at 22nd Street); 415-648-6133; digwinesf.com; focuses on French and Italian wines.
●Yield Wine Bar – 2490 3rd Street; 415-401-8984; yieldsf.com; organic wine; some nibbles.
Embarcadero
●Coqueta Restaurant – Pier 5 (Embarcadero Drive); 415-704-8866; coquetasf.com; Spanish-style tapas nibbles & adventurous cocktails; space is stunning.
●Epic Roasthouse – 369 Embarcadero; 415-369-9955; epicroasthousesf.com; mediocre food but beautiful view that make bar worthwhile.
●Waterbar – 399 Embarcadero; 415-284-9922; waterbarsf.com; beautiful views and good happy hour prices; huge fishtanks; lovely patio.
Excelsior
●Pissed Off Pete’s – 4528 Mission Street (between Harrington Street & Santa Rosa Avenue); 415-584-5122; skeevy dive.
Financial
●Bix – 56 Gold Street (between Montgomery & Sansome Streets); 415-433-6300; bixrestaurant.com; supper club with jazz.
●Harrington Bar & Grill – 245 Front Street; 415-392-7595; harringtonsbarandgrill.com; San Francisco’s “oldest Irish bar.”
●Rickhouse – 246 Kearny Street; 415-398-2827; rickhousebar.com; by Bourbon & Branch guys; live music on Saturday nights.
●Royal Exchange – 301 Sacramento Street; 415-956-1710; royalexchange.com; popular Irish sports bar.
●View Lounge – 780 Mission Street (at Marriott Marquis Hotel, 39th Floor); 415-896-1600; sfviewlounge.com; amazing bay views; recently renovated.
Fisherman’s Wharf
●Buena Vista Café – 2765 Hyde Street (at Beach Street); 415-474-5044; thebuenavista.com; popular myth that Irish coffee invented at Buena Vista; real story is that this wharfside cafe was 1st bar in country to serve Irish coffee.
Haight
●Alembic – 1725 Haight Street (between Cole & Shrader Streets); 415-666-0822; alembicbar.com; bar and restaurant; traditional restaurant-bar with neighborhood feel; try Gilded Lily (Plymouth gin, Yellow chartreuse, and orange flower water sprinkled with gold dust) or Old-Fashioned (made with Anchor’s single malt, Hotaling rye).
●Zam Zam Room – 1633 Haight Street; 415-861-2545; open since 1941.
Hayes Valley
●Hotel Biron Wine Bar – 45 Rose Street (off Gough Street); 415-703-0403; hotelbiron.com; tiny.
Marina/Cow Hollow
●Liverpool Lil’s – 2942 Lyon Street; 415-921-6664; liverpoollils.com; English pub since 1973.
●Plumpjack Balboa Cafe – 3199 Fillmore Street; 415-921-3944; balboacafe.com; established in 1913; elegant bar and interior relatively untouched; cocktails.
Mission
●Amnesia – 853 Valencia Street (between 19th & 20th Streets); 415-970-0012; amnesiathebar.com; intimate, bordello-red lounge that serves wide array of microbrews, wines, cocktails; considered “roots music” venue.
●Beretta – 1199 Valencia Street (between 22nd & 23rd Streets); 415-695-1199; berettasf.com; get there early because fills up fast; try Nuestra Paloma (tequila, elderflower, and grapefruit), Agricole Mule (Martinique rum with ginger syrup, lime, and mint), Pisco Punch (with pineapple), Airmail (prosecco with honey), or Gaby de Lys (absinthe and orgeat), and/or rattlesnake; but, best is “Rangoon Gin Cobbler” (tastes like liquid Dreamsicle); for food, pizza and risotto pretty much exclusively; very loud.
●Lone Palm – 3394 22nd Street; 415-648-0109; lonepalmbar.com; noir bar.
●Make-Out Room – 3225 22nd Street; 415-647-2888; makeoutroom.com.
Nob Hill
●Irish Bank Bar & Restaurant – 10 Mark Lane (between Bush & Sutter Streets); 415-788-7152; theirishbank.com; pub with grub.
●Tonga Room – 950 Mason Street (at Fairmont Hotel); 415-772-5278; fairmont.com; this is mandatory, must-visit venue.
●Top of Mark – 1 California Street (at Intercontinental Mark Hopkins); 415-616-6916; intercontinentalmarkhopkins.com/top_of_the_mark; classic San Franisco roof-top joint with 360 degree view; dancing.
NoPA
●Independent – 628 Divisadero Street; 415-771-1421; theindependentsf.com; 500-seat live music venue.
●Smuggler’s Cove – 650 Gough Street; 415-869-1900; smugglerscovesf.com; customized tiki mugs and swizzle sticks; skillfully made drinks, like Calibogus (rum, stone-pine liqueur, spruce tincture, molasses, and seltzer).
North Beach
●15 Romolo – 15 Romolo Place (Telegraph Hill, between Broadway & Fresno Streets); 415-398-1359; dark wood bar w/excellent juke box.
●Saloon – 1232 Grant Avenue (between Broadway & Fresno Streets); 415-989-7666; sfblues.net/Saloon.html; San Francisco’s oldest bar; true hole-in-wall blues bar.
●Tosca Café – 242 Columbus Avenue (near Broadway Avenue intersection); 415-986-9651; great surviving example of Prohibition-era bar; do not order house cocktail – disgusting; recently renovated into Italian restaurant.
●Vesuvio Café – 255 Columbus Avenue; 415-362-3370; vesuvio.com; has North Beach’s only working gas lamp; Jack Kerouac was supposed to meet Henry Miller here one night but blew it off; try Anchor Steam beer.
Ocean Beach
●Riptide – 3639 Taraval Street; 415-681-8433; riptidesf.com; refreshingly far from city; knotty-pine dive bar open since 1941; inside, fire crackles; Wednesdays are surfer film nights.
Potrero Hill
●Anchor Brewing Company – 1705 Mariposa Street; 415-863-8350; anchorbrewing.com; founded in 1896 and purchased by Frederick Louis Maytag III, in 1965, saving it from closure; moved to current location in 1979; among last remaining breweries to produce California common beer, also known as Steam Beer.
SoMa
●Bar Agricole – 355 11th Street; 415-355-9400; baragricole.com; try hot drink, “Hot Castle Dip,” Calvados, absinthe, fresh mint, and boiling water).
●Bloodhound – 1145 Folsom Street (between 7th & 8th Streets); 415-863-2840; bloodhoundsf.com; comfy tavern with masculine feel.
●Cocktail Bill Boothby Center for Beverage Arts – 1161 Mission Street, Suite 120; 415-967-1891; theboothbycenter.org; mashed up community center, conference room, event space, “beverage lab,” and fully functional bar.
●Coco500 – 500 Brannan Street (on corner of 4th Street); 415-543-2222; coco500.com; tapas at happy hour (3-5:30 pm weekdays).
●Harlot – 46 Minna Street (between Howard & Mission Streets); 415-777-1077; harlotsf.com; hard to get into goth bar.
●John Colins’ Lounge – 90 Natoma Street (between Howard & Minna Streets); 415-543-2277; johncolins.com; beer and banter bar anchoring trio of nightspots; must-go place.
●111 Minna – 111 Minna Street (corner of Minna & 2nd Streets); 415-974-1719; 111minnagallery.com; gallery with liquor license.
●Oola Restaurant & Bar – 860 Folsom Street (between 4th & 5th Streets); 415-995-2061; oola-sf.com; 5-630 Mon-Fri; cheap snacks; American bistro.
●Temple Nightclub – 540 Howard Street (between Natoma & Tehama Streets); 415-978-9953; templesf.com; “green” bar and nightclub.
Tenderloin
●Bourbon & Branch – 501 Jones Street (on corner of Jones & O’Farrell Streets); 415-346-1735; bourbonandbranch.com; reservations required but available at website; can sign up for classes at “Beverage Academy”; styled as modern day speak-easy; in seedy Tenderloin; password required to attend; try Sazerac (not too sweet), 1794 (really Boulevardier), Democrat (peach and bourbon).
●Rye Bar – 688 Geary (between Jones & Leavenworth Streets); 415-474-4448; ryesf.com; 5:30-7:30 pm Mon-Fri.
Union Square
●Clift Hotel Redwood Bar – 495 Geary Street (on corner of Geary & Taylor Streets); 415-929-2372; clifthotel.com.
●John’s Grill – 63 Ellis Street (between Powell & Stockton Streets); 415-986-3274; johnsgrill.com; open since 1908; home to Dashiell Hammett’s Maltese Falcon; interior hasn’t changed.
●Kuleto’s Italian Restaurant – 221 Powell (between Geary & O’Farrell Streets); 415-397-7720; kuletos.com; organic cocktail hour (3-5 pm weekdays).
●Mikkeller Bar – 34 Mason Street; 415-984-0279; mikkellerbar.com; comprehensive beer selection; elevated pub fare.
Yerba Buena
●Seasons Bar – 757 Market Street (at 4 Seasons Hotel); 415-633-3737; fourseasons.com; Martini Mondays 5-7:30 pm; $14 martini and appetizer.
BEACHES
●Baker Beach – Gibson Road (between Golden Gate Bridge & Sea Cliff neighborhoods); 415-561-3000; parksconservancy.org; among city’s most popular beaches; extremely dangerous undertow; nude bathing on north end.
●China Beach – 340 Sea Cliff Avenue (Sea Cliff); 415-561-4323; parksconservancy.org; dangerous swimming and stunning views; tucked into one of city’s most exclusive neighborhoods.
HOTELS
Embarcadero
●Hotel Vitale – 8 Mission Street (off Justin Herman Plaza); 415-278-3700 or 888-890-8688; hotelvitale.com; boutique hotel on waterfront.
Financial District
●Battery – 717 Battery Street; 415-500-2201; thebatterysf.com; private club but 14-rooms available for hotel stay gets you automatic access to club; must try.
●Intercontinental San Francisco – 888 Howard Street; 415-616-6500 or 877-860-1371; intercontinentalsanfrancisco.com.
●Mandarin Oriental Hotel – 222 Sansome Street; 415-276-9888 or 800-622-0404; mandarinoriental.com/sanfrancisco; modern decor & skyline views; occupies 11 highest floors of 48-story building (city’s 3rd tallest); just-completed, multimillion-dollar renovation; rooms in neutral tones.
●Palace Hotel – 2 New Montgomery Street; 415-512-1111 or 888-627-7196; sfpalace.com; Sam Spade eats at Palace Hotel couple times in Maltese Falcon; ethereal Garden Court with stained-glass dome.
Golden Gate Bridge & Presidio
●Inn at Presidio – 42 Moraga Avenue; 415-800-7356; innatthepresidio.com; in building that once housed base’s bachelor officers; now 22-room inn; modern; no restaurant or room service; offers continental breakfast.
Marina/Cow Hollow
●Union Street Inn – 2229 Union Street; 415-346-0424; unionstreetinn.com.
Mission
●Hotel des Arts – 447 Bush Street; 415-956-3232; sfhoteldesarts.com; bargain find; small lobby (hosts rotating art gallery), narrow hallways, and cramped rooms; groovy furnishings & lively location; check website for “Painted Rooms,” designed by local artists.
Nob Hill
●Hotel Carlton – 1075 Sutter Street (between Hyde & Larkin Streets); 415-673-0242 or 888-471-4979; jdvhotels.com; 3 stars.
●Fairmont Hotel – 950 Mason Street; 415-772-5278 or 866-540-4491; fairmont.com; has penthouse suite that includes 2-story, wood-paneled library, complete with secret passage hidden behind bookshelf.
●Huntington Hotel –1075 California Street (between Mason & Taylor Streets); 415-474-5400 or 800-227-4683; huntingtonhotel.com.
●Intercontinental Mark Hopkins – 1 California Street; 415-392-3434 or 888-424-6835; intercontinentalmarkhopkins.com.
●Ritz Carlton – 600 Stockton Street (between California & Pine Streets); 415-296-7465 or 800-542-8680; ritzcarlton.com; stain glass dome.
●Stanford Court – 905 California Street; 415-989-3500 or 888-236-2427; stanfordcourt.com; demand renovated rooms; hotel driver will take you pretty much anywhere in reason; just ok.
SoMa
●Good Hotel – 112 7th Street (between Minna & Mission Streets); 415-621-7001 or 888-444-5819; thegoodhotel.com; low prices; eco-friendly; whimsical lobby; formerly Best Western hotel; in gritty but revitalizing area; stylish rooms; bathrooms are unappealing.
●Harbor Court Hotel – 165 Steuart Street; 415-882-1300 or 800-346-0555; harborcourthotel.com; 1926 landmark building with Bay Bridge view (be sure to request bay-view room); located just off Embarcadero at Financial District edge; stylish, high-quality accommodations – half-canopy beds, large armoires, writing desks, soundproof windows, and 27-inch LCD TVs; adjoining fitness club available for free use (top-quality YMCA facility with giant indoor swimming pool).
●Hotel Griffon – 155 Steuart Street (between Howard & Mission Streets); 415-495-2100 or 800-321-2201; hotelgriffon.com; top contender among San Francisco’s small boutique hotels; ideally situated on historic waterfront and steps from Financial District’s heart and Ferry Building Marketplace; Completely renovated in 2007; 32" flat-screen TVs, lofty ceilings, marble vanities, Aveda bath products, cozy window seats, and plush bedding; request bay-view room overlooking Bay Bridge.
●St. Regis Hotel – 125 3rd Street (between Howard & Mission Streets); 415-284-4000 or 866-716-8116; stregis.com; Remede spa.
●Hotel Zetta – 55 5th Street; 415-543-8555; viceroyhotelgroup.com/zetta; 116 ultracontemporary rooms.
Tenderloin
●Hotel Adagio – 550 Geary Street; 415-775-5000 or 800-228-8830; jdvhotels.com/hotels/sanfrancisco/adagio; stylish; in theater district.
Union Square
●Clift Hotel – 495 Geary Street (between O’Farrell & Post Streets); 415-775-4700 or 800-697-1791; modern luxury.
●Orchard Garden Hotel – 466 Bush Street (between Grant Avenue & St. George Alley); 415-399-9807 or 888-717-2881; theorchardgardenhotel.com; eco-friendly; on Union Square; any room ending in “10” has extra 90' square and separate sitting area.
●Hotel Rex – 562 Sutter Street; 800-433-4434 or 800-738-7477; jdvhotels.com; self-consciously styled after literary San Francisco in 1920s; includes reading rooms and library.
●Taj Campton Place Hotel – 340 Stockton Street (between Grant Avenue & Stockton Streets); 415-781-5555 or 800-196-9825; tajhotels.com; Union Square luxury boutique.
●Hotel Union Square – 114 Powell Street; 415-397-3000; hotelunionsquare.com; 1 block up from Cable Car Museum; ask for “Dashiell Hammett Suite,” large corner suite with special touches including: antique suitcase filled with Hammett books; old fashioned typewriter; collage dedicated to Hammett’s books and movies; black and white photos of Hammett’s wife (where she stayed before they married) and daughters; vintage-style radio; and Shadow of Thin Man mural.
●Westin St. Francis – 335 Powell Street; 415-774-0126 or 800-937-8461; westinstfrancis.com; where Al Jolson died and Sara Jane Moore almost assassinated Gerald Ford; hotel survived the 1906 earthquake.
RESTAURANTS
Bernal Heights
●Piqueo’s – 830 Cortland Avenue; 415-282-8812; piqueos.com; Peruvian; try tequeños (wontons filled with ground squid).
Castro
●Frances – 3870 17th Street; 415-621-3870; frances-sf.com; great neighborhood restaurant; try applewood-smoked bacon beignets, chickpea fritters, and/or pork trotters (all are Bouchees).
●Thai House Express – 599 Castro Street (at Geary Boulevard); 415-441-2248; thhexpress.com; order Tofu Prig King (#100).
Chinatown
●Café de la Presse – 352 Grant Avenue (at Hotel Triton, across street from Chinatown gates); 415-398-2680; aqua-sf.com; fantastic breakfast fare; outstanding European magazine and newspaper selection.
Civic Center
●Alta CA – 1420 Market Street (between 10th & Fell Streets); 415-590-2585; altaca.co; expensive cocktails, difficult reservations but can eat at bar; new, hip place; softserve sundaes for dessert; late-night menu and can order to go.
●Bodega Bistro – 607 Larkin Street; 415-921-1218; bodegabistrosf.com; Vietnamese; cheap.
●Jardiniere – 300 Grove Street (between Franklin & Gough Streets); 415-861-5555; jardinière.com.
●Ryoko’s – 619 Taylor Street; 415-775-1028; ryokos.com; sushi for over 23 years.
Dogpatch
●Gilberth’s Rotisserie & Grill – 2427-2429 3rd Street; 415-913-7163; Latin-fusion; try roast chicken.
●Just for You – 732 22nd Street; 415-647-3033; justforyoucafe.com; primarily breakfast (try “Hangtown fry”).
●New Spot – 632 20th Street (between Illinois & 3rd Streets); 415-558-0556; thenewspotsf.com; casual Mexican and Salvadoran food; primarily lunch; only open for dinner Wed-Fri.
●Oralia’s Cafe – 2347 3rd Street, #D (between 20th & 22nd Streets); 415-621-2346; named for co-owner and mother-in-law, Oralia Posada; sandwiches; co-owner Gilbert Cab roasts meats every morning, keeps them warm, and slices them thickly into French rolls.
●Piccino – 1001 Minnesota Street; 415-824-4224; piccinocafe.com; in sprawling yellow Victorian home; especially for long lunch; Italian; try pancetta pizza with broccoli shoots, garlic confit, and Meyer lemon or house-made pasta.
Embarcadero
●Bouli Bar – 1 Ferry Building, Suite 35; 415-399-1177; bouletteslarder.com.
●Coqueta – Pier 5; 415-704-8866; coquetasf.com; Spanish tapas and beautiful view.
●Epic Roasthouse & Water Bar – 369 Embarcadero (off end of Folsom Street); 415-369-9955; epicroasthousesf.com; steakhouse; on water, with tremendous views; outdoor seating; excellent wine list; dessert coffee, Fog Lifter, intriguing.
●Forbes Island – Pier 39 (access by pontoon boat); 415-951-4900; forbesisland.com; not island – houseboat; floating restaurant with outdoor bar with sea lions view, underwater dining room, and 40' lighthouse (with great views from top).
●La Mar Cebicheria Peruana – Pier 1½; 415-397-8880; lamarcebicheria.com; Peruvian; South American chain; very elegant; views far exceed food quality, which is not bad.
●Slanted Door – 1 Ferry Building, #3; 415-861-8032; slanteddoor.com; Vietnamese.
●Wise Sons Jewish Delicatessen – Ferry Building, Farmer’s Market, 1 Ferry Building; 415-787-5534; wisesonsdeli.com; bialys, brisket, and challah French toast; try house-smoked pastrami on rye, in bread pudding, molded into burger, even atop cheese fries.
Excelsior
●Mama’s Art Cafe – 4754 Mission Street (between Leo Street & Russia Avenue); 415-586-8453; mamasf.com; local sandwich dive with free wi-fi. DJs, and music at night.
●Pho Hoa Hop – 880 Geneva Avenue, #A (between Alemany Boulevard & Mission Street); 415-587-8321; great Vietnamese soup; try Tai Nam.
Fillmore
●San Francisco State Bird Provisions – 1529 Fillmore Street; 415-795-1272; statebirdsf.com; signature dish is crispy spiced quail with tart onions; sort of French dim sum; great desserts.
Financial
●Alfred’s Steakhouse – 659 Merchant Street (off Kearney Street); 415-781-7058; alfredssteakhouse.com; nondescript appearance; great traditional food; 79 years old.
●B44 – 44 Belden Place (Financial, between Bush & Pine Streets); 415-986-6287; b44sf.com; sidewalk Spanish (Catalan) food; excellent paella.
●Barbacco Eno Trattoria – 220 California Street; 415-955-1919; barbaccosf.com; Perbacco’s casual cousin.
●Bix – 56 Gold Street (between Montgomery & Sansome Streets); 415-433-6300; bixrestaurant.com; rat pack, supper club feel; excellent drinks; jazz; burger is famous.
●Brindisi – 88 Belden Place; 415-593-8000 (between Kearney & Montgomery Streets); brindisicucina.com; Italian trattoria.
●Cafe Claude – 7 Claude Lane (off Kearney Street); 415-392-3505; cafeclaude.com; longtime popular, neighborhood French restaurant, often with live jazz.
●COI – 373 Broadway; 415-393-9000; coirestaurant.com; astounding diverse local ingredients; very expensive.
●Commonwealth – 2224 Mission Street (at 18th Street); 415-355-1500; commonwealthsf.com.
●Cotogna – 490 Pacific Avenue; 415-775-8508; cotognasf.com; copper bar, pizza oven, rustic surroundings; try spit-roasted pig, raviolo filled with egg and ricotta in brown butter sauce.
●Kokkari Estiatorio – 200 Jackson Street (between Battery & Davis Streets); 415-981-0983; kokkari.com; Greek; well-done but expensive.
●Ozumo – 894 Laurel Street; 650-637-9793; ozumo.com; sushi.
●Perbacco Ristorante + Bar – 230 California Street (between Battery & Fremont Streets); 415-955-0663; perbaccosf.com; handcrafted pasta and massive wine list.
●RN74 – 301 Mission Street; 415-543-7474; michaelmina.net/restaurants/locations/rn74.php; swank; revolving timetable board advertising bottle bargains nearly eclipses solid, high-ticket, New French fare.
●Sam’s Grill & Seafood Restaurant – 374 Bush Street; 415-421-0594; belden-place.com/samsgrill; opened in 1867 as oyster stall; essentially same as Tadich Grill.
●Tadich Grill – 240 California Street (between Battery & Fremont Streets); 415-391-1849; San Francisco’s oldest restaurant (1849); seafood.
●Wayfare Tavern – 558 Sacramento Street; 415-772-9060; wayfaretavern.com; faux 19th Century hunting lodge with 1906 earthquake memorabilia; nostalgic, San Francisco dishes (abalone, Dungeness crab, and Hangtown fry (local bacon and eggs with fried oysters)).
Fisherman’s Wharf
●Buena Vista Cafe – 2765 Hyde Street San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 474-5044; thebuenavista.com; popular myth is that Irish coffee invented here; prime tourist spot along wharf; they serve food here as well; open since 1916.
●Pier Market Seafood – Pier 39; 415-989-7437; piermarket.com; 25-year standby.
●Restaurant Gary Danko – 800 North Point Street (between Bay & Beach Streets); 415-749-2060; garydanko.com; fishermen’s wharf; expensive.
Glen Park
●Gialina – 2842 Diamond Street; 415-239-8500; gialina.com; try pizza Amatriciana (pancetta, oregano, cheese, and fried egg).
Golden Gate Bridge & Presidio
●Arguello – 50 Moraga Avenue; 415-561-3650; arguellosf.com; for carne asada tacos.
●Moss Room – 55 Music Concourse Drive (at California Academy of Sciences); 415-876-6121; sustainable seafood, local produce, grass-fed beef.
●Secret Garden Tea House – 721 Lincoln Way (between 8th & 9th Avenues); 415-566-8834; secretgardenteahouse.com; perfect on rainy day; view into Golden Gate park.
Haight
●Nopalito – 306 Broderick Street (between Oak & Fell Streets); 415-437-0303; excellent, organic Mexican restaurant; small.
Hayes Valley
●Absinthe – 398 Hayes Street (at Gough Street); 415-551-1590; good burgers.
●Bar Jules – 609 Hayes Street; 415-621-5482; barjules.com; expensive and reservations recommended; American-French; worth effort.
●Sebo – 517 Hayes Street (between Laguna & Octavia Streets); 415-864-2181; sebosf.com; some of San Franciso’s best sushi but just ok service.
●It’s Tops Coffee Shop – 1801 Market Street; 415-431-6395; itstopscoffeeshop.com; 1935 diner; open late night for hang-over cures.
●Izakaya Roku – 1819 Market Street; 415-861-6500; rokusf.com; authentic izakaya food; began with food truck.
●Rich Table – 199 Gough Street; 415-355-9085; richtablesf.com; husband-&-wife chef team Evan & Sarah Rich serve daily changing, mid-priced Northern Californian fare with cocktails and wine on tap; 50-seat corner space is casual & cozy; tables & walls made from salvaged barn wood.
●Souvla – 517 Hayes Street; 415-400-5458; souvlasf.com; hip haunt featuring roasted meat sandwiches & salads, plus Greek yogurt (including frozen), beer & wine; order chicken souvlaki wrap.
●Wing Wings – 422 Haight Street; 415-834-5001; wingwingssf.com; choose from 8 different sauces (from Orange Miso to Angry Korean).
●Zuni Cafe – 1658 Market Street (at Rose Street); 415-552-2522; zunicafe.com; power lunch place; beautiful; 3 stars, for some reason.
Laurel Heights
●Caffe Sociale – 3665 Sacramento Street (between Locust & Spruce Streets); 415-921-3200; caffesociale.com; elegant little restaurant hidden in vine-laden inlet off Sacramento Street in Pacific Heights; ask for outdoor seating.
●Spruce – 3640 Sacramento Street (between Locust & Spruce Streets); 415-931-5100; sprucesf.com; buttered lobster and golden potato gnocchi.
Marina/Cow Hollow
●A16 – 2355 Chestnut Street (between Divisadero & Scott Streets); 415-771-2216; a16sf.com; southern Italian restaurant, named for highway that runs through Campagna.
●Chotto – 3317 Steiner Street; 415-441-2223; chottosf.com; trendy izakaya; almost like being in Tokyo.
●Greens – Building A, Fort Mason Center (enter Fort Mason opposite Safeway at Buchanan & Marina Streets); 415-771-6222; greensrestaurant.com; tofu kebabs; beautiful bay views, although interior somewhat plain; run by San Francisco Zen Center.
●Liverpool Lil’s – 2942 Lyon Street; 415-921-6664; liverpoollils.com; English pub since 1973.
●Nectar Wine Lounge – 3330 Steiner Street (between Lombard & Chestnut Streets); 415-345-1377; nectarwinelounge.com; 800 different bottles; 50 by-glass selections; Michelin 2-starred chef.
●Plumpjack Balboa Cafe – 3199 Fillmore Street; 415-921-3944; balboacafe.com; established in 1913; elegant bar and interior relatively untouched; brunch, lunch, and supper.
●Presidio Social Club – Building 563 Ruger Street (off Garner Road); 415-885-1888; presidiosocialclub.com; 1 of prettiest restaurants in city; standout desserts.
Mission
●Al’s Place – 1499 Valencia Street; 415-416-6136; alsplacesf.com; relaxed, modern New American restaurant; inventive seafood & vegetable dishes; Bon Apetit’s restaurant of year for 2015.
●Bar Tartine – 561 Valencia Street; 415-487-1600; bartartine.com; great sandwiches, too.
●Beretta – 1199 Valencia Street (between 22nd & 23rd Streets); 415-695-1199; berettasf.com; get there early because fills up fast; for food, pizza or risotto; very loud.
●Central Kitchen – 3000 20th Street (between Alabama & Florida Streets); 415- 826-7004; centralkitchensf.com; try charred squid.
●Commonwealth – 2224 Mission Street; 415-355-1500; commonwealthsf.com; casual sophistication and social consciousness; tasting menus; hope for crisp brioche foie gras tubes atop fig, greens, and walnut mix.
●Delfina – 3621 18th Street; 415-552-4055; delfinasf.com; excellent Italian.
●Delfina Pizzeria – 3611 18th Street; 415-437-6800; pizzeriadelfina.com; excellent pizza; also try escarole with pine-nuts and raisins and/or pigs’ ears with chili and lime.
●Dosa – 995 Valencia Street (between Liberty & 21st Streets); 415-642-3672; dosasf.com; southern Indian food with California twist; bright and modern; named after crepe-like pancake; try chatni masala dosa (spicy eggplant chutney and creamy potatoes).
●Farina – 3560 18th Street; 415-565-0360; farina-foods.com; Ligurian Italian; airy, bright, modern restaurant; make sure to try focaccia di Recco (golden, poofy, cheese-stuffed dough) and pansotti (cheese and greens-stuffed triangular pasta); 2nd courses not as impressive.
●Flour + Water – 2401 Harrison Street; 415-826-7000; flourandwater.com; anti-pasti and handmade pasta.
●Foreign Cinema – 2534 Mission Street (between 21st & 22nd Streets); 415-648-7600; foreigncinema.com; 1 of city’s most reliable draws; movies screen in courtyard.
●Heirloom Café – 2500 Folsom Street; 415-821-2500; heirloom-sf.com; charming bistro with high ceilings, old wood floors, and bar overlooking open kitchen; although not on menu, ask for heirloom burger, which has Epoisses cheese worked into ground sirloin.
●Hi Lo BBQ – 3416 19th Street; 415-874-9921; hilobbqsf.com; best barbecue in city.
●Joe’s Cable Car Restaurant – 4320 Mission Street (between Silver Avenue & Tingley Street); 415-334-6699; joescablecarrestaurant.com; great burgers.
●Ken Ken Ramen – 3378 18th Street; 415-967-2636; eatkenkenramen.com.
●Limon Rotisserie – 1001 South Van Ness Avenue; 415-821-2134; limonrotisserie.com; limited but good menu focusing on roasted chicken; Peruvian.
●Locanda – 557 Valencia Street; 415-863-6800; locandasf.com; Neapolitan Italian by folks who run Delfina.
●Lolo – 3230 22nd Street (between Mission & Bartlett Streets); 415-643-5656; lolosf.com; Mexican-Turkish fusion; try zucchini pancakes with goat cheese and pine nuts, tacos filled with crunchy panko-crusted shrimp and tropical salsa, and/or octopus tiradito with Turkish chile flakes.
●Maverick – 3316 17th Street (between Mission & Valencia Streets); 415-863-3061; sfmaverick.com; American food in rough area; very good.
●Mi Lindo Peru – 3226 Mission Street; 415-642-4897; cheerful, unpretentious space; excellent seafood; try parihuela (seafood soup or stew).
●Minako Organic Japanese Restaurant – 2154 Mission Street (between 17th & 18th Streets); 415-864-1888; order Agedashi tofu.
●Mission Chinese Food – 2234 Mission Street; 415-863-2800; missionchinesefood.com; no reservations; Chinese food with American influence; try cumin lamb belly and/or warm egg custard with duck confit; also, excellent hot and sour pork dumplings.
●Mosto – 741 Valencia (between 19th & 18th Streets); 415-346-1966; mostosf.com; Mexican food.
●Namu Gaji – 499 Dolores Street; 415-431-6268; namusf.com; Korean; beautiful (tree branch motif); try fried potato puffs.
●Nombe – 2491 Mission Street; 415-681-7150; nombesf.com; Japanese tapas.
●Osha Thai – 819 Valencia Street; 415-278-9991; oshathai.com; sleek neighborhood favorite.
●Pi Bar – 1432 Valencia Street; 415-970-9670; pibarsf.com; great pizza.
●Range – 842 Valencia Street (between 19th & 20th Streets); 415-282-8283; “can’t miss classic”; short, tight menu; nouvelle cuisine; excellent desserts and great bar.
●Rintaro – 82 14th Street; 415-589-7022; izakayarintaro.com; izakaya; try pork tonkatsu with shiso; elegant, buzzy space.
●Tataki Sushi & Sake Bar – 2815 California Street; 415-931-1182; tatakisushibar.com; sustainable Japanese, with emphasis on sushi.
●Universal Cafe – 2814 19th Street (between 18th & 19th Streets); 415-821-4608; 1 of city’s best-kept secrets; American food.
●Wise Sons Jewish Delicatessen – 3150 24th Street; 415-787-3354; wisesonsdeli.com; bialys, brisket, and challah French toast; try house-smoked pastrami on rye, in bread pudding, molded into burger, even atop cheese fries.
●Izakaya Yuzuki – 598 Guerrero Street; 415-556-9898; yuzukisf.com; authentic izakaya.
Nob Hill
●Fleur de Lys – 777 Sutter Street (between Jones & Taylor Streets); 415-673-7779; fleurdelyssf.com; classic French institution; outstanding; 3.5 stars.
●House of Prime Rib – 1906 Van Ness Avenue; 415-885-4605; houseofprimerib.net; Anthony Bourdain’s favorite; great yorkshire pudding.
●Irish Bank Bar & Restaurant – 10 Mark Lane (between Bush & Sutter Streets); 415-788-7152; theirishbank.com; whitewashed, cottage-style, outdoor façade; Irish “pub grub.”
●Mayes Oyster House – 1233 Polk Street (between Bush & Fern Streets); 415-885-1233; mayessf.com; old-school seafood restaurant famed for oysters transforms into dance club at night.
●Olea – 1494 California Street (at Larkin Street); 415-202-8521; unassuming, Nob Hill restaurant with fine French food.
●Specs’ 12 Adler Museum Cafe – 12 Adler Street (near intersection of Broadway & Columbus Avenues); 415-421-4112; homage to City Lights bookstore with beatnik atmosphere.
●Swan Oyster Depot – 1517 Polk Street; 415-673-1101; 100 years-old; tiny hole-in-wall, narrow fish market with only 20 or so stools, jammed cheek-by-jowl along long marble bar; most patrons come for quick chowder cup or oysters-on-half-shell with Anchor Steam beer; do not let lunchtime line dissuade you.
●Utopia Cafe – 141 Waverly Place (between Grant Avenue & Spofford Street); 415-956-2902; utopiacafesf.com; order “salt & pepper” tofu dish.
Noe Valley
●Incanto – 1550 Church Street; 415-641-4500; incanto.biz; Italian; excellent chicken risotto with confited gizzard and heart and sautéed livers.
●La Ciccia – 291 30th Street; 415-550-8114; laciccia.com; small (40 seats) and elegantly simple; also homey; Sardinian Italian; start with pani guttiau (oil, pecorino, rosemary flatbread); magnificent octopus in dark tomato sauce, fresh spaghetti with grated bottarga (cured fish roe), fregola (toasted couscous) with squid ink and seafood sauce; for dessert try saffron ice cream and/or ricotta rosemary cake.
●Tataki South Restaurant – 1740 Church Street; 415-282-1889; tatakisushibar.com; sustainable Japanese, with emphasis on sushi.
●Toast Eatery – 1748 Church Street (between Day & 29th Street); 415-282-4328; toasteatery.com; breakfast and brunch; perfect eggs Benedict.
●Toast Eatery – 3991 24th Street (between Castro & Sanchez Streets); 415-642-6328; toasteatery.com; brunch.
NoPa
●Nopa – 560 Divisadero Street; 415-864-8643; nopasf.com; high-ceilinged, sleek tavernesque restaurant; energy more mellow upstairs (very energetic downstairs adjacent to vibrant bar scene); from 2nd floor can see into kitchen; portions are generous; great pork chops and rotisserie chicken; for dessert, try brown butter cake served with olive oil ice cream and pluots.
●Ragazza – 311 Divisadero Street; 415-255-1133; ragazzasf.com; Neapolitan-style pizza; garden patio.
North Beach
●Park Tavern – 1652 Stockton Street; 415-989-7300; parktavernsf.com; American brasserie.
●Soto Mare – 552 Green Street; 415-398-3161; sotomaresf.com; great clam chowder and scallops.
●Tommaso’s North Beach – 1042 Kearny Street; 415-398-9696; tommasos.com; home to San Francisco’s oldest brick oven; pizza.
●Vesuvio Café – 255 Columbus Avenue; 415-362-3370; vesuvio.com; Italian.
Ocean Beach
●Outlanders – 4001 Judah Street; 415-661-6140; outlanderssf.com; handful tables; comfort food.
Outer Sunset
●Outerlands – 4001 Judah Street; 415-661-6140; outerlandssf.com; cozy place with weathered-wood walls serving New American eats, housemade bread & popular brunch.
Pacific Heights
●Pizzeria Delfina – 2406 California Street (at Fillmore Street); 415-440-1189; pizzeriadelfina.com; 3 star pizza and authentic, simple, southern (rustic) Italian food; excellent pizza; also try escarole with pine-nuts and raisins and/or pigs’ ears with chili and lime.
●Quince – 1701 Octavia Street (between Gough & Laguna Streets); 415-775-8500; quincerestaurant.com; farm to table food; very expensive and somewhat overrated and stuffy.
Potrero Hill
●Chez Maman – 1453 18th Street (between Connecticut & Missouri Streets); 415-824-7166; chezmamansf.com; great crepes; try roquefort burger and frites with garlic aioli; Rick Dowlearn sez: it’s great.
Richmond (Inner)
●My Tofu House – 4627 Geary Boulevard (between 9th & 11th Avenues); 415-750-1818; mytofuhouse.com; order soon-dubu.
Richmond (Outer)
●Aziza – 5800 Geary Boulevard; 415-752-2222; aziza-sf.com; American, Chinese, and Moroccan desserts; must order burnt vanilla ice cream with huckleberry, brioche French toast, and almond.
●Cliff House – 1090 Point Lobos; 415-386-3330; cliffhouse.com; San Francisco institution since Civil War; faces Seal Rocks; can be experienced on 2 different levels; 1st, Bistro upstairs serves cocktails and entrees; 2nd, Sutro downstairs, offers same but higher end.
●Hong Kong Lounge – 5322 Geary Boulevard; 415-668-8836; Chinese.
●Tal-Y-Tara Tea & Polo Shoppe – 6439 California (between 26th & 27th Streets); 415-751-9275; talytara.com; lovely outdoor garden; try motorloaf.
Russian Hill
●La Folie – 2316 Polk Street (between Green & Union Streets); 415-776-5577; 20 years and still 4 stars; French.
●SPQR – 1911 Fillmore Street (at Wilmot Street); 415-771-7779; spqrsf.com; excellent Italian; good broccoli rabe; brunch; beautifully comfortable, neighborhood setting.
SoMa
●AQ – 1985 Mission; 415-341-9000; aq-sf.com; in former San Francisco Department of Health building; decor changes with seasons; hearty, flavorful dishes.
●Bar Agricole – 355 11th Street; 415-355-9400; baragricole.com; big, splashy style; try smoked black cod croquettes and/or chopped liver on toast.
●Benu – 22 Hawthorne Street; 415-685-4860; benusf.com; 12-course meal is $160; eastern-inflected menu; 3.5 stars; by French Laundry chef de cuisine.
●Citizen’s Band – 1198 Folsom Street; 415-556-4901; citizensbandsf.com; good diner; try braised pork belly and egg.
●Custom Burger – 121 7th Street (between Howard & Minna Streets); 415-252-2635; in Best Western decor; menu in crayola box; excellent.
●Little Skillet – 360 Rich Street; 415-777-2777; littleskilletsf.com; take-out window for chicken and biscuits.
●Marlowe – 500 Brannan Street; 415-777-1413; marlowesf.com; market-driven classics.
●Oola Restaurant & Bar – 860 Folsom Street (between 4th & 5th Streets); 415-995-2061; oola-sf.com; 5-630 Mon-Fri; cheap snacks; American bistro.
●Prospect – 300 Spear Street; 415-247-7770; prospectsf.com; dazzling space with floor-to-ceiling windows; brilliant, complex menu.
●Saison – 178 Townsend Street; 415-828-7990; saisonsf.com; casually elegant setting; 8-course prix fixe.
●Sentinel – 37 New Montgomery Street (at Stevenson Street); 415-284-9960; thesentinelsf.com; try Dennis Leary’s walnut-laden oatmeal cookie; prepared meals and snacks.
●South Park Cafe – 108 South Park Street (between 2nd & 3rd Streets); 415-495-7275; southparkcafesf.com; French; great lunch place.
●Town Hall – 342 Howard Street (between Beale & Fremont Streets); 415-908-3900; townhallsf.com; 3 stars; excellent American food.
Tenderloin
●Le Colonial – 20 Cosmo Place (between Jones & Taylor Streets); 415-931-3600; lecolonialsf.com; Vietnamese; lush romantic setting; really beautiful; food good but not great.
●Farallon – 450 Post Street (between Mason & Powell Streets); 415-956-6969; farallonrestaurant.com; very expensive; amazing decoration; seafood.
●Sweet Woodruff – 798 Sutter Street; 415-292-9090; sweetwoodruffsf.com; all-day, charming restaurant with long lunch counter; American classics, salads & sandwiches.
Union Square
●Cavalier – 360 Jessie Street (at Hotel Zetta); 415-321-6000; thecavaliersf.com; English pub-grub with San Francisco atmosphere; worth seeing.
●John’s Grill – 63 Ellis Street (between Powell & Stockton Streets); 415-986-3274; johnsgrill.com; open since 1908; home to Dashiell Hammett’s Maltese Falcon (Sam Spade orders baked potato, chops, and sliced tomato); interior hasn't changed.
●Kin Khao – 55 Cyril Magnin Street (at Parc 55 Hotel); 415-362-7456; kinkhao.com; Thai; cocktails.
●Kuleto’s Italian Restaurant – 221 Powell (between Geary & O’Farrell Streets); 415-397-7720; kuletos.com; north Italian.
●Sears Fine Food – 439 Powell Street; 415;986-0700; searsfinefood.com; since 1938; great breakfasts, especially silver-dollar-size pancakes.
●Sons & Daughters – 708 Bush Street; 415-391-8311; sonsanddaughterssf.com; new American cuisine with touch of molecular gastronomy; cozy room; try squab breast.
SERVICES
●Carried Away – 2130 Fillmore Street, #218; 415-786-2424; carriedawaysf.com; bespoke itineraries for sightseeing, from dim sum spots to hottest galleries.
●Crabbing Classes – Golden Gate Bridge (Golden Gate Bridge-Presido, under bridge); 415-556-1693; nps.gov/fopo/index.htm; offered by Fort Point National Historic Site.
●Workshop – 1798 McAllister Street (NoPa); 415-874-9186; workshopsf.org; do-it-yourself space.
SHOPPING
Bayview-Hunters Point
●Flora Grubb Gardens – 1634 Jerrold Avenue (in Flora Grubb Gardens, between Newhall & Phelps Streets); 415-626-7256; floragrubb.com; beautiful garden center.
Bernal Heights
●Chloe’s Closet – 451A Corland Avenue; 415-642-3300; chloecloset.com; vintage and resale shop.
Dogpatch
●MAC (Modern Appealing Clothing) – Yellow Building, 1003 Minnesota Street; 415-285-2805; modernappealingclothing.com; men and women’s clothing.
●Dodocase – 2525 3rd Street; 877-920-3636; dodocase.com; iPad & iPod cases.
●Olivier’s Butchery – 1074 Illinois Street; 415-558-9887; oliviersbutchery.com.
●Rickshaw Bagworks Factory & Store – 904 22nd Street; 415-904-8368; rickshawbags.com; book and computer bags made to your specifications.
Embarcadero
●Boccalone – 1 Ferry Building, #21; 415-433-6500; boccalone.com; cured meats.
●Gallery Japonesque – 824 Montgomery Street (on Jackson Square); 415-391-8860; japonesquegallery.com; Japanese collectibles, such as stone sculptures.
Financial
●Arader Galleries – 432 & 435 Jackson Street (at Jackson Square); 415-788-5115; aradersf.com; Audubon aquatints.
●Avant Card – 338 Grant Avenue (between Sutter Street & Harlan Place); 415-433-4405; wonderful San Francisco (and general) themed cards and stationary.
●Carrots – 843 Montgomery Street; 415-834-9040; sfcarrots.com; high-style clothing, homewares & jewelry.
●William Stout Architectural Books – 804 Montgomery Street; 415-391-6757; stoutbooks.com.
Golden Gate Bridge-Presidio
●Ambiance – 1858 & 1864 Union Street; 415-923-9797; ambiancesf.com; women’s wear.
●Chloe Rose – 1824 Union Street; 415-932-6089; chloeroseboutique.com; gold jewelry and silk dresses.
●Marmalade – 2059 Union Street; 415-673-9544; marmaladesf.com; women’s wear.
●San Francisco Surf Co. – 2181 Union Street; 415-440-7873; sfsurfcompany.com; aquatic accouterments.
●Sprout – 1828 Union Street; 415-359-9205; sproutsanfrancisco.com; children’s store with locally manufactured, plastic, recycled toys.
Haight-Ashbury
●Booksmith – 1644 Haight Street; 415-863-8688; booksmith.com; hosts Bookswap, among other events.
●Bound Together – 1369 Haight Street; 415-431-8355; boundtogetherbookstore.com; anarchist books.
●Magpie & Rye – 262 Divisadero Street; 415-701-8701; magpieandrye.com; house wares and unique items.
Hayes Valley
●Green Arcade – 1680 Market Street; 415-431-6800; thegreenarcade.com; books about green living and sustainability.
●Reliquary – 537 Octavia Street; 415-431-4000; reliquarysanfrancisco.com; fashion & jewelry.
Japantown
●New People – 1746 Post Street; 415-525-8630; newpeopleworld.com; 5-level, glass-walled shrine to Japanese stuff; ground-floor café serves vegan doughnuts, Blue Bottle coffee, and bento boxes by Delica.
Marina/Cow Hollow
●Carol Doda’s Champagne & Lingerie Boutique – 1850 Union Street #1 (between Laguna & Octavia Streets); 415-776-6900; underwear store named after woman who brought “topless gogo” to America.
Mission
●Bolerium – 2141 Mission Street, Suite 300; 415-863-6353; bolerium.com; 20th Century radical thought.
●Borderlands – 866 Valencia Street; 415-824-8203; borderlands-books.com; fantasy and science fiction.
●Local Mission Cellar – 2801 22nd Street (at Florida Street); 415-795-4022; localmissioneatery.com/local-cellar/; beer, spirits & wine.
●Local Mission Market – 2670 Harrison Street; 415-795-3355; localmissionmarket.com; groceries.
●Meyer Boswell – 2141 Mission Street; 415-255-6400; meyerbos.com; antiquarian law books.
●Curiosity Shoppe – 855 Valencia Street (between 19th & 20th Streets); 415-671-5384; curiosityshoppeonline.com; random stuff.
●Density – 593 Valencia Street; 415-637-1435; small clothing boutique.
●Dog Eared Books – 900 Valencia Street; 415-282-1901; dogearedbooks.com; used books.
●Fabric8 Gallery – 3318 22nd Street; 415-647-5888; fabric8.com; art.
●Five & Diamond – 510 Valencia Street (at 16th Street); 415-255-9747; fiveanddiamond.com; boutique and tattoo parlor.
●Libros Latinos – 2141 Mission Street, Suite 301; 800-645-4276; libroslatinos.com; Spanish language books.
●Mira Mira – 3292 22nd Street; 415-648-6513; miramirasf.com; pixie-chic fashion by international designers.
●Mission Bicycle – 766 Valencia Street; 415-683-6166; missionbicycle.com; hand-crafted steel bicycles.
●Mission Cheese – 736 Valencia Street; 415-553-8667; missioncheese.com.
●Modern Times – 888 Valencia Street; 415-282-9246; mtbs.com; progressive literature.
●Monument – 573 Valencia Street; 415-861-9800; monument.1stdibs.com; midcentury modern home design products.
●NWBLK Gallery – 1999 Bryant Street; 415-621-2344; thenwblk.com; art gallery.
●Paxton Gate – 824 Valencia Street (between Cunningham Place & 19th Street); 415-824-1872; paxtongate.com; goth wunderkammer, including animal skulls.
●Rainbow Grocery – 1745 Folsom Street; 415-863-0620; rainbowgrocery.org; completely hippie-dippie grocery store.
●Valhalla – 2141 Mission Street, Suite 202; 415-863-9250; 1st novels and printings.
Nob Hill
●Casa Acanto – 1101 Clay Street; 415-567-6632; casaacanto.com; adventurous furniture & homewares shop inspired by renovated Mexican home.
●Le Sanctuaire – 315 Sutter Street (between Grant Avenue & Stockton Street); 415-986-4216; le-sanctuaire.com; “foodie haven.”
Noe Valley
●Omnivore Books – 3885a Cesar Chavez Street; 415-282-4712; omnivorebooks.com; food-related books.
NoPa
●Rare Device – 600 Divisadero Street; 415-863-3969; raredevice.net; art gallery cum curio collection.
●San Franpsycho – 505 Divisadero Street; 415-647-7424; sanfranpsycho.com; silk-screened apparel.
Ocean Beach
●General Store – 4035 Judah Street; 415-682-0600; visitgeneralstore.com; stuff.
●Woodshop – 3725 Noriega Street; 415-240-5504; woodshopsf.com; studio-showroom with functional art made from salvaged wood.
Pacific Heights
●Le Labo – 2238 Fillmore Street; 415-931-3212; lelabofragrances.com; fragrances.
●March – 3075 Sacramento Street; 415-931-7433; marchsf.com; high-end home- and kitchen-ware shop.
Richmond (Inner)
●Green Apple – 506 Clement Street; 415-387-2272; greenapplebooks.com; new and used books.
SoMa
●City Lights – 261 Columbus Avenue; 415-362-8193; citylights.com; paperbacks and poetry.
●The Sentinel – 37 New Montgomery Street (at Stevenson Street); 415-284-9960; thesentinelsf.com; try Dennis Leary’s walnut-laden oatmeal cookie; prepared meals and snacks.
SoMa
●Coup d’Etat – 111 Rhode Island Street; 415-241-9300; coupdetatsf.com; antiques & curiosities.
Sunset
●General Store – 4035 Judah Street; 415-682-0600; visitgeneralstore.com; everything from jeans to slingshots.
●Mollusk Surf Shop – 4500 Irving Street; 415-564-6300; mollusksurfshop.com; new and used surfing paraphernalia.
●Woodshop – 3725 Noriega Street (between 44th-45th Avenues); showroom open by appointment only; woodshopsf.com; 4 artisan collective: lukebartels.com; hesssurfboards.com; chairtastic.com; and jeffcanham.com.
Tenderloin
●Cavalier – 1035 Post Street; 415-440-7300; cavaliergoods.com; contemporary and vintage jewelry.
●D. Zelen – 1228 Sutter Street; 415-583-0461; danzelen.com; exterior/interior design.
Union Square
●Cask – 17 3rd Street (between Kearny & Market Streets); 415-424-4844; caskstore.com; specializes in artisanal spirits and obsessive barware.
●Ilori – 865 Market Street (at Cable Car turnaround); 415-398-4148; iloristyle.com; high-end eyewear with hard to find designers.
●Mulberry – 166 Grant Avenue (between Post Street & Maiden Lane); 888- 685-6856; mulberry.com; .
●Xanadu Gallery – 140 Maiden Lane (between Grant Avenue & Stockton Street); 415-392-9999; xanadugallery.us; Asian antiques, art, and jewelry.
SERVICES
●Litquake – litquake.org; annual October literary festival with readings.
●Monthly Rumpus – monthly at Make-Out Room, 3225 22nd Street; 415-647-2888; therumpus.net; readings.
●Quiet Lightning – various locations; qlightning.wordpress.com; readings in which all pieces at each night’s event submitted beforehand and printed in bound magazine available only at reading.
●San Francisco Writers’ Grotto – 490 2nd Street; sfgrotto.org; writers’ events, services, and sources.
●Writers With Drinks – monthly at Make-Out Room, 3225 22nd Street; 415-647-2888; writerswithdrinks.com; $5-10 sliding scale.
SIGHTS & SITES
Civic Center
●Asian Art Museum – 200 Larkin Street; 415-581-3500; asianart.org; has great store, too; most comprehensive Asian art collections in world; approximately 18K artifacts & artworks from all major Asian countries & traditions, some of which are 6K years old; major galleries devoted to central, South, Southeast & West Asia, as well as China, Himalayas, Japan & Korea; 2.5K works on display in permanent collection.
Dogpatch
●Museum of Craft & Design – 2569 3rd Street; 415-773-0303; sfmcd.org.
Fisherman’s Wharf
●USS Pampanito – Pier 45; 415-775-1943; maritime.org/pamphome.htm; WWII Balao class fleet submarine that is open for visitors daily.
Golden Gate Park & Presido
●California Academy of Sciences – 55 Music Concourse Drive; 415-379-8000; calacademy.org; make sure to see rainforest section.
●Cliff House & Sutro Baths – 680 Point Lobos Avenue (at Lands End Lookout); 415-426-5240; nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/cliff-house-sutro-baths.htm; ruins located at Ocean Beach north end, where Geary Boulevard & Great Highway converge; grabbing bite to eat or dining at Cliff House is perfect way to wind down after exploring Sutro Historic District & hiking Lands End trails; while at Cliff House, be sure to see Camera Obscura; maps available online.
●Crissy Field – 983 Marine Drive; 415-561-3040 (warming huts); parksconservancy.org/our-work/crissy/; once waterfront airfield, now city’s de facto “outdoor gym” – including rock-climbing center; make sure to see Fort Point (Civil War-era).
●Golden Gate Park – 501 Stanyan Street; 415-750-5105; golden-gate-park.com.
●House of Air – 926 Mason Street; 415-345-9675; houseofairsf.com; trampoline center.
●Presidio of San Francisco – reached from east by way of Lombard Street (Highway 101), from north by crossing Golden Gate Bridge (Highways 1 & 101), and from south via Highway 1; 415-561-4314; nps.gov/prsf; get map that takes by sculptural installations.
Marina/Cow Hollow
●Marine Mammal Center – Pier 39; 415-289-7373; tmmc.org; originally volunteer-oriented, marine mammal rescue station; recently overhauled; seal-oriented; can even see seal necropsies.
Mission
●American Bookbinders Museum – 1962 Harrison Street; 415-824-9754; bookbindersmuseum.com; obsessive, small, ephemera and machinery collection focusing on 19th Century transition from hand to machine bookbinding; limited hours.
●Cartoon Art Museum – 655 Mission Street; 415-227-8666; cartoonart.org.
●Mission Dolores (Mission San Francisco de Asis) – 3321 16th Street; 415-621-8203; missiondolores.org; oldest surviving structure in San Francisco and 6th religious settlement established as part of California mission chain; founded on June 29, 1776, by Lieutenant José Joaquin Moraga and Father Francisco Palóu (Father Junipero Serra associate), both de Anza Expedition members (charged with bringing Spanish settlers to Alta (upper) California and evangelizing local peoples, Ohlone).
●Proxy SF – 432 Octavia Street; 510-644-2400; proxysf.net; landmark structure made of containers; galleries, restaurants & stores.
Nob Hill
●Cable Car Museum – 1201 Mason Street; 415-474-1887; cablecarmuseum.org.
North Beach
●Beat Museum – 540 Broadway; 800-537-6822; thebeatmuseum.org; hosts regular readings and other events; houses collection re Beat saints.
Richmond (Inner)
●San Francisco Neptune Society Columbarium – 1 Loraine Court (at Anza Street); 415-771-0717; neptunesanfrancisco.com; Harvey Milk cenotaph here, on ground floor.
Richmond (Outer)
●Giant Camera – 1090 Point Lobos Avenue (behind Cliff House); 415-750-0415; giantcamera.com.
Russian Hill
●San Francisco Art Institute – 800 Chestnut Street; 415-771-7020; sfai.edu.
Sea Cliff
●Lands End Lookout – 600 Point Lobos Avenue (between El Camino Del Mar & Merrie Way); 415-426-5240; parksconservancy.org/visit/park-sites/lands-end.html; within Golden Gate National Park; spectacular view over San Francisco Bay; located along rocky, windswept shoreline at Golden Gate’s mouth (30-mile views); “green” visitor center features museum store, café, and educational exhibits.
SoMa
●San Francisco Museum of Modern Art – 151 3rd Street; 415-357-4000; sfmoma.org.
●South Park – centers on eponymous, small, oval-shaped park and South Park Street, which encircles park; area bounded by 2nd, 3rd, Bryant & Brannan Streets; “nook” neighborhood, only accessible by side-street.
Tenderloin
●The Hall SF – 1028 Market Street; 415-558-8293; thehallsf.com; foodie destination & market.
Union Square
●Geary Theater (American Conservatory Theater) – 415 Geary Street; 415-834-3200; act-sf.org; where Sam Spade found Joel Cairo in Maltese Falcon.
No comments:
Post a Comment