city guide — san francisco
This is my home – I hope you enjoy it. This guide has been updated post-pandemic so you can rest assured the businesses below are still up and running!
Restaurants
Listed $$$$ —> $$
Kokkari – excellent Greek restaurant downtown with a great wine list
Foreign Cinema – excellent French/California cuisine in the Mission with a good bar; great date spot
Petit Crenn – Dominique Crenn’s more casual (and less expensive) restaurant; you’ll likely need a reservation (currently closed —> due to reopen soon)
Waterbar – fine dining on the Embarcadero with amazing views of the Bay Bridge; they have a great $1 oyster happy hour
Lolinda – excellent Argentinian steakhouse in the Mission with a good bar
Che Fico Alimentari – likely my favorite Italian restaurant in the city
NOPA – good, modern California cuisine on the Panhandle
Pearl 6101 – casual yet upscale Mediterranean food with a California flair; amazing cocktails; this place has has quickly become my favorite restaurant in the city
Lavash – excellent, family-owned Persian restaurant in the Inner Sunset
The Tailors’s Son – solid Italian on Fillmore with great cocktails
Wild Seed – great vegan restaurant in Cow Hollow
AltoVino – quaint Italian restaurant with a nice wine selection
Noosh – beautiful space with refreshing cocktails and fresh ingredients; make sure you order the smoked yogurt
Bar Crudo – raw bar with an excellent happy hour and great service
The Pawn Shop – speakeasy in SOMA with great service and a lot of character offering late night dining (tapas) until 1 or 2 am (it’s also next to Monarch, my favorite dance club in the city)
Flores – Mexican in the Marina/Pacific Heights (carnitas are delicious)
Nopalito – casual, sister restaurant of NOPA with great Mexican food
Montesacro – excellent, Italian pizza
Pizzeria Delfina – an SF staple
Pizzetta 211 – Pearl 6101’s sister restaurant (and neighbor) with a simple menu that rotates biweekly
Akikos – delicious, fresh sushi downtown
Ryoko’s Sushi – open late (often with a house DJ), you’ll likely wait for a table
Tsunami sushi – fresh sushi on the Panhandle with a great whisky bar
Wayo – traditional sushi bar with fresh fish and great prices; owned by the sweetest Japanese couple
Anchor Oyster Bar – a sustainable oyster bar in the Castro. Everything is fresh and delicious, but I highly recommend you order the cioppino and garlic bread.
El Techo – rooftop restaurant (and bar) in the Mission; great spot for carnitas and grilled meat
Nabe – great hot pot in the Inner Sunset and the Marina
Causwells – solid burger (get the fries, not the side salad)
Blue barn – if you want a fresh, delicious, $20 farm-to-table salad
Tacolicious – great chips and salsa + great tacos + great margaritas
Souvla – casual and quick Greek that always hits the spot; great for delivery
Yuanbao Jiaozi – excellent dumplings in the Sunset
Homemade Italian – hearty and delicious; great for delivery
Roam Burger – my go-to burger in the city; great for delivery
Bars & Lounges
Grouped by neighborhood
The Alembic – dim lighting, excellent cocktails, and great bites (great date spot)
Moongate lounge – sexy lounge with skilled bartenders (great date spot)
Rickhouse – great drinks, speakeasy vibe
The Treasury – bar in the FiDi with a nice selection of whisky cocktails
Press Club – nice, large wine bar
Novela – nice cocktail bar in SOMA
Chambers – nice bar at the Phoenix hotel
Jones – rooftop bar in the TL
Peacekeeper – retracting roof leads to a very cool indoor / outdoor vibe
Ebb & Flow – laid-back neighborhood wine bar/shop focusing on family-owned vineyards and small producers; great cheese selection and very knowledgeable and kind owner
Birba – a quaint wine bar with a garden oasis
Anina – outdoor seating in Hayes Valley
15 Romolo – great Pimm’s Cup near North Beach (Italian district)
The Redwood Room – sophisticated cocktail bar in the Clift Hotel near Union Sq; a great place to people watch
Bergerac – this place was my jam 😉
The Dorian – if you find yourself in the Marina
Monarch – my favorite ‘club’ in the city
Cafes + Bakeries
Grouped by neighborhood
Hollow – adorable, quaint cafe in the Inner Sunset with great coffee and matcha. Their oat cake is good, too.
The Beanery – simple and reliable with a friendly staff
Arizmendi – co-op owned, delicious bakery (2 locations = Inner Sunset + Mission)
Tartine – amazing bakery. They have a seasonal warm brioche bread pudding. It’s divine. They’ve also opened a cafe since I left – I’m sure it’s amazing. Additional location on 9th Avenue in the Inner Sunset is now open.
Devil’s teeth – bakery with two locations: one in the Outer Sunset and one in the Outer Richmond. They have an amazing breakfast sandwich and their cinnamon roll is fabulous.
Arsicault Bakery – the best croissants I’ve ever eaten (and I’ve been to Paris x 3 times)
Breck’s – next door to Arsicault Bakery; they serve Verve coffee
b. patisserie – delicious baguettes and the best kouign amann I’ve had to date
b. on the go – great sandwich spot with an amazing seasonal shrub drink that I highly recommend
Jane The Bakery – excellent bread
Lady Falcon Coffee Club – great coffee truck on the move
Rapha – great coffee in Cow Hollow. You can work upstairs, too.
Wrecking Ball Coffee – this may be my favorite coffee shop in the city. Located in Cow Hollow, it’s small and the coffee (and matcha) is perfect.
Other coffee staples = Four Barrel, Blue Bottle, Ritual, Philz, and Saint Frank
Activities
Grace Cathedral – beautiful church located at the top of Nob Hill (they host yoga Tuesday nights, pre-covid)
Lion steps – great workout with an even better view of the marina
Ferry Building + Embarcadero – lovely stroll with picturesque views + amazing (touristy and expensive) Tu/Th/Sat farmers' market
Golden Gate Park – a beautiful park that spans nearly 5 miles
California Academy of Science – an awesome museum with an adult only Thursday night (in Golden Gate Park)
Fort Mason – where the youngins hang; great views of the bay
Lands End – beautiful hike with incredible views
Mount Sutro Forest – nice hike behind UCSF that leaves you feeling like you just stepped into FernGully
de Young Museum – great museum in Golden Gate Park
SFMOMA – if modern art is your thing
Delores Park – the place to be on a sunny day
Yoga +
The Pad – a large studio with a variety of yoga and Pilates classes
Body and Soul Yoga Collective – previously Laughing Lotus; what a yoga studio should be
Satori – an urban oasis in the financial district
Mighty Pilates – form, form, form
Barry's bootcamp – Tuesday is butt + leg day if you want to get your ass kicked
Core 40 – you'll start sweating 5 minutes in
Out of the City
Pilates ProWorks – classic and pro reformer classes with great teachers and a MatBox class that leave your arms sore for days
Burn (virtual) – a blend of cardio, spring board pilates and weights
Looking for more?
Redfin reached out to local experts, including me, to share our favorite hidden gems in San Francisco. From hidden parks to local restaurants to secret locations, these are places you won’t want to miss. Check out the post here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is your favorite restaurant in the city?
A: This is a hard one! Right now, I’d say Pearl 6101 or Foreign Cinema.
Q: If you had to pick one cafe, which would it be?
A: Arsicault for the crossiants. I’d also grab a quick coffee next door at Breck’s (they brew Verve). If I just wanted coffee or matcha I’d go to Wreckingball.
Q: What would be your perfect night out?
A: Bergerac followed by Monarch.
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This post was written by Kelly Powers, MA, RDN. Kelly is a Registered Dietitian and Culinary Nutritionist who takes a holistic approach to nutrition and health. She is a recipe developer with a food blog highlighting whole foods, simple recipes, and her life in San Francisco. Kelly is the creator of Weeknight Dinners, a weekly meal plan program that helps users get back in the kitchen and feed themselves well. Kelly specializes in meal planning, the Mediterranean diet, and sustainable behavior change, helping her clients reach their health goals while improving their relationship with food.