photo by Douglas Friedman
Travel
The Only San Francisco Dining & Drinking Guide You'll Ever Need
One of the main reasons people elect to move from the eternal summer of San Diego to eternal (California) winter of San Francisco, is the dining scene. I’m mostly talking about myself but maybe there are others out there like...
photo by Douglas Friedman
One of the main reasons people elect to move from the eternal summer of San Diego to eternal (California) winter of San Francisco, is the dining scene. I’m mostly talking about myself but maybe there are others out there like me? Let me know. Anyways, San Diego, or even LA for that matter, can’t compare to the revolving door of restaurants found in San Francisco. From Michelin-starred feasts to local pizza joints, I’ve been on a mission to try it all and share the best of the best that I’ve found so far.
There’s a fair share of fancy spots and even more casual ones, and plenty of happy hours because haven’t you heard? SF is the most expensive US city to live in. From date night hangs to parent-approved dinners to outdoor bars to bring friends to, there’s a little something for every dining need – all tried and reviewed by yours truly.
Reporter: Heather Ash | Restaurant: Leo's Oyster Bar
Editor's note: Don't see your favorite spot? This list will be continuously updated with more restaurants as they are tried and reviewed. Check back regularly for more additions!
A quieter part of the city, Richmond has quite the collection of trending restaurants within its neighborhood. You’ll find everything from seafood restaurants to Burmese kitchens to sommelier-backed wine bars in this part of town.
In need of a stylish brunch spot you can visit week after week but also bring visitors to? Pearl 6101. The window filled space is bright and airy even on the gloomiest of SF days. The menu has everything from the best Caesar salad ever to a dutch baby, along with plenty of options with meat. Definitely make a reservation ahead of time and order some brunch cocktails and the fried ricotta donuts. Pearl is open for dinner as well and I can’t recommend the desserts enough.
This spot tops the dining charts quite often thanks to the seafood-heavy menu in a crisp setting focused on the color… violet. Think oysters, mussels and various fish entrees alongside classics like roasted chicken, pork belly and a famed burger for meat-eaters. Can’t forget about the cocktail menu, order the Violet Skies made with mezcal, gin, Winter Cremé de Violette and more, to really stay on-brand for the evening.
I’m going to make a bold statement: Fiorella has the best pizza in San Francisco. If you like thin yet doughy crust and appreciate a ‘less is more’ approach to your pizza, then you’ll agree with me. The intimate restaurant is decked out in wallpaper with famous rappers printed on it, if you look carefully. Inside tip: Make a reservation ahead of time and order the margherita, just do it.
This unassuming croissant bakery was named https://www.bonappetit.com/city-guides/san-francisco/venue/arsicault-bakery Best New Bakery of the Year by Bon Appetit in 2016. Since then, you can expect 30 minute wait times for your turn to choose from five croissant options at this tiny spot. Hop in the comments anywhere Arsicault is featured and you’ll find plenty of people claiming France has nothing on these croissants. I will attest that the almond croissant (doused in powdered sugar) is the best croissant I’ve ever had, France included: golden on the outside and somehow flaky yet just-the-right-amount-gooey on the inside. BRB, running to go get a croissant.
You’ll find High Treason on a lot of wine bar lists for San Francisco and beyond. Why? Started by two Bay Area trained sommeliers, the wine (and beer, and cider) selection here is impeccable – to say they know their wine clearly would be an understatement. Let the team guide your ordering decision by the glass or bottle. Inside tip: They’ve been known to pull out off-menu wines if you’re looking for something special.
Thai food as you know it is hard to come by in San Francisco. Enter Burmese food. Using similar ingredients and flavors with different techniques and pairings, Burmese food is just as delightful as Thai food (and might be healthier?). B Star Bar and sister restaurant, Burma Superstar, just one block away, are some of the best examples of Burmese food in the city. What to order: the Tea Leaf Salad is a must. Beyond that, you can’t really go wrong here.
Rooted in Latino culture, the Mission District is home to some of the city’s most diverse and celebrated restaurants. Here you’ll find hole-in-the-wall gems next to Michelin-starred restaurants, taco and mezcal bars alongside pasta and pizza joints, and hip bars hidden around every corner.
Prairie is a new, trendy addition to Mission across the street from Lazy Bear. The interiors are clean and modern – with an emphasis on blue. We ordered the lamb meatballs (a table favorite), burrata (another fan favorite), chicken piccata and their daily pasta offering. Go with your server recommendations for mains but definitely start with the burrata and meatballs, if available.
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Stonemill Matcha is San Francisco’s favorite matcha, seriously. The matcha comes straight from Kyoto to be used in lattes, sparkling matcha, matchacano and even sweet treats like cream puffs and roll cakes. The Valencia Street cafe and tea room are equally impressive with serene interiors and a certain ‘tidy’ feeling.
Part of the Lazy Bear family, True Laurel is a cocktail-first bar with a menu of small plates. The cocktail menu is incredibly inventive with niche ingredients you may not have heard of, but it all works. Try the Fungus Among Us, a mushroom infused drink or the In the Pines, Under the Palms with redwood tips and coconut infused rye. Don’t forget about food: the crispy hen of the woods mushrooms are a must.
You can recognize those white paper lanterns anywhere after your first Tartine visit. Head to the manufactory to see their bread making process right from your table. The warehouse-meets-restaurant is filled with massive windows, whitewashed wood and an overall sense of airiness. What to order: You really can’t go wrong here but the grilled cheese and tomato soup are something special. Don’t forget to order a matcha latte with Stonemill Matcha.
Mosto
Mission District, San Francisco, California
Photo by Ron Escobar
Mezcal lovers, rejoice. Mosto is a small, agave spirit forward bar decked out in dark tones with an empty bottle adorned ceiling. Serving an array of tequila, mezcal, sotol and more, there’s truly something for every (agave loving) drinker. Too many options? Just go with the mezcal margarita.
Izakaya Rintaro is a ‘if you know, you know’ type of place specializing in udon in a very cool space that was built by the owner’s father, a temple carpenter. Serene yet always jam-packed, Rintaro’s food can be summed up as gourmet Japanese comfort food: house-made noodles, fried dishes (mainly chicken) and must-try sashimi are just some of the highlights. Inside tip: online reservations are scarce, so call ahead to snag one.
Anyone who’s been to Foreign Cinema will tell you to get the fried chicken, and they aren’t wrong. Housed in an old theater, the 20 year old restaurant is one of the city’s most cherished spots serving everything from that famous fried chicken (just order it) to oysters and caviar. Once inside, you’ll be enjoying your meal under a canopy of string lights while a movie takes over the entire back wall. It truly is a one-of-a-kind experience from walking through the old theater to watching a film while you dine. Inside tip: recreate it all at home with the Foreign Cinema Cookbook.
Crafty Fox Ale House is a hip but relaxed spot at the entrance to Mission. With a lot of beers (and a specialty on specialty beers), this spot is perfect for curing a hangover, getting a head start on a new one or grabbing a post-work drink. Everyone was also ordering burgers, so they must be pretty good (they smelled amazing).
A rooftop overlooking downtown? Gasp. El Techo’s rooftop may not be 20 floors up (more like 3) but we’ll take it anyways. A perfect day drinking spot when the sun finally decides to come out, you’re here for margaritas, tacos and guac. Arriving before noon? Try the weekend brunch menu complete with buñuelos: a donut-y, chocolate-y “breakfast” dish.
Home to the Painted Ladies (a.k.a the Full House house), Alamo Square is the perfect post lunch park visit or pre-dinner stroll. One block away you’ll find NoPa with the majority of the neighborhood’s restaurants occupying Divisadero Street. From casual Greek Eateries to the hottest of the hot restaurants, there’s a wide variety of options packed into just a few blocks.
One of 2018’s undisputed hottest new restaurants, Che Fico quickly made a name for itself as the ‘it’ gourmet pizza spot in town. Serving a range of pizzas, house-cured meats, pastas, and unique starters and entrees, the menu is ever-changing with something for every type of eater. The industrial chic interior is filled with bright prints, bold lighting and exposed beaming. Inside tip: reservations are hard to come by but they walk-ins are encouraged.
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Visited by many during their wait for a table at Nopa, Horsefeather deserves a trip of its own. The atrium at the front is completely adorable for date night, while the Art Deco bar and dining room are moody and cozy, the perfect setting for strong cocktail sipping. As far as the food menu goes, the burger is great and there used to be a fried chicken and waffle dish that I’m not-so-patiently waiting to return.
A mainstay of Divisadero Street for over ten years, Nopa is an open-concept (including the kitchen) restaurant. Always busy and always booked up, make your reservation ahead of time to experience this beloved neighborhood gem. The space is airy and filled with windows so there’s not a bad seat in the house but if you can, request a table in the loft for the ultimate people and kitchen watching.
Souvla is hands down my favorite lunch spot in SF and my favorite salad, ever. The Greek restaurant has a simple menu: choose from chicken, lamb, pork or veg served either as a salad or sandwich. And that’s it! Well, besides the fried potatoes, fries and other sides. The back patio is where it’s at on the weekends with a glass of Greek rosé or beer in hand. Inside tip: Souvla is also in Marina, the Mission and Hayes Valley.
Can you guess what this spot is all about? Here’s what you need to know: Bar Crudo is small, a raw-bar and has a killer happy hour. Get here at the top of happy hour to snag a spot sans wait time to ensure you get your proper fill of oysters, wine and, of course, crudo. Everything is fresh, everything is delicious and that’s pretty much it. What to order: your personal preference of crudo, oysters, chowder and keep the bread coming.
Gin is in at Barvale, specifically gin and tonics – seriously, there’s a dedicated section of the menu for gin and tonics and all of them are good. The food menu is focused on Spanish tapas with plenty of bites to satisfy everyone, big and small eaters alike. Pop in for brunch on Sunday and afterwards, take advantage of the farmer’s market happening right outside Barvale.
Arguably one of the trendier neighborhoods of San Francisco, Pacific Heights and Fillmore District host a number of the city’s hottest restaurants. From Mediterrean fare with a California twist to a restaurant dedicated to our state bird, there’s something for every dining mood.
Specialty grocer by day, dinner club by night, Merchant Roots is a nine-course tasting menu experience that is a serious one-of-a-kind ride. Grab a couple tickets and don’t forget about the wine pairing for a treat yourself kind of evening. Good to know: Each quarter has a different theme meaning you can return season after season for a completely new journey.
The Snug
Pacific Heights, San Francisco, California
Photo by Jonathan Racusin
If you’re imagining The Snug to be as trendy as it sounds, you’re right. While it definitely brings all the cozy vibes, it’s pretty pricey so I recommend it for pre- or post-dinner drinks and snacks. The Burrata toast is freakin’ good and the wines by the glass are tasty. Feeling crazy? Order the shot and beer for $10.
Noosh has been named San Francisco’s absolute hottest new restaurant and I’m happy to report that it lives up to the hype. First things first, there’s no reservations and you have to wait in line for your table (no leaving), but you can order drinks while you wait. Now, the food… where to begin. Order everything of course, but most importantly, the smoked yogurt dip, falafel and Noosh’s choice of 5 skewers, in that order. Finish it off with the sour cherry ice cream sandwich and you’ll be dreaming of your return.
Right next to sister restaurant, State Bird Provisions (more that them below), The Progress is a family-style dinner experience served in courses. Literally everything is good (hence, the Michelin star), and the space is calming with its neutral and wood-clad interior. The menu changes often so go with your server's reccs.
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Another excellent pizza joint, Pizzeria Delfina is in my regular rotation of go-to restaurants. It’s casual yet lively and the pizza is really, really good. If you’re feeling adventurous, try one of the specials (vegetable dishes included), you won’t be disappointed. While they don’t take reservations, the wait time generally isn’t too bad and you can order drinks while you wait.
All hail the quail. No really. California’s state bird, the quail (get it?) is the star of the show here and you’re ordering it, obviously. Beyond the quail, the dim sum style service and buzzing atmosphere make State Bird Provisions more than just dinner. A great spot to bring friends or family – or be selfish and keep it to yourself, no judgement – this Michelin-starred spot is one to remember.
If you don’t work in FiDi, getting down here on a weekday is a pain, but beauty is pain. There are a few famous spots here you won’t want to miss, and just a short-ish walk east, you’ll find the Embarcadero, home to its own plethora of dining and drinking options. One could easily spend an entire day working your way through the Ferry Building alone.
Maybe the most photographed restaurant in the city, Leo’s Oyster Bar lives up to the hype. The ambiance deserves an A++ with its tropical foyer bar that leads into the dining room that feels like an old-school yacht (in the best way). On the pricier end for casual food like lobster rolls and shareable bites, the happy hour is where it’s at: oyster, wine and cocktail deals are why you’re here anyways. Get here early as bar space is limited during happy hour.
This tropical oasis in the middle of FiDi is bringing a little Australia to San Francisco. Think: palms, neon signs, velvet seating and plenty of color. The menu is Aussie style filled with kabobs, pizzas, salads and snacks. Make sure to try the ‘bottled cocktails’ – house-made and rumored to be quite potent. Inside tip: the decked out basement (with its own bar) just opened and can be rented out for events!
You’re coming to Wayfare Tavern for fried chicken and cocktails and that’s that. The restaurant feels like an old English tavern with lots of wood and brick with a classic black-and-white-awninged exterior, perfect for groups and out-of-towners. Inside tip: Leo’s is right next door for a pre-fried chicken oyster sesh.
Located in the Ferry Building (and also Tomales Bay, but that’s for another time), this spot is a fun experience with out-of-towners or even your parents. Be warned, they do not take reservations and it gets very busy (thanks, tourists) but the oysters are worth it. Stop in for a pre-dinner oyster snack and be sure to order the accompanying wine and bread.
Dogpatch, south of Oracle Park and Mission Bay, has quickly become the place to be thanks to an abundance of warehouses that are getting reworked into shops, galleries, breweries and more. It’s the city’s fastest growing neighborhood with plenty of cool-kid approved bars and restaurants to prove it.
As a San Diego transplant, finding beer in San Francisco that compares to the SD craft brews is no small feat. The Dogpatch location of Magnolia Brewing thankfully does. The newly remodeled industrial building brings the cool factor while the food and drink menus hold their own. The beer list is healthy with plenty of style and maker variety as well as cider and wine options. Show up with a group and head to the back for stadium style seating and huge screens playing whatever game is on that day.
Love it or hate it, Marina and Cow Hollow have some great spots that you’d be hard pressed to miss out on like the German beer hall, Radhaus or margaritas from Tacolicious and Flores. There’s also so much to do and see around these parts like Palace of the Fine Arts and the actual marina to accompany your day of eating and drinking.
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A16 is pretty fancy for a pizza spot – you walk through their wine collection to the main dining room where the open concept kitchen has a Neapolitan pizza production line operated to a tee. Great for a ~fancy~ pizza date night, the main dining room is bright and airy, perfect for burrata, pizza and wine consumption. Oh, and you cut your pizza with adorable little scissors, so there’s that.
Another bar and restaurant in my rotation of go-to’s: Radhaus. It’s a German beer hall with a unique food menu (read: German) that’s full of tasty options like the dumpling soup that can cure any hangover. On the drink front, all of the beers are in fact German and the wine and cocktail offerings don’t disappoint. The expansive Fort Mason space is open, airy and all white but the real star of the show is the Golden Gate Bridge, visible from just about any seat in the house.
New to Cow Hollow, Little Gem is the answer to the “I want to eat healthy but nothing sounds good” dilemma. A little about the menu: everything is gluten-free and dairy-free with a generally healthy approach to dishes. Some highlights we tried were the alfredo pasta (vegan alfredo and spaghetti squash), salmon tartare, hummus and pita, and the little gem salad (do yourself a favor and order this salad). Everything was seriously delicious and left us asking, “how did they do this?” The interiors are serene and cozy, making Little Gem a great date night or friend meet-up spot.
Happy hour/Taco Tuesday are where it’s at when coming to Tacolicious. Margarita’s are basically free at $7 and the chips and salsa are flowing. On the taco front, the fish (fried or grilled) and fried avocado can’t be beat.
More german beer halls? Oh yeah. Except Belga also has a bevy of other beverage options and a snackable menu. Come in on the weekend with friends to post up for the day and keep the oysters coming. Inside tip: there’s a very cute, rentable back room that’s party perfect.
On a nice-ish day, head to Cultivar and go straight to the back patio where there’s plenty of heaters and a massive fireplace. Order any of the Cultivar wines (let’s be real, rosé), and a small plate to share (it’s the grilled cheese). Weekday happy hour is worth a trip in too with serious deals on wine and snacks.
Trendy and prime for Instagramming, Flores also has good food. Come for brunch, dinner, drinks, anything really – please just order the churros, no matter what time of day it is. Bringing a group? Request the massive communal table surrounded by murals. Coming as a couple? Grab a two seater patio table on a nice day and order some margaritas, stat.
Hayes Valley is just west of Civic Center and consists of shops, restaurants and bars in just about every direction. Some of the city’s best patios are here along with countless corner cafés, drinking spots and plenty of elevated dining.
Another one you’ll want to book well in advance, Rich Table in Hayes Valley is so so worth the wait. Everything on the menu is completely original with an emphasis on pasta dishes, of which all is made in-house. There are so many unique offerings on the menu that can be easy to pass by if you don’t know exactly what it is – let your server recommend items and you won’t be let down. The interiors are cozy and casual with salvaged barn wood on the walls and locally-made Jared's Pottery serveware. What to order: Porcini doughnuts (our server said it was a must, he was right), chicken liver mousse with blueberry hoisin and a steam bun, beer-battered soft shell crab, and Sea Urchin cacio y pepe – order it all, ask questions later.
Patios are a rarity here but a restaurant that’s 100% patio? A unicorn. Biergarten is a completely outdoor, picnic table clad spot with the kitchen and bar made out of shipping containers. Find german beers, a couple wine and cider options, and German bites (pretzels, pickles and the like) on the menu. Open somewhere between 1-3pm every day, this spot fills up fast so get here early (is 3pm considered early??) to claim a coveted table.
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Unassuming from the outside and charming on the inside, Noir Lounge is a trip back in time. Soft lighting, decorative ceilings and a grand piano set the scene while the comfort-food focused menu rounds out the cozy experience. What to order: pick a flatbread, any flatbread (the wild mushroom is great), fried chicken and the gourmet tots.
Another patio! Anina is perfect for day drinking with a group thanks to the communal table and bench set up. The drink menu is full of all the favorites like spritzes, margaritas, punch bowls as well as beer and cider. On weekends, different food vendors take over a corner of the patio to serve tacos, brats, sandwiches and more.
Mr. Tipple's Recording Studio
Civic Center, San Francisco, California
Photo by Mr. Tipple's Recording Studio
Boasting live jazz music every night of the week (seriously), Mr. Tipple’s Recording Studio features a diverse craft cocktail menu and a southern inspired food menu from next door neighbor, Hazel. There’s something for everyone on the cocktail menu from spirit forward mezcal drinks to lighter gin creations. A lively spot right off of Market, Mr. Tipple’s is a live music treat for any day of the week. What to order: the Smoke and Ash or Tom’s Tipple.
Besides having the most ridiculous name of all the SF neighborhoods (don’t get us started on Tendernob), the Tenderloin has some winners you need to know about. From a new social club focused on natural wine to a real-life (former) speakeasy, you’re here to drink.
Venue by day, wine club by (Friday) night, it’s hard to find a cooler spot than Cerf Club. Serving aperitivo bites and natural wines, the weekly social club is your go-to for starting your weekend off right. Brought to us by locally-loved catering company, Stag Dining, the space is primarily a venue but open to the public once a week, no membership or reservation required.
Mikkeller Bar
Tenderloin, San Francisco, California
Photo by Chris Sumida
Mikkeller, the Danish microbrewery, takes a very technical approach to beer: each is stored and served at the optimal temperature per type of beer. The tap list is seriously impressive (42 taps to be exact) and the bottle list is even longer (double sided, single spaced kind of long). The interiors are cozy with soft lighting so you can settle in with your beer after the walk in.
A speakeasy with another speakeasy inside of it, Bourbon & Branch has all the moody, from-another-era vibes you need with your cocktail. The drink menu is exhausting but it’s all really tasty. Another great spot to bring visitors, make a reservation ahead of time to seal the deal sans wait time.
Yes, Nob Hill and Russian Hill are in fact very hilly. If you’ve watched The OA, you’re privy to the mansions (or at least one mansion) of the area that set the tone for what you’ll find here: some of the city’s nicest hotels call Nob Hill home along with renowned restaurants and bars. Russian Hill is most well known for the world's crookedest street: Lombard.
Remember when a small claim about the ‘best pizza in SF’ was made? There’s now double the pizza and reasons to pop into the famed Fiorella. The new installment of the Richmond’s crazy successful pizza spot recently opened on Polk and brought with it its notorious hip-hop inspired wallpaper (look closely!) along with all of the menu mainstays of the original location. Not to miss: burrata pie, cacio e pepe, and the wood fired octopus.
Thank you, Anthony Bourdain for bringing Swan Oyster Depot into my life but also everyone else’s. And I mean everyone. This very famous seafood spot is over 100 years old and has just 18 counter seats in a shotgun style space in Nob Hill. Serving oysters, clam chowder, crab legs, and just about every other seafood classic, show up hungry and with some extra patience because the wait here is no joke. I clocked in at three hours of wait time (rookie mistake) but it was worth it. Visiting Swan Oyster is a San Francisco rite of passage – just be sure to arrive before they open.
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Fun Fact: San Francisco’s Chinatown is the oldest in North America and, of course, one of the most popular destinations in the city. Alongside traditional Chinese restaurants (many that are decades old), is a new era of restaurants and experiences paying tribute to their predecessors.
China Live is a lively, modern Chinese restaurant with several dining options, depending on how fancy you’re feeling: the first floor is part kitchen and part market with elevated dining rooms and a speakeasy on the floors above. We went with our server’s suggestions of a smattering of dumplings, the clay pot rice and peking duck buns, to name a few. Pro tip: Always get the peking duck buns.
Bordering Chinatown, the Financial District and Russian Hill, North Beach is home to rich Italian heritage. Historic pizza joints, classic red-and-white tablecloth restaurants and plenty of sidewalk bistro tables occupy this part of town.
This simple spot is just trendy enough to feel like you went “out” after your pizza dinner at Il Casaro. The interiors are charming with large windows and plants hanging around. Choose from an array of wine, beer and cocktails to chill out after a long week.
Neapolitan pizza lovers, listen up: Il Casaro is a pizza destination you need to get to North Beach for. Squishy dough, fresh burrata and plenty of wine make this a Friday night favorite for comfort food in a casual setting (don’t mind the marble bar though). Good to know: They don’t take reservations so get there before 6pm to avoid a wait.
No, Lower Haight is not home to Haight-Ashbury meaning less tourists, less tie-dye and less themed shops. Instead Lower Haight has plenty of beloved neighborhood restaurants, bars and even breweries all within close proximity to several parks like Alamo Square, Duboce Park and, of course, Golden Gate Park.
When all that SF gloom starts to get to you, there’s only one solution: ramen. Picky ramen eaters will approve of Iza thanks to the variety of options and solid foundation good broth and noodles. The interiors are casual and comfy, perfect for enjoying a bowl of warmth on a chilly day.
Cocktail and small plate pairing is Maven’s sweet spot in a casual, natural setting. The space’s focal point is the living wall behind the redwood bar, creating an organic, earthy vibe inside. Inside tip: hike the Sutro Forest then head to Maven for a day of nature, inside and out.
Sunset District
Sunset is west of what you think of as “San Francisco,” like way west. Bordering the actual ocean, not bay, Sunset District is mostly residential with a few spots that are worth the “trip” out there. Trust me.
Ramen, yakitori and various seafood and chicken plates make up this treasured spot's menu. You'll be ordering ramen (duh), hamachi carpaccio, nankotsu karaage and seriously anything else, it's all that good. Inside tip: It gets poppin' in here so make a reservation or show up on the early side.
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Cocktails are serious business at Outerlands and after your first drink, you'll see why. Inspired by the sea, the drink menu is breezy and salty while the interiors feel coastal (maybe a little like a ship?) thanks to the weathered wood walls. The food is said to be amazing, so give that a try while you're there too.
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