San Francisco Travel Guide

Restaurants in San Francisco, California

Restaurants
Gastronomic

Bocadillo
Tapas this far from the mother country has never tasted quite so authentic. This groovy Spanish restaurant and wine bar combines a trendy décor with a serious take on Spain’s favorite eating style. Start the day with baked eggs chorizo and manchego cheese, lunch on bocadillos (bread rolls) filled with Serrano ham or Catalan sausage, or stop by for dinner and try quail caramelized with Moorish flavors or calamari with Romesco sauce.

710 Montgomery Street
Tel: (415) 982 2622.
Website: www.bocasf.com
Price: $$-$$$

Boulette’s Larder
Seats in the Ferry Building can be scarce so if you happen to score one at the communal table inside Boulette’s Larder, make the most of it. This homely cafe has shelves and counters stacked with homemade and local produce, and a bustling open kitchen where pots of all shapes and sizes indicate the level of food appreciation. After savouring Sunday brunch you’ll forgive the staff for being a tad antsy.

1 Ferry Building
Tel: (415) 399 1155.
Website: www.bouletteslarder.com
Price $$-$$$

Boulevard
Located in the 1889 belle époque Audiffred Building, Boulevard is the brainchild of award-winning designer Pat Kuleto and noted San Francisco chef Nancy Oakes. The kitchen is in the center of the restaurant and counter seating allows guests to watch the chefs whip up West Coast-French cuisine. Local specialties include Dungeness crab salad and seared Sonoma foie gras. Advance dinner reservations are essential.

1 Mission Street, Embarcadero South
Tel: (415) 543 6084.
Website: www.boulevardrestaurant.com
Price: $$$-$$$$

GaryDanko
Guests to Gary Danko’s Relais & Chateau restaurant book months in advance. The James Beard award-winning chef focuses on French, Mediterranean and regional American cooking, using seasonal ingredients, free-range meats and local artisan cheese. Dishes might include lobster salad with apple, jicama, celery root and marinated citrus followed by pancetta-wrapped frog legs with sunchoke puree, potato and lentils. Set menus are available, as are seasonal tasting menus with wine pairings.

800 North Point, Fisherman’s Wharf
Tel: (415) 749 2060.
Website: www.garydanko.com
Price: $$$$

Millennium
Those who believe that vegetarian cuisine cannot be classy or inspiring have not been to Millennium. Take, for example, the ‘rawvioli’, in which sage-scented cashew and pine-nut cheese is stuffed between Chiogga beet ravioli sheets and served with sundried tomato and olive tapenade, Fuyu persimmon and arugula salad. The restaurant is open and airy and the wine list features organic, vegan and biodynamic wines. Reservations recommended.

580 Geary Street, Savoy Hotel, Civic Center
Tel: (415) 345 3900.
Website: www.millenniumrestaurant.com
Price: $$$-$$$$

OneMarket
One Market is in the perfect locale for an establishment that specializes in fresh seafood. The menu includes a sea urchin omelette, Maine lobster ‘sangria’ for two, a rack of veal with oyster mushrooms, along with plenty of fish courses. Its dessert selection includes a caramel-roasted stack of cinnamon-butter cake topped with warm peach sauce and buttermilk ice cream. The décor is elegant and diners enjoy a 90-degree waterfront view.

1 Market Street, Embarcadero South
Tel: (415) 777 5577.
Website: www.onemarket.com
Price: $$-$$$$

Business

Aqua
Ultra pricey Aqua, never a stranger to the corporate credit card, has gone to even higher acclaim under chef Laurent Manrique. The upscale seafood restaurant has been consistently credited with offering one of the city’s finest meals. A Gascon chef, Manrique serves up signature dishes such as tartare of ahi tuna with Moroccan spices, lemon confit and fresh herbs. The professional service, decadent desserts and wine list are legendary.

252 California Street, Financial District
Tel: (415) 956 9662.
Website: www.aqua-sf.com
Price: $$$$

CaféClaude
You can find a touch of Paris at Café Claude, a tiny bistro in the French Quarter where guests sit under colorful umbrellas outside or inside on cosy banquettes. French prints and large exotic posters adorn the walls. A full-length mirrored bar reflects a modern Parisian atmosphere; while French wait staff serve favorites such as a trio of patés or onion soup gratinée. Jazz musicians play Thursday to Saturday evenings.

7 Claude Lane, Financial District
Tel: (415) 392 3505.
Website: www.cafeclaude.com
Price: $$-$$$

TheDiningRoomatTheRitz-Carlton
The Dining Room offers seasonal modern French cuisine with a Japanese influence in a formal, elegant, candlelit setting. Chef Ron Siegel and sommelier Stéphane Lacroix have put together constantly evolving exquisite tasting menus available with wine pairings, featuring such delectable choices as sashimi, Maine lobster, squab breast and veal tenderloin. Dinners begin with champagne and end with artisan cheese and desserts. Dinner only. Closed Sunday and Monday.

The Ritz-Carlton, 600 Stockton Street, Nob Hill
Tel: (415) 773 6198.
Website: www.ritzcarltondiningroom.com
Price: $$$$

Trendy

Greens
A popular vegetarian restaurant, Greens enjoys a steady clientele of non-vegetarians and vegetarians. Housed in a former US military warehouse, with enchanting Bay views, the restaurant’s high ceiling and wood interior complement its unique setting. Lunch might include a deep-dish pie of winter vegetables with a parmesan potato crust. Dinner selections might include Mesquite grilled vegetable brochettes and marinated tofu. There is also a takeaway menu.

Building A, Fort Mason, Marina
Tel: (415) 771 6222.
Website: www.greensrestaurant.com
Price: $$$-$$$$

Mexico DF
San Francisco is famous for its Mexican cuisine and Mexico DF has taken the regional fare, not to mention margaritas, to a whole new level. Chef and Mexico City native David Rosales has conjured up a high-end menu of small and large plates including a trio of tasty guacamoles, octopus and diver scallop cerviche and the unforgettable house specialty, carnitas with guacamole, corn tortillas and salsa del molcahete.

139 Steuart Street, Embarcadero
Tel: (415) 808 1048.
Website: www.mex-df.com
Price: $$$

Oola
This French-influenced California bistro in popular SoMa has sophisticated sex appeal, with its exposed brick walls, reclaimed timber, soaring ceilings and candlelight. Swedish-born owner and chef Ola Fendert uses local ingredients in favorites such as pear and Roquefort salad and chicken and foie gras ravioli. The bar serves 10 different wines by the glass and the kitchen is open Tuesday to Saturday until 0100, making it a theater crowd favorite.

860 Folsom Street, South of Market (SOMA)
Tel: (415) 995 2061.
Website: www.oola-sf.com
Price: $$$

Rose’sCafé
The sister property of North Beach’s famed Rose Pistola restaurant, Rose’s Café is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Its Californian-Italian kitchen dishes up sourdough breads, hearty pastas, such as fusilli tossed with anchovies, broccoli and chillies, and seafood dishes, such as roasted mussels or grilled salmon. The casual cafe setting is a great place for a cappuccino. The patio is heated when weather permits.

2298 Union Street, Cow Hollow
Tel: (415) 775 2200.
Website: www.rosescafesf.com
Price: $$-$$$

Budget

House of Nanking
San Francisco’s Chinatown is bursting with eateries, but this is king among them. Owner and chef Peter Fang has perfected the Chinese art of serving an array of delicious dishes in the shortest possible time. For the real deal, sidestep the menu. Instead, ask the for the house specialties then watch as dishes such as shrimp cakes, pork egg rolls and salt and pepper mushrooms arrive at the table. Bookings essential.

919 Kearny Street
Tel: (415) 421 1429.
Price: $-$$

LosHermanos
Some of the best Mexican food can be found in small, unadorned diners where the locals line up in droves. The food at Los Hermanos (‘The Brothers’) definitely fits that bill. The beef burrito is an unpretentious blend of sautéed beef, rice, beans and salsa, with optional cheese, guacamole and sour cream. Located in the trendy shopping district of Marina, this place also does take away. Unlicensed.

2026 Chestnut Street, Marina
Tel: (415) 921 5790.
Price: $

PyramidAleHouse, BreweryandRestaurant
A trip to historic Berkeley on the east of the Bay is mandatory. Home to one of California’s popular breweries, the Pyramid Ale House features a classic assortment of West Coast draughts, including Pyramid’s own wheaten ale and Northwest-style Hefeweizen. Seasonal brews are also available. The cuisine is standard American - nachos with jack and cheddar cheese, salsa and sour cream followed by baby back ribs.

901 Gilman Street, Berkeley, East Bay
Tel: (510) 528 9880.
Website: www.pyramidbrew.com
Price: $

Steps of Rome Caffe
The light-hearted atmosphere and late-night opening hours are not the only factors that attract locals and tourists to Steps of Rome. The Italian restaurant is known for its great espresso coffee and authentic Italian menu including a line-up of thin-crust oven-baked pizzas, grilled panini, pastas and salads. The quattro formaggi pizza with mozzarella, Gorgonzola, Swiss & Parmesan cheese is top notch.

348 Columbus Avenue, North Beach
Tel: (415) 397 0435.
Website: www.stepsofrome.com
Price: $-$$

TiCouz
This little French find, named for the Breton expression for ‘old house’, serves savoury buckwheat dinner crepes and delicious sweet ones for dessert. Diners can’t go wrong with the thin ham and gruyere cheese crepe, folded Brittany-style into a square. For dessert, a lighter batter creates wispy, thin crepes with fillings such as Nutella and orange caramel. French hard cider is the beverage of choice at this very popular spot.

3108 16th Street, Mission District
Tel: (415) 252 7373.
Price: $$

Personal Recommendations

Salt House
This self-styled contemporary tavern is set in a stunning 1930s printing press warehouse and features exposed brick walls, hardwood floors and high ceilings. The rustic ambience is mirrored in a menu of comfort food (suckling pig with lentils and roasted garlic) and autumnal offerings (Bellewhether Farms ricotta with pears and walnuts), and complemented by a bountiful new- and old-world wine list available by the glass.

545 Mission Street
Tel: (415) 543 8900.
Website: www.salthousesf.com
Price: $$$-$$$$

Nightlife

San Francisco pulsates with creative decadence. Restaurants and bars fill up early and stay open late. With more than 2,000 places to buy a drink, you never go thirsty. Such a huge diversity of bars makes any rule of thumb over dress codes, opening hours, cover charges and behavior obsolete and it is best to check with individual establishments, if in doubt. Generally, however, attitude makes way for a more laid-back scene and, like all of California, smoking is not permitted. For the most part, anything goes, not least in the proliferation of gay clubs, many of which are so popular they are in danger of turning straight.

Dance spots regularly change names and identities and the club scene is in a constant state of flux but the music, from piano bar smooth to house and acid jazz and back again, keeps on playing. Many clubs charge an entrance fee but trendy coffee bars and record shops distribute fliers and invitation cards that get you in free, or at a discount, if you arrive early. To drink, you will need to be at least 21 years old and carrying identification. Generally, restaurants, nightclubs and bars are licensed till 0200.

Some districts (most often those with a young and thrusting street culture) offer many nightlife options. These include Downtown, South of Market (SoMa) and Castro. To find the action, it may be worth consulting a current copy of the SF Bay Guardian or the SF Weekly (free papers widely available in newspaper boxes throughout the city).

Bars: Bambuddah Lounge is the place to go for cocktails after a hard day on the tourist trail. Located in the swish retro Phoenix Hotel, Eddy Street and Larkin Street, it is unpredictably chic, with an interesting clientele and some of the best libations around. At the other end of the spectrum, the Redwood Room piano bar, at the Clift Hotel, 495 Geary Street, offers relaxation for the rich, with formal attire advised. The Bubble Lounge, Montgomery Street at Washington Street, offers sophistication with a choice of more than 300 champagnes and accompanying oysters, caviar and sushi. In the Castro Street area, there are around a dozen bars, including gay-friendly Café Flore, Market Street and Noe Street, which buzzes during the day, the Lexington Club, 19th Street at Valencia Street, for lesbians, and many others that provide solace until the early hours. Tonic, 2360 Polk Street, is a comfortably normal bar, popular with the occasional celebrity.

Clubs: DJs are hot property in San Francisco and at 1015 Folsom, 1015 Folsom Street (website: www.1015.com), even the uninitiated will understand their power. Music is loud enough to shake the foundations of both building and soul, with stunning lighting and some of the biggest names on the circuit. Local favorite, Club Six (website: www.clubsix1.com), at 60 Sixth Street, SoMa, draws a diverse crowd to its six dance spaces and lounges. John Lee Hooker’s Boom Boom Room, Fillmore Street at Geary Street (website: www.boomboomblues.com), fills with a mixed age group, congregating for the genuine blues and boogie. The Endup, 401 Sixth Street (website: www.theendup.com), is a SoMa favorite and known for its friendliness, great dance music and delicious cocktails, while to see Mission District hipsters and hear electronic music you should head for 26 Mix, 26th Street and Mission. The gay scene finds plenty of well-oiled and muscled hunks on Saturday nights at Club Universe and on Sundays at Pleasuredome. Both have a home at Club Townsend, Townsend Street.

Live Music: Yoshi’s, Embarcadero and Clay Street in Oakland (website: www.yoshis.com), is the Bay Area jazz venue known for getting the top acts. Slim’s, 11th Street and Harrison Street (website: www.slims-sf.com), gets rock, blues, and world-music acts and is part owned by veteran guitarist Boz Scaggs. It doubles as a bar and concert hall and there is always a good view of the bands, many of which are more modern and alternative than you might expect. Bimbo’s, Columbus Avenue at Chestnut Street (website: www.bimbos365club.com), covers a range of music, from punk to mellow solo artistes, in a retro setting that packs in the crowds. The Makeout Room, 3225 22nd Street (website: www.makeoutroom.com), has dancing to live music.