…IN SAN FRANCISCO

boldest statement I may ever make is that san francisco is my favorite food city in the world. I am a lover of all things veggies and seafood - but also just all things good. the california cuisine mixed with the availability of produce and most importantly, good bread, is my perfect storm.

cafes & bakeries

• sightglass - quality coffee, they roast all their own beans at their location in the mission which is also a great space to go hangout in for a while. they have a few locations

• blue bottle - not unknown at all but I just love blue bottle and always get it when i’m here. I like the location on filmore street. their herbal peppermint tea is to die.

• wrecking ball - objectively the best coffee shop in the marina, they also know how to do good matcha here which is a plus

• tartine - this place is an institution for a reason, get everything. twice. they have a bakery location and a manufactory location that are nearby eachother. the manufactory has grab and go baked goods but also houses a larger scale restaurant

• jane the baker - the banana bread here…… and sourdough too of course

• arsicault - THE BEST CROISSANT I HAVE EVER HAD IN MY LIFE. and that is coming from somebody who lived in paris. this place is it. wait in line, it moves quickly and even if it didn’t you should still wait. clement street is a great place to walk around as well and it has a great farmers market on sundays

• the mill - the vibe here alone is a reason to go but the toast is what will keep you coming back. they have a short menu of 5 or so toast offerings ranging from ricotta and marmalade to a classic avocado toast. it hits.

• muse - this is not a cafe, it’s a juice bar but it’s the best one i’ve been to in san francisco.

• stonemill matcha - the best matcha in san francisco without a doubt

food

• the mill - just to reiterate it is more than a cafe

• tartine - I would eat here everyday if I could. good bread, sandwiches, salads, pizza, etc etc etc

• nopa - this is a good staple, it’s a buzzy american restaurant that is a great spot for a dinner of 4 or more

• nari - really tasty thai food that’s a bit elevated

• burma superstar - if your haven’t had burmese food before then you are missing out, it’s a perfect blend of thai, chinese and indian flavors that feel familiar but with a slight twist. the tea leaf and rainbow salads are yummmmmmy and so is the fiery chicken, curry and nan pia dok noodles

• la mediterranee - no frills mediterranean food

• noosh - a fast casual mediterranean place that will also answer any of your cravings

• robin - omakase restaurant that will cater your offering based on the fish you like and the price point you are looking at from 109-209. pricey of course but some of the better sushi in the city

• ernest - this would be a great place to take your parents out for dinner or to go with a group of food-loving friends. it was opened by a michelin-star chef and focuses on california cuisine with an international twist. there is definitely a strong asian influence when it come to their flavors. we did the tasting menu and there wasn’t a single dish that didn’t hit the mark. the cheesecake at the end was insane and I generally don’t love a cheesecake

• copra - delicious elevated indian

• farmhouse kitchen - thai!! it’s a bit gimmicky in an endearing way and the food speaks for itself

• routier - modern french, I came here for dinner with my family. it’s laid back but elegant

• soulva - an easy option if you’re in the marina and want something that will always hit the spot. also their greek soft serve with baklava is magic

• joinery - brewery meets restaurant at this waterfront property in sausalito. a great place to come on the weekend and stay a while

• zuni cafe - this place is a staple, classic french restaurant that’s great to walk in to for a friday lunch. their roasted chicken, oysters and french fries are always on the list but I’ve never had anything bad here. also their lemonade is so good. but also probably worth making a reservation at, I never have though

• kokkari estiatorio - upscale and extremely classic greek restaurant. I recommend a reservation since they don’t hold a ton of space for walk-ins

• swan oyster depot - counter-only no-frills seafood place specializing in raw dishes and seafood classics. the hours are a bit weird and they’re only open from 8-2 which means lunch hour can be busy, if you put your name in around noon you should be able to get a spot

• mamanoko - definitely not a no-frills sushi experience which is generally my preference, but it is great nonetheless. would be a good place to go if you want to bop around some bars in the marina afterwards

• cotogna - I had a pasta here that I still think about all the time

• chez panisse - the birth child of nancy silverton who is the birth mother of farm to table. it felt like it was an important life experience to come here and I’m glad I did. though I honestly recommend skipping the tasting menu restaurant and going upstairs to enjoy the cafe selection which is still quite robust

• itria - italian restaurant with a focus on raw fish and fresh pasta. it’s a great place to do a tasting menu

• sol food - delicious puerto rican food in mill valley. pairs perfectly post-hike. the plantains and their hot sauce are just… and the chili shrimp

• delarosa - good pizza place if you end up in the marina and want something easy

• loving cup - not food but dessert which is food too. frozen yogurt mixed with your choice of cereal or topping, it gives KITH but not

• bar agricole - just went here this past weekend for the first time, it is great for a group of 4 or more. the bar is extensive with a lot of liqueurs made especially by them or for them. food-wise everything is good but it felt more snack-y than a full meal so i’d recommend going for some drinks and light bites. the bread was drop dead

drinks - my brother is a self-proclaimed mixologist and these are some of his favorites. i’ve been to a few with him and they are all an amazing place for an elevated cocktail.

• pacific cocktail haven - my brother’s favorite spot, I can’t read the name without hearing the excitement in his voice.

• bar iris - japanese artisanal cocktails

• horsefeather - this place is actually a restaurant and the food has always looked good, I recommend this if you’re with a group

• linden room - tiny space, vintage decor, great cocktails

markets & grocery

• fort mason farmers market - the perfect sunday starts here, hummus, produce and rotisserie chicken

• clement st farmers market - also on sundays, pairs well with a croissant from arsicault

• bi-rite - I love this place. it’s a san francisco institution with a few locations. they also have a separate location dedicated just to their homemade ice cream. I love a nicely procured grocery grocery store more than I should and they have it all

• good earth - another grocery store that deserves a mention. this one is in marin

• driver’s - located in sausilito this is the perfect place to grab a sandwich, a juice or whatever goods you’re on the hunt for

shopping & design

• relove - vintage store in nob hill, they have a mix of designer pieces, vintage levis and old varsity jackets. it’s smaller but easy to tackle and worth a stop in

• moody goose - another cute vintage store right down the street from relove

• future perfect - interior design store in a multi-story space. they have some beautifullll pieces and it’s such an enjoyable walk-through

• crown point press - gallery space and bookshop in the mission

• haight & ashbury - a great mekka for vintage shopping, walk up and down haight street and pop in anywhere that calls your name

  • relic vintage - this place feels like you’re walking into another decade, it’s magic. everything is from the 20s to the 70s - I found a beautiful dior tweed jacket here

  • wasteland - they have these in los angeles too, always a good selection of designer pieces and trend pieces

  • held over

• heath ceramics - ceramic manufacturer right next to tartine should you need to kill some time while waiting for a table

• legion of honor - small but beautiful museum right near lands end

• sfmoma - I don’t love the location of the SFMoMA but they generally have a few good exhibitions on and it’s worth going to if you want to check out museum on a rainy day

• the perish trust - cute little shop right next to the mill, I have bought endless cards from here

hikes & views

• baker beach

• presidio

• chrissy field

• lands end

• marin headlands

• muir woods

• slacker hill

day or weekend trips

• filoli - a beautiful garden and estate about 40 minutes south of san francisco, it’s beautiful during the holidays and an easy day trip from the city

• marin & sausalito - magic land just over the golden gate, filled with hikes and waterfront views

• half moon bay - I grew up going here with my family, it’s about an hour south of the city and makes you want to roast some smores by the fire

• monterey/pebble beach/carmel/big sur - no explanation needed, we’ve all seen pretty little lies

• sea ranch - I came here this past weekend with my family and we stayed at the beautiful sea ranch lodge which is a historic property that blends nature and nurture. originally designed by a team of now-legendary architects and designers to set an example of what earth conscious design can look like. think bleached-wood barns, oceans views and sprawling land

• napa valley - sonoma, healdsburg, st. helena, napa - the charm here is unbeatable. whether you are coming for wine, food or just a simple getaway it is one of my favorite escapes. my brother’s boyfriend grew up here (calling him that simply does not give enough weight to the meaning he holds in my heart but until those two get married I guess that’s what he is! he does have a name though, it’s cristian and he’s basically my 3rd sibling and I don’t remember life where that wasn’t how it felt) and his mom is an INSANELY talented interior designer. like, the woman deserves her own magazine. check her out here. so, when I come here I get the privilege of staying in her gallery of a home - see pictures below - and that makes the trip itself. outside of that though there are so many amazing restaurants here, wineries and places to stay. I am…rambling and I should probably just list some places I have been to and love

  • valley

  • charter oak restaurant

  • gott’s roadside

  • farmstead at long meadow ranch

  • r & d kitchen

  • RH healdsburg - wine tasting & snacks

  • the girl & the fig

  • mustards

  • rutherford grill

  • wineries: flowers, cerneros, clos pegase, hall st. helena, macrostie, lambert bridge

  • places to stay: macarthur place, montage healdsburg - have stayed at both of these and they were lovely. macarthur is a great price point for how nice it is and obviously the montage is on the higher end of options but the property is beautiful. worth going to for dinner if you’re in the area as well.