Thomas and I just recently realized that it’s been almost a whole year since we moved to San Francisco. I honestly could not imagine living anywhere else at this point and time (that isn’t to say never). This city has endless amounts of things to do and places to go. I often get emails from readers saying they are visiting SF and asking for food, shopping and activity recommendations, so I thought I would put together an edited-down list of my favorites. Note: We are still exploring the city and looking for new things to discover, so if you do happen to live in SF and have a hidden gem, please share!
Food:
Tacolicious- Located in The Marina and one of our neighborhood favorites. We pop in here frequently since we are Mexican food junkies.
Mamacita- Another delicious Mexican restaurant located in the Marina. I always order the mole enchiladas.
Outerlands- I’ve only ever been for brunch, but it’s probably one of the best meals I’ve had in the city! It’s a bit of a trek since it’s located in the Outer Sunset, but well worth it.
The Butler and The Chef- This is a must-try place while you’re in SF. They have the best brunch menu and their crepes are to die for! It’s located in South Park, a really cute area in SOMA, and right down the street from Jeremy’s Department Store! (see shops)
Venticello- Thomas took me here for my birthday and we couldn’t stop reminiscing of our trip to Italy the entire time. It has a romantic atmosphere and delicious authentic Italian food.
Bar Tartine- I love the ambiance in this place and the food is so unique. It’s located in the Mission district and easy to miss since there is not an actual sign outside, so you have to make sure you’re in the right spot on google maps if your heading there.
21st Amendment- If you like good beer and burgers, this place is for you. It’s right down the street from AT&T park and is packed on game days. You can find a lot of their beers in Whole Foods and other supermarkets, but nothing beats it coming right from the brewery. Thomas is a bit of a beer snob and has been a fan of their beers for years.
Mezes- Thomas and I often pop into this quaint Greek restaurant mid-week for our fix of gyros, tzatziki and pita.
Cafe Des Amis- We love to go to this French restaurant when we want something decadent and rich. I always start off with a cheese plate and get either the beef bourguignon or the roasted chicken- both equally delicious. It’s located on Union St, which is a great place to walk around and pop into cute shops and boutiques (Chloe Rose is just down a few blocks).
Amber India- Indian food is definitely in my top 3 favorites cuisines and I love, love this place! We always over-order, but nothing beats leftover curry and naan.
Spruce- A bit of a more recent discovery for me, this restaurant is located on one of my favorites streets for home decor- Sacramento Street.
Absinthe- A great place for brunch, lunch or dinner and set in one of my favorite neighborhoods, Hayes Valleys.
Miette- If you have a sweet tooth like me, you must try the macrons and shortbread cookies (lavender and lemon are my favorites) at Miette. You can stop by their location in Hayes Valley or The Ferry Building.
Greens- This is my favorite vegetarian restaurant in the city and it has a beautiful view of the bay. It’s located in Fort Mason, which also has a really good food truck market on Friday nights called Off The Grid.
Shops:
Two Skirts- Definitely one of my favorite shops in SF, with brands like Rebecca Minkoff, Zimmermann, Clover Canyon, Shoshanna and Milly.
Chloe Rose- I love Marissa, the owner, and her curated selection of feminine things. The price points are really great and you won’t be able to leave without something in hand!
Heidi Says- Like I’ve stated before, Fillmore St is one of my favorite places to spend a lazy Saturday shopping and eating. I always stop into Heidi Says to see what new things they have in. Make sure to stop by their Collections, Casual and Shoe store! (all located on Fillmore St.)
Curve- I mainly love to pop into Curve to drool over all of the beautiful designer items, but I’m hoping to make a splurge sometime soon.
Nida- This boutique is located in Hayes Valley, another great area to explore. They carry designers such as Carven, IRO and Vanessa Bruno.
Jeremy’s - This is a discounted designer store that carries a wide range of high-end brands from Chanel, Saint Laurent and Christian Louboutin to more contemporary brands like Rag & Bone, Theory and Alice + Olivia. I’ve scored some major deals at this place!
Steven Alan- Both Thomas and I love Steven Alan and their great selection of unique designers including their own label.
Rand + Statler- Another great store for both men and women. They have a wide variety of brands including Acne, Vince, L’Agence, Parker and Rory Beca.
La Boutique- I discovered this boutique not too long ago after a friend recommended I explore Jackson St downtown. It’s a combination of a boutique, gallery and showroom and has a unique selection of designers.
Activities:
Golden Gate Park- The park has a wide variety of things to do including the De Young Museum, California Academy of Sciences, Japanese Tea Gardens, Conservatory of Flowers, Botanical Gardens, Stow Lake and more.
Presidio- A former military base, the Presidio is now used for many things, including housing the Disney Museum and the Presidio Social Club, a restaurant I’ve been meaning to try. It has some of the prettiest views in the city overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge.
Bike to Sausalito- This is a fun activity to do for the day. You can rent a bike over near Fisherman’s Warf and ride it all the way across the Golden Gate Bridge and then take a ferry bake into the city.
Walk up to Coit Tower and explore North Beach, which has some of the best Italian restaurants in the city.
SF MOMA- The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is a beautiful place to spend the afternoon. *Note: The first Tuesday of every month is free entrance!
Ferry Building- Walk along the Embarcadero (a beautiful view of the Bay bridge) and head to the Ferry Building, which is full of great restaurants and shops including Miette and The Slanted Door, two of my faves. There is also a wonderful farmer’s market on Saturdays that we love to go to!
San Francisco Ballet- I absolutely loving going to the ballet, especially since I danced for a majority of my life. I haven’t been to the SF Ballet in a couple years, but I’m trying to convince Thomas to go see the Nutcracker with me this year!
Cable Car Ride- It’s a little touristy, but you get the full SF experience when you take one of the classic cable cars around the city. I did it with some of my girlfriends back when we were visiting in college.
I’ll be sharing an updated list as we find new favorites in the city!
*Photo taken by my husband in Alta Plaza Park
