Big Sur
Nepenthe comes from a Greek word meaning ‘isle of no sorrow,’ and indeed, it’s hard to feel blue while sitting by the firepit on this aerial terrace. Just…
Must-see restaurants in Northern California
Yosemite & the Sierra Nevada
You can't miss the giant vintage-style, red-headed woman in park ranger gear on the side of this recently opened cafe – the first vegan cafe in the county…
The Marina, Fisherman’s Wharf & the Piers
Located within the Presidio Officers' Club, this lively Mexican restaurant by James Beard Award–winner Traci Des Jardins features cooking techniques and…
The Mission, Dogpatch & Potrero Hill
Friends, Romans, San Franciscans – join the crowd for Roman fried artichokes, pizza bianca, prosciutto, blood orange and beet salads, and scrumptious…
Kings Canyon National Park
After undergoing a top-to-bottom renovation in 2017, this is the best place for a meal (albeit competition is limited) in Grant Grove Village. The new…
Napa
It's easy to tire of California cuisine, and this fresh-take izakaya joint (Japanese pub serving small-plate dishes) gives a welcome relief with a hip…
Sequoia National Park
Bay Area transplants started with the Ol' Buckaroo food truck next door before opening this permanent, contemporary restaurant serving modern American…
North Beach & Chinatown
Join early risers for double shots of espresso and crostata (jam tart), or wander in at night between bars and Beach Blanket Babylon for torta di mandorla…
The Mission, Dogpatch & Potrero Hill
Wrapping your head around chef Sara Spearin's freak flavors may take a hot minute – but your taste buds immediately grasp the appeal of raspberry-black…
The Mission, Dogpatch & Potrero Hill
Owner/chef Tommy Halvorson took the helm of this lofty, converted tin-can factory in 2017 and shook things up with a dash of cajun seasoning, some…
Downtown, Civic Center & SoMa
In the historic Pacific Telephone & Telegraph building (check out the splendid black-marble deco lobby), Iron Chef star Mourad Lahlou creates such…
San Luis Obispo
Visit garlic-perfumed Guiseppe's for a leisurely lunch of toothsome salads, pizza and antipasti starring produce harvested on the owner's farm. Out the…
Downtown, Civic Center & SoMa
Mt Everest is for amateurs – gourmet adventurers brave the Tenderloin's mean streets for Red Chilli's bargain butter chicken, Kathmandu rolls (naan wraps)…
San Francisco
Casually sophisticated La Folie has bravely upheld French standards in laid-back California since 1988. Courses are leisurely paced and chef-owner Roland…
Downtown, Civic Center & SoMa
Salesforce employees are famously well-treated by their benevolent CEO Mark Benioff, so it's no surprise that a swanky (but playful!) Hawaiian restaurant…
Marin County
For a taste of old-school Mill Valley, head to this breakfast joint that feels like a cross between a tropicana nostalgia shop and a garage sale. This is…
Marin County
Lazy ceiling fans, tropical plants and the pulse of Latin rhythms create a soothing atmosphere for delicious dishes such as a jíbaro sandwich (made with…
Sausalito
Equal parts old-school Marin and tourist magnet, Scoma's has an enviable setting on stilts, right over the bay. Few places do seafood (all sustainable)…
Yosemite National Park
Beautiful sequoia-painted lamps light this old-fashioned dining room, and the Victorian detail makes it an enchanting place to have an upscale – though…
The Marina, Fisherman’s Wharf & the Piers
You'd be hard-pressed to find pasta fresher than this – cooks roll out sheets of dough right in the window. The formula is simple: pick your pasta, add a…
San Francisco
For fresh, wallet-friendly meals, it's always Poki Time. Order a bowlful of kale or brown rice, plus your choice of marinated sushi-grade fish (the house…
The Mission, Dogpatch & Potrero Hill
Savor Latin street food six floors above Mission St, with views over cinema marquees, palm trees and bodegas all the way downtown. Sunny brunches call for…
Mammoth Lakes
Mammoth Tavern hits the spot with comfort food like shepherd's pie, fondue and pork tenderloin. Heaping salads too. Warm lighting, wood-paneled walls…
North Beach & Chinatown
After this historic North Beach speakeasy was nearly evicted, devotees like Robert DeNiro and Johnny Depp rallied – now chef-owner April Bloomfield's in…
Central Coast
Delve into the appetizers menu – including crab cakes or orange-glazed octopus – or kick off with tuna tataki or fresh oysters from the crudo raw bar…
The Mission, Dogpatch & Potrero Hill
Tandoori in the Tenderloin is for novices – SF foodies queue for the bright, clean flavors of Udupi's South Indian dosas (light, crispy lentil-flour…
Marin County
This quirky place takes a 1950s diner and fills it with Mexican religious statuettes, bright floral tablecloths and sparkling crystal chandeliers. The…
Downtown, Civic Center & SoMa
Pocket change left over from farmers-market shopping scores Argentine pocket pastries packed with local flavor at El Porteño. Vegetarian versions like…
Marin County
Famous for its hearty breakfasts and lunches, this cozy eatery next to the beach serves wood-fired pizzas and excellent coastal cuisine such as Tomales…
Calistoga
Housed in the Indian Springs Resort, this is Calistoga's fancy American restaurant that also brews its own beer. Colorful and expertly prepared dishes…
Amawele's South African Kitchen
Downtown, Civic Center & SoMa
Salads alone won't power you through downtown days – follow techies sneaking away from their corporate cafeterias and duck into the Rincon Center for…
Yosemite National Park
This tiny and super-friendly market sells groceries and bags of divine locally roasted coffee (take a deep breath in the aisles), and in summer it sells…
North Beach & Chinatown
Other North Beach restaurants fake Italian accents, but this trattoria has Italians in the kitchen, on the floor and at the table. Roman chef-owner…
Marin County
Locally raised, grass-fed meats are the specialty of this whole-animal butcher committed to sustainable agriculture and family farms and ranches…
Japantown, Fillmore & Pacific Heights
Picnic under the Peace Pagoda with reliably fresh sushi or teriyaki bento boxes from Nijiya's deli counter, plus Berkeley-brewed Takara Sierra Cold sake…
Central Coast
Fresh, sustainable seafood is artfully presented in any number of inventive ways, and a seasonally inspired menu also carries slow-cooked meats and…
Berkeley
In West Berkeley, this longtime, popular chaat house gets mobbed at lunchtime by regulars that include equal numbers of hungry office workers, students…
Downtown, Civic Center & SoMa
Rising star chef alert: Brian Fernando is turning Sri Lankan inspirations into Californian cravings. Velvety halibut ceviche in coconut milk is an instant…
San Francisco
Nibbling creative yakitori (skewers) at this snug six-table joint plastered with Beatles memorabilia is like dining aboard the Yellow Submarine. Twin…
The Marina, Fisherman’s Wharf & the Piers
At the Warming Hut, wet-suited windsurfers and Crissy Field kite fliers recharge with fair-trade coffee, organic pastries and hot sandwiches while…
