Marin County
Everyone in town jockeys for outdoor seats among the flower boxes for fish and chips, barbecued oysters, or buttermilk pancakes with damn good coffee…
Must-see restaurants in The Bay Area
Marin County
Stop by this chic, bright bakery-cafe to pick up fresh loaves of bread, plus salads, sandwiches, pastries and strong coffee. There are other locations in…
Berkeley
Some of the Bay Area's most sought-after loaves of bread are baked fresh here in Berkeley. Its challah and sourdough loaves are exceptional.
Oakland
Aussie expat Alison Barakat has patrons licking their lips and lining up out the door and down the block for strawberry shortcake, and fried-chicken or…
Oakland
Whether you stop by the bar for oysters and beer during the buzzing happy hour (3pm to 6pm and 9pm to close) or feast on a whole roasted crab in the…
The Marina, Fisherman’s Wharf & the Piers
Dating from 1849, Boudin was one of the first five businesses in San Francisco and still uses the same yeast starter in its sourdough bread. Though you…
Downtown, Civic Center & SoMa
The Asian Art Museum's new cafe is set in a bright, open space with a dreamy (if weather-dependent) patio perfect for sipping tea over a discussion about…
Marin County
Sam’s has been slinging seafood and burgers since 1920, and though the entrance looks like a dive bar (it is), the area out back has fantastic waterfront…
The Marina, Fisherman’s Wharf & the Piers
Obsessive about ingredients, Roam serves burgers of beef, bison and turkey, all locally grown and sustainably farmed. For classics, stick to juicy grass…
Japantown, Fillmore & Pacific Heights
Cheerful confections in squeal-worthy flavors - think pink champagne cupcakes, churro macarons, chocolate-chip whoopie pies and lemon-curd-filled Lemony…
Downtown, Civic Center & SoMa
Stockbrokers and Paleo dieters line up for organic salads with zingy dressings and bowls of farro or quinoa heaped with locally sourced vegetables – don't…
San Francisco
Russian Hill has a French accent at this neighborhood bistro, where the open kitchen offers glimpses of French chef-owner Mikael Audry, in his element…
North Beach & Chinatown
With a radioactive-green paint job and merciless fluorescent lighting, this Chinese seafood diner isn't for first dates – but it's perfect for drinking…
San Francisco
Zesty, lemon-laced Lebanese and Armenian fare at friendly prices has made La Méd a Castro mainstay since 1981. Chicken kebabs on rice pilaf are pleasingly…
Downtown, Civic Center & SoMa
Brave a grim Tenderloin block to score tandoori chicken straight off the skewer and naan bread still bubbling from the oven at this fluorescent-lit…
Old Princeton Landing Public House & Grill
The Peninsula
Many local surfers store their boards in the rafters here for a quick pick up if Mavericks gets good. The seafood is fresh and the veggies are grown in…
San Francisco
For a casual date night with an all-local crowd, this corner storefront tucked away on a tree-lined side street serves unfussy French bistro fare,…
North Beach & Chinatown
Just beyond the tourist hubbub, this ketchup-and-mustard colored storefront diner serves classic American food – pancakes, waffles, and crabcakes Benedict…
Berkeley
A fine, fresh, French-inspired spot to stock up before a picnic, Poulet is a fresh little purveyor of excellent lunchtime fare. The menu runs from quinoa…
The Mission, Dogpatch & Potrero Hill
Mellow mornings are meant for brunches on the back patio at Bernal Star, where neighborhood regulars slowly wake up with crab cake Benedict and beignets…
The Mission, Dogpatch & Potrero Hill
Chow's diverse menu appeals to all tastes, with everything from pizza to pork chops and Thai-style noodles to spaghetti and meatballs. The wood-floored…
Oakland
As the name implies, Clove & Hoof is a sort of hybrid butcher/restaurant, serving up classics like cheesesteaks and Cuban sandwiches, and more creative…
Oakland
Get back to the islands by way of Swan's Market, Oakland's own food bazaar. You can go cheap and vegetarian with field pea soup with squash and nutmeg…
Excelsior
This part of San Francisco is notable for its wide variety of cuisines, including this Hawaiian takeout spot that ought to feel immediately familiar to…
The Marina, Fisherman’s Wharf & the Piers
Just because you're traveling doesn't mean you have to give up your diet. Lite Bite keeps you in check with quality fast food, made with organic…
Japantown, Fillmore & Pacific Heights
Rough-hewn recycled wood and a stone fireplace lend a ski-lodge aesthetic to this Fillmore St cafe, where Pacific Heights locals recover from hangovers…
The Marina, Fisherman’s Wharf & the Piers
Proustian nostalgia washes over fully grown adults as they bite into cupcakes that recall childhood magician-led birthday parties. Varieties range from…
Oakland
This restaurant makes a claim to serving the best pork dumplings around, but it's resting on past laurels. The Chinese fare food is still solid, if not…
The Peninsula
Inside an early-20th-century general store, this isn't the same diner made famous by 1960s folk singer Arlo Guthrie, yet it's still a popular stop for…
Marin County
This rustic-chic downtown culinary shop and cafe makes a yummy brunch stop for potato-celery root pancakes, huevos rancheros (fried eggs atop corn…
Marin County
It's pricey, but this little cafe near the park entrance uses mostly organic and locally sourced ingredients in its melty grilled cheese sandwiches,…
Oakland
You'll catch the sweet, smoky scent of Roderick's from miles away, which will get you properly salivating for its barbecue, which folks will line up for…
The Peninsula
This hole-in-the-wall taquería has been slinging 'supershrimp' burritos (huge shrimp burritos with all the fixings), carne-asada tacos with homemade salsa…
San Jose
Waiters in bow ties flit about this busy 1950s San Jose landmark, serving standard Italian dishes to locals and conventioneers. The dining room is a…
Berkeley
Since California legalized recreational marijuana use, demand has only increased at this Canadian poutine shop, open till the wee hours. Get the classic…
Marin County
This contemporary restaurant is the swankiest place in town. It specializes in rustic Italian cuisine made from locally sourced produce, including…
Excelsior
Peruvians have a notorious sweet tooth, which gets indulged in this bakery. It specializes in all kinds of South American desserts – from alfajores (a…
Excelsior
It’s a little hit and miss at this Vietnamese spot, but it's worth a visit just for its bun bo hue, a spicy beef soup that’ll clear any sinus. Also…
San Jose
This New American steakhouse restaurant in the Marriott Hotel is run by Michael Mina, one of San Francisco’s celebrity chefs. It’s not the daring, cutting…
