Boutique hotels in San Francisco
-
St Regis Hotel
- Style
- Arty modern elegance
- Setting
- San Fran's cultural hub
-
Clift
- Style
- Theatrical Starck-ism
- Setting
- Where Downtown meets Tenderloin
San Francisco
Eating, drinking and dancing
This is San Francisco: lively cafés in Little Italy, cool bars in the Mission, restaurants with delicious seasonal fare and hip, on-the-pulse nightlife. All you have to do is get yourself out of the hotel…
Restaurants
(+1 415 282 8283)
Range
A quirky, good-value restaurant on Valencia Street with electrifying cocktails and a former punk-rock guitarist pastry chef who makes a mean dessert.
(+1 415 291 0927)
El Raigón
In North Beach on Union Street near Grant, this place is a carnivore’s dream come true: estancia-style Argentinean beef grilled over wood and charcoal. Wash your melt-in-the-mouth steak down with a glass of plummy Argentine Malbec.
(+1 415 980 3691)
Townhall
Howard Street venue with a long bar, exposed pipework, funky chandeliers and delicious seasonal food. The wine list features the best of the Napa and Sonoma valleys, plus international favourites.
(+1 415 621 7000)
Mecca SF
Simple, seasonal and satisfying food is served against a backdrop of soulful tunes. This chilled-out spot on Market Street has a boudoir feel, with a lively circular bar and glittering crystal chandeliers.
(+1 415 284 4040)
Ame
A slick, smart eaterie at the St Regis hotel in the Financial District, with sharp service, a distinctive menu of New American cuisine and a weird and wonderful sake list.
(+1 415 775 1988)
Maharani
An excellent Indian restaurant on Post Street near the Civic Center renowned for its romantic atmosphere. Reserve the Fantasy Room for an intimate tête-à-tête.
(+1 415 543 8900)
Salt House
With a European-style gastropub menu, this Mission Street hangout near the Yerba Buena gardens is a good spot for Sunday brunch or upscale bar snacks.
(+1 510 548 5525)
Chez Panisse
A Bay Area institution and destination restaurant on Shattuck Avenue in Berkeley. It was opened in 1971 by seasonal-food and organic maverick Alice Waters and it can still be difficult to get a table – make sure you reserve well in advance.
Yank Sing
Arguably the best dim sum in town, although it’s no longer in China Town where it first opened in 1958, and is only open for lunch; there are two outlets, one on Stevenson Street (+1 415 541 4949), and one in the Rincon Center on Spear Street (+1 415 957 9300).
(+1 415 863 8205)
La Cumbre
Burritos are a San Franciscan speciality; head to the Mission district for fast and filling Mexican food at one of its cheap and cheerful little taquerías. This modest little gem on Valencia is a good bet, though.
(+1 415 433 6300)
Bix
This Gold Street speakeasy revives the stylish 1940s supper-club experience with an incredibly well-stocked, reassuringly masculine mahogany bar and live jazz every night.
(+1 415 677 8986)
Myth
On Pacific Avenue in the Jackson Square, this is a beautiful restaurant and bar designed by Michael Guthrie & Co with an elegant, unstuffy atmosphere. Exquisite Californian/French dishes, such as rabbit loin wrapped in pancetta with beluga lentils, combined with a chic cocktail lounge, impressive wine list and friendly but assured service.
(+1 415 648 7600)
Foreign Cinema
This relaxed restautant on Mission Street has a fun, lively atmosphere and fantastic fresh grills and seafood. Slurp oysters in the bustle of the indoor dining room or sit outside in the heated courtyard with a steaming bowl of mussels and watch classic films projected onto the white brick walls.
Cafés
(+1 415 362 0536)
Mario’s Bohemian Cigar Store
This Little Italy coffee institution on Columbus is a good place to get your caffeine fix.
(+1 415 440 4450)
La Boulange
This Union Street stop provides the perfect mid-shopping pit stop, with organic coffee, fresh soups and sandwiches; there are various La Boulange outlets across town – visit www.baybread.com for locations.
(+1 415 487 2600)
Tartine
This great little find on Guerrero Street, in the heart of the vibrant Mission district, is more bakery than café, and serves some of the best pastries in the city. Join the eclectic clientele for hot chocolate and a croissant as they sip and surf.
(+1 415 926 2914)
Stella Pasticceria e Caffè
Espresso aficionados will appreciate the Italian enclave of North Beach, next to China Town. Pick the first café you like the look of and you’ll get a decent coffee, but Stella's is renowned for its coffee and cakes.
Bars and clubs
(+1 415 673 1921)
Bourbon & Branch
The speakeasy craze is sweeping San Francisco, and this softly lit Twenties-style library bar sets the benchmark. As in the days of Prohibition, the door is unmarked, and you'll need reservations (or a password) to get in. It's well worth registering on the website (www.bourbonandbranch.com) to gain access to this delightfully old-school drinking den and its discerning menu of fine whiskies, tequilas, rums and clever cocktails. Everything's beautifully served, too – super-gingery Moscow Mules come in traditional copper mugs. Look out for the anonymous entrance on Jones Street...
(+1 415 433 8585)
Vessel
Expertly mixed cocktails, gourmet hors d’oeuvres and cool DJs have made this lush boutique lounge bar in Union Square one of San Francisco’s most talked about new venues.
(+1 415 929 2372)
The Redwood Room
Bar decor doesn’t get much more impressively glamorous than that in the Clift hotel’s Redwood Room on Geary Street. Go to lounge, drink and seduce, or simply gaze slack-jawed at the Starck furnishings and vast expanse of polished Redwood-tree panelling – legend has it the bar was carved from a single tree trunk.
(+1 415 401 0810)
Lazlo’s
Next-door to Foreign Cinema on Mission Street, this multi-level DJ bar will furnish you with pre- or post-dinner cocktails till 2am.
(+1 415 276 9888)
The Mandarin Lounge
The Mandarin Oriental's luxe bar on Sansome Street provides a romantic, upscale setting for sipping cocktails with small plates of food to share.
