San Francisco

 

 

 

This is my town with some of the best people in the world.  I LOVE it and could fill the entire blog just with foodie recommendations.

 

Top 5 Days

1. Hike and Oysters – Drive up to Point Reyes and take the hike back to a tiny lake with a rope swing.  Gorgeous views of the Pacific Ocean along the hike.  Drive a bit further to Tony’s Oyster Shack for beer in a frostie mug and BBQ oysters on Tomales Bay.
2. Glide Church – Get there early for the best gospel music ever.  This is a non-denominational church that welcomes anyone – and trust me, there is every walk of life here.  Listening to this choir would convert any atheist.
3. Dominos at the Ramp – Take your friends and some bones to a Sunday afternoon at the Ramp.  This is a little bar on the water overlooking big shipping containers.  Not fancy at all. The salsa dancing starts at 5.  Coronas and bloody marys flowing all day long.
4. Golden Gate Park – Check out the recently remodeled De Young Museum for Asian art, rollerblade and go to the Japanese Tea Gardens.  Try to go on Sunday afternoon to watch the Roller Disco group, let by the Sheik of Blade.  This guy wears a silver turban, brings a huge speaker system to the park and plays old school hip hop while a loyal crowd roller blades.  The best free entertainment in town.
5. Steep Ravine Hike - best workout on Mount Tam. Loosen up those burning legs with a glass of wine at the Mountain Lodge.

High Style, Low Maintenance Hotels

1. Hotel Vitale – Very simple in a great location right across from the Ferry Building

2. Waters Edge – Take a ferry over to Sausalito for great views of the city and a chill vibe.

3. Adagio – Simple and good value.  In Union Square.  In the center of town, so everything is a short cab ride away. Neighborhood isn't great

4. Huntington Hotel – Beautiful on Nob Hill.

5. The Clift – A bit too cool, but the Redwood Room is historic for late night country club cocktails.

Foodie Finds

1. Zushi Puzzle – atmosphere isn’t great.  But see Roger, the best sushi chef in town, for Kobe Beef Surprise and the best cuts of raw fish.

2. Foreign Cinema - This is a special treat.  They place French films outside.  Great food and service and you won't find anywhere else like it.

3. Slanted Door – A big restaurant in the Ferry Building, so sit at a table on the water.  Delicious, high-end Vietnamese. Also try OTD on Filmore Street.

4. Chez Panisse - Why not go to Alice Water's famous restaurant while you are here?  Organic and picked or caught that day.

5. Delfina – The best little foodie spot.  Get the salad with pancetta.  In the heart of some of my favorite Mission foodie places – Bi Rite, Limon, Tartine Bakery. 

Misses

1. Weather – pack layers… Mark Twain was right, “The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.”

2. Late Nights – This is no New York.  You have to search for a great place late night.
3. Homeless – I couldn’t believe it when I went back and stayed in Union Square.  It is so sad.
4. Fisherman’s Wharf – Skip it.  So commercial and there are so many other great things to do.  The only reason I would go is to catch a ferry to Sausalito, Angel Island or Alcatraz.
5. Beaches – They are beautiful, but such a tease.  Frigid water.

Tips

1. Sit at the bar – If you want to learn about wine or get the best cut of toro, then sit at the bar and chat up the sushi chef or bartender
2. Don’t rent a car – Take cabs and only rent a car to get out of the city.
3. Get outside the city – The city becomes truly the best in the world only if you get to hike in Marin, have Coronas in Tiburon or rent bikes in wine country.
4. Hoof it – Like Paris, the best way to see this city is just to stroll through the neighborhoods.  Walk in Jack Keroc’s footsteps through North Beach.  The city is only 7 miles wide and deep.  You can get to know it fast.
5. Tales of the City – A fun read by Armistead Maupin that chronicles a group of friends living in Russian Hill.  The flavor of the city hasn’t changed.

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Wesley Clay]

This town misses you - but we see you have learned much young skywalker!

Re: Restaurants - I would suggest the Iron Turkey Burger at a quaint divey restaurant w/ Prague inspirations called Frankie's on Divisidero. I also mirror the recommendation for Limon in the Mission. The best burritos in the world are found in the Mission - the blue ribbon hails at Pancho Villa Taqueria (where Beck once made a stop by solo acoustic gig). I would recommend a day trek thru Crissy Field. Hikes outside the city I'd also recommend the Cataract Trail in the Marin Watershed. I'd take a drive up Hwy 1 just over the golden gate bridge to Stinson Beach - the most incredible 45 drive in the world bar nothing. (and drop into Muir Woods and the largest/oldest trees in the world). Come - spend a few weeks, you'll never leave... unless you get a 12 month assignment in Australia...

[auer]

come back to san francisco. we are waiting!
you must add a section on wine country. there is nothing better than renting a limo or bus and spending the day with friends in wine country.
or you could go up with a friend or loved one for a weekend. spend the days at spa soaking up the sun or tasting wine. then dine at any of the fabulous restaurants in town.
top five wine country restaurants:
1) bouchon (best starting point)
2) oakville grocery store (not really a restaurant, but great for grabbing a sandwich on the go)
3) bistro don giovanni (good for anyone - i recommend the fig & artichoke pizza)
4) any restaurant by cindy pawlcyn (mustards, gofish, cindy's backsteet...who can choose)
5) french laundry (for those with connections & money)