Best of the Bay Area

The very best lists of the San Francisco Bay Area, curated by local San Franciscans.

Top 10 Best Restaurants

  1. Outerlands in the Outer Sunset for the best fresh sourdough, house-churned butter, and a rotating menu of California delights.
  2. Mister Jius in Chinatown for the best high-end Chinese food and glitzy modern interior decor. Don’t be scared if your vegetarian or have dietary restrictions, they’ll make adjustments to the menu upon request.
  3. Delarosa in the Marina on Chestnut Street offers the best pizza in the city, if you dig thin crust, tantalizing toppings, and really rad red sauce.
  4. Mamanoko is another Marina delight with the freshest fish sushi we’ve ever had, amazing house-made Japanese Snack Mix (a.k.a “crunchies”), and a happy hour that’ll make you say doumo arigatou over and over again.
  5. Cotogna in Jackson Square (close to Financial District) has the bestest freshest pasta dishes around. We’ve tried all the pasta spots and this one took the gold medal for most memorable and crave-worthy, while still being creative.
  6. Oren’s Hummus in the Financial District isn’t the original, but it tastes just the same as the flagship location in Palo Alto. Yes, it’s the best hummus. Yes, it’s the pita. Yes, we eat too much of it and it’s available on Caviar.
  7. Noosh in Pacific Heights on Fillmore Street takes no reservations, but standing in line during busy periods with a roadie you brought from home certainly doesn’t suck. The falafel sandwiches, pickled vegetables, and house red wine are a few of our personal faves. The interior design is a big factor – Mediterranean white and blue walls and an open kitchen area. Also, it’s roomy enough to fit a group, or their second level offers more intimate tables.

Best Long Weekend Staycations

  1. Big Sur, CA – Stay at Tree Bones and do nature things! The breakfast granola and sushi bar brought us back a second, and then third time.

Best Day Trips and Hikes from San Francisco

North of San Francisco:

  1. Hike Tennessee Valley Trail down to Muir Beach, or stop just before and take the loop back to the Tennessee Valley Trail Parking Lot. The parking lot gets super full, but we’ve found if you arrive around 1:00PM most people are done with their early morning hike. Afterwards, drive 10 minutes away to Hook Fish Co. Marin – the supreme spot for surfers and locals alike, kid-friendly, dog-friendly, and the best chips, guac, and seafood in the Bay Area. We like to arrive when it opens at 4:00PM to get our choice of seating, but people are moving in and out all night, so it’s easy to find a spot even when it’s crowded.
  2. This day trip starts in an unlikely place – the dreaded, tourist filled Fisherman’s Wharf – where the ship from San Francisco to sunny Tiburon picks you up. Schedules for the Blue and Gold Fleet can be found on their website. We buy our tickets in advance and print them out, but it’s really easy to buy them there – just don’t wait until the last minute and arrive 20 minutes early in case it’s crowded. Depending on which route you take, you might make a pit stop at Angel Island to drop people there, then head to Tiburon. Or, you might go direct. After you land, walk over to Sam’s Anchor Cafe and grab a spot on the outdoor patio. We advise this journey take place only on a nice sunny day.
  3. Point Bonita Lighthouse
  4. Stinson Beach A beach just over the Golden Gate Bridge through Marin County. People watching, big sandy beach, good for SUP and boogie boarding, cute little town to eat at nearby.
  5. Craving nature after a long week with hands glued to the keyboard? A day trip to Point Reyes (read more here) will cure your cravings. Lunch at Salt Water Oyster Depot or Cafe Reyes for Pizza. Drink at Heidrun Meadery  Check out Limantour Beach if it’s a sunny day. The Tule Elk Preserve Hike is one of the most interesting in the area, and yes there are actual Elk!
  6. Northern Sonoma – Healdsburg, CA – Start your bike route out at a big bike shop called “Wine Country Bikes” in downtown Healdsburg, CA. We start here because they have maps of the area and parking, so even though we use our own bikes it’s convenient to start here!
  7. Northern Napa Trip – Calistoga, CA – For biking Calistoga we will pick a winery and start there, or start in downtown. For breakfast/lunch/dinner you can either stop Yountville on the way or eat in Calistoga. Both have super cute downtown areas. Two favorites if you stop in Yountville: Eat at Bouchon Bakery for Breakfast or their Café for Lunch. Eat at Ciccio for dinner, doesn’t take reservations. Good pasta after a day of biking. There are other more expensive places around here like French Laundry, but this is the tastiest and least snooty.
  8. Samuel P. Taylor State Park – redwoods, rustic, sweeping fields of grass on the drive up
  9. Mount Tamalpais – Matt Davis, Steep Ravine, and Dipsea Trails – Reference this link for details.
  10. Palomarin Trailhead – Alamere Falls Hike This hike leads to a spectacular waterfall going into the beach. Best hike in the bay area, in my opinion. I don’t hike often so need something pretty along the way.
  11. Angel Island

South of San Francisco:

  1. Pescadero Hidden little gem city, with the best Artichoke Bread ever at Arcangeli (https://www.yelp.com/biz/arcangeli-grocery-co-norms-market-pescadero) You can drive down, get bread, hang at the beach, then go to dinner at La Castanera (http://lacostanerarestaurant.com/) on the way home (fancy Peruvian food place with fire pits).
  2. Año Nuevo State Park – Elephant seals!
  3. Santa Cruz – Pier, Lighthouse, Beach, Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
  4. Carmel-by-the-Sea  – Take a hike at the Point Lobos State National Preserve.
  5. Monterey

Best City Nature Hikes in San Francisco Proper

  1. Golden Gate Promenade (Bay Trail)
  2. Presidio Promenade Trails
  3. Batteries to Bluffs Trail
  4. Lands End Lookout

Best Portrait or Engagement Photo Spots in San Francisco

For sweeping views of the Golden Gate Bridge:

  1. Crissy Field
  2. Fort Point National Historic Site
  3. Golden Gate Overlook
  4. Baker’s Beach
  5. Hawk Hill Mountain Peak (Marin Side of the Bridge)

For classic architecture:

  1. Lands End Lookout and Sutro Baths – I did my sister’s engagement shoot here, a few images from that here.
  2. Palace of Fine Arts
  3. Legion of Honor