By The Editors By The Editors | December 1, 2021 | Lifestyle,
From vegan restaurants to hair salons and everything in between, here are our best recommendations of 2021 in San Francisco.
Acquerello
Italian food is a date night favorite for a reason, and Acquerello’s double Michelin-starred cuisine is no exception. Savor a four-course meal at home with their prix-fixe takeout menu, a selection of cheeses and trio of desserts. Alternatively, you can bring home one of their DIY pasta kits for a fun at-home activity. Acquerello also partnered with The Caviar Co. to offer a caviar service option for an elevated at-home dining experience paired with creme fraiche, brioche toast and buckwheat blini. For a full list of the city's top Italian restaurants, click here.
A Virtual Wine Tasting
If the dreary weather has got you dreaming of sunnier days, Passalacqua Winery offers completely virtual wine tastings in a variety of themes to brighten up your day. There are multiple options to choose. For a personalized experience, the sample sips kit includes three curated 2-ounce pours suited to your personal palate, gleaned from a virtual consultation. Head to our full list of the best things to do on a rainy or cold day here.
Taj Campton Place
In the most prime location in San Francisco, along Stockton Street and Union Square, Taj Campton Place exemplifies beauty and sophistication. The luxury boutique hotel, which flaunts breathtaking city views, is within walking distance from local attractions like the Golden Gate Bridge and Chinatown. Guests can expect to enjoy 24-hour in-room dining, a rooftop fitness terrace and Michelin-Star Cal-Indian cuisine, to name a few of their heavenly amenities. Check out the rest of our favorite hotels for a quick weekend escape here.
Boudin Bakery
As the oldest continuously operating business in San Francisco, Boudin Bakery and its sourdough are as iconic to the city as San Francisco’s famous landmarks. These are the folks who created the Original San Francisco Sourdough and have been making it fresh every day since 1849. When crafting a list of the best bakeries the city has to offer, including this original in the world of San Francisco’s iconic sourdough is essential. There's more where that came from—check out our list of the city's best sweet spots here.
Kantine
Chef Nichole Accettola from Denmark is bringing simple and delicious Scandinavian food to San Francisco. Organic, farm-friendly and one of only 10 Certified California Green Businesses, Kantine is serving brunch for five days a week. Kantine offers customizable brunch plates, where you pick multiple items to try, so forget about missing any of the goodness. Breakfast dishes include porridge, soup, salad and sandwiches. Kantine has plenty of outdoor seating, little indoor seating and offers take out. Plus, all of their take out materials are recyclable.
Ritual Coffee Roasters
Eileen Rinaldi, founder of Ritual Coffee, changed the way coffee lovers enjoy their java when she opened her first shop in 2005. She provides customers with the best by sourcing the coffee from small-farm producers. Offering new and unique espresso and decaf flavors, customers of Ritual can purchase the "ACE La Bandera" from Costa Rica, which includes notes of pineapple, caramel and toasted almonds. Another must-try is "Producer's Pride" from Costa Rica with a sweet taste of peach, cacao and baklava pastry. Take a peek at the rest of the city's best caffeinated spots here.
Canela Bistro & Wine Bar
Market Street’s Canela Bistro & Wine Bar offers a variety of prepared picnic kits, DIYs and experiences to choose from. From its family-friendly Movie Night Pack to the delightful Cheese & Wine Experience, the Spanish restaurant has an option for everyone. For a homemade, gourmet taste of Spain, try one or all of its three paella kits. Canela also offers customizable add-ons and wine pairings with each kit. Head to the full story here to check out the rest of SF's best outdoor dining experiences.
Smitten Ice Cream
With fresh-churned, smooth scoops served in hand-rolled, house-recipe waffle cones, Smitten Ice Cream sets the sweet treat bar high. With multiple locations throughout the city, the company achieves its delectable flavors with its one-of-a-kind, patented Brrr ice cream machine that churns creamy desserts in just 90 seconds. Smitten serves a range of quintessential and unique flavors, from Classic Vanilla and Salted Caramel to Cookie Dough with pretzels & chocolate chips. Sweeth tooths, head here to see the rest of our favorite ice cream shops in SF.
Fireworks Show On the Water
What better place to watch the Pier 39 fireworks show than on the water? The Fourth of July Fireworks Cruise from the Red and White Fleet, departing from Pier 43 ½, includes a beer and wine bar, and snack stations. The unparalleled views of the skyline, bay and fireworks will surely make the night unforgettable. Take a peek at our full list of ways to celebrate the 4th here.
Stern Grove Festival
This is the Bay Area’s longest-running free outdoor music festival. With a wide range of genres featured this summer, guests were treated to performances by icons like Joan Jett all the way to pop bands like Fitz and the Tantrums. The festival ran from June 20 through August 29, featuring a different selection of performers. Head to our full story of the best fests in SF here.
Lincoln Park Course
Take a trip to the northwestern corner of the San Francisco Peninsula to the iconic 1916-originated golf course featuring views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Pacific Ocean, SF Cityscape and Legion of Honor Museum. The public course is accessible to all, offering amenities like golf lessons, camps, tournaments and a golf simulator. Tee up at the rest of these top courses listed here.
Waterbar
San Francisco Bay views and floor-to-ceiling aquariums make Waterbar ideal for a date. Beverage director and sommelier Valentina Moya designed the 47-page drink menu, so you’ll find the perfect pairing for your meal. Dig into a freshly caught seafood dish like octopus carpaccio, and indulge in green apple mousse with brown butter mochi and white miso caramel. To plan the perfect date night, check out the rest of the best spots for the occasion here.
Wildseed
Wildseed serves diverse creative plates, all plant-based. Chef Alejandro Morgan uses seasonal produce to create high-quality dishes influenced by global flavors. The restaurant offers plates like the mushroom and spinach patty Wildseed burger. Try cocktails made with fresh juices, local herbs and homemade extracts like the Holy Basil made of green chile vodka and cucumber basil shrub, as well as local beer and vegan biodynamic wines. Be sure to check out the rest of the city's best vegan eateries here.
SF Color Collective
In partnership with Green Circle Salons, SF Color Collective provides an eco-friendly and high-quality experience for its clients. While guests enjoy professional styling and coloring, this trendy salon is turning plastic and cotton into energy and turning hair clippings into mats for oil spills. Acting as a salon as well as a place for hair education, Color Collective will leave customers feeling just as good on the inside as the outside. Look your best with the luxe services at the top salons in our full story here.
Concerts At Golden Gate Park
If you want to enjoy the good vibes of Golden Gate Park in the fall and listen to local music, Golden Gate Bandshell’s concerts are the place to be. The free, all-age live concerts run throughout the end of the year with Singer-Songwriter Wednesdays, Jazz and Soul Fridays, Cultural and Community groups on Saturdays, and Reggae Sundays, as well as many special events. Performers include rock and reggae bands, jazz players and R&B singers, West African and South Asian drummers and dancers, as well as homegrown stars like DJ Shortcut and Lavay Smith and her Red Hot Skillet Lickers. For more fall inspo, check out our full story of things to do during the season.
The San Francisco Halloween Pub Crawl
The San Francisco Pub Crawl is a tempting option to celebrate the occasion. Put on your favorite costume and enjoy drink specials, DJs, dancing and more at some of the best party bars in the city! Get spooky with the rest of the city's best Hallooween events listed here.
Jewelry From Shreve & Co.
For top-of-the-line brands like Rolex, and a vast selection of jewelry, timepieces and bridal brands, head to Shreve & Co, the longest-running jewelry retailer in San Francisco, while doing your holiday shopping. Shoppers can expect a plethora of designer pieces perfect for everyone on your list—Shreve & Co. is truly a one-stop-shop. There's a lot the city's shops have to offer, so check out our full story here for holiday shopping this year.
Union Square Tree Lighting
The annual Great Tree Lighting Ceremony is an event not to be missed. Gather across from the front of Macy's in Union Square to watch San Francisco's most recognizable tree turn into a twinkling masterpiece. Make sure to get there early to find the best viewing spot. Get in the holiday sprit at the rest of our favorite lights displays listed here.
Eye Heart NYE featuring Galantis
Ring in the New Year with Galantis at Fort Mason Center for the 12th annual Eye Heart NYE, featuring a premium open bar an views of the San Francisco waterfront and Golden Gate Bridge. Head to the full story here for more ways to say goodbye to 2021.
Photography by: Photo by Ragnar Vorel/Unsplash
