By Erin Kain By Erin Kain | December 20, 2024 | Lifestyle, Feature, Guides,
From sushi to spas, reservations and more, here are our favorites from San Francisco in 2024.
The 11 Most Romantic Restaurants in SF
If you seek a seafood-centric dining adventure with a conscience for sustainability, look no further. With panoramic views of the bay and an interior with two floor-to-ceiling circular aquariums, Waterbar is an embarrassment of riches. Executive chef Parke Ulrich changes the menu daily to ensure the freshest catches. Mains might include seared wild striped bass or grilled ahi tuna.
10 Of The Best Restaurants For Takeout In San Francisco
Owned and operated by Peter and Lily Fang who came to San Francisco from Shanghai in 1980, this fun and flavor-forward establishment offers Chinese food favorites from fried pork potstickers to its namesake sesame chicken, noodles, pork confit eggrolls, "famous" crispy honey beef with bok choy and more.
The 5 Best Antique Stores In San Francisco
Inspired by a 19th-century mercantile, this historic 1926 building was transformed to create an antique letterpress store and event space. Books, antiques and posters grace this signature venue, exciting history buffs and printer enthusiasts alike.
The 8 Best Hotels In San Francisco
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The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco
This is among the most perfect staycation spots in the city. It’s hard to go wrong with The Ritz. Steps away from bustling Union Square, the premier hotel houses 336 luxury suites and guest rooms, a chic cocktail lounge and the Bay Area’s only Krigler perfume shop.
9 Local Interior Instagram Inspirations We Love
Angela Grace Design specializes in California-inspired homes focused on functionality, personalization and timelessness.
This classic cocktail bar is responsible for the 1988 resurgence of the martini boom. Sip boozy cosmos amid live jazz in the two-story Jackson Square spot.
The 6 Best Pancakes In San Francisco
Noe Valley’s Pancake Boy says it all in the name, where sweet and savory stacks (lemon ricotta, banana mascarpone and gluten-free coconut brown rice) are topped with 100% pure maple syrup. Opt for the Pancake Boy plate and pair the cakes with two eggs any style and a choice of sausage patty, bacon or chicken apple sausage.
The 8 Best Hiking Trails In SF
Spanning approximately 7 miles, the Golden Gate Park Loop starts at Ocean Beach and features eight lakes, two waterfalls, the Bison Paddock, the Golden Gate Pavilion, the Arch of Colonial Trees and the Rose Garden.
The Top 11 Bay Area Chefs To Follow On Instagram
This list wouldn’t be complete without chef Tyler Florence. The owner of Miller & Lux in Chase Center and Wayfare Tavern, Florence has hosted multiple Food Network shows and written more than 10 cookbooks. His feed features frequent celebrity diners and exclusive restaurant news.
The 13 Best Ice Cream Shops In San Francisco
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.
The 10 Best San Francisco Sushi Restaurants
Family-owned and operated for over 30 years, Akikos knows how to dish out classic and creative Japanese cuisine that will make you eager to return for more. Priding itself on innovative culinary methods, sustainability and freshness, the venue works with local purveyors and Japan’s Toyosu Fish Market to craft simply indulgent menu items. Be sure to sample the resto's sister spot Friends Only, a deliciously private experience.
10 Of The Best Margaritas In San Francisco
When it comes to a top-shelf margarita, you can trust Tommy. Thomas and Elmy Bermejo founded this restaurant in 1965, and while its Yucatan recipes and flavors wow the crowd, it’s the famous 100% agave tequila bar that makes this place a must-visit. Extensive doesn’t begin to capture this artfully shelved eatery. Tommy takes great pride in his collection of Mexican spirits, and the margaritas are likewise exemplary. Stick with the housemade order, or get adventurous and try a specialty tequila that can’t be ordered anywhere else.
The Top 10 Steakhouses In San Francisco
In traditional English fashion, House of Prime Rib is home to the highest quality corn-fed beef available. Indulge in quality entrees like the roast beef, carved right at your table to your specific tastes in size and shape with cuts like King Henry VIII, The City and even a children’s prime rib dinner.
10 Local Fashion Instagrams We Love For Trendy Style Inspiration
Lauded Bay Area stylist and frequent SF magazine contributor, Theresa Palmer serves up all the inspo on her Insta. With her vast style lexicon, Palmer dissects tons of chic looks so that you can achieve them too.
The 10 Best Italian Restaurants In San Francisco
Michael Tusk’s fine-dining shrine breathes refinement but also a hospitality that’s as unforced as it is flawless. The same could be said of the food, where an eight- to 10-course tasting menu runs $360 per person with wine pairings from $320. Ingredients are sourced from Fresh Run Farm in Marin.
The 3 Best Tutoring Services In The Bay Area
Alexander Tutoring specializes in math and physics help, teaching the stories behind equations and using tangible, real-life examples. Utilize online services or in-person sessions in a variety of Bay Area locations, including San Francisco, Oakland, Marin, San Mateo and San Jose.
The 3 Best Barbers In San Francisco
Hometown barber Christopher Eliares (aka Cream the Barber) finally opened his own salon in 2014. While the decor is slightly retro—wood-paneled walls and a barber’s pole—the styling techniques are cutting-edge. Eliares and his seven co-barbers have true range: They’ll take a little off the top or whip up pompadours, fades, undercuts, lineups, portraits and freestyle designs, plus shaves and beard trims. The cuts are meticulous and the vibe unpretentious.
The 10 Best Cocktail Lounges In San Francisco
This nautical-themed pub is not only a San Francisco classic, but one of the finest rum and exotic cocktail destinations in the world. Smuggler’s Cove boasts over 1,300 different rums—the largest selection in the country—along with cocktails inspired by three centuries of rum history.
The 6 Best Spas In San Francisco
Loaded with luxe touches like heated floors and benches, Archimedes draws on a number of traditions, with Turkish hammam-style steam rooms, Finnish dry saunas and Russian saunas. It offers a range of massages, facials and spa treatments, including the Russian venik platza, a massage given in a heated sauna that involves “careful lashing” with supple bunches of young oak leaves and branches. Afterward, cool down on a sun lounger on the roof deck and take in views of the San Francisco Bay.
The 4 Best Vets In San Francisco
San Francisco Pet Hospital is quite possibly the oldest veterinary practice in Northern California. The vet first opened its doors in 1905, servicing typical pets alongside carriage horses before being reestablished and modernized by Dr. Lee Morris in 1981.
The 11 Most Sought-After Reservations In San Francisco
Serving up succulent American small plates dim sum-style, State Bird Provisions might just be the city’s trendiest restaurant. Savor lemongrass shrimp dumplings, pork belly salad, manila clams and corn mochi—if you can snag a seat, that is. Reservations are bookable 30 days in advance and are notoriously hard to come by.
Photography by: Hardy Wilson
