Feel Like "Emily In Paris" With Our French-Inspired SF Day Guide

By: Kyrie Sismaet By: Kyrie Sismaet | January 5, 2023 | Food & Drink, Lifestyle, Style & Beauty, Parties, Restaurants, Wine and Spirits, City Life, Architecture, Culture, Neighborhoods, Travel, Weekend Escapes, Fashion, Shopping, Features, Celebrity, Trends, Women of Influence Latest, Television, Entertainment, List - Restaurants, List - Shopping,

If you ever wanted to feel like the main character and have an idyllic romp around a beautifully storied landscape akin to Netflix's hit show "Emily in Paris," San Francisco's the city to do it! Heavily influenced by French culture and aesthetics as evident in its elegant Art-Deco architecture, swanky cocktail lounges, and refined cuisine, San Francisco easily channels the same magical Parisian ambience.

If you're craving to satiate your inner Francophile's wanderlust from right in the city for a day, here is our curated itinerary to the most charming French bakeries, boutiques, and bars in San Francisco. Allons-y!

Brunch:

Le Marais Bakery

498 Sanchez St. / (415) 872-9026 / Website

To truly kick off your day in authentic French fashion, there's no better place to go than Le Marais- an absolute community favorite adored for their cute interior, delicate pastries, and kind service. Their artisanal croissants are diligently crafted, perfectly laminated, and go by quickly! Be sure to stock up on these irresistibly buttery delights, as well as order fresh espresso and a filling Croque for the perfect leisurely morning.

Grand Creperie, Cafe Jacqueline, and Chez Maman are also other fabulous options for a proper French brunch!

Shopping:

Diptyque Fillmore

2122 Fillmore St / +1 (415) 872 0018 / Website

Diptyque's recently opened Fillmore location is designed to feel like you've just stepped into a chic Parisian apartment, where you can definitely make yourself at home! With the cozy store's remarkably helpful staff, you are sure to have a carefully personalized experience finding the precise scent of their hand-poured candles to fill your home with, along with their exclusive ceramics, decor, and so much more. Be sure to inquire about their seasonal specials for a truly one-of-a-kind find sure to aromatically impress.

Sezane

2028 Fillmore St / Website

Need to refresh your closet with French attire? Sezane's new pop-up just near Diptyque in the lavish Fillmore is the ultimate boutique for authentic French quality and contemporary styles. Hailing right from France and globally renowned for their limited-edition seasonal pieces, ultra-soft quality, and vividly opulent designs, you'll definitely be walking out of here with a few dazzling statement pieces fit for a runway on Paris Fashion Week.

Lunch:

Monsieur Benjamin

451 Gough St / (415) 403-2233 / Website

For a glamorous lunch with a spectacular interior, Monsieur Benjamin will ensure your comfortable visit here is anything but a cameo appearance. This is an upscale bistro defined by its striking glass panes and impeccable menu of modernized French classics, such as their can't-miss Duck Confit on Toast with Poached Eggs or Charcoal-Roasted Bone Marrow that are sure to nourish you for the rest of your SF adventure.

Sightseeing:

Legion of Honor

100 34th Ave / (415) 750-3600 / Website

Aside from the unparalleled food and shopping, the French-inspired architecture here will undoubtedly have you doing a double take. Feel instantly transported at the Legion of Honor, which is a classic art museum highly reminiscent of the Louvre, gifted almost a century ago to honor the Californians who perished during WWI. From the scenic ocean view, to the striking marble courtyard and the endless impressive galleries of Rodin and more, everywhere is effortlessly Instagrammable here.

Afternoon Snack:

ONE65

165 O'Farrell St / (415) 814-8888 / Website

Peckish after your artistic Legion of Honor enlightenment? There is only one place to go for a proper goûter de l'après-midi. Downtown's One65 is a literal wonderland of French culinary immersion, offering a multi-level dining experience complete with a full restaurant, a cocktail lounge, and the decadent Patisserie brimming with exquisitely crafted cakes, macarons, and more. Simply persuing every corner of this extravagant venue will feel like a French vacation in itself!

Similarly, Le Dix-Sept Pâtisserie and b. patisserie will also satisfy your French sweet tooth with their inventively modern approaches and flavors!

Happy Hour:

Absinthe

398 Hayes St / (415) 551-1590 / Website

To wash down your afternoon sweets, head over to Hayes Valley's Absinthe, a swanky brasserie that is relaxed, vintage-chic, and replete with all of the classic French libations. Whether you sit among the retro posters in their lounge, or outside on their lush canopy, you must experience the delicately anise drink of its namesake, traditionally crafted with precision through an opulent louche dripper.

Amelie

1754 Polk St / (415) 292-6916 / Website

Just like the movie, Amelie in SF is equally magical and filled with lively whimsy. This is another gorgeous option for a beautifully affordable happy hour with tapas in an atmosphere bathed in sultry red and filled with live jazz. Perhaps you'll find your own Alfie (or Gabriel) here!

Dinner:

Cocotte

1521 Hyde St. / (415) 292-4415 / Website

Cocotte in Russian Hill is elegant, intimate, and a stellar dining experience all-around, perfect for a star like yourself! Easily mistaken for a French film set, this deluxe venue offers live music, a heated patio, and unbeatable Coq au Vin and Citrus-Cured Salmon Beignets. Definitely save room for their Golden Delicious Apple Tarte Tatin that we can confirm was not made in Gabriel's pan.

Nighttime Drinks And Dancing:

Le Petit Paris 1975

515 Broadway / Website

Last but certainly not least, a day like Emily Cooper in San Francisco cannot be complete without a joyful nightcap at the trendy and intimate Le Petit Paris 1975! Fashionably adorned with brilliant decor and illuminated by screens consistently playing classic French films, this North Beach landmark is a community staple for their pleasant live performances, refreshing martinis, and of course, outstanding French 75 cocktails. You'll come for the affordable French drinks and charcuterie, but stay for the live music and kind service.

With this showstopping day guide, you are sure to feel like your own "Emily in Paris" from right in San Francisco while you anticipate the captivating plotlines and hilarious scenarios of its next season!

Photography by: Courtesy of Nataliya Vaitkevich/Pexels

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