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The Ultimate SoMa Neighborhood Guide

By The Editors By The Editors | November 22, 2022

From mouthwatering fare to seriously chic shopping, here's everything you need to know about SoMa in San Francisco.

WHERE TO EAT

Amber India

Vijay Bist (who opened his first Amber India in Mountain View in 1996) has an empire of six in the Bay Area, and this outpost between Market and Mission streets is the most upscale. The consistency and breadth of regional cuisines—northern, southern and western Indian dishes and, now, contemporary Indian fusion—draws loyal fans, including many top South Asian tech executives. 25 Yerba Buena Lane

Benu

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A post shared by @benu_sf

Princely pedigrees inspire high expectations, but no one has to tell that to Corey Lee. After nine years under Thomas Keller’s tutelage Lee took the helm of his first solo project. Happily, Benu lives up to its billing. The food is flawless, with Asian accents inflecting a French vernacular. 22 Hawthorne St.

Mourad

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A post shared by mourad (@mourad_sf)

Mourad Lahlou’s third restaurant is pricey and polished, less an homage to North Africa than a monument to new-money San Francisco, offering prix fixe and a la carte menus that tilt toward Morocco to varying degrees. An eggplant starter served with za’atar-dusted flatbreads is an allusion to traditional Mediterranean spreads. 140 New Montgomery St.

Niku Steakhouse

Niku Steakhouse is a breed apart, a hedonistic hybrid that seems very much a creature of today’s IPO-fueled San Francisco. Its menu offers a selection of pedigreed domestic proteins served in hulking sizes. The decor carries traces of an old-school steakhouse, with dark wood walls and leather chairs. The place to be is the chef’s counter, which wraps around an open cooking area that’s anchored by a binchotan-fired grill—its embers glowing like the flames of Mordor. 61 Division St.

WHERE TO STAY

Hyatt Regency San Francisco Downtown SoMa

Park Central San Francisco has emerged as the Hyatt Regency San Francisco Downtown SoMa following an extensive $70 million redevelopment and rebranding. The revamp includes a full redesign of guest rooms and the addition of a lobby bar, marketplace, restaurant and Regency Club. There’s also a 3,200-square-foot state-of-the-art health and fitness center. 5 Embarcadero Center

The Line SF

The 236-room Line SF is located at the intersection where SoMa, Civic Center and Tenderloin coverage, reflecting the complex history, culture and spirit of this historic neighborhood. The hotel is home to four dining experiences, including a landscaped rooftop solarium with panoramic views of the city. The Line SF also includes 242 residences and a dedicated space for the local nonprofit theater company, Magic Theater. The 12-story Flatiron-inspired building, with conceptual design by the world-renowned Copenhagen-based architectural firm Bjarke Ingels Group and New York-based Handel Architects, is a contemporary interpretation of the area’s historic architecture. 950 Market St.

WHERE TO RELAX

Apothecarium

This dispensary chain offers an upscale experience at three locations across San Francisco (Castro, Marina and SoMa), boasting high design with living room-like interiors, such as armchairs, walls painted in muted colors and, in some cases, crystal chandeliers. Soft music relaxes clients who chat with budtenders about their needs. 527 Howard St.

Psoas

You won’t find scented candles and fluffy bathrobes at Psoas. What you will find are massage therapists who know their way around a sports injury. The 60- to 90-minute massages here are an interactive experience: The therapists communicate throughout, but if you want to lie prone in silence, that’s fine too—everything at Psoas is tailored to your comfort level. There’s a reason that the waiting room is typically full of CrossFit survivors as well as aching desk jockeys. 333 Third St.

WHERE TO SHOP

Westfield San Francisco Centre

Multiple food courts, an exquisite dome and nine stories of shopping make Westfield the kind of place where you could easily spend your whole day. If you need to get off your feet after your shopping spree, rest at Burke Williams Day Spa or Century Theatres. 865 Market St.

Dainese D-Store

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The Italian manufacturer’s San Francisco 5,000-square-foot showroom is a must-visit for motorcycle, ski, snowboard and bicycle enthusiasts, offering head-to-toe apparel and protection. It’s also once of the largest Dainese stores in North America. 131 S. Van Ness Ave.

WHERE TO HIT THE TOWN

Monarch

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Audiophiles obsess over the Void Acoustics sound system, one of the top speaker systems in the country, at the subterranean Monarch. Pregame at the upstairs bar while watching acrobats loosen up the crowd, then descend to the basement to let loose. Rinse (with a cocktail) and repeat. 101 Sixth St.

CULTURAL EXPERIENCES

Prelinger Library Archivist

Rick Prelinger and his wife, Megan, are known as collectors of found films and other fascinating cultural ephemera. This weird and wonderful nonlending library in a nondescript building reflects the pair’s eclectic tastes. The racks contain over 60,000 printed treasures, including sections for the environment, progressive politics, urban issues, geography, children’s books and U.S. history. Bibliophiles can revel in the library’s creative catalog system: In one row, books on California are arranged on the left side of the bookcase, while New York references are shelved on the far right. 301 Eighth St., Room 215

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

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With triple the gallery size after a 2016 expansion, SFMOMA is now the largest museum of its kind in North America and features artworks from the Doris and Donald Fisher Collection—including titanic sculptures and paintings almost too big to feature anywhere else, like Julie Mehretu’s 1,728-square-foot “Howl eon (I, II).” 151 Third St.

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts

This adventurous cultural center is a hub for edgy exhibitions that encourage visitors to question the status quo, ranging from performances combining hip-hop and classical music to eclectic art from emerging Bay Area artists. Check its calendar for a selection of films, performance art and distinctive interactive projects. 701 Mission St.

Museum of the African Diaspora

MoAD is one of the only museums in the world that focuses exclusively on the art and rich cultural history that developed following the dispersal of Africans throughout the world. The 2014 $1.3 million renovation done by architect titan Gensler gave the museum a much-needed face-lift and expanded its exhibition space, which features everything from hitherto-untold slave narratives to the Caribbean tradition of carnival costumes. 685 Mission St.


Tags: san francisco SOMA neighborhood guide

Photography by: Martin Kleppe/Unsplash

The Ultimate SoMa Neighborhood Guide

By The Editors By The Editors | November 22, 2022 | Lifestyle, Feature,

From mouthwatering fare to seriously chic shopping, here's everything you need to know about SoMa in San Francisco.

WHERE TO EAT

Amber India

Vijay Bist (who opened his first Amber India in Mountain View in 1996) has an empire of six in the Bay Area, and this outpost between Market and Mission streets is the most upscale. The consistency and breadth of regional cuisines—northern, southern and western Indian dishes and, now, contemporary Indian fusion—draws loyal fans, including many top South Asian tech executives. 25 Yerba Buena Lane

Benu

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by @benu_sf

Princely pedigrees inspire high expectations, but no one has to tell that to Corey Lee. After nine years under Thomas Keller’s tutelage Lee took the helm of his first solo project. Happily, Benu lives up to its billing. The food is flawless, with Asian accents inflecting a French vernacular. 22 Hawthorne St.

Mourad

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by mourad (@mourad_sf)

Mourad Lahlou’s third restaurant is pricey and polished, less an homage to North Africa than a monument to new-money San Francisco, offering prix fixe and a la carte menus that tilt toward Morocco to varying degrees. An eggplant starter served with za’atar-dusted flatbreads is an allusion to traditional Mediterranean spreads. 140 New Montgomery St.

Niku Steakhouse

Niku Steakhouse is a breed apart, a hedonistic hybrid that seems very much a creature of today’s IPO-fueled San Francisco. Its menu offers a selection of pedigreed domestic proteins served in hulking sizes. The decor carries traces of an old-school steakhouse, with dark wood walls and leather chairs. The place to be is the chef’s counter, which wraps around an open cooking area that’s anchored by a binchotan-fired grill—its embers glowing like the flames of Mordor. 61 Division St.

WHERE TO STAY

Hyatt Regency San Francisco Downtown SoMa

Park Central San Francisco has emerged as the Hyatt Regency San Francisco Downtown SoMa following an extensive $70 million redevelopment and rebranding. The revamp includes a full redesign of guest rooms and the addition of a lobby bar, marketplace, restaurant and Regency Club. There’s also a 3,200-square-foot state-of-the-art health and fitness center. 5 Embarcadero Center

The Line SF

The 236-room Line SF is located at the intersection where SoMa, Civic Center and Tenderloin coverage, reflecting the complex history, culture and spirit of this historic neighborhood. The hotel is home to four dining experiences, including a landscaped rooftop solarium with panoramic views of the city. The Line SF also includes 242 residences and a dedicated space for the local nonprofit theater company, Magic Theater. The 12-story Flatiron-inspired building, with conceptual design by the world-renowned Copenhagen-based architectural firm Bjarke Ingels Group and New York-based Handel Architects, is a contemporary interpretation of the area’s historic architecture. 950 Market St.

WHERE TO RELAX

Apothecarium

This dispensary chain offers an upscale experience at three locations across San Francisco (Castro, Marina and SoMa), boasting high design with living room-like interiors, such as armchairs, walls painted in muted colors and, in some cases, crystal chandeliers. Soft music relaxes clients who chat with budtenders about their needs. 527 Howard St.

Psoas

You won’t find scented candles and fluffy bathrobes at Psoas. What you will find are massage therapists who know their way around a sports injury. The 60- to 90-minute massages here are an interactive experience: The therapists communicate throughout, but if you want to lie prone in silence, that’s fine too—everything at Psoas is tailored to your comfort level. There’s a reason that the waiting room is typically full of CrossFit survivors as well as aching desk jockeys. 333 Third St.

WHERE TO SHOP

Westfield San Francisco Centre

Multiple food courts, an exquisite dome and nine stories of shopping make Westfield the kind of place where you could easily spend your whole day. If you need to get off your feet after your shopping spree, rest at Burke Williams Day Spa or Century Theatres. 865 Market St.

Dainese D-Store

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Dainese (@daineseofficial)

The Italian manufacturer’s San Francisco 5,000-square-foot showroom is a must-visit for motorcycle, ski, snowboard and bicycle enthusiasts, offering head-to-toe apparel and protection. It’s also once of the largest Dainese stores in North America. 131 S. Van Ness Ave.

WHERE TO HIT THE TOWN

Monarch

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Monarch SF (@monarchsf)

Audiophiles obsess over the Void Acoustics sound system, one of the top speaker systems in the country, at the subterranean Monarch. Pregame at the upstairs bar while watching acrobats loosen up the crowd, then descend to the basement to let loose. Rinse (with a cocktail) and repeat. 101 Sixth St.

CULTURAL EXPERIENCES

Prelinger Library Archivist

Rick Prelinger and his wife, Megan, are known as collectors of found films and other fascinating cultural ephemera. This weird and wonderful nonlending library in a nondescript building reflects the pair’s eclectic tastes. The racks contain over 60,000 printed treasures, including sections for the environment, progressive politics, urban issues, geography, children’s books and U.S. history. Bibliophiles can revel in the library’s creative catalog system: In one row, books on California are arranged on the left side of the bookcase, while New York references are shelved on the far right. 301 Eighth St., Room 215

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by SFMOMA (@sfmoma)

With triple the gallery size after a 2016 expansion, SFMOMA is now the largest museum of its kind in North America and features artworks from the Doris and Donald Fisher Collection—including titanic sculptures and paintings almost too big to feature anywhere else, like Julie Mehretu’s 1,728-square-foot “Howl eon (I, II).” 151 Third St.

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts

This adventurous cultural center is a hub for edgy exhibitions that encourage visitors to question the status quo, ranging from performances combining hip-hop and classical music to eclectic art from emerging Bay Area artists. Check its calendar for a selection of films, performance art and distinctive interactive projects. 701 Mission St.

Museum of the African Diaspora

MoAD is one of the only museums in the world that focuses exclusively on the art and rich cultural history that developed following the dispersal of Africans throughout the world. The 2014 $1.3 million renovation done by architect titan Gensler gave the museum a much-needed face-lift and expanded its exhibition space, which features everything from hitherto-untold slave narratives to the Caribbean tradition of carnival costumes. 685 Mission St.


Tags: san francisco SOMA neighborhood guide

Photography by: Martin Kleppe/Unsplash

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