From Staycations To Exhibitions, Here's What To Do In San Francisco Right Now

From new hotels perfect for staycations to cultural exhibitions, here's the best of what's new in San Francisco this month.

Guest rooms boast stunning views of the iconic Ferry Building.

STAY

Situated in the former Hotel Vitale space on the famed Embarcadero is 1 Hotel San Francisco, the brand’s second California property (after L.A.). This unique location offers guests access to all the best downtown has to offer, from the historic Ferry Building to the SoMa district, Union Square and more. Farm-fresh dining initiatives abound, especially at on-site restaurant Terrene, while state-of-the-art fitness equipment at The Field House and holistic treatments at Bamford Wellness Spa keep health top of mind. 8 Mission St., 415.278.3700, 1hotels.com/san-francisco

William Hefner

DESIGN

Award-winning architecture firm Studio William Hefner has unveiled its new San Francisco office—the brand’s third in California. Founded in L.A. in 1989 by William Hefner, the holistic design firm fully integrates architecture, landscape and interiors to craft distinguished custom luxury homes. The new office comes complete with the studio’s first showroom, sharing a collection of home furnishings—think vintage and artisanal goods alongside bespoke furniture—for both designers and consumers. 603 Battery St., williamhefner.com

San Francisco Opera music director Eun Sun Kim

CELEBRATE

San Francisco Opera’s 2022-23 season marks 100 years since its founding, one of only three American opera companies to reach this milestone. The opera’s centennial season begins with the opening night concert and Opera Ball (Sept. 9), followed by the world premiere of John Adams’ Antony and Cleopatra (Sept. 10) and Opera in the Park at Robin Williams Meadow in Golden Gate Park (Sept. 11). Expect eight mainstage productions, as well as special events like the 100th anniversary concert, Bohème Out of the Box and The Traviata Encounter throughout the season. 301 Van Ness Ave., 415.864.3330, sfopera.com

Maybeck’s new interior dazzles with shades of green and copper accents.

DINE

Beloved Marina district hot spot Maybeck’s has made its grand return. The revamped resto’s new menu boasts seasonal dishes, handcrafted pastas and ingredients sourced both locally and from Japan. Snag a seat at the marble chef’s counter and enjoy elevated fare such as Japanese hamachi crudo, Korean fried potatoes, half Liberty duck and the Brooklyn Blackout cake for dessert. Keep an eye out for the new wine shop, which will double as a private dining space, set to debut this fall. 3213 Scott St., 415.400.8500, maybecks.com

Osnel Delgado is the founder and artistic director of Malpaso Dance Company in Cuba.

WATCH

Smuin Contemporary Ballet is kicking off its 2022-23 season with a world premiere by Cuban choreographer Osnel Delgado, a collaboration originally scheduled for 2020 and postponed due to the pandemic. Delgado’s work explores Cuba’s rich dance traditions, including Afro-Cuban rhythms, ballet and modern styles, expressing the combination of passion, cultural blending and uncertainty that define life there. smuinballet.org

Take a spin on the 72-Volt Vintage Electric Roadster bike.

RIDE

Vintage Electric has long been the Bay Area’s go-to for handcrafted, vintage-inspired electric bikes. The company’s latest 2022 72-Volt Performance line features premium upgrades to three of the brand’s already impressive models: the 2018 Scambler S, 2019 Roadster and 2019 Shelby special edition. Boasting hydroformed aluminum frames, Promax Lucid hydraulic disc brakes and regenerative braking, each bike enjoys three times the torque, while 5-to-30-mile per hour acceleration time is cut in half. Let’s ride. 1725 De La Cruz Blvd., Santa Clara, 408.969.0836, vintageelectricbikes.com

Music director Esa- Pekka Salonen

HEAR

Save the date: San Francisco Symphony’s 2022 Opening Night Gala takes place Friday, Sept. 23, in support of the organization’s artistic, education and community outreach programs. After a celeb-inspired red carpet welcome, guests will enjoy Felix Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, conducted by music director Esa-Pekka Salonen and featuring the SF Symphony in collaboration with the African-American Shakespeare Company. Three optional gala dinner packages are on offer: a postconcert seated pavilion dinner in a stylish tent setting, a postconcert buffet at SoundBox and a preconcert dinner in the elegant Wattis Room. Don’t miss the lively outdoor afterparty on Grove Street open to all ticket holders. Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave., 415.864.6000, sfsymphony.org

The graphic Condesa print pops in shades of blue.

DECORATE

Peep the worldly new collection from L.A-based rug company Erik Lindström in collaboration with Bay Area design legend Serena Dugan (of Serena & Lily) launching this month. Part of the Artisan collection, the graphic designs are inspired by Mexican architect Luis Barragán, best known for his colorful geometric homes. The result? Three unique designs named after iconic neighborhoods in Mexico City: Condesa, Polanco and Roma. Each eclectic design is handknotted with 100% wool in Nepal, available in four colorways and easily customized. eriklindstrom.com

Executive chef Roberto Riveros

DISCOVER

The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay has announced its new executive chef, Roberto Riveros. Promoted from executive sous chef, Riveros will now oversee the entirety of the resort’s culinary operations, including its on-site restaurants, banquets and in-room dining. Originally from Chile, Riveros has 18 dedicated years of experience in international cuisine, from world-renowned restaurants in Santiago to Barcelona and Hong Kong. He will continue to craft well-balanced dishes with locally sourced ingredients, including seafood and produce. 1 Miramontes Point Road, Half Moon Bay, 650.712.7000, ritzcarlton.com

An up-close look at Birch & Rye’s exceptional caviar service

TASTE

The latest of modern Russian kitchen Birch & Rye’s offerings is a decadent multicourse caviar tasting experience available exclusively at the chef’s counter overlooking the open kitchen. Featuring responsibly sourced malossol-style caviar, menu highlights include a Fabergé egg cloud with ossetra caviar, cauliflower cloud and white rye; einkorn pelmeni with Liberty Farms duck, Tokyo turnips and spring peas; and rye doughnuts dipped in caramel and sturgeon caviar for dessert. 1320 Castro St., 415.796.2265, birchandryesf.com

Higgins sits in front of “Michelle (Rodriguez),” a depiction of one of the many Narcisco Rodriguez dresses the former first lady donned, in her San Francisco studio.

SEE

Andrea Higgins, an artist best known for her portraits of first ladies, is showcasing her series of works of Michelle Obama at The Art Show in Manhattan this November. Represented by San Francisco’s Hosfelt Gallery, Higgins finds inspiration in textiles and how they’re used to present a particular image to the world. In this series, Higgins re-creates the fabrics of three of the former first lady’s dresses—by lauded designers Tracy Reese, Narcisco Rodriguez and Jason Wu—through painstakingly applied layers of oil paint on both canvas and linen. andreahiggins.com; hosfeltgallery.com

LUMA’S community space boasts plush lounge seating.

STAY

The first-ever hotel in Mission Bay, the innovative new LUMA Hotel San Francisco beckons with a variety of luxury amenities, including a 1,500-square-foot, state-of-the-art fitness center, enclosed rooftop bar and sky lounge, and several large-scale art installations from notable San Francisco artists. We recommend the 16th-floor penthouse suite, which boasts a separate living and dining room, powder room, wet bar and full spa bathroom complete with a soaking tub and river stone shower. Plus, the lodging’s proximity to Chase Center and Oracle Park equals endless entertainment. 100 Channel St., 415.266.9999, lumahotels.com/san-francisco

This exhibition brings ancient Egypt back to life.

WITNESS

A revolutionary immersive exhibition, Ramses the Great and the Gold of the Pharaohs transports guests to the golden age of ancient Egypt under the rule of Ramses II, also known as Ramses the Great. Explore more than 180 artifacts at this stunning exhibition, including objects from the pharaoh’s personal collection as well as those found elsewhere in Egypt to offer an idea of what his tomb must have included. The virtual reality experience is a must, allowing guests to tour two of Ramses’ most impressive monuments, Abu Simbel and Nefertari’s tomb. Through Feb. 12, 2023, de Young Museum, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, 415.750.3600, deyoung.famsf.org

Fresh Victor makes crafting tasty cocktails easy, like this cactus pear and pomegranate cosmo.

SIP

Make entertaining a breeze with San Francisco’s own Fresh Victor, cold-pressed juice mixers that create perfect craft cocktails in an instant. Choose from nine refreshing flavors, including Mexican lime and agave (best in margaritas), three citrus and mint leaf (optimal for mojitos) and pineapple and ginger root (perfect for pisco punch). With only 75 to 90 calories per serving, as well as being all natural, gluten free, kosher and vegan, each deliciously boozy beverage can be enjoyed guilt free. Purchase online or in select San Francisco Whole Foods, Mollie Stone’s, Draeger’s and more. Cheers! shopfreshvictor.com

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