Ferry Building Marketplace

Recommendations and reviews from 1 person

• Referral from August 18, 2014
  

  Damian S. asked:

  San Francisco restaurant recommendations - GO!

  

  Charlotte S. replied:

  La Taqueria REALLY IS a good freakin taco, not gonna lie. Right, some stuff to get you started: MOMA http://www.sfmoma.org/ Such a great building you must go. Ferry Building - Have a glass of wine and a small bite at The Slanted Door or Hog Island Oyster Co. They have outside seating where you can overlook the Bay Bridge. http://www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com/ Valencia Street (is where we lived) between 22 nd and 15 th has great shops and boutiques. Haight St - Great for vintage clothing stores. Bit touristy but very pleasant. The Mission is a great neighbourhood to hang out in. Lots of great restaurants, restaurants with bars and everything's walking distance. Mission Chinese - Seriously good, seriously spicy. No reservations, expect to queue. Horrible service but it's worth it. Nopa - Always busy, always good. Late dinner (serve until midnight) or brunch. Close to the Haight. If you go to Nopa on a Monday night, go to Madrone Art Bar just next door afterwards as it's Motown Mondays and it is really, really, fun. Bar Tartine - Where I used to work. Experimental Hungarian food, fantastic beer list. Let me know if you'd like to pop in for a glass of wine and i'll warn them you're coming! Pizzeria Delfina on 18 th and Dolores - Awesome pizzas. Have lunch here, then go grab an ice-cream at Bi-rite Creamery and walk up the hill in Dolores Park to see the view of the city. It's pretty special. Central Kitchen - Open after we left but am a big fan of their sister restaurant Flour and Water. St Vincent - Again, opened after we left. Big deal Sommelier David Lynch owner, friend of ours Bill is Head Chef and his wife is Head Somm - nice people, good chef. Cotogna - Really great food if you're in that part of town. Four Barrel - Great coffee store on Valencia. It's more of an experience than it is a good cup of coffee. When you walk in you'll know what I mean. High Cotton Kitchen - Not been here yet but it just opened by some dear friends of ours and it’s getting really great reviews. They'll do great coffee. It’s in the Haight. If you do end up going, ask for Neely or Terrel. AQ - On Mission Street. Brilliant concept, incredible drinks and food was great although we went to the soft opening so maybe it's changed. Great venue though. Beretta - Italian Bar with nice drinks list. Bit of a bar industry hangout, always packed. I don't really rate this place but other people love it. Wayfare Tavern - Great for oysters and beer State Bird Provisions - Modern California Dim Sum Foreign Cinema - Amazing for brunch Flour + Water - Pizza and Pasta and amazing music Zuni Cafe - Amazing low mark up wine list and poshest chicken and chips you'll ever have. THIS IS A MUST. The Coachman - Friends of ours just opened. Say hi to Ross and Oscar. ABV - Bar and kitchen - Our bestie Kevin is the head chef. Also checkout Commonwealth, SPQR, Nopalito, The Front Porch. DON'T BOTHER Union Square, China Town, TenderLoin. Althought Bettys in the TL does an insane breakfast and Mr Lews is a good dive bar. MEH areas You might enjoy Hayes Valley. Absinthe bar on the corner has a very busy bar similar to Cafe Boheme. It has nice shops and stuff but nothing crazy. There is a great German pub called Suppenkuche, if you're into Bavarian beers. Also, I have same feelings about Fillmore. Lots of expensive shops with only a couple of good places to eat. HOTELS (With great bars) http://www.mystichotel.com/ Not sure how affordable it is, but they have a great bar called The Burrit Room and it's awesome. http://www.jdvhotels.com/phoenix/ - They have a pool. And it's very 80's. And the bar is called Chambers which was refurbed a year ago. Oh, and did I mention they have a pool? They also own Hotel Kabuki which is nice and has a good spa but it's in Japan Town and well, there's nothing in Japan Town. Prob best to get Air BnB. Bars Bourbon and Branch Swig Rye Mister Lews Rickhouse The Hideout at Dalva The Monks Kettle Trick Dog Pedrecito ABV DON'T BOTHER Union Square, China Town, TenderLoin (except for Bourbon and Branch which you need to reserve in advance and it's a rip-off of Milk so you'll probably hate it. Also, Mister Lews is next door. Oh and Bettys is good for brunch! But other than that, don't go to Tenderloin) MEH areas You might enjoy Hayes Valley. Absinthe bar on the corner has a very busy bar similar to Cafe Boheme. It has nice shops and stuff but nothing crazy. There is a great German pub called Suppenkuche, if you're into Bavarian beers. Also, I have same feelings about Fillmore. Lots of expensive shops with only a couple of good places to eat. If you only have 3 days I wouldn't bother. Ignore the crazies on the street, they're harmless. DO NOT be walking around 24 th and Mission or 16 th and Mission after midnight though. How long are you going for? Are you hiring a car? Dollar Car Hire are very reasonable and they allow you to pick and drop off in different states. Are you going to Wine Country? Do you need Napa/Sonoma ideas? going slightly out of Napa, there’s great little towns called Geyserville and Healdsburg in Sonoma. Downtown Healdsburg is really delightful. Places to eat like Willi’s (Fish), Diavola, Bear Republic, Jimtown Store (AWESOME) Scopa is a wonderful italian place right on the square (if you can get in, it’s tiny) they have the BEST arancini. Ravenous Cafe do a goof burger and cocktails, Dry Creek Kitchen is lovely. Have you considered a couple of days in Portland? Or LA? It's well worth it. I’ll stop talking now. Have an amazing trip!

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