Local Favorites: The 20 Best Restaurants in San Francisco
You’re in San Francisco for 48 hours, and you’re hungry. What’s the plan? We’ve rounded up the best spots to hit: the breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and everything-in-betweens that will give you a definitive sampling of what the city has to offer. Let’s get to it.
| Restaurants: | Tartine Manufactory - San Francisco, Foreign Cinema, Zuni Cafe… |
|---|---|
| Price Range: | $$$ - $$$ |
| Cuisines: | American, Californian, Modern European… |
| Neighborhoods: | Mission, Civic Center / Hayes Valley / Van Ness… |
For 2 people on Sun, 6/16
Tartine Manufactory - San Francisco
$$$$·American·
Mission
- Fit for Foodies
- Good for a Date
- Creative Cuisine
This Mission mainstay has a cult following of literally anyone who’s ever eaten anything they’ve baked. Inside this one-stop delicious shop, they have: a bakery and cafe, ice cream…Read more
Table for 2 today
Foreign Cinema
$$$$·Californian·
Mission
- Good for a Date
- Special Occasion
- Great for Outdoor Dining
It’s hard to believe this much-loved, uber-popular, and constantly-busy Mission restaurant has been at the top of its game since 1999. Nothing about this place feels dated. The nam…Read more
Table for 2 today
Zuni Cafe
$$$$·Modern European·
Civic Center / Hayes Valley / Van Ness
- Good for a Date
- Special Occasion
- Fit for Foodies
This well-lit, loft-looking space, has two-story floor-to-ceiling windows, which creates a bright and relaxing environment to eat their amazing food in. They make an epic roast chi…Read more
There aren’t any available tables for 2 today at 7:00 pm
View AvailabilityThe Progress
$$$$·Contemporary American·
Western Addition
- Fit for Foodies
- Creative Cuisine
- Good for a Date
This restaurant—from husband-and-wife team Stuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski—is nothing if not progressive, much like its sister restaurant (next door) State Bird Provisions. At t…Read more
There aren’t any available tables for 2 today at 7:00 pm
View AvailabilityKokkari Estiatorio
$$$$·Mediterranean·
Financial District / Embarcadero
- Special Occasion
- Good for Anniversaries
- Authentic
There are many things about this financial district spot that make you feel like you’re either in an ornate ski lodge or someone’s large home in the mountains. High ceilings with w…Read more
There aren’t any available tables for 2 today at 7:00 pm
View AvailabilityWayfare Tavern
$$$$·American·
Financial District / Embarcadero
- Business Meals
- Good for a Date
- Comfort Food
Celebrity Chef Tyler Florence’s American restaurant—in the heart of the financial district—has a handsome and upscale British pub-style backdrop. This is definitely a popular spot …Read more
House of Prime Rib
$$$$·Steak·
Civic Center / Hayes Valley / Van Ness
- Special Occasion
- Good for Anniversaries
- Good for Birthdays
This SF classic has been around since 1949 (it’s as good as ever), and they devotedly follow the traditional steakhouse model: you’re here for one thing, steak’s what they know and…Read more
There aren’t any available tables for 2 today at 7:00 pm
View AvailabilityMonsieur Benjamin
$$$$·French·
Civic Center / Hayes Valley / Van Ness
- Pre/post Theatre
- Fit for Foodies
- Good for a Date
The chefs—Corey Lee (Benu) and Jason Berthold—behind this awe-inspiring French restaurant worked together at the French Laundry. That should be enough to get you to their glass box…Read more
Cotogna
$$$$·Italian·
Financial District / Embarcadero
- Good for a Date
- Special Occasion
- Fit for Foodies
This knockout Italian restaurant in the Financial District is always a reliable choice. Their pastas and pizzas are great to share (even if you want them all to yourself). There’s …Read more
There aren’t any available tables for 2 today at 7:00 pm
View AvailabilitySlanted Door
$$$$·Vietnamese·
Financial District / Embarcadero
- Waterfront
- Scenic View
- Creative Cuisine
This iconic Ferry Building spot—from famed Chef Charles Phan—sits on the embarcadero and has enormous windows, with a front-row view of the Bay Bridge, for some epic water watching…Read more
There aren’t any available tables for 2 today at 7:00 pm
View AvailabilityMarlowe
$$$$·American·
SOMA
- Fit for Foodies
- Good for a Date
- Casual
This is the third restaurant from the great team behind Park Tavern and the Cavalier. They serve the same beloved burger at Park Tavern, which is made with about 20% lamb and comes…Read more
There aren’t any available tables for 2 today at 7:00 pm
View AvailabilityPark Tavern
$$$$·American·
North Beach
- Good for a Date
- Fun
- Bar Seating
This North Beach restaurant sits directly in front of Washington Square Park, and it’s ideal for weekend brunch with a small group. High ceilings, brown and slate colors, and old-s…Read more
Boulevard
$$$$·American·
Financial District / Embarcadero
- Special Occasion
- Good for Anniversaries
- Fit for Foodies
Aside from their impressive menu of traditional Californian-French dishes, this iconic SF restaurant (a stronghold from the 90s) gives you a breathtaking view of the Bay. They’re n…Read more
Rich Table
$$$$·Californian·
Civic Center / Hayes Valley / Van Ness
- Good for a Date
- Fit for Foodies
- Good for Anniversaries
Though this Hayes Valley restaurant isn’t new anymore, it’s still always busy. Ironic as it sounds, Rich Table is a casual and understated place. Their seasonal and constantly-chan…Read more
Not available on OpenTable
View More InfoMourad
$$$$·Californian·
Financial District / Embarcadero
- Fit for Foodies
- Special Occasion
- Good for a Date
Beautiful and modern Moroccan spot, Mourad—in the ornately Art Deco and historic Pacific Bell building—has some Californian and Mediterranean hints to their menu. Try their incredi…Read more
Spruce
$$$$·American·
Presidio Heights
- Special Occasion
- Good for a Date
- Good for Anniversaries
Spruce is in Presidio Heights and both are quite fancy. While this upscale American restaurant is steeply priced (and probably best for a special occasion), it’s also knock-it-out-…Read more
There aren’t any available tables for 2 today at 7:00 pm
View AvailabilityBellota
$$$$·Spanish·
SOMA
- Tapas
- Good for a Date
- Fit for Foodies
Even though this oh-so-cool looking Spanish restaurant is in the lobby of the Airbnb offices, it’s so phenomenal, you won’t care. You could close your eyes and pick blindly from th…Read more
There aren’t any available tables for 2 today at 7:00 pm
View AvailabilityOctavia
$$$$·Contemporary American·
Pacific Heights
- Fit for Foodies
- Good for a Date
- Special Occasion
For a neighborhood as posh as Pacific Heights, Octavia feels quite understated, which actually matches their seasonal menu of classic and uncomplicated American dishes. This wonder…Read more
There aren’t any available tables for 2 today at 7:00 pm
View AvailabilityAugust (1) Five
$$$$·Indian·
Civic Center / Hayes Valley / Van Ness
- Good for a Date
- Creative Cuisine
- Fit for Foodies
This sleek and elegant restaurant serves upscale Indian food, which there isn’t much of in this city, and it’s in an area where there aren’t many restaurants either. Perhaps that’s…Read more
Perbacco
$$$$·Italian·
Financial District / Embarcadero
- Special Occasion
- Business Meals
- Good for a Date
A busy and bustling financial district spot, which is a popular destination for all the suits who work in the area. This sister restaurant to Barbacco (next door) uses fresh and lo…Read more
There aren’t any available tables for 2 today at 7:00 pm
View Availability