SAN FRANCISCO! Recommendations on places to eat, sleep, play...

Thanks for all the birthday wishes...you guys are awesome.

Sam surprised me with the gift of all gifts (as if this past weekend's party and Kindle were not enough (also thanks to danny and arlene for that))...a trip to SF this weekend!

So this is going out to everyone who's been to SF and people who have lived or live there currently...any recommendations on restaurants, hotels and activities?

Tags: francisco, san, travel

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Permalink Reply by PANDA JU on August 26, 2008 at 11:35am

What a lovely present! sAm did good hehe ..

When it comes to lodging, avoid SOMA, Financial District / Embarcadero, Chinatown - all dead at night. Go there during the day for fun. Instead, stick with Union Square - lots of hustle and bustle at night. Close to clubs but not dangerous. Romantic.

Hotels - My fav: Hotel Palomar
The W, of course (but Ws are getting a bit stale, don't ya think?)
I also love the St. Regis SF
The Palace Hotel

From the JDV Hotel Group:
Hotel Adagio
Hotel Rex

.. IF you insist on another area other than Union Square, I suggest Pacific Heights (where Danielle Steel owns two blocks + 22 parking spots) and close to one of your fav spots, the beautiful Exploratorium!
Laurel Inn
Hotel Drisco

Food places to come in next post!
Permalink Reply by alice on August 26, 2008 at 11:41am
how did i know you'd give me a whole bunch of suggestions?!
panda love!
Permalink Reply by yuka on August 26, 2008 at 12:14pm
my FAVORITE restaurant in SF is KOKKARI in the financial district.
it's greek fusion and SO awesome.
they have this appetizer--deep fried smelt. just squeeze a little lemon on them and you pop them in your mouth like little fish french fries. to DIE for. i dream about them sometimes.
and the lamb chops and moussaka entree is OMG yummy.
they have an extensive wine list and excellent greek desserts.
it's my first stop in SF whenever i go.
my mouth is watering right now...
Permalink Reply by PANDA JU on August 26, 2008 at 12:30pm
that sounds yumz .. bookmarked!
Permalink Reply by PANDA JU on August 26, 2008 at 1:08pm
Also yums:

- Limon / Limon Rotisserie (Mission): You have to try this place, they don't have fans, they have zealots.
- Zuni Cafe (SOMA): This place has been there for so many years and boasts many royal followers. I prefer it for lunch - salads, pizza, sandwiches/burgers, oysters - gourmet-ized!
- Chez Maman / Chez Papa (Potrero Hill): Another SF favorite.
- Thang Long: Garlic Crab + Garlic Noodles, enuf said. This was the first restaurant by the storied An family of Crustacean fame. One of D's fav places.
- Bushi-Tei (Japantown): Japanese Fusion
- Chapeau! (Outer Richmond): French. Good steaks, etc.
- Town Hall (Financial Dist): Fine food for foodies. The place and food looks and feels like a Food & Wine cover feature.

Romance factor ~
- B44 or any of the restaurants in Belden Place (Financial District): Delicious Spanish tapas + good Spanish red wine + cozy seats in a hide-away alleyway under the summer night sky strewn with string lights (if you squint your eyes, you'd think you're in Europe = makes me wanna do it

When walking around in Little Italy, be sure to stop for:
- Some heavenly pizza. Golden Boy Pizza is the stuff dreams are made of. I love it for the same reason I love Pizza Hut: Thin, not too much dough. Crust is golden and tastes almost fried.
- Followed by some authentically Italian Capuccino, a Canole and Taramisu, at Volare Trattoria Caffe

.. and who could go to SF and NOT have Chinese food?
- If in Chinatown, hit up R & G Lounge. This place is legendary for its traditional Cantonese fare - duck, chow mein, etc.
- If you have a rental car, it's super worth it to make a 10-min drive south of SF, to Koi Palace for dim sum. Trust me you ain't never had dim sum 'til you've dim summed it up here.

- I love the Farmer's Market at the Ferry Building. Get up early Sat. morning and go. This is the most lux Farmer's Market I've ever seen. Not cheap, but so nice and beautiful.
- Lovejoy's Tea Room (Noe Valley): Loved by many girlfriends for girly formal Brit-style high tea.

And of course, there are the famous places - Michael Mina, Destino, Gary Danko, Slanted Door, etc. In my humble opinion, only worth if you are paying with company credit card or proposing or making first/last "bucket list" trip from Minnesota.

Are you guys going to Napa? So many other places .. will write in again if I think of any ..
Permalink Reply by alice on August 26, 2008 at 1:47pm
holy shit, panda! this list is comprehensive! thanks for the suggestions, mamasita. i esp want to try koi palace and am looking forward to waking sam up early to go hit up the farmer's market!
Permalink Reply by sAm on August 26, 2008 at 1:18pm
Wow, I think we now know what we'll be doing/eating/sleeping at for the entire trip. DAYMN! Thanks for the suggestions peeps!
Permalink Reply by rp {|} // .MrPresident___++ on August 26, 2008 at 10:20pm
Osha Thai... Yumm... St Regis is GREATness.
Permalink Reply by Megan Miller on November 29, 2009 at 7:17am
Although I love the older hotels like the Cliff, we recently stayed at the W Hotel San Francisco and that is our new favorite. Very trendy and a splurge but worth it!

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