A city of innovations, tech giants, driverless cars, Alcatraz, grasshopper flour, hundreds of muralists uprising against gentrification, and course, Carl – as named by locals – the renowned San Francisco fog that visits the city every day.
This city has been through a lot. From the Great Fire of 1906, followed by the devastating earthquake of 1908, its history has been tainted by unfortunate events, but this has clearly not stopped the people of San Francisco to rebuilt it into the amazing, full of life city that it is today.
Apart from its reputation for being home to the world’s biggest tech companies, San Francisco has a slightly lesser known but equally as important reputation as being a culinary gem. Thanks to its multicultural heritage, you can find pretty much any cuisine, prepared in the most authentic way. From being the birthplace of sourdough, to having a dedicated district to just Mexican culture and food, to its Italian community in its Little Italy area, and the biggest China town outside of China, San Francisco’s food scene really is one of a kind.
Dining at John’s Grill
John’s Grill is a landmark in San Francisco’s history. Not only is it one of the oldest restaurants in the city, but John’s is also known for being the place where the novel The Maltese Falcon was written. Because of that the restaurant has earned itself a Literary Landmark since 1997 for its cameo appearance in Dashiell Hammett’s detective novel.
On arrival we were greeted by John himself who told us about the amazing history that the place holds and explained about the hundreds of pictures on the walls and who the people in them are. The ambience was very relaxed with low lighting, white table clothes and a rather quintessentially American feeling about the place.
John’s Grill specialises in steak and seafood, which is what we opted in for. The ribeye was the recommendation and if I say it was perfection, that would be an understatement. Partnered with a bottle of Napa Valley’s cabernet sauvignon Turnbull, it’d be your perfect introduction to Californian dining.
Ferry Building and Farmers Market
The next day started with a guided tour around the Ferry Building and Farmers Market. The Ferry Building is one of the most recognisable landmarks in the city which now serves as a gathering spot for many community events.
The building is home of the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market which is widely acclaimed as being a destination for top quality produce as the sellers here are only allowed to sell their own home-grown produce, offering fresh and locally sourced products. Every café or restaurant in the market is sourced by one of the vendors ensuring that all produce in the market remains local. The market welcomes over 40,000 people each week eager to try some its artisan prepared food and meet San Fran’s best-known chefs.
Sourdough haven
If you are a fan of baked goods and more specifically bread, then a visit to Boudin Bakery is a must. The bakery is known for being the first ever to introduce sourdough bread to San Francisco (and maybe even the world as the legend has it). The sourdough bread is made every day attracting tourists not only with their taste but their designs of loafs shaped as animals such as bears and turtles. There’s no other bread in San Francisco that produces such a loud salivating crunch when you tear through it.
Scoma
Scoma is one of those restaurants where you feel like you are at home. Though the interior sparks up as a quite sophisticated place, the atmosphere and the staff make you feel right at home. Scoma is a family-ran business, it has been operating since 1965 and is the only restaurant located in Fisherman’s Wharf. It is famous for its seafood-focused menu and its everyday freshly caught anchovies.
Tosca Café
Though situated across the pond, San Francisco caters for its European visitors by bringing them a piece of home. In North Beach, you can find some of the most authentic Southern Italian dishes at the Tosca Café. Famous for its legendary meatballs and Negronis, as well as al fresco dining in the summer, Tosca’s cosy romantic atmosphere can mentally transport you to Italy in an instance.
Monsieur Benjamin
Other European favourites such as the classic French bistro are also a highlight in San Francisco’s dining scene. Monsieur Benjamin, is situated in Hayes Valleys, carries the spirits of a buzzy Parisian bistro inspired by French cuisine, but focused on the local produce of the Bay Area. A personal favourite there was the buttery lettuce salad, which only encompasses only few simple ingredients but is something I dream of all the time.
Exploring the largest China Town outside of China
Spend the day indulging in Chinese food and learning all about the history of this district with a Local Tastes of the City Tour. The tour explores some of the oldest and most popular foodie spots for authentic Chinese. At the end of the tour, you will get to visit the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory and see how fortune cookies are handmade. You can also make your own cookie with a personalised message.
Empress by Boon
And since we are in the topic of Chinese culture, it’d be rude not to mention one of San Francisco’s most exquisite and elegant restaurants Empress by Boon. The restaurant is led by Michelin-starred chef Ho Chee Boon and showcases an authentic Cantonese cuisine with a modern twist. All dishes are presented in an extraordinary way. A recommended must-try is the steamed shrimp and squid dumplings, made to look like little goldfish swimming in a flavoursome broth, and for a main course, the wok-tossed Wagyu beef served with stir fried greens.
Mission District
Finish off your culinary experience in the city with a food tour through the Mission District organised by Secret Food Tours San Francisco. The Mission District boasts some of the most amazing Mexican eateries you’ll ever enter. The district itself is influenced by its population and it offers amazing homage to Mexican culture and throughout you’ll spot hundreds of murals, each of which present a very important message to its community. Visiting the district will not only offer a feast to your tummy, but an eye-opening experience to a community that is at the backbone of San Francisco.
Other things to do
For the times when you are between meals, try and explore San Francisco on a bike with Unlimited Biking Tour or hop on one of the Bridge 2 Bridge cruises with where you can learn all about the stunning Golden Bridge and get close to the infamous Alcatraz prison.
For those looking to explore both local and worldwide arts, both the SFMOMA and the newly opened Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) host an abundance of contemporary art exhibitions. Last but not least, make sure you bring your dancing shoes and join one of the many Street Bloc Parties organised by the local not-for-profit organisation Noise Pop.
Where to stay?
Beacon Grand, a Union Square Hotel
A classic introduction for American hospitality, The Beacon Grand Hotel, formerly known as the Sir Francis Drake hotel, boasts traditional architecture and design with a lavish reception. The guest rooms are designed with a modern twist, featuring high ceilings, vibrant colours, plush gel-foam mattresses, and luxury toiletries. The hotel is at the heart of Union Square meaning that it is in close proximity to all the classic American department stores making it a shopper’s haven.
Lead-in rate: Standard rooms are available at £291, based on single or double occupancy.
The Line
The Line is what you get when you combine a hip but minimalistic Shoreditch design with a downtown city hotel in San Francisco. Situated in the heart of the Transgender District, The Line only opened its door in October 2022 offering a very London-esque experience in the heart of the city topped by a swanky rooftop bar so you can admire the city from above. Londoners will feel right at home with piles of Grind coffee and books about British interior design. The minimalistic design of the room and the floor-to-ceiling windows make it perfect for both business and leisure travellers.
Lead-in rate: Standard room are available between £182 and £356 a night, and junior apartments are available from £709.
Getting there
Though many airlines offer direct flights to San Francisco, my recommendation would be to fly with United Airlines. United offers exclusive lounges at both Heathrow and San Francisco ensuring that your whole flight experience is as smooth as possible. And let’s be frank, there is no better way to start your trip that with a glass of mimosa in hand at a stylish airport lounge.
Factbox
This trip was organised and hosted by the San Francisco Travel Association – sftravel.com.
United Airlines – Return fares from London Heathrow to San Francisco start at £577 (Economy), £1,578 (United Premium Plus) and £4,796 (United Polaris business). All fares include taxes and checked baggage. Customers can book United Airlines by visiting united.com or calling 0845 607 6760, or their travel agent.
