Nob Hill and Russian Hill Restaurants

We’ve compiled the best of the best in Nob Hill and Russian Hill - browse our top choices for Restaurants during your stay.

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  • 1. Acquerello

    $$$$ | Polk Gulch

    Chef and co-owner Suzette Gresham has elicited swoons over the years with high-end but soulful Italian cooking that is worth every penny. Her cuttlefish "tagliatelle" is a star of the menu, which features both classic and cutting-edge dishes. Dinners are prix fixe, with three, four, or five courses and several choices within each course. Co-owner Giancarlo Paterlini oversees the service, and his son Gianpaolo presides over the roughly 2,000-bottle list of Italian wines. The room, in a former chapel, with a vaulted ceiling and terra-cotta and pale-ocher palette, is refined but never stuffy.

    1722 Sacramento St., San Francisco, California, 94109, USA
    415-567–5432

    Known For

    • Sensational prix-fixe dining
    • City's premier Italian cheese selection
    • Extensive Italian wine list

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch, Reservations essential
  • 2. Sons & Daughters

    $$$$ | Nob Hill

    The constantly evolving tasting menu that chef-owner Teague Moriarty serves at his standout, Michelin-star restaurant serves as a primer for how to do highly seasonal cuisine right. Though the preparations are intricate and often luxurious, there is a pretension-free, contemporary elegance that makes this one of the most relaxed (and fun) fine-dining experiences in the city. The accompanying wine list is equally stellar.

    708 Bush St., San Francisco, California, 94108, USA
    415-994–7933

    Known For

    • Cozy but chic dining room anchored by an ornate fireplace
    • Excellent house-made bread
    • Attentive service

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. No lunch
  • 3. Swan Oyster Depot

    $$ | Polk Gulch

    Half fish market and half diner, this small, slim, family-run seafood operation, open since 1912, has no tables, just a narrow marble counter with about 18 stools. Some locals come in to buy perfectly fresh salmon, halibut, crabs, and other seafood to take home; everyone else hops onto one of the rickety stools to enjoy a dozen oysters, other shellfish, or a bowl of clam chowder—the only hot food served. All of the seafood is served up with a side of big personality from the jovial folks behind the counter, who make you feel like a regular. Come before 11 am or after 2 pm to avoid a long wait, and bring a full wallet: old-school Swan takes cash only.

    1517 Polk St., San Francisco, California, 94109, USA
    415-673–1101

    Known For

    • Memorable Dungeness crab Louie salad
    • Fresh oysters and seafood
    • Clam chowder

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun. No dinner, Reservations not accepted
  • 4. AltoVino

    $$$ | Nob Hill

    Hiking up Nob Hill can feel like trekking up a mountain, so the "alto" is indeed an apropos part of the name of this Italian neighborhood favorite run by husband-and-wife team Nick Kelly and Calli Martinez (he's the chef; she's the wine director). Kelly's menu effortlessly dances between haute and rustic Italian cooking, often with distinct California elements, and he's a master of pastas and in-house butchery. Martinez's wine list offers one of the city's best collections of Italian wines. The two-room setup is perfect for a casual bite at the entrance bar or a full four-course extravaganza in the elegant dining room. Both rooms (and the side sidewalk seating) have front-row seats on the cable cars rolling by outside.

    1358 Mason St., San Francisco, California, 94133, USA
    415-529–2435

    Known For

    • Superior collection of Italian wines
    • Secondi that are as special as the primi
    • Beautifully upscale dining room

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. No lunch
  • 5. Bob's Donuts

    $ | Polk Gulch

    This legendary 24-hour doughnut shop has been a neighborhood anchor since the 1960s. The homemade doughnuts, whether an apple fritter or classic raised maple, are always excellent, at 10 am or 10 pm. If you're particularly ambitious and hungry, give "Bob's Challenge" a go; if you eat one truly giant doughnut in three minutes, you get a T-shirt and induction in Bob's Hall of Fame.

    1621 Polk St., San Francisco, California, 94109, USA
    415-776–3141

    Known For

    • Cake crumb doughnut
    • Bob's Challenge for devoted doughnut lovers
    • Timeless, low-key atmosphere
  • Recommended Fodor’s Video

  • 6. Del Popolo

    $$ | Nob Hill

    The puffy, perfectly charred Neapolitan pizzas from this Lower Nob Hill neighborhood bistro-pizzeria are the stuff of legend. Del Popolo gained a cult following after beginning as a state-of-the-art pizza truck outfitted with a wood-fired oven, and the crowds continue to gather nightly for the stellar pies—though being a restaurant means that it also has a convivial, cozy dining room, friendly servers, and great wines.

    855 Bush St., San Francisco, California, 94108, USA
    415-589–7940

    Known For

    • Margherita pizza
    • Stunning firewood-filled arch backdrop behind the wood-fired oven
    • Delightful salads and antipasti

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch
  • 7. Elephant Sushi

    $$ | Russian Hill

    Excellent, somewhat affordable sushi is the main event at this locals' favorite, so get ready to add your name to the waiting list; then watch the cable cars go by on Hyde Street. Luckily, post-wait, the creative sushi rolls and excellent, high-quality fish, as nigiri or sashimi, are always a delight.

    1916 Hyde St., San Francisco, California, 94109, USA
    415-440–1905

    Known For

    • Homey, casual spot
    • Prime seats watching sushi chefs at back counter
    • No reservations, so substantial waits at peak times

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No lunch
  • 8. Harris' Restaurant

    $$$$ | Russian Hill

    Red-meat connoisseurs will appreciate this old-school restaurant, home to some of the best dry-aged steaks in town, including Kobe-style Wagyu rib eye. Enjoy a generous martini or Manhattan and you'll feel transported back in time at one of the city's few lavish, wood-paneled classic steak houses. You can also pick up raw steaks to go at the well-stocked beef counter.

    2100 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco, California, 94109, USA
    415-673–1888

    Known For

    • Classic atmosphere
    • Extensive wine list
    • Live jazz

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No lunch, Reservations essential
  • 9. Helmand Palace

    $$ | Russian Hill

    This handsomely outfitted spot will introduce you to the aromas and tastes of traditional Afghan cooking, with sauces and spices reminiscent of Indian cuisine and an emphasis on lamb. Highlights include aushak (leek-filled ravioli served with yogurt and ground beef) and kadoo (a sweet-savory dish of sugared pumpkin in a beef sauce). Basmati rice pudding, perfumed with cardamom and pistachio, is a wonderful way to finish. The calm restaurant, with white tablecloths and real Afghan rugs, also does a quick-paced delivery service.

    2424 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco, California, 94109, USA
    415-345–0072

    Known For

    • Basmati rice pudding
    • Neighborhood gem
    • Generous portions

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No lunch
  • 10. Hot Sauce and Panko

    $ | Russian Hill

    This quaint, family-run Korean fried chicken–focused establishment serves quite possibly the leading wings in the city. Cover the crispy, tender wings with your choice of more than a dozen sauces, from tangy lime-fish to fiery habanero-mango, and take them to go.

    1468 Hyde St., San Francisco, California, 94109, USA
    415-359–1908

    Known For

    • More than a dozen sauce options (they're for sale, too)
    • Waffles for DIY fried chicken sandwiches
    • Closes at 7 pm (5 pm Sundays)

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues.
  • 11. House of Prime Rib

    $$$$ | Polk Gulch

    Van Ness's temple to a British Sunday roast is one of San Francisco's most timeless dinner experiences. Waiters continuously wheel prime rib carving stations around a sprawling complex that feels like the vast dining hall of a Cotswolds manor, complete with fireplaces and chandeliers. The prime rib dinners, including potatoes, creamed spinach, and Yorkshire pudding, are bountiful and consistently excellent. Meanwhile, the martinis are reliably large and stiff (complete with a sidecar), adding to the whole mystique.

    1906 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco, California, 94109, USA
    415-885–4605

    Known For

    • Worthy martinis
    • Ambience of a London high-society club
    • Leaving you too full for dessert

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No lunch
  • 12. La Folie

    $$$$ | Russian Hill | French

    Chef-owner Roland Passot's whimsical cuisine takes center stage at this small, très Parisian establishment. The dining room is decorated in warm woods and copper tones, while the prix-fixe menus are served in three, four, or five courses. Dishes may include John Dory with artichoke barigoule and a sunchoke fritter, or a terrine of pig's feet, lobster, and sweetbreads. Vegetarians will be happy to discover a menu of their own. La Folie Lounge next door has cocktails and small plates on the menu—you can also order à la carte off La Folie's menu.

    2316 Polk St., San Francisco, California, 94109, USA
    415-776–5577

    Known For

    • Creative French cuisine
    • Prix-fixe menus

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch
  • 13. Le Beau Market

    $ | Nob Hill

    Neighborhood residents love the dauntless Le Beau, one of the few remaining family-run grocery stores in the city. It's fun to browse around, and their sandwiches are a highlight. If you've never had a sandwich on Dutch Crunch bread (a semisweet, softer, baguette-like roll with a spotted crust thanks to a topping of rice flour), this is a perfect place to pick one up to go.

    1263 Leavenworth St., San Francisco, California, 94109, USA
    415-885–3030

    Known For

    • Turkey butta sandwich
    • Barbecue chicken sandwich
    • Charming staff and vibe
  • 14. Maison Danel

    $ | Polk Gulch

    Paris's joie de vivre is everywhere at this teahouse-patisserie-bakery that looks like it should be in Saint-Germain-des-Prés. The sweets and baked goods are just as magnificent as the vintage Parisian atmosphere. Come early for a croissant, but come back for a leisurely lunch and take home (or to the hotel) a baguette and a few ornate desserts.

    1030 Polk St., San Francisco, California, 94109, USA
    415-685–5900

    Known For

    • Afternoon tea and lunch/brunch
    • "Paris–San Francisco" version of the famous Paris-Brest dessert pastry
    • Macarons

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Tues.–Wed.
  • 15. Nisei

    $$$$ | Russian Hill

    As the American child of a Japanese immigrant—the definition of nisei— Chef David Yoshimura wants us to know that there's more to Japanese cuisine than ramen and sushi. At his new, low-key and elegant black-walled restaurant—already awarded its first Michelin star—Yoshimura puts his own creative spin on washoku, traditional seasonal Japanese cooking, to deliver what he calls "Japanese soul food." The multicourse tasting menu may include examples of the bold flavors and stark contrasts he favors such as banana dorayaki (filled pancakes) with caviar and black curry with sweetbreads. The wine pairing is a good bet, as the chef is also a sommelier.

    2316 Polk St., San Francisco, California, 94109, USA

    Known For

    • Inventive Japanese food with a strong flavor profile
    • Innovative flavor combinations
    • Excellent cocktails at Bar Iris

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. No lunch
  • 16. Seven Hills

    $$$ | Russian Hill

    This longtime Nob Hill favorite recently moved into a new, far more spacious home in Russian Hill. The setting might be livelier and grander, but the consistently excellent contemporary-upscale Italian cuisine and superb wine list remain as great as ever. It has many local regulars for good reason but is also one of the city's most popular restaurants with visiting celebrities and athletes.

    1896 Hyde St., San Francisco, California, 94109, USA
    415-775–1550

    Known For

    • Excellent pastas
    • Well-curated wine list
    • Burrata and house-made charcuterie

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No lunch
  • 17. Swensen's Ice Cream

    $ | Russian Hill

    The original Swensen's has been a neighborhood favorite since 1948.

    1999 Hyde St., San Francisco, California, USA

    Known For

    • Deeply rooted San Francisco history
    • Fun throwback
    • House-made ice cream
  • 18. The Boy's Deli

    $ | Russian Hill

    Tucked into the back of a tiny produce market is a counter serving up some of the biggest, juiciest, best sandwiches in town for lunch—strictly to go. Try the turkey-bacon-pesto Sanfranpsycho sandwich.

    2222 Polk St., San Francisco, California, USA
    415-776–3099

    Known For

    • In-the-know spot
    • Generous portions
    • Long lines at lunchtime

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No dinner
  • 19. The Coffee Movement

    $ | Nob Hill

    Nob Hill's design and architecture tend to be resolutely old-school, except with this impossibly hip coffee shop. Coffee and espresso drinks are excellent, plus there's a tasting flight of the day's offerings for the most avid coffee nerd. It's the perfect caffeine fuel stop before a Nob Hill climb. There is no kitchen here—just pastries. And the only seating are two benches outside; there are standing counters inside, but you can't sit inside.

    1030 Washington St., San Francisco, California, 94108, USA
    415-237–3375

    Known For

    • Perfect cappucinos
    • Popular with the Instagram set
    • Friendly baristas
  • 20. Zarzuela

    $$ | Russian Hill | Spanish

    Full-blooded Spaniards swear by the paella at this tiny old-world-style bistro, complete with matador posters on the wall. Also not to be missed is the homemade sangria—or any of the impressive roster of tapas prepared by Madrid-bred chef Lucas Gasco. Arched windows overlook Hyde Street and the cable cars rolling by. Riding the Powell–Hyde line to and from dinner adds to the romance of the evening and saves you the nightmare of parking in this neighborhood.

    2000 Hyde St., San Francisco, California, 94109, USA
    415-346–0800

    Known For

    • Authentic tapas
    • Not-to-be-missed sangria

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch

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