San Francisco Restaurants
We’ve compiled the best of the best in San Francisco - browse our top choices for Restaurants during your stay.
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42 Recommendations
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21. Coqueta
$$$ | |With its Bay Bridge views and stellar Spanish tapas, celebrity chef Michael Chiarello's San Francisco restaurant is a big hit that’s equal parts rustic and chic, a lively destination for both small bites and larger meals. Toothpicked pintxos (small snacks) like quail egg with sausage are a tasty way to start, but the real draws are the inventive cocktails, luscious paella, and dazzling selection of cured meats.
San Francisco, California, 94111, USA415-704–8866Known For
- Smoked salmon montadito (a small sandwich)
- Sangria from a porrón (a pitcher that people also drink from)
- Churros with chocolate
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential -
22. Cotogna
$$$ | |The draw at this urban trattoria is chef Michael Tusk's flavorful, rustic, seasonally driven Italian cooking, headlined by pastas, beautifully grilled or spit-roasted meats, and homemade gelato. The look inside and outside is comfortably chic, with wood tables, quality stemware, and fantastic Italian wines by the bottle and glass.
490 Pacific Ave., San Francisco, California, 94133, USA415-775–8508Known For
- Raviolo with brown butter and egg in center
- Tough to get reservations
- Peak seasonal produce in antipasti
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon., Reservations essential -
23. Ernest
$$$ | |After several years as the chef de cuisine at Rich Table, Brandon Rice set off on his own with this creative restaurant, and it's been wildly successful. Rice's cooking emphasizes local ingredients and is inspired by many cuisines, yet always has a few curveballs involved, like pork tonkotsu inspired by Nashville hot chicken and sushi rice topped with salmon roe and raw beef. The industrial yet affable bi-level space is beautiful but can get loud.
1890 Bryant St., San Francisco, California, 94110, USA829–2961Known For
- "let the kitchen cook for you" menu
- Caviar and homemade tater tots
- "magic shell" soft-serve sundae
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. No lunch -
24. Foreign Cinema
$$$ | |Classic films are projected on the wall of a large inner courtyard in this hip, loftlike space while you're served stellar seasonal California cooking, and weekend brunch brings throngs fighting for a spot on the patio for some of the city's best egg dishes and Bloody Marys. The majestic atmosphere enhances plates of perfectly shucked oysters on the half shell and sesame fried chicken.
2534 Mission St., San Francisco, California, 94110, USA415-648–7600Known For
- Warm brandade appetizer
- Excellent cocktails at the restaurant and adjacent Laszlo Bar
- Pop tarts and croque madame at brunch
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch weekdays -
25. Gitane
$$$ | Financial District | MediterraneanWith its lush hot-house decor—red lamps, tuffeted curved seats, and oversized art—this romantic spot is a Valentine's Day favorite. It's also a great place for conversation, sangrias, and Mediterranean-inspired cooking. Tops are the bacon bonbons (bacon-wrapped prunes stuffed with goat cheese) and paella. The downstairs bar makes inventive and flavorful cocktails (many of them are sherry-based), with seats in demand. While there is outdoor seating, the interior is a seductive part of the experience here.
6 Claude La., San Francisco, California, 94108, USA415-788–6686Known For
- Romantic vibe
- Bacon bonbons
- Creative cocktails
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch -
Recommended Fodor’s Video
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26. Hayes Street Grill
$$$ | Hayes Valley |You'll snag a table if you arrive at this longtime (since 1979) standby just as music lovers are folding their napkins and heading off for a show at the nearby Opera House or SFJAZZ Center. Fresh, sustainable, often local seafood lures the faithful here, as well as peak seasonal produce from the nearby region. Much of the fish—yellowtail, salmon, swordfish—is grilled and served with a choice of sauces, from beurre blanc to lemon-and-caper butter. Brass coat hooks, white tablecloths, a long bar, and a mix of banquettes and tables define the traditional San Francisco look.
320 Hayes St., San Francisco, California, 94102, USA415-863–5545Known For
- Simple yet excellent fish preparations
- Choice of sauces
- White-tablecloth dining in timeless atmosphere
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed most Mon.–Wed. except opera and symphony performance days -
27. International Smoke San Francisco
$$$ | |Ayesha Curry teamed up with the city's most prolific chef/entrepreneur, Michael Mina, on this hip spot inside the glitzy Millennium Tower. Don't call it a barbecue restaurant—it's more of an open flame, smoke-driven style of cooking inspired by various global cuisines. Every table has an order of Curry's freshly baked cornbread (SF's best) and one of the different smoked ribs offered.
301 Mission St., San Francisco, California, 94105, USA415-660–2656Known For
- Prix-fixe "Fuego" menu
- Gourmands and mega sports fans eating together
- Bacon-washed bourbon old-fashioned
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28. Locanda
$$$ | Mission District | ItalianThe owners of lauded Delfina channel the culinary traditions of Rome at this lively osteria, where the bar stools are constantly occupied and carbs get glorious treatment: chewy pizza bianca is an addictive starter, while peppery and creamy tonnarelli cacio e pepe is a signature. Finely made cocktails arrive at dark-wood tables on a candlelit tray, and white wall tiles from iconic local makers, Heath Ceramics, which lend a Mission vibe.
557 Valencia St., San Francisco, California, 94110, USA415-863–6800Known For
- Delicious pasta and antipasti
- Busy bar
- Cool Mission vibe
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch, Closed Mon. and Tues. No lunch weekdays -
29. M.Y. China
$$$ | Union Sq. | ChineseHand-pulled noodles are the real star at celebrity chef Martin Yan's show palace, a swank restaurant on the fourth floor of Market Street’s Westfield Mall with Chinese opium bottles on display and a megaton bronze bell from China as the bar centerpiece. Whether Yan is there, you'll be sure to watch his cooks stretch, twist, toss, and drop noodles into a beef short-rib soup flavored with star anise; a Dungeness crab menu highlights six styles of Chinese cooking.
Westfield Mall, 845 Market St., San Francisco, California, 94103, USA415-580-3001Known For
- Hand-pulled noodles
- Celebrity chef
- Exhibition kitchen
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30. Marlowe
$$$ | SoMa |Hearty American bistro fare and hip design draw crowds to this neighborhood favorite that's ambitious enough to be a citywide draw. The menu boasts one of the city's best burgers, and the dining room gleams with white penny-tile floors and marble countertops. Weekend brunch is always a draw for candied bacon and Parmesan gougères (cheese pastries). The weekday lunch-only crispy fried chicken sandwich deserves to be in the city's sandwich hall of fame. Avoid the crowds and order a burger at the bar.
500 Brannan St., San Francisco, California, 94107, USA415-777–1413Known For
- Refined takes on comfort food like roast chicken and deviled eggs
- Strong drinks
- Festive atmosphere
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No lunch Tues. and Wed. -
31. Mokuku
$$$ | Richmond |When the fog and wind roll into the Richmond, savvy locals dive straight into this all-you-can-eat joint serving Japanese shabu shabu and other hot pot options. Guests can pair an inventive soup base, like fire coconut crab or spicy miso, with the restaurant's signature, perfectly marbled Wagyu beef or Kurobuta pork for a satisfying meal. There's a full bar and a karaoke option for large groups.
332 Clement St., San Francisco, California, 94103, USA415-702–6128Known For
- Bar-top hot pot service
- Tatami mat dining room
- Karaoke night
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch, No reservations Fri.–Sun. -
32. One Market
$$$ | |A three-decade-old favorite for business lunches and special dinners, this white-tablecloth spot caters to suits brokering deals and well-dressed romantic dates, who carve their way through upscale dishes accented by local produce and often intricate sauces. Its menu skews seasonal and meaty, and its largish bar, which offers its own food menu of New York deli–style dishes and numerous cocktails, is popular for Financial District/pre-commute happy hour.
1 Market St., San Francisco, California, 94105, USA415-777–5577Known For
- Tasty fried chicken
- Tonya Pitts's standout wine program
- Butterscotch pudding
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch Sat. -
33. Original Joe's
$$$ | |After a fire destroyed the old-school Italian American restaurant's Tenderloin building in 2007, it moved to North Beach; the "new" place has its charms, but it's quite a different restaurant, with far more sophisticated decor that includes some mid-century design elements. Original Joe's took over the former location of Fior D'Italia and carried on that space's legacy as a destination for fine dining, now marrying a higher-end experience with classic Italian American fare like eggplant parmigiana, saucy meatballs, and fettuccine dishes. It fit into the neighborhood right away and feels like it's been here much longer than its 2012 opening date indicates.
601 Union St., San Francisco, California, 94133, USA415-775–4877Known For
- Classic Cal-Ital food
- House-made ravioli
- Excellent bar
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Mon.–Thurs. -
34. Perbacco
$$$ | |From the idyllic hazelnut budino to the pappardelle with short rib ragù, this longtime power dining favorite's menu is a delectable paean to northern Italy. With a long marble bar and open kitchen, this brick-lined, ultra polished space oozes big-city charm, attracting business types and Italian food aficionados alike to the FiDi well after evening rush hour ends. Next door is its equally excellent, slightly more casual sibling, Barbacco.
230 California St., San Francisco, California, 94111, USA415-955–0663Known For
- Agnolotti del plin (a type of pasta filled with meat)
- Crisp and friendly service
- Vitello tonnato (cold veal with a tuna-flavored sauce) appetizer
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch Sat. -
35. Seven Hills
$$$ | Russian Hill |This longtime Nob Hill favorite recently moved into a new, far more spacious home in Russian Hill. The setting might be livelier and grander, but the consistently excellent contemporary-upscale Italian cuisine and superb wine list remain as great as ever. It has many local regulars for good reason but is also one of the city's most popular restaurants with visiting celebrities and athletes.
1896 Hyde St., San Francisco, California, 94109, USA415-775–1550Known For
- Excellent pastas
- Well-curated wine list
- Burrata and house-made charcuterie
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch -
36. Sociale
$$$ | Presidio Heights |The COVID-19 pandemic's outdoor dining requirement led San Franciscans to discover the city's premier patios—like the one at this Presidio Heights stalwart. Whether you're dining on that patio or in the elegant dining room, Italian and seasonal Californian cooking mingle together on the menu. Each night's selections mix staple dishes—game hen cooked under a brick, pici (a long, thick pasta) Bolognese—and new creations like Dungeness crab with tarragon oil and dragon fruit. The wine list showcases several excellent choices from across California and Italy, but the real strength comes from its collection of northern Italian bottles.
3665 Sacramento St., San Francisco, California, 94118, USA415-921–3200Known For
- Fantastic pastas
- Chocolate oblivion cake
- Barolo and Barbaresco wine choices
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch Tues. and Wed. -
37. Tadich Grill
$$$ | |Locations and owners have changed more than once since this old-timer started as a coffee stand in 1849, but the crowds keep coming. Snag one of the private booths (complete with a bell to summon the brusque, white-coated waiters) and sample seafood—always the name of the game here—such as the Dungeness crab cocktail or local sanddabs (a type of flounder).
240 California St., San Francisco, California, 94111, USA415-391–1849Known For
- Delicious cioppino
- One- (or three-) martini lunches
- Hangtown fry (a type of omelet from gold-rush days)
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. No lunch Sat. -
38. The Morris
$$$ | |The eastern Mission's seasonal Californian charmer is a delightful stop for a concise menu of "won't ever leave the menu" dishes, plus a few always-changing farmers' market–driven creations. Owner Paul Einbund is one of the city's top sommeliers, so, on cue, the wine list is particularly impressive, and so is the industrial yet cheery dining room and impressive parklet. The bathroom is a trip—literally—where the decor is film footage of a countryside drive set to a soothing musical score.
2501 Mariposa St., San Francisco, California, 94110, USA415-612–8480Known For
- Signature smoked duck
- Chartreuse and Madeira collection
- Buckwheat doughnuts
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. No lunch -
39. Tosca Cafe
$$$ | |The leather booths and chairs are in high demand at this dark and clubby boho classic from 1919, where well-heeled locals and visitors delight in food that skews to the Cal-Italian genre, meaning local catches and seasonal produce as well as Italian flair in dishes such as halibut crudo and meatballs swimming in red sauce. This is also a great place to park on a stool at the bar, linger over a craft cocktail, and soak up the old–San Francisco vibe.
242 Columbus Ave., San Francisco, California, 94133, USA415-986–9651Known For
- Italian cocktails
- Raw bar and caviar menu
- Tuscan fried chicken
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch -
40. Town Hall
$$$ | |American fare with Southern flair is the headline at this power broker's pit stop where barbecue gulf shrimp, juicy fried chicken, and butterscotch-chocolate pot de crème highlight a menu with enough variety (and large enough portions) to satisfy nearly everyone. The converted-warehouse space, with dark-wood floors, exposed brick walls, and contemporary art, comfortably blends old with new. You can curl up with a cocktail (like a sterling bacon-washed old-fashioned) on the heated patio while you wait for your table. The decibel level here can wear down your vocal chords, so ask for a quieter spot.
342 Howard St., San Francisco, California, 94105, USA415-908–3900Known For
- Must-order buttermilk biscuits
- Signature veal meatballs
- Mix of classic New Orleans and creative cocktails
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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