Hayes Valley Restaurants
Hayes Valley is sprouting several hip and haute dining destinations around its main stem, Hayes Street, upping choices for pretheater dining. The low-key vibe in the wine bars and cafés makes it easy to feel like a local.
Sort by:
13 Recommendations
{{numTotalPoiResults}} {{ (numTotalPoiResults===1)?'Recommendation':'Recommendations' }}
0 Recommendations
Loading...
-
1. Alta CA
$$$ | Civic Center | AmericanThe creation of lauded chef Daniel Patterson, this pretty restaurant has creativity to rival that of Patterson's Michelin-starred Coi, but a much less formal vibe. A 25-seat circular bar dominates the dining room, while small plates dominate the menu. The fried brussels sprouts are pure crunchy bliss, while the delicate homemade pierogi is a mainstay but with seasonal accents, like pumpkin. Located across from the Twitter and Uber HQs, it attracts the hoodies, but also the pretheater crowd. This is one of the city's few great food experiences after midnight on weekends.
1420 Market St., San Francisco, California, 94102, USA415-590–2585Known For
- Homemade pierogi with seasonal fillings
- Creative cuisine
- Good cocktails
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed for lunch on weekends, Closed Sun. -
2. Nightbird
$$$$ | Hayes Valley |Chef-owner Kim Alter's solo debut is this small, charming, seasonally focused tasting-menu destination that is an oasis of calm away from the frantic traffic of Gough Street. The five-course-plus-five-bite menus are beautifully orchestrated, served by a staff that seems to always anticipate the next question or request, making this one of the more relaxed splurges of San Francisco's gastronomic elite restaurants.
330 Gough St., San Francisco, California, 94102, USA415-829–7565Known For
- Quail egg amuse-bouche
- Tiny art-deco adjacent bar, Linden Room
- Timing adjusted for diners with tickets to a show
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch -
3. Rich Table
$$$ | Hayes Valley |Sardine chips and porcini doughnuts are popular bites at co-chef Evan and Sarah Rich's lively, creative restaurant; mains are also clever stunners, including pastas like the sea urchin cacio e pepe. The room's weathered-wood wallboards, repurposed from a Northern California sawmill, give it a homey vibe. There's a nice selection of wines by the glass and artisanal cocktails. Reservations are not an easy acquisition, but twelve bar seats are available for walk-ins. Try their fast-casual option a block away, RT Rotisserie, if you need a quick pre-theater sandwich or roast chicken plate.
199 Gough St., San Francisco, California, 94102, USA415-355–9085Known For
- Tough-to-get reservations
- Freshly baked bread
- Seasonal ingredients
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch, Reservations essential -
4. Zuni Café
$$$ | Hayes Valley |After one bite of Zuni's succulent brick-oven-roasted whole chicken with warm bread salad, you'll understand why the two-floor café is a perennial star. Its long copper bar is a hub for a disparate mix of patrons who commune over oysters on the half shell and cocktails and wine. Nearly as famous as the chicken are the Caesar salad with house-cured anchovies and the chocolatey flourless gâteau Victoire. The most cheerful spot to sit is at the tip of the pyramid window near the bar, easier to score if you plan a late lunch.
1658 Market St., San Francisco, California, 94102, USA415-552–2522Known For
- Seasonal Californian cooking at its best
- Under-the-radar lunch and late-night burger
- Beloved margarita
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. -
5. Arlequin
$$ | Hayes Valley | AmericanFor lunch on the go, don't submit to fast food when you've got Arlequin, the café offshoot of trendy Absinthe. Whatever you choose—breakfast, a hot or cold sandwich, lamb burger, roasted chicken—take it back to the lovely outdoor patio, a surprising oasis that makes Arlequin a standout.
-
Recommended Fodor’s Video
-
6. Blue Bottle Coffee
$ | Hayes Valley |Hidden away on a side street by Patricia's Green is this modest kiosk where the organic beans are ground for each cup and the espresso is automatically ristretto—a short shot. While Blue Bottle is now a global juggernaut (the blue, boutique equivalent of the green mermaid chain, as locals like to say), Linden Street was the first brick-and-mortar shop, and it's still a San Francisco coffee lover's favorite.
315 Linden St., San Francisco, California, USAKnown For
- Where it all started
- Intense dedication to quality coffee
- Must-stop on a Hayes Valley tour
-
7. Hayes Street Grill
$$$ | Hayes Valley |You'll snag a table if you arrive at this longtime (since 1979) standby just as music lovers are folding their napkins and heading off for a show at the nearby Opera House or SFJAZZ Center. Fresh, sustainable, often local seafood lures the faithful here, as well as peak seasonal produce from the nearby region. Much of the fish—yellowtail, salmon, swordfish—is grilled and served with a choice of sauces, from beurre blanc to lemon-and-caper butter. Brass coat hooks, white tablecloths, a long bar, and a mix of banquettes and tables define the traditional San Francisco look.
320 Hayes St., San Francisco, California, 94102, USA415-863–5545Known For
- Simple yet excellent fish preparations
- Choice of sauces
- White-tablecloth dining in timeless atmosphere
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed most Mon.–Wed. except opera and symphony performance days -
8. Jardinière
$$$$ | Hayes Valley | FrenchFamed chef Traci Des Jardins’ restaurant is so sophisticated you may as well be eating at the nearby Opera House. An eye-catching curving staircase leads to an oval atrium, where locals and out-of-towners alike indulge in French-Californian dishes, such as foie gras terrine or sorrel soup. Downstairs is the bar, with artisanal cocktails and smaller plates.
300 Grove St., San Francisco, California, 94102, USA415-861–5555Known For
- French technique
- Pre-opera dining
- Romantic ambience
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch -
9. Loquat
$ | Hayes Valley |This charming bakery, done in pinks and pressed tin, features treats by Tartine Bakery alum Kristina Costa that reflect the Jewish diaspora. With tempting cakes lining the marble counter and display cases full of tarts, cookies, babka, and other pastries, you'll be hard-pressed to get away without trying more than one. The Four Barrel coffee is excellent, and the line moves quickly, so don't be discouraged if it stretches out the door.
198 Gough St., San Francisco, California, 94102, USA415-994–6594Known For
- To-die-for cinnamon date sugar babka
- Savory bourekas, great for picnics
- Long lines
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues. and Wed. No dinner -
10. Nojo Ramen Tavern
$$ | Hayes Valley |For a little bonhomie before the symphony, it's hard to go wrong with this buzzy (and typically crowded) ramen spot. Noodles are the star of the menu, and deservedly so, but you'll also find izakaya-style small plates, including pot stickers and chicken fritters. Seating is at a premium in the mod Japanese/San Franciscan dining room with windows overlooking Franklin Street.
231 Franklin St., San Francisco, California, 94102, USA415-896–4587Known For
- Ramen with chicken-based (paitan) broth
- Comfort food like chicken teriyaki
- Long lines
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No lunch weekdays -
11. Robin
$$$$ | Hayes Valley |The classic Japanese omakase experience (the chefs select the sushi and other small bites) gets a seasonal Californian influence at Adam Tortosa's hip, modern restaurant. The raw fish preparations are magnificent, and it's a relative deal where diners can name the price between $109 and $209, depending on their desire to splurge.
620 Gough St., San Francisco, California, 94102, USA415-448–7372-text onlyKnown For
- Exquisite nigiri with creative garnishes
- Caviar–potato chip bite
- Strong sake and wine lists
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. No lunch -
12. Souvla
$ | Hayes Valley |Join the lines, get ready to Instagram, and enjoy the superb Cali-Greek pita sandwiches and salads at the flagship of this fast-casual (or self-described "fast-fine") concept. The menu keeps it simple with four proteins (roasted white sweet potato or a trio of spit-roasted meats), but the secret to the magic is how each protein is pre-partnered with captivating sauces and fresh garnishes, turning a simple-sounding white sweet potato sandwich into a stellar meal. If you want to try all four proteins at all five locations, then plan a trip around town to the counterpart Souvla locations in the Marina, NoPa (North of the Panhandle), the Mission, and Dogpatch.
517 Hayes St., San Francisco, California, 94102, USA415-400–5458Known For
- Lamb leg with harissa-spiked yogurt
- Greek frozen yogurt with baklava crumbles
- Prime location for picking up a picnic for Patricia's Green or Alamo Square Park
-
13. Suppenküche
$$ | Hayes Valley |Nobody goes hungry—and no beer drinker goes thirsty—at this lively, hip outpost of simple German cooking. The hearty food—bratwurst and sauerkraut, potato pancakes with house-made applesauce, meat loaf, braised beef, pork loin, schnitzel, spaetzle—is tasty and kind to your wallet, and the imported brews are first-rate. When the room gets crowded, which it regularly does, strangers sit together at unfinished pine tables. Servers are quick and efficient and keep the pace moving along. The same management runs Biergarten (424 Octavia Street), a charming outdoor spot just a block away that serves bratwurst, pretzels, and German beers.
525 Laguna St., San Francisco, California, 94102, USA415-252–9289Known For
- Seating at common tables
- Variety of sausages
- Quick service
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No lunch weekdays
-
{{ (numCurrentPage-1)*numPageLimit+index+1 }}. {{ item.name }}
{{ item.price_tag }} | {{ item.neighborhood }} | | {{ item.first_keyword }}{{ item.address }}{{ item.phone[0] }}Known For
- {{ capitalizeFirstLetter(pro) }}
{{ item.details.title }} Details
{{ item.details.content.toString() }} -
Recommended Fodor’s Video
No Restaurants Results
Please try a broader search, or expore these popular suggestions:
There are no results for {{ strDestName}} Restaurants in the searched map area with the above filters. Please try a different area on the map, or broaden your search with these popular suggestions:
