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We've compiled the best of the best in SoMa, Mission Bay, and Dogpatch - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
Many avid San Francisco diners trek to the southeast part of the city for what are often considered the city's premier breakfast sandwiches. The eight different offerings are available all-day and arrive warm on griddled brioche buns with cage-free eggs (except the vegan, gluten-free version). Burgers and a few nonbreakfast sandwiches and salads round out the menu.
San Francisco has plenty of great food options and coffee destinations, but rarely do the two merge together as well as they do at this Mission Bay roastery, which excels at sandwiches on terrific focaccia, virtuous lunch bowls, and coffee in myriad forms. With tall ceilings, ample windows, and a pleasant parklet, the café almost has a Parisian indoor-outdoor feel. Don't miss the juice shots for a quick, powerful jolt minus caffeine.
Some of the city's flakiest and most impeccably baked croissants, pastries, and other treats draw big crowds every morning. It's walk-up only, so plan on enjoying your tarts, bostocks, sourdough loaves, and coffee elsewhere if one of the few picnic tables outside are full. Many of the pastries and espresso drinks by Paper Son Coffee (a pop-up turned permanent part of the bakery experience) have a unique spice or flavor from Asian cuisines, like a bubbly coffee soda with guava foam or a char siu (BBQ pork)-filled croissant.
This standout sandwich shop wonderfully balances a menu of signature Vietnamese banh mi and other sandwiches given a unique spin with ingredients from different Asian cultures. At dinnertime, there's a comforting ginger chicken jook (porridge), Japanese curry, and more. Daytime tends to be more for takeout, while dinner is usually a sit-down affair.
