227 Best Restaurants in San Francisco, California

This contemporary-minded younger sibling of Boulevard, one of the city's most beloved dining institutions, deserves to be known for its own virtues. The always-tempting food menu rotates frequently based on the seasons and is a nice mix of elevated snacks for the happy hour guests, and more refined small plates, entrées, and pastas for the full three-course dinner experience crowd. Cocktails are a particular strength at the lively bar.

To enjoy Michael Tusk's three-Michelin-starred haute California cuisine with a slight Italian influence at dinner, you'll have to splurge on a comprehensive 10-course gastronomy menu, but you'll be rewarded with seasonal items (much of which comes from Fresh Run Farm in Bolinas) reaching the highest fine-dining heights. The elite wine list is among the country's greatest, and seamless service is both refined and welcoming. After an extensive renovation, the still ultra-posh dining room reopened in 2024 with a more contemporary-leaning and sunlight-filled aesthetic (no more white tablecloths), along with an intimate bar and salon, plus the addition of a leisurely Thursday and Friday lunch.

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.

Of the "big three" historic San Francisco restaurant classics (along with John's Grill and Tadich Grill) that date back to the 1800s, it's the intrepid Sam's Grill that serves the most consistently enjoyable food of the trio. The menu might not be exciting in a modern way—and it shouldn't be—but what arrives at the table is fresh and always enjoyable, focusing on superb mesquite-grilled fish and top-tier produce that probably weren't emphasized as much when it opened in 1867. The timeless atmosphere with a section of private booths with curtains and plenty of ice cold martinis being consumed is a trip to the past. At lunch time, Sam's often feels like the power center of San Francisco (the former mayor Willie Brown eats at a particular table here at least once a week).

Ask locals where to eat at Fisherman's Wharf and you'll usually get a blank look, but the real answer is this San Francisco classic that is undoubtedly the leader among its peers (or piers?). The Pier 47 spot was a coffee shop when brothers Al and Jay Scoma bought it in 1965 (the homey coffeehouse vibe still lingers around the retro-renovated space with worn walls covered with historic photos of the local sports teams), and the restaurant continues to be a great stop for excellent fresh fish and seafood preparations.

The stunning interior design of Sightglass's three San Francisco cafés demands several photographs on each visit, but quickly all eyes settle on the pitch-perfect shots of espresso and cups of robust coffee from beans roasted at their airy, bi-level SoMa café and roastery. This is the heart of their operation and a must-visit for any coffee lover. Pour-over coffees are their specialty, but they'll also make a perfect latte to jump-start your morning.

The constantly evolving tasting menu that chef-owner Teague Moriarty serves at his standout, two-star Michelin 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.

After a long run as one of San Francisco’s most important dining pop-ups, Alex Hong’s refined seasonal Californian cooking can be found in one of San Francisco's most dramatic dining settings, with a skylight and floral arrangements that epitomize California “good life” architecture. That vibe is reflected in dishes like a springtime dry-aged duck with green garlic and kumquat, where Hong beautifully blends contemporary techniques and local ingredients. The tasting menu and à la carte offerings change relatively frequently, but the signature sourdough focaccia and oyster with sorrel ice are staples. Hong, an alum of Quince's esteemed kitchen, is also immensely talented at the pasta craft, and an elegant pasta or two is offered each evening.

This modern Italian favorite continues to be a special destination for chef Matthew Accarrino's inventive seasonal cooking. The five-course tasting menu includes tempting antipasti, superlative pastas like mustard capellini with guinea hen ragù, and a few hearty secondi; save space for the fantastic desserts. The Italian wine list is also full of gems and divided by region, providing a great education with your bottle. The polished yet relaxed atmosphere, with travel posters on the wall, attracts a dedicated neighborhood following of all ages. Singles and walk-in couples can sit at the two counters (one looks into the galley kitchen). Doughnuts and coffee are served weekends for Fillmore's steady stream of power shoppers and walkers.

It can be hard to score a reservation for a normal dinner hour at Lower Fillmore's game-changing restaurant, but once you nab a golden ticket, you'll be rewarded with fascinating bites served from roving carts and an à la carte printed menu. The food has an artsy bent to it, and the colorful dining room adds to a vibe that's bohemian dinner party. Choices change frequently and may include half dollar–size, thick, savory pancakes stuffed with sauerkraut; the eponymous CA state bird (quail) with provisions; and about two dozen nightly creations. A more casual sibling (Anchovy Bar) around the corner (1740 O'Farrell St.) is a perfect choice for light bites and some sherry and wine—and the food is so great that you might end up eating a full dinner there.

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.

Chad Robertson is America’s first modern cult baker, and this tiny Mission District outpost (along with the larger Tartine Manufactory on the eastern side of the neighborhood) is where you'll find his famed loaves of tangy country bread and beloved pastries like croissants and morning buns. You'll also find near-constant lines out the door; they're longest in the morning when locals (and plenty of tourists) need a pastry punch to start the day, and later in the afternoon when the famed loaves emerge freshly baked.

Hardly just a plan B for those who didn't score a table at its sibling, Lazy Bear, this excellent cocktail bar and creative small-plates restaurant by the same people offers intriguing combinations and endless conversation starters in a cool modern setting. Menu standouts include California halibut ceviche and fried hen-of-the-woods mushrooms. Don't-miss drinks on the cocktail side include the signature "In the Pines, Under the Palms," a smooth sipper of toasted coconut rye, Terroir gin, and vermouth, garnished with a small redwood sprout.

Wife-and-husband team Rebecca Fineman and Chris Gaither are both Master Sommeliers, and, on cue, the wine program at this destination-worthy seasonal-driven restaurant, wine bar, and wineshop is absolutely fantastic. Gaither supervises the floor and his friendly, fun way of explaining wine even makes rookies get excited about obscure grapes and unknown vineyard regions. The contemporary-leaning cuisine, which always features peak-seasonal produce and meat from Olivier's Butchery, is worth a trip on its own, even for guests who aren't fans of wine.

After a short but strong run as the Wagyu-beef-centric restaurant Gozu, executive chef/founder Marc Zimmerman changed course in 2024 and unveiled a mostly different concept with The Wild. The main similarity between the two is the sleek U-shaped dining counter around the open kitchen and its featured hearth with binchotan charcoal. Many dishes are cooked over those coals with the most precise, laser-like grilling care. The Wild is all about bringing together creativity and nature, where superb local ingredients are gently integrated into exciting but not overly elaborate compositions. Even though there isn't a physical bar, the cocktails, wine, and spirits here are a standout.

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.

The smoker works overtime from noon to night at this hipster-chic barbecue shack, churning out an array of succulent meats that can be had by the plate, the pound, or as a sandwich. Every plate comes with two sides, and you should certainly make the frankaroni one of them: possibly the work of the devil, this is macaroni-and-cheese with pieces of hot dog . . . deep fried. Hungry barbecue seekers order at the counter, then sit partially outside (there are heat lamps) at communal picnic tables in repurposed shipping containers.

Overlooking the always interesting Mint Plaza, a European-style plaza that surrounds the former U.S. Mint, this brick-walled, cozy-modern restaurant is one of San Francisco's best Roman trattorias, with both rustic traditional cooking and gentle spins on classic recipes. The exceptional cocktails designed by Jacopo Rosito (who left for a job in Miami but the innovative drinks are still around) are worth a trip on their own, and diners can wrap up dinner properly with an amaro and an espresso—this place truly feels and tastes like Rome. 54 Mint's sibling, Montesacro, a block away, introduced the city to pinsas, an oval sibling to pizza.

Named after a highway that runs through southern Italy, this bustling contemporary trattoria specializes in the food from that region done very, very well. The menu is stocked with pizza, rustic pastas like maccaronara with ragù Napoletano (a meat sauce), and entrées like braised short rib with polenta. The selection of primarily southern Italian wines, augmented by some California vintages, supports the food perfectly.

The title of "best omakase" has many worthwhile contenders in the city, but many would name this sleek destination in downtown's "East Cut" area as the most captivating sushi-centric tasting menu. It's undoubtedly a splurge and can feel a little Vegas-flashy, yet the raw and gently torched fish nigiri preparations are nothing short of remarkable. Service, glassware, ceramics and the ultra-polished, wood-heavy design centered on an abstract triangle-shaped sushi bar are of the highest level of contemporary luxury.

A neighborhood cornerstone like surfing and frigid sunsets, this charming Outer Sunset roastery and café serves house-baked Irish soda bread, scones, and, of course, coffee drinks. A particular favorite is the Snowy Plover: espresso, simple syrup, sparkling water, and house-made whipped cream. Look for another Outer Sunset outpost (3629 Taraval Street) and one along Ocean Beach in the Outer Richmond (800 Great Highway).

Immaculately fresh seafood and a wood-burning hearth are the centerpieces of this bustling yet luxurious sibling to Saison. The menu descriptions might be brief, but it's really all about the ingredients and impeccable technique—whether it's a grilled hand-dived scallop or the signature thinly sliced potato with a decadent sauce of Taleggio cheese—fulfilling their full potential on the plate with a few smart embellishments.

A Bay Area worker-owned cooperative, this bakery lures passersby with liberal slogans and baked goodies displayed in its large storefront window. The menu changes daily, offering different types of bread, sweet treats like scones, and pizza. Plop down $28 for a whole thin-crust pizza and enjoy it in the sidewalk parklet for a perfect beginning (or end) to a Golden Gate Park excursion.

At this sleek Presidio Heights daytime café, the wellness-centric menu manages to be so delicious that guests often don't notice how virtuous the dishes are. Bread for the open-faced sandwiches is gluten-free and baked in-house; several items are vegetarian and/or vegan; and even the pappardelle is made of zucchini ribbons instead of wheat. The white-tiled and white-painted interior looks more like a luxury Beverly Hills boutique than an eatery.

Your search for the perfect kouign-amann (a traditional glazed, butter-enriched Breton pastry made of croissant dough) ends in this buzzy café from baking wizard Belinda Leong.

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.

Dominique Crenn’s sumptuous salon decked out with fur-draped bar stools, chandeliers, and lush velvet drapes is really a bar only in name. Yes, there's a bar pouring outstanding wines and it’s possible to graze on warm gougères (savory cheese puffs) and oysters. Its forte, though, is the petite haute gastronomic French menu available as a tasting menu or à la carte. Low tables make eating properly a challenge and your credit card will take a hit, but take it for what it is and it’s a magnificent way to spend an evening.

Guests can almost smell the Adriatic salt water–kissed air while digging into cicchetti (similar to open-faced crostini bites with various toppings) and other clever Venetian-inspired dishes at this gorgeous restaurant next to the Embarcadero Center. As delightful as the food is, the glamorous design and intricate cocktails are just as noteworthy. Mixologist Carlo Splendorini is one of the leading modern figures of the city's cocktail industry, and his drinks at this dolce vita–filled bar-restaurant are the perfect partner to the tall floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook a grand European capital-style plaza outside complete with a fountain.

Calabrian-born SF resident Francesco Covucci is determined to continue the Italian legacy of North Beach with trendy, casual, quality-driven regional Italian eateries (he also owns Il Casaro Pizzeria at 348 Columbus Avenue). Here you can slam Roman-style pinsa, which is a modern style of ciabatta-shape pizza made of a multigrain flour mix and gourmet toppings like burrata and pesto or pear, walnut, and Gorgonzola. They also serve the triad of Roman pastas—cacio e pepe, amatriciana, and carbonara—with grace. This is a solid spot to grab a Campari soda and a pinsa, then tuck into a plate of pasta with a bottle of wine and a friend.