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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  • 1. Benu

    $$$$ | SoMa

    Chef Corey Lee's three-Michelin-star fine dining mecca is a must-stop for those who hop from city to city collecting memorable meals. Lee, formerly of French Laundry, meticulously ties together cooking techniques and ingredients commonly seen in different cuisines of Asia—such as xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) and kimchi—with a deft gastronomic touch. You may find spectacular dishes like an haute take on barbecued quail with black truffle steamed buns, or charcoal noodles with caviar and giant squid. Bare-wood tables and a hip, minimalistic interior guarantee concentration on the plate. The tasting menu is mandatory and memorable, with a couple of choices for diners in the final two large presentation savory courses.

    22 Hawthorne St., San Francisco, California, 94105, USA
    415-685–4860

    Known For

    • High-end dining
    • Phenomenal wine pairings
    • Stellar service

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch, Reservations essential
  • 2. Birdsong

    $$$$ | SoMa

    Despite its gritty location a block from Market Street's roughest section (take a cab or rideshare directly to the restaurant), this sweeping, elaborate tasting-menu restaurant with a refined forest-wilderness theme is a destination for discerning fine-dining lovers from all over the country. Chef and co-owner Christopher Bleidorn spread his wings here at his first solo project after working in the kitchen at some of San Francisco's top kitchens (Atelier Crenn, Saison, Benu), and each of the 11 or so dishes he and his team creates is a masterpiece in presentation and taste. Diners are usually still dreaming about the magnificent caviar and cornbread course months later. The superb wine program and sharp service further elevate the experience.

    1085 Mission St., San Francisco, California, 94103, USA
    415-369–9161

    Known For

    • Incredible aged meat dishes
    • Beautiful open-kitchen setting
    • Creek-raised trout prepared three ways

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch
  • 3. Californios

    $$$$ | SoMa

    This Californian-Mexican tasting-menu concept by chef Val M. Cantu continues to be one of the hottest tickets in the entire Bay Area. Cantu and his team's creations, along with Charlotte Randolph's acclaimed wine program, remain as special as ever (the restaurant had a great run in smaller Mission District digs before moving to SoMa), crafting what is possibly the country's leading Mexican-influenced fine dining experience. As wonderful as what's on the table is, the posh black-walled setting with contemporary art and dramatic chandeliers is just as notable. It's also possible to make a reservation for some tequila and mezcal cocktails in the front bar (no food, just drinks), allowing guests to feel the mystique without spending hundreds on dinner.

    355 11th St., San Francisco, California, 94103, USA
    415-757–0994

    Known For

    • House-made tortillas used in brilliant ways
    • Wonderful patio
    • Grilled banana with cold-smoked caviar

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch
  • 4. ROOH

    $$$ | SoMa

    Traditional Indian dishes get a captivating, innovative spin at this hot spot near Oracle Park. Look for tandoori octopus and chili garlic escargots, complemented by equally inventive cocktails and a splashy, colorful space. Every dish seems to have a modern catch, whether it's artificial fog in a barbecue oysters preparation or butter powder on the paneer pinwheel. This is fun, unique dining at its best. Note that there is an equally great location in Palo Alto, as well.

    333 Brannan St., San Francisco, California, 94107, USA
    415-525–4174

    Known For

    • SF's best butter chicken
    • Green pea, goat cheese, and truffle kulcha bread
    • Best dining choice before a Giants game

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No lunch
  • 5. Sightglass Coffee

    $ | SoMa

    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.

    270 7th St., San Francisco, California, 94103, USA
    415-861–1313

    Known For

    • Vanilla cold brew
    • Photogenic space and drinks
    • Good selection of pastries
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  • 6. Trou Normand

    $$$ | SoMa | Modern American

    Thad Vogler's second endeavor (Bar Agricole was the first) delivers a fun boozy evening in stunning surroundings. Located off the lobby of the art deco–era Pacific Telephone building, it excels at house-cured salami and charcuterie and classic cocktails. Arancini, seasonal salads and pickles, and mains of burgers and fresh fish round out the offerings. An enclosed patio reads like a Parisian garden conservatory. Unfortunately, noise is a real issue out there, since it's an after-work escape.

    140 New Montgomery St., San Francisco, California, 94105, USA
    415-975–0876

    Known For

    • House-made charcuterie
    • Brandy-based cocktails
    • Cocktails

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun., Reservations essential
  • 7. 54 Mint

    $$$ | SoMa

    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 by Jacopo Rosito 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.

    16 Mint Plaza, San Francisco, California, 94103, USA
    415-543–5100

    Known For

    • Bottarga, sea urchin, and burrata bruschetta
    • Homemade pastas
    • Classic and creative Negroni renditions
  • 8. Bar Agricole

    $$ | SoMa

    This sharply designed spot is just as notable for its food menu as its renowned mixed drinks. Owner Thad Vogler is the city's leading voice on single-origin spirits, so any visit should include a few sips of Bar Agricole's own spirits. To go with the beverages, the culinary side is fresh and fun, often uniquely partnering global influences with local ingredients.

    1540 Mission St., San Francisco, California, 94103, USA
    415-341–0101

    Known For

    • Sourdough with tinned fish or duck liver
    • Exciting vegetable-centric dishes
    • Impeccable spirit-forward cocktails

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch
  • 9. Bar Agricole

    $$$ | SoMa | Modern American

    Thanks to celebrated bartender/owner Thad Vogler, this sleek LEED-certified spot is a haven for cocktail hounds. Be sure to enjoy the creative libations, but don't neglect the terrific food, either. Settle in at a table, set with recycled denim napkins, either on the leafy patio or in the real looker of a dining room that uses reclaimed whiskey barrels as wall slats. The Cal-Med cuisine with local ingredients showcases land-and-sea snacks like salumi and fresh oysters. The bar gets boisterous at night, but the sophistication of the space entices all age groups. A downstairs room can seat larger groups.

    355 11th St., San Francisco, California, 94103, USA
    415-355–9400

    Known For

    • Cocktails
    • Green design
    • California-Mediterranean cuisine

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No lunch Tues.–Fri.
  • 10. Bini's Kitchen

    $ | SoMa

    Chef-owner Bini Pradhan's Nepalese restaurant introduced many city diners to the wonderful dishes of her home country. Pradhan started in San Francisco with the wonderful La Cocina kitchen incubator program (a nonprofit that helps women, immigrants, and people of color) and years later is the region's leading voice for Himalayan cooking. Meat eaters and vegetarians alike love the combination meals for lunch in an area of SoMa that doesn't have too many other tempting dining options.

    1001 Howard St., San Francisco, California, 94103, USA
    415-361–6911

    Known For

    • Momo dumplings
    • Gurkha chicken curry
    • Nepali roti bread

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No dinner
  • 11. Birdbox

    $$ | SoMa

    The search for San Francisco's greatest fried chicken ends at this casual counter-service restaurant. It started as a COVID-19 pandemic concept at fine dining sibling Birdsong and became so popular that it received its own brick-and-mortar space. That fine dining pedigree can be found in the pitch-perfect sandwiches, "birdboxes" (various sizes of fried chicken with outstanding homemade sauces), and the local, free-range poultry sourcing. Don't worry vegetarians—the hen of the wood mushroom sandwich is just as special as its fried chicken peer.

    680A 2nd St., San Francisco, California, 94107, USA

    Known For

    • Claude the Claw sandwich
    • Sour cream and onion–seasoned fried chicken
    • Best cornbread in town

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues.
  • 12. Blue Bottle Coffee

    $ | SoMa

    Oakland-born Blue Bottle Coffee can now be found all over the Bay Area, on the East Coast, and even in Japan. However, this Mint Plaza coffee shop inside a 1912 building (fun fact: it appeared in The Maltese Falcon) remains its spiritual flagship for coffee geeks eager to gawk at the glitzy brewing equipment for sale, then enjoy perfect espresso pulls, powerful Oji cold brew, and meticulously made drip coffee from the eye-popping Japanese siphon bar.

    66 Mint St., San Francisco, California, 94103, USA
    510-653–3394

    Known For

    • Excellent cappuccinos
    • New Orleans–style iced coffee
    • Prime people-watching

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No dinner
  • 13. Cafe Réveille

    $ | Mission Bay

    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 fresh 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.

    610 Long Bridge St., San Francisco, California, USA

    Known For

    • Maybe the city's best açai bowl
    • Excellent cappuccino
    • Top-tier breakfast sandwich and burrito

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No dinner
  • 14. Casey's Pizza

    $$ | Mission Bay

    Casey Crynes' East Coast–style pies are larger and have slightly thicker and sturdier crusts compared to the typical Neapolitan ones. New York expats love that these slices can actually be folded. The small, charming counter-service restaurant centers around a large brick oven; and toppings tend to be simple, fresh, and nicely balanced on the predesigned pies.

    1170 4th St., San Francisco, California, 94158, USA
    415-814–2482

    Known For

    • A favorite pre–game stop
    • Strong local beer and wine selection
    • Bacon kale pizza

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No lunch
  • 15. Deli Board

    $$ | SoMa

    Everyone has their opinion about the greatest sandwiches in this city filled with amazing bread; but more often than not, locals will name this quirky, humorous lunch specialist. Here, sandwiches are truly an art and usually are taller than can be eaten in one bite. Lunch choices are split between the main menu and "board" specials. Most guests take their sandwiches to-go.

    1058 Folsom St., San Francisco, California, 94103, USA
    415-552–7687

    Known For

    • Leroy Brown turkey-pastrami-salami sandwich
    • Festive, friendly atmosphere
    • Mick roast beef sandwich on sesame seed French roll

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No dinner
  • 16. 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, USA
    415-777–1413

    Known 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.
  • 17. Miller & Lux

    $$$$ | Mission Bay

    A splashy contemporary steak house attached to a basketball arena? It sounds like a bizarre combination, but it truly works at chef Tyler Florence's restaurant on the side of the Chase Center. Servers wear suits, the Caesar for two is tossed tableside, and French onion soup is adorned with shaved truffles, yet the restaurant is hardly stuffy and really emphasizes seasonal ingredients more than decadence. Pricey dry-aged steaks might be the menu centerpiece, but there are many tempting options for diners not interested in beef.

    700 Terry A. Francois Blvd., San Francisco, California, 94158, USA
    415-872–6699

    Known For

    • Perfectly balanced Manhattans and martinis
    • Steak with green peppercorn Bordelaise sauce
    • Posh, sharp design headlined by curved leather booths

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No lunch
  • 18. Mission Rock Resort

    $$ | Mission Bay

    Fresh seafood and waterfront views are some of the many reasons to swing by this fun restaurant in the shadow of the Chase Center. Local fish is emphasized, whether as a fried petrale sole sandwich or black cod in an elaborate dinner entrée with warm fregola and mushroom pilaf. Some tables go for a proper multi-course meal, while others enjoy all of the tempting small plates tapas-style. Even if it isn't a sunny day, patio heaters and awnings protect diners from the elements.

    817 Terry A Francois Blvd., San Francisco, California, 94158, USA
    415-701–7625

    Known For

    • Margaritas
    • Dungeness crab and bay shrimp roll
    • Oysters in a variety of preparations

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
  • 19. Mourad

    $$$$ | SoMa

    With Mourad's stunning, grand design, it's easy to get distracted from the intricate cocktails and excellent cooking served here on the ground level of the magnificent 1920s art-deco PacBell building. However, chef-owner Mourad Lahlou is the great voice for his native Morocco's cuisine in the Bay Area, and this restaurant is his showcase, where dish after dish is as splendid as the bathrooms' tile work and the chandeliers above the dining room. Ask for a downstairs table; the mezzanine seating lacks the design and atmosphere of the rest of the space.

    140 New Montgomery St., San Francisco, California, 94105, USA
    415-660–2500

    Known For

    • Glass-enclosed wine cellar "bridge" above the bar and dining room
    • Family-style chicken and short rib dinners
    • Duck basteeya (a sweet-savory pastry)

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch
  • 20. Niku Steakhouse

    $$$$ | SoMa

    The idea of a chic, contemporary steak house didn't really exist in San Francisco before this runaway favorite opened by the Design District's traffic circle. It's one of two high-end restaurants for the popular Omakase Group (the other being nearby luxury sushi bar Omakase), and perfectly balances a menu of creative small plates and flame-kissed mains. The one downside is that none of the steaks are south of $100. But if you're going to splurge on A5 Wagyu beef, this is the place to do it.

    61 Division St., San Francisco, California, 94103, USA
    415-829–7817

    Known For

    • Expense account meat-heavy dinners
    • Wagyu fat brownie dessert
    • Superb wine and cocktails

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No lunch

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