Recommendations
for San Francisco, Napa, and Sonoma
San Francisco
Home sweet home! Here are our favorite things to do and places to see with some local tips.
Bakeries
Neighbor Bakehouse off the beaten path but everything is good.
Jane The Bakery a new favorite, lots of savory options!
Ariscault where French people say their croissants are comparable.
Bars
The Royal Cuckoo we love a dive bar, and this one has live jazz.
Specs part museum, part bar, cheese guillotine.
ABV delicious cocktails like the gin & celery.
Lazslo Liana’s favorite cocktail bar.
Thee Parkside another dive bar with punk shows and tater tots
Ruby Wine quiet natural wine bar with Italian deli next door.
Last Rites airplane wreck themed Tiki bar.
Coffee
Sightglass solid spot for good coffee, vibes, and a pastry.
Andytown unique iced drinks near the beach.
Philz a SF classic, try the mint mojito.
Food
Brunch: Foreign Cinema
Dim Sum: Harborview
Falafel: Oasis grill
Filipino: Señor Sisig
Indian: Besharam
Korean: Dae Ho Kalbijjim
Pasta: Italian Homemade
Pizza: Il Casaro
Sandwiches: Molinari Delicatessen
Something unique: Shuggies Trash Pie
Steakhouse: Lolinda
Sushi: Saru Sushi
Tacos: Taqueria Vallarta
Vegan: Cha-ya
Tourist spots we love
Golden Gate Park Museums, Japanese tea garden, carousel, bison - more than a day’s worth of activities.
The Ferry Building The perfect place to go if no one can agree on what to eat. One-stop shop for local food and wares.
Cable Car We're obsessed with the cable car, to say the least. End your ride with an Irish coffee at The Buena Vista.
Musée Mechanique Collection of antique arcade games near Fisherman’s Wharf.
Alcatraz People who live in SF never go here, but we’ve been three times! Educational, a little spooky, and great views on the ferry ride.
Presidio Historic base turned park with beautiful views, the Disney Family Museum, and the Yoda fountain.
Neighborhoods
North Beach SF’s little Italy and old stomping ground for beat poets.
Mission District Eat a mission-style burrito and shop small on Valencia St.
Japantown Every instagrammable food imaginable and more. Great for gift shopping.
Richmond District (Clement St.) The “real” Chinatown.
Haight-Ashbury A hippie mecca, excellent vintage shopping.
Where to stay
San Francisco is not a big hotel city. If booking an Airbnb, we recommend staying in Noe Valley, near Alamo Square, Inner Sunset, or Pacific Heights. Avoid staying near the tenderloin and Civic Center.
Napa Valley
Napa is packed with activites. Even if you’re not big on wine, driving around and having a picnic at a scenic winery is well worth it.
Most spots need reservations.
Eat
Famed casual roadside deli with local products.
California farm to table restaurant and winery.
The original location of a local burger joint.
Great brunch spot to stop by on your way in or out of Napa.
Drink
The Coppola’s chateau winery with film museum.
Winery with impressive contemporary art gallery.
Hip mid century modern inspired winery.
One-off wines set in an old gas station.
Do
Historic stone mill where you can buy souvenir flour.
Take a cable car and stomp grapes.
Take a mud bath or dip in the natural hot springs.
Take in the beautiful scenery!
Sonoma Valley
Want in on a little secret? We prefer Sonoma over Napa (shhh)
Eat
Cute French bistro in downtown Sonoma.
California fare for a solid dinner.
Authentic Italian deli.
Drink
Our favorite winery!!
Historic winery up in the hills. Fun name.
One of the few natural wineries in the area.
Unfortunately members only, but if you can visit it’s well worth it.
Do
Historic square in downtown Sonoma.
Regenerative farm tour.
Jack London State Historic Park
Jack London’s home and ranch with hiking.
Antiquing in Sebastopol and Petaluma
One of our favorite weekend activities just outside Sonoma.