If the greatest football team in the world didn’t happen to be from Milano, San Francisco would very likely be my favourite city. Great food from every ethnic cuisine you can imagine, fresh and delicious seafood and sushi, cocktail bars on every block, Napa Valley wine, alternative thinking, open-minded people, Mission St hipsters, a beautiful metropolitan landscape - no other city in the world can compete.
On my latest trip to SF, I visited during the height of omicron, and saw a city that had suffered greatly over the past years with many of the downtown joints struggling due to empty offices and increasing poverty. However, Julio Bermejo will be the first to remind us “If you live in San Francisco, please do not forget to remember how lucky you are.”
Below I have compiled a list of my favorite drink and food experiences in San Francisco.
Drink
True Laurel
The best signature cocktails in SF can be found at True Laurel. This hip spot is located in the Mission near Trick Dog and features innovative cocktails from the team behind two-Michelin Star Lazy Bear. My favorite drink on the menu is In The Pines, Under The Palms, a brilliant twist on the Martinez, a classic that many believe was invented in nearby Martinez, in the East Bay region of the San l Francisco Bay Area. True Laurel makes the Martinez even more local with foraged redwood tips, together with coconut washed rye and the backbone of the original Martinez recipe (London dry gin, sweet vermouth, Luxardo Maraschino and bitters). Thank you to Alexis and Macario for bringing me to this awesome bar.
In The Pines, Under The Palms (photo by Thirsty)
Tommy's Mexican restaurant
Tommy's Mexican restaurant is an institution in SF, originally opened by Tommy Bermejo and his wife 50 years ago. Tommy's is now run by the energetic Julio Bermejo, a great host and one of the friendliest people you will meet in the bar industry. He is the world ambassador of tequila thanks to is amazing knowledge of the agave-based spirit. Start off with a Tommy's Margarita (2 oz Tequila, 1 oz freshly squeezed lime juice, 0.5 oz agave syrup cut with 0.5 oz water). Then, let Julio and his senior bartender Greidy guide you through the world's largest collection of tequilas. Tommy's has some amazing Mexican food. I suggest the carne asada, the number one choice of Julio's uncle.
Perhaps the most amazing part of the experience of sitting up at the bar at Tommy's is how you will instantly become friends with everyone there: I've had the great pleasure of meeting cool people like Kern, Elizabeth, Cecilia, Cristian, Robert and so many others. Tommy's is my number one recommendation in San Francisco and perhaps in the United States.
Greidy prepares a Tommy’s with Ocho
ABV
One of the friendliest cocktail bars in SF, ABV won my heart with few-ingredient yet palate enticing beverages and its casual and friendly approach to a cocktail bar. Ryan Fitzgerald and co. are one of the most likable bar teams on the planet.
From the current menu try Tarragon Fix (blanco tequila, lime, pineapple, tarragon), an homage to the Tarragon Collins (gin, lemon, tarragon, soda). The best drink of the new list is La Botana (mezcal, orange, pickle brine, lime, beer). If you’re chilling with Greidy, don’t forget that ABV makes the best Paloma in the city.
Tarragon Collins, Tarragon Fix and La Botana
Toronado
The beer geek's first choice in SF is Toronado, a no-nonsense dive bar featuring many great local beers on tap, and an impressive selection of highly sought after bottles. A great place to mingle with an alternative, peace-loving crowd.
A bottle of Temptaton (Russian River)
Zeitgeist
Zeitgeist is an epic dive bar whose main attraction is the outdoor beer garden which is a great setting for heavy afternoon beer consumption. The no photo rules maintains the sanctity of this watering hole that is frequented by a mix of college kids, hipsters and bikers. That didn't stop me from snapping a quick shot of Vibhav with a Pliny the Elder.
Pliny at Zeitgeist
FOOD
Niku
Niku is a Michelin-starred steakhouse and cocktail bar in the Design District that offers an intersection of Japanese and American cuisines. Executive chef Dustin Falcon (ex The French Laundry, Lazy Bear) focuses on products from local famers combined with the best in class American and A5 Japanese wagyu, the highest grade of beef due to its high levels of marbling. If your credit card can handle it, opt for the $265 USD A5 Wagyu tasting, the best steak experience of my life. These exclusive cuts of beef were cooked to perfection on Falcon’s custom binchotan charcoal and wood-fired grill.
The cocktails are also on point at Niku, with a short list of Japanese-inspired twists on classics together with well-balanced classic drinks. For dessert, follow Alexis’ lead and order the Chocolate Miso, a spectacular brownie made with wagyu fat! Coupled with wagyu fat caramel and miso ice cream, your taste buds will be overloaded with joy.
A5 heaven
Manhattan
Alexis, dessert influencer
Mission chinese
How can I describe the food at Mission Chinese? High end ingredients used to make non traditional but delicious comfort Chinese food. Although the waiters are Mission-esque hipsters, the cooks are Chinese, with a kitchen similar to one you'd find in a traditional Chinatown restaurant.
Rockstar chef-owner Danny Bowien has trained his staff extremely well, and all the dishes perfectly executed, day or night. Although Bowien is no longer involved with Mission Chinese, the restaurant continues to wow. The highlight for me was the thrice cooked bacon and rice cakes, perhaps the perfect hangover cure. Other must tries are the Kung Pao pastrami, spicy Chongqing chicken wings and the Westlake lamb dumplings (fried dumplings, tzatziki, ma la vinaigrette, peanut).
Thrice cooked bacon and rice cakes
Kung Pao Pastrami with explosive chili, celery, potato, roasted peanut
Westlake lamb dumplings
Z and Y Sichuan
If you are craving spicy food, Z and Y has your fix. You'll want to order the Chicken With Explosive Chili Pepper, a delicious but extremely spicy dish that will leave your lips numb. The spicy dumplings are also dope.
