Known for its bounty of tasty restaurants and coffee shops, SoMa is a delicious blend of techies and hipsters, sandwich shops and Michelin-starred restaurants, and breweries and wine bars. Here's where to eat and drink when you're in the neighborhood.
Chef Jennifer Puccio (of Park Tavern and The Cavalier) cooks modern American comfort food in this cozy bistro now located in the former Coco500 space. To crown the best burger in San Francisco might be an impossible task, but Marlowe's version (with bacon and horseradish) must be among the City's top candidates. // 500 Brannan St, marlowesf.com
This brewery is much more than its famed watermelon beer. SoMa couples and baseball-capped techies frequent this airy brewery, seeking reasonably priced, dependable grub frorm 11:30am-12am (with brunch on weekends). With year around beers plus tasty seasonal editions, 21 Amendment is the perfect gathering point to fuel up before a Giants game. // 563 2nd St, 21st-amendment.com
Follow the scent of crispy fried chicken and waffles to this tiny window spot, a spinoff of soul food restaurant Farmer Brown, on Rich Street. Already a SoMa institution, Little Skillet will comfort all your soul food cravings with Southern kitchen staples such as biscuits and gravy or grits and shrimp. While this breakfast-and-lunch place has zero seating (most patrons find a sunny patch on the sidewalk) you can always visit their new food counter just next door in Victory Hall & Parlor, where beer and cocktails are served after 4pm. // 360 Rich St, littleskilletsf.com
(Photo by xic8520)
SoMa is known for its many coffee bars, coffee trucks, and coffee shops, but you can't do better than a warm cup from Sightglass. The perfect meeting place for coffee dates, brainstorm sessions, and quick meetings, you're bound to find inspiration among its lofty decor. // 270 7th Street, sightglasscoffee.com
This urban winery in the heart of SoMa welcomes guests with full-flavored wines and tasty snacks to nibble on while you relax in the modern tasting room. Look out for their new location opening this fall in Ghirardelli Square. // 53 Bluxome St, bluxomewinery.com
(Photo via MeetUp)
We like our food trucks where we can see them: in one big parking lot tricked out with picnic tables, a heated seating pavilion, WiFi, and TV screens. With a rotating roster of up to 10 trucks, including Sunrise Deli, StrEat Food park serves up a range of eats to hungry patrons in search of the game or just a cold beer outside. Check out the truck schedule for more info. // 428 11th St, somastreatfoodpark.com
( Photo by Bill Addison via SFEater)
The sequel to chef-owner Mourad Lahlou’s Aziza, the stylish new Mourad has 258 seats, a spacious bar and lounge, two levels, and an outdoor patio (all by Lundberg Design). Lahlou’s menu features carefully constructed NorCal-Moroccan dishes, and wine lovers are in good hands with Master Sommelier Alan Murray. Fans of pastry chef Melissa Chou’s desserts at Aziza will also find her creations here. // 140 New Montgomery St, mouradsf.com
(Photo by Jason Henry for NYT)
The (somewhat scary) future of healthy fast food has arrived. At Eatsa, you can order your quinoa-based dish on an iPad on-site or via their iPhone app, and within minutes your meal will appear in one of the fully automated cubes. No cashiers on hand, so don't expect to pay with cash. // 121 Spear St, eatsa.com
From sweet morning pastries to savory dinner plates, Los Clos is San Francisco's own piece of Paris. Owned by Saison wine director Mark Bright and former Saison cellar master/sommelier Cara Patricia, bring your laptop for espresso and canelés de Bordeaux in the morning, return for Chablis and oysters at lunch, and then, enjoy sweetbreads and Burgundy in the evening. // 234 Townsend St, lesclossf.com
(Photo via Chantal Guillon)
Expect sparkly designs and out-of-this-word sweets at Chantal Guillon, a modern twist on the French patisserie devoted equally to artistry and taste. With shells brushed in gold or sprinkled with iridescent sugar and flavors that change with the seasons, you’d never guess that each prim pastry sucker punches with a perfect mimicry of whatever flavor its name suggests. // 1309 Howard St,chantalguillon.com
This popular nightspot is tucked away in a downtown alley and draws a lively after-work crowd with good cocktails and music styles to please even the biggest vinyl snobs. Order a John Collins, obviously. // 138 Minna St, johncolins.com
Dive into one of the city’s biggest and most popular nightclubs for a marathon on the dance floor. If you don't like the sounds in one cavernous room, just head to the next— this sprawling nightclub is actually five clubs in one. Check out their calendar for upcoming events. // 1015 Folsom St, 1015.com
(Photo via Proven)
The Butler and the Chef Bistro
Plunge your fork into one of the best Croque Monsieurs in San Francisco. It may be tiny, but you won't want to miss this cozy bistro serving original French fare. Be prepared to wait in a line for a worthy slice of France. // 155 S Park St, butlerandthechef.com
(Photo via SFGate)
The impressive mahogany bar is the heart and soul of this more than 100-year-old establishment. Head to Hotel Utah for beer on tap, a lively atmosphere, a classic American menu, and a stage for up-and-coming local musicians. // 500 4th St, hotelutah.com
The follow-up to Bar Agricole boasts exposed brick walls with accompanying art, huge windows, brown leather booths, marble tables, high ceilings, and a perfectly arranged charcuterie plate, making Trou Normand a hip mecca for young professionals in search of meat-centric menu and heritage spirit cocktails. // 140 New Montgomery St, trounormandsf.com
Overlooking the Yerba Buena Gardens, Samovar Tea Lounge is a blissful escape from the hustle and bustle of the surrounding skyscrapers and streets. Share the Russian tea platter with smoked salmon, pickled eggs, and beets, or perhaps dig into a ginger quinoa waffle on your own. Bowls of jook (Chinese rice porridge) or poached eggs and brown rice come with smoked duck, braised tofu, or smoked salmon. For dessert, try the fudge brownie with green tea mousse, and ask the staff to pair it with a tea. // 730 Howard St, samovartea.com
(Photo via El Capitan)
Newly re-opened El Capitan (formerly Radius) serves Caribbean-Latin small plates in a casual atmosphere of reclaimed wood. An excellent spot for easygoing after-work drinks and bites, don't miss the house ceviche and frye bread tacos. // 1123 Folsom St, elcapsf.com
(Photo via SFEater )
This Mid-Market neighborhood trailblazer, which changes not only its menu but its decor seasonally, has garnered much praise since its inception. Larger parties can reserve the Cellar Room for formal dinners or the Whiskey Lounge for cocktail affairs. // 1085 Mission St, aq-sf.com
(Photo via Bar Agricole)
This LEED-certified tavern from bartender Thad Vogler and Eric Johnson team eco-savvy modern design with small-batch spirits made to pair with the menu from chef Melissa Reitz. Enjoy great California cuisine on the outdoor patio of this modern and trendy restaurant. // 355 11th St, baragricole.com
(Photo via Serious Eats)
Bookworms rejoice at Novela, where vintage volumes surround seasonal concoctions that play to English majors. Can’t decide between Jay Gatsby or Romeo Montague? Try both. Or taste from the six different punches-on-tap made from seasonal ingredients. // 662 Mission St, novelasf.com
For a more elegant spread of pre or post-Giants game snacks and drinks head to Lord George. From the team behind the Corner Store, this urban eatery offers oysters, shareable plates, and a diverse cocktail and beer menu. // 555 2nd St, thelordgeorge.com
(Photo via CynEats)
Get your Mexican food cravings satisfied at this popular SoMa den. A taco shop by day and full-service restaurant by night, Tropisueño will boast fruity housemade guacamole, fresh corn chips, and salt-rimmed margaritas that come with everything from violet liquer to absinthe. // 75 Yerba Buena Ln, tropisueno.com
A local Asian-fusion institution, So makes hungry bellies happy with a large deep fried menu including rice bowls and noodles. You won't find gluten-free or organic options here, but you will get rid of that hangover. // 1010 Bryant St.
(Photo via Bali Constructions)
The latest venture from Top Chef Masters-winner Chris Cosentino is meat-tastic, with offerings such as whole roasted pig head and plenty of marrow to go around. Have a vegetarian in the bunch? The grilled cheese (a combination of mild taleggio cheese and honey on housemade brioche) is life-changing. // 564 4th St, cockscombsf.com
(Photo via VMWare Blog)
This sandwich shop in a former cigar store has become the de facto cafeteria for the downtown set. It's strictly an order-at-the-counter and take-out affair, so grab your lunch and, if you don't have to go back to the office, head to the Yerba Buena lawn. Chef Dennis Leary has given the all-American lunch a serious makeover. Choose from a small selection of sandwiches, all served on housemade bread, or try the daily special. // 37 New Montgomery St, thesentinelsf.com
The team behind Town Hall and Salt House bring you this East Coast inspired seafood shack in a former auto body shop. The big space is softened by distressed wood, antique light fixtures, and lengths of nautical rope.— the spot's overall effect is more chic than kitsch. If it's fried fish you're looking for, or creamy chowder studded with littleneck clams, or a lobster roll bursting with chunks of meat, then this is the place. // 83 Minna St, anchorandhopesf.com
(Photo via Town Hall/Google)
Sparkling vintage copper chandeliers and contemporary art on the exposed brick walls give Town Hall a special look. Take a seat at the bustling communal table up front. Chef Max Hosey serves up hearty, regional American comfort food. Dishes include barbecue shrimp and buttermilk fried chicken. // 342 Howard St, townhallsf.com
(Photo via TinyUrbanKitchen)
This in-house restaurant from the Inter-Continental Hotel, Luce (Italian for light) takes advantage of its corner spot with floor-to-ceiling windows, silver pendant lights, and white leather booths. The menu showcases the chef's Golden State influences, while taking advantage of the best locally-sourced products. Try a veloute of celeriac and apple or seared scallops and abalone in duck consomme with pumpkin skin. For dessert, order a glass of grappa from the list of 100-pus bottles. // 888 Howard St, lucewinerestaurant.com
(Photo by Dylan + Jeni)
With a kitchen centered around a huge, blue-tiled, wood-fire oven, Una Pizza Napolitana specializes in Neapolitan pizzas. Don't expect anything on the menu but pizza with simple, pure ingredients. // 210 11th St, unapizza.com
(Photo via InsideScoop)
Food lovers worldwide are booking up former French Laundry chef-de-cuisine Corey Lee's fine-dining restaurant, located in a corner of old Hawthorne Lane. Go for the tasting menu—it allows diners to experience the breadth of Lee's Asian-inflected menu. // 22 Hawthorne St, benusf.com
(Photo via Ken Fulk)
The third restaurant from the Park Tavern and Marlowe group offers a deliciously gourmet take on British cuisine and is decorated like a noble family's hunting lodge. Animal heads spotted on hand-painted wallpaper depicts a hunting scene. If you're lucky enough, you might be invited to dine in the secret back bar, Marianne's, named for songstress Marianne Faithfull. // 360 Jessie St, thecavaliersf.com
