Eating and drinking in San Francisco

Dumpling Time is open six days a week in SoMa's design district. And yep, it serves up delicious dumplings all the time. From behind a glass wall, eager diners can watch chef Do Leung as he expertly crafts made-to-order dumplings, gyoza and dessert buns. Buns come in five classic Chinese and Japanese varieties, filled with either meat, fish or vegetables. Named the King-Dum, the $10 xiao long bao (soup dumpling) is so large you’ll need a straw, while the three-for-$6.50 barbecue pork steamed buns with a touch of peanut butter are our new favorite affordable lunch option. And don't leave without an Instagrammable dessert bun – the colorful doughy puffs are topped with flower petals. 11 Division St. +1 415 525 4797. www.dumplingtimesf.com. Mon-Fri 11am-2.30pm & 5-9.30pm; Sat, Sun 10am-3pm & 5-9.30pm.

A multi-floored ode to modern Chinese food with a downstairs restaurant, retail market, bar and tea café, the 30,000-foot China Live emporium is a must-visit. The majority of the first floor is taken up by Market Restaurant, where made-to-order Peking duck, soup dumplings and rice bowls are served piping hot and paired with fermented sorghum cocktails. 644 Broadway. +1 415 788 8188. chinalivesf.com. Mon-Thu 11.30am-10pm; Fri 11.30am-11pm; Sat 10.30am-11pm; Sun 10.30am-10pm.

With a striking, three-floor layout in a 1917 brick-timber warehouse, Twenty Five Lusk has always been a draw for chef Matthew Dolan's international cooking (sturgeon schnitzel, anyone?) and a cocktail from drink pioneer Daniel Hyatt, who mans the lounge bar downstairs. Now they're elevating their game with Rooftop 25. Mini-olive trees nestle under a canopy of heat lamps at this west-facing (read: sunset-viewing) deck. A playful menu offers boozy slushies (we love the Spicy Passionfruit Margarita), bottled Piña Coladas and woodfired pizzas like the Pizza #2, loaded with bratwurst sausage, fennel, shaved apple and oregano. 25 Lusk St. +1 415 495 5875. 25lusk.com. Mon-Wed 11.30am-9pm; Thu-Sat 11.30am-10pm; Sun 11.30am-8pm.  

Sourdough bread is as synonymous with San Francisco as fog and Twitter. At the flagship Boudin Bakery on Fisherman’s Wharf, tangy loaves are still made from a mother dough first cultivated here in 1849. You can watch the breadmaking process from the railing overlooking the showcase kitchen, sample it at the café, and buy a few loaves. There’s also a bistro that offers an all-day menu, including sandwiches, salads, Dungeness crab cakes and clam chowder in (you guessed it) a bread bowl. Baker's Hall, 160 Jefferson St. +1 415 928 1849. boudinbakery.com. Sun-Fri 8am-9pm; Sat 8am-10pm.

At Delfina, though owner-chef Craig Stoll eschews fashionable culinary trends in favour of simplicity and tradition, his food is never ordinary. On his daily rotating menu, Stoll showcases fresh pasta along with deeply satisfying meat and seafood dishes like Berkshire pork belly with octopus, cockles and garbanzo. While Delfina sticks to more sophisticated dishes, next door at Pizzeria Delfina (and in newer locations in lower Pacific Heights, Burlingame and Palo Alto) you’ll find some of the best Neapolitan-style pizza in town, including the perennial favorite clam pie with cherrystone clams and hot peppers. 3621 18th St. +1 415 552 4055. www.delfinasf.com. Mon-Thu 5.30-10pm; Fri, Sat 5.30-11pm; Sun 5-10pm.

Want a whimsical twist on dinner and a movie? Though Foreign Cinema has been a Mission standby for nearly two decades, it remains one of the most stunning restaurants in town. The seasonal California fare is sourced from farms in Bolinas, Sebastopol, Healdsburg and Olema, complemented by an impressive 2,000-bottle wine list. Inside, you’ll find an elegant expanse of marble, stone and exposed beams under 18-foot ceilings. But the real draw is the outdoor patio, warmed by heat lamps and twinkling with string lights. The ‘cinema’ comes in the form of the huge projector screen, where classic and contemporary movies play nightly. 2534 Mission St. foreigncinema.com. Mon-Wed 5-10pm; Thu-Sat 5.30-11pm; Sat, Sun 11am-2.30pm & 5.30-10pm.

Mexico City chef Gabriela Cámara picked San Francisco to open her seafood-centric Mexican wunderkind, Cala. Cala presents sophisticated coastal delights like trout tostadas with chipotle, avocado and fried leeks and mussels over toast with carnitas and shaved egg in their upscale warehouse space in Hayes Valley. Cocktails such as the Sangria Aneja (anejo, jamaica syrup and fresh citrus) beautifully complement the food with Latin American flavours. If you’re in the mood for a quick bite, at Tacos Cala, located in the alley near the restaurant's back entrance, you’ll find rotating daily offerings of DF-style tacos de guisado. 49 Fell St. calarestaurant.com. Sun-Wed 5-10pm; Thu-Sat 5-11pm.

You might not notice this hole-in-the-wall Nob Hill seafood joint if it weren’t for the long line outside. Part market, part restaurant, Swan Oyster Depot has been hocking fresh seafood since four Danish brothers started the business in 1912. Belly up to the bar to indulge in local oysters, Dungeness crab, chowder and smoked fish. If you’re looking for something a little different, try one of their secret menu offerings like Sicilian sashimi (thinly sliced raw salmon, tuna and scallops drizzled in olive oil) or Crabsanthemum (crab legs in a flower arrangement with Louie sauce). Warning: it’s cash only. 1517 Polk St. +1 415 673 1101. Mon-Sat 10.30am-5.30pm.

This Michelin-starred Mexican spot is sleek, but unfussy, from the mirrored, unmarked facade to the neon art in the restroom. With its black walls, low lighting and vibrant art, the décor matches the food: splurgy and surprising. Slip into the leather banquette or snag a spot at the bar for a view of the open kitchen. Chef Val Cantu’s 16-course tasting menu changes seasonally – expect lobster tacos and foie gras-garnished churros. Splurge for the beverage pairing, which typically includes wine, beer and cider. 3115 22nd St. +1 415 757 0994. www.californiossf.com. Tue-Sat 5.30-9pm.