Amy Sherman

San Francisco is a food haven, with so much to offer people curious to try a cuisine that’s new to them or for those who love their tried-and-true restaurants that have been around since the early days. Surrounded by water, we have incredible fresh seafood fished right off our shores, and we’re proud to offer California-grown fruits and vegetables from our sun-dappled agricultural fields nearby. It’s no wonder that San Francisco has roughly one Michelin-starred restaurant per every 1.7 miles… 28 of them to be precise, with three new ones added this year and one adding a second star. But beyond the Michelin-starred experiences, we also love the hole-in-the-wall dumpling spots and the street tacos and the pub grub in beautifully authentic spots. It’s all so very San Francisco—and delicious to boot! Maybe we all eat early and head home sooner, but that’s because our stomachs and palates are happy beyond belief. RECOMMENDED:📍 The best things to do in San Francisco🥑 The best brunch in San Francisco🍸 The best rooftop bars in San Francisco🛍️ The best thrift stores in San Francisco🎨 The best galleries in San Francisco

Although we’ll always say yes to a multi-course meal with artistically plated elements, sometimes we just want to march up to a counter and get something immediately: fresh, hot and delicious despite its speed. And San Francisco delivers on that promise. Maybe post-pandemic we can’t get something for under $10 like we used to be able to, but budget-conscious choices that are still succulent and authentic can be found (we either rounded up or rounded down the prices in these listing to the nearest full dollar, not going above $15). Whether you find your happy cheap dish at a hole-in-the-wall spot, a food truck or a humble sit-down restaurant, these bites are worth more than their price—made with love and skill. Check hours before setting forth; some of these spots are only open for certain meals—and check to see if you can order ahead and circumvent the line. RECOMMENDED: The best restaurants in San Francisco

A real-life meetup is always the goal, even if online dating sites make the initial sorting phase easier. A bar’s often the ideal place to do it: noisy, upbeat, a lot of people around—and best of all, if it’s not going well, you can have one quick drink and leave (or just… move down the bar a few seats). Luckily, San Francisco has a plethora of bars for every kind of situation, whether you’re looking for a hookup, a good flirtation or maybe even a forever match. You can peruse the options at a dim dive bar or have a sunnier encounter at a brewpub’s outdoor patio; you might dance your booty off or delicately imbibe the most artisanal of cocktails. Whatever your preferences, it’s here for you to celebrate that most honored of searches: the one for love. Here are our 12 best suggestions of singles bars in San Francisco. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best bars in San Francisco  

After a long night out exploring San Francisco’s nightlife (but not out too late; we know San Franciscans eat earlier than the rest of the country), you want to sleep in. So by the time you finally manage to get vertical again, it’s past breakfast time but you’re not feeling lunch calling to you. The perfect solution is brunch, a meal that respects you for your previous night’s ability to dance better than an Australian Olympic B-girl while putting away a steady influx of margaritas. Here at brunch, the eggload is hefty, the bacon is crisp, the French toast is a sugar powder dusted confection and the mimoas are bottomless. Wear your sunglasses until your eyes adjust and tip your waiters. RECOMMENDED:🥞 The best breakfast in San Francisco☕ The best coffee in San Francisco🌮 The best restaurants in San Francisco🏨 The best hotels in San Francisco

While San Francisco’s working on creating new outdoor pedestrian friendly zones that encourage people to linger and have a drink, its nightclub life continues on. And just like the city’s incredible diversity of neighborhoods, you’ll find a number of different ways to move to the beat, from salsa dancing to jamming at rock festivals at Golden Gate Park, and from jazz spots and hole-in-the-wall cellars to gay nightclubs in the Castro, unrolling your disco/retro moves at your favorite bar with a dance floor, or just nodding to your head to a nice DJ groove. San Francisco’s long been the home of awesome music-making (from the Grateful Dead to Green Day to Tycho) and who among us that knows the city well hasn’t felt a bit of a rush when you hear that first line from Journey, “When the lights go down in the city”? Music inevitably leads to dancing, and we want to make sure you find a stellar, uplifting place to do it. Here’s our list of the best nightclubs in San Francisco.

That crazily aromatic beverage hasn’t been seen as just a breakfast drink for a long time. Here in San Francisco, we honor the all-day coffee, perfect as a way to meet up with friends, conduct business meetings, write tortured poetry or just sit there with earbuds in, grateful for the full mug. You’ll find neighborhood cafés all over town, from FiDi stalwarts to keep office workers awake, to Mission District coffeehouses to fuel creatives and Outer Sunset spots to chase away the fog. Many of these café owners travel to source their own beans and roast them right here in the city, a nice alternative to the Seattle mermaid’s offerings. According to one study, San Francisco has the highest ratio of coffeeshops to people, with 528 dedicated coffee outlets serving a population of 866,606—which means that there’s one coffeehouse for every 1,641 of us. Hopefully you’ll find one of your favorites on this list—or add one to your own personal roster of best places to sit down with a fragrant, uplifting cup of coffee. Here are the lucky 13 best places to find the best coffee in San Francisco.

Wine tasting in Napa can feel like an extravagant activity, but there's still a good number of places where you can get a lot of bang for your buck. This is a dream day out for couples or groups of friends, and if you're looking for where to stay when you're there, we've got you covered below too.  On our list of the best wine tasting sessions in Napa, we've included some more high-end options as well as some for as little as $35. Some recommend booking and others offer walk-in sessions. Some are 1.5 hours while others are whole days of fun, and plenty of them include bottles you can take home too. Whatever your budget, here are the best wine tastings in Napa right now.  RECOMMENDED:🏠 The best Airbnbs in Napa🏨 The best hotels in Napa

San Francisco’s fun side is no secret. This city is packed with fantastic bars, clubs and restaurants, and you’re never short of things to do once the sun goes down. But SF isn’t all thumping clubs and huge beer halls: some of the best nightlife in the city have actually remained a secret.  Yep, we’re talking about speakeasies, and you’ll find them dotted all around the city, hidden where you’d least expect it. These are the most secretive, swankiest spots around, and the hidden doors, great cocktails and more make them a lot of fun. Think of it as a private club without the pretentious membership fees. Here are the best speakeasies in San Francisco right now.  RECOMMENDED:⭐ The best Michelin star restaurants in San Francisco🌮 The best restaurants in San Francisco🍸 The best rooftop bars in San Francisco📍 The best things to do in San Francisco This guide was updated by Amy Sherman, a writer based in San Francisco. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

By all means, keep dining out at the best restaurants in SF if that’s more your style, but if you’re craving a delicious meal at home, the best cooking classes in San Francisco will help sharpen your kitchen skills while expanding your palate. After all, sometimes you just need to eat at home (your wallet will thank you), and there’s no reason your at-home meals can’t be restaurant-quality. To give you a boost, cooking schools and classes throughout San Francisco offer an array of culinary topics in spaces that range from professional kitchens to homey environments. Whether you’re keen to cook your favorite Thai dishes, recreate your go-to Indian delivery order, or simply practice using a chef’s knife without stabbing yourself like a newbie, these lessons will have you cooking with gas in no time. Get ready to throw on an apron and get to work. Here’s our guide to the best cooking classes in San Francisco. RECOMMENDED: The best things to do in San Francisco This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, click here.

Looking for a quick meal on-the-go? These San Francisco food trucks serve some of the best dessert, dinner, lunch and breakfast in San Francisco without having to wait around for a table. Every day of the week, all over town, you’ll find great street food events in San Francisco, from Off The Grid and Soma StrEat Food Park to Spark and Truck Stop SF. And don't forget the roving trucks and permanent kiosks at local farmers markets. Head to one of these San Francisco food trucks for affordable, creative and convenient food and the chance to dine al fresco.  RECOMMENDED: Best restaurants in San Francisco

As the home of the Warriors, 49ers, Sharks, A's, Giants and Earthquakes, there's never a lack of games to watch on TV in the Bay Area. But sometimes you want to watch with other die-hard fans, and that's where the best sports bars in San Francisco come in. Whether you prefer a gritty local dive bar or a modern San Francisco brewery, you can expect HD TVs, beer and rabid fans at these top spots. If you swear allegiance to a team based outside of the Bay Area, we have spots where you can feel at home. If you like to watch golf or tennis or boxing or race car driving, there are bars for that too. So order a craft beer, nosh on some wings and root along with other fans at the best sports bars in San Francisco.  RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best bars in San Francisco

One of the easiest ways to experience Napa Valley is on a fun tour. If you're planning to drive through Wine Country, consider booking an informative tour and tasting at one of the best wineries in Napa. If you'd rather leave the car behind, you can board a train, zip around on a Segway, peddle through the vineyards on a bicycle or take in the view of the valley from a hot air balloon. A standard Napa Valley wine tour will cover the history of the winery and explain how wine is made, but may also include venturing into the cellars, vineyards, and even a museum or art gallery before ending with a wine tasting. Afterwards, sit down at one of the best restaurants in Napa before you head home.  RECOMMENDED: The best things to do in Napa