Clara Hogan

For a dish to be fantastic, it doesn’t have to be pricy. In fact, we love the treasure hunt of finding something really special, crafted with care and a love of fresh ingredients, for a surprisingly low cost. Every item on this list falls under $15: hard to find, but not impossible. They come from all over the U.S., so hopefully you aren’t far from one of these restaurants serving a delicious cheap eat—or maybe your travel plans bring you in close proximity. Enjoy!  

Sweeping mountain views, incredible slopes and wide-open terrain: It's all yours to experience at the best ski resorts in the U.S. Come winter, there are few things more thrilling than zipping down a snowy run with the wind blowing in your face—and the sense of accomplishment after is nothing short of spectacular. But beyond the slopes, the best ski resorts in the U.S. offer a slew of amenities, be it additional winter activities like snowboarding and snowshoeing, a charming downtown area, buzzy drinking and dining venues, luxe accommodations and/or top-notch après ski where you can let loose. Below, we’ve rounded up our favorite ski resorts across America to inspire your winter travels. But there is one thing to note: As you scroll through the list, you’ll definitely notice that most of our top picks can be found out West. That’s because the region offers towering peaks and high elevations, which are—you guessed it—ideal for skiing, along with significant snowfall and powdery snow courtesy of the cold, dry air. RECOMMENDED: The best ski resorts for non-skiers

When dining out, steak seems to be the ultimate decadent choice, and a steakhouse visit figures into many people’s vacation plans. Something about the aroma drifting out to the sidewalk, the knowledge that next to your plate will be a sturdy knife, the anticipation of that succulent pink with a carmelized sear on the surface… it’s worth daydreaming about. And San Francisco’s steakhouses fulfill those daydreams with inventive takes on the standard at newer spots, as well as time-honored renditions at landmark restaurants that have been blowing residents’ minds since the 1940s. With grass-fed American beef and Japanese Wagyu taking pride of place on the platter, here are the top 12 best steakhouses in San Francisco. RECOMMENDED:🌮 The best restaurants in San Francisco🍳 The best breakfast in San Francisco🍸 The best rooftop bars in San Francisco📍 The best things to do in San Francisco

Palo Alto’s downtown is a fun place to walk around and dip into one of the many restaurants serving delicious fare. You might ramble one direction and come across a French patisserie; turn another corner and someone is serving wine flights in what looks like a home’s front yard. There’s an eatery that specializes in hummus, a rooftop terrace for a sunset cocktail and an Indian restaurant serving a dish that only 23 grandmothers know the recipe for. You’ll find a vast range of options in this bustling pedestrian friendly area. RECOMMENDED: The best restaurants in San Francisco

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

Waffles have long been the ultimate shape-shifters of the culinary world. Slather them with butter and syrup and call them breakfast. Add fried chicken, and suddenly, they’re brunch. Put a smashburger between them and, let’s be honest, you’re probably quite high. Here’s the thing about waffles: they’re dependable and versatile, and, gummies or not, they just might be the star of any table from sun-up to well past closing time. This is perhaps why Americans now prefer waffles over pancakes, according to a survey by First Watch (which is awesomely named The Brunch Report). Whether you’re hunting for a classic Belgian or some new waffle creation, these are America’s top restaurants where the waffle magic happens. RECOMMENDED: The best fast food breakfasts in AmericaThe best items on the IHOP menu

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  

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas—a glowing Christmas—everywhere you go. From tiny lanes in historic neighborhoods to vast convention centers to entire Christmas towns, it seems everyone is getting into the Christmas spirit through magical light displays. It's a sight that Clark Griswold and Christmas lovers could only dream of…until now. These fantasylands of twinkling lights, animatronic holiday displays, and kitsch are full of Christmas cheer, Christmas markets, festive food, entertainment, and holiday shops. Whether you pile into a car to drive through these illuminated wonders or bundle up with hot cocoa to immerse yourself in a sparkling, spectacular stroll, these charmingly lit displays are the ultimate Christmas light extravaganza to ignite the holiday spirit. RECOMMENDED: The best Christmas towns in the U.S.The best Christmas markets in the U.S.

In an era where half of print books are sold via that not-to-be-named dot-com behemoth, it’s worth skipping the endless scrolling and forgetting algorithms, instead turning to independent booksellers to discover your next read. Not only does shopping at America’s best bookstores support local businesses that are all too often struggling these days, but it also presents a chance to find something you didn’t even know you were looking for—and engage in the community along the way. After all, great bookstores are more than just a place to buy books; they bring stories to life through frequent author events, curated recommendations from in-house staff, literary subscription clubs, and other creative ways of fostering community around a love for literature. Wander through the legendary stacks of The Strand in New York City, lose yourself in the beatnik vibes of City Lights in San Francisco, or stumble upon hidden gems in quirky local havens dotted throughout the country. Each of the best independent bookstores in the U.S. is a universe of its own. RECOMMENDED: These 9 U.S. grocery stores are attractions any tourist should add to their trip

Remember that feeling of stepping through the doorway of your local toy store as a kid, eyes scanning the aisles and walls packed to the brim with stuffed animals, games, dolls, and more? Those feelings of wonder and excitement are the magic of a truly great toy store and, thankfully, it’s pretty easy to find this type of place still today. For generations, toy-filled havens have been key fixtures in our communities, from big cities to small towns. Grand emporiums like the historic FAO Schwarz in New York City wow with giant displays, iconic towering stuffed giraffes and every toy imaginable, while quirky gems like Seattle’s Archie McPhee overflow with little gems and rubber chickens (including the world’s largest). Whether big or small, the best toy stores in America spark joy in kids and adults alike. We’re happy to report that even in the age of Amazon, toy stores abound with shelves brimming with train sets, action figures, puzzles, and other treasures in every corner. So embrace your inner child and head to one of the best toy stores in America. RECOMMENDED: The best Christmas markets in the U.S.Treat yourself to the best Christmas candy

While there are plenty of amazing hotels in San Francisco for all kinds of budgets and needs—from hotels for romance to pet-friendly stays—true aesthetes will want a chic boutique hotel in San Francisco, as beautiful as it is comfortable. The boutique hotels that sit throughout every corner of the city capture the true spirit and essence of San Francisco, giving you the true San Fran experience from day to night. Make your trip that touch more interesting and stay somewhere cool and unique. Whether you’re trying to tap into the rocker vibe of old or the gorgeous vineyards of nearby Napa Valley, we’ve got you covered with our pick of the best boutique hotels in San Francisco.  Think Renaissance architecture, five-star luxury, games rooms, and on-site taprooms with outdoor lounges...  RECOMMENDED: The best luxury hotels in San FranciscoThe best Airbnbs in San Francisco This guide was written by U.S.-based writer Clara Hogan. 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. While we might not stay in every hotel featured below, we've based our list on top reviews and amenities to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

You’ve decided you want a winter getaway, but everyone’s kind of “meh” about driving. On these winter train rides across the USA, everyone in your group can relax, cozy up with a warm beverage, and watch the snowy landscape pass—nary a traffic care. Train travel not only takes away the responsibility of driving, but it allows riders to see more of the country, with all its snow-capped mountains, blanketed fields, and frosty trees glittering in the sunlight. In one trip, you can chug along from Seattle to Chicago, taking in the majesty of Glacier National Park, with many naps between. Or you can opt for a shorter trek, sitting back while you travel toward a weekend ski trip. Whether you're looking for family-friendly fun, a romantic voyage with your partner, or a solo day of escaping reality, build your bucket list below with these best winter train rides in the USA. RECOMMENDED: The best train rides for seriously gorgeous views  

What is the Golden Gate Bridge? Built in 1937 to connect San Francisco with the Marin headlands, the Golden Gate Bridge is one of the most universally recognized landmarks and most photographed bridge in the world. Visitors stand in awe of its 746-foot tall towers and bold International Orange color, which is repainted year-round. Is the Golden Gate Bridge worth visiting? The Golden Gate Bridge is the number one landmark in San Francisco—don't miss a chance to witness its stunning architecture, be it heading across the bridge or taking in views from San Francisco or Marin. Whichever way you choose, just don't forget a jacket—Karl the Fog is often looming nearby.  What's the best way to see the Golden Gate Bridge? Visitors often choose to experience crossing the bridge by foot, bike or car. Bikes and cars are permitted access 24 hours a day, while walkers can cross using the east sidewalk between 5am-6:30pm (5am-9pm during Daylight Savings Time).  Looking for a good viewing spot instead? You'll have plenty of options, including Crissy Field, Fort Point, Baker Beach or our favorite, the brand-new Presidio Tunnel Tops. What's good to eat near the Golden Gate Bridge? There aren't a lot of options directly near the base of the bridge on either side. On the San Francisco side, your best bet is in the Presidio—try Il Parco for a casual option in the Presidio Tunnel Tops park or Dalida, a buzzy new Mediterranean restaurant. On the Marin side, we continue taking in the views from Farl

You can hear the Napa Valley Wine Train before you see it. Starting in Downtown Napa at the McKinstry Street Station, the train rumbles through towns like Yountville and iconic vineyards like V. Sattui on a 36-mile round trip journey to St. Helena and back. The cavalcade of railroad cars were built in 1951 by the Pullman Standard Company and  refurbished for the modern era with details nodding to the original time period such as plush booths and mahogany paneling. Passengers can choose from a variety of dining journeys, including the Gourmet Express (a multi-course meal), Romance on the Rails (dinner and wine in a private booth on the train's Vista Dome) and Murder Mystery (a murder-mystery– themed dinner). One of the most intimate option is the Champagne Vista Dome experience, which guarantees you a private table. This car features curved glass windows in the observation-style dining car that give even more expansive views of Napa's lush countryside.  The three-hour lunch and two-hour dinner rides generally stick to the rails, but if getting off and exploring the vineyards is more of your thing, opt for one of the winery tours; most go to a few wineries and include lunch or dinner on the train.

Since 1994, the old stone cottage in the heart of wine country that houses the French Laundry has stood among the holiest of holy grails not only for destination diners, but aspiring industry pros around the world. Chef Thomas Keller’s influence on the culinary world is inestimable; without him, there’d be no Noma, Alinea, Benu or Frasca Food and Wine, to name just a few iconic restaurants his mentees have gone on to open. The pilgrimage to this intimate, 17-table Napa Valley institution remains at the very top of foodies’ bucket lists. Reservations open a month in advance, with seatings occurring daily from 4pm to 8:15pm. Every meal begins with a crisp salmon tartare cornet paired with a glass of champagne. From there, diners select one of the two prix fixe menus (one for meat eaters and one for vegetarians) and are then promptly taken on a three-to-four hour culinary journey. Dishes consist of classic and refined, yet unstuffy, French cuisine that showcase California-fresh produce sourced from the culinary garden across the street. The French Laundry has served as the pinnacle of fine dining for 25 years, with hospitality as unwaveringly pristine as the food. The restaurant has been awarded three Michelin stars every year since the first Michelin guide to the San Francisco Bay Area was issued in 2007, making Keller the only American chef to have two three-star restaurants at the same time (the other being Per Se in New York.)  The restaurant recently underwent a stunning $1

Think of San Francisco’s largest Halloween pub crawl as trick-or-treating for adults. Thousands of costumed revelers take over Polk Street for drinks, music and dancing, and costume contests. This year, whether you show up on foot or via the San Francisco Party Bus, you’re sure to be in spooktacular company at 20 haunted watering holes including Mayes, Nick's Crispy Tacos, Del Mar, and Wonder SF. It’s free to join the festivities.     

Napa Valley’s BottleRock festival is back this year for its first “normal” event since 2019. The festival was canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19 and, in 2021, it was delayed until the fall and had pandemic precautions in place. This year, BottleRock is back in all its glory in its usual slot, Memorial Day weekend, with big-name headlining artists from Pink to Metallica and Luke Combs. Other performers include Twenty One Pilots, Kygo, Pitbull, Alessia Cara, Vance Joy, and Amos Lee. The event will also host a slew of other activities from famous chefs and celebrities on the culinary stage to an impressive food and drink line-up and a series of more intimate performances outside of the main event.  We’ve rounded up answers to all of your questions to give you everything you need to know about BottleRock 2022. We also have you covered on where to go, eat, and sleep in Napa Valley should you want to explore more.  What is BottleRock?BottleRock Napa Valley, presented by JaM Cellars, is a three-day music, wine, craft brew and culinary festival that started in 2013.  When is BottleRock? BottleRock 2022 will run Memorial Day weekend, May 27-29, in downtown Napa at the Napa Valley Expo fairgrounds. How do I buy BottleRock tickets? Three-day tickets are sold out, but one-day general admission tickets for Friday and Saturday are still available through the BottleRock website. You can also still buy sold-out passes through the official ticket exchange Lyte. How much are BottleRock tickets?

What is Alcatraz? Alcatraz was once host to the first lighthouse on the West Coast, but it is most famous for serving as a former maximum security federal prison from 1934 to 1963. A small island situated in the middle of the San Francisco Bay, the formidable fortress was home to some of the 20th century's most notorious criminals. Today, the site is run by the National Park Service, and you can visit “The Rock” on a reserved tour. After taking a ferry departing from Pier 33 Alcatraz Landing, you'll receive a headset that allows you to take a self-guided audio tour of the prison.  Is Alcatraz worth visiting? A trip to Alcatraz is worth it both for the scenic ride out and back—where you can take in sweeping views of the bay and cityscape—and for the enthralling tour of the abandoned prison. Narrated by former inmates and guards, the audio tour will tell you stories of harrowing escape attempts, prison riots and the 19-month long occupation of the site by Native Americans demanding reparation for broken treaties in 1969. What's the best way to see Alcatraz? There is only one way to visit Alcatraz: book a tour (which often book up in advance, so look early.) The site is operated by the National Parks Service and only one ferry company — Alcatraz City Cruises — has a contract to transport people to and from the island. Tours are offered year-round, and ferries depart every half an hour throughout the day. To get a more creepy bang for your buck, opt for a night tour. Plan to spe

The local coffee scene across American cities has exploded in recent years — but which city loves its coffee the most? That would be the City by the Bay, at least according to one recent report. San Francisco is the number one coffee city in America, ranked by a survey from the personal-finance website WalletHub. The calculation compared the 100 most populous cities across the US using 12 key metrics, including the average spending on coffee per household, the share of homes with coffee makers, the number of coffee shops and manufacturers per capita, and the number of coffee-centric events.  After San Francisco, Seattle, Orlando, Honolulu, and Portland rounded out the top five coffee cities.  Source: WalletHub Coffee has played an important role in San Francisco's history: the first cup of restaurant coffee in the West was served there, large coffee brands such as Hills Brothers and Folgers started in the city, and the Italian espresso houses of North Beach were popular meeting spots for famous Beat poets. Today, the "third wave" of coffee shops has meant a coffee boom.  San Francisco's top coffee shops are independent, full of local personality, and spread throughout the city. Favorites include Ritual Coffee, Andytown Coffee Roasters, and Farley's. A few of the factors for SF's number one rating — it had both the highest number of affordable coffee shops and cafes rated 4.5 stars or above per capita, as well as the highest number of manufacturers. It also ranked number on

Add another must-do to your San Francisco bucket list: the Presidio Tunnel Tops, a project 30 years in the making. The new federal parkland is now officially open, offering 14 acres of space to play along the bay and take in stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge.  Tunnel Tops, located within the Presidio, a national park formed out of a former military outpost, debuted on July 17 to an outpouring of crowds eager to see the city's newest national park destination. It is a creative solution to creating usable green space in a densely packed city, located on top of the busy Presidio Parkway highway tunnels and connecting the center of the Presidio to the park’s Crissy Field waterfront. The unique design feat was a perfect fit for James Corner Field Operations, the firm behind New York City's High Line, which also found ways to connect urban streets to more peaceful, nature-focused settings.  The park is already a hit with locals and visitors alike, featuring picnic sites, a campfire circle, trails, native plant gardens as well as the Outpost, a sprawling two-acre, nature-inspired play area for children.    Photograph Courtesy of the Trust for the PresidioTunnel Tops   Getting to the Tunnel Tops is easy from most places in the city. Several of the city’s MUNI lines stop at the nearby transit center and there's a free PresidiGo shuttle from downtown.  If you get hungry, you can count on a variety of food trucks and carts nearby, in addition to a slew of eateries offered with

イギリスの金融商品比較サイト、Money.co.ukは新しい分析調査を実施し、LGBTQ+コミュニティーに最も友好的な世界の都市ランキング『The most LGBTQ+ accepting cities』を発表した。 分析に使われたのは、さまざまなデータ。例えばSocial Progressから入手した各国の受容度に関する世界的な指標、人口10万人当たりのLGBTQ+施設の数を示すTripadvisorのデータといったもの。出生証明書や運転免許証の性別表示変更が州相当レベルでどれだけ容易か、成人におけるLGBTQ+自認の割合、子育てをしている25歳以上のLGBTQ+成人数なども含まれている。 その結果、世界で最もLGBTQ+の人々を受け入れていのは、アイスランドのレイキャビクとなった。同地のLGBTQ+受容度スコアは満点の10ポイント。LGBTQ+専用のバーやクラブが最も多くあり、それらの質も高いことが結果に反映されたようだ。 2位、3位はオランダのアムステルダム、ロッテルダムが続いた。アムステルダムは、惜しくもレイキャビックにトップの座を譲ったが、スコアの差はほとんどない。受容度も9.8ポイントと非常に高く、ナイトライフについても数、質ともに大差がなかった。ロッテルダムは、LGBTQ+向けの施設の数が上位2都市に比べると少ないため、この順位になったようだ。 4位に入ったのが、アメリカのサンフランシスコ（アメリカの都市として1位）。同地は、人口10万人当たりのLGBTQ+施設の数が全都市中2番目に多く、それらのTripadvisorの平均評価も星4.2つと高い。サンフランシスコが高順位になったことは、この都市がLGBTQ+コミュニティーにとってリベラルで進歩的な避難所であるという長年の評判や、LGBTQ+運動の歴史を考えると大きな驚きではないだろう。 このランキングのトップ20を見てみると、、アメリカからはボストン（11位）、シアトル（12位）、ロサンゼルス（16位）、シカゴ（17位）の5都市がランクインしている。 ただ、同時発表されたアメリカの州別ランキングで1位になったのは、カリフォルニア州ではなく、ハワイ州だった。同州では人口の4.6％がLGBTQ+を自認。労働安全や出生証明書の性別表記を変更する手続きなどでも高い評価を受け、LGBTQ+コミュニティーで子育てをしている割合が30％と、上位5州の中で最も多い。ハワイに続く2位にはメイン州、3位にはバーモント州がランクイン。カリフォルニア州は4位となった。 ランキングと分析内容は、Money.co.ukの公式サイトで確認できる。 原文はこちら 関連記事 『ブライダル大手が同性婚のためのウエディングプランを紹介』 『東京、学びのクィアスポット6選』 『日本のジェンダー観や婚姻制度のあれこれ、もう一度社会の前提を疑おう』 『ニューヨーク歴史協会がLGBTQ+博物館の設立を発表』 『6年で日本は「ジェンダー平等」に近づいたのか、公平な制度の実現へ』 東京の最新情報をタイムアウト東京のメールマガジンでチェックしよう。登録はこちら

A new study shows which cities around the world are the most friendly toward the LGBTQ+ community, and we're not that surprised at the winners.  The study, conducted by Money.co.uk, analyzed cities based on a variety of criteria, including a worldwide indicator sourced from Social Progress on the level of acceptance in each country, Tripadvisor data showing the number of LGBTQ+ establishments per 100,000 people, as well as how easy it is at the state level to change the gender marker on your birth certificate and driver's license, the percentage of adults who identify as LGBTQ+, and how many LGBTQ+ adults over 25 are raising children, among other factors.  In the United States, San Francisco came out on top as the number one most accepting city in America, and fourth in the world. The city has the second-highest number of LGBTQ+ establishments per 100,000 people and has an average rating of 4.2 stars.  San Francisco coming in the first place isn't a huge surprise, given the city's long reputation as a liberal and progressive haven for the LGBTQ+ community and its history of LGBTQ+ activism. Out of the top 20 most accepting cities, five are based in the US: Boston ranked 11th; Seattle ranked 12th, Los Angeles placed 16th and Chicago came in at 17th. At the worldwide level, Reykjavik, Iceland was number one. That was followed by Amsterdam and Rotterdam in the Netherlands.  In terms of states in the US though, California wasn't number one. It came in fourth. Hawaii actually cam

Napa Valley is a bucket-list destination for every wine lover – the rolling vineyard hills, award-winning wineries, and gourmet California cuisine make it a foodie mecca that people around the world flock to. And one of the most magical ways to take in all that wine country has to offer is aboard the Napa Valley Wine Train.  The wine train is an iconic piece of Napa that’s been operating for more than 30 years, running directly through the valley on a rail line originally built in 1864. It was on a long hiatus during Covid, but officially re-opened in May. And now it's bringing back its popular Murder Mystery rides starting this month through October. The themed rides include 'Crime and Punishment,' 'Death of a Gangster' and a 'Wizards and Witches' tour that sounds perfect for Harry Potter fans (wizarding robes and hats are highly encouraged).  Photograph: Courtesy Napa Valley Wine Train While aboard the refurbished 1951 Pullman coaches, guests will have two hours to solve a murder (all while being served a multi-course fine-dining experience). On the Wizards and Witches tour – which takes place October 2, 9, and 16 – feel free to dress up as your favorite Hogwarts character and imagine you're aboard the Hogwarts Express!  Not into dress-up? The train offers a variety of other tours. Choose from various experiences and times, including daytime and evening rides, an intimate meal in the Champagne Dome, as well as those that includes stops at wineries and special ones like j