the sf birthday guide

happy virgo season to all who celebrate!!!!! the late days of august bring such a different energy to the city: the fog finally starts to lift earlier and earlier in the day, everything is golden, and san francisco truly starts to warm up. there is no better time to celebrate in the city than during sf-summer. everyone stops complaining about the cold and remembers how amazing our city is

over the years, I’ve realized that some birthdays you want to go all-out with your best friends, others you want to be completely alone with just yourself and your favorite dessert. here is a little guide for all of those

as a september virgo, of course, it would be irresponsible of me to not have a fully-planned birthday guide with all of the reservations already booked. so here is my gift to you all. let’s get into it!

• emmy’s spaghetti shack (bernal heights) - very funky & fun space

• mister jiu’s (chinatown) - award-winning chinese food; bonus is going upstairs afterwards for moongate lounge

• bar jabroni (lower haight) - I dream of their steak frites

• pabu (fidi) - I loved their sushi (+ drinks) and they are great for accommodating groups

• verjus (jackson square) - make a reservation a week before!

• key klub (nob hill) - tricky because no reservations but can always wait for a table while you sip

• penny roma (mission) - great food & a perfect location for going out afterwards (ie trick dog right next door)

• the dough room at flour & water pizzeria (north beach) - private room; really great for a big group! we have had so many dinners here and have loved — go to bodega or vesuvio after <3

• private room at dalida (presidio) - stunning room with an amazing menu!!!

• back to back (nob hill) - such a great vibe in here and I love their steak as well

• kokkari (jackson square) - came here for my best friend’s birthday and loved. such a great special-occasion spot

• pearl 6101 (richmond) - perfect spot for golden hour and a nice dinner in a big booth

• elena’s (west portal) - I <3 THE COCONUT MARG

• beit rima (cole valley) - good spot for a hearty meal and sharing some food (join the waitlist before you go)

look, as much as I love being around other people on my birthday - there are also times where I want to be completely alone and take some time to myself. here are my favorite spots to take a second and enjoy my own company:

best spots for a solo dinner

• saru handroll bar (polk) - get the fatty tuna roll; I come here all the time with headphones and/or a book

• swan oyster depot (polk) - what better time to go to a long-lined-lunch than when you only have to wait for a table for 1?

• brazen head (cow hollow) - grab a spot at the bar!

best spots for a solo drink

• golden sardine (north beach)

• bar bibi (russian hill)

• the linden room (hayes valley)

best spots for a solo activity

• solo park-date (grab some sushi and sit in the sun <3)

• go to the floating sauna in the bay at fjord (sausalito)

• explore a new-to-you museum / gallery (ie: saint joseph’s art society is free! you just need to reserve a spot online, SF MOMA is always fun to spend a whole day in, and I love the de young)

more solo-date ideas here !!!

• trick dog (mission)

• bodega (north beach)

• moongate lounge (chinatown) - can make a reservation in advance if you have a big group :)

• persona (nob hill)

• amelie (polk)

• bar part time (mission)

other favorite spots for a GNO here (updated bar guide coming soon!!!!!)

• the pain perdu from verjus is famous for a reason — my best friend made his birthday dinner reservation here specifically for this dessert

• the sponge cake from stella bakery

• susie cakes has an amazing gf cake option!! make sure to place the order ahead of schedule

• as not a cake person myself, I am a strong supporter of the double black giant GF cookie (obviously). you need to try!

• when all else fails, just grab a carton of cookie dough from luke’s local and eat on your walk home

• ramen making class (check out: the story of ramen)

• picnic! this is what I did for my birthday last year: we brought sushi and a cake to the grass patch in front of the conservatory of flowers and ate and laid out in the sun

• trampoline park!!!! (check out: house of air trampoline park and cafe)

• a birthday classic: karaoke (pandora, taisho, festa)

• sweat it out: fjord sauna (but as a group booking) or pearl spa and sauna with the girls

Thank you all so much for reading!!! My virgo-gift-guide is coming soon so stay tuned :) let me know your favorite spots for celebrating your birthday. Chat soon! xoxo

Love Always,

Su