the ultimate date night guide to san francisco

this is the guide I wish I could just text someone when they ask where to take a date; just a long list of my favorite spots. everywhere I love in the city, sorted by neighborhood: dinner, drinks, and the off-menu stuff - the walks, the views, the slice in the park. pick a neighborhood, grab one from each section, and the night is planned for you. let’s get into it!

• original joe’s - grab a seat at the bar!

• ★ tosca cafe

• trattoria contadina

• ★ waystone - jazz night + one of the coziest room in the neighborhood (wine bar!)

• ★ bodega - another great wine bar, great for when the weather’s warm and you can sit outside (those were the days)

• ★ savoy tivoli - I know that this one is kind of rogue but I love savoy <3, check what nights they have live music!

• grab a slice at golden boy and picnic in washington square

• browse city lights, then walk through the alley for a drink at vesuvio (I say this over and over again, but grab a table upstairs)

• espresso and people-watching at caffe trieste on a slow afternoon

• ★ kokkari - amazing greek food, great atmosphere, and strong drinks. one of my favorite dinner spots for sure

• cotogna - this one is hard for the gluten free girls (</3) but a great spot and you can personalize the menus :)

• ★ verjus - romantic and great food! also helps that it’s a gorgeous space (make a reservation 7 days in advance, waiting for a table can be awful)

• ★ bix - I think we all know by now that I love bix, would be a good spot for little apps + drinks

• comstock saloon - vintage cocktails, live music some nights

• catch golden hour along the embarcadero

• wander the antique and design galleries in the neighborhood

• lazy bear - haven’t been myself but am dying to go

• ★ foreign cinema - after dinner you can always pop over next door to their bar (laszlo!)

• angie’s pizza

• san ho won - ofc

• ★ rintaro

• true laurel

• ★ dalva - go to the back for their “back bar” called “the hideout” (one of my favorite bars in the city)

• ★ trick dog - fun, great music, cool drinks

• dolores park picnic

• watch a movie at alamo drafthouse

• robin

• dingles public house

• ★ RT bistro

• happy crane

• hotel biron - mentioned in my fog guide because it is just that cozy!

• ★ the linden room - another one of my favorite bars in the city, super intimate (only seats 8-10 people at a time)

• a show at sfjazz

• the symphony, opera, or ballet are all a short walk at civic center

• ★ pearl 6101 - one of my favs in the city, love the ambiance there

• ★ clementina - for the gluten free girls! their gf focaccia was insane

• ★ kitchen istanbul - of course. great food and an amazing wine selection

• rose pizzeria - new(ish)! really pretty space + famous pizza

• ★ rampant - wine bar!

• violet’s tavern

• lands end trail to sutro baths at sunset

• legion of honor! (they have special events at night, check their calendar)

• ★ fiorella - their sunset location is gorgeous. when the weather warms back up again, their back patio is perfect

• ★ damnfine - known for their pizza!

• ebisu

• toyose

• palm city - wine bar!

• ★ white cap - great cocktails

• the riptide

• ocean beach bonfire at sunset - bring wine, blanket, and some food from ruby’s or hook fish

• andytown for a snowy plover, then a walk along the great highway

• l'ardoise - cutie french bistro

• frances

• ★ anchor oyster bar - some of my favorite seafood in sf <3

• ★ blackbird

• blush!

• drive to twin peaks for sunset

• browse dog eared books and cliff's variety, then a glass of wine

• ★ bar bibi - technically a wine bar, but I love their food

• ★ saru handroll bar - duh, go say hi to my best friend drew if you go

• okoze

• union larder - super cozy & romantic

• amelie - good date night spot NOT on a weekend (turns more into a going out vibe)

• a swensen's cone at the corner of hyde and union

• the hidden stairways and ina coolbrith park

• ★ back to back - great pizza, but I also love their steak. cute spot for sunset

• ★ the big 4 - recently reopened in the huntington hotel, very old-school sf

• ★ persona - well, of course. another one of my favorites in the city - their drinks are so good

• ★ arabella’s - new gorgeous cocktail lounge in the huntington hotel

• key klub - wine bar! I usually like this spot for a girls’ night but I think it could be fun to sit in the back with a date

• ★ PCH - ugh I love their pornstar martini 10/10 my favorite drink in the city

• huntington park at golden hour

• mamanoko - sushi

• roaming goat

• ★ brazen head - great for date night, everything is very red (lol)

• little original joe’s - I love sitting at their bar!

• bar crenn

• left door - speakeasy above bus stop

• celeste - another favorite wine bar, and another bar that turns into a going out spot on the weekends

• marina green and grab a coffee from the philz truck on a sunday morning

• sunset over the bridge from the fort mason lawn

• che fico - great spot on a rainy night

• bar crudo

• ★ bar 821 - intimate bar with GREAT drinks

• fool’s errand

• horsefeather - I love their seasonal drinks

• catch a show at the independent

• alamo square and the painted ladies, picnic up on the hill

I know that there are still so many neighborhoods / spots missing from this list so a part two will be coming soon!

Let me know what I missed and what your favorite spots are, happy sunday. xoxo

Love Always,

Su