Indulge in luxury in the city’s premier shopping
district The elegant Union Square district in the heart of downtown San Francisco is flanked by the city’s trendiest boutiques, such as Tiffany and Co., and large department stores Macy’s and Neiman Marcus. Maiden Lane is home to the legendary shops of Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent.
A perfect place to relax is on the Mocca’s terrace. There is a lot more to discover here – for example the cocktail lounge in the Starlight Room in the Sir Francis Drake Hotel and the Cheesecake Factory right on Union Square. Around the corner on Market Street are even more shops and restaurants at the Westfield San Francisco shopping complex.
Westfield San Francisco is nearby on Market Street and is a sparkling mall with chic boutiques and department stores. It’s also worth checking out the shops in the small neighborhoods, such as Chestnut Street near the Marina and Cow Hollow. Sacramento Street sits on the edge of the exclusive Pacific Heights neighborhood, where beautiful homes stand at the top of the hill. Haight Street was the origin of hippie culture in the 1960s and has since blossomed into a hip shopping street. In the gay district of Castro you will find numerous fun shops and interesting restaurants.
Mecca for gourmets
According to topschoolsintheusa.com, San Francisco is a mecca for foodies. Chinatown is home to a variety of fantastic Chinese restaurants – including some serving dim sum lunches. Authentic Italian cuisine is served in the nearby North Beach area. At Caffe Trieste – the city’s first Italian coffee house – you might even be able to enjoy an opera performance on a Saturday afternoon. The best Mexican cuisine can be found in the Mission District. Union Square is the city’s shopping district, with luxury shops and department stores lining the streets.
With the influences of the many different cultures that have become part of the entire state, California cuisine has evolved into a unique and diverse fusion of different cooking styles. Authentic Latin American and Asian dishes can be enjoyed in the many cozy taquerias, sushi restaurants and curry cookshops, where you can often get excellent food at reasonable prices. World-class multicultural restaurants like San Francisco’s famous Slanted Door are among California’s finest restaurants.
VUSA TIP: Look
for the wooden bow and arrow sign on the corner of 25th Street and Mission to the Mission Pie café. The eatery works with Davenport’s Pie Ranch. There are wonderful walnut, apple, pear, raspberry and even potato cakes here. There is also organic coffee from Taylor Maid Farms.
2901 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110-3917, missionpie.com
The Spanish tapas bar Cesar, adjacent to the world-renowned Chez Panisse, was an instant hit when it opened in 1998: At first, patrons would pop in for a quick glass of wine and then stay for hours to enjoy small dishes such as roasted and curried chickpeas, cucumber Enjoy gazpacho with pepper, salted cod and cazuela. Almost a decade later, the owners opened a second eatery on Piedmont Avenue in Oakland. Although the second restaurant is much larger, the principle has been adhered to: Here, too, you get tasteful appetizers that are so delicious that you keep ordering. Hail Cesar!
4039 Piedmont Ave, Oakland, CA 94611-5208, www.barcesar.com
Going out in the City by the Bay
The range of cool clubs, bars and rustic pubs is huge. In order not to miss anything, you should take a look at the newspapers every day. Night owls are on the safe side at the following addresses:
The Mighty covers every requirement a club-goer can have: top DJs, live music and a spacious dance floor. 119 Utah St. www.mighty119.com
Live music fans are in good hands at The Independent. It has been one of San Francisco’s most popular live venues for more than 30 years. 628 Divisadero St., www.theindependentsf.com
The Boom Boom Room, 1601 Fillmore St., www.boomboomblues.com offers blues, boogie, soul, groove and funk and a dance floor to celebrate
Club Ruby Skye
dance club in the Union Square area combines the best of new and old – the elegant 19th century building is equipped with the latest sound, video and lighting technology. The 1,400 square meter dance floor and many other smaller entertainment areas on two floors are offered here. 420 Mason St., San Francisco, CA 94102-1706, www.rubyskye.com
Sushi & Jazz
At first glance, jazz and sushi don’t necessarily belong together, but since 1973 the renowned Yoshi’s has proved the opposite. The names of the artists who have performed here in the modern club read like a Who’s Who of jazz. Two shows per night (excluding Christmas and Thanksgiving) can be enjoyed at the 320-seat club. It is possible to order food during the performance or have a cozy dinner before or after the show.
510 Embarcadero W, Oakland, CA 94607-3506, www.yoshis.com
Live Music
The legendary The Fillmore – where Janis Joplin and the Grateful Dead began their careers – still hosts top acts and bands old and new. The walls of this Italian-style building are papered with photos and posters by many of the famous artists who have performed here over the years.
1805 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94115-3519, www.thefillmore.com
What’s Hot Catch
a classic movie at the Castro Theater (429 Castro Street) www.castrotheatre.com
Go treasure hunting at Amoeba Music, the city’s largest music store (1855 Haight Street) www.amoeba.com
Have dinner at “ Burma Superstar ” (309 Clement Street) www.burmasuperstar.com
Sunday picnic in Golden Gate Park
