the 415.
i get a lot of requests from y’all for travel tips to san francisco, and i’m always happy to oblige. i’m so proud of this city and love living here, and most especially sharing it with y’all. in fact, if you weren’t aware, i have a category on the blog devoted to san francisco happenings, and several of my favorites listed in the resources section (check out if you’re going to san francisco and you gotta eat). so, i thought i’d start a series rounding up some of my favorite spots for you. this week i’m going to start with my own san francisco neighborhood, noe valley.
and, pssst…there’s a surprise attached to this new 415 series. i’ve got a giveaway coming up that could make this information pretty valuable. that’s all i’m saying at the moment. but it’s gonna be big. it’s gonna be huge. standby.
you gotta eat:
24th street cheese company – just what you think it – a wonderful shop with a ginormous black board listing well over a hundred gourmet cheeses broken down alphabetically by type.
bacco – yummy italian specialties and authentic regional Italian cuisine, just off the beaten path on diamond street.
bernie’s coffee – a super friendly (non-chain) little neighborhood spot to grab your morning coffee and pastry. and they’ve got wifi, and outdoor seating too!
chloe’s cafe – for a top notch breakfast or brunch, and sidewalk tables, visit chloe’s. there might be a line, but it’s well worth it.
contigo – my very favorite and a love letter to Barcelona, serving up amazing spanish tapas. a fun spot to go with a group – try it all!
firefly – a magical and cozy little neighborhood spot serving up great comfort food, including a prix fixe menu Sunday thru Thursday.
incanto – a carnivore’s delight. a unique italian cafe, specializing in various cooking methods of utilizing all the bodily part of the beast.
la boulangerie – a san francisco bakery chain, but a yummy one. lovely french pastries and an excellent spot for coffee and brunch.
fattoush – an excellent little middle eastern cafe.
le zinc – a sweet little french bistro. sit outside on the garden patio and enjoy a kir royale.
lupa – the neighborhood italian trattoria.
noeteca – noe valley’s local cafe and wine bar. a place that will feel comfortable and familiar – a meeting place for friends and family.
noe valley bakery – the local baker serving up cupcakes, fresh artisan baked breads and custom cakes. yum.
pasta gina – my favorite neighborhood grocer – for italian specialties. best meatballs, homemade ravioli and cannoli around. so friendly too!
tataki south – sweet little sushi bar serving up only the freshest and sustainable fish.
the little chihuahua – excellent and super fresh mex, using organic produce and niman ranch beef. try the Fried Plantains Burritos. there’s a little outside patio, too.
shopping:
ambiance – clothing and accessories boutique for women, decorated with a vintage vibe.
curator – a sweet little shop with a line of clothing designed and produced in San Francisco. great jewelry and accessories, too.
lovejoy’s attic – sweet little vintage shop (try their charming tea room across the street, too).
omnivore books – best little cookbook shop in town. and frequent chef lectures are always on the menu. get a signed copy of your favorite cookbook.
phoenix books – the neighborhood new and used book seller.
rabat’s shoes – amazing shoes, like chie mihara’s!
urban nest – one part Parisian flea market, one part haven for pampering yourself, the urban nest is one of my favorite little san francisco shopping secrets.
wink – i love this adorable gift shop. from great bags, jewelry and home accessories to the cutest kids stuff, i always find something i want for myself at wink.
this week’s tips:
1. one thing i always tell visitors – the best time of year to visit is really right now – we get our warmest weather from about october to early november. bright clear, crisp days and not much fog at all. so keep that in mind next time you’re thinking of coming north!
2. be sure and check out My Found Locals page, and look at other Bold Italic profiles for great locals’ favorites, too.
• top image via lockedcog; neighborhood image via thomas hawk.
LOVE this new series! I’m originally from the Bay Area & lived in SF for a few months while in college but I’m always looking for new places to try when I come visit. It’s one of my favorite places in the whole world. :)
I went to San Francisco a long time ago and enjoyed every minute there. It was in the summer and we had great weather. I would love love love to visit San Francisco again, now that I’ve read a lot more about the city and have all your tips!
Love this, Victoria!
SF is number 1 on my US cities to visit, so I’m always interested to hear about places to go and things to see.
I’m bookmarking this one in my travel bookmarks.
love that first pic! SF always seems like a photographer’s paradise.
Noe is one of my favorite neighborhoods and I hang out there often, esp. at Contigo! Love love love that place.
i eat at contigo all the time. i think they are beginning to expect me at least every other week! :)
i hope you all like this series – i’m pretty excited to make my announcement, but i’m gonna make you wait just a little bit longer! :)
Victoria: I also live in Noe Valley, and whenever my husband and I go to Firefly (or anywhere you’ve mentioned on this site, for that matter), I always wonder if I’ll see you! I have that same view of Sutro Tower from my living room — gorgeous, isn’t it? The light is magic in the early mornings.
ha! you never know. i eat there a lot, too!
don’t forget Bernie’s, best coffee in the neighborhood. And Bacco’s, around the corner from Firefly on Diamond, is a very respectable Italian restaurant for comfort food and good wine.
good idea, michael. i’ll update the list! :)
Wil definitely be keeping an eye on this. We moved to SF a little over a year ago and there are always great new places to check out.
your blog makes me happy! i met my husband in san francisco and lived there for a few years. my hubs and i always think so fondly of the bay area and this was such a happy friday surprise! i’ll definitely be following…have a great weekend!
hi victoria – that first pic is awesome -its’ very inception – but the real thing!
and i love the how the pink #’s pick up the lighter peachy colors on the top part of the pic – i would so buy it- will you think about it?
thanks kim, but that image isn’t mine – i credited it above. someone else just suggested the same thing on FB, so i created this one:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sfgirlbybay/6335585806/in/photostream
maybe i should do a series! :)
ha ha. i’ve often wondered why people who comment don’t read the entry clearly.
anyway – thank you!!
i am flattered, nonetheless! :)
I always forget how many little gems are tucked away in Noe Valley. I really need to get out of my Mission rut and head up there.
Love that top photo. Looking forward to this series.
Academy of Arts was my home for 3 years!
BTW, Tony Bennett’s song is playing in my head now…
Fab weekend Victoria!
Ooh, I love the Noe love. Two of my faves were left off your list–
La Ciccia (http://laciccia.com/)–Offering a twist on standard Italian fare with delicious Sardinian food. Consistently warm staff and delicious eats.
Two Birds (http://www.2birds1store.com/)–a lovely, newish boutique presenting a carefully curated mix of designer clothing and locally made jewelry. And the dressing area makes anyone feel pretty.
You should definitely check them out if you haven’t already.
thanks! i keep hearing about la ciccia and i need to check out two birds, too!
I was in SF four weeks ago for the (1/2) marathon. We stayed a few extra days and had a great time. Thanks for posts like this, because we will return!
I am green, green, GREEN with envy of your neighborhood! Man I miss California.
nice. I’ll try to discover sf too !
I love San Francisco, and and even more excited for my next visit, now! Thanks for the guide, Victoria.
THANK YOU. i used your blog as a reference when i first visited san francisco just a few months ago! perfecto. http://alittlebear.blogspot.com/search/label/san%20francisco
My friends own Firefly, and we just LOVE it. The food and ambiance are wonderful. Love thT dim lighting. I also cannot stay away from NV bakery when I am in the neighborhood. Some stand out original pastries and a lot of delicious old standbys.
One of the reasons I love living in San Francisco is that it is so easy to feel like you are on vacation when you step out your door. Amazing landmarks everywhere, beautiful parks, unbelievable views. Each time I head put for an adventure with the kids and write it up I feel like I am writing a travel guide. There’s just so much to do!
I will keep my eye out for when you write about Glen Park. I find that neighborhood to ne like stepping through a portal into another dimension! We love Glen Park Canyon and hike it frequently.
Oh, also, I’ve found some great vintage dresses and coats at Mary’s Vintage, at Castro and 24th.
Oh, La Ciccia….can’t forget that amazing restaurant!
So, so happy to see this! I used to live in Noe Valley, among other SF ‘hoods, and I still have such fond memories of our life and little house there (on Elizabeth St.) Some of the places you mentioned are new to me and I will have to check out on my next visit. I can’t even remember how many hours I spent and how many treasures I found in Phoenix Books. Congrats on this new series!
What about that cheese store?
Aww, seeing this post makes me want to fly to SF tonight! By far, one of my favorite cities and I miss it.
I dearly love SF. I got married here, and have come back to visit several times. So charming in so many ways. I have always wanted to walk across the Golden Gate Bridge. It is on my life’s to do list. You have created a beautiful blog here, and you truly add happiness to my world. Thank you.
glad to bring back happy memories for you, patricia!
I will check some of these out next time I get to SF. First stop is the cheese shop.
How about Chloe’s for lunch (26th and Church) and Cotton Basics (24th and Castro) for cozy clothes. That’s my routine!
good idea – thanks, janis!
i’m going to update this list with everyone’s suggestions!
All those spots are wonderful, my daughter loves going to Bernie’s. We have the exact opposite view of Sutro Tower from our living room in West Portal. We head over to hill to Noe farmer’s market every Saturday – my favorite small market in the city.
Your blog reminds me how much I love San Francisco and how much I miss it. I’m figuring you have already been to my favorite pizza place Golden Boy in North Beach if not I highly recommend it.
I lived at Stinson Beach for a brief time nearly twenty years ago. I LOVED San Francisco and the surrounding areas and cannot wait to get back there again “some day!” I stumbled upon you, the hippest chick, writing about a place that I didn’t get to visit long enough but fell immediately in love with. I LOVE to read your blog. It inspires me every single day.
thanks, bren!
i love all the restaurants! You HAVE to go to Flour + Water on 20th and Harrison. I went for the first time this past weekend and I think it’s my new favorite restaurant. Amazing pizza and pasta.
Thanks so much for sharing, Victoria! Great city guide
i’m from SF too! i have a condo right off of haight that i go to every weekend.
i LOVE ambiance!! i think you should add ‘therapy’ on van ness to your list, therapy is a great store for clothing, furniture, and knick knacks :)
Thanks for featuring our hood!! :)