When out-of-town friends visit the Bay Area, I’m often tasked with crafting a night (or day) out on the town, and I think I have some good routes up my sleeve. With Memorial Day Weekend, the (spiritual) start of summer travel looming, some of you may even be preparing to entertain out of towners around the Bay.
My ideal day — whether traveling or on my home turf — is packed with food and drink stops, and small chunks of walking in between, to get a sense of the neighborhoods. I don’t like to set strict times to get to certain places (other than conforming to business hours), so that it builds in time for discovery, such as wandering into shops or lazing about in a park. Here are a few of my favorite walks throughout the city for the uninitiated.
Full day itinerary: North Beach/Jackson Square
My North Beach route has evolved over the years, but if you were to ask me how to go from day to night in this area, here’s how I’d do it: Maison Nico opens bright and early at 8 a.m., perfect for early risers with a penchant for Viennoisserie. Peruse the pastry case for croissants or whatever else catches your eye; there should be plenty on display at an early hour. After you secure the goods, either grab a seat or, if the weather’s good, head to the redwood park under the Transamerica Pyramid to eat your selections outdoors. Even if nothing’s open yet, I like to wander the Jackson Square area for the architecture before heading up Columbus Avenue to go into City Lights Bookstore.
Depending on timing, if lunch is on the horizon, I’d say to grab sandwiches and a drink at Molinari Delicatessen, plus some cannolis from Mara’s Italian Pastries, then head to Washington Square for a picnic. If someone desires more walking or hiking, save the cannolis and walk up to Coit Tower. You’ll get a twofer with this route: The view from Filbert Street and Coit Tower when you reach the base. I’ll leave the decision of whether to pay to go up to the top of Coit Tower to you (it’s $8 for SF residents, $11 for non-residents), but by the time you reach the top of those stairs, you’ll know why I saved the pastries for this: Sit on the steps, or find a bench, and snack on your well-deserved treat. You also may enjoy the people watching, as cars and buses navigate the turnaround. Now aren’t you glad you didn’t drive?
If the day hasn’t already worn you out, I’d wander back down to Columbus to grab a glass of wine at Golden Sardine, then dip a toe into Chinatown with a meal at Chong Qing Xiao Mian or R&G Lounge, depending on what you’re looking for (the former leans toward more spicier items, while the latter is just a general crowdpleaser and an excellent spot for Dungeness crabs).
Half-day itinerary: the Presidio
If you’d rather start closer to lunch, and your group is more outdoorsy, head straight to Dalida. It’s a cheery space in the Presidio, and is a standout Mediterranean restaurant perfect for a more leisurely meal. Once done, head to the Walt Disney Family Museum if your visiting friend is a fan of all things Disney, or walk the Presidio Tunnel Tops for a bit. When you’ve soaked up enough Golden Gate Bridge views for a bit, I (unabashedly) love to walk over to the Yoda Fountain for a few photos. While you’re there, might as well stop into the Skywalker Ranch General Store, which recently opened to the public, before ending with happy hour at Piccino Presidio.
Bar crawl: Mission/Market Street
Alright, look, I’m not going to argue with most of the already-perfect bar crawls that are earmarked for the Mission. But one tested route that turned out to be a helluva delightful night went like this. Begin with beers on the Zeitgeist patio, food optional, depending on state of hunger. Walk over to Martuni’s for a bit, for a requisite martini and maybe to see who’s performing that night. If your out-of-towners feel like continuing, that’s typically when a devilish grin crosses my face, and I suggest the Mint, for karaoke in front of a crowd. Whether you participate or not, is up to you, but the vibes are generally fun no matter who’s on stage.
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P.S. As some of you have noticed, I inserted an erroneous link into last week’s newsletter on cookbooks. If you’re still interested, please do buy Scandinavian Everyday: Vibrant, Simple Meals from Northern Europe by Nichole Accettola through Omnivore. And for those who requested to view my “NL ideas” Google Doc.... I have to keep some secrets to myself! ;) But nice try.
