Benjamin Chait
San Francisco favorites
Last updated 26 August 2025.
I lived in SF from 2019 to 2021. I live in Berkeley as of 2025.
SF
- ☕️ Wrecking Ball Coffee is a small shop on Union. They have some simple snacks, but you really visit this spot for their coffee.
- ☕️ I lived one block away from Saint Frank Coffee on Polk and the coffee and pastries are amazing.
- ☕️ For a more casual spot to meet a friend, Sightglass Coffee on Divisadero is great. I think this is their second spot (with the original in SOMA).
- ☕️ Flywheel Coffee Roasters is my favorite coffee when you’re about to wander into Golden Gate Park. They’re on Stanyan facing the park, so once you have your drink you can simply walk across the street and wander.
- 🍳 Get the best breakfast sandwich at Devil’s Teeth Baking Company; and then grab a 🧋 snowy plover from Andytown Coffee; and then wander Ocean Beach or Fort Funston; or really, any combination of the above.
- 🌯 When you’re near North Beach or Fisherman’s Wharf, Beacon Coffee has my favorite breakfast burrito in town (both a veggie and meat option).
- 🍣 Grandeho’s Kamekyo Sushi Bar is a small, hole-in-the-wall spot that I love. When I first moved to the city, this was a block or so away–and a simple go-to for meals.
- 🥐 My new favorite go-to for a croissant (or other delicious pastry) is Maison Nico. It’s a delightful little bakery just a block away from the Transamerica building. You wait outside until they call you in for a very personalized service. If you want, you can sit at one of their tables outside—but if you grab your items to-go and walk for a minute, you’ll be at Transamerica Redwood Park which is a lovely spot with fountains and plenty of amazing trees right in the city.
- 🥙 Souvla is a perfect spot for lunch or dinner and serves Greek gyros, salads, and wine. A few locations exist around the city, but this one is my favorite due to its proximity to lots of boutique shops and spots in Hayes Valley.
- 🥘 Chez Maman is a delightful French restaurant right on the corner of Hayes and Gough.
- 🍷 Verve Wine is a fun little wine shop that has lots of great options! I like grabbing something to drink and a few snacks from the shops around it and wandering to Lafayette Park to enjoy the sunshine (or sunset, depending on the hour).
- 🥐 Tartine always has a line and has always been worth the wait. If you grab pastries, bring them to Mission Dolores Park to enjoy!
- ☕️ My favorite coffee in the Mission District is Ritual.
- 🍫 Dandelion Chocolate is lovely.
- 🥐 Craftsman and Wolves has amazing pastries.
- 🍕 When I first moved to the city, Fiorella (on Polk, but they have other locations!) was my regular go-to spot for pizza and pasta. I love visiting with a friend and ordering food to share; but have also enjoyed solo visits at the bar.
- 🍕 For something a bit more, Little Star Pizza on Divisadero serves some great deep dish.
- 🍞 I always think of The Mill after they made headlines due to their avocado toast. Having tried it, I think it’s great!
- 🥗 Wildseed is a delightful vegetarian spot on Union.
- 🌲 For some time outdoors, exploring The Presidio is always fun.
- 🌊 Lands End is one of my favorite spots in the city, facing out to the Pacific Ocean. Great for a short (or long!) hike and photos of the Sutro Bath ruins.
- 🚶♂️ If you have a bit more time, walking the Crosstown Trail gives you an appreciation of how big and diverse San Francisco is. We like going east-to-west starting at Candlestick Park and finishing at Lands End but you can choose where to start and finish (and which direction to walk). It’s an urban hike, and we typically grab coffee and snacks along the way; and try to meet friends for a larger lunch around Golden Gate Park.
- 🚲 For another longer adventure, biking the Golden Gate Bridge is windy but unique–once you make it to Sausalito, grab ☕️ beverage at Equator and enjoy the community. You can then either bike back across the bridge, or take the ferry into the city!
- 🌾 SF has great farmer’s markets, and two of my favorite are Fort Mason and the Ferry Plaza.
North
- 🍷 We love wine tasting at Biale - make sure you have a reservation, and get a bottle of “Black Chicken” (and make sure you get the story).
- 🥾 For some good hiking options, visit the Marin Headlands or drive to Point Reyes National Seashore. Both are spectacular, but beware of both traffic and crowds (especially in Marin, due to its proximity to SF) if you have a late start.
- 🌲 I love redwood trees and Muir Woods is an accessible way to visit. Make sure you book ahead for parking!
- ⛰️ Mount Tam has some spectacular views and good hikes.
- ⛴️ You can take a ferry to Angel Island State Park for a nice day of local hikes.
East
- ☕️ Sasha Coffee is my favorite local coffee spot, but is only open Monday through Friday and is entirely take-away.
- 🍻 Jupiter is our go-to spot for an afternoon beverage with friends. Their patio is lovely, with good drinks and pizza!
- 🍕 Rose Pizzeria is my new local pizza spot. This is a tiny shop but they have a fun patio out back. Plan for a take-away order (though order early!) or make a reservation in advance.
- 🍕 The Cheese Board Collective is a bakery and cheese shop in the morning, and a famous pizzeria in the afternoon/evening. Check their menu for whatever the day’s pizza is and be ready for a line–but it goes fast, and is worth the wait!
- 🍜 Imm Thai Street Food is authentic and delicious.
- 🥘 Noor is our go-to take-away Indian cuisine.
- 🍔 In The Wood is a fun spot on College Ave, and they have a delightful alleyway patio for outdoor dining (say, when we bring the pup).
- 🍷 Vintage Berkeley has two spots, one on College Ave and another on Vine St, both with excellent wine selections.
- 🥘 Chez Panisse is the famous Alice Waters farm-to-table. The restaurant is fixed-course, but the upstairs café is à la carte.
- 🌅 The Berkeley Fire Trails have some lovely hikes, especially for sunset looking out across the Bay.
- 🥾 Tilden Regional Park is a great spot for hiking.
- 🌲 You can also find some redwoods at Redwood Regional Park plus plenty of hiking trails.
- ⛰️ Mount Diablo is another good spot for hikes, though may be busier than Mount Tam since it has a road to the top.
Elsewhere
Favorites: Boulder / DC / PDX / SF / Chicago / Yosemite