Lena Park

<em>Recommendations are a dime a dozen, but in&nbsp;<a href="https://sfstandard.com/tag/pro-tips/">Pro Tips</a>, we go directly to the source, asking food and beverage experts for their professional opinions on the city’s best&nbsp;<a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/09/30/best-burgers-san-francisco/">burgers</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/11/30/best-dive-bars-san-francisco/">dive bars</a>, and more.</em>

The city’s 12 best burgers, according to a panel of pros

The city’s best dive bars, according to a panel of pros

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<p><em>Recommendations are a dime a dozen, but in&nbsp;<a href="https://sfstandard.com/tag/pro-tips/">Pro Tips</a>, we go directly to the source, asking food and beverage experts for their professional opinions on the city’s best&nbsp;<a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/09/30/best-burgers-san-francisco/">burgers</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/11/30/best-dive-bars-san-francisco/">dive bars</a>, and more.</em></p>

In a city flush with swanky cocktail bars, cozy wine shops, and stellar dives, it’s not hard to find a place to grab a drink. But pinpointing the perfect spot for a nightcap? That’s a little trickier.

<p>In a city flush with swanky cocktail bars, cozy wine shops, and stellar dives, it’s not hard to find a place to grab a drink. But pinpointing the perfect spot for a nightcap? That’s a little trickier.</p>

As the name suggests, a nightcap is the drink you get when you want “one more” to close out the evening. After a heavy dinner, it could be an amaretto or a final glass of wine at the spot around the corner. For those in the industry, it’s usually a liquid salve after a long shift — a way to loosen the proverbial tie before heading to bed.&nbsp;

<p>As the name suggests, a nightcap is the drink you get when you want “one more” to close out the evening. After a heavy dinner, it could be an amaretto or a final glass of wine at the spot around the corner. For those in the industry, it’s usually a liquid salve after a long shift — a way to loosen the proverbial tie before heading to bed.&nbsp;</p>

In the latest edition of our<a href="https://sfstandard.com/tag/pro-tips/"> Pro Tips series</a>, we chatted with 11 chefs, bar managers, sommeliers, and restaurant owners about where they go to wrap up the night.

<p>In the latest edition of our<a href="https://sfstandard.com/tag/pro-tips/"> Pro Tips series</a>, we chatted with 11 chefs, bar managers, sommeliers, and restaurant owners about where they go to wrap up the night.</p>

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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-marc-schechter-owner-square-pie-guys">Marc Schechter, owner, Square Pie Guys</h2>


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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-marc-schechter-owner-square-pie-guys">Marc Schechter, owner, Square Pie Guys</h2>

<strong>Nightcap: The Snug, 2301 Fillmore St., Lower Pacific Heights</strong><br>Whether for the end of date night with his wife or a low-key evening with friends, Schechter loves this cozy cocktail bar. Yes, it has great drinks — he says the dirty gin martinis are always perfect — but the upscale yet welcoming ambiance and bar team keep him coming back. “It feels like a neighborhood spot where bartenders actually remember you. There’s something to be said for consistency. When you walk in, you know you’re in good hands.”

<p><strong>Nightcap: The Snug, 2301 Fillmore St., Lower Pacific Heights</strong><br>Whether for the end of date night with his wife or a low-key evening with friends, Schechter loves this cozy cocktail bar. Yes, it has great drinks — he says the dirty gin martinis are always perfect — but the upscale yet welcoming ambiance and bar team keep him coming back. “It feels like a neighborhood spot where bartenders actually remember you. There’s something to be said for consistency. When you walk in, you know you’re in good hands.”</p>

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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-geoff-davis-chef-and-owner-burdell">Geoff Davis, chef and owner, Burdell</h2>


<strong>Nightcap: Stookey’s Club Moderne, 895 Bush St., Nob Hill<br></strong>When he has a day off from his nationally acclaimed soul food restaurant in Oakland, Davis inevitably finds himself at either Brazen Head or Stookey’s Club Moderne. Brazen Head is nostalgic, since it’s where he and his partner, Zara, went on their first dates. There, they order a snack and Rusty Nail or Sazerac when “the hunger is still kickin’ around after a fancy dinner.” Otherwise, Davis heads to Stookey’s, an art deco bar in Nob Hill, where he’ll order an aviation or a New York sour (a whiskey sour with a float of red wine). “I love a good classic,” he says. “Both of these places have stood the test of time and don’t try to follow trends or appeal to people that take photos of their drinks with a flash.”

<p><strong>Nightcap: Stookey’s Club Moderne, 895 Bush St., Nob Hill<br></strong>When he has a day off from his nationally acclaimed soul food restaurant in Oakland, Davis inevitably finds himself at either Brazen Head or Stookey’s Club Moderne. Brazen Head is nostalgic, since it’s where he and his partner, Zara, went on their first dates. There, they order a snack and Rusty Nail or Sazerac when “the hunger is still kickin’ around after a fancy dinner.” Otherwise, Davis heads to Stookey’s, an art deco bar in Nob Hill, where he’ll order an aviation or a New York sour (a whiskey sour with a float of red wine). “I love a good classic,” he says. “Both of these places have stood the test of time and don’t try to follow trends or appeal to people that take photos of their drinks with a flash.”</p>

Jacob Brown, beverage director, Lazy Bear


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-jacob-brown-beverage-director-lazy-bear">Jacob Brown, beverage director, Lazy Bear</h2>


<strong>Nightcap: Casements Bar, 2351 Mission St., Mission<br></strong>Casements, a modern Irish cocktail bar, has become the post-shift hangout for Brown and the rest of the crew at two Michelin-starred Lazy Bear. “Somehow, it manages to be both intimate and buzzing, making it perfect for soaking up those classic Mission vibes,” says Brown, a 2025 James Beard Award finalist, citing the bar’s hospitality, knowledgeable staff, and curated whiskey selection. His usual order? A pint of Guinness, “one of the best pours in the city.”

<p><strong>Nightcap: Casements Bar, 2351 Mission St., Mission<br></strong>Casements, a modern Irish cocktail bar, has become the post-shift hangout for Brown and the rest of the crew at two Michelin-starred Lazy Bear. “Somehow, it manages to be both intimate and buzzing, making it perfect for soaking up those classic Mission vibes,” says Brown, a 2025 James Beard Award finalist, citing the bar’s hospitality, knowledgeable staff, and curated whiskey selection. His usual order? A pint of Guinness, “one of the best pours in the city.”</p>

Some of the drinks the menu as well as an order of chips on the patio of Casements Bar in San Francisco on October 3, 2024. Casements is one of many bars where their patios are in less obvious locations.


<figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241003-hiddenpatiosupdate_aar_4.jpg?w=2500" alt="Three hands hold colorful drinks, toasting above a table with fries, ketchup, mustard, a glass of water, and two small shot glasses." class="wp-image-318499"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Modern Irish bar Casements has a spacious back patio.</figcaption></figure>


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<figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241003-hiddenpatiosupdate_aar_4.jpg?w=2500" alt="Three hands hold colorful drinks, toasting above a table with fries, ketchup, mustard, a glass of water, and two small shot glasses." class="wp-image-318499"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Modern Irish bar Casements has a spacious back patio.</figcaption></figure>

Ravi Kapur, chef and owner, Liholiho Yacht Club and Good Good Culture Club


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ravi-kapur-chef-and-owner-liholiho-yacht-club-and-good-good-culture-club">Ravi Kapur, chef and owner, Liholiho Yacht Club and Good Good Culture Club</h2>


<strong>Nightcap: Loló, 974 Valencia St., Mission<br></strong>Kapur’s preferred spots are small businesses in the Mission, where he lives and works. Because of its diverse crowd and “dynamic” cocktail menu, he gravitates toward Mexican restaurant Loló, where it’s “always welcoming, always a vibe.” He typically orders a mezcal margarita.&nbsp;

<p><strong>Nightcap: Loló, 974 Valencia St., Mission<br></strong>Kapur’s preferred spots are small businesses in the Mission, where he lives and works. Because of its diverse crowd and “dynamic” cocktail menu, he gravitates toward Mexican restaurant Loló, where it’s “always welcoming, always a vibe.” He typically orders a mezcal margarita.&nbsp;</p>


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-timofei-osipenko-bar-manager-bar-iris">Timofei Osipenko, bar manager, Bar Iris</h2>


<strong>Nightcap: Harris’ Restaurant, 2100 Van Ness Ave., Pacific Heights&nbsp;</strong><br>Though Osipenko’s favorite spot for a nightcap depends on the day of the week, his drink of choice never varies. “This is a year of martinis for my lady and I,” he says. On early nights off, they’ll slide into Harris’ Restaurant, order a few gibsons (a martini garnished with a pickled onion), and sit back to soak up the live jazz. On nights that spill into the early hours of the morning, he’ll end up at Brazen Head with a dirty, shaken martini and a plate of escargot.

<p><strong>Nightcap: Harris’ Restaurant, 2100 Van Ness Ave., Pacific Heights&nbsp;</strong><br>Though Osipenko’s favorite spot for a nightcap depends on the day of the week, his drink of choice never varies. “This is a year of martinis for my lady and I,” he says. On early nights off, they’ll slide into Harris’ Restaurant, order a few gibsons (a martini garnished with a pickled onion), and sit back to soak up the live jazz. On nights that spill into the early hours of the morning, he’ll end up at Brazen Head with a dirty, shaken martini and a plate of escargot.</p>

Harris' Restaurant in San Francisco on October 23, 2024. The restaurant was implicated in a scandal.


<figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241024-scandalrestauranttour_aar_22_cb7f16.jpg?w=2500" alt="A busy intersection at dusk with blurred cars and a woman standing on the corner. A restaurant named Harris' is lit up, with green awnings visible." class="wp-image-325450"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Harris&#8217; Restaurant is a classic steakhouse on Van Ness Avenue.</figcaption></figure>


<figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241024-scandalrestauranttour_aar_22_cb7f16.jpg?w=2500" alt="A busy intersection at dusk with blurred cars and a woman standing on the corner. A restaurant named Harris' is lit up, with green awnings visible." class="wp-image-325450"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Harris' Restaurant is a classic steakhouse on Van Ness Avenue.</figcaption></figure>

<figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241024-scandalrestauranttour_aar_22_cb7f16.jpg?w=2500" alt="A busy intersection at dusk with blurred cars and a woman standing on the corner. A restaurant named Harris' is lit up, with green awnings visible." class="wp-image-325450"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Harris&#8217; Restaurant is a classic steakhouse on Van Ness Avenue.</figcaption></figure>


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-emilio-salehi-beverage-director-cavana">Emilio Salehi, beverage director, Cavana</h2>


<strong>Nightcap: ABV, 3174 16th St., Mission<br></strong>On a weeknight, the crowd at ABV is a mix of regulars and service-industry folks seeking a solid, unfussy drink and post-shift meal. Salehi knows this well because, often, he’s one of them. When he lived on 16<sup>th</sup> Street (he has since moved to Potrero Hill), he came to ABV at least three times a week. He’d wash down his burger and fries with either a Gin &amp; Celery or a Cascahuín (a blue-agave tequila from Jalisco, Mexico) and soda. “I think ABV has really become the standard for a San Francisco neighborhood cocktail bar,” Salehi says.

<p><strong>Nightcap: ABV, 3174 16th St., Mission<br></strong>On a weeknight, the crowd at ABV is a mix of regulars and service-industry folks seeking a solid, unfussy drink and post-shift meal. Salehi knows this well because, often, he’s one of them. When he lived on 16<sup>th</sup> Street (he has since moved to Potrero Hill), he came to ABV at least three times a week. He’d wash down his burger and fries with either a Gin &amp; Celery or a Cascahuín (a blue-agave tequila from Jalisco, Mexico) and soda. “I think ABV has really become the standard for a San Francisco neighborhood cocktail bar,” Salehi says.</p>

Nite Yun, chef and owner, Lunette Cambodia


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nite-yun-chef-and-owner-lunette-cambodia">Nite Yun, chef and owner, Lunette Cambodia</h2>


<strong>Nightcap: 20 Spot, 3565 20th St., Mission<br></strong>For Yun, the wine bar 20 Spot is unequivocally the best place to grab one more. In fact, it’s practically the only bar she goes to, thanks to its perfect combo of cozy laid-back vibes and warm, welcoming staff. “It’s like hanging out at your bestie’s dinner party,” Yun says. During the week, you can find her sipping one of the vermouth drinks — “I’m a lightweight!” — and catching up with the staff.

<p><strong>Nightcap: 20 Spot, 3565 20th St., Mission<br></strong>For Yun, the wine bar 20 Spot is unequivocally the best place to grab one more. In fact, it’s practically the only bar she goes to, thanks to its perfect combo of cozy laid-back vibes and warm, welcoming staff. “It’s like hanging out at your bestie’s dinner party,” Yun says. During the week, you can find her sipping one of the vermouth drinks — “I’m a lightweight!” — and catching up with the staff.</p>

Ellie Williams (left), Cantwell Muckenfuss (center), and James Brennan (right) dine at 20 Spot in San Francisco, Calif., on Friday, July 15, 2022 | Juliana Yamada/The Standard


<figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/vinylbars-84.jpg?w=2500" alt="People are laughing and chatting at a cozy bar with warm lighting, decorative lamps, and colorful artwork on the walls. Wine glasses are on the table." class="wp-image-366480"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Mission&#8217;s 20 Spot has a light food menu to pair with its diverse list of wines.</figcaption></figure>


<figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/vinylbars-84.jpg?w=2500" alt="People are laughing and chatting at a cozy bar with warm lighting, decorative lamps, and colorful artwork on the walls. Wine glasses are on the table." class="wp-image-366480"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Mission's 20 Spot has a light food menu to pair with its diverse list of wines.</figcaption></figure>

<figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/vinylbars-84.jpg?w=2500" alt="People are laughing and chatting at a cozy bar with warm lighting, decorative lamps, and colorful artwork on the walls. Wine glasses are on the table." class="wp-image-366480"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Mission&#8217;s 20 Spot has a light food menu to pair with its diverse list of wines.</figcaption></figure>

Gillian Fitzgerald, co-owner, Casements Bar


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gillian-fitzgerald-co-owner-casements-bar">Gillian Fitzgerald, co-owner, Casements Bar</h2>


<strong>Nightcap: Lost Resort, 2736 20th St., Mission<br></strong>Casements and Lost Resort opened within months of each other in 2020. That’s one of the reasons Anderson feels a kinship with the Lost Resort team. “We send folks to them, and they send folks to us. We’re all pals. It feels like a community,” she says. For a drink and snack to end the night, she heads to the airy spot for her usuals: oysters and crispy Brussels sprouts alongside either a dram of mezcal with a beer back or The Lighthouse, a cocktail made with mezcal, the aperitivo Cappelletti, carrot, lemony honey, and bitters. “It might not necessarily be next to your house, but I can guarantee it’s worth the bus or cab fare home,” Anderson says.

<p><strong>Nightcap: Lost Resort, 2736 20th St., Mission<br></strong>Casements and Lost Resort opened within months of each other in 2020. That’s one of the reasons Anderson feels a kinship with the Lost Resort team. “We send folks to them, and they send folks to us. We’re all pals. It feels like a community,” she says. For a drink and snack to end the night, she heads to the airy spot for her usuals: oysters and crispy Brussels sprouts alongside either a dram of mezcal with a beer back or The Lighthouse, a cocktail made with mezcal, the aperitivo Cappelletti, carrot, lemony honey, and bitters. “It might not necessarily be next to your house, but I can guarantee it’s worth the bus or cab fare home,” Anderson says.</p>

Hanif Sadr, chef and cofounder, Komaaj Mazze Wine Bar


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hanif-sadr-chef-and-cofounder-komaaj-mazze-wine-bar">Hanif Sadr, chef and cofounder, Komaaj Mazze Wine Bar</h2>


<strong>Nightcap: Arcana, 2512 Mission St., Mission<br></strong>After 10 p.m. on weekends, Sadr is usually at Arcana, a wine bar with vaulted ceilings, soft lighting, and wall-to-wall greenery — aspects that make it “truly unique,” he says. With its curated list of orange wines and live bands, Arcana is the “perfect place to hang out and enjoy the music with a nice glass of natural wine.”&nbsp;

<p><strong>Nightcap: Arcana, 2512 Mission St., Mission<br></strong>After 10 p.m. on weekends, Sadr is usually at Arcana, a wine bar with vaulted ceilings, soft lighting, and wall-to-wall greenery — aspects that make it “truly unique,” he says. With its curated list of orange wines and live bands, Arcana is the “perfect place to hang out and enjoy the music with a nice glass of natural wine.”&nbsp;</p>


<figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Arcana_Javier-Castro-1-scaled.jpg?w=2500" alt="People gather around a bar lit by warm hanging bulbs and surrounded by lush greenery. They chat and sip drinks, creating a cozy, lively atmosphere." class="wp-image-100554"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Wine bar Arcana doubles as a plant boutique and event space.</figcaption></figure>


Tonya Pitts, sommelier and wine director, One Market Restaurant


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tonya-pitts-sommelier-and-wine-director-one-market-restaurant">Tonya Pitts, sommelier and wine director, One Market Restaurant</h2>


<strong>Nightcap: Indie Wine &amp; Beer Bar, 175 Green St., Telegraph Hill<br></strong>When she’s not at Nopa enjoying a cocktail while waiting for some of the raved-about chocolate-chip cookies to take home to her mom, Pitts likes to end her nights at Indie. For two years, she has made this off-the-beaten-path spot her go-to a few times a week. While she typically opts for Champagne, Burgundy, and Italian wines, she’s sure to always check out what other older vintages are on offer that day by the glass.&nbsp;

<p><strong>Nightcap: Indie Wine &amp; Beer Bar, 175 Green St., Telegraph Hill<br></strong>When she’s not at Nopa enjoying a cocktail while waiting for some of the raved-about chocolate-chip cookies to take home to her mom, Pitts likes to end her nights at Indie. For two years, she has made this off-the-beaten-path spot her go-to a few times a week. While she typically opts for Champagne, Burgundy, and Italian wines, she’s sure to always check out what other older vintages are on offer that day by the glass.&nbsp;</p>


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shawn-naputi-chef-prubechu">Shawn Naputi, chef, Prubechu</h2>


<strong>Nightcap: Bar Part Time, 496 14th St., Mission Dolores<br></strong>After a busy service, Naputi often craves a ranch water and grilled kimchi’zz at OverKill Grill inside Bender’s Bar &amp; Grill. But if he’s in the mood for wine, Bar Part Time is where he’ll end the evening. “It’s a great place to throw back a couple of glasses and vibe to the rotating cast of DJs,” he says. “There’s no other wine bar like it in the city!” Since he’s coming from Prubechu just across the street, he’ll usually grab a few <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/08/27/best-late-night-food-mission-san-francisco/">al pastor tacos from street vendor Tacos El Charro</a> before heading over.&nbsp;

The Mission’s best late-night street food, according to its most dedicated chef

<p><strong>Nightcap: Bar Part Time, 496 14th St., Mission Dolores<br></strong>After a busy service, Naputi often craves a ranch water and grilled kimchi’zz at OverKill Grill inside Bender’s Bar &amp; Grill. But if he’s in the mood for wine, Bar Part Time is where he’ll end the evening. “It’s a great place to throw back a couple of glasses and vibe to the rotating cast of DJs,” he says. “There’s no other wine bar like it in the city!” Since he’s coming from Prubechu just across the street, he’ll usually grab a few <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/08/27/best-late-night-food-mission-san-francisco/">al pastor tacos from street vendor Tacos El Charro</a> before heading over.&nbsp;</p>

Natural wine bottles at Bar Part Time, a bar and wine club in the Mission on August 31st, 2022 in San Francisco. | Eloïse Kelsey for The Standard


<figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/WineBarBPT_0021-scaled.jpg?w=2500" alt="The image shows shelves of various wine bottles with unique labels, bathed in pinkish-purple lighting, arranged in a cooler or display case." class="wp-image-95669"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">It&#8217;s always a party at Bar Part Time.</figcaption></figure>


<figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/WineBarBPT_0021-scaled.jpg?w=2500" alt="The image shows shelves of various wine bottles with unique labels, bathed in pinkish-purple lighting, arranged in a cooler or display case." class="wp-image-95669"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">It's always a party at Bar Part Time.</figcaption></figure>

<figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/WineBarBPT_0021-scaled.jpg?w=2500" alt="The image shows shelves of various wine bottles with unique labels, bathed in pinkish-purple lighting, arranged in a cooler or display case." class="wp-image-95669"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">It&#8217;s always a party at Bar Part Time.</figcaption></figure>

SF’s 11 best bars for one last drink, according to a panel of pros

Sarah Holtz

The last year marked a turning point for the Bay Area restaurant industry. With the threat of Covid gradually receding, <a href="https://sfstandard.com/business/san-francisco-new-restaurants-bars-registrations-increase/">the region saw a surge in newly opened eateries</a>.&nbsp;

<p>The last year marked a turning point for the Bay Area restaurant industry. With the threat of Covid gradually receding, <a href="https://sfstandard.com/business/san-francisco-new-restaurants-bars-registrations-increase/">the region saw a surge in newly opened eateries</a>.&nbsp;</p>

Several Bay Area chefs also earned bragging rights in 2022. The New York Times included Filipino-Californian favorite Abacá and upscale Korean barbecue joint San Ho Won in its <a href="https://sfstandard.com/arts-culture/sf-restaurants-abaca-and-san-ho-won-make-new-york-times-top-50-of-2022/">2022 list of favorite restaurants</a>. Six local places <a href="https://sfstandard.com/arts-culture/even-more-bay-area-restaurants-now-have-michelin-stars/">gained Michelin stars</a> earlier this month. Marlena and Kin Khao, two SF gems that reopened in 2022, retained their stars.&nbsp;

<p>Several Bay Area chefs also earned bragging rights in 2022. The New York Times included Filipino-Californian favorite Abacá and upscale Korean barbecue joint San Ho Won in its <a href="https://sfstandard.com/arts-culture/sf-restaurants-abaca-and-san-ho-won-make-new-york-times-top-50-of-2022/">2022 list of favorite restaurants</a>. Six local places <a href="https://sfstandard.com/arts-culture/even-more-bay-area-restaurants-now-have-michelin-stars/">gained Michelin stars</a> earlier this month. Marlena and Kin Khao, two SF gems that reopened in 2022, retained their stars.&nbsp;</p>

Opening a restaurant in the Bay is a tall order, and each new restaurateur has their own story of trial and triumph. Chef Tracy Goh’s Damansara began as a dinner party pop-up out of her apartment, and now she owns a brick-and-mortar spot in Noe Valley. After a lengthy immigration struggle, Marco Senghor secured a larger location for his Senegalese eatery and Afrobeats dance floor, Bissap Baobab. Four years into the food truck hustle, Miguel Escobedo pulled Al Pastor Papi into a permanent parking spot at Spark Social.

<p>Opening a restaurant in the Bay is a tall order, and each new restaurateur has their own story of trial and triumph. Chef Tracy Goh’s Damansara began as a dinner party pop-up out of her apartment, and now she owns a brick-and-mortar spot in Noe Valley. After a lengthy immigration struggle, Marco Senghor secured a larger location for his Senegalese eatery and Afrobeats dance floor, Bissap Baobab. Four years into the food truck hustle, Miguel Escobedo pulled Al Pastor Papi into a permanent parking spot at Spark Social.</p>

And that’s just to name a few. Here’s The Standard’s top 10 favorite new restaurants of 2022.

<p>And that’s just to name a few. Here’s The Standard’s top 10 favorite new restaurants of 2022.</p>


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-damansara"><strong>1. Damansara</strong></h2>


<h2 id="h-1-damansara"><strong>1. Damansara</strong></h2>

<strong>Noe Valley</strong><br><br>📍 <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/1781+Church+St,+San+Francisco,+CA+94131,+USA/@37.7424992,-122.4262632,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x808f7e6867ab823b:0x747cfc4c29365d67!8m2!3d37.7424992!4d-122.4262632">1781 Church St., SF&nbsp;</a><br>🔗 <a href="http://damansarasf.com/">damansarasf.com</a>

<p><strong>Noe Valley</strong><br><br>📍 <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/1781+Church+St,+San+Francisco,+CA+94131,+USA/@37.7424992,-122.4262632,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x808f7e6867ab823b:0x747cfc4c29365d67!8m2!3d37.7424992!4d-122.4262632">1781 Church St., SF&nbsp;</a><br>🔗 <a href="http://damansarasf.com/">damansarasf.com</a></p>

Damansara is the name of chef Tracy Goh’s childhood home, a suburb on the outskirts of Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur. Home, in the literal and figurative ways it nourishes us, is at the center of Goh’s new restaurant of the same name. She first experimented with Damansara as a pop-up, serving thousands of bowls of laksa noodle soup—a Southeast Asian specialty made with potato, rice or tapioca—from her one-bedroom apartment. In 2019, she joined La Cocina’s <a href="https://sfstandard.com/arts-culture/new-chefs-on-the-block-meet-the-six-aspiring-restaurateurs-in-la-cocinas-latest-cohort/">culinary incubator program</a>. Now, she’s found a new home in Noe Valley, debuting a menu of laksa and other Malaysian staples.

<p>Damansara is the name of chef Tracy Goh’s childhood home, a suburb on the outskirts of Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur. Home, in the literal and figurative ways it nourishes us, is at the center of Goh’s new restaurant of the same name. She first experimented with Damansara as a pop-up, serving thousands of bowls of laksa noodle soup—a Southeast Asian specialty made with potato, rice or tapioca—from her one-bedroom apartment. In 2019, she joined La Cocina’s <a href="https://sfstandard.com/arts-culture/new-chefs-on-the-block-meet-the-six-aspiring-restaurateurs-in-la-cocinas-latest-cohort/">culinary incubator program</a>. Now, she’s found a new home in Noe Valley, debuting a menu of laksa and other Malaysian staples.</p>


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-chika-sake"><strong>2. Chika &amp; Sake</strong></h2>


<h2 id="h-2-chika-sake"><strong>2. Chika &amp; Sake</strong></h2>

📍 <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Chika+%26+Sake/@37.7868703,-122.42821,15z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0xb87717d0f6fd9e80!8m2!3d37.7868703!4d-122.42821">1700 Laguna St, SF</a><br>☎️ <a href="tel:4156587388">(415) 658-7388</a><br>🔗 <a href="http://chika-sake.com/">chika-sake.com</a>

<p>📍 <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Chika+%26+Sake/@37.7868703,-122.42821,15z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0xb87717d0f6fd9e80!8m2!3d37.7868703!4d-122.42821">1700 Laguna St, SF</a><br>☎️ <a href="tel:4156587388">(415) 658-7388</a><br>🔗 <a href="http://chika-sake.com/">chika-sake.com</a></p>

This diminutive Japantown spot specializes in buta no kakuni, a stewed pork belly with soy-cured tamago. The restaurant’s chef cooks the pork for hours to conjure deep umami flavors, which makes for a fitting pairing to the selection of craft sake on tap. The Hokkaido Hotate scallops and uni are also solid choices.

<p>This diminutive Japantown spot specializes in buta no kakuni, a stewed pork belly with soy-cured tamago. The restaurant’s chef cooks the pork for hours to conjure deep umami flavors, which makes for a fitting pairing to the selection of craft sake on tap. The Hokkaido Hotate scallops and uni are also solid choices.</p>


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-bissap-baobab"><strong>3. Bissap Baobab</strong></h2>


<h2 id="h-3-bissap-baobab"><strong>3. Bissap Baobab</strong></h2>

📍 <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/2243+Mission+St,+San+Francisco,+CA+94110,+USA/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x808f7e3c9bb2917d:0xd157bde98d4ee1b6?sa=X&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiTi67M6Jr8AhWNT2wGHfCrC-AQ8gF6BAgIEAE">2243 Mission St., SF</a><br>☎️ <a href="tel:4158269287">(415) 826-9287</a><br>🔗 <a href="http://bissapbaobab.com/">bissapbaobab.com</a>

<p>📍 <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/2243+Mission+St,+San+Francisco,+CA+94110,+USA/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x808f7e3c9bb2917d:0xd157bde98d4ee1b6?sa=X&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiTi67M6Jr8AhWNT2wGHfCrC-AQ8gF6BAgIEAE">2243 Mission St., SF</a><br>☎️ <a href="tel:4158269287">(415) 826-9287</a><br>🔗 <a href="http://bissapbaobab.com/">bissapbaobab.com</a></p>

Marco Senghor provided a Mission District hub for Senegalese cuisine and Afrobeats events for two decades before <a href="https://missionlocal.org/2019/08/bissap-baobab-owner-marco-senghor-dodges-prison-sentence-in-immigration-case/">a legal battle over his immigration status</a> forced the closure of his restaurant. Then, the pandemic interrupted business at his smaller outpost, Little Baobab. At long last, Senghor has reopened Bissap Baobab on Mission and 18th streets, beginning with a breakfast menu aided by <a href="https://www.margaritaslatinofoodie.com/m-coffee-sf">Margarita’s Coffee</a>. As of Sept. 15, Bissap Baobab restarted dinner service in its sprawling, colorful dining room, which extends onto a front patio. The fufu, a cassava plate served with a choice of protein and yassa onion sauce, makes the new menu shine.&nbsp;

<p>Marco Senghor provided a Mission District hub for Senegalese cuisine and Afrobeats events for two decades before <a href="https://missionlocal.org/2019/08/bissap-baobab-owner-marco-senghor-dodges-prison-sentence-in-immigration-case/">a legal battle over his immigration status</a> forced the closure of his restaurant. Then, the pandemic interrupted business at his smaller outpost, Little Baobab. At long last, Senghor has reopened Bissap Baobab on Mission and 18th streets, beginning with a breakfast menu aided by <a href="https://www.margaritaslatinofoodie.com/m-coffee-sf">Margarita’s Coffee</a>. As of Sept. 15, Bissap Baobab restarted dinner service in its sprawling, colorful dining room, which extends onto a front patio. The fufu, a cassava plate served with a choice of protein and yassa onion sauce, makes the new menu shine.&nbsp;</p>

<strong>4. Gao Viet Kitchen&nbsp;</strong>


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-4-gao-viet-kitchen"><strong>4. Gao Viet Kitchen&nbsp;</strong></h2>


<h2 id="h-4-gao-viet-kitchen"><strong>4. Gao Viet Kitchen&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<strong>Outer Sunset</strong><br>📍 <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Gao+Viet+Kitchen/@37.7636502,-122.4783878,15z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0xbda5fb88a30409d2!8m2!3d37.7636502!4d-122.4783878">1900 Irving St., SF</a><br>🔗 <a href="https://gaokitchen.com/">gaokitchen.com</a>

<p><strong>Outer Sunset</strong><br>📍 <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Gao+Viet+Kitchen/@37.7636502,-122.4783878,15z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0xbda5fb88a30409d2!8m2!3d37.7636502!4d-122.4783878">1900 Irving St., SF</a><br>🔗 <a href="https://gaokitchen.com/">gaokitchen.com</a></p>

After three years of scheming and dreaming, restaurateur Viet Nguyen finally introduced the SF outpost of his eponymous eatery, Gao Viet Kitchen. The charismatic chef has become Instagram famous for his <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CjOldTagnNa/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=">stylized kitchen reels</a>, which show off Frankenstein-esque delicacies like the “phozilla” and the “messiest banh mi ever.” Gao Viet Kitchen’s soft opening lasts through the end of the year, meaning it’ll be serving dinner only but staying open late—until 11 p.m. on weekdays and midnight on weekends. No reservations, so try your luck on the waitlist.&nbsp;

<p>After three years of scheming and dreaming, restaurateur Viet Nguyen finally introduced the SF outpost of his eponymous eatery, Gao Viet Kitchen. The charismatic chef has become Instagram famous for his <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CjOldTagnNa/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=">stylized kitchen reels</a>, which show off Frankenstein-esque delicacies like the “phozilla” and the “messiest banh mi ever.” Gao Viet Kitchen’s soft opening lasts through the end of the year, meaning it’ll be serving dinner only but staying open late—until 11 p.m. on weekdays and midnight on weekends. No reservations, so try your luck on the waitlist.&nbsp;</p>

Honey-lacquered duck is a new dish on Marlena's tasting menu. | Dana Plucinski/Marlena


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Marlena_HoneyLacquered-Duck-2-scaled-2500x1667.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-78862"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Honey-lacquered duck is a new dish on Marlena&#8217;s tasting menu. | Courtesy Dana Plucinski/Marlena</figcaption></figure>


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Marlena_HoneyLacquered-Duck-2-scaled-2500x1667.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-78862"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Honey-lacquered duck is a new dish on Marlena's tasting menu. | Courtesy Dana Plucinski/Marlena</figcaption></figure>

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Marlena_HoneyLacquered-Duck-2-scaled-2500x1667.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-78862"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Honey-lacquered duck is a new dish on Marlena&#8217;s tasting menu. | Courtesy Dana Plucinski/Marlena</figcaption></figure>


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-5-marlena"><strong>5. Marlena</strong></h2>


<h2 id="h-5-marlena"><strong>5. Marlena</strong></h2>

<p><strong>Bernal Heights&nbsp;</strong></p>

📍<a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/300+Precita+Ave,+San+Francisco,+CA+94110,+USA/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x808f7e456785f1c7:0xbf5588ac96a04902?sa=X&amp;ved=2ahUKEwil7eG46Zr8AhXUTWwGHeQ-A0wQ8gF6BAgIEAE"> 300 Precita Ave., SF</a><br>☎️ <a href="tel:4154005997">(415) 400-5997</a><br>🔗 <a href="https://www.marlenarestaurant.com/">marlenarestaurant.com</a>

<p>📍<a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/300+Precita+Ave,+San+Francisco,+CA+94110,+USA/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x808f7e456785f1c7:0xbf5588ac96a04902?sa=X&amp;ved=2ahUKEwil7eG46Zr8AhXUTWwGHeQ-A0wQ8gF6BAgIEAE"> 300 Precita Ave., SF</a><br>☎️ <a href="tel:4154005997">(415) 400-5997</a><br>🔗 <a href="https://www.marlenarestaurant.com/">marlenarestaurant.com</a></p>

There are many family-run restaurants in SF and several Michelin-starred gems, but there aren’t a lot of local spots that check both of those boxes. Husband-and-wife chef team David Fisher and Serena Chow refresh their hyper-local tasting menu daily, putting an ever-evolving stamp on California cuisine. In September, Marlena reopened and showed off an interior redesign from SF-based architecture studio <a href="http://amlgm.com/">AMLGM</a>. The earthy color scheme and soft lighting in the new space temper the balance between upscale and neighborhood-friendly feels. Marlena’s comeback also signaled the last day of camp, so to speak. Fisher and Chow were hosting a temporary pop-up, which they called “Summer Camp at Hotel Zeppelin.” The partner chefs have also added small bites inspired by picnics they’ve enjoyed at nearby Precita Park. The “fig newton” gets a Michelin-starred treatment with duck liver mousse and caviar. Damn, that’s a next-level picnic …

<p>There are many family-run restaurants in SF and several Michelin-starred gems, but there aren’t a lot of local spots that check both of those boxes. Husband-and-wife chef team David Fisher and Serena Chow refresh their hyper-local tasting menu daily, putting an ever-evolving stamp on California cuisine. In September, Marlena reopened and showed off an interior redesign from SF-based architecture studio <a href="http://amlgm.com/">AMLGM</a>. The earthy color scheme and soft lighting in the new space temper the balance between upscale and neighborhood-friendly feels. Marlena’s comeback also signaled the last day of camp, so to speak. Fisher and Chow were hosting a temporary pop-up, which they called “Summer Camp at Hotel Zeppelin.” The partner chefs have also added small bites inspired by picnics they’ve enjoyed at nearby Precita Park. The “fig newton” gets a Michelin-starred treatment with duck liver mousse and caviar. Damn, that’s a next-level picnic …</p>

<strong>Union Square</strong><br>📍 <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/55+Cyril+Magnin+St,+San+Francisco,+CA+94102,+USA/@37.7849258,-122.4089419,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x8085808f628a63f5:0x7ae0dc7c84ec53a9!8m2!3d37.7849258!4d-122.4089419">55 Cyril Magnin St., SF</a><br>☎️ <a href="tel:4153627456">(415) 362-7456</a><br>🔗 <a href="https://www.kinkhao.com/">kinkhao.com</a>

<p><strong>Union Square</strong><br>📍 <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/55+Cyril+Magnin+St,+San+Francisco,+CA+94102,+USA/@37.7849258,-122.4089419,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x8085808f628a63f5:0x7ae0dc7c84ec53a9!8m2!3d37.7849258!4d-122.4089419">55 Cyril Magnin St., SF</a><br>☎️ <a href="tel:4153627456">(415) 362-7456</a><br>🔗 <a href="https://www.kinkhao.com/">kinkhao.com</a></p>

As the Parc 55 Hilton delayed its post-Covid reopening until May, Kin Khao chef-owner Pim Techamuanvivit had a two-and-a-half year hiatus, broken up by a year-long pop-up in Dogpatch, to chart her restaurant’s long-term plan. And now the Michelin-starred Thai eatery reopened for dinner at last on Sept. 21. The Bangkok-born chef was able to reunite her former chef de cuisine, executive sous chef and even her line cook, while reviving many of Kin Khao’s original menu staples. (The pride of Techamuanvivit’s repertoire, her tangy chicken wings marinated with Nam Pla fish sauce and tossed with tamarind and Sriracha, remain a standout.)

<p>As the Parc 55 Hilton delayed its post-Covid reopening until May, Kin Khao chef-owner Pim Techamuanvivit had a two-and-a-half year hiatus, broken up by a year-long pop-up in Dogpatch, to chart her restaurant’s long-term plan. And now the Michelin-starred Thai eatery reopened for dinner at last on Sept. 21. The Bangkok-born chef was able to reunite her former chef de cuisine, executive sous chef and even her line cook, while reviving many of Kin Khao’s original menu staples. (The pride of Techamuanvivit’s repertoire, her tangy chicken wings marinated with Nam Pla fish sauce and tossed with tamarind and Sriracha, remain a standout.)</p>

Affogato from Delfina, a Cal-Italian restaurant that reopened in the Mission in October | Courtesy Albert Law/Delfina


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Delfina-Affogato_Albert-Law-2500x1663.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-86929"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Affogato from Delfina, a Cal-Italian restaurant that reopened in the Mission in October | Courtesy Albert Law/Delfina</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-7-delfina"><strong>7. Delfina</strong></h2>


<h2 id="h-7-delfina"><strong>7. Delfina</strong></h2>

📍 <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/3621+18th+St,+San+Francisco,+CA+94110,+USA/@37.7613671,-122.4396824,14z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x808f7e18015358eb:0x92f63a8a08a063e!8m2!3d37.7613671!4d-122.4243616">3621 18th St., SF</a><br>☎️ <a href="tel:4154376800">(415) 437-6800</a><br>🔗 <a href="https://www.delfinasf.com/">delfinasf.com</a>

<p>📍 <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/3621+18th+St,+San+Francisco,+CA+94110,+USA/@37.7613671,-122.4396824,14z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x808f7e18015358eb:0x92f63a8a08a063e!8m2!3d37.7613671!4d-122.4243616">3621 18th St., SF</a><br>☎️ <a href="tel:4154376800">(415) 437-6800</a><br>🔗 <a href="https://www.delfinasf.com/">delfinasf.com</a></p>

At the beginning of the pandemic, after two decades of operation, Annie and Craig Stoll decided to temporarily shut their doors and regroup. Now Delfina is back in an expanded new location on 18th and Guerrero. Their reimagining includes a to-go pizzeria, a retail space, a parklet and a private room with high, vaulted ceilings. Delfina’s all-new cocktail list emphasizes amari and other Italian spirits. The dinner menu rotates regularly, but the Roman pizza bianca-inspired sourdough focaccia is a staple. Look for elevated dishes like the paccheri and petrale sole with fresh San Marzano tomatoes. The spaghetti pomodoro is also back by popular demand.

<p>At the beginning of the pandemic, after two decades of operation, Annie and Craig Stoll decided to temporarily shut their doors and regroup. Now Delfina is back in an expanded new location on 18th and Guerrero. Their reimagining includes a to-go pizzeria, a retail space, a parklet and a private room with high, vaulted ceilings. Delfina’s all-new cocktail list emphasizes amari and other Italian spirits. The dinner menu rotates regularly, but the Roman pizza bianca-inspired sourdough focaccia is a staple. Look for elevated dishes like the paccheri and petrale sole with fresh San Marzano tomatoes. The spaghetti pomodoro is also back by popular demand.</p>


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-8-al-pastor-papi"><strong>8. Al Pastor Papi</strong></h2>


<h2 id="h-8-al-pastor-papi"><strong>8. Al Pastor Papi</strong></h2>

📍 <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/601+Mission+Bay+Boulevard+North,+San+Francisco,+CA+94158,+USA/@37.7707779,-122.3914399,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x808f7fcfe76c261b:0xd4835a12ad17d38b!8m2!3d37.7707779!4d-122.3914399">601 Mission Bay Blvd. N., SF</a><br>☎️ <a href="tel:4158008777">(415) 800-8777</a><br>🔗 <a href="https://www.alpastorpapi.com/">alpastorpapi.com</a>

<p>📍 <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/601+Mission+Bay+Boulevard+North,+San+Francisco,+CA+94158,+USA/@37.7707779,-122.3914399,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x808f7fcfe76c261b:0xd4835a12ad17d38b!8m2!3d37.7707779!4d-122.3914399">601 Mission Bay Blvd. N., SF</a><br>☎️ <a href="tel:4158008777">(415) 800-8777</a><br>🔗 <a href="https://www.alpastorpapi.com/">alpastorpapi.com</a></p>

Miguel Escobedo has logged thousands of miles in his taco truck, boomeranging around the Bay between beer gardens and high school football tailgates, and catering everything from weddings to the Giants. Four years later, he’s landed a permanent parking spot at Spark Social, a food truck park in Mission Bay. Though slow-roasted pork remains central to Al Pastor Papi, vegetarians can try the plant-based pork, nopales tacos and chile relleno torta.

<p>Miguel Escobedo has logged thousands of miles in his taco truck, boomeranging around the Bay between beer gardens and high school football tailgates, and catering everything from weddings to the Giants. Four years later, he’s landed a permanent parking spot at Spark Social, a food truck park in Mission Bay. Though slow-roasted pork remains central to Al Pastor Papi, vegetarians can try the plant-based pork, nopales tacos and chile relleno torta.</p>


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-9-for-the-culture"><strong>9. For the Culture</strong></h2>


<h2 id="h-9-for-the-culture"><strong>9. For the Culture</strong></h2>

<strong>Old Oakland</strong><br>📍 <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/701+Clay+St,+Oakland,+CA+94607/@37.800767,-122.2767756,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x808f80b9e20cb5ef:0x26aabf1e7ae459ea!8m2!3d37.800767!4d-122.2767756">701 Clay St., Oakland<br></a>☎️ <a href="tel:5102697108" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">(510) 269-7108</a>

<p><strong>Old Oakland</strong><br>📍 <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/701+Clay+St,+Oakland,+CA+94607/@37.800767,-122.2767756,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x808f80b9e20cb5ef:0x26aabf1e7ae459ea!8m2!3d37.800767!4d-122.2767756">701 Clay St., Oakland<br></a>☎️ <a href="tel:5102697108" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">(510) 269-7108</a></p>

A year ago, the Bay Area Mural Program and Kiss My Black Arts collaborated on a striking pink mural on the side of the long-defunct Mexicali Rose, a 91-year-old family-owned eatery, as reported by <a href="https://oaklandside.org/2021/11/18/for-the-culture-will-blend-history-with-something-new-at-former-mexicali-rose-oakland/">The Oaklandside</a>. The painted stucco facade showed off the Oakland skyline, the Bay Bridge and a kid popping a wheelie on their bike along Lake Merritt. Now open as For the Culture, the new restaurant hopes to honor Mexicali Rose and celebrate the Town’s collective identity. The owners will host Taco Tuesdays and regular DJ nights.&nbsp;

<p>A year ago, the Bay Area Mural Program and Kiss My Black Arts collaborated on a striking pink mural on the side of the long-defunct Mexicali Rose, a 91-year-old family-owned eatery, as reported by <a href="https://oaklandside.org/2021/11/18/for-the-culture-will-blend-history-with-something-new-at-former-mexicali-rose-oakland/">The Oaklandside</a>. The painted stucco facade showed off the Oakland skyline, the Bay Bridge and a kid popping a wheelie on their bike along Lake Merritt. Now open as For the Culture, the new restaurant hopes to honor Mexicali Rose and celebrate the Town’s collective identity. The owners will host Taco Tuesdays and regular DJ nights.&nbsp;</p>

Harlan Records is a high-fidelity listening lounge that opened in Union Square in October. | Courtesy Will Herrera/Harlan Records


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/HarlanRecords_BackBar-2500x1875.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-85093"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Harlan Records is a high-fidelity listening lounge that opened in Union Square in October. | Courtesy Will Herrera/Harlan Records</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-10-harlan-records"><strong>10. Harlan Records</strong></h2>


<h2 id="h-10-harlan-records"><strong>10. Harlan Records</strong></h2>

📍 <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/18+Harlan+Pl,+San+Francisco,+CA+94108,+USA/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x808580896f762737:0x630adb08ba70abe7?sa=X&amp;ved=2ahUKEwic0PD3-Zr8AhWBO3AKHR83CtMQ8gF6BAgIEAE">18 Harlan Place, SF<br></a>☎️ <a href="tel:6505158024">(650) 515-8024</a><br>🔗 <a href="https://www.harlanrecords.com/">harlanrecords.com</a>

<p>📍 <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/18+Harlan+Pl,+San+Francisco,+CA+94108,+USA/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x808580896f762737:0x630adb08ba70abe7?sa=X&amp;ved=2ahUKEwic0PD3-Zr8AhWBO3AKHR83CtMQ8gF6BAgIEAE">18 Harlan Place, SF<br></a>☎️ <a href="tel:6505158024">(650) 515-8024</a><br>🔗 <a href="https://www.harlanrecords.com/">harlanrecords.com</a></p>

What’s “big in Japan” might just become big in SF. An emerging trend of Japanese-style listening bars—drinking dens that play classic vinyl through pristine sound systems—is moving the nightlife needle at Harlan Records. Spinning LPs until midnight, Harlan Records is an audiophile’s ideal third place, and you can expect throwbacks like J.J. Fad alongside up-and-coming artists like Khruangbin. SF designer Marissa Jade Marsh created acoustically treated “walls of sound” so that patrons can enjoy the house picks free from distortion. The cocktail menu pays special attention to alcohol-free drinks, melding surprising ingredients like papaya leaf tea and bubble gum.

<p>What’s “big in Japan” might just become big in SF. An emerging trend of Japanese-style listening bars—drinking dens that play classic vinyl through pristine sound systems—is moving the nightlife needle at Harlan Records. Spinning LPs until midnight, Harlan Records is an audiophile’s ideal third place, and you can expect throwbacks like J.J. Fad alongside up-and-coming artists like Khruangbin. SF designer Marissa Jade Marsh created acoustically treated “walls of sound” so that patrons can enjoy the house picks free from distortion. The cocktail menu pays special attention to alcohol-free drinks, melding surprising ingredients like papaya leaf tea and bubble gum.</p>

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This is where you need to eat in 2023

Sara Deseran

The opening day of B. Patisserie’s new location in Union Square felt special-ordered. On that Friday morning (auspiciously, it was the day after the spring equinox) the iconic plaza was noticeably cleaned up in preparation for the annual <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/03/26/sf-union-square-retail-momentum-challenges/">tulip festival</a>. The sun was out and the birds in the fat palm trees facing the corner of Powell and Geary — soon to house a big Nintendo store — were chatting over the rumbling of double-decker buses beckoning tourists, of which there were plenty. The Game Developers Conference had brought in about 30,000 of them.

Is Union Square in bloom or a wilting flower?

<p>The opening day of B. Patisserie’s new location in Union Square felt special-ordered. On that Friday morning (auspiciously, it was the day after the spring equinox) the iconic plaza was noticeably cleaned up in preparation for the annual <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/03/26/sf-union-square-retail-momentum-challenges/">tulip festival</a>. The sun was out and the birds in the fat palm trees facing the corner of Powell and Geary — soon to house a big Nintendo store — were chatting over the rumbling of double-decker buses beckoning tourists, of which there were plenty. The Game Developers Conference had brought in about 30,000 of them.</p>

B. Patisserie’s opening didn’t draw a line like the previous week’s debut of Ariscault a few miles east at the Mission Rock development. But there was a steady stream of customers, all happy to grab a coffee and a chocolate-banana-almond croissant and sit on the glassed-in patio. The statue of the goddess Nike, who looms above the square, seemed like she might finally have a victory in hand.

<p>B. Patisserie’s opening didn’t draw a line like the previous week’s debut of Ariscault a few miles east at the Mission Rock development. But there was a steady stream of customers, all happy to grab a coffee and a chocolate-banana-almond croissant and sit on the glassed-in patio. The statue of the goddess Nike, who looms above the square, seemed like she might finally have a victory in hand.</p>

Let’s hope so. We all want a win for San Francisco right now, particularly in the neighborhood that’s always been essential for the city’s tourism industry, <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/09/25/sf-tourism-hotel-industry-struggles-and-hope-for-2025/">which did not have a good 2024</a>. Everyone — from our ribbon-cutting-happy mayor to the Union Square Alliance — is trying to resuscitate the vacancy-riddled corridor that cycles visitors from Union Square to Moscone Center (one realtor told me it’s called “the spine”; Mayor Daniel Lurie prefers the more prosaic “hospitality zone”). The multipronged plan of attack includes getting workers back in offices, ensuring the area is clean and safe, drawing people in with activities (<a href="https://visitunionsquaresf.com/park-programs">juggling lessons</a>, anyone?), and hopefully, convincing more conferences to commit.&nbsp;

For SF&#8217;s tourism industry, 2024 has been a big letdown

<p>Let’s hope so. We all want a win for San Francisco right now, particularly in the neighborhood that’s always been essential for the city’s tourism industry, <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/09/25/sf-tourism-hotel-industry-struggles-and-hope-for-2025/">which did not have a good 2024</a>. Everyone — from our ribbon-cutting-happy mayor to the Union Square Alliance — is trying to resuscitate the vacancy-riddled corridor that cycles visitors from Union Square to Moscone Center (one realtor told me it’s called “the spine”; Mayor Daniel Lurie prefers the more prosaic “hospitality zone”). The multipronged plan of attack includes getting workers back in offices, ensuring the area is clean and safe, drawing people in with activities (<a href="https://visitunionsquaresf.com/park-programs">juggling lessons</a>, anyone?), and hopefully, convincing more conferences to commit.&nbsp;</p>

Belinda Leong restocks baked goods at b. patisserie’s new location in Union Square in San Francisco on Friday, March 21, 2025. Several businesses have struggled to flourish in Union Square, but b. patisserie is hoping to break the streak.


<figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/747519640_unionsquarefail_009.jpg?w=2500" alt="Belinda Leong restocks baked goods at b. patisserie’s new location in Union Square in San Francisco on Friday, March 21, 2025. Several businesses have struggled to flourish in Union Square, but b. patisserie is hoping to break the streak." class="wp-image-381645"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Belinda Leong opened a new location of her award-winning bakery B. Patisserie in Union Square on March 21.</figcaption></figure>


Customers place orders at b. patisserie’s new location in Union Square in San Francisco on Friday, March 21, 2025. Several businesses have struggled to flourish in Union Square, but b. patisserie is hoping to break the streak.


<figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/747519640_unionsquarefail_006.jpg?w=2500" alt="B. Pattiserie in Union Square" class="wp-image-381646"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The bakery takes over a kiosk formerly leased to chef Tyler Florence, who pulled out of the space earlier this year. </figcaption></figure>


<br>“San Francisco is open for business, that is the message we are sending,” Lurie said at a February press conference touting a bill that could bring 20 new bars and restaurants to the area by making new low-cost liquor licenses available. Lurie is also launching something deemed “Permit SF,” a multi-agency coalition to help small businesses open easier and faster, something restaurants desperately need.

<p><br>“San Francisco is open for business, that is the message we are sending,” Lurie said at a February press conference touting a bill that could bring 20 new bars and restaurants to the area by making new low-cost liquor licenses available. Lurie is also launching something deemed “Permit SF,” a multi-agency coalition to help small businesses open easier and faster, something restaurants desperately need.</p>

With most Union Square retailers having decamped to online-only — or to still-thriving suburban-style malls like Stonestown and the Stanford Shopping Center — restaurants seem the obvious next choice when it comes to filling empty storefronts. In fact, San Francisco is pinning a lot of hope on food as a panacea. Yes, there’s talk of other options — I’ve heard a lot of nebulous pitches for “experiential concepts” like escape rooms and shopping-eating hybrids à la Eataly. There have been proposals for <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2023/09/19/legoland-to-downtown-san-franciscos-rescue-architect-has-bold-plan-to-fill-vacant-mall/">Legoland</a> and <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2023/06/23/san-francisco-pickleball-courts-malls-retail/">pickleball courts</a>. And, of course, gyms and hair salons seem to be eternal lease-seekers. But restaurants are the most frequent answer to the problem of what to do with an emptied out downtown. They build community and are both practical (we’ve all gotta eat) and a destination experience of their own sort. We are also a city famous for them.

Legoland to downtown San Francisco’s rescue? Architect has bold plan to fill vacant mall

Could pickleball end San Francisco&#8217;s doom loop?

<p>With most Union Square retailers having decamped to online-only — or to still-thriving suburban-style malls like Stonestown and the Stanford Shopping Center — restaurants seem the obvious next choice when it comes to filling empty storefronts. In fact, San Francisco is pinning a lot of hope on food as a panacea. Yes, there’s talk of other options — I’ve heard a lot of nebulous pitches for “experiential concepts” like escape rooms and shopping-eating hybrids à la Eataly. There have been proposals for <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2023/09/19/legoland-to-downtown-san-franciscos-rescue-architect-has-bold-plan-to-fill-vacant-mall/">Legoland</a> and <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2023/06/23/san-francisco-pickleball-courts-malls-retail/">pickleball courts</a>. And, of course, gyms and hair salons seem to be eternal lease-seekers. But restaurants are the most frequent answer to the problem of what to do with an emptied out downtown. They build community and are both practical (we’ve all gotta eat) and a destination experience of their own sort. We are also a city famous for them.</p>

However, can the onus of saving the city be placed on an industry that is extraordinarily tender to the touch right now? As I wrote last week, <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/03/23/spring-restaurant-closures/">restaurant closings are the new openings</a> in this town.

Closings are the new openings: Why restaurants are throwing end-of-life bashes

<p>However, can the onus of saving the city be placed on an industry that is extraordinarily tender to the touch right now? As I wrote last week, <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/03/23/spring-restaurant-closures/">restaurant closings are the new openings</a> in this town.</p>

SF’s 11 best bars for one last drink, according to a panel of pros

This is where you need to eat in 2023

Restaurants can’t be downtown’s savior

5 new spots to eat and drink in SF: Autumnal pasta, knafeh ice cream and more

Truck to table: Señor Sisig’s Ferry Building location gives customers a place to sit and share a meal

Search Results for: al pastor

SF’s 11 best bars for one last drink, according to a panel of pros

This is where you need to eat in 2023

Restaurants can’t be downtown’s savior

5 new spots to eat and drink in SF: Autumnal pasta, knafeh ice cream and more

Truck to table: Señor Sisig’s Ferry Building location gives customers a place to sit and share a meal