San Francisco Food Guide

Zuni Café

Located between downtown, Hayes Valley, and the Castro, Zuni Café is an easy spot to access, but even if it were surrounded by crocodile-filled moats and fire-breathing dragons, it would be worth the treacherous trip. You'll find only seasonal, local, and sustainable dishes on the mouthwatering menu, and in no way do these scruples limit the restaurant.

Treat yourself to Hog Island oysters to start. For your entrée, order their signature roast chicken. Any San Francisco food guru will tell you this moist and exquisite dish is a winner, and you don't want to miss culinary perfection. Just a short ride from the Clift Hotel, a Morgans Original, and with Hayes Valley blocks away, this is a great area to eat and explore.

San Francisco Fish Company/Ferry Building

After shopping downtown or before heading to a San Francisco sporting event, make your way to the Embarcadero and check out the beautifully remodeled Ferry Building. Renovated in 2003 in the style of a European marketplace, it houses a top-notch collection of San Francisco food, drink, and specialty vendors in its elegant nave. It's the ideal place to sample the best of the Golden State, and is only a hop, skip, and jump from the gorgeous Hyatt Regency San Francisco.

Stop for a drip coffee at Blue Bottle Coffee and taste a variety of cheeses at Cowgirl Creamery's Artisan Cheese Shop. When you're finally ready for lunch, mosey into the San Francisco Fish Company for their amazing seafood selection, specifically the softshell crab po' boy. Cooked and seasoned to perfection, you'll be licking every drop of the exquisite sauce from your fingertips. If you're an oyster fan, don't miss out on their vast, fresh selection, which varies daily.

For more delicious fish options, check out the best seafood in San Francisco.

Millennium Restaurant

Whether you're a vegetarian tired of ordering pasta, or you're simply starving and in the mood for creative and exciting new dishes, Millennium Restaurant on Geary Street will win over your heart and stomach, regardless of your dietary principles. It takes skill to create balanced and vibrant dishes without the help of butter or meat, and Millennium's completely animal-free menu not only manages, but excels.

With a friendly atmosphere, knowledgeable staff, and unbelievably satisfying flavors, you'll start to wonder, who needs meat? The beggar's purse—a mouthwatering combination of sage-scented seitan, kale, caramelized onions, potato filling, pine nuts, and other yummy items—will leave you simultaneously stuffed and energized. Even getting tipsy on kombucha cocktails feels healthy. Millennium Restaurant embodies the city's culinary mantra: in San Francisco food is a lifestyle.

The Grove Café

Take a nice long walk along around Marina, drink in the gorgeous views of Alcatraz and the Golden Gate, and head to Chestnut Street. After you've worked up an appetite shopping, stop into Grove Café. Between the nicely sized portions, the cozy atmosphere, and the amazing location (just blocks away from affordable lodging at the quirky Edward II Bed and Breakfast Hotel), it's a great choice for lunch and relaxation.

On a warm day, order their refreshing apple chicken salad and one of the local beers on tap. When it's foggy, you can't go wrong with warm and hearty. Get the chicken potpie and a mug of organic chai. Not only will you be happy as a clam, but you'll understand why San Francisco food lovers frequent this adorable neighborhood café, fog or shine.

Now that you know where you're going to eat, find a San Francisco hotel.