The Best Seafood in San Francisco

Anchor Oyster Bar

Located in the heart of the Castro, the Anchor Oyster Bar does everything right. Phenomenal service, great location, and the best crab cakes you'll ever taste render this hotspot high on the list of restaurants serving the best seafood in San Francisco. Other foodie favorites include the Boston clam chowder, the seafood salads (try the salad with crab), and, of course, the oysters.

Although a small restaurant that comfortably seats about twenty-five diners at a time, the atmosphere is always warm and welcoming. Anchor Oyster Bar is not a dining experience to be missed.

Woodhouse Fish Company

The lobster roll at this laid-back seafood spot tops any other in the city, and while that alone is reason enough to eat at Woodhouse Fish Company, the fish tacos are another. If you're lucky enough to snag a table on a Tuesday night, make sure to take advantage of the ludicrously priced and unfathomably tasty $1 oysters. With a small-town, familial feel, this is the perfect restaurant for a casual night out. It's nothing fancy, but Woodhouse's promises to deliver expertly cooked and classic seafood dishes.

Sam's Anchor Café (Tiburon)

While it isn't technically in the city of San Francisco, Sam's Anchor Café is well-worth the trip across the Golden Gate Bridge and into the rolling hills of Marin. If you want the true-blue San Francisco experience, rent a bike for your trek. Whichever way you arrive, the ride is gorgeous and the destination is a rare gem. The drinks are strong, the food is fresh and yummy, and views of the San Francisco skyline are unparalleled. Order a cocktail, and make sure to sit outside for panoramic sights that will render you speechless.

When you've recovered your voice, flag down your waiter and order Sam's widely-praised cioppino—a hearty stew made with crab, mussels, clams, and the catch of the day in a spicy broth. A classic favorite of every local, this dish puts Sam's on the map for some of the best seafood in San Francisco, er, the San Francisco area.

Swan Oyster Depot

Although it's a tiny restaurant with a long wait, the lines are nothing compared to the satisfaction of tasting the best seafood in San Francisco cooked by a longtime local family. Swan Oyster Depot appreciates the patience it takes to watch remarkable food dancing by you on its way to a lucky table, so they're happy to serve you booze while you wait.

With San Francisco pride, order an Anchor Steam to curb your hunger. When the time comes to chow down, get your bib ready. Choose the smoked salmon or crab for your entrée, but make sure you taste the remarkable oysters. Need advice? Ask the friendly men in white for a thorough description. Just a walk down California Street from the ritzy Huntington Hotel, Swan Oyster Depot is more than worth the wait.

The Cliff House

Cruise along the Pacific Ocean shoreline until you come across the aptly named Cliff House, one of the best spots to watch the sunset in San Francisco. As you may have guessed, it's perched on the very edge of a rocky precipice, but there's nothing scary about the picturesque ocean views, signature cocktails, and great food. There are two restaurants to choose from: The Bistro and Sutro's. For a more casual experience, veer left toward the Bistro. Seating is first-come-first-serve, and be sure to request a table by the window.

The warm popovers and crab Louis will hit the spot, and the chowder is an award-winning favorite. If you're in the moody for something a little more upscale, head downstairs to Sutro's. Named for the Sutro Baths (a saltwater bathhouse that burned down in 1966), Sutro's delivers a gourmet menu and unique views of the baths, Seal Rock, and the Golden Gate available nowhere else in the city. The scallops will melt on your tongue, and the sea bass holds a unique, perfectly seasoned flavor. Like all of the best seafood in San Francisco, everything on the menu is local and sustainable.