Bar Crenn is the San Francisco sister bar to Dominique Crenn’s three Michelin Star restaurant Atelier Crenn. While it might be nigh on impossible to nab a reservation next door at the restaurant, the good news is that recently refurbished and jaw-droppingly stylish Bar Crenn is open to slightly more casual – yet no less thoughtful – dining. Perch at the black glossy high bar and let the team of chefs unfurl a multi course menu paired with wineries that share the eco-focused ethos of the restaurant. Alternatively, settle in to one of the plush velvet lounge chairs and enjoy small bites paired with crafted cocktails. If you are lucky Chef Crenn might even pop out and spin some Whitney Houston from her record collection. barcrenn.com

Tucked at the top of a leafy street on the boundary of North Beach and Russian Hill, Habibi Bar is a pop-up at Bacchus Wine Bar and has become a frim favourite for locals on the small bar scene. Leaning towards natural and minimal intervention wines, co-owner Andrew Nelson drives a thoughtful drinking program highlighting his love of Riesling and Italian wine alongside local drops. A simple snack menu is guided with middle eastern flavours such as hummus and labneh. Look out for Andrew’s new venue due to open in North Beach in June 2023. habibibarsf.com

A San Francisco institution, this is the name that popped up again and again when asking chefs where they like to eat on their day off in the Golden Gate City. Go for the mounds of shoe-string fries, an in-depth array of oysters, and chicken for two roasted in the wood fired oven. A vast wine list and impeccable service, Zuni Café is a bucket list destination whether you choose to dine for brunch, lunch or dinner.

It wouldn’t be a trip to the bay without a seafood feast. Cue Angler: San Francisco’s mod-seafood venue of choice. The heart of the kitchen is the open fire cooking station, which is utilised for most dishes. Embered oysters from New England are smoky, creamy and with a hint of chilli. The lunchtime menu is concise with a cracking fish burger, while the evening a la carte menu is more substantial. Vinous adventurers will want to set aside time to pour over the wine tome. It’s worth a visit in itself, even if oysters aren’t your thing. The quirky fit out includes taxidermy animals and giant fish circling the room’s walls. anglerrestaurants.com/san-francisco

Set in the Mission District, Liliana is inviting with wood panelled walls, brass fittings and a bustling bar which is central to the experience. Punchy flavours and produce focused dishes are cooked over fire in the common kitchen set between the neighbouring restaurant Osito. Dishes such as lamb piroshki and cornmeal waffles with fresh cheese, snap peas and trout roe cry out for a glass of wine from the considered wine list, or a cocktail such as a lavender martini. The vibrant atmosphere is the perfect setting for a share meal with friends or a date night. lilianasf.co

Tucked a little way off the pavement in the Financial District, it’s easy to walk past the front door of Afici if you aren’t looking where you are going. Set in the cavernous ground floor of a commercial building the space is warmed up and made to feel much more intimate with soft furnishings and clever room subdivisions. Sit at the well-stocked bar for a well-made cocktail and order from the a la carte menu, focused on hand made pasta and house crafted charcuterie – a rarity in the city where small goods production is heavily regulated. Feeling a bit more formal? Take a seat at the restaurant where the tasting menu features a journey of chef’s highlights. aficisf.com

Watch this place. Since Chef Harrison Cheney became Executive Chef in January 2023, the one Michelin star Sons and Daughters has been focused on new-Nordic fine dining in a restrained, yet warmly intimate dining room. There’s no austerity here, and while the dishes are artful and considered, the flavours are impactful and soulful. A well curated wine pairing highlights the food offering, and service is second to none. Perfect for a date night or special occasion, with every dish presented by the chef and his team in intimate surroundings. sonsanddaughterssf.com

The clean lines of Cassava are boosted with energetic splashes of colour on the walls. Open for lunch and dinner; the set menu is born by Chef Kris Toliao, who earned his stripes in chef’s kitchens such as Dominique Crenn and Julian Baker. His wife, Yuka Ioroi, heads up the front of house and it’s a convivial open and airy welcoming space. Solo diners are encouraged to dine at the long bar, and the team pride themselves on being a safe space for solo female and LGBTQ diners, with a strict zero-tolerance policy for any form of harassment. Dishes are wholesome and flavoursome, focused on great produce treated with respect in the kitchen. cassavasf.com

Words aren’t really needed when it comes to Tommy’s Mexican. Yes, this is where THE Tommy’s Margarita was invented. Come here for the drinks. Perch at the bar and you’ll leave with a significantly improved knowledge on tequila, and perhaps a bit of a pavement sway on the way home. tommysmexican.com

The San Francisco original Tartine bakery has reached cult status globally amongst pastry fans and with good reason: founders Chad Robertson and Elisabeth Prueitt know their way around a bag of flour. While the original tartine is ideal for a casual pit stop for breakfast or lunch, head a few blocks East and you’ll find the more substantial Tartine Manufactory. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, this venue offers more substantial dishes centred around the star of the show: the humble sourdough loaf. tartinebakery.com

Lining up on the sunny pavement is the easy part, choosing which pastry to take away is the tough part. Arsicault Bakery has two San Francisco locations founded by owner/baker Armando Lacayo. The goods don’t disappoint, and whichever option you go for you’ll be rewarded with tightly layered flaky pastry. There’s no dine-in here, so pop next door to Breck’s café to enjoy with a coffee or jump on a bus to the nearby park to picnic like a pro. arsicault-bakery.com

A living piece of San Francisco’s beat history, Vesuvio Café has housed generations of poets and artists since It’s incarnation in 1948. Most famously the chosen haunt of Jack Kerouac, the walls are littered with artwork and posters, while punters jostle for a place at the bar under the balcony. Whether you are here for the history or the people watching, it’s a great spot to visit solo and grab a drink. vesuvio.com

No trip to San Francisco is complete without a stroll along the bay and a sighting of Alcatraz. Head to the Ghirardelli Square, which is steeped in history. A key part of the city’s developing economy, the Ghirardelli Chocolate Company was big business in the 19th century as one of America’s major chocolate businesses was founded in San Francisco. The square is home to three different stores and the famous fudge sauce swirled over a sundae or ice-cream cone. Just up the road is The Buena Vista, where the boozy Irish Coffee was invented.

The bar scene in San Francisco has some frontliners when it comes to great wine lists and atmosphere. Try Press Club for a post-work vibe in the slick inner city basement. The Tonga Room and Hurricane Bar is an institution, situated in what used to be the retro indoor swimming pool of the Fairmount. Eco Terreno is San Francisco’s newest city cellar door, hosting guided wine tastings upstairs during the day, and a basement bar with live music in the evening. El Chato is a fun wine bar-cum-restaurant specialising in Spanish wine, while Bar Part Time is a natty wine bar that transforms into a low key club as the night kicks in. Palm City Wines, Birba, Roaming Goat and High Treason are all top hits when it comes to wine lists and small bar vibes.