Isa Restaurant
Our favorite restaurant in the Marina District. All food is served tapas style and meant to be shared. Robust wine list available. Ask to sit on the back patio!
The Cink's Bay Area Recommendations
Welcome to our repository of highly recommended restaurants, attractions, bars, and wineries in San Francisco! Regardless of how you arrived at our site, we are excited to share our favorite spots in the Bay Area.
Food
Off the Grid
Food Trucks at Fort Mason on Friday nights offers a variety of cuisines. You'll find live music, local beers, and even spiced wine on chillier evenings.
Little Star Pizza
Favorite pizza in the city with fresh toppings and cornmeal crust. Located in NOPA - get there early because they don't take reservations! Open on Fridays for lunch.
Foreign Cinema
Old movie theatre turned into a trendy, upscale restaurant in the Mission District. Eclectic atmosphere - brick walls, intimate lighting, and a black and white movie projected on the wall.
Mission Chinese Food
Non-traditional Chinese Food in the Mission District. Originally a pop-up restaurant that was temporarily located inside of Lung Shan Restaurant, this spicy menu is a San Francisco favorite!
Delarosa
Trendy Italian eatery with wood-fired pizzas in the Marina District. Incredible cocktails made my mixologists in a loud, fun atmosphere. Try the Diablo - it's GA's favorite!
Brenda's Meat and Three
New Orleans “soul food” brunch located in NOPA. Quaint back patio.
Flour + Water
Italian restaurant in the Mission District rumored to have made even Steve Jobs wait for a table. Incredible food, very long lines and unfortunately no reservations.
Umami Burger
Best burger in the city. Laid-back atmosphere and typically easy to walk-in for a table. Located in Cow Hollow on busy Union Street.
Bi-Rite
Hands down the best ice cream we’ve ever had. Originally began as a locally sourced market. There are two locations, one in the Mission District near Dolores Park and one in NOPA near Alamo Square.
Green Chile Kitchen
An interesting twist on Mexican cuisine. Located in NOPA, this is a fantastic (quick) option for lunch or dinner.
Le Marais Bakery
A new Marina favorite. Stop by for a croissant and coffee or sit down for brunch and try their avocado toast or eggs benedict!
The Mina Test Kitchen
Chef Michael Mina's pop up in Cow Hollow. The menu changes frequently as it is a test kitchen. Pay and reserve your dinner or Sunday brunch ahead of time and enjoy the multi course meal!
Drink
El Techo de Lolinda
Rooftop Mexican tapas bar and in the Mission District. Reservations only taken for brunch. If there’s a wait, grab a drink at Lolinda on the ground level.
Biergarten
Exactly what it sounds like. You'll find a variety of beers (get a boot) and German bar-type food. Located in the middle of the city in Hayes Valley.
Southern Pacific Brewery
Large brewery in a warehouse located in the Mission District. They have a great menu full of bar food. Indoor and outdoor seating, so it is a solid spot regardless of the weather.
Mauna Loa
Dive bar in Cow Hollow. It has everything from pop-a-shot to Big Buck Hunter. Cash only, but there is an ATM at the entrance.
Tonga Room and Hurricane Bar
Go for the tropical drinks, rainforest setting, and floating live music in the bottom of the Fairmont Hotel in Nob Hill.
Bourbon and Branch
Speakeasy found in the Tenderloin. Email for a reservation and a password to enter, or enjoy a cocktail in the library which is open to anyone. It can be a little tricky to find from the street!
The Interval at Long Now
A nerd’s dream located in Fort Mason in the Marina. Think upscale science projects in a library with strong cocktails.
California Wine Merchant
Quaint wine bar that feels like a cellar. They have a fabulous cheese and nut plate you can purchase to enjoy with your wine. Located in the Marina and can get rowdy later in the night!
The Riddler
A trendy champagne bar in Hayes Valley. You can take a champagne "bong" if you're feeling wild or get some bites ranging from popcorn to waffles topped with caviar. There can be a wait, so get there when they open around 4PM - Sundays and Tuesdays are the quieter days.
Attractions
Alcatraz
Touristy, but totally worth it. Incredible views of the bay and packed with history. There is a sunset tour during summer months. Be sure to buy tickets in advance.
Dolores Park
Our favorite park in the city located in the Mission District. Endless people watching with an incredilble view of the skyline. A great spot for a picnic and day drinking.
Alamo Square
Another fantastic park found in NOPA that gives you both fantastic view of downtown in addition to the Painted Ladies.
Bike the Golden Gate Bridge
Biking the bridge, hitting Sausalito, and ferrying back is a must. There are plenty of bike rental spots, but we ususally recommend Sports Basement in the Presidio. If you spend some time in Sausalito, grab a drink at Bar Bocce or brunch at Fred's. There's also Paddle Board Yoga in Sausalito if that's up your alley!
Golden Gate Park
There's everything from a bison field, botanical gardens, an archer field and a disc golf course in the park. The de Young Museum is also of note and they have a free observation deck that gives you a 360 view of the city. The Tea Garden is also a famous stop in the park as well as renting a paddleboat and cruising around Stow Lake.
Sutro Baths
Nestled in between Ocean Beach and the Presidio on the coast, Sutro Bath ruins are the remnants of an old bath house. You'll find amazing views of the Pacific (we've spotted whales before!) and some caves that we actually went to a rave in. Interesting history here - get some clam chowder at Cliff House and read about the history.
Angel Island
Take a ferry from the Ferry Building or Pier 41 to this island in the bay. There is some history here as it used to be a Japanese internment camp. If it's a nice day, hike to the top and where you will have 360 view of the bay. This is where Brad proposed!
Hiking in Marin
Marin is the county just across Golden Gate Bridge. There are many high-elevation hikes to the top of the redwoods (Muir Woods) in addition to breathtaking coastal views. Shuck your own oysters at Hog Island or Tomales Bay. When crossing into Marin over the bridge, take your 2nd exit for the best Golden Gate picture at Marin Headlands!
Ferry Building
Check out the Farmer's market on Saturday morning for breakfast or lunch. All sorts of local goods with a view of the water.
Giants Game
AT&T Park sits on the water. Fans kayak to catch foul balls! Get the garlic fries and bundle up if you go to a night game. There's a Public House on the ground level that has cheaper beers than concessions.
The Haight
Home to the hippies beginnning with the Summer of Love in 1967. There are still trippy remnants of this movement with homeless teenagers roaming the neighorhood. You can take a walking tour of all of the famous homes including the Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, and Jimmy Hendrix. Walk to Hippy Hill on the edge of Golden Gate Park for drum circles, hoola-hooping and pot brownies.
Muir Woods
National park of a redwood grove about 30 minutes over the Golden Gate Bridge in Marin. There are a lot of hiking trails that you can get on from the park that go into Marin headlands. $7 to enter.
Ghirardelli Square
Overlooking the San Francisco Aquatic Park, Ghirardelli Square is home of the iconic chocolate manufacturer and is a 'must visit' destination during your stay.
Outdoor Yoga
Channel your inner yogi and take advantage of some of these iconic locations. Depending on the day, you can find a class at Crissy Field near GG Bridge, Baker Beach in the Presidio, a wine bar downtown or on Ocean Beach overlooking the Pacific. You can request a mat rental if you don't have your own!
Scoot
Download the app and cruise around the city in a scooter! At only $3/trip, it is a fun way to explore the city. No motorcycle license is required.
Treasure Island
Situated in the middle of the Bay Bridge halfway in between San Francisco and Oakland, it gives fabulous views of the Bay. On the last weekend of the month, there is a flea market with food trucks and all sorts of goods. Check out the Wood Island Club biergarten or one of the wineries.
Wine Country
Frog's Leap
It has an old farm feel with vegetable gardens, chicken coops, yard games, and lawn chairs all beside the grapes.
Caymus Vineyards
Grace Ann's favorite wine: this spot is relaxed and quaint with a charming patio. The Wagoner family has several labels, each created by a different family member.
Paraduxx Winery
A beautiful, modern location for wine tasting. The Duckhorn Group's wines are renowned in the Napa area.
Miner Family
One of the few wineries open until 5PM, this has become our last stop when we aren't ready to leave wine country! Sits on a hill with great view of the valley.
Robert Sinskey Vineyards
Situated on a hill with a spectacular view. A small cheese plate is included with each tasting.
Swanson
We joined their wine club after an eclectic experience that included caviar on a potato chip paired with Chardonnay. Reservation required for both an informal tasting at the Sip Shoppe as well as for a formal tasting in the salon.
Honig
A sustainaby-farmed vineyard. A little off the beaten path, leaving you surrounded by vineyards. We loved their Sauvignon Blancs, which is unusual as the area is known for big reds.
Fleury Estate Winery
While this is not your typical Napa wine tasting experience, Fleury has one of our favorite Cabs in Napa and a very private feel. Be prepared to taste inside their cellar: (bring a jacket).
Oakville Grocery
Boutique grocery store right off of the highway. We love to grab sandwiches, cheese, etc. here in between our arduous days of wine tasting.
Redd
Our favorite dinner in Napa. If you're looking for a dinner that's a little less formal, check out their sister restaurant Redd Wood which is known for its wood-fired pizzas.
Lucy
A modern, upscale spot in Yountville in the hotel Bardessono. Sit outside on the patio by the pond.
Solbar
Following our engagement, we made our way up to Calistoga for a special dinner. You can't go wrong by the patio or inside and will taste unique, flavorful and surprising dishes that reflect the best Napa Valley has to offer.
Oxbow Public Market
A casual spot with food options for everyone. Grab some Hog Island oysters, a burger from Gott's, or a pastry from Model Bakery.
Neighborhoods
AllFind the areas we recommend you consider for accommodation during your stay. Each neighborhood has a link to Airbnb for your reference.
Marina District
Cow Hollow
Russian Hill
NOPA
Pacific Heights
Mission District
North Beach
Hayes Valley
Favorite Walks
Beyond
Yosemite
Roughly 3 hours outside of SF, Yosemite has an endless number of adventures. There are a handful of lodges/hotels, or you can rent a spot at Camp Curry for a tent experience. Spring time is the best time to see waterfalls. There are endless hikes, but you'll need a lottery pass to take on Half Dome.
Big Sur
Three hours south of the city you'll find one of the most beautiful stretches of Highway 1. You can stop halfway to explore Carmel/Monterey. There are only a handful of places to stay, but we highly recommend Treebones, a glamping resort that includes two incredible restaurants and a hot tub overlooking the Pacific. Take an easy hike to enjoy McWay Falls or explore the beach at Pfieffer state park.
Lake Tahoe
Roughly 3 hours outside of SF, Yosemite has an endless number of adventures. There are a handful of lodges/hotels, or you can rent a spot at Camp Curry for a tent experience. Spring time is the best time to see waterfalls. There are endless hikes, but you'll need a lottery pass to take on Half Dome.