I just got GOOP's monthly e-blast, and it's all the latest hot spots in the fabulous city of San Francisco...as recommended by uber-celeb Gwyneth Paltrow and her other celeb friends. Hopefully there are some places in this list we can all afford (LOL!), so it's worth checking out! It's been years since I've been to SF (sorry to say!), but this travel guide is encouraging my husband and I to start planing a trip soon!
:) mel
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San Francisco - GOOP!
This week’s GO on San Francisco is brought to you not only by myself, but by my local friends who I always consult when I am planning a trip there. Kelly, Erin, and Christy, the magnificent Turlington sisters, are Bay Area natives and always point me in the good stuff’s direction. Also super hip ex-New Yorker and SF transplant, Julie Drazen, shares her insider knowledge and Sararose Benham gives us her in-depth and well researched tips.
Love,
gp
San Francisco
This week’s GO on San Francisco is brought to you not only by myself, but by my local friends who I always consult when I am planning a trip there. Kelly, Erin, and Christy, the magnificent Turlington sisters, are Bay Area natives and always point me in the good stuff’s direction. Also super hip ex-New Yorker and SF transplant, Julie Drazen, shares her insider knowledge and Sararose Benham gives us her in-depth and well researched tips.
Love, gp
From Gwyneth:
Hotels:
 | Four Seasons 757 Market Street +415 633 3000www.fourseasons.com/sanfrancisco |
Although I find that the Four Seasons can be hit and miss, this elegant and airy space right in the middle of downtown San Francisco is ideally located for walking around the heart of the city.
 | The Clift 495 Geary Street +415 775 4700www.clifthotel.com |
Super elegant, modern and uber-designed, this Phillippe Starck designed hotel is one of the hippest places to stay. Be sure to have a drink at or even just a peek into the Redwood Room, a classic bar with redwood paneling that has been recently revamped.
Restaurants:
 | Zuni Café 1658 Market Street +415 552 2522www.zunicafe.com |
The menu at this classic restaurant changes daily but the delicious food remains a constant. The specialties here are the Roast Chicken and the Bread Salad.
 | Slanted Door 1 Ferry Building +415 861 8032 |
I haven’t been since the restaurant moved from Valencia street to the Ferry Building, but, with its windows toward the water, this is THE place for Vietnamese. The emphasis is on fresh and organic ingredients. If you’re wanting a quick fix, you can also pick up food to-go at their counter in the Ferry Building marketplace. Slanted Door also has a few sister restaurants including Out The Door on Bush St, which is where the crowds are flocking these days.
Shopping:
 | Cielo 2225 Fillmore Street +415 776 0641 |
I had a lot of luck shopping here the last time I was in San Francisco. Bessie, the general manager, says that at Cielo they like to “mix designs from around the globe to create understated glamour.” The store carries designers such as Haider Ackermann, Dries Van Noten, Ann Demeulemeester, Yohji Yamamoto, Limi Feu, Sacai, Rick Owens, Marni, and Marsell shoes and the buyers choose the best pieces. Their sister store, Blu, has a slightly more playful collection, selected with the same great taste.
From the Turlington Sisters:
From Left to Right: Erin, Kelly and Christy | Yank Sing 101 Spear St. +415 957 9200 or 49 Stevenson St +415 541 4949www.yanksing.com |
This is the best place to go for authentic Dim Sum with every dumpling choice you can imagine. The restaurant doubles in capacity on the weekends in order to accommodate the crowds while the menu decreases in size. Weekdays are definitely the best time for a meal, for a full menu and half the crowd.
Swan Oyster Depot 1517 Polk St San Francisco, CA 94109 +415 673 1101 |
This family owned business has been open for almost a century, serving up fresh oysters, clams, crab, and their famous clam chowder. Kelly and Christy love the Dungeness Crab Louie and the incredibly fresh oysters that they order at the counter with a crisp Sauvignon Blanc. There is only bar seating and it’s hard to get a seat, so expect a line.
 | A16 2355 Chestnut St. +415 771 2216www.a16sf.com |
Though the southern Italian cuisine here is delicious, the highlight is definitely the wine. The owner and sommelier, Shelley Lindgren, finds little-known wines to pair with, among other things, the wood-fired thin-crust pizza, which is not to be missed. Be sure to pick up the A16 cookbook by Nate Appleman, Shelley Lindgren and Kelly Leahy. Christy’s family makes A16 style pizza regularly.
 | SPQR 1911 Fillmore Street +415 771 7779www.spqrsf.com |
A16’s sister restaurant, SPQR focuses on traditional Italian dishes which include fresh, house-made pastas and follows the same selective attitude toward Italian wine. Go with a group of friends so you can try more of their small plates.
 | Ferry Building Marketplace One Ferry Building +415 983 8000 |
This gorgeous building right on the Embarcadero houses some of San Francisco’s most notable food merchants including Hog Island Oyster Company, Cowgirl Creamery’s Artisan Cheese Shop, Bluebottle coffee, etc.
 | Bar Bambino 2921 16th Street, San Francisco, CA +415 701 8466www.barbambino.com |
This Italian restaurant and wine-bar is located somewhat off the beaten path on 16th street in The Mission. The space and rustic food is meticulously orchestrated to create a cozy and memorable experience. The cheese plate is a major highlight.
Chez Spencer 82 14th Street +415 864 2191www.chezspencer.net |
Sophisticated French bistro fare in an airy but warm space. Make sure to have one of their delicious cocktails before your meal.
Hotel Vitale 8 Mission Street +415 278 3700www.hotelvitale.com |
On the Embarcadero, right across the street from the Ferry Building, this super-holistic hotel has a full menu of spa treatments for both vacationing and business travelers.
Rye 688 Geary Street +415 474 4448www.ryesf.com |
For after dinner drinks, head to Rye where the bartenders will concoct the drink of your choice using the freshest ingredients.
From Julie Drazen:
Restaurants:
 | Spruce 3640 Sacramento Street +415 921 5100www.sprucesf.com |
A great place for a dressed-up dinner. The food spans a variety of cuisines but the emphasis remains on local and organic fare.
 | Nopa 560 Divisadero +415 864 8643www.nopasf.com |
My friend Julie’s number one favorite for food and atmosphere. Nopa prides itself for being a real San Francisco community center. They support Bay Area artisans (check out the mural!) and serve local, rustic food.
 | Farina 3560 18th St. +415 565 0360www.farina-foods.com |
In a city full of Italian restaurants, this is the place to go for fresh pasta.
Shopping:
Dish Clothing 541 Hayes Street +415 252 5997 |
A favorite for good price points.
 | Carrots 843 Montgomery St. +415 834 9041www.sfcarrots.com |
Keywords: unique, cutting-edge, local.
The Grocery Store 3625 Sacramento St. +415 928 3615 |
You’ll find designers and pieces you won’t find anywhere else in San Francisco like Comme Des Garcons, Miu Miu, James Perse and designer jeans galore.
 | Metier 355 Sutter St. +415 989 5395www.metiersf.com |
Handpicked clothing with a bohemian edge. Brands include Zero Maria Cornejo, Isabel Marant, and No. 6 among others.
Philanthropist 3571 Sacramento St. +415 441 1750www.philanthropistboutique.com |
This store carries all the brands you’d want – Phillip Lim, Vera Wang, Zac Posen, Stella McCartney. The major added plus is that all your money goes directly to charity. Each quarter the owners choose a new charity to contribute to.
Gimme Shoes 416 Hayes Street at Gough +415 864 0691www.gimmeshoes.com |
This is THE best shoe store!
Kids Clothes:
Honeys and Heroes 3366 326 1899 +415 864 0691www.honeysandheroes.com |
Find unique pieces for kids from all the cool brands like Ella Moss and Vans for kids plus many unknowns and up-and comers.
Mani/Pedi:
Teashi 2340 Polk Street +415 749 0990www.teashi.com |
This is a beautifully designed space for the ultimate manicure and pedicure. Who knew there were so many kinds of treatments? Time Defense Mani, Scandle Mani, Back To Natural…
From Sararose Benham:
Parks:
 | Seward Street Mini Park |
When I was a little girl, my dad used to take me to The Seward Street Mini Park. Seward is a short street in The Castro that runs at a rough diagonal between 19th St. and Douglass St. I used to feel like it was my private secret park. The park has these slides made of cement that are said to have been designed by a young 14 year old girl who won a park design contest. When we were done sliding we would walk up the Douglass Hill steps which lead you to Kite Hill which is a small open space with grass and views overlooking the city.
Shopping:
 | Conifer Shop 2428 Webster St. +415 922 1892conifershop.wordpress.com www.conifershop.com |
My big sister's good friends Amy and Robbie own this fantastic shop. The store showcases New York designers like one of a kind jewelry from DLC Brooklyn made with vintage chains and select clothing pieces by Built by Wendy. The shop also carries many items that are handmade and sustainable.
Lingerie:
Toujours 2484 Sacramento St. +415 346 3988www.toujourslingerie.com |
Toujours is tiny but perfect. It is located off Fillmore Street in lower Pacific Heights. Beverly, the owner has worked in Lingerie for years and used to have a shop called Chloe across the Golden Gate Bridge. Bev is a wealth of gorgeous lingerie knowledge. The store features sexy, comfy and in between. I love going to this girly shop, it smells delicious too - like lavender sachets.
Men:
A-B Fits 1519 Grant Ave. +415 982 5726www.abfits.com |
A-B Fits has many hip brands and carries APC denim, which I think looks incredible on men.
 | Huf 812 Sutter St. +415 552 3820www.hufsf.com |
Huf has the best and most original sneaker collection in SF. You will find the latest and greatest from Nike, Adidas, Reebok and Vans. They also carry hip urban apparel. It's fun to browse this colorful store even if you are not a huge sneaker fan.
Baby:
Mudpie 1694 Union St. +415 771 9262www.mudpiechild.com |
Mudpie in the Marina has gorgeous clothing gifts for babies as well as beautiful accessories, toys, furniture and specialty make believe items. I simply adore this place. This classic and magical feeling shop is spacious and bright and they do gorgeous gift-wrapping which makes the perfect finishing touch for a lovely experience.
Hair:
 | Jungle Red 4233 18th St. +415 924 9755www.jungleredsf.com |
The salon is hip and chic without screaming hip and chic. The front desk staff (especially a lovely man named Eric) are always incredibly cheerful and helpful and I have been impressed with all of the colorists and stylists I have booked with. They do amazing nourishing conditioning treatments using Kerastase and do not break the bank.
Yoga:
 | International Orange 2410 California St, Suite A +415 563 5500www.internationalorange.com |
An old friend of mine opened this incredible yoga studio/day spa on Fillmore Street with two of her childhood girlfriends. International Orange (IO) named after the paint color of the Golden Gate Bridge, is an open space of Zen in the middle of the city. IO has both restorative and vinyasa yoga available by group classes, privates or workshops.
Facials:
Derma Plus 1728 Union St, suite 200 +415 885 6192www.dermaplussf.com |
I stumbled upon this Marina gem looking for a waxer and ended up addicted to the facial treatments. Julie Crispo owns and operates this quaint second floor space and takes extremely good care of her client's skin. Julie has perfected the art of waxing and her facials always leave you feeling like you have brand new skin! I really cannot say enough good things about Derma Plus, you never feel rushed and truly feel cared about which I think is hard to find in an aestician. Derma Plus uses products like True, Skin Blends, Obagi and Jan Marini.
Restaurants:
Italian and Pizza:
Little Star Pizza 400 Valencia St. +415 551 7827 or 846 Divisadero St. +415 441 1118www.littlestarpizza.com |
In a city not famous for their Pizza, Little Star Pizza is delicious. They serve both thin and thick crust so there is something for everyone and they do both options just right. The daily specials change constantly and seasonally and always surprise. No reservations and cash only.
 | Delfina Restaurant 3621 18th St. +415 552 4055 or Pizzeria Mission 3611 18th St. +415 437 6800www.delfinasf.com |
Delfina Restaurant in the Mission district is a lovely place with a fantastic Italian menu and delicious fresh pizzas. Although Delfina is usually crowded and hard to get in, the pizzeria next door that is smaller and open for lunch tends to have more openings, especially for a later lunch.
Pizzetta 211 211 23rd Ave. +415 379 9880www.pizzetta211.com |
My sister is swearing by Pizzetta 211 saying "It is the super secret bombdiggity."
Mexican:
Nick's Crispy Tacos 1500 Broadway +415 409 8226 |
Nick's Crispy Tacos is only open during the day as it is operated out of a portion of a Night Club in Russian Hill. You enter through a side door of the club and it's sectioned off. They have the best tacos, crispy or regular along with perfect guacamole, elote (Mexican corn on the cob) and delicious melon juice. It's an interesting experience surrounded by plush red club-style booths and a dancing floor. It's a fun place to bring out-of-towners as it's quite a unique dining experience. They also have "Taco Tuesdays" with $2 tacos and $10 pitchers!
 | Nopalito 306 Broderick St. +415 437 0303www.nopalitosf.com |
Our family loves Nopalito on Broderick, for sustainable, organic and healthy Mexican food.
And of course there are many Taquerias in the Mission District where you cannot go wrong when searching for authentic Mexican Cuisine.
Vietnamese:
Three Seasons 3317 Steiner St.www.threeseasonsrestaurant.com |
Three Seasons is a wonderful restaurant to go when you are in the mood for Vietnamese spring rolls. There are many types of rolls both fresh and fried, and they are made with the finest ingredients. The Vietnamese owners have named the restaurant Three Seasons, because that is how many seasons there are in Vietnam.
Markets:
 | Bi-Rite Market 3639 18th Street +415 241 9760www.biritemarket.com |
Bi-Rite Market in the Mission is the place to go for snacks and groceries. They somehow manage to carry everything you would need in one smallish grocery store. Bi-Rite specializes in local, organic and sustainable food. The produce here is always fresh and to test it yourself, there are ample amounts of samples offered. They cater and have a seasonal deli with a changing menu. For a special treat, visit Bi-Rite’s creamery across the street serving local, organic ice cream. The service and atmosphere are very neighborhood and community oriented.
Coffee and Tea:
Lovejoy's Tea Room 1351 Church St. +415 648 5895www.lovejoystearoom.com |
Lovejoy's Tea Room is adorable and eclectic. It is the perfect spot to host a high tea or bring a small group of children for a tea party.
 | Four Barrel Coffee 375 Valenciawww.fourbarrelcoffee.com |
Four Barrel Coffee is all the rage at the moment and for good reason, the coffee is excellent. You can also find Four Barrel Coffee served at Tartine, a popular and delicious bakery that is worth a visit.
 | Tartine 600 Guerrero Street +415 487-2600www.tartinebakery.com |
Art and Science:
Mural Tours in San Francisco are a really fantastic way to see outdoor, authentic local art. There are numerous worthy murals to be seen all around the city.
One of my favorite places to go is The Exploratorium. It is located next to the Palace of Fine Arts, the Grecian looking dome that sits near the base of the Golden Gate Bridge. Inside the Exploratorium you will find a Science Museum great for both children and adults. It features the Tactile Dome, which is a maze of tunnels and slides that you go through completely in the dark using your sense of touch to get you through.
To Do at Night:
Dolores Park movie night is really fun! Grab a blanket and your buddies and you are set for the night.
Nightlife at Calif. Academy of Sciences on Thursday nights (adults only / bars / djs).
Candy:
Candy Darling 798 Sutter Street +415 346 1500 |
This adorable, simple and completely wonderful corner candy shop has the warmest service and most incredible English toffee and saltwater caramels.
