The hubs and I just spent a quick overnight in one of our favorite spots, San Francisco, and it was amazing! Living in the North Bay, S.F. is the perfect destination for an easy getaway. We’ve spent a lot of time in the city over the years, including a year long stint when Wes lived there. While the lifestyle lost its appeal quickly, we still love to visit. It’s a great spot to bring the kids, too, but this trip was for the parents. We basically ate and drank our way through the city. Because it still amazes us to list out our stops in the short period of time, that’s how I’m going to format this post. Let’s begin…

Stop One:

Our first stop was actually still in Sonoma, but it’s absolutely worth mentioning. The best way to kick off a getaway is with a great breakfast and accompanying beer. So, we headed to a local favorite, Lou’s Luncheonette (this restaurant has undergone some changes recently so you may know it as Boxcar Fried Chicken, or Fremont Diner). It’s charming, and dishes out amazing food. Wes had the ‘Kitchen Sink’ and I devoured the Chicken Biscuit, which was dripping in honey and butter, and my mouth is still watering as I type this. Breakfast was very affordable, super delicious, and it catapulted us into our day of incredible food and drinks.

Stop Two:

After dropping our bags at the Grand Hyatt, we took off on foot. This is one of the best things about San Francisco: you can walk pretty much everywhere. By the end of the day my smart watch was dinging like crazy with all of the activity awards and alerts. This is humorous for a few reasons, but mostly because it’s never done that before. I’m not a big physical fitness gal. I’ve got two kids, so I count that as my cardio. But, I digress. Our next stop was a new favorite that we discovered while staying in the city for a wedding in November. The Irish Bank is a hidden gem, tucked down an alley just a short walk from Union Square. I’ve never been to Ireland, but Wes says this is the closest thing to an authentic Irish Pub he’s seen. It’s cozy, the atmosphere is just what you’d expect from a pub, and they have Smithwicks on draft, which is the best part. They also serve food, and it looked and smelled amazing.

Stop Three:

One Smithwicks later, we decided to walk to North Beach, which is home to the most amazing selection of Italian eateries. There are cafes, pizzerias, and countless promising places to check out. We ended up at Tony’s Pizza Napoletana, fully expecting to not be able to get in due to its popularity. But, the food and drink gods were on our side, and we were welcomed right in. The menu is incredible, and the story of the restaurant is equally impressive (check it out here). We shared a Pizza Margherita and each had a glass of Italian red, which paired perfectly.

Stop Four:

Since China Town sits between North Beach and Union Square, we walked back through on our way to the hotel. The vibrant colors, sounds, and shops make this area a must see. We dashed into one shop to grab back scratchers for our boys (because they’re obsessed with the ones their grandparents have), then stopped in the well-known local bar, Li Po Cocktail Lounge. This quirky watering hole got its notoriety from a visit from the one and only, Anthony Bourdain. If you’re feeling adventurous, order their famous Chinese Mai Tai. Though, if we go back I’ll skip that one, and go for a Buddha beer instead…

Stop Five:

After Li Po, we wandered back towards the hotel where we spotted two authentic looking French bistros. Le Central was open for happy hour, so we decided to check it out. The place was quiet, but the vibe was very French chic. We struck up a conversation with the bartender, and by the time we left, we had heard the ins and outs of the city bar tending scene. Lots of great, sometimes frightening, stories there!

Stop Six:

A quick refresher at the hotel, then we were on our way to dinner at Liholiho Yacht Club. This was the focal point of our trip, since we had made reservations as soon as they were available, thirty days prior. It is quite the food scene, and it did not disappoint. The atmosphere is very hip, and trendy, and the menu features mostly Hawaiian fare. We started with the tuna poke, and beef tongue, followed by roasted octopus and kimchi fried rice. Then, we split the 28 oz wagyu ribeye. Yeah, chew on that for a sec. What an experience! Our favorites were the beef tongue, and steak, but everything was delicious. The cocktail list is equally luxurious, and each has a fun, tropical flare.

Stop Seven:

As if our day hadn’t been the most incredible culinary adventure already, we ended the night at the Tonga Room. The hike up those infamous San Francisco hills was a great spacer in between beverages, and I’m still feeling the burn. Many of you have probably heard of this iconic tiki bar, found tucked inside the beautiful Fairmont. It’s a favorite among locals and tourists alike, and it’s had it’s share of celebrity sightings as well. The menu is full of delicious tropical drinks, and they have dinner service, as well as a great late night snack selection.

After enjoying our taste of the tropics, and listening to the band performing on the floating stage, we took off down the insane hills. We ended the night by renting Knives Out. Did you know you can rent movies that are still in the theater, from a hotel room!? Clearly we get out a lot.

The Final Stop:

Because parenthood has ruined sleeping in, we were still up early the next morning, and decided to head out for breakfast. The food consumption from the day before only left us wanting more! We took a short walk to Cafe De La Presse and had a delicious French breakfast and cappuccino. I’m actually still dreaming about that cappuccino. The perfect way to end our food and drink tour of the city.

If this doesn’t make you want to book your next trip, then maybe Wes and I are just lushes. Either way, I hope you can be as impressed by the meal count, and caliber, from such a quick trip as we are. So, tell me your favorite S.F. spots in the comments.

Until next time, San Francisco!