Vacations Blog

With its upscale restaurants, landmark buildings, beautiful bridges and breathtaking views, San Francisco always tops the lists of favorite US cities and tourist destinations.  Many people come to visit during the summer months and get disappointed by the cold fog and damp weather. However you would be pleasantly surprised if you made a trip to the city during this time of year.  The winter months often bring cold temperatures but very blue skies during the day and nights full of stars.

San Francisco is almost more beautiful at night during the holidays than any other time of year – and that is saying something.

During the holidays living in the City is such a gift: the bright lights on the Embarcadero Center row of buildings, outlined to look like giant present boxes; the beautiful window displays in high-end stores like Gump’s and multi-colored lights adorning neighborhood parks and homes. Walk through any of these areas of the city and you can’t help but smile and get a little more into the holiday spirit.

If you are visiting the City or planning to in the future and want to experience a uniquely San Francisco evening, I have the perfect recipe for you. The itinerary will need a little planning but should only require one phone call for the dinner reservation.  This evening is a local favorite for a romantic date but it can be adjusted for just a great night out with friends or family.

First thing you want to do is plan on wearing some warm layers of clothing, especially a scarf and gloves.  San Francisco at night, during this time of year, can be very cold. Wear some nice holiday clothes and comfortable shoes and you will be set for the evening.

Begin the evening with a drink at the beautiful Big Four Restaurant on Nob Hill. Located inside the Huntington Hotel, this secret spot doesn’t have the view that you can get from the Top of the Mark, but this is the place locals go. Filled with beautiful dark wood, the bar area is rich and a historic reminder of the robber barons that built San Francisco.

After a glass of wine or cold cocktail, walk slowly across California Street, watching out for the cable cars and taxi drivers heading across town. Criss-cross the street and stroll through Huntington Park, a wonderful small city park situated between Grace Cathedral and The Fairmont Hotel.  It is one of my favorite parks to visit at night during the holidays because the neighborhood association installs beautiful old-fashion lights in the trees.

Walk through the park towards your dinner reservations, at Venticello Ristorante on Taylor Street. This wonderful Italian restaurant has a warm intimate setting that reminds you of San Francisco society pages from the 1920s. I have had dinners where I have watched patrons walk in that could have been related to Grace Kelly or Kim Novak, in their style of dress and manner. The food is classic Italian with homemade pastas, risotto and roasted meats. The fireplace and wood oven add warmth to your dinner setting along with a backdrop of cable cars going up and down California Street.

After your dinner walk down Taylor Street to Jackson Street and catch the Powell-Hyde Cable Car, with its maroon colored sign, to head towards the waterfront and Hyde Street Pier.  The cable car ride will be very chilly but you can cuddle up inside the center of the car or wrap your scarf tighter and hang onto the outer poles like a local.

Your ride will take you up past Nob Hill and across Russian Hill until you head down Hyde Street to the end of the line. Hop off and turning your back to the bay, walk into The Buena Vista Cafe – home of the perfect Irish Coffee!

Irish Coffee

The recipe of this famous drink was created in 1952 when the restaurant owner and a well known travel writer worked to re-create a highly touted “Irish Coffee” served at Shannon Airport in Ireland.

The Irish Coffee served here at the Buena Vista is the perfect night cap any night of the year, but especially in winter.  How and when you decide to end your evening is up to you, but after all the lights, rich foods, fresh air and drinks – I recommend taking a cab home. Enjoy!

If you’re planning a trip, check out flights to San Francisco.

Photo credits to bill lim, tinou, shayne kaye and rick

From guest blogger, Stefania Pomponi Butler, of City Mama

When we were younger, Thanksgiving was all about being together at home. We’d spend the day tending to the turkey while watching football or just hanging out. My mom would bust out the nosh around noon—patés, dips, crudités, chilled seafood—and we’d nibble the afternoon away as guests arrived until it was time for dinner which we always ate at dinner time.

Now that we’re all grown and live in different places, we’ve embraced the new tradition of going out for our Thanksgiving dinner when we are together. The upside to going out is not having to spend all day cooking and polishing silver, and not having to scrub any greasy roasting pans or crusty mashed potato bowls. The downside to going out is not having any tasty leftovers, so we always cook a Thanksgiving dinner as well, but we usually do it on the Saturday or Sunday after Thanksgiving.

For Thanksgiving, my extended family usually gathers together in San Francisco and we dine in whichever restaurant can accommodate the twenty or so of us. Most often we find ourselves on Nob Hill at either the Fairmont or the Mark Hopkins Hotel. Both offer up lovely buffets in their top-floor restaurants which offer expansive views of San Francisco and the bay. The Fairmont Crown Room serves a traditional Thanksgiving meal with special accents like a sushi bar, chocolate fondue fountain, a station featuring locally made cheeses, and a separate, lowered buffet just for the little ones.

The Mark Hopkins buffet in the Top of the Mark is slightly more elegant in feel. Champagne flows freely as you select from turkey and roast beef at the carving stations or assorted caviar from the caviar bar. If you want to spend your Thanksgiving in San Francisco, you can always bet that restaurants in hotels will be open, but if you are looking for a more special and intimate experience, you may want to try some of my favorite restaurants which are all open and serving deliciousness this Thanksgiving.

The sublime Ame in SOMA—one of San Francisco’s best restaurants—is offering up their regular “New American” menu with French accents. I’m glad they are sticking to what they do best because what they do best is why the restaurant finds itself on “Best of” lists year after year. Thanksgiving at Ame is bound to be a truly special event.

The Carnelian Room in the Financial District is presenting “a buffet extravaganza with an abundance of this season’s harvest.” This “old school” San Francisco restaurant offers amazing views of the city and the bay. It’s one restaurant I always recommend to people who visit San Francisco, especially if you are into the retro vibe. If you don’t stay for dinner, at least have a drink in the clubby bar. Thanksgiving seatings are at 12:00, 2:00, 4:00, and 6:00 PM. $79/person, $43/child 10 & under + 18% gratuity.

Also in the Financial District is Tommy Toy’s. A favorite with the business lunch crowd, the Chinese-inspired restaurant will be presenting their regular menu as well as a seasonal $75, 6-course prix fixe menu created by Chef Yeong. The menu features Prawns with Grand Marnier, Crab meat Pumpkin Bisque, Whole Maine Lobster, and much more! Sounds pretty tasty if you ask me.

Coté Sud, is a cozy neighborhood restaurant located in the heart of the queer-friendly Castro. Coté Sud is known for its all-organic menu and French bistro cuisine. For Thanksgiving they are serving up three courses with choice of appetizer, main course, and dessert. Cost: $50/person.

Fior d’Italia, established in 1896, is America’s oldest Italian restaurant. Located in North Beach near the downtown Financial District and walking distance to Fisherman’s Wharf, this restaurant is convenient to many of San Francisco’s most popular hotels. It’s known for its Northern Italian food, but let’s face it, people go there because it’s a San Francisco institution. Fior d’Italia is open on Thanksgiving and is offering a four-course menu designed by Chef Gianni Audieri, $39.95/adult, $24.95/child. If you want to celebrate Thanksgiving Sopranos-style, this is the place for you.

Garibaldi’s in Presidio Heights is one of those San Francisco restaurants that flies under most people’s radars and that’s the way its ardent followers like it. It is exactly what a neighborhood restaurant should be—cozy, friendly, and consistent. I’ve never had a bad meal there. On Thanksgiving, Garibaldi’s will be serving from 1:30 – 7:30pm and will be offering a special, three-course, prix-fixe menu priced from $55—$60/person. The regular menu will not be available this day. Which is fine, because you’ll want to go back.

Casual and contemporary Metro Kathmandu in the Haight is the perfect choice if your idea of Thanksgiving dinner is a twist on the usual. Anyone can do turkey, right? Metro Kathmandu serves delightful, modern Nepalese cuisine with Indian accents. On Turkey Day, they are cooking up a three-course dinner with choices that include Truffle Oil-infused Lentil Soup, Pistachio-crusted Rack of Lamb with Potato Fritters, Tiger Prawn Masala, Goat Cheese stuffed Potato, and dessert. Mouth. Watering.

My last pick for Thanksgiving dinner out is an intimate Nob Hill neighborhood French bistro where I’ve spent plenty of birthdays and special occasions: Rue St. Jacques. Service is a little scattered at times (hey, it’s a neighborhood restaurant with a forgiving regular clientele), but the wine is always free-flowing and the staff is friendly. This Thanksgiving they are preparing a menu featuring amuse bouche, choice of appetizer, main course, and dessert, all for a very reasonable $40. Cheese courses are also available.

Where do you plan to spend your Thanksgiving this year? Do you have a favorite restaurant or recommendation for Thanksgiving or Christmas, in or out of the Bay Area? What do you do to celebrate this holiday? Tell us!