We’re back from our eight day adventure in California! We started with a 3 day stint in San Francisco, followed by a day/night in Sonoma and four days in LA! This post is all about San Francisco. I’m sharing photos and advice on the San Francisco sites, foodie recommendations, and all of the areas you should be sure to see!
We started by checking into Hilton’s Parc 55 – a huge and modern hotel with a perfect location that’s really central to the city. Then it was off to Basik Cafe for delicious açai bowls after our long, early morning flight.
Once checked in, it was off to Lombard Street, the famous crooked, twisty-turny street adorned with beautiful flowers and houses. We walked up a SUPER steep part of Lombard to get to the top of the beautiful hill (warning: your quads and calves will be sore if taking on the challenge of those steep SF streets).
Once you arrive to the area where all the tourists are hanging out (Lombard and Hyde Street is a great landmark for your journey there), you’ll be able to see the hype behind the sight. Journey up and down the street to take photos and people watch all of the cars that travel down the winding road.
After Lombard Street, my recommendation would be to head to Ghirardelli Square (an ice cream cone is basically required when you visit the area!), and you can then head to Fisherman’s Wharf to walk around the waterfront restaurants and shops. There are tons of fresh seafood restaurants along the way, and you also won’t be far from North Beach (“Little Italy”), if you’re craving pizza or Italian food instead.
SHOP THIS LOOK:
That night, we dined at VILLON, the gorgeous restaurant at Proper Hotel San Francisco. The lobby area is gorgeous, all designed by Kelly Wearstler, down to the design of the fabrics and wallpaper.
The food at VILLON was decadent and light with a mix of interesting and unique flavors (props to their James Beard-nominated chef), including their outrageous Hawaiian Bread served with cultured butter, blueberry preserves, and a bacon and chicken liver mousse, as well as one of the best kale salads I have ever had. Their cocktail menu is also extremely extensive, with a list of 49 craft cocktails (both original and classic ), that represent areas of San Francisco.
The next morning, it was off to Le Marais Bakery in Castro (they also have a location in the Marina District) for a beautiful Parisian breakfast.
The bakery is a small piece of France in San Francisco, and the food is absolutely delicious (the almond croissant is to die for).
We worked off those calories by walking to the Mission District to explore the area, known to be a bit “hipster” and artsy, and then it was off to the Painted Ladies – the infamous houses from the opening scene of Full House.
I also love spotting unique houses like this along the way!
After a full day of walking, what’s better than stopping for some delicious avocado toast? Well, maybe salmon avocado toast with a side of cookie dough toast!
We stopped at Toasty, an avocado toast bar with a variety of sweet and savory toasts!
SHOP THIS LOOK:
That night, we had dinner at Z and Y, a restaurant in Chinatown known to serve Chinese presidents and even President Obama! Note: We had arranged a dinner there ahead of time so we were seated right away, but the line was out the door when we arrived! The food was delicious and authentic Szechuan cuisine. We opted for Dumplings, Mixed Chow Mein, Explosive Chicken with Chili, and Beef with Chili. Also, how gorgeous is the floral tea (below)?!
SHOP THIS LOOK:
Breakfast in bed is always fun when staying in a hotel. Luckily, Parc 55 Hotel is walking distance to Instagram-famous bakery, Mr. Holmes Bakehouse.
They’re known for their unique flavor mixes and well as their “Cruffin” – a croissant in the form of a muffin, filled with every changing flavors of the day/week. Our selections included a “rest in peach” croissant, cheesecake creme brûlée danish, berry creme donut, savory elote danish with corn and cilantro cream, grapefruit and fennel cruffin, and a butter toffee cookie.
Later, it was off to Chinatown to see the lanterns and stop at Golden Fortune Cookie Factory. They sell all types of fortune cookies and you can even customize a cookie with your own fortune!
SHOP THIS LOOK:
We also swung by the Ferry Building Marketplace. I had been there before, and it’s so much fun to walk around and see the different vendors (wine, cheese, chocolate, ice cream, etc…). The infamous restaurant, “The Slanted Door”, is also in the building, but we chose to grab a snack and enjoy the view from the benches outside.
Then for dinner, it was off to Rambler. Their dreamy and cozy, yet glamorous ambiance was only topped by their perfect menu. Everything was so delicious, with one of my favorites being the Roasted Carrot and Quinoa appetizer with cashew cheese, serrano chile, and berbere spiced citronette.
Of course, you must see the Golden Gate Bridge as part of your trip. There are many lookout points, depending on the angle you are looking for. We drove out to Battery Spencer, one of the observation points I saved, but it was so foggy! Instead, we decided to head to the Welcome Center, and although still foggy, it made for a pretty cool view.
We had such an amazing trip, thanks to Parc 55 and all of the incredible restaurants we dined it and all of the sights that we got to see! What are your favorite San Francisco sights to see?
Looking for more? Read my post from my last San Francisco Trip.
*This is post is in partnership with Parc 55 Hotel. All words and opinions are my own.
