If you’re thinking of moving to a new area and searching for Pacific Heights homes for sale, the neighborhood offers some of the most diverse recreation, shopping, amenities, and dining options in San Francisco. In particular, the dining scene in Pacific Heights is one of the finest in San Francisco, and this community’s amazing chefs impress residents from across the world with dynamic dishes and original venues, making for truly unique experiences. Here are five must-try spots.
Pizzeria Delfina
2406 California St, San Francisco, CA 94115
Photo courtesy of Pizzeria Delfina
In 2005, Annie and Craig Stoll – James Beard Award-winning proprietors of Delfina restaurant – opened a new space next door to bring some of the best Neapolitan-inspired pizzas to the Bay. The initial space, which they named Pizzeria Delfina, was an unassuming 600 square feet, but it quickly became a neighborhood go-to. Since then, they’ve opened multiple additional locations across the city, including in the Pacific Heights neighborhood. Those looking for the best pizza in Pacific Heights will not be disappointed.
Not only do they serve some of the city’s best pizza, but the farm-to-table menu changes weekly, with a wide variety of appetizers, small plates, and, of course, alcohol. The Pacific Heights location is in an excellent spot on California Street, steps from Fillmore Street, which is the neighborhood's top shopping and dining destination. If you’re in the neighborhood looking for homes in Pacific Heights for sale and need a break from the jaw-dropping properties in the area, Pizzeria Delfina should be on your roster.
Chouquet’s
2500 Washington St, San Francisco, CA 94115
Photo courtesy of Chouquet’s
Chouquet’s is easily one of the best restaurants in Pacific Heights. Chouquet’s mission is to “minimize the fuss” when eating out and wants guests to simply focus on good, enjoyable food. Perhaps the best brunch in the neighborhood, Choquet’s serves some of the most memorable eggs benedicts, croque madames, and onion soups. But this is not just a brunch destination — guests can also enjoy butternut squash ravioli, steak frites, and incredible short ribs, with a great variety of wine and beer to choose from.
Although the food is top-notch, perhaps the best part of dining at Chouquet’s is enjoying the dining space it set up for guests. At the onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic, Choquet’s set up a massive outdoor dining space on Pacific Heights’ Washington Street and was able to close the street down to automobile traffic. If you want to dine under the sun among some of the prettiest homes in San Francisco, Chouquet’s is worth it for the experience alone.
Routier
2801 California St, San Francisco, CA 94115
Photo courtesy of Routier
Routier classifies itself as a “casual ‘frenchish’” restaurant. The three co-owners — Chef JP Carmona, Pastry Chef Belinda Leon, and Michel Suas — have an impressive pedigree, including at Michelin-Star restaurants throughout the world. But Routier brings a more approachable, relatable vibe to the table, focusing on foods that are casual and understandable, while still upscale and delicious. I’m talking duck-leg confit with lentils and strawberries, crispy potatoes on a mound of Dungeness crab, brown butter pumpkin soup, and an amazing dark chocolate mousse. One of my favorite parts of dining there is the ambiance. The two-story, double-height dining space has incredible scale, and the marble-clad bar makes for one of the prettiest and most eye-catching bars in the entire city, perfect for enjoying the restaurant's curated selection of wines.
Scopo Divino
2800 California St #101, San Francisco, CA 94115
Photo courtesy of Scopo Divino
Scopo Divino is one of the best places to discover and enjoy new sparkling, white, red, and dessert wines in the neighborhood. Surrounded by wine shelves and bottles, guests can enjoy a meal at the bar for views of the wine varieties, in a comfortably cushioned chair, or outside under a striped umbrella. For dinner, small plates like the yellowfin tuna crudo with fennel and citrus are light and delicious, while entrees like the rib eye steak with whipped feta and fingerling potatoes will always leave you wanting more. Also, stop by for their bottomless brunch on the weekends featuring southern comfort classics. And visit weeklong for live music or look out for member events, including winemaker dinners and special classes. Guests who visit here quickly understand why this is one of the best restaurants in Pacific Heights.
b. Patisserie / b. On The Go
2794 California St, San Francisco, CA 94115
Photo courtesy of b. Patisserie
Chefs Belinda Leon and Michel Suas (who are already on my list above for Routier) own one of the most highly sought-after pastry destinations in all of California: b. Patisserie. The menu takes modern French pastries (cakes, entremets, tarts, verrines, and more) and combines them with local tastes and flavors. They also serve open-faced sandwiches – tartines – on bread created by Michel Suas himself. The restaurant is an Instagrammer’s heaven, and the offerings constantly change, keeping even the most frequent visitors on their toes. The location also provides special seasonal offerings, like Thanksgiving tarts, so this is definitely a place to check out at all times of the year for some of the best baked goods you’ll ever have. But best get there early and bring a jacket, as there is almost always a line wrapping around the store on California Street.
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When searching for unique eats in Pacific Heights, there’s no shortage of fantastic options. And when you’re ready to reside a bit closer to these fine restaurants, contact Austin Klar, your lawyer turned real estate agent and real estate developer in San Francisco, to successfully guide you through the real estate journey.
*Header photo courtesy of Unsplash
