E a t /d r i n k
FOUR BARREL COFFEE San Francisco is serious about its coffee and this does not disappoint. See its impressive roasters and behind-the-scenes shenanigans while drinking your coffee, watched by four mounted boar. For other suppliers, look for the Blue Bottle sign. fourbarrelcoffee.com
BIX What a joy to open the door to this supper club on Gold Street. It features a jazz band playing toe-tapping music, soft lighting, a glowing full bar and restaurant, with a mezzanine all the better for viewing the crowd. The art deco building and interior feel like a luxury ocean liner of times gone by. bixrestaurant.com
DOWNSTAIRS AT BLACK CAT Pay the cover charge (it doesn’t even matter what’s on) and head downstairs to the jazz club. They do lighting well in this town – it’s moody and makes everything look great. The teal leather banquettes and great interiors add to a good night to settle in to listen to music and drink cocktails. blackcatsf.com
CHEZ PANISSE It would be rude not to eat at Alice Waters’ Chez Panisse. Book a table well in advance. I like to go for lunch so I can explore and wander the beautiful streets of Berkeley afterwards. Directly behind the restaurant is natural perfume maker Mandy Aftel and her Aftelier Perfumes. Stroll around the block to see if Mandy’s perfume museum (see Explore) is open. chezpanisse.com. aftelier.com
OUTERLANDS I am always on the search for a great breakfast outside Australia and this de nitely holds its own. Its delicious seasonal local healthy fare is a bonus to the interior executed by the owners, all soft curved salvaged wood panelling and humble wooden-boat-meets-mountain-cabin in feel. While there, walk the little strip and pop into General Store (don’t miss its shed and garden out the back) and Case for Making, specialising in artists’ supplies for handmade watercolours and other fabulous materials. Even the street plant ing and seat ing is good-looking here. outerlandssf.com. shopgeneralstore.com. caseformaking.com
TARTINE MANUFACTORY This eatery was designed by one of my favourites, Commune, which has crafted an airy, light-drenched factory space into an open kitchen for diners (breakfast, lunch and dinner) to experience the process of making and baking. It’s housed within the Heath Collective, which features lots of other visitworthy stops. tartinemanufactory.com
SMOKESTACK at Magnolia Brewing Company. If you are serious about craft beer, wood- red cookery and the authentic US barbecue experience, this is the place for you. This great-looking space feels as comfortable for a boot scoot as it does for an Instagram-worthy pic, with a wall of vintage windows soaking up views of the brewery. magnoliabrewing.com