San Francisco: Palate Paradise That Is Sure to Please Everyone

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As we noted in the first article in this series, San Francisco is known for its fresh food and creative culinary culture that will appeal to meeting goers who seek a fine-ding experience and those who want something less formal but just as satisfying. Here are some more of our top attractions that you must check out while you’re in the City by the Bay:

Off the Beaten Track (More Intimate and Hip) but Absolutely Wonderful

• Bella Trattoria: Intimate and insanely delicious Italian; 3854 Geary Boulevard

• Burma Superstar: Burmese food in a hip setting; 309 Clement Street

• DOSA on Fillmore: Stylish Indian and innovative cocktails; 1700 Fillmore Street

• Ebisu: Renowned sushi; 1283 Ninth Avenue (near the University of California, San Francisco)

• New Eritrea: Ethiopian food—great for groups; 907 Irving Street

• Poesia: Intimate Italian in the heart of The Castro; 4072 18th Street

• Skool: Exceptional uni flan, squid ink pasta, and cocktails;1725 Alameda Street

Michelin Bib Gourmand Restaurants

The next two listings are courtesy of Francis Lu, M.D., the Luke and Grace Kim Professor in Cultural Psychiatry, Emeritus, at the University of California, Davis. Since 1955, the Michelin Guide has highlighted restaurants offering “exceptionally good food at moderate prices,” a feature now called “Bib Gourmand.” They must offer menu items priced below a maximum determined by local economic standards. Bib (short for Bibendum) is the company’s nickname for the Michelin Man, its corporate logo for over a century.

• Cotogna: Italian; 490 Pacific Avenue

• Hong Kong Lounge II: Chinese including Dim Sum; 3300 Geary Boulevard

• Kokkari Estiatorio: Greek; 200 Jackson Street

• M.Y. China: Chinese; 845 Market Street Level 4 (very close to the convention center)

• Yank Sing: Dim Sum; 49 Stevenson Street and 101 Spear Street (close to the convention center)

• Zero Zero: Pizza and pasta; 826 Folsom Street (very close to the convention center)

Michelin Star Restaurants

Be sure to make reservations at these restaurants well in advance.

• Acquerello: Italian (two star); 1722 Sacramento Street

• Benu: Californian/Asian (three star); 22 Hawthorne Street (close to the convention center)

• In Situ at SFMOMA: American (one star); 151 Third Street (close to the convention center)

• Luce Restaurant: American (one star); 888 Howard Street (in the InterContinental Hotel, close to the convention center)

• Mourad: Moroccan (one star); 140 New Montgomery Street #1 (close to the convention center)

• Quince: Californian/French (three star); 470 Pacific Avenue

• Saison: Californian (three star); 178 Townsend Street

Finest SF Bars

This list is courtesy of Chris Rush Cohen, advanced cicerone and founder of San Francisco Homebrewers Guild.

• City Beer: An early craft beer pioneer that recently moved into a large, sleek new space; 1148 Mission Street

• Local Edition: Cocktails; 691 Market Street (walkable from the Marriott)

• Mikkeller Bar: Rare tap and bottled beer; 34 Mason Street

• Old Devil Moon: New Orleans–themed spot with elite craft beer curation, great cocktails, and a heated patio; 3472 Mission Street

• Pagan Idol: Tiki bar, 375 Bush Street (close to the Marriott)

• The Alembic: An early pioneer of fancy cocktails; 1725 Haight Street

• The Beehive: A (newish) fancy cocktail spot, near other good stuff in The Mission; 842 Valencia Street

• The Interval at Long Now: Bar, café, museum; 2 Marina Boulevard, Building A

• Trick Dog: World-famous cocktail spot; 3010 20th Street

• Zeitgeist: Outdoor beer garden and SF’s best dive bar and Bloody Marys; 199 Valencia Street ■