Where can a girl get a drink after Bay to Breakers?
May 12, 2011 8:46 PM Subscribe
Guidance for what to do in San Francisco this weekend, surrounding our Bay to Breakers run (B2B trudge might be more accurate). Four women, 35-41. Complication: hotel is in Fisherman's Wharf.
Road tripping from Oregon to SF tomorrow to join in the 100th Anniversary Bay to Breakers festivities on Sunday. We'll be heading back Tuesday, so will have a little time to kill. It was very challenging to snag a hotel room for the weekend, and so we are at the Hyatt at Fisherman's Wharf. It looks like a perfectly nice hotel, but it's not where I would choose to be for my favorite activities: walking around, looking at cool things, and trying lots of amazing food. Plus, this is my first weekend away from small children in more than a year and a half, and my first time in SF in over 20 years; I really want to make the most of it.
Is there any place you can recommend eating near the hotel? I've checked Chowhound, and it looks like pickings are slim. We aren't going to be spending a lot of money, but I really love good food-great pastries, seafood, sushi, awesome cocktails....almost anything.
What will be our best post-race food and drink strategy? I'm sure everything will be mobbed near the race; happy to join into the chaos as long as I can also get something to eat and start drinking soon. Can we expect the city to be pretty mobbed all over this weekend?
And, assuming there ain't much worth our time and money near the hotel, what would be our best evening food and bar hopping strategy? We'll have a car, but would def prefer public transportation?
I've previewed some threads, but didn't find much about Bay to Breakers or Fisherman's Wharf....
Road tripping from Oregon to SF tomorrow to join in the 100th Anniversary Bay to Breakers festivities on Sunday. We'll be heading back Tuesday, so will have a little time to kill. It was very challenging to snag a hotel room for the weekend, and so we are at the Hyatt at Fisherman's Wharf. It looks like a perfectly nice hotel, but it's not where I would choose to be for my favorite activities: walking around, looking at cool things, and trying lots of amazing food. Plus, this is my first weekend away from small children in more than a year and a half, and my first time in SF in over 20 years; I really want to make the most of it.
Is there any place you can recommend eating near the hotel? I've checked Chowhound, and it looks like pickings are slim. We aren't going to be spending a lot of money, but I really love good food-great pastries, seafood, sushi, awesome cocktails....almost anything.
What will be our best post-race food and drink strategy? I'm sure everything will be mobbed near the race; happy to join into the chaos as long as I can also get something to eat and start drinking soon. Can we expect the city to be pretty mobbed all over this weekend?
And, assuming there ain't much worth our time and money near the hotel, what would be our best evening food and bar hopping strategy? We'll have a car, but would def prefer public transportation?
I've previewed some threads, but didn't find much about Bay to Breakers or Fisherman's Wharf....
Yes, everything will be mobbed near the end of the race AND there's essentially nothing out there. Get back to your hotel and then take a cab or public transit or walk from there to where ever you want to go. Taxi back to your hotel after. Leave the car in the expensive parking. Chowhound + Yelp + OpenTable will get you a good restaurant and bar. You are correct that there's not much near Fisherman's Wharf that you want. The exception to that would be walking down the Embarcardero towards the Ferry Building: Plant, Lafitte, Slanted Door, etc.
I don't think that the city will be particularly mobbed this weekend; many of us just hide until it's over. And most participants already live here.
Have fun! And be prepared for rain on Sunday.
posted by gingerbeer at 9:30 PM on May 12, 2011
I don't think that the city will be particularly mobbed this weekend; many of us just hide until it's over. And most participants already live here.
Have fun! And be prepared for rain on Sunday.
posted by gingerbeer at 9:30 PM on May 12, 2011
Sunday is going to be a complete shitshow in every way. Drunken fools everywhere, Muni will take forever and be packed like sardines. Puking sardines. Cabs will be almost impossible to catch. I work along the B2B route--some of the restaurants near work don't even open until the race has long since passed the neighborhood, just so they don't have to deal with the racers.
Fisherman's Wharf has one totally awesome thing about it, and that is the much lauded Musee Mechanique (sound warning!). Other than that, I'd try and avoid the area, merely coming back there to sleep.
If you're foodie types, I'd recommend a Saturday breakfast at the Ferry Plaza Farmer's Market. (Personally, I'd recommend the cheeseburger from Ryan Farr/4505 Meats, (Yes, for breakfast, it's far and away the best cheese burger I've ever had.) but you'd be hard pressed to find a bad breakfast there.)
posted by mollymayhem at 9:30 PM on May 12, 2011
Fisherman's Wharf has one totally awesome thing about it, and that is the much lauded Musee Mechanique (sound warning!). Other than that, I'd try and avoid the area, merely coming back there to sleep.
If you're foodie types, I'd recommend a Saturday breakfast at the Ferry Plaza Farmer's Market. (Personally, I'd recommend the cheeseburger from Ryan Farr/4505 Meats, (Yes, for breakfast, it's far and away the best cheese burger I've ever had.) but you'd be hard pressed to find a bad breakfast there.)
posted by mollymayhem at 9:30 PM on May 12, 2011
Is there any place you can recommend eating near the hotel?
Nope, Fisherman's Wharf really doesn't have much. The Marina's nearby, though, and has *tons* of great restaurants. (Hate to say it cause I'm a Mission girl, but it's true.) Eater SF knows where it's at. That list is pretty solid. Tacolicious is fun, too.
If you take Danf's advice you'll be right around Little Italy and Fidi, which means you should check out Barrique if you like wine, because it's cheapish and adorable. Tony's Pizza is also worth trying; it's likely the best in the city.
What will be our best post-race food and drink strategy?
Walk/cab/rentacar it over to the Mission, where there's the highest concentration of all the things you like, and is also not on the race path. Then cab to your hotel later. Here's a map I made of the area. Should be useful for you. It's a little out of date: I'd add Commonwealth, Gracias Madre (best vegan food ever, seriously), and Blackbird (great and interesting cocktails) to that list.
Can we expect the city to be pretty mobbed all over this weekend?
I never noticed it being mobbed. I've been here four years.
We'll have a car, but would def prefer public transportation?
Sadly Fisherman's Wharf is in that weird land where rail lines don't go. There's buses, if you don't mind them. You can also rent bikes (my preferred way of getting around town). But if you just want to go to an area and stay there a while, cabbing or driving is your quickest option. Ubercab and Taxi Magic are your friends.
posted by timoni at 9:35 PM on May 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
Nope, Fisherman's Wharf really doesn't have much. The Marina's nearby, though, and has *tons* of great restaurants. (Hate to say it cause I'm a Mission girl, but it's true.) Eater SF knows where it's at. That list is pretty solid. Tacolicious is fun, too.
If you take Danf's advice you'll be right around Little Italy and Fidi, which means you should check out Barrique if you like wine, because it's cheapish and adorable. Tony's Pizza is also worth trying; it's likely the best in the city.
What will be our best post-race food and drink strategy?
Walk/cab/rentacar it over to the Mission, where there's the highest concentration of all the things you like, and is also not on the race path. Then cab to your hotel later. Here's a map I made of the area. Should be useful for you. It's a little out of date: I'd add Commonwealth, Gracias Madre (best vegan food ever, seriously), and Blackbird (great and interesting cocktails) to that list.
Can we expect the city to be pretty mobbed all over this weekend?
I never noticed it being mobbed. I've been here four years.
We'll have a car, but would def prefer public transportation?
Sadly Fisherman's Wharf is in that weird land where rail lines don't go. There's buses, if you don't mind them. You can also rent bikes (my preferred way of getting around town). But if you just want to go to an area and stay there a while, cabbing or driving is your quickest option. Ubercab and Taxi Magic are your friends.
posted by timoni at 9:35 PM on May 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
Also agree with the Ferry Building suggestions. It's pricey, but foodie heaven. I hear Boulette's Larder's brunch is amazing.
posted by timoni at 9:37 PM on May 12, 2011
posted by timoni at 9:37 PM on May 12, 2011
Don't eat at Fisherman's Wharf. I mean go to In-N-Out burger if you like, but besides that, it's an awfully touristy area and you'll have a better time if you don't hang out there. I've been meaning to type up some related thoughts for a friend actually, so you get to benefit because you prodded me into getting it done; here are a few ideas from that side of town:
posted by zachlipton at 9:53 PM on May 12, 2011
- Walk about a block or two toward the water and catch the F-Market streetcar to the Ferry Building. If you go Saturday morning, there's a big farmers market, but there's also a large permanent section you can go to anytime. Just wander and enjoy all the variety. You can just eat your way through the place. The Slanted Door is an amazing Vietnamese place, though reservations are going to be tough at this point. You should be able to sit at the bar or maybe get in for lunch. They also have branches as Out the Door that serve a lot of the same food.
- You aren't too far from the Marina District/Cow Hollow. The area definitely caters more toward the preppy side than the hipsters, which may or may not be to your taste. Betelnut is an Asian fusion restaurant that has been around for ages and is always delicious. In that area, I've also always been fond of Aix, which is relatively inexpensive to boot, and A16, which is a bit more pricy and trendy, but also delicious. There are a number of bars and shops along Chestnut St. and Union St., though again they tend to be targeted to a bit of a preppy demographic. It should be a 10-15 minute drive or so from your hotel (plus time to find parking), or you can take a bus if you'll be drinking.
- For a more hipsterish vibe and lots of walking around looking at cool stuff and interesting food, you probably want to trek out to the Mission. One of my favorite restaurants anywhere is Delfina. They have the most perfectly al dente spaghetti and everything is always fantastic. It looks like there a few late reservations for this weekend if you act fast to grab one. Alternatively, they run an excellent pizza joint next door, but be prepared for a long wait for a table. Beyond that, the Mission is quite walkable and is filled with curiosities, amazing food of all sorts, especially Mexican, and bars that range from classy to total dives. Public transit from the Wharf to the Mission is a little more tricky, though doable, but I'd probably just cab it if there's four of you.
- If you do Chinatown, I like Great Eastern for Chinese food. Be sure to visit the Fortune Cookie Factory tucked away in a back alley. The best dim sum is to be found at Yank Sing. Reservations recommended. It's often regarded as some of the best dim sum outside of Hong Kong and China and they truly serve up an epic feast. On the other hand, it's awfully expensive, and some of the other dim sum places in the city offer decent quality at a much lower price. Personally, I think Yank Sing is worth it, especially as a one-time thing, but you have options there. A big dim sum brunch might be nice on Monday after the race.
- You also aren't all that far from North Beach, which is potentially worth a bit of wandering for Italian pastries and cuisine.
posted by zachlipton at 9:53 PM on May 12, 2011
Seconding Musee Mecanique. Totally awesome.
posted by unknowncommand at 10:17 PM on May 12, 2011
posted by unknowncommand at 10:17 PM on May 12, 2011
Beretta in the Mission is my favorite restaurant in SF these days. It has great food and great cocktails. (It also has a huge wait -- call 45 minutes before you arrive and they'll put you on the waiting list, so then you'll only have to wait another 30 minutes when you get there.)
posted by kdar at 12:57 PM on May 13, 2011
posted by kdar at 12:57 PM on May 13, 2011
A second vote for A16, very seasonal, very savory, very popular, so get there early and plan to kill time in the interesting neighborhood. Parking is a challenge, so I would recommend transit or cabs.
Sons and Daughters (two blocks north of Union Square) is a little more pricey but I can say from experience that they are a true value. San Francisco has lots of good cheap food, but the mid-high range places are fantastic. My guess is that SF will actually be less busy than normal once you get outside the regular race area.
You have my official permission to get an Irish coffee at Buena Vista near your hotel, though, just to say you have done it.
posted by wnissen at 3:58 PM on May 13, 2011
Sons and Daughters (two blocks north of Union Square) is a little more pricey but I can say from experience that they are a true value. San Francisco has lots of good cheap food, but the mid-high range places are fantastic. My guess is that SF will actually be less busy than normal once you get outside the regular race area.
You have my official permission to get an Irish coffee at Buena Vista near your hotel, though, just to say you have done it.
posted by wnissen at 3:58 PM on May 13, 2011
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posted by Danf at 8:51 PM on May 12, 2011