Sometimes, dining out is about more than just the food. Read on for a list of the most eye-catching, beautiful restaurants in San Francisco.
Tonga Room
The beloved Tonga Room & Hurricane Bar is one of the longest continually running tiki bars in the States. It’s basically everything a tiki bar should be; an explosion of deliciously kitsch tropical decor with all the themed, lethal cocktails and Polynesian-fusion dishes you could hope for. But it truly stands out for the large plunge pool in the center of the room, where a live bands performs on a floating thatched-roof boat.
Location: Fairmont Hotel, 950 Mason Street
Palm Court Restaurant
This gleaming live-fire restaurant is a nod to SF’s Gilded Age in the newly-opened RH San Francisco Gallery. When RH overhauled Pier 70’s historic 5-story Bethlehem Steel Building, they took great care to create a luxurious dining space featuring palm trees below an enormous skylight, which was quickly recognized as one of the most beautiful restaurants in San Francisco. Treat yourself to a gourmet meal while taking in the grand chandeliers, trickling fountain, and gold marble details. If you can’t commit to a Wagyu ribeye steak or beet carpaccio, consider ordering a glass of wine at the bar and taking a stroll through the galleries or up to the rooftop garden.
Location: 590 20th Street
Foreign Cinema
his magical SF restaurant is famous for its romantic outdoor patio adorned with string lights and a large screen to project films. The soft lighting contrasts beautifully with the industrial concrete walls, a theme that applies to their indoor dining room as well. Enjoy beautifully-prepared oysters and shellfish, creative salads, and entrees made from seasonal ingredients.
Location: 2534 Mission Street
Che Fico
Enjoy handmade pizzas and California-inspired Italian fare at this spacious and beautiful restaurant in San Francisco. Their long family-style table is illuminated by sculptural chandeliers that cast a lovely warm light, and the entire space is adorned with creeping vines and dried florals suspended from exposed wooden beams. Gorgeous decor aside, Che Fico still fosters a relaxing and casual dining environment where you can dine on tasty pizza and pasta dishes, as well as rotating seasonal entrees.
Location: 838 Divisadero Street
Villon
This pale blue dining room at San Francisco Proper Hotel is simply gorgeous to look at from every angle. You can tell an immense amount of thought went into every detail from the patterned floors, to the textured walls, to the library ladder behind the bar, to the interesting fabric light fixtures. The menu centers around New American cuisine highlighting creative seafood dishes and seasonal roasted vegetables.
Location: San Francisco Proper Hotel, 1100 Market Street
Mourad
This innovative Michelin-starred Moroccan restaurant has a vibrant, shiny interior that reflects the punchiness of its flavorful menu. The large glass windows reflect shimmering golden light from the disco ball-style bulbs suspended throughout the space, which contrasts gorgeously with the denim blue walls. The menu itself showcases the best of Moroccan cuisine with a modern, Californian twist – think couscous, halibut and lamb dishes with bright flavors and dynamic spices.
Location: 140 New Montgomery Street
Aphotic
Aphotic is a haven for seafood lovers. Grilled scallops, whiteleg prawn risotto, oyster ice cream – everything on their menu revolves around the delicious gems of the sea. They 10-course tasting menu can be a little pricey at $165 per person, but it’s the best way to try the chef’s specials if you can’t decide which dish to devour. Adorned with a wood-burning hearth and curved Douglas Fir naves, not only is this place one of the most beautiful restaurants in San Francisco, but it’s also one of the best when it comes to delicious seafood.
Location: 816 Folsom St, San Francisco, CA 94107
Son & Garden
You’ve probably come across pics of Son & Garden on Instagram, as it’s filled with stunning flower canopies and decor that make for great backdrops. The Asian-influenced menu brings picture-perfect dishes that fit in spectacularly with the rest of the restaurant, the most impressive of which is the Cloud 9 Cocktail topped with a swirl of cotton candy and an edible butterfly.
Location: 700 Polk Street
Baia
Baia is a vegan Italian restaurant that stands out for its shining cascade of transparent stars suspended from the ceiling. The sculptural 4-pointed stars make for a stunning focal point over the bar visible from all 3 floors of the restaurant, and the interior’s dusty blue and gold accents add to the celestial theme. Visit Baia for spectacular vegan dishes including pizzas, pastas, risotto, lasagna, polenta, bruschetta, and plenty more.
Location: 300 Grove Street
Bix
Be transported to the 1930s at this swanky 2-story supper club where everyone dresses to impress. The entire dining room exudes an ambiance of Hollywood glamor, from the white-jacketed waiters to the nightly live jazz music and the grand staircase. Be sure to take a look around at the paintings embellishing the walls, and snap a pic out front where string lights dress up a modest alley lined with red-brick walls. As for the menu, you won’t be disappointed with indulgent American-French dishes including braised pork and classic shrimp cocktail.
Location: 56 Gold Street
Empress by Boon
Empress by Boon not only offers beautiful decor, but a showstopping view of Coit Tower while you dine. The large windows are perfect for watching a sunset while you eat, and the layout is thoughtfully designed some many tables are able to enjoy the view, even if you aren’t directly next to the windows. The Cantonese restaurant is by Michelin Starred chef Ho Chee Boon, and he creates a season menu that is just as impressive as the view. Their spring menu features 5 courses, including classics like egg drop soup elevated with morsels of crab.
Location: 838 Grant Ave
Source: secretsanfrancisco.com
