Marina Insiders Guide

Marina Map

San Francisco is one of the top cities in the world to live in. It is known for its culture, food and wide range of activities. I feel blessed to have lived in it for over 5 years. My hood, the Marina is a coveted area, is a hot spot among young families to the confirmed single life. Safe and secure, beautiful and cultural, great weather and good quality… everything can be found here.

This neighborhood is a jewel, though often thinks of itself as one too which lends to attitude. Anyone from SF will tell you that the Marina is boxed in by Lombard and VanNess  AKA 101 to the water. The other side of Lombard upwards is the Cow Hollow. The two get lumped together, I am not sure why as the Cow Hollow is just as good with half the snobs. It’s hot spot is Union, in the Marina it is:

Chestbut as drivers know it.

Having lived on Divisadero and Francisco, just at the end of the local strip… Chestnut. Life was pretty sweet and perfect. The 30 line starts here and takes me to my favorite spots. This is where the chic want to be, there are tons of shops and amazing places to stop and eat. If you want, you really never have to leave the hood; a good number of the tops of SF are here. Note the Marina is a place to be on FOOT, not a car. If you are driving, good luck, people J-walk all the time, get used to saying “But it was my turn.” Also, there is hardly any parking, even if you want to pay.

Morning stop!

As a native where do I go? Well… In the morning, if you have more than 6 minuets before the 30 comes then stop off at the Roastery for breakfast. I love hanging and reading, using the net or just unwinding there too if I have more time. A great place to stop on a cloudy day and chill a nice local vibe… yet with the sun out Starbucks has the best benches for soaking.

Next to the Roastery is the Marina Market which has everything you need and quiet decent prices when you don’t want to walk to Safeway. Plus they opened up the Marina Meats on the corner of Divis and Chestnut which is top quality and SERVICE! In both places the selection is same quality but the fresh prepared food is great and the people here are so helpful! Yet don’t worry, you can run into either place and catch the bus too, so handy! Or if Safeway is the plan there are two, one near the end of the 30 and one in the middle of the 22 both will pretty much take you straight home

From sandwiches to home pasta.

In the afternoon, the options are plentiful! If its a sandwich or amazing Italian to-go, Lucca is the stop. WARNING: Always a line, a hit to the wallet but the taste buds scream for more. I can’t help myself when their is not a line, figured its a sign of sorts.

Then the list continues from Pluto’s to Squat & Gobble and Country Sky… you can have any craving satisfied. Brunch I have found Squat & Gobble to be great, there are too many options and always a huge plate. Yet on the weekends, with a group Circa has a bottomless mimosa that can be rather dangerous.

It all depends on what you are craving, there is a restaurant of that type near by; promise. Though careful with burgers there are a LOT of imitations, where Barney’s is the only place to go.

The happy hour sushi spot!

Then of course there are late lunches grabbing food to go at Los Hermanos or dropping in on Pluto’s has great salads and sides, standard American fare but can get load take it outside or to go!  The best is to walk the strip and let your nose or tummy take you to where you want to go. If it is a happy hours and you want sushi.  I love is Naked Fish. They have an amazing happy hour from 4:30-6:30 M-Th, ends at 6 F-Sun. How it works is $1 hand rolls, $2 maki rolls, $5 appetizers and drink specials. The inside is funky, the service decent but the quality of food and price is fantastic. As mentioned above Country Sky is a great stop, delicious Chinese food and lovely place to stop in the service is great. Not to mention they have delivered or pick up making life EASY. For more spice, go to Viva Goa! They have an amazing lunch buffet.

Mezes a great date spot

This neighborhood is great if you are single and hunting or dating. Then I am sure you are prepping, head towards the Cow Hollow and go to Mercer St for a fresh cut, ask about cutting classes for a STEEP discount. There are lots of places to get dolled up and Benefit is a great one too! For shopping Rabat is one of the best for something with a unique twist.

If you are already intimate and seeking light fare then you gotta try Mezes. Earlier in the week they have some great specials and often are doing a wine tasting or so. The place is a lot bigger than you think and food quite delightful. De la Rose is great for pizza but not very impressive and crazy noisy. Dragonwell is delicious and a perfect mixture of ambiance and clean Asian fusion with a lo-key staff.  Everyone knows about A16, one of the best in SF. It also is a pain to get into, the best best is adhere to their schedule and take whatever time they want to give you. Note it is PRICEY! Great but again this all is a hassle.

Don't wait for A16, Aix is great and no wait.

Skip the headache and keep walking to Bistro Aix, where there is never more than a 10-15 minuets, the food is darn good and better priced. I never have a bad time here, another great date spot if you need to step it up a notch. The new remodel makes the patio a half outside place but still warm and protected. Enjoy!

Don’t forget dessert! Kara’s Cupcakes are the best. I mean it, you cannot go wrong in here. Please don’t go cheat on them and go to weak Susie’s. Well unless you are boring and only do red velvet (b00!). For a cool treat it is Tuttimelon, there is too much selection and choices here to bother with going down the street. Careful on the sweet side since there are imitations on the strip and they have NOT been kicked off yet. Quite unusual since if they are not top-level after 10 months they close down.

If you are single in the Marina be warned there are so many older confirmed bachelors just prowling around. They hang out think they are great can fool a girl for a bit that’s the warning. If you need a sugar daddy for a bit then go prowl there carefully because they will use you up. On that note, Tipsy Pig is the WORST offender, and the new “Campus” a lessor offender, with Circa at night right there between them. For that reason my girls and I would often just stop to eat, watch and maybe hit Isa to unwind. The wine is wonderful, food is good and it is super close.

Late night food stop.

Food and drinks is my combo, thus Tacolicious was often a stop. The fare better than Mamacita’s and worth the walk for me who lived on the Divisadero side. Great drink mixes and easy way to share. Often too loud but on a Friday night, can you blame them? Great food that is open late. Thank you!! Yes I frequent it. Then it is easy to figure out if we want to go out for more and head up Fillmore to Eastside West, Matrix, Comet Club, Hi Fi or City Tavern or just stop on the way home at now called Campus. Either way with a group of friends this often was good spot to hang out, people watch, bar hop and also stop for food. Knowing you could walk back and be perfectly safe the whole night is the best bonus, even at 2AM the Marina will take care of you.

Most of the places I have Yelped and are on my Marina list if you want more details go here.

An easy walk from the bridge to Fort Mason.

Mornings through the day are usually lovely, even when misty it is a stunning place to live. How could it not when you walk or run down Chrissy Fields and are greeted by a majestic view of the Golden Gate all the way to the Bay Bridge if walking in the other direction. People are always out, walking their dogs, babies or both. Can you guess which gets more attention? The DOGS! From a beach to boats and a big green area, soon you will hit Fort Mason which has a huge life of its own. In this mini complex is Greens a great restaurant to Off the Grid on Friday’s, B.A.T.S. Improve, to SF MOMA gallery. I have been to roller derbies, parties to protests (W.O.W. at age 9 thanks Mom) and festivals all packed in the same center. The grounds are amazing, tons of fields and open grassy spaces, plus history being kept alive in the architecture. Some of the best that SF has to offer frequents the Fort Mason and how wonderful it was to live only 15 blocks away.

A taste of the past.

My favorite place and one of the “night-lights” of the city, the Palace of Fine Arts is a place to center oneself. Built for the World Fair it is the only piece standing and houses the Exploratorium. It’s an OK museum great for kids being extremely interactive… horrid for people who have grown up here as it is the same from when we were young. Yet I never really cared about the museum, for me it was the grounds. The dome and pillars, the swans and the ability to almost go back into the past. I find this is a great mediation spot, a place to find clarity and seek wisdom. How lucky was I to lived less than 5 minuets away? VERY!! If you are daring  and bend rules, use the planters as stairs and prop yourself up to have a picnic in a secluded spot.