porfiry wrote:So yes, we're all booked up, and I even got a quaint hotel in Hayes Valley, which is great because one of the only two good coffee shops in town is there, and I won't have to go out of my way to go there like I did last time. Must have good coffee.
what's the other? I'm impressed you know about the Blue Bottle. I quit coffee but the smells are intense even a block away.
Places that consistently have good weird bands and electronic artists. Not necessarily dancey, more about the music. And preferably with some decent cocktails. And don't generally cost $23 to go see the show.
there are places all over town, the venues in 'the list.' there are dozens. all I'd say is avoid Ruby Skye like the plague. the Elbo Room is a nice local's spot. Cafe Dunord is a nice hipster hangout. then there's Slims, Fillmore, Warfield, American Music Hall, Bottom Of The Hill, The Independent, The Hemlock, Bimbos... I'm forgetting a lot.
you want chin stroking music, cheap elegant cocktails and a low cover? try Disneyland.
I go for the music and strong drink. one place comes to mind, 111 Minna GAllery might be the scene you want.
http://www.111minnagallery.com/
it's mostly an art gallery but they have DJs and bands some nights.
Supperclub is that on steroids, it's far from cheap but it will definitely leave an impression on you. we went there, drinks, dinner and wine, $300, totally memorable experience.
http://www.supperclub.com/
haven't been there in a while but for jazz, Yoshi's is nice.
http://www.yoshis.com/sanfrancisco
Also restaurants. We're both into asian and mediterranean, I'm really into seafood though she's not, just anyplace that's reasonable and fairly awesome regardless of genre.
http://www.sfgate.com/food/top100/
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/listings/ ... 9?Submit=1 <-- Michael Bauer, THE SF food critic. that's hands down the defacto list of great restaurants in the Bay Area.
for seafood I love McCormick and Kuleto's
http://www.mccormickandschmicks.com/Loc ... intSt.aspx
I seriously doubt it's ever been on Michael Bauer's top 100 list, but the food (seafood) is solid and the views are right out onto the bay overlooking Alcatraz and the Golden Gate. it's in a touristy area, so go midweek. they make a GREAT manhattan.
for Mediteranean, again, there are tons of places. the last good one we hit was La Mediterranee, both SF locations are tasty.
http://www.lamediterranee.net/
one culinary treat is Dosa, amazing south Indian food. I never have a clue what I'm ordering but it always looks and tastes great. very popular spot.
http://www.dosasf.com/
And one other thing I was hoping to find last year and didn't...is there a real seafood market there somewhere? Like not the cheesy part of the wharf, but maybe all those piers over on the bay side?
the wharf is the wharf, that's where the boats come in, all the piers are on the bay side. the seafood is fresh there. locals go to our nearest Asian market, there are also some good ones in the Mission, hundreds of these places are all over. try around Clement St, between ~6th and 10th Ave. if it's seasonal you can go to Half Moon Bay and eat sushi grade fish ON the boats at Pillar Point Harbor.
http://www.smharbor.com/pillarpoint/
this is also where that HUGE wave spot known as 'Mavericks' is.
you want to hit The Ferry Building. amazing food ingredients can be bought there.
http://www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com/
check out 'Out The Door' when you're there, it's the takeout version of one of the best Asian restaurants in SF, The Slanted Door
http://www.slanteddoor.com/
probably the best meal I've ever had is at Gary Danko, holy @#$%^!!!
http://www.garydanko.com/
tie required but it's not snooty or snobby, very friendly proper service and epic food. get the tasting menu with wine pairings, EPIC food. although the wife leans toward Fleur De Lys which is Hubert Keller's restaurant. if you don't know who he is...
http://www.fleurdelyssf.com/
be ready to spend at least $500 at either, totally worth it.
right where you're staying in Hayes Valley is Absinthe.
http://www.absinthe.com/
the Hayes Valley Bar and Grill is nice. avoid these places on Fri/Sat nights before 8pm, the bridge and tunnel people raid the area before they go to the symphony, loud, clueless, obnoxious jackasses.
another one to walk to from your hotel is on lower Haight St, R&M.
http://www.rnmrestaurant.com/
for some AMAZING cocktails and interesting food, on upper Haight is Alembic.
http://www.alembicbar.com/
go on the off hours.
also on Haight street, Kan Zaman is cheap and very relaxing. Magnolia is a brewpub and the sister restaurant to Alembic. Cha Cha Cha is another popular spot, go on an off night, cheap tapas. actually the best tapas I know of are at Ramblas
http://www.ramblastapas.com/
I dunno, I could go on and on for pages. Firecracker, Zuni Cafe, Nopa, DelFina, Alamo Square, Luna Park, A13, Boulevard... check that Michael Bauer list.
if you like Belgium beers, hit up the Toronado on lower Haight.
http://www.toronado.com/
you can get a tasty sausage from Rosamunde next door and bring it into the Toronado. these are very close to Robotspeak, well worth a look in there.
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