DEVOUR A BURRITO IN THE MISSION. Mission burritos are one of San Francisco’s most popular exports, and you can thank the residents of the Mission district for their handiwork. these so-big-you-can-bench-press-them flavor bombs are stuffed full and served with extras like rice, sour cream, salsa and guac. taqueria la Cumbre claims to be the birthplace, but you can’t go wrong at el Farolito, la taqueria or dozens of other Mission kitchens, either. WARM UP WITH AN IRISH COFFEE. It may have originated in the emerald Isle, but Irish Coffee was perfected and popularized in San Francisco back in the 1950s. Inspired by a boozy pick-me-up served in Ireland’s Shannon Airport, Buena Vista Café co-owner Jack Koeppler and Pulitzer Prize-winning travel writer Stanton delaplane teamed up to create the perfect blend of hot coffee, Irish whiskey and whipped cream that is now so famous, the café serves up to 2,000 of them every day! Shop, where you can indulge in a sundae topped with fresh-from-the-factory hot fudge, and local-favorites like Bi-rite, Mitchell’s and Humphry Slocombe, known for its deliciously offbeat flavors like “Secret Breakfast,” made with bourbon and corn flakes. SIP A MARTINI IN NORTH BEACH. Yet another San Francisco creation that took the world by storm, the martini was reportedly first stirred (or was it shaken?) at the Occidental Hotel by the “father of American mixology,” Jerry thomas, sometime in the late 1800s. Sadly, the 1906 earthquake and subsequent fire destroyed the hotel, but the cocktail has lived on. enjoy some of the finest martinis in town along with a classic Italian meal at north Beach institutions like tony’s Pizza napoletana and Original Joe’s. Ferry Building Marketplace DINE ON DIM SUM. Among the many cultural gifts brought to San Francisco by Chinese immigrants is dim sum, an assortment of bite-sized pastries and dumplings served on carts and traditionally eaten for breakfast. Chinatown is ground zero for dim sum any time of day, with a bevy of sit-down and takeout spots lining the streets. More delectable dim sum can be found around the city, from Yank Sing in the Financial district to Hong Kong lounge in the richmond. Adobe Stock (3); San Francisco travel Association TASTE AMERICA’S FIRST CRAFT BEER. Fun fact: America’s OG craft beer, Anchor Steam, was first brewed here way back in the mid-1800s, fermented on rooftops and cooled by foggy night air. taste it and other Anchor Brewing classics on a behind-the-scenes tour at Anchor Public taps. not a beer drinker? Opt for Anchor Brewing’s distilling arm, Hotaling & Co., to sip Junipero Gin, nikka Whiskey and other award-winning spirits. TREAT YOURSELF TO INCREDIBLE ICE CREAM. thanks in part to the Museum of Ice Cream (and its much-Instagrammed sprinkle pool), San Francisco has become a hotspot for the cool treat. Other places to get your sweet fix include the world-famous Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate TRY SOME OF EVERYTHING AT LOCAL FOOD HALLS. If you just want to taste it all, follow your stomach to San Francisco’s food halls, which pack loads of eclectic eats into one easy stop. Start your culinary adventure right off the plane at SFO’s Manufactory Food Hall, home to outposts of venerated restaurants like tartine and Kin Khao. Sample everything from dumplings to Peking duck at China live, a sprawling food paradise in Chinatown. And the iconic Ferry Building Marketplace is home to nearly 50 food merchants, plus the city’s most famous farmers market. Foodies . 27
San Francisco Visitors Planning Guide 2020: Page 27
