375 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 252-0800

Hours of Operation:
Mon-Sat: 7am – 8pm
Sun: 8am – 8pm

With no overhead sign or awning to distinguish that you’ve arrived, this inconspicuous coffee shop in the Mission district can be best identified by its large wood framed windows that face 24th Street. Inside you’ll find tables filled with patrons enjoying their Ritual coffee and pastries while working furiously on their laptops. Decor is rather minimalist with white walls, contrasted by pine beams and coated concrete floors, yet the space still feels warm and inviting with its gas fireplace and abundance of natural light that fills the space on a sunny afternoon. Out back, a nice wooden patio complete with tables and chairs makes this spot a great place for those warm weather meet ups.

Hours of Operation:
Mon-Fri: 6am – 9pm
Sat-Sun: 9am -9pm

One of my favorite restaurants in the Mission for its sleek and modern design, Farina’s ambiance is so inviting it just exudes cool. The curved curtain of glass that wraps around the frontage is beautiful yet functional, able to slide fully open to allow the breeze to circulate through. Skylights help keep the space bright with natural light, while the comfortable designer furniture helps to define the setting.

Chef Paolo Laboa relies on seasonal and fresh ingredients to bring out the best from his rustic yet elegant dishes influenced from his upbringing in Liguria, Italy. Freshly prepared pastas with their signature Genovese Pesto is a popular favorite here, as well as their Neapolitan pizzas. With so many delicious choices, it’s always fun to sample a bit of everything, just leave room for some of their amazing desserts. |Farina|

Hours of Operation:
Mon-Thurs: 5:30pm-10pm
Fri-Sat: 5pm-10pm
Sun: 9am-3pm, 5pm-10pm

Perched on a corner in the Mission, no sign or awning to give away its location, one could easily drive past without noticing they’ve missed one of the best bakeries in the city. Luckily, the constant line of patrons pouring out the door of Tartine Bakery helps draw the eye, and by constant I mean, rain or shine, expect to see some sort of line. While I was waiting in line to order, I couldn’t help but appreciate the dated decor that’s changed very little since the sixties, exuding a sorta hipster charm that has come to define the Mission district for some.

This is one of my favorite places for buttery/flaky croissants, amazing morning buns, scones, and freshly baked loaves of French bread. I love their macarons, which make a nice gift if you can manage not to eat them first. The chocolate souffle cake is extremely rich and should advisably be consumed with one of their over-sized lattes, which are served in a bowl. For those looking for something savory, try one of their pressed sandwiches or the croque-monsieur. |Tartine Bakery|

Open 7 days a week:
Mon: 8am-7pm
Tues-Wed: 7:30am-7pm
Thurs-Fri: 7:30am-8pm
Sat: 8am-8pm
Sun: 9am-8pm

Being my birthday and all, lunch somewhere a little more fancy than the typical Thursday norm seemed in order. Some white wine at noon on a Thursday? Hmm, why not. The Rotunda is located at the top of Neiman Marcus and is one of the more notable spots in Union Square for that special brunch, lunch, or afternoon tea. Nearly every table gets a great view of the Beaux Arts stained-glass skylight, but seats facing the unobstructed views of Union Square are highly sought after and are usually reserved well in advance.

Once seated, a demitasse of chicken broth served with a small crunchy popover wets the appetite, followed by their signature freshly baked popovers served with raspberry butter. I usually find myself ordering the burger when I dine here, but since it was my birthday, something a little more decadent this time around seemed appropriate. The lobster gratin penne pasta had a rich sauce, the deep-fried lobster imperial rolls were crunchy and delicious, and the lobster club was a rich take on an American classic sandwich. For the finale, a banana bread pudding with candied pecans, banana chips, caramel and chocolate was a great end to a decadent weekday lunch.

Open 7 days a week:
Mon-Thurs: 11am-4pm
Fri-Sat: 11am-5pm
Sun: 12pm-4pm
Afternoon Tea:
Sun-Thurs: 2:30pm-4pm
Fri-Sat: 2:30pm-5pm

For those crisp and sunny autumn days spent shopping in Union Square, an outdoor lunch on Maiden Lane is the prefect break from the frenzy of holiday shopping. Dining here amongst the boutiques and art galleries feels like areas of SoHo, while the live jazz helps to muffle the harsh noises of the city.

Mocca is a great little European bistro, best known for their marinated tri-tip steak and tuna nicoise. Their turkey, cranberry and brie sandwich is also worth trying at least once. For visits later in the afternoon, a hot cappuccino and dessert can be a great close to a productive shopping trip, just remember to bring cash.

Hours of Operation:
Mon-Fri: 8am-6pm
Sat: 8:30am-4pm
Sun: Closed

Deep within the Mission, far from its more likely surroundings of chic boutiques and trendy restaurants located further up 24th Street; Dynamo Donut & Coffee is a charming little shop that’s gaining a loyal following for their unique and unconventional donut varieties. Visible mostly by it’s bright yellow paint and green awning, Dynamo’s retro styling and quaint walk-up counter feels like a trip back to 1950s Americana.

Prepared in small batches using local organic ingredients, Dynamo serves up a rotation of 7-10 types of donuts made fresh daily. Some of the flavors include Maple-Glazed Bacon Apple, Caramel del Sel, Spiced Chocolate, Vanilla Bean, Chocolate Star Anise, and Lemon Thyme. While it could be quite the journey just to get here, Dynamo is a great destination for those looking to start their morning off right with a crisp morning paper, fluffy donut, and hot cup of Four Barrel Coffee. Donuts are priced between $2-$3.50; current varieties prepared that day can be found on |Dynamo’s Twitter Page|. |Dynamo Donut & Coffee|Four Barrel Coffee|

Hours of Operation:
Mon: Closed
Tues-Sat: 7am-5pm
Sun: 9am-4pm