Beauty and the Drink

San Francisco Bay Area, California

I moved to the Bay Area in May 2008. I work in the Financial District of SF and live in San Mateo.  What can I say, there is soooo much to do here, never a dull moment.  I’m loving my casual Friday nights at Glow, bike riding along the bay or Crystal Springs, dancing at the Mighty and Mezzanine, seeing Donald Glaude and Kaskade at Ruby Skye, happy hours with my work crew, finding new neighborhoods, Thanksgiving at James’ parents house, trying new restaurants, slices at Pizza My Heart, drinking great beers at The Refuge, letting the sun shine in our gigantic windows of our apartment, Thursday night summer concerts at the San Mateo City Park, dinners with Brian at Blowfish, Santana Row in San Jose,  taking day trips down the coast, Santa Cruz, San Francisco Pride, driving across the Golden Gate Bridge, Scoma’s, Yumi Yogurt,  4^th of July at Heathers and Pier 39, WICKED, starring up at the tall sky scrapers on my way to work, Wii parties,  street musicians, lunches at Harvest & Rowe, train rides and discovering a love of books, Giants Games, Yves Saint Laurent at the de Young, Golden Gate Park,  LOVEFEST, flying Virgin Airlines out of SFO, 3^rd Street Bar & Grill, beautiful  walks through my neighborhood in San Mateo, North Beach Festival,  Stanford Shopping Mall,  shopping in Union  Square on my lunch break, Dirty Bird Production parties, brunches with friends, camping at Kirby Cove, funny stories from taking public transportation to SF, Twestival, meeting some of the most amazing people, Osha Thai late night … and that’s why I’m so happy to be living in the SF Bay Area!

Where to eat, drink and play in the Bay Area…

SAN FRANCISCO - EAT
Blowfish – So$umi roll is my favorite
FarmerBrown – the BEST fried chicken
Hamburger Meister
Harvest & Rowe – make your own salads
Mixed Greens
Osha Thai - Tenderloin
Ozumo – yummy sushi
Perilla – garlic noodles
Pizza Orgasimica – tasty late night pizza
Scoma’s – anything, the seafood is the best!
Tadich Grill
Taylors – yummy burgers and sweet potato fries
The Creamery – crepes

SAN FRANCISCO - DRINK
Americano – great drinks and people watching
Bobby’s Owl Tree – small bar
La Trappe – the BIGGEST beer list I have ever seen
Monks Kettle – great beer selection
Rye – great mojitos
Thirsty Bear – organic beer and food – try the brussel sprouts
Top of the Mark – awesome views of the city
Tornado – AMAZING beer selection
Zeitgiest – awesome beers and fun backyard

SAN FRANCISCO - DANCE
Infusion Lounge – the most Vegas-like club in SF
Mezzanine – concert hall that has djs come in
Mighty – club
Mission Rock – all day long dj music festivals
Mr. Smiths – bar/club
Shine - small club with breakbeat djs

SAN FRANCISCO – PLAY
Bay to Breakers - a 99-year old 12k - one of the world’s largest and oldest footraces!
LOVEFEST  - LovEvolution, dance music parade & festival
Metrowize SF – comprehensive guide to bars, nightlife, restaurants
Outside Lands Music Festival - august
SF Arts.org – comprehensive guide to SF arts
SF Beer Week - february
SF International Beer Festival - april
SF Station – comprehensive guide to events in the bay area
Treasure Island Music Festival - october

PENINSULA - EAT
Astaria – (San Mateo) amazing flank steak and fried chicken
B Street & Vine – (San Mateo) the best bruschetta and wine
Bay Watch – (San Mateo) this brunch is the bomb dot com
Desert Republic – (San Mateo) perfect for after a movie
Izakaya Mai - (San Mateo)
Jack’s Prime – (San Mateo) BEST Burgers!
Jersey Joe's Hoagies & Cheesesteaks – (San Carlos)
La Cumbre – (San Mateo) best chicken tacos
Mack’s BBQ – (San Carlos)
Milagros – (Redwood City)
Mr. Pickles – (San Mateo) best dutch crunch
Patxi’s Chicago Style Pizza – (Palo Alto)
Resperado – (Palo Alto) amazing Mexican dishes
Santa Ramen – (San Mateo)
Speederia Pizzeria – (San Carlos) yummy NY style thin crust pizza
Sweet Breams – (San Mateo) Little Tayaki, best place to bring kids!
The Refuge – (San Carlos) Belgian beers & pastrami
Yumi Yogurt – (San Mateo) flavor infusion and shaved ice

PENINSULA - DRINK
Glow Bar – (San Mateo)
Melt – (Palo Alto) lounge
Rose and Crown Pub – (Palo Alto) awesome beer selection
Swinging Door – (San Mateo) british pub

Got a comment or suggestion? Email me: tara@beautyandthedrink.com.

Photo courtesy of destinations blog.