san francisco

Day 3 of our trip to San Francisco was (you guessed it!) SO FUN! Off the Grid, the roaming mobile food truck extravaganza, hosts a Picnic at the Presidio every Sunday from 11am-4pm. (Their last one for the season is this Sunday so go go go!) What an amazing event filled with a looooooong row of food carts, a stocked bar serving delicious frozen Mimosas and Bloody Mary kits, a separate champagne bar (whaaaaa?) and a sports booth where you can rent games like Cornhole. Fun, right?! When you go this Sunday (and you must!), be sure to stop by the Grilled Cheese Guy for a spicy sammie and a bag of McClure’s pickle potato chips.

After admiring the beauty of the Palace of Fine Arts, we came across a couple gorgeous, yet feisty (so sassy!) swans. Since I’m such a huge fan of Benefit Cosmetics, we of course had to visit the boutique on Chestnut. That street has all kinds of fun shops and restos! (Delarosa is a fave.)

Thanks to the recommendation from our friend Chris (HI CHRIS!) we ended our trip at Suppenküche. Scott studied abroad in Germany so he was super stoked to find they served his favorite bier: Uerige Alt. We’re definitely adding this spot to our regular rotation when in town. It’s so festive! Perfect for a catch-up session with a friend over a beer boot and bratwurst.

Whew! It was quite the trip. Did we miss any of your favorite San Francisco spots? Let me know in the comments below and I’ll add it to our list for next time!

Check out the fun we had on days 1 & 2!

3 Days in San Francisco (Day 1)

3 Days in San Francisco (Day 2)

Scott and I were excited to get started with our second day in SF. We Ubered to the Ferry Building, where we got lost in the crowds shuffling from one shop to the next, checking out goodies from tasty spots like Cowgirl Creamery, beekind and of course, Blue Bottle. What a buzzing place! If you feel like walking around on a lazy Saturday or Sunday (and don’t mind a crowd), put it on your tourist to-do list.

A friend (HI JEN!) tipped us off to Hog Island Oyster Co. This place is incredible. Get there a bit early for lunch, and don’t be frightened by the line out the door. It moves fast, especially for a small group. Scott and I scored a spot outside, perfect for people (and puppy) watching & gorgeous bay views. We devoured Sweetwater oysters (there are seven kinds to choose from) and Boquerones (anchovies!) with piquillo aioli, chopped egg & green herb sauce. The Hog Island Bloody Mary is legit, but don’t miss out on their wine! Sigh. Scott and I reminisce about our experience here weekly. We can’t wait to visit their farm in Tomales Bay!

After lunch, we visited the Exploratorium. As you can see from the pictures, Scott didn’t have any fun at all. Right. We. Had. A. Blast.

Science fun (YEAH SCIENCE!) was followed by a walk to the Fisherman’s Wharf. On the way, we stopped by Pier 39 to see a magic show and wave hello to the sunbathing sea lions. We continued walking until we reached Ghirardelli Square. The Wattle Creek Tasting Room was a welcome treat for our tired feet and parched mouths. We sat outside and enjoyed a glass of wine while watching happy couples dance to big band tunes performed by a street musician. Before we left the square, we stopped into ElizabethW, a cute little store offering aprons, soaps, jewelry, SF coasters and loads more.

We met a friend on the way to dinner at A16 in the Marina, a romantic spot with delicious southern Italian fare, wine and an open kitchen to watch the chefs get down. The Burrata appetizer and Funghi pie made for a perfect end to a perfect (but very long) day in San Francisco.

Day 3 coming right up!

Scott and I recently scooted up to San Francisco to celebrate two years of knowing each other. (Woohoo!) We spent three days eating, eating and eating. It was a perfect long weekend with extraordinary weather (so much sunshine!), outdoor adventures (so much exploring!) and fresh oysters (so many oysters!) Day 1 was spent eating tacos, drinking margaritas, getting tattoos and noshing on pie at Pizzeria Delfina (because these are all must-dos when you’re in SF). Scroll down to view pics and details of the trip!

There’s an adorable (and inexpensive!) hotel in Japantown called Hotel Tomo. It’s anime theme is super fun, the rooms are clean (comfy beds too) and the staff is incredibly kind. They congratulated us on our two years and gifted us a bottle of sake when we checked in! Mums is the lively hotel restaurant that’s perfect for groups who love Shabu Shabu, a Japanese dish of thinly sliced beef boiled in water. Bonus: All-you-can-eat & drink from 5-10pm every day. Holla!

After checking into the hotel, we grabbed a bite at Tacolicious, one of my favorite spots to nom while in town. We chowed on made-to-order guac, Ceviche Verde and two tacos—the Shot-and-a-Beer Braised Chicken & the Guajillo Braised Beef Short Rib. We each had a Pasion margarita, made with Maestro Dobel, passion fruit & habanero. I’m crying with joy just thinking about it.

We had to cut lunch short because I had an appointment at Black & Blue Tattoo. We skipped through the Mission, admiring street art along the way (and attempting to calm my pre-tattoo nerves). I stumbled upon Black & Blue almost three years ago. I desperately wanted a tattoo of a lion, and my friend (HI LISA!) heard Black & Blue was a great shop. We visited the shop, mingled with Kristy and BAM, I had a lion tattoo! I feel incredibly lucky to have met Kristy. She’s a true artist, and this last time was even more amazing. I’m in love with my Ganesha. After the seven (7!) hours of sitting in the chair, Scott and I were panicky-excited to share an arugula and prosciutto pie at Pizzeria Delfina. Scott is my hero. He stuck with me the entire time!

That’s it for day 1 of our trip! Stay tuned for days 2 & 3 coming at ya later this week!

xo,
Mel