Modern Guide to Pacific Heights: Instagramable Eats, Chichi Shops + Pretty Parks
Pacific Heights is home to tony residential streets and equally posh shopping and dining.

Modern Guide to Pacific Heights: Instagramable Eats, Chichi Shops + Pretty Parks

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Take something of San Francisco's old-world elegance, sprinkle in a few local celebrities (you choose: an actor, a speaker of the House, a Fortune 500 CEO), add a quiet suburban hush, and you get Pacific Heights in all its grandeur.

Here's what to eat and where to hang when you're in the neighborhood.


Where to Eat + Drink in Pacific Heights

(Courtesy of SPQR)

Breakfast, Pastry + Snacks

Start your day with boiled bagels so good even a New Yorker will be impressed at Wise Sons Bagel & Bakery(1520 Fillmore St.), followed by a cold brew at Blue Bottle(2453 Fillmore St.). // B. Patisserie(2821 California St.) can't be beat for beautiful French pastries—their flaky, buttery kouign-amann are to die for. For gourmet salads, sandwiches, and a chocolate chip cookie that will change your life, head across the street to their sister restaurant, B on the go(2794 California St.). // Neighborhood favorite Jane(2123 Fillmore St.), is a popular place to post up with a laptop, a warm quinoa bowl or salad, and gluten-free treats. // Go for seasonal scoops of highly indulgent ice cream at Salt & Straw(2201 Fillmore St.) or Smitten (2404 California St.). // Get your greens, plus breakfast bowls and sandwiches, at Joe & The Juice(2213 Fillmore St.). // For a little French flair, pick up pastries and loaves at La Boulangerie(2325 Pine St.). // IG enthusiasts will be all over Avotoasty(2760 Octavia St.), a casual spot that specializes in aesthetically pleasing avocado toast served with edible flowers. Tired of the trend? Munch on acai bowls and salads instead. // The aroma of coffee beans is enough to lure us into Compton's Coffee House(1910 Fillmore St.). // Neighborhood favorite The Grove(2016 Fillmore St.) remains temporarily closed due to Covid-19.

Casual Bites With Drinks

Harry's Bar(2020 Fillmore St.), with its dark wood and cushy leather seating, is a landmark for happy hour and brunch. // With plenty of old school charm,Palmer's(2298 Fillmore St) is the perfect place to enjoy a swanky cocktail or glass of wine with nibbles like Demons on Horseback. // Stop by two-story hotspot The Snug(2301 Fillmore St.) for a prickly pear cocktail, a spicy fried chicken sandwich, and plenty of people watching. // Bring a date or just tuck in with a book at The Social Study(1795 Geary Boulevard). // Eat falafel and flatbreads to your heart's content at Noosh(2001 Fillmore St.). // If you're craving Vietnamese sandos on the go, pop by Bun Mee(2015 Fillmore St.). // We'll miss catching a film at the Clay Theater (RIP) after eating all the affordable sushi at Ten-Ichi(2235 Fillmore St).

Craving Italian?

Pac Heights has major amore for Italian fare. Celebrate a special occasion with a reservation at SPQR(1911 Fillmore St.), where acclaimed chef Matt Accarrino has earned a Michelin star every year since 2012 for his inventive cuisine made with local ingredients—think squid ink rigatoni and mushroom farrotto with whipped toma cheese. // Grab your friends and share a couple pies at Pizzeria Delfina's (2406 California St.) lively Pac Heights outpost. The saffron arancini are everything. // From Back of the House restaurant group comes The Tailor's Son(2049 Fillmore St.), inspired by owner Adriano Paganini's childhood in Northern Italy. Go for fresh antipasto, rich risottos, and handmade pastas. // Longstanding Fillmore favorite Jackson Fillmore Trattoria(2506 Fillmore St.) is known for its friendly service and classic plates like pesce fra diavolo and spaghetti alla carbonara. // Florio(1915 Fillmore St.) is a romantic spot to share antipasti and entrees that veer toward French and Mediterranean.

Where to Shop in Pacific Heights

Mission favorite Fiat Lux has brought its baubles to a stunning new jewelry shop on Fillmore Street.

(Aubrie Pick)

Fashion

Fillmore Street is the Pac Heights fashion maven's stomping grounds for upscale, on-trend labels. New to this retail row is Mission favorite jewelry store Fiat Lux(1942 Fillmore St.), from tattoo artist and bauble designer Marie McCarthy. Get pierced or permanently clasped with a 14-karat-gold-fused bracelet, and don't miss the slithering serpent design painted on the floor by Caroline Lizarraga. // Rothys(2448 Fillmore St.), known for its colorful flats and sneakers made from recycled plastic bottles, has its flagship store here. // A clothing binge at trendy Reformation(2360 Fillmore St.) is justifiable thanks to their sustainable production practices. // With a large assortment of pieces from a range of designers—think ALC, Ganni, and Derek Lam—as well as their own label, Intermix(2223 Fillmore St.) is a fashionista's heaven. // Cielo(2225 Fillmore St.) is for cutting-edge fashion lovers with a selection of global including Dries Van Noten, Sacai, and Yohji Yamamoto. // Both ladies and gents can get their denim fix at Frame's sleek shop (2142 Fillmore St.). // The daytime staples and footwear at the industrial-chic locale of Rag & Bone(2060 Fillmore St.) were made for urban stomping. // Veronica Beard(2241 Fillmore St.) has a Bay Area connection (one of the founding Veronicas is a Swanson), but you know the brand best for its signature dickey jackets. // With three locations in SF and one in New York, Isalis(2127 Union St.) curated wardrobe pieces with funky prints, colorful knits, and unique silhouettes from brands like Aparris, Faithfull, and Lisa Says Gah.

Home Design

The Future Perfect(3085 Sacramento St.) is a contemporary design lover's destination for special collectible furniture and artful objets. // Stop by the aesthetically pleasing home boutique March(3075 Sacramento St.) and you just might leave with their entire line of tableware. // If you're on the hunt for a cheeky gift, modern home store Jonathan Adler(2133 Fillmore St.) is brimming with colorful, quirky things. // Just up the street, Nest(2300 Fillmore St.) invites you to cozy up with softly textured bedding and peruse the curated collection of home goods and keepsakes from around the globe. // Check out Post.script(2413 California St.) for some offbeat knick-knacks, stationery, and graphic wall art.

Skincare + Cosmetics

Fillmore Street is home to the city's best collection of shops for cosmetics and wellness products. Credo(2136 Fillmore St.) steals our sustainably minded hearts with its beautifully curated array of non-toxic and cruelty free skincare, makeup, and fragrance from indie and luxury such as Tata Harper, which also has a skincare spa here. // London-based apothecary Space.NK(2000 Fillmore St.) stocks such brands as Hourglass, Chantecaille, and Bumble and Bumble in a sleek, light-filled space. // Visit high-end boutique perfumery Le Labo(2238 Fillmore St.) for made-to-order scents and candles. // NARS(2050 Fillmore St.) has all the colors you'll need to update your makeup look each season. // The hand soap at Aesop(2450 Fillmore St.) is legendary for a reason. Not drying on your skin, it also has notes of lavender and rosemary that double as perfume. The face masks, cleansers, exfoliants, and toothpaste are worth trying out as well. // Stock up on essential oils to perk you up from an afternoon slump or wind down before bed at Saje(1913 Fillmore St.).

Things to Do in Pacific Heights

Traverse the Lyon Street stairs for views of Pacific Heights' storied mansions and the San Francisco Bay.

(Courtesy of Eric Guarisco, via Langan)

Wellness + Outdoors

You'll have to head to Larkspur if you're looking for a service at the Fillmore Street's now-closed old favorite International Orange, but if it's a massage you want, you can wander closer to Japantown for shiatsu and a traditional bathing ritual at Kabuki Springs & Spa(1750 Geary Blvd.), inspired by Japan's public bathhouses. // There is no excuse to miss your workout when you live in Pacific Heights, where boutique studios abound. At On Cue Pilates(2799 Sacramento St.), private and semi-private sessions let you really dial in your technique. // Take a group class at Simply Balanced(2410 California St.) which offers group reformer and gentle mat classes. // Iyengar Yoga Institute of San Francisco(2201 Sutter St.) has something for practitioners of all levels with in studio and online classes plus advanced studies workshops. // You could also opt for a one-on-one training session at Eden(1650 Bush St.), a female-focused gym decorated with lush green plants. // Just steps from the Fillmore Street is Alta Plaza Park (Steiner & Jackson St.) is a lovely gathering spot for off-leash dogs and boisterous children. // Get in your cardio while ogling the neighborhood's stately mansions and stunning bay views when you walk or run theLyon Street Steps(Lyon & Broadway St.). // Grab a photo op at the Mrs. Doubtfire house (2640 Steiner St.).

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