Best of the Bay 2008: Locals’ picks for San Francisco’s top eats, nightlife, and shopping
Posted by admin on Aug 25, 2008
The San Francisco Bay Guardian has announced the winners of their annual Best of the Bay Awards, including Editors’ Picks and the Readers’ Poll for the best places to eat, drink, and shop, both in San Francisco and the greater Bay Area.
The good news for hostellers is that 20 of the Best of the Bay winners are within easy walking distance of the San Francisco City Center Hostel and/or the San Francisco Downtown Hostel! Check out the list below for a range of nearby options during your stay.
If these picks peak your interest, be sure to visit the Guardian’s website for the full list of Best of the Bay winners, which are spread across the city and beyond.
Bonus: The theme of this year’s Best of the Bay Awards is "A Celebration of Bay Area Independence," and all of the winning local businesses are independently owned and operated.
BEST OF THE BAY: CLASSICS
BEST CLASSIC BAR
Gold Dust Lounge
247 Powell, SF. (415) 397-1695
1 block from San Francisco Downtown Hostel
7 blocks from San Francisco City Center Hostel
- World-class jazz, absurdly low happy hour prices, and a storied history have kept the Gold Dust a Union Square mainstay since 1933.
BEST MONUMENTAL URINAL
House of Shields
39 New Montgomery, SF. (415) 392-7732
6 blocks from San Francisco Downtown Hostel
- There is much to celebrate about the ever-static interior of the beloved House of Shields as it begins its second century of operation. The yellowing Charles McCabe clipping on the wall tells no lies when it proclaims, "Time Stands Still at the House of Shields." But our favorite relic is not the ruggedly handsome Victorian back bar, the ornate wood paneling, or even the long closed tunnel connecting the old basement speakeasy to the Palace Hotel across the street. And although we enjoy the quirky music programming at this downtown live venue (everything from live blues standards to "twee pop punk"), there’s something more. Discreetly tucked away in the men’s room is the largest single-user urinal we’ve ever seen. No chance of missing the mark with this one. Laid on its back, the mammoth porcelain plumbing fixture could double as a short bathtub. They just don’t make ‘em like they used to.
BEST OF THE BAY: FOOD & DRINK
BEST VIETNAMESE SANDWICH
Saigon Sandwich
560 Larkin, SF. (415) 474-5698
2 blocks from San Francisco City Center Hostel
- Three bucks and a quick stroll through Civic Center will get you one of Saigon’s crave-worthy banh-mi, the timeless combo of marinated pork, barbecue chicken, or tofu on a chewy baguette.
BEST TAQUERIA
Taqueria Can-Cun
1003 Market, SF. (415) 864-6773.
4 blocks from San Francisco Downtown Hostel
6 blocks from San Francisco City Center Hostel
Also at: 2288 Mission, SF. (415) 252-9560; 3211 Mission, SF. (415) 550-1414
- So what keeps Can-Cun packed until the wee hours? Slightly seared tortillas wrapped around well-seasoned meat; close proximity to prime drinkin’ spots; and horchata that just won’t quit.
BEST TURKISH RESTAURANT
A la Turca
869 Geary, SF. (415) 345-1011
3 blocks from San Francisco City Center Hostel
5 blocks from San Francisco Downtown Hostel
- At A la Turca, delectable pita and perfectly seasoned lamb meet on the cheap, smack in the center of the Tenderloin.
BEST DELI
Miller’s East Coast West Deli
1725 Polk, SF. (415) 563-3542
10 blocks from San Francisco City Center Hostel
- Miller’s authentically conjures the Eastern Seaboard with mountainous Reubens, steamy matzo ball soup, and cheese blintzes in portions that are bigger than your face.
BEST DOUGHNUT SHOP
Bob’s Donuts
1621 Polk, SF. (415) 776-3141
9 blocks from San Francisco City Center Hostel
- Bob does most of his baking right before last call, endearing him to Tenderloin bar rats and music venue castoffs citywide.
BEST OF THE BAY: NIGHTLIFE & ENTERTAINMENT
BEST THEATER COMPANY
Un-Scripted Theater Company
533 Sutter, SF. (415) 869-5384
5 blocks from San Francisco Downtown Hostel
- The Un-Scripted improv troupe elevates comedy from one-liners and shtick to full-fledged theatrical productions with a talented cast and eccentric sensibilities.
BEST PUNK CLUB
Annie’s Social Club
917 Folsom, SF. (415) 974-1585
9 blocks from San Francisco Downtown Hostel
- The club maintains its cred by presciently booking on-the-rise punk and hardcore bands and adding a sprinkle of punk rock karaoke, photo-booth antics, and ’80s dance parties.
BEST AFTER-HOURS CLUB
Endup
401 Sixth St., SF. (415) 646-0999
9 blocks from San Francisco Downtown Hostel
10 blocks from San Francisco City Center Hostel
- Where the drunken masses head after last call, the aptly named Endup is probably the only club left where you can rub up against a fishnetted transvestite until the sun comes up. And after.
BEST SWANKY BAR
Bourbon and Branch
501 Jones, SF. (415) 346-1735
3 blocks from San Francisco City Center Hostel
3 blocks from San Francisco Downtown Hostel
- Mirrored tables, exclusive entry, fancy specialty cocktails, and a well-appointed library root this speakeasy firmly in "upscale" territory.
BEST CLUB FOR QUEER MEN
Bearracuda at Deco
510 Larkin, SF. (415) 346-2025
2 blocks from San Francisco City Center Hostel
9 blocks from San Francisco Downtown Hostel
- Bears at the free buffet, bears on the massage table — bears, bears everywhere, but mostly on the dance floor at this big gay biweekly hair affair in the Tenderloin.
BEST MEGACLUB REINCARNATION
Temple
540 Howard, SF.
9 blocks from San Francisco Downtown Hostel
- Its a wonder no one thought of it before. Why not combine green business practices with a keen sense of after-hours dance floor mayhem, inject the whole enchilada with shots of mystical spirituality (giant antique Buddha statues, a holistic healing center) and social justice activism (political speaker engagements, issue awareness campaigns), attach a yummy Thai restaurant, serve some fancy drinks, and call it a groundbreaking megaclub? That’s a serviceably bare-bones description of Temple in SoMa, but this multilevel, generously laid out mecca for dance music lovers is so much more. Cynical clubgoers like ourselves, burnt out on the steroidal ultralounge excesses of the Internet boom, cast a wary eye when it was announced that Temple would set up shop in defunct-but-still-beloved club DV8’s old space, and feared a mainstream supastar DJ onslaught to cover the costs. Temple brings in the big names, all right, but it also shows much love for the local scene, giving faves like DJ David Harness and the Compression crew room to do their thing. The sound is impeccable, the staff exceedingly friendly, and even if we have to wade politely but firmly through some bridge and tunnel crowd to get to the dance floor, we can use the extra karma points.
BEST OF THE BAY: SEX & ROMANCE
BEST PLACE FOR SINGLES TO MEET SOMEONE
The Cellar
685 Sutter, SF. (415) 441-5678
3 blocks from San Francisco Downtown Hostel
7 blocks from San Francisco City Center Hostel
- This small subterranean dance club features reasonably priced drinks, theme parties, and singles nights.
BEST HIPSTER HOOKUP HANGOUT
Hemlock Tavern
1131 Polk, SF. (415) 596-7777
5 blocks from San Francisco City Center Hostel
8 blocks from San Francisco Downtown Hostel
- Want to pick up a hipster punk but can’t handle another night in the Mission. Your best bet is Hemlock Tavern, run by the same folks responsible for Valencia Street favorite Casanova. Located in Polk Gulch (otherwise known as the Tenderloin with higher rent), the Hemlock has a 360-degree bar, plenty of PBR, a pool table, an enclosed and heated smoking room, and bags of peanuts for a dollar — all well worth riding a fixed gear across town for. Plus, there’s often live music in a side room. When the giant red arrow on the wall lights up, you can pay a small cover to see the music or simply stay in the larger bar area and watch music-lovers in tight jeans and studded belts parade past you. Another bonus: this might be the only non-gay bar in San Francisco where the line for the men’s room is longer than the one for the ladies’, which means plenty of opportunity for hitting on cute hipster boys.
BEST MENAGE A MEATLESS
Millennium
580 Geary, SF. (415) 345-3900
3 blocks from San Francisco Downtown Hostel
4 blocks from San Francisco City Center Hostel
- It’s said that vegetarians have the freshest smelling genitals around. But the folks at Millennium seem to know something about the way a flesh deficit affects a vegetarian’s sex life in other ways. Apparently, noncarnivores feel an intense yearning for a four-course meal and an all-night session of cruelty-free lovemaking every month. That’s why they host an Aphrodisiac Dinner and optional accompanying overnight package in a Love Suite at The Hotel California every Sunday closest to the full moon. Gone are the days of curry-scented, low-budget establishments and a grabass session in the VW bus — high-rolling horny vegans can now feast and fornicate in upscale style. You can opt only for the meal ($45), but we suggest the full package ($192) for a more satisfying dessert.
BEST OF THE BAY: SHOPPING
BEST MID-SHOPPING RESPITE
Cafe Claude
7 Claude Lane, SF. (415) 392-3505
6 blocks from San Francisco Downtown Hostel
- Any savvy shopper knows you have to refuel midday if you want to hit all the sales before closing. But there’s no need to resort to food courts and burger stands. Tucked away down Claude Lane, just blocks from Union Square, is Cafe Claude. Dining at the clandestine café is like spending an afternoon in Paris — arguably the best shopping city in the world — and has similarly replenishing effects (without the price or carbon footprint of a flight to France). Sit inside to enjoy a daily special amid the zinc bar, period travel posters, and vintage tables all rescued from an actual Parisian cafe. Or refuel with soupe l’oignon, salade Nicoise, and charcuterie et fromage on the petite heated patio. Weary shoppers can also enjoy a full bar and daily happy hours from 4 to 6 p.m. After all, you might need a glass of Sancerre — or a shot of St. Germain — before you take a second glance at your receipt from Neiman Marcus.
BEST BOOKSTORE FOR ASPIRING ACTIVISTS
Babylon Falling
1017 Bush, SF. (415) 345-1017
6 blocks from San Francisco Downtown Hostel
7 blocks from San Francisco City Center Hostel
- Mark Twain said, "The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who cannot read," which means that if you ever want to actually learn anything from books, you’re gonna have to get some decent lit. But you don’t need to waste your time surfing on Amazon or searching through library stacks (gasp!) — the rebel academics at Babylon Falling have already done all the work for you. If you really want to learn how to be as subversive as Che Guevara or Chuck D, pop into Babylon and check out its selection of revolutionary literature, graphic novels, art, and music. Babylon also carries a huge assortment of toys, artwork, clothing, and DVDs to complement its collection of more than 3,000 book titles. Plus, it hosts readings, art shows, and signings by literate revolutionaries from the Bay Area and beyond. Babylon will never fall if its citizens learn to read good. You can quote us on that.
BEST DANDY NANCIES
Nancy Boy
347 Hayes, SF. (415) 552-3802
10 blocks from San Francisco City Center Hostel
- Toss the tacky Axe body spray, lose that horrid Aveda sheen, forget dropping oodles of dough on some designer-brand swill that looks better in its fancy bottle then on your handsome man-skin — Nancy Boy products are the real deal when it comes to male image enhancement. Manufactured locally and distributed from a lovely shop in Hayes Valley that also functions as a gallery of rare and covetable glassware, the all-natural line for men features several enormously popular products for local luxury lovers, including an inimitable signature replenishing shave cream infused with natural steam-distilled extract of fresh cucumbers ("not some ‘idea of cucumber’ concocted in some chemistry lab," the makers assure us), a wildly fab lavender laundry detergent, and myriad other beauty products — not just for metrosexuals and A-gays! They work on scruffy hipsters and women too! — that we never thought we’d come to depend on so much. An extra treat: co-founder Eric Roos’ occasional hilarious, politically satirical newsletter that keeps us in stitches. Who knew beauty could be so spot-on?
BEST OF THE BAY: CITY LIFE
BEST NO-NONSENSE KNOT REMOVAL
Jin Healing for Women
999 Powell, SF; 3557 Geary, SF. (415) 986-1111
8 blocks from San Francisco Downtown Hostel
- Forget the soothing new age music, bubbling indoor waterfalls, and arcane aromatherapy. Sometimes you’re broke, your back is full of knots, and all you want at the end of a rough week is a no-nonsense deep-tissue massage. At Jin Healing for Women a 60-minute full body will set you back $39 — or $30 if you buy a six-hour package. For that price, who cares if they don’t serve cucumber water or slather you in organic clay? The massage style falls somewhere between shiatsu and Swedish: the masseurs use oil, acupressure, and plenty of strength. The best part of the massage is arguably the hot towel treatment at the end. Some may complain that the place is too noisy — it’s not uncommon to hear the receptionist answering the phone or people talking outside — but it’s nothing that earplugs or an iPod can’t block out. While Jin Healing for Women is advertised as serving women only, some have found that men are not turned away if accompanied by a female friend or family member.
Visit the San Francisco Bay Guardian’s website for the full list of Best of the Bay winners.