California Travel: A San Francisco State of Mind

  • Bi-Rite, a fixture of the Mission District for three generations.

    Bi-Rite, a fixture of the Mission District for three generations.

  • Shopping in the Mission District.

    Shopping in the Mission District.

  • The Pacific side of the Golden Gate Bridge, as seen from Baker Beach.

    The Pacific side of the Golden Gate Bridge, as seen from Baker Beach.

  • City Lights bookshop.

    City Lights bookshop.

  • San Francisco may have changed over the years, but Grant Street in Chinatown remains much as the author remembers it from the 1980s.

    San Francisco may have changed over the years, but Grant Street in Chinatown remains much as the author remembers it from the 1980s.

  • Rustic Italian restaurant Cotogna.

    Rustic Italian restaurant Cotogna.

  • Victorian houses in Alamo Square.

    Victorian houses in Alamo Square.

  • The nouvelle Californian cuisine at Spruce includes this crispy duck confit with huckleberries and salsify in smoked-honey jus.

    The nouvelle Californian cuisine at Spruce includes this crispy duck confit with huckleberries and salsify in smoked-honey jus.

  • The dining room at Spruce, in the tony Pacific Heights neighborhood.

    The dining room at Spruce, in the tony Pacific Heights neighborhood.

  • Looking across to Coit Tower, an Art Deco monument built in the 1930s atop Telegraph Hill  on the east side of San Francisco.

    Looking across to Coit Tower, an Art Deco monument built in the 1930s atop Telegraph Hill on the east side of San Francisco.

  • Browsing the bookshelves at City Lights.

    Browsing the bookshelves at City Lights.

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San Francisco MapThe Details:
San Francisco

Getting There 
Cathay Pacific (cathaypacific.com) flies twice daily between Hong Kong and San Francisco, while Korean Air (koreanair.com) operates a daily flight from Seoul.  Singapore Airlines (singaporeair.com) has two flights a day to San Francisco via Hong Kong or Seoul.

When to Go
Mark Twain wasn’t kidding when he said “the coldest winter I ever spent was summer in San Francisco.” Often shrouded with fog from June to August, and chilly and wet in the winter, San Francisco tends to be at its climactic best in spring and fall—and even then it doesn’t hurt to pack a warm jacket.

Where to Stay

  • Taj Campton Place
    This 110-room property has everything you want from a San Francisco hotel: hip decor, big city views, great location (between Chinatown and Union Square), and service that is both highly efficient and friendly. The dining room adds an Asian touch to modern California cuisine. 340 Stockton St.; 1-415/781-5555; tajhotels.com; doubles from US$615.
  • Huntington Hotel
    A classic 1924 hotel atop Nob Hill, the ivy-draped Huntington has 136 spacious rooms, an acclaimed spa, and a new owner: Singapore’s Grace International. 1075 California St.;1-415/474-5400; huntingtonhotel.com; doubles from US$410.
  • St. Regis
    Located next door to the Museum of Modern Art in San Francisco’s SoMa (South of Market) area, this is among the most luxurious billets in town. For something trendier—and cheaper —there’s a W hotel just down the block. 125 3rd St.; 1-415/ 284-4000; starwoodhotels.com; doubles from US$559.

Where to Eat

  • Commonwealth
    2224 Mission St.; 1-415/355-1500.
  • Cotogna
    490 Pacific Ave.; 1-415/775-8508.
  • Restaurant Gary Danko
    800 North Point St.; 1-415/749-2060.
  • Spruce
    3640 Sacramento St.; 1-415/931-5100.

What to See

  • The Fillmore
    Once the stage for local talent such as Carlos Santana, Grace Slick, and Janis Joplin, this historic music hall, revived in 1990s, is as active as ever, with gigs by headliner acts from around the world. 1805 Geary Blvd.; 1-415/346-6000; thefillmore.com.

Originally appeared in the December 2011/January 2012 print issue of DestinAsian magazine (“A San Francisco State of Mind”)

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