San Francisco has just one outdoor beer garden: Zeitgeist, at Valencia and Duboce. This is primarily a biker bar, although a lot of indie kids make the scene as well. Come early to avoid the line at the door and wear your leathers to [more...]

No matter how cool the day, the outdoor tables at Cafe Flore are almost always the perfect temperature. The patio seating area is enclosed by glass walls which let in [more...]

Head over to Berkeley for the best sandwiches of your life at Nefeli Caffe at 1854 Euclid Avenue. There's usually a couple of backgammon games going on at the outdoor tables, too.

Jupiter in Berkeley is one of the Bay Area's great breweries. Try the Jupiter Pale, and don't miss the excellent selection of California-style [more...]

Though it is a great big chain, the Cheesecake Factory in downtown San Francisco is well worth a visit. Located on the top floor of the gigantic Macy's [more...]

San Francisco's best bakery is generally agreed to be Tartine. Because of this, the line is almost always out the door, and the staff are often tense and [more...]

Step on the deck of the Hornblower Yacht for a romantic dinner cruise under the Golden Gate bridge, or join them on a morning-after for a champagne brunch.

You'll find great food, great atmosphere and okay prices at Chow on Church, where you can eat on the enclosed patio in the back, complete with lots of greenery [more...]

Ike's Place on 16th Street at Market provides to-die-for hot sandwiches, fresh-made ice cream and hot drinks. There are even a few sidewalk tables to sit at on a sunny day. Ike himself owns and operates the joint, and is eager to please [more...]

Sometimes you just need a huge salad. If you find yourself around the UC Berkeley campus at lunch time on a sunny day, I recommend heading over to Raleigh's. They've got the standard bar complement of drinks, dimly-lit booths and pool [more...]

If you want to go wine-tasting without all the yuppie frills, check out Thomas Coyne Winery in Livermore. The people who pour the wine have a cheerful, "just [more...]

Who would have thought that a chain of crepe restaurants could be so successful? But oddly-named crepe restaurant Squat & Gobble has taken off like wildfire [more...]

It is widely agreed that the best way to feel French without actually going to France is to have brunch at La Note in Berkeley. The menu is dripping with [more...]

Whether you're in Union Square to shop, work or people-watch, do yourself a favor by taking a minute to sit at the Emporio Rulli Cafe in the square [more...]

Benicia (pronounced ben-EE-sha, NOT ben-IH-sha) is a little undiscovered jewel box in the East Bay. With its clean streets, smiling families and beautiful views of the water every way you turn, this would be the perfect place to settle [more...]