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The Top Restaurants & Bars in San Francisco in 2025

In San Francisco for FOG Design+Art and looking for an unforgettable dining experience? Here, we guide you to the city’s best restaurants and bars, including 7 Adams, Copra, Dalida, Gigi’s, Merchant Roots, Prelude, and The Wild.

Headed to San Francisco this week for the 11th edition of FOG Design+Art? If so, Whitewall acts as your guide to the city’s top restaurants and bars. From on-site hotel restaurants to standalone dining destinations, below is a list of our favorites, including Dalida, Gigi’s, Merchant Roots, Prelude, and more.

7 Adams

Lower Pacific Heights

7 Adams 7 Adams, photo by Tara Rudolph.
7 Adams 7 Adams, photo by Tara Rudolph.

In November 2023, 7 Adams opened to blend culinary artistry with a home-style dining experience. Created by acclaimed chefs David Fisher and Serena Chow Fisher, the menu breaks from the traditional tasting format, offering a dynamic dining experience where some courses are set, others are chosen, and dishes are a mix of individual servings and shared plates. This thoughtful approach reflects their vision of gathering loved ones around a table filled with diverse flavors. Designed by Martin Chadwick Kellogg of Kellogg Architects, the restaurant’s interior pays homage to San Francisco’s post-war maritime heritage with rich walnut paneling, muted nautical tones, and elegant ship-inspired elements. At the heart of the space is the chef’s counter with a custom butcher’s block, where chefs craft pasta in view of diners, complemented by a stylish bar with a blue-gray tambour and white marble top. A vine-covered garden offers heated outdoor dining, and whimsical details like pine tree wallpaper in the restrooms nod to David’s childhood on 7 Adams Street. Sconces reminiscent of billowing sails and playful mushroom lamps enhances the cozy ambiance.

What we love: Indulging in the nightly five-course tasting menu.

Book your reservation HERE.

Copra

Fillmore District

Copra Copra, photo by Patricia Chang.

Copra is a celebrated San Francisco restaurant for its culinary mastery, helmed by Chef Sri Gopinathan. Here, bold and intricate flavors of southern India are brought to life with a modern twist. Chef Sri, a Michelin-starred talent, draws inspiration from the coastal regions of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, presenting dishes that highlight traditional techniques and fresh, locally-sourced ingredients from Northern California. On the menu, an array of innovative offerings are seen—from fragrant curries and hand-ground spice blends to creative takes on classic dosas and appams, paired with an expertly curated wine and cocktail selection. With its warm ambiance, attentive service, and dedication to authenticity, Copra is an unmissable destination for food lovers seeking an elevated South Indian dining experience.

What we love: Local delicacies made with fermented rice and grains like Appams (Hopper) and Toddy flatbreads.

Book your reservation HERE.

Dalida

Presidio

Dalida Dalida, photo by Isabel Baer.

Dalida is a vibrant Mediterranean-inspired restaurant located in San Francisco’s Presidio neighborhood, created by Chefs Laura and Sayat Ozyilmaz. The menu celebrates bold, flavorful dishes from the Mediterranean region, with a focus on seasonal ingredients and a mix of traditional and contemporary cooking techniques. Signature dishes include vegetables, lamb, and seafood, all crafted with an emphasis on freshness and complexity of flavor. The restaurant’s design, imagined by local firm Jenne Wicht of JAK W, features a chic yet relaxed ambiance with warm, earthy tones, and inviting seating, offering a welcoming space for both intimate dinners and larger gatherings. Dalida combines exceptional food with a stylish atmosphere, making it a destination for those seeking a unique and elevated dining experience in San Francisco.

What we love: Ordering pide, lavash, and their signature chubby pita.

Book your reservation HERE.

Gigi’s

Lower Haight/Alamo Square

Gigis Gigis, photo by Carly Hackbarth.

Gigi’s—a Vietnamese-inspired wine bar and retail shop—opened in San Francisco in November 2024. restaurant in San Francisco, helmed by Chef Tu, offers an exceptional dining experience that combines his rich culinary background with a deep connection to his Vietnamese heritage. Having honed his skills at renowned institutions like New York’s Daniel and San Francisco’s two-Michelin-starred Acquerello, Chef Tu’s menu reflects his mastery of both classic European techniques and American culinary innovation, fused with the flavors of his Vietnamese roots. At Gigi’s, diners can expect dishes that evoke “the memory of taste,” with each bite drawing on the chef’s diverse experiences. The restaurant’s modern and elegant design complements the elevated yet approachable menu, providing a chic, welcoming space for enjoying dishes like refined pho, expertly crafted fresh seafood, and bold, flavor-packed appetizers. The combination of Chef Tu’s expertise, the restaurant’s vibrant atmosphere, and a menu rooted in tradition yet shaped by innovation makes Gigi’s a standout destination in San Francisco’s culinary scene.

What we love: Enjoying items from each section, including bar bites, raw dishes, salads, mains, and desserts.

Book your reservation HERE.

Merchant Roots

SoMa (South of Market)

Merchant Roots Courtesy of Merchant Roots.

Merchant Roots, led by chef and owner Ryan Shelton, opened a new space in San Francisco’s SOMA neighborhood in August 2024. Known for its artistic, experiential-themed menus, the restaurant immerses diners in a curated environment that combines food, music, lighting, and decor. Each quarter, the theme changes, allowing for a completely new experience. Its inaugural theme, “Color Theory,” explores the meaning of different colors through a ten-course tasting menu. The restaurant—that now spans 4,500 square feet—maintains an intimate atmosphere with just twelve seats per seating, ensuring personalized service and a connection with the creative process. The design, by Jon de la Cruz, provides a blank canvas for each theme, featuring custom wallpaper, art projections, and a private courtyard for alfresco dining. The Wine Room, curated by sommelier Christine Hirtzel, offers an additional space for guests to enjoy a pre-dining course. Merchant Roots’ new location allows the restaurant to expand its creative possibilities, offering a dining adventure that goes far beyond the plate. Our favorite right now? The winter menu, themed “Humpty Dumpty,” including the egg yolk ala carbonara course called “Break His Fall.”

What we love: Experiencing the culinary garden, which features seasonal herbs and fruits, and the chef’s workshop, where Shelton creates unique materials for the restaurant.

Book your reservation HERE.

Prelude

Financial District

Prelude Prelude, photo by Adahlia Cole.

In August 2024, Prelude opened at The Jay Hotel in San Francisco as the newest concept from Omakase Restaurant Group. Offering an elevated exploration of Southern American cuisine through the fine dining lens, the restaurant is led by Chef Celtin Hendrickson-Jones, whose childhood influences from Alabama merge with his extensive culinary training in California. Here, a special menu reimagines traditional Southern dishes with technical precision and fine ingredients, including highlights like Tierra Farms Hominy Grits, A4 Wagyu Ribeye, and Gulf Red Snapper. The restaurant also features innovative Southern-inspired cocktails curated by Franco Bilbaeno and an ambitious wine program guided by Master Sommelier Morgan Harris. The design, by AvroKO, takes inspiration from the Presidio’s eucalyptus grove, with warm wood accents, custom lighting, and organic textures evoking the landscape’s natural beauty. The intimate setting includes a main dining room, private dining areas, and a bar/lounge, all of which immerse guests in a visually stunning atmosphere that mirrors the restaurant’s thoughtful approach to dining.

What we love: Savoring playful desserts like the Pretzel and Banana Cream Pie.

Book your reservation HERE.

The Wild

Rincon Hill/Embarcadero

The Wild The Wild, photo by Joseph Weaver.

The Wild is a gorgeous culinary destination that fuses contemporary design with vibrant, seasonal flavors. Owned by Chef Marc Zimmerman with Chef de Cuisine Peggy Tan helming the kitchen, the restaurant offers a menu that celebrates fresh, local ingredients with a focus on sustainable and globally inspired dishes. Drawing from their diverse backgrounds, the chefs create a balance of bold flavors and innovative techniques, featuring seasonal dishes such as wood-fired meats, creative vegetable preparations, and fresh seafood. The interior, designed by ALM Project, complements the dining experience with its inviting and modern aesthetic, characterized by a mix of natural wood finishes, lush greenery, and sleek, minimalist details. This sophisticated yet relaxed atmosphere makes The Wild an ideal spot for both intimate dinners and lively social gatherings, all while offering a rotating selection of seasonal cocktails and carefully curated wines.

What we love: Enjoying the five-course Chef’s Choice menu.

Book your reservation HERE.

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