Nob Hill’s Top Food & Drink Spots: A Local’s Guide

So, if you find yourself wandering around Nob Hill, that pretty slice of San Francisco perched up high, you are just going to want to know where the really cool spots are to grab a bite or sip on something special, right? Well, as a local, I’ve got some faves, some hidden treasures if you like, that I’m very ready to spill. That is to say, this guide is your ticket to checking out some unforgettable food and drink experiences in this very charming neighborhood.

1. Swan Oyster Depot: A Shucking Good Time

First off, there is Swan Oyster Depot. Really, you have simply got to brace yourself for a bit of a wait, yet I promise you, it is actually completely worth it. Now, this super famous seafood spot has been shucking oysters and serving up some other fresh catches since way back in 1912, that is a crazy long time. That is to say, it’s practically a San Francisco institution.

The deal here is very simple, in a totally charming kind of way: you belly up to the counter, which, by the way, is pretty much all the seating they have got, and you proceed to point at all of the scrumptious things that strike your very eager eye. The oyster selection just is always incredibly fresh, and their creamy clam chowder, it truly is the stuff of legends. Don’t miss the Sicilian sashimi, that is fresh tuna swimming in olive oil, so, you know, simple bliss.

I remember taking my cousin here when she came to visit from the East Coast. Now, she thinks that New York is the center of the culinary universe, that old chestnut, but after slurping down a half-dozen Hog Island oysters, she was singing a very different tune. Now, she keeps asking when she can fly back out for another fix. Very persuasive shellfish, that is.

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2. The Big 4 Restaurant: Old-School Elegance

Okay, next up is The Big 4 Restaurant inside the Huntington Hotel. And so, this is the kind of place that really makes you feel like you’ve just stepped back in time. Now, imagine dark wood paneling, that’s a must, plush velvet seating, it’s delightful, and live piano music tinkling in the background, honestly it is just utterly perfect. This here joint oozes a certain kind of old-school elegance, which, frankly, is pretty darn rare these days.

Now, the menu kind of focuses on very classic American dishes, yet they’re always done to near perfection. You might want to try the roasted bone marrow, you are going to be drooling, or perhaps you may fancy the Maine lobster pot pie, both sound great to me. The cocktails, of course, are top-notch, and I very seriously recommend settling in for a very expertly made martini, or very three.

Once I took my grandparents here for their anniversary, because, well, they were just craving a fancy night out. They just loved the atmosphere, and my grandpa even told me a few stories about the good ol’ days in San Francisco, which I’d never heard before. That is to say, that place has a way of unlocking memories, somehow. And yes, they said that dinner at Big 4 was an absolutely magnificent idea and something that would create more long lasting and special memories.

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3. Rue Lepic: French Bistro Charm

So, feeling a bit of a French vibe? Well, Rue Lepic is almost like stepping into a very cozy bistro somewhere in Paris. Now, this spot is totally beloved by locals, maybe for its very intimate atmosphere and some seriously authentic French cuisine, perhaps, it’s probably a mix of both, very appealing to all the senses!

The menu actually features a great array of French comfort food. How does Steak frites, escargots, and a very luscious Crème brûlée grab you? All cooked just as you would expect from an expert Parisian bistro. Plus, the wine list features just what you want with some killer French wines, naturally. If you just want to enjoy that warm glow as the light from a candle flickers over your glass of rouge, then Rue Lepic it has to be.

One rainy evening, I wandered in here feeling completely soaked and a bit grumpy, too it’s true. But the warm welcome, honestly, along with a glass of Beaujolais and the onion soup, really, it just worked some kind of magic. That is to say, I left feeling completely revived. Rue Lepic is, it might just be, my go-to when I crave that little escape.

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4. Tonga Room & Hurricane Bar: A Tropical Getaway

Now, ready for something completely different? Honestly, get yourself down to the Tonga Room & Hurricane Bar, that is located in the Fairmont Hotel. Believe it or not, this place really is something else. So, you know, picture this: a giant indoor lagoon, it is there, complete with a floating stage where a band actually plays music on a barge. And yes, it does rain occasionally.

The cocktail menu offers all sorts of crazy, tropical concoctions served in over-the-top glassware. Expect to share. The food is kind of Asian-fusion-inspired, just perfect for snacking as you enjoy the, well, show. It’s kitschy, it is a bit ridiculous, it’s fun too. The Tonga Room simply does not take itself very seriously at all, that much is for sure.

That spot’s just legendary. For my 25th birthday, a group of my friends decided to throw me a party here, and oh my gosh it just wasn’t your run-of-the-mill evening, it wasn’t subtle, yet, frankly, I found myself laughing so very much my face actually ached. The band, somehow they knew it was my birthday, then dedicated a song to me, it was the best rendition of “Happy Birthday” I’ve probably ever heard played on steel drums! If you are looking for something totally memorable, well, look no further than this place.

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5. Seven Stills Nob Hill: Whiskey With a View

If you’re, well, more in the mood for something a bit stronger, that, then check out Seven Stills Nob Hill. Very cleverly positioned with views across the city, this bar it offers up a great selection of whiskeys and some pretty clever cocktails.

What sets Seven Stills completely apart is basically the fact that they also actually brew their own beer and distill their own whiskey, all in-house, very trendy. They really do get adventurous with their combinations, using beer ingredients in the whiskey-making procedure and the whiskey ingredients to concoct, create or brew amazing beers, something that really sets them very much apart from what else is available.

I happened upon it just quite by accident actually while I was exploring Nob Hill. And what made me go back was the relaxed atmosphere with that awesome view. The bar staff here are so incredibly friendly and honestly quite knowledgable too; they really just know everything you would care to know about whiskey or distilling, and they’re very happy, it seems, to offer you tasting notes. Now, if you happen to like whiskey, that here just is a spot where you can sip and watch the sun drop behind the Golden Gate Bridge. Really quite stunning and very well worth a peek.

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