When it comes to visiting familiar cities I think we can all agree that we tend to stick to our favorite spots. As mentioned, I always stay with my sister when I head into SF and rarely do I step outside of my usual haunts: Fillmore Street, Blue Bottle coffee, Tartine for pastries, and vintage shopping in the Mission. So when brainstorming the perfect, non-touristy tour of SF with Cointreau a few months back, I was excited to mix things up and, together with the help of their awesome team, we came up with quite the foodie-meets-cultural-meets-shopping itinerary. A couple of days before our Pop Up took place we flew in a group of out-of-town editors and bloggers to tour the city with us and here’s a glimpse at where we took them. We dined at some of the most delicious hot spots, were given a special peek into Heath Ceramics, took in the Keith Haring exhibit at the De Young, spent an afternoon shopping in Hayes Valley, and of course indulged in multiple Cointreau Rickeys along the way.
Blue Bottle Coffee (although now a chain and can be found in New York, this kiosk alley way location in Hayes Valley will always be a favorite mid-shopping caffeine stop of mine). Been there, done that? Okay head to Four Barrel or The Mill (but promise me you’ll order the toast!).
Heath Ceramics. Located in the heart of the Mission this retail showroom is the perfect spot to pick up gifts (you will want one of everything for yourself). Tip: you can also find great deals at the original factory, located in Sausalito–where the dinnerware and tableware is made.
Shopping in Hayes Valley. A few musts: Reliquary, Rand and Statler, Welcome Stranger (for the guys), M A C, and Dish
Side Note: On this last visit I picked up what might be my most favorite scarf of all time at Reliquary (worn most recently here). It was made from vintage linen and I already regret not buying it in another color. It’s been my most complimented item lately… must head back that way soon.
Rand and Statler has a great vibe and carries many of my favorite brands–a similar mix, in fact, to what I’ve tried to bring to SYLLABUS.
Additional shopping faves for the guys: Unionmade + MAAS & Stacks… and a few that we unfortunately didn’t make it to but are worth noting because they’re my personal faves in the city: The Perish Trust, Cris (for consignment), Elizabeth & Charles, and CURVE
Ah the food! We were treated to quite the foodie experience and dined at: Salt House (on the left) and Bouli Bar in the Ferry Building for lunch. Dinner at both Novela and Bar Tartine didn’t disappoint, and of course with Zuni Cafe located just across the street from our Pop Up this was another fave from the weekend (see their scrumptious shoe string fries on the right).
And lastly a must for all chocolate lovers: Dandelion Chocolate
Photography by Arna Bee + Alicia Lund
