Since San Francisco was the origin of The Dailey Method, and it’s a great city to visit, we want to share some of our personal favorites: places to eat, things to do and where to shop. I don’t live in the city anymore but two of our Dailey Method studio owners Laurie Henman (TDM Burlingame) and Jessica Long (TDM Santa Rosa) still do and gave recommendations of their favorite spots as well… and they’re pretty cool people so no doubt they’re great ones! Enjoy!
Jessica’s Favorites:
Food:
-Breakfast/Lunch – Jane
Thursday mornings I often treat myself to breakfast at Jane in Pacific Heights. I love that they serve what I like to eat, which isn’t always easy to find. The chia pudding parfait with berry mash is my go-to, but the vegan granola with almond milk and gluten-free nutty bird bread with almond butter and jam are high on my list too. And I always get the herbal coffee – it’s great for non-coffee drinkers who love the smell of coffee.
-Dinner – State Bird Provisions
This is a unique spot in the Fillmore District where you often see people lined up outside before 5pm. Rather than ordering from a menu, each server presents a different dish to your table. If you like what you see, you mark the card at your table and take some. The flavor combinations in each dish are so well-balanced, and I give them extra points for appropriate portion sizes.
Things to do:
-Urban Hike – Presidio
I love walking out my front door for a stroll through SF. There is no better way to discover hidden gems and enjoy the sights and sounds of the city. One of my favorite routes is through the Presidio, a national park and former military base. Within minutes you can be surrounded by nature without a building in sight.
-Yoga at Grace Cathedral
On Tuesday nights, free yoga is offered at Grace Cathedral in Nob Hill. Hundreds of yoginis at all levels, and with a wide variety of spiritual beliefs, show up to practice together in this unparalleled atmosphere. Sound carries so profoundly and the beauty of the architecture and stained glass windows help create an incredibly special experience.
SF attracts a wide array of talented speakers for its City Arts & Lectures program. After reading Wild together, my book club friends and I saw the author, Cheryl Strayed, interviewed on stage. This was such a fun way to add more color to the book and our conversations about it.
Laurie’s Favorites:
Food:
-Breakfast/Lunch: As Quoted, in charming Presidio Heights, is a new casual restaurant that serves organic and seasonal food, including an amazing bone broth (my favorite for foggy San Francisco days!) and an out-of-this-world tumeric latte (tumeric, almond milk, ginger, coconut oil, sea salt). The space is chic, modern, and clean. The farm-to-table menu is small but delicious; and the cool vibe and good people watching make up for it. It’s perfect place to meet a friend for an easy lunch or to bring your computer and cozy up to the communal table to get some work done.
-Dinner: There are so many incredible restaurants in San Francisco, and I love so many of them for different reasons. But if I had just one night out in the city, and had to pick a spot that has it all (great atmosphere, food, cocktail/wine list, service), it would be Locanda in the Mission District. The scene is always buzzing, the food is consistently great, and we’ve always had incredible service and a great time! Since it’s located in the Mission, a lively and uber hip part of the city, there are plenty of places to follow up a fun dinner with some after dinner drinks (Trick Dog, Beretta, and Hideout) or an ice cream from a local, cult-following favorite, Bi Rite.
Things to do:
–The Ferry Building on the Embarcadero is one of my favorite places in the city to meander on a lazy weekend day. It’s a marketplace for tons of specialty stores like Cowgirl Creamery Artisan Cheese, McEvoy Ranch Olive Oil, a store that only sells hard-to-find mushrooms, cute bakeries, home goods, Blue Bottle coffee and more. They have a huge Farmer’s Market on Tuesdays and Saturdays and our local produce really is something special! It is a popular spot, though, so you may have some crowds; but it’s worth the visit! Bonus: It’s a short walk from The Dailey Method downtown studio. A perfect afternoon would be taking class, followed by a leisurely stroll through the Ferry Building, and a late lunch at either Hog Island Oyster Co. or Out the Door (google ‘em, you’ll want to go!).
-San Francisco has a big food truck scene called Off the Grid. On Thursday nights (May-Oct), Off the Grid has an extra special event called Presidio Twilight. It takes place on a beautiful lawn overlooking the bay, in a historically-preserved urban park (The Presidio). You can rent fire pits (my favorite!), adirondack chairs and cabanas, all of which come with cocktail service. There are tons of food trucks, there’s always music playing, and it’s just a really special, unique way to wrap up the week with family and friends!
-To Do: Lands End Trail. There is so much natural beauty in San Francisco, and one very special spot, among the many, is the Lands End Trail. This rocky trail hugs the coastline, so you have sweeping, stunning views of the Pacific Ocean the entire way (including the Golden Gate Bridge and Marin Headlands). If you start in the Seacliff neighborhood, near the famous Legion of Honour Museum, and walk south along the trail, you will end up at the ruins of Sutro Baths (a once privately owned enormous saltwater swimming pool complex) and the famed Cliff House – two sites to see!
Jill’s Favorites:
Food:
–Tacolicious. This is a great taqueria in the Marina district. My kids LOVE it and so do I. I highly recommend the steak tacos and the guacamole.
–Flower and Water. This South of Market spot is not easy to get into but well worth the wait!
Shopping:
I like smaller boutique shops vs. a department store.
–Dress on Chestnut Street. They have incredible service and I always find a special piece when I’m there.
–Rag and Bone on Fillmore street. 2060 Fillmore St. This is my very favorite line of clothing. Best place for the staples with a little edge. And Fillmore street in general is a great shopping destination.
Things to do:
SFMoma – This recently got a remodel and an already amazing museum became even better. A must see!
–Crissy Field. I love this spot. I go there with the kids and the dog most times we visit the city together. Amazing views of the Bay and the Golden Gate bridge and a fun walk on the beach.