The Mission, San Francisco

BEST PLACES : THE MISSION, SAN FRANCISCO

I love San Francisco. I enjoy late mornings in North Beach, aimlessly crisscrossing the steep, leafy green lanes of Telegraph Hill. I hit the Ferry Building at least once a week and I have a soft spot for the highest point in Lafayette Park (Pacific Heights); the boys climb trees while I gaze across the city, across the bay. But the place I spend most of my time: The Mission. My friends live here. My son goes to school here. I often work here. And this is where we go out; our best nights have been spent stomping the sidewalks of The Mission, crossing avenues and ducking into holes in the wall. It’s tempting to say we’ve tried most things, and yet there’s no way. There are over 150 restaurants and myriad live music venues. But I do have favorites. And here they are:

BEST PLACES , THE MISSION

1. Two scoops of ice cream at Bi-Rite Creamery

2. Soak up the sunshine and culture of San Francisco’s iconic Dolores Park

3. Pizzeria Delfina for lunch with the children, steps from the Park

4. Freshly baked bread and pastries (or go all the way with a croque monsieur) at Tartine Bakery

5. Seriously good sandwiches and salads at Salumeria

6. All things 24th Street, especially Wise Sons Jewish Delicatessen, Knead Patisserie and Papalote Mexican Grill

7. Time out at Blue Bottle Coffee at Health Ceramics

8. Murals everywhere; visit Balmy Alley and nearby Precita Eyes for background, tours and classes

9. Light lunch date with my sons at Local’s Corner

10. Macbooks and coffee buzz at Ritual on Valencia; macchiato, cappuccino, hot chocolate!

11. California cuisine under a giant film screen at Foreign Cinema

12. Lively Beretta for cocktails

13. Full bar, gourmet comfort food, hipster lounge and lanes at Mission Bowling Club

14. Beer lovers like me can choose old school or new school: Shotwells or Southern Pacific Brewery

15. Eclectic, fresh, inventive, warm … Bar Tartine

16. Live music at Make Out Room, Elbo Room, Amnesia or The Lost Church. I love The Lost Church.