We don’t know if the weather will cooperate — but the heart wants what it wants, and we want patio dining with a view.
Below, our top five picks for rooftop bars and restaurants. Plus: exactly what to order and where to head when the evening chill descends.
Spot: El Techo
Vibe: Vibe-y — this place buzzes in the after-work hours
Order: As many small plates as possible: guac, mango, tacos de pescado and margarita pitchers
After: A movie at the Alamo Drafthouse next door
Details: 2516 Mission Street, eltechosf.com
Spot: Jones
Vibe: The nicest possible view of the Tenderloin
Order: Truffle fries and a couple Hoegaardens
After: What’s on at the Black Cat?
Details: 620 Jones Street, 620-jones.com
Spot: Dirty Habit
Vibe: Not cheap, but a classy date-night place five stories over SoMa
Order: Chicken wings pair with negronis, right?
After: Make it a sleepover and check into the Four Seasons down the street
Details: 12 Fourth Street, dirtyhabitsf.com
Spot: B Restaurant & Bar
Vibe: Network-y drinks above the Moscone Center
Order: Sangria and dollar oysters till 6:30
After: Stop by a late-night opening at SFMOMA
Details: 720 Howard Street, bsanfrancisco.com
Spot: The café at the San Francisco Art Institute
Vibe: Avoid it during lunch (and, uh, between classes), and you’ll find a quiet, hidden oasis near the top of Russian Hill, with spectacular views of downtown, Marin, Alcatraz and the Bay
Order: Cookies (the menu isn’t the most expansive)
After: Catch the Diego Rivera mural near the school’s main entrance on Chestnut Street
Details: 300 Chestnut Street, sfai.edu
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