My life has pretty much been on-the-go ever since the year started – Los Angeles, Mammoth Lakes, Taiwan, NYC, San Francisco, Miami, and Rivieria Nayarit coming up. I’ve been to San Francisco many times before but this is the first time I’ve stayed an entire week in a neighborhood and on this trip I stayed in the darling Hayes Valley neighborhood.
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Hayes Valley neighborhood is a cool, revitalized neighborhood in the Western Addition district of San Francisco. Filled with designer boutiques, home decor shops, trendy restaurants, and dessert shops, this close-knit neighborhood is very walkable and safe compared to other neighborhoods in San Francisco.
Here are the Hayes Valley restaurants for coffee, breakfast, lunch, dinner, brunch, and dessert in this trendy neighborhood in San Francisco.
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WHERE TO GET BREAKFAST IN HAYES VALLEY
BLUE BOTTLE COFFEE
Start your morning with a fresh cup of coffee from Blue Bottle Coffee. The coffee kiosk is hidden in a garage in the alley of Hayes Valley.
315 Linden St, San Francisco, CA 94102, bluebottlecoffee.com
THE MILL
Toast lovers – you’ll fall in love with The Mill. This bright and airy cafe serves more than your typical avocado toast. Everything from turmeric hummus to beet toast, butter and almond butter on whole-wheat raisin, and cream cheese with apricot chili jam on dark mountain rye.
The Mill bakes over 450 loaves of bread a day from scratch with their whole-grain flour 7 days a week and fresh pastries daily. Pizza and salad is served every night in the restaurant.
736 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA 94117, themillsf.com
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HAYES VALLEY RESTAURANTS FOR LUNCH/DINNER
LITTLE GEM
Looking for a light and healthy meal? Little Gem is a farm-driven restaurant with a menu that is free of gluten, dairy, and refined sugar. Don’t let that turn you away, the food is delicious!
400 Grove St, littlegem.restaurant
SOUVLA
I love this fast-casual concept and wish we had it in Austin! My go-to at Souvla is the lamb salad bowl with Harissa-spiked yogurt, Greek fries, frozen greek yogurt, and a glass of rosé. If you want a vegetarian option, try the veggie sweet potato wrapped in Pita bread.
It’s hard to miss the rotating oven filled with roasted chickens when you walk by Souvla.
517 Hayes St, souvlasf.com
ALTA CA
When the boyfriend told me he was taking me to his favorite dinner spot that he frequents weekly, I was skeptical. Alta CA ended up impressing me and I loved the grilled pork chop and chicken confit with farro! #kokoapproved
1420 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94102, altaca.co
Cala
If you’re searching for a Mexican restaurant, try Cala on the border of Mid-Market and Hayes Valley. Chef Gabriela Camara is from Mexico City so she serves a sustainable, coastal Mexican menu with mezcal cocktails.
149 Fell St, calarestaurant.com/menus/
HAYES VALLEY RESTAURANTS FOR BRUNCH
NOPA
Nopa is located outside of Hayes Valley but it’s in walking distance so I’m adding it to this city guide. The weekend brunch was highly recommended by the locals and we loved it. The custard French toast was one of the best I’ve ever had.
560 Divisadero St, nopasf.com
HAYES VALLEY RESTAURANTS FOR DESSERT
SMITTEN ICE CREAM
Ice cream is my weakness so I always stop by Smitten Ice Cream when I’m in Hayes Valley. The ice cream is freshly churned with liquid nitrogen right before your eyes. The hand-rolled waffle cone is a must!
432 Octavia St #1A, smittenicecream.com
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20TH CENTURY CAFE
Step into 20th Century Cafe and you’ll feel transported to classic Europe with a modern California vibe. I love having afternoon tea at 20th Century Cafe – there’s a reason why the Russian honey cake is Insta-famous!
198 Gough St, 20thcenturycafe.com
MIETTE
Macarons, cakes, cupcakes, cookies, marshmallows, Turkish delight, malt balls, and caramels – everything you sweet tooth desires is made in house at Miette.
449 Octavia Street, miette.com
Petit Crenn
This sophisticated French bistro by Dominique Crenn offers a chef’s tasting menu, wine pairings, and a la carte options.
609 Hayes Street, San Francisco, CA 94102, petitcrenn.com
BOBA GUYS
There’s bubble tea and then there’s Boba Guys that uses heirloom tea leaves and organic milk. I was taking Ubers to go to Union Square just to get Boba Guys so thank goodness they opened a location Hayes Valley.
8 Octavia St #308, bobaguys.com
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WHERE TO HANG OUT IN HAYES VALLEY
KITTEA CAFE
Tea time with kitties? Yes, please! KitTea Cafe is San Francisco’s first Japanese-style “cat cafe” located in Hayes Valley. You do have to make a reservation to enter the cat room. Reservations come with bottomless cups of loose-leaf Japanese green tea with helps support rescue cats!
96 Gough St, kitteasf.com
PATRICIA’S GREEN
Smitten Ice Cream, Miette, and Souvla are all located next to Patricia’s Green, an urban park in Hayes Valley. With the incredible weather in San Francisco, you have to spend it outdoors on the grass at Patricia’s Green.
Fell St & Octavia Blvd
Fig & Thistle
If you want just a glass of wine, stop into this intimate wine bar.
313 Ivy St, figandthistlesf.com