San Francisco
San Francisco Chinatown
Long-delayed Empress of China reboot Empress by Boon to open June 18
More than six years after we lost the kitschy favorite Empress of China, the opening of its potential Michelin star contender Empress by Boon now looks to be just a month away. Read More
San Francisco NoPa
11-year-old Bistro Central Parc in NoPa to be revived under new owner
Bistro Central Parc, the popular French bistro at 560 Central Avenue in the NoPa neighborhood that closed in December 2019, will be reopening under new ownership but under the same name in June. Read More
San Francisco Hayes Valley Mid-Market
Market Street’s upscale Zuni Cafe is eliminating tips altogether
When the James Beard Award-winning Zuni Cafe reopens for indoor dining, they’ll be closing the gap between front-of the-house and back-of-the-house wages by eliminating tips and adding a 20% service fee. Read More
San Francisco Castro Mission
Mission Bay coffee truck Spro Coffee expanding to the Castro this summer
Castro residents will soon have another cafe option in the neighborhood. Mission Bay-based mobile cafe Spro Coffee Lab will be opening its second location at 500 Church St., formerly Mauerpark. Read More
San Francisco
San Francisco enters 'Yellow' tier; indoor bars can reopen without food on May 6
While many bars across the city have spent money on heat lamps and outdoor patio platforms, and partnered with nearby food businesses in order to abide by public health orders that drinking can only be done with a "bona fide meal" in front of you, the last of those rules for bars goes away starting on Thursday, May 6. Read More
San Francisco Castro Pacific Heights
Chef Melissa Perello on the reopening of Octavia and Frances: 'It's like opening two brand new restaurants'
It's been a long 14 months of total closure for a pair of acclaimed neighborhood restaurants, Octavia and Frances, both of which were opened by chef Melissa Perello in the last decade. And she says that the team is taking the task of reopening them one step at a time, with Octavia happening first. Read More
San Francisco Castro
Pastrami shop 'Hot Johnnie's' opening in the Castro this summer
Later this summer, Hot Johnnie's pastrami sandwich shop will be opening in the Castro at 4077 18th St., formerly Nizario's Pizza. Read More
San Francisco Tenderloin
Tenderloin Museum event this week remembers The Blue Lamp and other Tenderloin dives
Former Blue Lamp bartender and author Rachel Kushner will headline a virtual event this week to remember the storied Tenderloin dive known for its live music. Read More
San Francisco Castro Duboce Triangle
AIDS Memorial Quilt panels to be displayed Sunday in Castro
Castro residents and visitors out for a Sunday stroll will have the opportunity to view panels of the AIDS Memorial Quilt at two locations around the neighborhood this weekend. Read More
San Francisco Mission
Alamo Drafthouse New Mission Cinema will reopen in July
The beautifully restored and boozy movie theater will bring back the light, camera, and action in July, though no specific dates or films have been announced. Read More
San Francisco Hayes Valley
Hayes Valley's 20th Century Cafe to close in June
Get your ten-layer Russian honey cake while you can. After eight years on Gough Street, pastry chef Michelle Polzine's ode to the cafe culture of Vienna and Prague, 20th Century Cafe, is calling it quits. Read More
San Francisco Castro Duboce Triangle Twin Peaks
For second year in a row, Pink Triangle to be 'Illuminated' throughout Pride Month
While San Francisco's Pride parade will again not take place this year, the traditional Pink Triangle atop Twin Peaks will again be lit up like a giant gay beacon, this time throughout Pride Month. Read More
San Francisco Castro Duboce Triangle Mission
Castro CBD holds contentious town hall on security camera proposal
After months of delays, the Castro/Upper Market Community Benefit (Castro CBD) held a virtual town hall Tuesday about its proposal to install a private network of 125 security cameras, and it was highly contentious. Read More
San Francisco Bayview
Bayview is getting ‘Hollywood’-style letter signs installed
These ten-foot concrete towers of Bayview pride are going up along Bayshore Boulevard, and the finished product will be a lot more decorative. Read More
San Francisco Civic Center Mid-Market Tenderloin
The Tenderloin gets a new park after successful Play Streets initiative
The 200 block of Turk Street will be home to the Tenderloin’s newest park after a community-led initiative identified the space as a key location to provide additional outdoor play and exercise areas for residents. Read More
San Francisco North Beach
Specs announces mid-May reopening in North Beach
Historic, beloved North Beach dive bar Specs turns 53 years old this week, and after nearly 14 months of being dark, the bar and museum of curios is planning to light up again next month and start slinging its cheap drinks outdoors. Read More
San Francisco Lower Haight Western Addition
SF Pride names African American Art & Culture Complex directors as 2021 Grand Marshals
Queer Black twin sisters Melonie Green and Melorra Green named community Grand Marshals for SF Pride 51, with more Grand Marshals to be named next week. Read More
San Francisco Upper Haight
New Jeremy Fish-Derby jacket collaboration celebrates Muni cable cars
The new old-school, must-have garment is a limited edition Derby jacket with Muni-inspired illustrations by celebrated artist Jeremy Fish. Read More
San Francisco Castro
After 13 years, Castro neighborhood bar Last Call sold to new owners
After 13 years in the Castro, neighborhood watering hole Last Call Bar (3988 18th St.) has been sold to new owners. Read More
San Francisco Cow Hollow Marina
New French spot Côte Ouest Bistro opens in former Baker Street Bistro space
Côte Ouest Bistro recently opened its doors at 2953 Baker St. in the space formerly occupied by the beloved Baker Street Bistro, which officially shuttered in August 2020 after nearly three decades of business. Read More
San Francisco Castro
Custom fine jewelry workshop Nick Engel & Co. opens in Castro
A new custom fine jewelry workshop Nick Engel & Co., which has been downtown for about 12 years, has opened in the Castro at 4011 18th St., formerly Mini-Chic and Turkish Modern. Read More
San Francisco Civic Center
SF Public Library Main Branch to Reopen May 3
The SFPL reopening will only involve the first floor and a “browse and bounce” program, but the access to computers will also be part of the limited library operations. Read More
San Francisco Embarcadero
Anthony Strong's SuperStella Van, Red Bay Coffee and more new businesses arrive at the Ferry Building
A spate of high-profile closures at San Francisco's once-thriving Ferry Building is being followed by some more positive news, as four new businesses announce openings at the iconic shopping and dining complex. Read More
San Francisco Castro Duboce Triangle
Community provides feedback & criticism at Harvey Milk Plaza redesign town hall
Last week, the Friends of Harvey Milk Plaza (FHMP) held two virtual town halls seeking community feedback about its plans to redesign Harvey Milk Plaza, and the new design team offered multiple new conceptual approaches. Read More
San Francisco
H Mart opens ‘one-stop-shop for everything Asian’ at Ocean View Shopping Center this week
Beloved Korean grocery store H Mart has set an opening date for its first San Francisco location on April 21 — taking over a 42,000-square-foot space at 3995 Alemany Boulevard. Read More
