Known for its vibrant Latino culture, colorful murals, and hip, artistic spirit, the Mission is now experiencing a second coming with a new crop of restaurants, boutiques, and more.
Set in an 1872 mansion, the 21-room Inn San Francisco (doubles from $175) brims with authentic Victorian details—ornate woodwork; marble fireplaces; featherbeds—minus the chintz (not a weathered doily in sight). Don’t miss the rooftop deck with 360-degree views of the city.
The izakaya Nombe (dinner for two $50)—its name translates, roughly, to “drunkard”—serves haute Japanese pub food (grilled shishito peppers with bottarga; grilled skewers of chicken thigh with ume and shiso) accompanied by a great sake list. Added bonus: the kitchen is open until 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, an anomaly in the city. Chef-owner Matt Straus turns out simple, yet delicious, seasonal dishes at the intimate Heirloom Café (dinner for two $80). But for a real treat, ask for the off-menu burger with Époisses cheese.
Siblings Danielle and Luke Teller helm the well-edited Afterlife Boutique, which carries reconstructed antique jewelry by the shop’s Adoura Demode line and collectible rock-concert T-shirts priced from $45 to $1,000.
The light-filled Gravel & Gold is a treasure hunter’s dream, filled with everything from Japanese paper goods to wool blankets made on Prince Edward Island.
A showcase for local, cutting-edge artists, Southern Exposure relocated last fall to a soaring 4,000-square-foot gallery.
