Things To Do
Blue Bottle Coffee
We went here on our very first date. Blue Bottle has grown into a super mega brand and is actually owned by Nestle now, so if you're super snobby about it, there's better coffee to be had in the bay (see our recommendations). But this place will always be special to us, and the coffee is still pretty damn good. Bonus brunch on the weekends.
Four Barrel Coffee
If Blue Bottle is too much of a scene for you, the coffee at Four Barrel is actually better, and it's right across the street from Dandelion Chocolate!
Dandelion Chocolate
This is straight up the best chocolate in the world. Not kidding. Jace actually shipped a bar to Germany for a secret santa gift one year.
The Cheeseboard Pizza
One of the sweetest things Laura ever did for Jace was "kidnap" him when he was having a bad day and finally take him to The Cheeseboard, which is a pizza co-op in Berkeley. They only make one pizza a day, they're all vegetarian, and they're amazing no matter what. Don't ask questions. Just eat pizza.
Trick Dog
One of the best cocktail bars in the entire world and managed by a very good friend of ours. The menu changes quarterly and they also have great food!
Arizmendi Bakery
Owned by the same co-op as The Cheeseboard Pizza, this place does amazing baked goods of every variety and pizza on the weekends.
Smuggler's Cove
Smuggler's Cove is like if someone turned Pirates of the Caribbean (the ride, not the movie) into a bar. Frequently on top of the world lists, the drinks are each hand-crafted and are absolutely unbelievable. It's a nondescript, unmarked black door.
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
Because we both worked downtown in San Francisco when we first met, we frequently had little mini dates at the MoMA. Laura loves photography and Jace hates representational art, so it really worked out. They used to have a Blue Bottle here, too! The MoMA went through a years-long renovation and recently re-opened. The space is absolutely beautiful and the collection is stunning, so if you're coming in from out of town, it's a must.
San Francisco City Hall
One of our fondest memories was going to a Janele Monae concert at the nearby Davies Symphony Hall and then attending a black tie party at City Hall. By the end of it we both basically gave up, and Laura uttered "parties are hard" while waiting for the bathroom, which is now in our lexicon to express how hard simple, mundane things are.
Shandong Restaurant
The best steamed dumplings and the best hand cut sesame paste noodles ever. There will be a line. It's tiny. It's worth it. We used to get this delivered all the time when we lived on Alice St, just a few blocks away (don't judge us).
The Trappist
One of the most amazing beer bars in the Bay with a solid, rotating selection of international and domestic craft beers. This is one of. the spots we post up at when we come home and say, "if you want to hang out, we'll be drinking at the Trappist."
Deli Board
Pretty much the best sandwiches in the universe. Get anything with a smoked meat and anything with American cheese.
Muracci's
Jace's favorite food is Japanese curry, and the love affair started with Muracci's. You can blame them for our honeymoon in Japan. Get the pork katsu curry with cheese. If you're a student they'll give you double rice for free!
Fox Theater
When we lived in Oakland we were about three blocks from the Fox, and we didn't take nearly as much advantage of it as we should have. It's a beautiful deco theater and one of the best venues in the Bay, so if you're in town, check the website and see who's playing while you're here!
Duende
Duende is a great Spanish tapas and dinner place in our old neighborhood, and some of the best paella you can get in the bay. They also make great cocktails.
Barefoot Movement
Barefoot Movement was Laura's yoga studio in our old neighborhood. They offer unlimited yoga for a really fair monthly price, and they're super friendly!
Homeroom
Homeroom is a restaurant that does one thing: mac and cheese. Well, technically it does like 10 different macs and cheeses, but that's belaboring the point. They've turned into a bay area fixture and the mac is out of this world. Expect a crowd and a wait.
Oaktown Spice Shop
Oaktown Spice Shop is an exquisitely stocked spice and cooking store in the Lakeshore area. When Laura first got called up to the Foreign Service, Jace went and put together a care package with essential spices so Laura could cook on her own before he went and joined her in DC a few months later. Never buy spices from the grocery store again!