Restaurants in San Francisco are consistently ranked among the best in the world. The San Francisco Bay Area is packed to the brim with a dynamic and metropolitan lifestyle, and it also features some of the world’s most unforgettable culinary experiences. It would be remiss of us not to include San Francisco on this list if we were to discuss cuisine in any way. However, picking the best possible establishment can be challenging due to the extensive number of dining options. Because there is such a diverse range of dining options in the city, it can be challenging to find a restaurant on the water if you are interested.
1. Mission Rock Resort
This beachfront restaurant has two stories and is suspended over the Bay, offering diners a spectacular view of the ocean and the ships and boats below. The brunch menu has oysters and eggs, and the restaurant specializes in serving seafood for lunch and dinner. On warm days, the restaurant’s outdoor dining area is the ideal place to enjoy brunch.
2. EPIC Steak, San Francisco
Epic’s patio is now more enticing than ever, thanks to the addition of an outside bar. For example, a recent special of giant asparagus with a poached egg, Banyuls vinegar, and Cotija cheese demonstrated the restaurant’s skill with steak and its agility with delicate pasta and delicious, fresh, fresh veggies. A bacon cheddar wagyu burger with fries, Budweiser, and brownies may be the best value at the BBB burger joint.
3. Beach Chalet Brewery & Restaurant
There is a parking area between Beach Chalet and Ocean Beach, although the horizon is always in sight. This second-floor restaurant serves lunch, supper, and brunch and has a full bar and a great view of kite-boarders, beach-goers, and the rough Pacific Ocean waves are open for business seven days a week.
4. Greens, San Francisco
This restaurant initially opened as a component of the San Francisco Zen Center and has been positioned at Fort Mason for the past 35 years. It has been offering breathtaking views of the harbor and bay, all the way out to the Golden Gate Bridge. The menu is vegetarian and draws inspiration from a wide range of cuisines from around the world.
5. La Mar Cebicheria Peruana
Cebicheria Peruana del Mar is a beachfront restaurant serving some of Peruvian cuisine’s best-kept secrets. Peruvian cuisine is significantly impacted by the country’s diverse ethnic groups and changing temperature and geological features. As a result, you never miss an opportunity to sample this style of cuisine, given that they serve the best.
6. Scoma’s Restaurant
Scoma’s is a seafood establishment serving fresh fish right off the boat since 1965. Warm woods and rich leather fill the restaurant’s numerous bars and dining rooms, draped low like ship cabins. Look out the window and see boats gliding by while the bay lap’s just outside.
7. Guaymas, Tiburon
Even though the Sea of Cortez heavily influences Guaymas’ menu, you’ll be able to take in the beautiful San Francisco Bay views as you dine indoors or out on their expansive patio. It’s located near Tiburon, a short boat trip from San Francisco, and offers spectacular views of Angel Island, Alcatraz, and the cityscape. Drink margaritas and eat fresh tortillas, tamales, and ceviche in-house at this authentic Mexican restaurant.
8. Radhaus
The Radhaus, a beer hall located inside Fort Mason, features, on one side, a wall lined with big windows that provide a breathtaking view of the Golden Gate Bridge. In addition to serving wursts, salads, and cheeses, the restaurant in the Bavarian-style setting offers nine different German beers on tap.
9. Waterfront Restaurant
Customers at Waterfront have been enticed by a wide variety of fresh fish options. The Embarcadero has re-emerged as a tourist destination, and the posh eatery is reaping the benefits. When dining in or out, you’ll be awestruck by the stunning views of the Bay and especially the Bay Bridge. With delicacies like wood-oven-roasted Dungeness crab, Bouillabaisse, Linguini with Clams, and Grilled Fish on the menu, it’s hard to resist. The bottle or glass can purchase wines on a well-stocked wine list.
10. Top Of The Mark
The Top of the Mark is a restaurant perched high atop the Intercontinental hotel that serves tiny plates, expensive Sunday brunch, and panoramic views over the city, harbors, and bridges. The fog can sometimes obscure the picture, but even that is beautiful in its own right.
11. Slanted Door
Slanted Door’s style and spectacle are grounded by its authentic country Vietnamese cuisine, which is given a California kick by local ingredients. There’s a lot of flavor in the dishes, like crispy duck breast with peppercorns, braised beef, sriracha squid, and pork chops roasted over mesquite wood. Also highly recommended are the spring rolls, beverages, and sweets.
12. Murray Circle, Sausalito
The dining room has restored tin ceilings, magnificent photos, and cozy fires on the historic wrap-around veranda, which overlooks the Golden Gate Bridge and the harbor. Indulge in their prix-fixe four-course lunch menu throughout the week or “lazy weekend brunch” until 2:30 p.m. on weekends. Those with special dietary needs will be well taken care of at this establishment.
13. Lake Chalet
One of Oakland’s top waterfront restaurants, Lake Chalet Seafood Bar & Grill, delivers delicious seafood and beverages while overlooking Lake Merritt. That’s a lovely outside dining area with decent meals. Take advantage of Taco Tuesday, served only from 3 to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays and includes fish and chicken as well as Asada, vegetarian, and margarita tacos..
14. Mister Jiu’s
Even though Chinatown is typically congested, the infrequent access to the rooftops provides a stunning view of the city. There is a wonderful view of the Transamerica Pyramid and the special beauty of the neighborhood from Mister Jiu’s restaurant on Commercial Street. It’s not a full panorama of the Bay, but it’s still a lovely and distinctively San Francisco image.
15. Mersea Restaurant, Bar, And Venue
Even though Treasure Island is technically a part of San Francisco, the city’s best views may be had there, from midway across the Bay Bridge from the island. Mersea is a cafe housed in an old shipping container that serves cozy burgers, fish & chips, chowder, and cioppino, among other dishes.
16. Hog Island Oyster Co.
The Ferry Building has many excellent eating options, but if you’re looking for a spectacular view, grabs a seat at either the Hog Island Oyster Co. patio or the raw bar. Take in the Bay Bridge and those magnificent blue waters from either perch while you savor some fresh-caught oysters and a bubbly drink. From either perch.
17. Red Java House
Meanwhile at Red’s Java House you can score big on Bay Bridge views without having to break the bank. This old-school, no-frills burger spot (though there are other food options including fish and chips and sandwiches) sits right on the water, practically underneath the bridge, so you can gape up at the blue sky, down glittering water, and out the city itself while enjoying a cold Budweiser and a basket of excellent onion rings.
18. Kaiyo Rooftop
Just blocks from Oracle Park, Kaiyo is one of San Francisco’s newest rooftop treasures. The Peruvian-Japanese bar and restaurant are located southeast of the freeway, so you’ll be able to see the downtown skyscrapers from one side of the establishment and the Bay Bridge and Berkeley Hills from the other.
19. Empress By Boon
As a Chinese dinner hall that commanded Chinatown for over half a century, the Empress of China’s sixth-story vantage point provided a majestic vista. New Empress by Boon has opened on the historic site and serves modern Cantonese cuisine, as well as views of Chinatown and North Beach and Portsmouth Square, and the Financial District on either side of the building.
20. Atwater Tavern
This view may not be of water, but if you cannot get into the real ballpark on game night and are looking for a place to watch the game, Atwater Tavern may be your next best option. The Spanish seafood tavern watches the game while offering patrons a view of AT&T Park in its entirety.
