The only thing that could make these next few months better is this guide. It’s got hacks for making the most of winter 2024.
LessThe Solo Spot Because You Socialized Too Much During The Holidays: You did enough white elephant parties, cookie exchanges, and ugly sweater crawls to send an ENFJ into hibernation. Have a night to yourself at the cozy French bistro Chez Maman in Hayes Valley. The lighting is low, ideal for avoiding eye contact with anyone while you eat cheesy french onion soup.
The New Year, New You Hike... Part One: The Crosstown Trail is a 17-mile urban trek from Candlestick Point to Lands End, and completing it in a day is a bucket list-worthy feat. 35 minutes into the hike, stop at Mission Blue in Visitacion Valley for fuel via lattes and persimmon toast. This cafe is also a Crosstown Trail booster selling merch like hats, stickers, and T-shirts.
The New Year, New You Hike... Stop Two: After passing through Glen Canyon and the Laguna Honda Trails, break at Dumpling Zone in Forest Hill for lunch. Pan-fried pork bao and the crab and pork xiao long bao will reinvigorate you to keep going.
The New Year, New You Hike... Part Three: You made it to Lands End. It’s time to sit—and maybe never walk again—at pét-nat and pizza paradise, The Laundromat. Enjoy a big Sicilian-style pizza dinner, order anything with their chunky, sweet tomato sauce, and relish in your accomplishment.
The Après Ski Spot (Minus The Skiing): Who needs Tahoe or the Alps when Bar Gemini in the Mission has redwood booths, warm lighting, and enough exposed wood to channel a luxury sauna? Plus, there’s natural wine, creamy deviled eggs, and decadent grilled cheese from the team at Ernest.
The Rainy Day Takeout: Aaha Indian Cuisine is fast, cheap, delicious, and you’ll have leftovers in case it rains for days. Their South Indian dishes, like tandoori pomfret and tangy uthappams, will radically improve your mood, and the arm-length dosas are warm bliss.
The Spicy Dish (Because You’re Dead Inside & Need To Feel Something): Funky Elephant’s papaya salad puts anyone’s sweat glands to work. Drenched in lime, fish sauce, and thai chilies, it'll make you feel like the sun is finally touching your skin again.
The Winter Day Trip: While others ski-bum in Tahoe, you've got bigger plans closer to home: Dad’s Luncheonette in Half Moon Bay. The roadside train caboose serves Americana in burger form: beef, egg, lettuce, and cheese on white bread. It's the pit stop before exploring the tide pools. Just get there early since they can sell out.
The Group Dinner Where You'll Eat A Lot Of Meat: If eating mounds of grilled pork with your favorite people sounds like a good time, go to Muukata6395. At the DIY Thai charcoal barbecue spot in the Richmond, you flip, grill, and char your way through multiple meat platters. Get enveloped in the smoky haze of sizzling pork.
The Chowder Crawl... Stop One: Start the hot soup journey at Popi’s Oysterette—the Marina seafood spot that looks plucked out of a Southern California beachside town. Their New England-style clam chowder is packed with bacon chunks for a smoky touch. Down a bowl and some chardonnay, and head out.