This classic restaurant embodies the San Francisco spirit and has attracted an eclectic crowd of diners for more than 40 years. One of the first eateries to blend industrial design with refined elements, Zuni was also one of the first to install a wood-fired oven, which continues to bring in diners who want a taste of the iconic roast chicken for two.

Foreign Cinema reimagines the concept of dinner and a movie. The Mission District restaurant screens films every evening for guests to enjoy, projected on a wall of the heated patio. The interior has exposed concrete walls, an open kitchen and an enormous fireplace, while a private dining room which doubles as an art gallery is available for parties.

This Rincon Park restaurant evokes a pump station with pipes and wheels, but the unique design can’t compete with the view: a breathtaking vista of the Bay Bridge. Enjoy the scenery from a comfy booth indoors or from the sea-salted patio that connects Epic Steak with its sister restaurant Waterbar.

For nearly 40 years, Harris’ has been the go-to place for an old-school steakhouse experience. The restaurant, which gives off an Old West vibe, is decorated with dark, wood-paneled walls, brass chandeliers and white table cloths. Diners can sink into an enormous leather booth and sip on classic cocktails as they await entrees like the the Harris steak at $72 a plate.

Escape from the hustle and bustle of the Embarcadero into the rustic Angler. Once inside, it’s hard to miss the massive wood-burning hearth decorated with dangling copper pots and wild floral arrangements. Dine under mounted deer heads, and catch a glimpse of the life-size bear in the taxidermy-filled “Game Room.”

Married owners Jorge Martínez and Lorena Zertuche take inspiration from the rancheras and colorful markets of Mexico to bring vibrant life into Mission District restaurant Loló. The interior is adorned with various knick knacks, including a wall fully covered in little origami boats. Various collections of cowboy boots, ceramic dogs, car doors and suits are displayed throughout for a hodgepodge design that makes art out of oddities.

San Francisco almost lost this Chinatown staple during the pandemic. Luckily, the owners decided to keep the treasured century-old banquet hall — and its remarkable interior — alive. That interior is a throwback that has remained largely unchanged during the restaurant’s long existence: oil paintings of scenes from Guangdong, hanging lanterns and red curtains screening private wood-paneled booths.