LEAVING YOUR HEART IN SAN FRANCISCO...

San Francisco is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, with all sorts of fun things to do and to see.

There's a cable car stop at the hotel's front door, so you can ride to the top of Nob Hill and have a drink at the Top of the Mark, or head for the Wharf or Union Square. And speaking of Union Square, the shopping here is phenomenal.

San Francisco is a great walking city, even with all those hills. Bring comfortable shoes, and plan to wear layers. The weather in October is gorgeous, but it can be a bit chilly at night.

We'll be updating this page with more information as Bouchercon by the Bay gets closer, so keep checking back, and don't forget to contact us if you have questions or suggestions.

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RESTAURANTS

Last updated on September 5, 2010

San Francisco is one of the world's great food towns, and one of the best things about it is that there are restaurants for every taste and every budget.

The Hyatt Regency is located in the heart of the Financial District, which means there are zillions of great, inexpensive places for lunch nearby. And there are some fabulous high-end restaurants as well.

We've put together a list of some of our favorite places to eat, in the neighborhoods that are near the Hyatt. To get directions, stop by the Hospitality Suite. Have a favorite of your own? Tell us about it and we might just add it to the list.

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Key (refers to food costs only, alcohol is not included):
Cheap and cheerful. You can eat for less than $10
Really reasonable. You'll spend $10 to $25 per person
Nicer. These places will run $25 to $50 per person.
OMG. Go here if Dan Brown is flying in to buy you dinner. The best restaurants in town, and they know it.

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Local Lunches and Snacks

Because the Hyatt is in the Financial District, many of these places are closed on Saturday. But don't worry, North Beach and Chinatown are only a short walk away!

Café Algiers: Open for breakfast and lunch, yummy pastries and sandwiches and fabulous coffee (they do Turkish coffee the way it's supposed to be done). Very few tables, so you'll want to grab your food and find a nice sunny spot to hang out. Closed weekends. to
Oralé Oralé: Great Mexican takeout, or dine in. to
Café Portico: You can get a full hot meal (entree and two sides) for less than $10. Great salad bar and pizzas. Closed weekends. to
Bistro Burger: Tasty burgers, fries, and shakes. to
Red's Java House: Yet another San Francisco institution - located on Pier 30, Red's is famous for its burgers and beers, and they're not even a little bit fancy. You can get a double cheeseburger, fries, and a soda for less than $10. to
San Francisco Soup Company: Different great soups every day. Organic, vegan, whatever you want, and they're all yummy. Check their website. Closed weekends.
Baja Fresh: Primarily a lunch spot, really decent fresh Mexican. They're open until 7:00 p.m. so you can also get a nice early dinner there, and they're open Saturday for lunch. to
Café Venue: A bit of a walk from the hotel, but the salads and the French dip sandwich are worth it. Closed weekends. to
Osha Thai Really nice, reasonably priced Thai food. Open every day for lunch and dinner. to

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North Beach

Il Pollaio: The best grilled chicken EVER. Plus burgers and steaks. Awesome European café vibe, run by a delightful family who have been there forever. Open for lunch and dinner.
Café Ideale: Walk in the door and it's like being in Rome. Carbonara to die for. to
Mo's Burgers: Fab burger joint, with a cool North Beach vibe.
Caffe Maria: I'm delighted that my pal Carlo has opened a new restaurant just in time for Bouchercon, at 1548 Stockton. He specializes in seafood/pasta combos, but there are lots of yummy fish-free treats as well. Most pasta dishes are in the $9 to $12 range, and there's a great house salad for $2.90. And it's not just inexpensive, it's delicious - Carlo is a firm believer in butter ;-) to
North Beach Restaurant: A San Francisco institution, excellent old fashioned Italian food.
Maykadeh: Persian food, in a lovely quiet location. One of my favorites.
Capp's Corner: Old-time San Francisco family style Italian.
Café Puccini: Known for being a coffee house with opera on the jukebox, this place does great inexpensive pasta dinners and has the best minestrone in town, and desserts from Victoria Pastry (trust me, this is a very, very good thing ;-) Located conveniently near City Lights Books in the heart of North Beach. to

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Chinatown

Brandy Ho's: In the borderland between Chinatown and North Beach on Columbus Avenue, this place specializes in Hunan food, which means it is OMG, call-the-Fire-Department, blow the top of your head off, HOT AND SPICY. Their smoked ham dishes are super yummy. to
House of Nanking: It's the quintessential San Francisco Chinese restaurant - a bit grubby on the outside, yummy on the inside. Don't expect super courteous service, these folks want to turn their tables; but people line up for the food. Important note: they can't handle large parties very well, this is a good spot for you and a couple of your buddies. to
Sam Wo: This place is legendary. It's in a nasty little building on a side street. You stumble up the stairs and they immediately start hassling you - it's part of their shtick. But the food is cheap and yummy. to

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Dinner places

Tommy's Joynt: A fun and funky bar and cafeteria-style restaurant, in business since 1947. They have about a million kinds of beer, and they're open late. The really fun thing about this place is that you can get on the cable car at the front of the Hyatt, ride to the end of the line at California Street, then walk 3 blocks to get there. Most entrees are in the $10 - $12 range.
Perbacco: The new hot Italian place. Lives up to its reputation.
Bob's Steak House: I'm not crazy about the atmosphere, the tables are all too close together for my taste, but the steaks are worth it. to
Silks at the Mandarin Oriental: One of the best kept dining secrets in San Francisco. Elegant Asian fusion, and amazing service.
Gordonbiersch: Fun, big brewpub. Lots of action at the bar.
Delancey Street: Simple food, done really nicely. Run by the Delancey Street Foundation, so you'll be doing good by eating well. Best ribs in San Francisco. Beer and wine only, no hard liquor. to
Alfred's: Old time elegant steakhouse. to
Kokkari: High end Greek, in a lovely residential setting just off Jackson Square. to
House of Prime Rib: Another San Francisco institution. Prime rib dinners served family style.
Boulevard: Consistently rated as one of San Francisco's best restaurants, Boulevard understands that we like both yummy food and excellent service. A short walk from the hotel.
Seasons at the Four Seasons: So, you want fabulous understated service, wonderful food, and an elegant yet comfy atmosphere? This is the place.
McCormick and Kuletos: This is the only really good restaurant near Fisherman's Wharf, in my opinion. It's expensive, but the good news is that you'll enjoy fine service and fabulous views of Aquatic Cove. The focus is on seafood, but they do steaks and chops well, too. to
Memphis Minnie's: Authentic southern style barbecue - and saki. The owner loves both, and serves both, so you can get a terrific saki flight with your tasty ribs and slaw. This place is in the Haight, so it's a bit of a trek - but worth it. to

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