Local Recommendations

☕ Favorite Coffee

• Home Coffee Roasters - our favorite local coffee where we also buy our beans.

🧋 Favorite Boba

• Chicha San Chen - new to the Bay area but quickly became our favorite.

❤️ Favorite Date Night

• We love exploring and trying new restaurants for our date nights, but we do love ending the night at our favorite jazz bar.

• Black Cat - our favorite jazz musician Kenneth Whalum plays here often!

🍦 Favorite Dessert

• Hometown Creamery - local homemade ice cream with fun flavors!

🚘 Favorite Weekend Trip

• Alila Ventana Campgrounds and Glamping - amazing glamp (and camp) sites among the redwoods in Big Sur.

🍴 Eat

• 7 Adams - new Michelin star restaurant!

• Dalida - absolute must-try for both brunch and dinner.

• Foreign Cinema - dinner and a classic movie with a great back patio.

• La Taqueria - authentic Mexican food (must-go for burrito lovers).

🍹 Drink

• High Treason - Scott’s favorite wine bar.

• Bar Darling - great cocktails at this cool and vibey bar with a spacious back patio.

• Smuggler’s Cove - incredible Tiki drinks.

🌲Explore

• Hawk Hill - for the best views of the Golden Gate Bridge and where some of our engagement photos were taken.

• The Painted Ladies - iconic row of homes from Alamo Square park amazing city views.

• Dolores Park - popular SF park for chill vibes and people-watching. Make sure to bring layers!

• Golden Gate Park - huge park with attractions like the Japanese Tea Garden, De Young Museum, Botanical Garden, Academy of Science, & Conservatory of Flowers.

• Sausalito - cute town across the GG bridge with amazing views of the city, lovely small restaurants, shops and desserts.

🍴 Eat

• Pho Kim Long - the absolute best Phở Gà (Chicken Pho) you’ll ever have.

• Orchard City Kitchen - a lively spot for creative small plates and craft cocktails.

🍹 Drink

• Picchetti Winery - charming winery with tastings, picnic areas, and nearby hiking.

• Paper Plane - relaxed spot with in an exposed brick space for creative or classic cocktails.

🌲Explore

• Santana Row - lively shopping area with lots of outdoor space, restaurants, and live music.

• Villa Montalvo - large historic estate with a great lawn, perfect for picnicking.

🍷 Wine

• Alpha Omega- our absolute favorite Cabernet Sauvignon.

• Castello di Amorosa - for the medieval castle vibes + a torture room (if that’s your thing).

• Hans Fahden - Victoria is a member here. It features both a wine cave and a beautiful outdoor garden to explore.

• Char Vale - for great Pinot Noir and really friendly owners.

🍴 Eat

• Ad Hoc & Addendum - the sister (and more affordable) restaurant to the famous French Laundry.

• Zuzu- greate spanish tapas in downtown Napa.

• RH Yountville - beautiful restaurant with elegant indoor-outdoor dining.

🌲 Explore

• Calistoga - one of our favorite, cute towns in wine country. Many small restaurants, shops and spas.

• Downtown Sonoma- great park to grab a bottle of wine, enjoy the sun and eat at some excellent restaurants nearby.

🍴 Eat

• Shadowbrook - take a cable car to your delicious dinner, a must-go in Capitola!

• Margaritaville - though it’s a “chain” restaurant, this place is right on the beautiful waterfront in Capitola.

☕ Drink

• Verve Coffee Roasters - a local favorite for specialty coffee.

🌲 Explore

• Santa Cruz Boardwalk - iconic boardwalk with amusement rides, food, and carnival games.

• Natural Bridges State Beach - a beautiful place to catch the sunset, with picturesque views.

• Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park - for those looking for a good hike through a lovely forest.

• Roaring Camp Railroads - next to Henry Cowell, ride a steam train through the forest.

🍴 Eat

• Stationaery - a quaint café with delicious breakfast and brunch.

• Dametra Cafe - a lively Mediterranean restaurant with a fun atmosphere.

🍹 Drink

• Caraccioli Cellars - great little wine tasting room.

🌲 Explore

• Monterey Bay Aquarium - one of the best aquariums in the world.

• 17 Mile Drive - easiest way to explore the area and see all the amazing views.

• Carmel Downtown - shops, art, bars and restaurants, walking distance to Carmel Beach.

• Refuge Spa - award-winning silent spa in Carmel, with thermal pools, cold plunges, and spa services.

🍴 Eat

• Nepenthe - lunch/dinner for some sweeping ocean views, especially during golden hour.

• Solstice - a beautiful, modern California restaurant showcasing seasonal, local ingredients.

🌲 Explore

• Bixby Bridge- take a photo next to this famous California coastal bridge!

• McWay Falls - a must-see Big Sur landmark with stunning coastal views.

• Pfeiffer Beach - purple sand beach with a unique keyhole rock arch.

• Alila Ventana Campgrounds and Glamping - as mentioned in our favorites, we love the glamping sites here. Their hotel is also gorgeous and has a great spa.