FRIDAY FIVE
In our city of water, hills, and stunning vistas, rooftop dining is a unique joy all to itself— but there are surprisingly few spots from which to seek out. Yes, Karla the Fog and gusty wind conditions add to the city’s mercurial (and moody) skyline. That said: Those two weather anomalies don’t exactly boast well for tranquil rooftop feasting.
However, when the weather’s permitting, these five spots do rooftop food and drink offer a range of vibes and views. A trip to any one of these will surely leave you both satiated and grateful for being able to experience this wonderfully mad city.
Fiorella Sunset (Inner Sunset)
Fiorella Sunset is the new kid on the block, opened August 30 from Fiorella Restaurant Group, bringing it since 2016 with their original Outer Richmond spot (and its killer back patio) and second Polk Street restaurant in 2018.
When Fiorella moved into the legendary Park Chow space half a block from Golden Gate Park for their third location, they gained that retractable rooftop… and a hard liquor license, which the other two locations don’t have, even as they rock low-proof drinks. Fiorella Sunset’s bi-level space offers multiple dining moods, from the cozy, street-level dining room and bar with fireplace to sidewalk seating. But we dig that heated rooftop deck, lush with plants, strung lights, and black-and-white striped, retractable awning. It’s an ideal perch to fill up on chef de cuisine Scott Schneider’s wood-fired pizzas (don’t miss the clam pie!) and pastas, with nearly half the dishes only available at this location.
Pair with bar director Candice Jae’s cocktails, like Pepe Verde (mezcal, Manzanilla sherry, Mexican rum, Mirto Verde, green pepper, pineapple, lemon, bitters) and you have yourself a rooftop party. // 1240 9th Avenue, fiorella-sf.com
Dirty Habit (Downtown)
Dirty Habit differs from the other rooftops in that it’s a hidden and fully enclosed but open-air patio on the fifth floor of Hotel Zelos. Whether their Private Habits room for a group of friends, lounging in the expansive dining room or taking it to the patio, you can feast on chef Thomas Weibull’s decadently gratifying dishes like caviar bao buns or Maine lobster agnolotti pasta bright with yellow corn and basil. New bar manager Mariza Sabino offers cocktails like Blue & Fancy, mixing Roku Japanese Gin, Clear Creek Douglas Fir Brandy, lemon, and vivid purple-blue butterfly pea flower.
Even more fun, they’ve launched their Second Summer Outdoor Movie series through October 17th, celebrating our warm autumn climate showing outdoor movies paired with a non-profit, like To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, shown the day before National Coming Out Day (October 11th) supporting The Trevor Project, or on October 17th, Sister Act, benefitting Glide. // 12 Fourth Street,viceroyhotelsandresorts.com/zelos/dirty-habit
Charmaine’s (Civic Center)
Chef Jason Fox, formerly of Michelin-starred Commonwealth, is one of our city’s great chefs and he runs the SF Proper Hotel restaurants with a range of settings: upscale downstairs dining room Villon, new downstairs La Bande Cal-Med aperitif and tapas bar (opening September 22) and on the rooftop, Charmaine’s. This might be arguably the most beautiful rooftop bar/restaurant in SF, weaving between an open-air indoor bar and lounge areas to couches, tables, and firepits strewn around the center rooms. Lush greenery and DJs set the mood for Fox’s internationally-influenced food like Japanese chicken meatballs or huitlacoche-stuffed (aka “corn smut” or earthy, mushroom-like fungus) potatoes marked by Parmesan, pickled shallots, and greens.
Sip cocktails created by BVHospitality (behind Trick Dog) and you have yourself a memorable evening or brunch with a view. // 45 McAllister Street, properhotel.com/san-francisco/restaurants-bars/charmaines
El Techo (Mission District)
Since 2013, El Techo has been an SF favorite for rooftop dining, drinks, and views across the Mission District to downtown. Open 364 days a year, it’s a sure shot — and proof of vaccination is required, even for the rooftop, and for the special Argentinean steakhouse Lolinda downstairs. Available in three sizes from half to 1 ½ pound of meat, the house chicharrones de carne (aka roasted pork shoulder) is a standout, complete with housemade tortillas, lime, salsa, and escabeche. The menu offers plenty to love from tacos and quesadillas to guacamole and ceviche.
On the drink side, Margaritas, Palomas, and Negra Modelo are on draft flow, but there are also a couple elevated drinks like Ponche De Leche, a clarified (read: silky) milk punch of chamomile-infused pisco, lemon juice, demerara syrup, fino sherry, and lemon bitters. Sign up for live waitlists on their site, especially during popular brunch and happy hours. Heat lamps and windscreens keep it sheltered in all weather. // 2518 Mission Street, 331fish.com
25 Lusk (SoMa)
We recently shared about 25 Lusk’s enticing new journey-round-the-world menu makeover, starting with a six-month journey through Mexico for cocktails and food from chef Matthew Dolan and bartender Elmer Mejicanos. But the 25 Lusk rooftop has long been one of the best rooftops in town with its own separate “quick bites, stiff drinks” menu. While it’s not as exciting as the Traveler menu downstairs, this is gourmet bar food and beyond, whether you want bratwurst on a pretzel bun loaded with beer onions, red pepper jam, and honey mustard, or full-on Black Angus steak in sauce bearnaise.
On a warm day — and there are many in SoMa — their changing frozen slushie cocktails hit the spot, like a pineapple coconut rum Daiquiri topped with a dark rum float. // 25 Lusk Street, 25lusk.com
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