Expert Guide to The Best Michelin Star Restaurants in San Francisco​

Atelier Crenn

Atelier Crenn is as well known for its story as it is for the phenomenal food it’s been serving since it opened in 2010. The story is this: Chef Dominique Crenn opened Atelier Crenn as a “deeply personal project” where she could cook her ode to “poetic culinaria.” In the first year, she was awarded 1 Michelin Star, the next, a history-making 2nd Star, as Chef Crenn was now the first female chef to run a 2 Michelin Star restaurant.

If that wasn’t a grand enough accomplishment, Crenn beat her own record by earning a 3rd Star in 2018! Another attribute that makes Atelier Crenn so special is its dedication to ethical sourcing practices and sustainability. This is reflected in the pescatarian, vegetable-forward menu, with the only dairy used coming from 2 trusted small farms that supply all of the butter and cream they require.

Best for: Taking your environmentally-conscious colleagues out for a guilt-free, high-end dining experience.

French

Dinner

Cow Hollow

$$$$

Benu

Benu is not afraid to brag about its accolades; you can read the long list under the information tab on their website in place of a traditional “about us” page. The highlights are their 3 Michelin Stars, ranking in the world’s 50 best restaurants list in 2021, being featured in the New York Times article entitled “10 Restaurants Worth a Plane Ride”, as well as receiving 2 James Beard awards. When you enter the serene dining room, your first bites are small technical marvels executed to perfection. The culinary wonders don’t stop there; the Michelin Guide cites the faux-shark’s fin and xiao long bao as two of the menu’s most memorable dishes. 

Best for: This is a great spot to celebrate your anniversary or take a business associate.

Contemporary American

Dinner

SoMa

$$$$

Quince

Quince has 3 Michelin Stars as well as a Michelin Green Star for their relationship with a sustainable agriculture farm that supplies most of their ingredients. The ever-changing seasonal menu makes repeat dining a joy, and small touches like the vintage amaro cart they wheel to your table after the entree will leave you feeling impressed and pampered. You can choose between their decadent 10-course menu or dine a la carte, making this a perfect restaurant for a special celebration of any magnitude.

Best For: Impressing your partner, or taking the big brass out to celebrate a job well done.

Contemporary Californian

Lunch on Friday and Saturday, dinner

Jackson Square

$$$$

Acquerello

Acquellero is an institution in SF! This 2 Michelin Star restaurant opened in 1981 and has been serving homemade pasta and Italian sweets to satisfied customers ever since. The Michelin guide insists you must order the cheese plate, which is as visually stunning as it is delicious. Finish off the meal by picking bite sized treats of the mignardise cart and you’ll leave feeling satisfied!

Best for: Taking your parents out to celebrate their anniversary.

Italian

Dinner

Nob Hill

$$$$

Californios

Californios is a 2 Michelin Star restaurant with a remarkable tasting menu. The dishes here are Mexican inspired and exceptionally creative. Unlike some upscale restaurants that come off as stuffy, the atmosphere here is best described as festive. This is an accessible fine dining experience that can be enjoyed by all.

Best For: Showing VIP clients a good time, or impressing your friends.

Mexican NoCal Fusion

Dinner

SoMa

$$$$

Lazy Bear

Lazy Bear is throwing the best dinner party in town every night! It’s no wonder given its humble beginnings in Chef David Barzelay’s own apartment. His passion for hosting elaborate dinner parties became a career when he was laid off from his job as a lawyer in 2009. He went from cooking out of the apartment, to a secret warehouse, to this fabulous space in the Mission District where Lazy Bear resides today. You’ll be seated at long communal tables with friends and strangers alike, while you watch the chefs craft incredible dishes in the open kitchen. Lazy Bear proves that fine dining does not have to be boring or stuffy. It can be a party!

Fun Fact: Lazy Bear was the restaurant of choice for our 2024 $500 Michelin Gift Card Giveaway. Sign up for this year’s giveaway!

Best For: Treating yourself and your besties to the most memorable meal of the year.

New American

Dinner

Mission District

$$$$

Saison

The Michelin guide calls Saison “at once playful and proudly earnest.” Perhaps this is what has captured the hearts of the San Francisco elite who keep coming back for more. The heart of Saison is its open wood fire hearth that is central to both the cooking and the ambiance of the space. Depending on where you’re seated, you might even have a front row seat to the open concept kitchen and the culinary wonders being created inside. 

Best for: Celebrating your anniversary, or taking a fellow food-enthusiast out for an incredible experience.

Contemporary American

Dinner

South Beach

$$$$

Sons and Daughters

When Chef Harrison Cheney took over Sons and Daughters in 2022, he made a big splash serving up seasonal New Nordic cuisine. He was awarded the Michelin Young Chef Award in 2023, and his work inarguably landed Sons and Daughters their second Michelin Star in 2024. Sit back and know you’re in good hands when eating his $295 tasting menu.

Best For: A special occasion worth breaking the bank for. 

New Nordic

Dinner

Mission District

$$$$

Kiln

Kiln is not easily defined, and we mean that as a compliment! The food is a boundary-pushing blend of New Nordic, Japanese, and Californian cuisine. The one thing everyone can agree on about Kiln is that it offers a unique and delectable dining experience you won’t soon forget. You might be served puffed beef tendon or squab breast with truffle jus. No matter what is on the plate placed in front of you, you will leave satisfied and impressed.

Best For: Hosting a hip business dinner, or treating a foodie to the best night of their lives.

Seafood

Dinner

Hayes Valley

$$$$

Mister Jiu’s

Mister Jiu’s is a bright sunny restaurant with big round tables where you and your party will have plenty of room to dig into incredible dishes, like their iconic Liberty Farms Peking-style whole roasted duck. Pair this with one of their signature cocktails, and you are halfway to food heaven!  At special reserved tables, you can also opt for the prix fixe menu that the Michelin Guide describes as “a light repast.” Perhaps that means you’ll still have room to indulge in one of their incredible desserts!

Best for: Birthday parties and reuniting with old friends.

Chinese

Dinner

Chinatown

$$$$

The Progress

The Progress has made its home in an old silent film theater. The concept of the restaurant is described as “a [W]holistic approach to Modern Rustic Cooking.” The dish repeat diners say you cannot miss is the Liberty Farms barbecued duck. This is one of the most accommodating spots for large group dining on this list, which makes it an excellent option for a private party or casual corporate event.

Best For: Hosting a large group dining experience, whether it’s for business or pleasure.

Californian

Dinner

Fillmore District

$$$

Nari

⭐️ Avital’s Favorite

Nari is a Thai fine-dining restaurant, where both the name and the menu are inspired by the generations of Thai women who laid the foundations for this bold and remarkable cuisine. Enjoy the finest caviar on scallion roti with salted duck egg, or the tender lamb shank with massaman curry and grilled nectarines (if you can handle the spice.) This menu is drool worthy and with multiple private dining options there’s no excuse to not bring a big group and order everything.

Best For: Hip corporate events or a special birthday feast.

Thai

Dinner

Japantown

$$$

Niku Steakhouse

Niku Steakhouse has elevated the experience of enjoying a great steak and martini. It has a sleek, contemporary, business-casual vibe rather than the white tablecloth, buttoned-up, atmosphere of a classic steakhouse. Ordering the fatty A5 Wagyu is a life-affirming experience. All the meat is cooked to perfection and prominently displayed in the adjacent butcher shop’s window you pass as you enter. This is the coolest and most VIP you’ll ever get to feel while dining on steak.

Best For: Swanky business dinners and anniversary celebrations.

Steakhouse

Dinner

Design District

$$$$

Hilda and Jesse

Hilda and Jesse is a unique queer-owned restaurant in North Beach that prides itself on cultivating an atmosphere of “fun-luxury.” Just last year, they earned their first Michelin star, proving this spot just keeps getting better with time. They originally made a splash by offering “brunch for dinner,” so their brunch is definitely worth indulging in. Or come around dinner time to experience the chef’s tasting menu that has historically featured dishes like aged duck breast, Mediterranean spicy cucumbers, and dandelion chocolate lava cake. 

Best for: A phenomenal Sunday brunch experience, or an eclectic date night.

American

Weekend brunch, dinner

North Beach

$$$

Good Good Culture Club

The only difficult thing about a night out at Good Good Culture Club is getting a reservation! This consistently crowded spot cares about two things: serving you the most flavorful California-inspired Southeast Asian food you’ve ever tasted, and upholding their ethics and values in the way they treat customers, staff, and one another. At Good Good Culture Club, they believe that “we must take care of one another through a lens of kindness and care.” You will feel that care when you bite into the adobo-braised chicken wings with garlic rice, or their sausage with pasilla pepper jaew.

Best for: Big group dinners with friends, family, or even a casual night out to celebrate the end of the quarter with your team.

Asian

Dinner

Nob Hill

$$$

Outerlands

Outerlands is focused on sustainability, serving up local, organic food right by the beach. This is a favorite brunch spot for many SF locals. The asparagus and spring onion galette is hearty and comforting, and the Dutch pancakes are like eating a delicious fluffy pillow. The dinner menu is equally fabulous and has the added bonus of allowing you to make a reservation ahead of time. So if you can’t wait in the brunch line, head to Outerlands for dinner instead!

Best for: A fabulous brunch or a big family dinner.

New American

Weekend Brunch, dinner

Ocean Beach

$$

Izakaya Rintaro

Rintaro describes its cuisine as “Japanese Izakaya by way of California.” Izakaya is a type of Japanese pub-style dining where drinks and small snacks are shared. Rintaro’s menu takes these “small snacks” to the next level by serving dishes like chrysanthemum greens with duck breast, pork gyoza with chicken foot jelly, and Bigeye tuna with raw egg yolk. You can sit at the bar and watch the chefs grill chicken on the binchotan-burning Yakitori Grill or enjoy the good weather by snagging a seat in the scenic courtyard.

Best For: Taking a group of friends to celebrate your birthday.

Izakaya

Dinner

North Beach

$$

Dumpling Home

If hand-wrapped dumplings are your thing, Dumpling Home is your place to be. They have mastered the art of the soup dumpling (get the Numb & Spicy Pork Xiao Long Bao), along with noodles and small plates. It’s a casual spot making it perfect for all occasions. Service is fast, friendly, and the ambiance is approachable.

Best For: Indulging after a show in the Theater District.

Chinese

Lunch, dinner

Hayes Valley

$$

A16

Named after the highway that runs through southern Italy, A16 serves wood-fired pizzas and rustic pasta with a focus on Southern Italian flavors. It has earned its Bib Gourmand badge by turning Neapolitan pizza and seasonal pastas into a cozy, flavorful ritual. Bonus points: their wine list is a deep dive into lesser-known Italian varietals.

Best For: Impressing your wine-nerd friend

Italian

Dinner

Cow Hollow

$$

Yank Sing

Yank Sing is a locals’ favorite dim-sum spot in SOMA that earned its Michelin Bib Gourmand through near-perfect dumplings on wheels. There have two location to choose from: Spear St for indoor classic carts, and Stevenson St with a more casual vibe.

Best For: Gathering with a big group and trying one of everything

Chinese

Lunch

SOMA, FiDi

$

Zuni Café

⭐️ Avital’s Favorite

Zuni Café has been a fixture of the San Francisco dining scene since its conception in 1979. From its very humble beginnings (a kitchen that was composed of a toaster and an espresso machine that doubled as an egg cooker), Zuni Café has gone on to catch the eye of the Michelin Guide and has won two James Beard Awards. This is possibly the best plate of chicken and fries you’ll ever eat, all the while enjoying that old-school scrappy San Francisco energy Zuni Café has maintained all these years.

Best For: Taking in a piece of San Francisco history over a comforting meal.

Californian

Brunch, lunch, dinner

Hayes Valley

$$$

Liholiho Yacht Club

Liholiho Yacht Club offers some of the most exciting private dining opportunities in San Francisco. Take the whole family (or 8-14 members) to the Ohana Table to have a shared family-style feast, featuring tuna poke, duck liver mousse, fried game hen, and more. Or book out the Gen Gen Room for 10-18 and enjoy a myriad of appetizers, one entree per guest (Ling Cod with a shrimp crust, Lyc Spamm with hurricane rice, or sweet and sour fried game hen), and two delectable desserts. 

Best For: Family-style group dining with your loved ones. You could host an unforgettable birthday party here!

Asian

Dinner

Nobb Hill

$$$

Verjus

Verjus is a charming wine bar with an elevated french menu. The atmosphere is romantic and European. We highly recommend ordering one of the house made sausages, but you’d be remiss not to pick at least one seafood dish off the menu as well. For dessert the brioche pan perdu is non-negotiable.

Best For: Date night!

French

Thurs-Sat lunch, dinner

Jackson Square

$$$

Prelude

Prelude brings Southern cuisine to the West Coast. Executive Chef Celtin Hendrickson-Jones may have grown up in California, but his tastes were majorly influenced by the cooking of his grandmother and great-grandmother from Alabama. He puts a fine-dining slant on classic southern dishes with creations like crayfish étouffé and smoked catfish dumplings. We recommend you put your trust in this great chef’s hands and order the tasting menu to get the best of everything, but you can’t go wrong ordering a la carte either.

Best For: Hosting an intimate end-of-quarter celebration for your team, or treating your parents to a nice meal.

Southern

Dinner

FiDi

$$$

Flour + Water

Who doesn’t love fresh hand-made pasta and Neapolitan-style pizza? Flour + Water changes their menu every day in order to serve you the best seasonal ingredients available, at their No-Cal-inspired Italian restaurant. They also have great private dining spaces, and host exciting pasta-making courses that you can take advantage of. If you’re in the mood to treat yourself, we highly recommend getting the tasting menu here. The halibut crudo is refreshing, the dulse seaweed rigatoni is completely original, and finishing the meal with the delicate flavorful quail, or the decadent chocolate budino is an unparalleled experience. 

Best For: Casual team-building dinners, or family events.

Italian

Dinner

Mission District

$$$

Abacá

Abacá marries traditional Filipino dishes with the best seasonal ingredients NoCal has to offer. This is a great place to take a big group for brunch or dinner because of the family-style prix fixe dining menus on offer. Or pick out your favorite small plates and share dishes like pork lumpia, oyster mushroom skewers, and bluefin tuna with smoked eggplant. Take advantage of the incredible light and greenery in this restaurant by dining during daylight hours at least once!

Best For: Dining with a big group of friends or family.

The Wild

⭐️ Avital’s Favorite

Chefs Marc Zimmerman and Peggy Tan describe The Wild as a restaurant that “embarks on a journey that delves into a reconnection with the natural world, emphasizing a return to our roots and the simplicity of nature.” What this means in layman’s terms is that they’re focused on using California’s best and most sustainable ingredients to create a menu that is intentional and lets the fresh protein and produce on your plate be the star of the meal. Their menu is constantly changing, which makes this a restaurant that their patrons keep returning to again and again.

Best for: Do a full restaurant buyout and bring the whole company, or bring your partner and feel good about the meal you two are sharing.

Contemporary Californian

Dinner

FiDi

$$$$