Best Restaurants for People Watching in North Beach

32 restaurants available nearby

1. Acquolina

4.5

Price: Expensive

• Italian • North Beach

Booked 17 times today

In Italian, Acquolina means “mouthwatering” – illustrating what happens when you see a delicious, inviting dish. This phenomenon can only happen when food is made with passion and love. For us, food “is a social matter. ” In turn, Acquolina weds a passion for food with a real respect for the community in which it stands – welcoming a mix of locals and visitors, singles and families, welcoming guests of all ages and lifestyles.At Acquolina, we endeavor to create a vibrant and lively atmosphere where our patrons can revel in the experience of an authentic and “regional” Italian meal. The Tuscan-infused menu is meant to pair with an assortment of wines, with samplings from Italy and California. In the spirit of the Tuscan Trattoria, everything is meant to be authentic – the pasta boiler and the pizza oven came direct from Italy, brought here to guarantee a perfect plate of “al dente” pasta and a perfect slice of thin crust pizza.

2. Tosca Café

4.7

Exceptional(152)

Price: Expensive

• Italian • North Beach

Booked 15 times today

A legendary hangout in North Beach since it opened in 1919, and even more so from the 1980's onward when Jeanette Etheredge took over Tosca. Locals including Willie Brown, Lars Ulrich and Francis Ford Coppola were regular fixtures, Hunter S Thompson wrote his column for the SF Examiner in the corner booth, Bono, Lauren Hutton, and Mikhail Baryshnikov played pool in the back room, singing Opera and drinking Tosca House Cappuccinos. When Restaurateur Anna Weinberg and Interior Designer Ken Fulk heard Tosca Cafe was closing they joined forces to save it. As the new owners and passionate fans of the original establishment their goal was to return Tosca to its rightful place as a San Francisco institution. As Mikey Rapin wrote in Bon Appétit magazine: “It’s the kind of joint Beats got bounced, Bono belted opera, and a bullet hole memoralizes the night an A-LIST actor disagreed with a rockstar's choice of music"

A photo of Mona Lisa Mare e Monti restaurant

3. Mona Lisa Mare e Monti

4.7

Exceptional(154)

Price: Moderate

• Italian • North Beach

Booked 10 times today

Mona Lisa Mare e Monti , in San Francisco, serves classic Italian dishes crafted with top-quality local and seasonal produce in its charming and welcoming eatery. Mare e Monti is located in the Heart of North Beach's Little Italy. Our Restaurant specializes in Authentic Italian Seafood and Steaks. We also offer a variety of different cuts of Pasta's, which are created in house everyday! We are best known for our Bistecca Fiorentina, which is a 24oz porterhouse steak. Our Seafood is brought to use daily by our local Fishermen. Some of our most popular seafood dishes are our Zuppa Di Pesce or our Whole Dungeness Crab plate. We Look forward to seeing you soon, Ciao!

4. Barbara Pinseria

4.5

Awesome(176)

Price: Moderate

• Pizzeria • North Beach

Booked 15 times today

Barbara is a lively Italian restaurant inspired by the rustic tradition of Roman pizzerie, opening in San Francisco’s historic Italian district of North Beach in September 2018 to serve as the neighborhood destination for casual dinning. We feature an energetic open kitchen, creating fresh takes on classics as well as original inventions showcasing seasonal and local ingredients, transporting taste of the eternal city to San Francisco. We offer craft cocktails, Italian and Californian wines, indoor and outdoor seating, and Barbara's fun, warm, style pairs well with the restaurant’s classic Italian comfort and friendly spirit.

A photo of California Fish Market Restaurant restaurant

5. California Fish Market Restaurant

4.6

Exceptional(217)

Price: Moderate

• Italian • North Beach

Booked 2 times today

We are a sustainable water to table seafood restaurant, we believe eating eating seafood is a great way to boost your immune system while supporting many of fisherman and seafood farmers during this challenging time. California Fish Market only uses sustainable seafood that is either caught or farmed in a way that has less impact on the environment

A photo of Little Original Joe's -- Marina restaurant

6. Little Original Joe's -- Marina

4.9

Exceptional(59)

Price: Moderate

• Italian • Marina / Cow Hollow / Presidio

Booked 35 times today

Welcome to Little Original Joe's -- an Italian-American neighborhood eatery featuring pizza, pasta, and parmigiana in San Francisco's Marina neighborhood! Limited reservations are available for up to 6 guests -- we look forward to seeing you soon!

7. The Progress

4.8

Exceptional(2468)

Price: Very Expensive

• Contemporary American • Western Addition

Booked 47 times today

The Progress is a vehicle for a completely local production. Innovative meals are served with memorable wine & cocktails. The Greatest Dinner Party Ever.

8. Boulevard

4.7

Exceptional(9097)

Price: Very Expensive

• Californian • Financial District / Embarcadero

Booked 33 times today

Chefs Nancy Oakes, Chef Dana Younkin and our entire team, look forward to welcoming you to a refreshed and reimagined Boulevard! The dining room features a 3 course prix fixe menu with a multitude of choices. For the more spontaneous sorts; our bar, lounge and chef's counter is available on a walk-in basis and limited reservations. An a la carte menu is offered in these areas. For private events and larger groups, please check our our website.

9. Starlite

4.4

Awesome(160)

Price: Expensive

• Cocktail Bar • Financial District / Embarcadero

Booked 60 times today

Starlite is a historic San Francisco cocktail bar with nearly a century of vibrant stories. Renowned for hosting lively parties and attracting iconic figures like Alan Ginsberg, Starlite invites guests to the Beacon Grand’s 21st-floor, featuring refreshed interiors by San Francisco designer Alice Crumeyrolle. The atmosphere is set with rich velvet fabrics and a jewel-tone palette inspired by the Art Deco Era, paying homage to the city’s icons. Crafted by Scott Baird of Trick Dog fame, the cocktails are both playful and meticulously made. Michelin-award-winning chef Johnny Spero curates a menu that celebrates San Francisco’s culinary artistry, drawing inspiration from international fare. Enhancing the experience are nightly, all-vinyl DJ sets by music director Nina Tarr.

10. Bon Delire

4.6

Exceptional(108)

Price: Expensive

• French • Financial District / Embarcadero

Booked 53 times today

Bon Délire’s chic yet approachable atmosphere draws inspiration from the cafés, lounges, and bistros of Paris. The interior boasts a sculpted horseshoe-shaped wooden bar, plush banquettes, and vibrant, European-imported furnishings that invite intimate dining and lounging. Guests can enjoy indoor seating with views of the Bay Bridge, or relax at the outdoor cafe-style seating, framed by planter boxes and umbrellas, perfect for people-watching along the Embarcadero.At night, the space comes alive with flickering projections of vintage French films and a relaxed, nostalgic soundtrack of throwback French and American tunes, making Bon Délire a sophisticated yet cozy setting for private and semi-private events.

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you

R
Robert
San Francisco Bay Area •10 reviews
4.0
Dined 1 day ago
The service was great and most of the food was very good. Salmon and crab cakes, fettuccini excellent, as were the lobster ravioli. The halibut however was a bit dry and bland this evening. They only serve wine and beer, although they had some quite nice selections there. The dining room is rather small, brightly lit and very simple, almost diner-like. The value was very good for the money. I would likely return.
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California Fish Market RestaurantPrice: Moderate• Italian• North Beach
•
4.6
C
colette
San Francisco Bay Area •1 review
4.0
Dined 4 days ago
Food was good but my fish was just warm. I should’ve asked for it to be heated up but u was too hungry 😆. Otherwise everything was great.
More info
AcquolinaPrice: Expensive• Italian• North Beach
•
4.5
K
Karen
San Francisco Bay Area •3 reviews
5.0
Dined 6 days ago
I was treated like a Queen at Mona Lisa Mare e Monti tonight for my Birthday dinner. Giovanni, the waiter, provided the most excellent service; so friendly and professional. And the food! So fresh and delicious, and with such beautiful presentation. This is my favorite special occasion restaurant in North Beach!
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Mona Lisa Mare e MontiPrice: Moderate• Italian• North Beach
•
4.7
E
EmilyVIP
San Francisco Bay Area •9 reviews
5.0
Dined on 15 Dec 2024
Tosca remains one of my absolute favorites in San Francisco. The space, food, service all excellent. The night we went was Santa Con (ooops) + a huge private birthday party in the back room so it was bonkers, but the team did everything they could to keep it going! Will go back soon.
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Tosca CaféPrice: Expensive• Italian• North Beach
•
4.7
L
Lenora
San Francisco Bay Area •62 reviews
5.0
Dined on 26 Nov 2024
Hate to reveal this BUT the pizza crust was unbelievably wonderful crisp and chewy ! All pastas (4 ordered ) cwere outstanding !
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Barbara PinseriaPrice: Moderate• Pizzeria• North Beach
•
4.5

Best Restaurants for People Watching in North Beach

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32 restaurants available nearby

1. Acquolina

2. Tosca Café

3. Mona Lisa Mare e Monti

4. Barbara Pinseria

5. California Fish Market Restaurant

6. Little Original Joe's -- Marina

7. The Progress

8. Boulevard

9. Starlite

10. Bon Delire

See what locals rave about

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