San Francisco

2022 Openings We're Looking Forward to in the Bay Area and Wine Country

New rooftop destinations, pastry shops, late-night options, and more.

Photo by Emma K. Morris, courtesy of Little Saint
Photo by Emma K. Morris, courtesy of Little Saint
Photo by Emma K. Morris, courtesy of Little Saint

Hello friends. Here we are-it’s 2022. And wouldn’t you know it, we’re still in a pandemic! Things continue to be… weird, but for better or worse, we’re slowly but surely adjusting to this up-and-down, open-and-closed version of normal. What’s this year going to bring? Who knows! It’s challenging enough to predict what tomorrow might throw at us.

But one thing that’s held true through this cluster of an era is the fortitude, creativity, and absolute brilliance of the hospitality community. Despite the challenges, restaurants keep opening, destinations continue to be added to our must-visit list, and we, in spite of the chaos, find ourselves excited for what’s coming in 2022. At least some of it. We’ve pulled together 17 openings that we’re majorly anticipating from all around the Bay Area and Wine Country, opening this winter and spring. And remember, with brand-new restaurants as well as old favorites, please stay up on the latest vaccine and mask requirements, treat all service workers with the utmost respect, and tip well and often.

Photo by Botania/Starr Gazers, courtesy of Good Good Culture Club
Photo by Botania/Starr Gazers, courtesy of Good Good Culture Club
Photo by Botania/Starr Gazers, courtesy of Good Good Culture Club

San Francisco

Good Good Culture Club

Mission District
Opening Date: January 11, 2022
Liholiho Yacht Club, in addition to being one of the best restaurants in San Francisco, is a leader when it comes to transforming the way the restaurant industry works, and attempting to make it more equitable, livable, and healthy. A major component of this involves making a point to foster new talent and allow a rising class of chefs to take the spotlight. That’s the ethos behind Good Good Culture Club, a new project from Liholiho chefs Aimee Arcilla, Kevin Keovanpheng, and Brett Shaw that will be taking over Liholiho’s pandemic-era home on 18th Street, complete with one of the more magical, tropical-vacation-esque rooftops in town. Good Good shares a similar vibe to Liholiho but with an emphasis on Filipino and Laotian flavors, some of which you may have sampled versions of in recent months (the Good Good stuffed chicken wing, for example, which haunts our dreams). The menu, centered around California produce and showcasing ample wood-fired cooking, promises to be lively, fun, and flavor-packed, with dishes ranging from a local halibut sashimi with tomatillo ponzu to llano seco bone-in pork belly with chili misoyaki, alongside a creative bar program.

Key Klub

Nob Hill
Opening Date: January 11
Wine-lovers in the know have been quietly flocking to Bodega in North Beach, a low-key destination with a stellar natural wine selection, beer on tap, and delicious small plates in a sleek, playful atmosphere. Now, partners Lalo Luevano and Paria Sedigh, along with Sean Halpin of Cellarmaker Brewing, are bringing the magic to Nob Hill with Key Klub, a wine and beer bar with an emphasis on good drinks, good tunes, and good times. Named after the original bar that opened in this same space in the 1950s, Key Klub centers around a long, copper-topped bar where you’ll find an ample selection of natural wines by the glass and bottle (including some hard-to-find bottles that Luevano and Sedigh have been collecting for years) and local, fresh beers on tap, curated by Halpin.

Food options will include shareable, seasonal small plates, comforting mains including steak au poivre and Bodega’s cult favorite patty melt, and French toast with duck liver mousse. Luevano is particularly excited about their french fries, and envisions “mountains of fries on every table.” While the bar promises to become a party, thanks in part to a stand-out sound system, more intimate seating can be found in the upstairs mezzanine and, eventually, a private tasting room that will double as a bottle shop. Drink up while you can-the building is set to be demolished in four years, so this truly is a last hurrah for a storied space.

Soon and Soon Souvenir Shop

Chinatown
Opening Date: January 12
After soft opening in December, Soon and Soon, the newest project from the Mister Jiu’s team, is celebrating the grand opening of their pocket-sized, counter-service Grant Street shop located at the restaurant’s entrance. The stars here are treats from pastry savant Melissa Chou, who gained a serious following through her Grand Opening pop-up. Of course, one can’t have pastries without coffee-pair yours with Hong Kong-style beverages (with coffee sourced from Equator), or up the ante with natural wine, beer, and bottled cocktails to-go. The souvenir shop component is not to be overlooked, either-find glow-in-the-dark hoodies, water bottles, tote bags, bucket hats, and more, designed by Anna Lee and chef Brandon Jew.

KAIYŌ Rooftop

SOMA
Opening Date: January
San Francisco, a city of impossibly beautiful views, has something of a dearth of destination-worthy rooftops. That makes the opening of the KAIYŌ Rooftop, coming to the top of the Hyatt Place Hotel in SOMA, all the more exciting. It’s all the better that this will be another showcase for chef Alex Reccio’s distinctive blend of Peruvian Nikkei cuisine, with a menu that runs the gamut from sushi to ceviche, gyoza to empanadas, and a stellar drinks selection centered around sake, pisco, and Japanese whisky. The real star here, of course, is the view-you can scope downtown San Francisco, the Bay Bridge, and Treasure Island while sipping your Suntory highball. It’s also open late night, and half a block away from Oracle Park, making it a necessary pre- or post-Giants game destination.

Hotline

Parkside
Opening Date: February
Beloved Inner Sunset Korean superette Queens made waves when they opened their sweet little shop for dine-in fare this year. 2022 brings even more to look forward to with Hotline, their to-go operation centered around comforting junghwa, or Korean-Chinese hybrid fare. Expect an old school, steam table-style operation, with dishes including japchae, deep fried sweet and sour pork, mapo tofu, and dumplings, plus jajangmyeon over rice. Natural wine, beer, and soju will also be on offer. There will be limited indoor seating available, with food packaged for easy takeout-perfect for an Ocean Beach picnic (or, on rainy days, for a cozy meal in front of the fire at The Riptide).

Photo courtesy of 1 Hotel
Photo courtesy of 1 Hotel
Photo courtesy of 1 Hotel

1 Hotel

Embarcadero
Opening Date: Spring
A brand-new hotel is coming to the Embarcadero this spring courtesy of eco-conscious 1 Hotels. In addition to a waterfront location and city views, 1 Hotel San Francisco boasts 200 guestrooms, 14 suites, a wellness spa, a fitness center, and a farm-to-table restaurant, along with 1 Hotel’s signature, sustainable style showcasing reclaimed and natural materials. Bonus: it’s pet-friendly!

Photo courtesy of Ibéxico
Photo courtesy of Ibéxico
Photo courtesy of Ibéxico

East Bay

Ibéxico

Oakland
Opening Date: January 7
Mad Oak Bar ‘N’ Yard has quietly become a destination for some of the best pop-ups in the Bay. One we’re particularly excited about: Ibéxico, courtesy of chef Sergio Emilio Monleón, owner of lauded Berkeley tapas bar La Marcha. The concept is inspired by Monleón’s Spanish-Mexican heritage, and will feature the flavors of both cuisines in surprising and delicious combinations, including tacos loaded with smoked paprika-rich pulpo Gallega, croquetas filled with birria, and quesadillas made with morcilla, Spanish blood sausage. Monleón is planning a six-month residency for Ibéxico, so try it while you can.

Kowbird

West Oakland
Opening Date: January
Matt Horn changed the barbecue game in the Bay with the opening of Horn Barbecue in 2020. Now, he’s bringing his magic touch to fried chicken with Kowbird, which he plans to open this winter just down the street from his barbecue spot in West Oakland. The counter-service restaurant will be a meticulously crafted homage to fried chicken, with a variety of brines, sauces, and preparations available, from sandwiches to wings and boxes with chicken iterations, including classic buttermilk, spicy, and sweet. Southern-inspired sides, desserts, and beverages, with ample inspiration from Horn’s childhood favorites, will also be on offer.

Babette

Berkeley
Opening Date: February/March
Husband-and-wife team Joan Ellis and Patrick Hooker gained a following for their on-point, seasonal fare at Babette at the Berkeley Art Museum. Now, the team is moving on up to a larger space on San Pablo Avenue, formerly the home of Lanesplitter’s Pizza. With more space comes more room to showcase their culinary chops, including pastries with morning coffee and for dessert in the evening (both Ellis and Hooker have pastry chef backgrounds), seasonal salads, and most excitingly, pizzas. Menus will change monthly, and in addition to classic pies, look for custom creations from the duo, like a slow-cooked pork shoulder with white bean gremolata pizza. Some favorites from their BAM location will hold a permanent place, including their riff on a classic Caesar salad, and their to-die-for Sicilian lemon almond pistachio cake.

Photo courtesy of Occitania
Photo courtesy of Occitania
Photo courtesy of Occitania

Occitania

Oakland
Opening Date: Spring
Paul Canales has long had a culinary hold on Uptown Oakland thanks to Duende, his impeccable homage to Spanish cuisine. So we’re very excited to see his take on the South of France; specifically, the Occitanie linguistic region, which includes Italy’s mountainous north and Spanish Catalonia. Similar to Duende, the menu promises to blend traditional fare with fresh, local produce and meats, plus standout wine and cocktails to boot.

Fieldwork Taproom & Beer Garden

San Leandro
Opening Date: Spring
Berkeley’s Fieldwork Brewing Company, one of the best breweries in the Bay Area, is opening their largest outdoor beer garden and indoor tap room yet in San Leandro. Housed in a former Firestone Auto Service Center from the 1960s, the massive, 7,800-square-foot space will include lounge seating, fire pits, a kids area, indoor and outdoor picnic table seating, a 75-year-old olive tree, and, oh yeah, a whole lot of beer. Expect a rotating selection of 32 beers on tap, which will pair nicely with a selection of ten different Neapolitan-style pizzas.

South Bay

Tasting House

Los Gatos
Opening Date: January
Few combinations bring us quite as much joy as wine and cheese. Except for maybe wine and chocolate. Okay, wine and whatever, really and we’re set. So you can bet that Tasting House is going to be a proper destination for us when it opens this month. Housed in a cozy bistro setting in Los Gatos, Tasting House is all about bespoke wine pairings-with cheese, chocolate, and other dishes-meticulously crafted by Ryan Fillhardt, the restaurant’s chef and sommelier (and a Los Gatos native). The wine list features 400-plus domestic and international wines, and a team of sommeliers to help make your experience as informative (and delicious) as possible. Should you feel the need to take some treats home, find 125 cheese, artisanal chocolates, and more at their cheese shop next door.

@manresabread
@manresabread
@manresabread

Manresa Bread

Palo Alto
Opening Date: February
Manresa Bread, one of the best bakeries on the planet, let alone the South Bay, is expanding to Palo Alto’s Town & Country Shopping Center, and they’re bringing their naturally fermented sourdough with them. Also on offer: next-level pastries (hi, kouign amann!), brand new bake-at-home mixes for waffles, cookies, and more, and a cafe menu with delights including tartines, quiche, a breakfast sandwich, and coffee.

Photo by Emma K. Morris, courtesy of Little Saint
Photo by Emma K. Morris, courtesy of Little Saint
Photo by Emma K. Morris, courtesy of Little Saint

Sonoma

Little Saint

Healdsburg
Opening Date: February
This highly anticipated Wine Country destination has been held up by supply chain issues, but delays haven’t dampened our excitement. Taking over the expansive, light-filled space that formerly housed SHED, Little Saint is a project from a local Healdsburg family who have partnered with Kyle and Katina Connaughton, the husband-and-wife team behind SingleThread, the three-Michelin-starred restaurant (and inn) across the square. The Connaughtons are creating a completely plant-based food and drink program, sourcing goods from SingleThread Farm and nearby Little Saint Farm. Similar to SHED, Little Saint will boast a cafe, wine shop and full service restaurant; eventually, the space will play host to live music, film screenings, and other community events.

Maison Healdsburg

Healdsburg
Opening Date: February/ March
Speaking of SingleThread, three alums from the restaurant’s opening team are creating a wine-centric destination in downtown Healdsburg which, per co-owner Evan Hufford, is meant to translate the Michelin-starred experience to an accessible, neighborhood bar. Hufford, a sommelier who was SingleThread’s opening wine director, along with his wife Jade (SingleThread’s service director) and partner Ryan Knowles (also a sommelier) are putting together an impressive wine list dominated by selections from Burgundy, Champagne, and coastal California, along with an equally thoughtful collection of craft beer and sake. They’re also eager to offer ample educational opportunities, hosting tastings and classes themselves and inviting other winemakers and industry professionals in, with offerings tailored to different levels of expertise. As a bonus, Maison Healdsburg is considering later hours than are normally found in town to cater to the food and beverage industry.

The Madrona

Healdsburg
Opening Date: Spring
Should you need a place to stay after exploring all that Healdsburg has to offer, you’ll find a new option this spring in the form of The Madrona, a 24-room boutique hotel on eight acres. The hotel was built as a private residence in 1881 and has been reimagined by interior designer Jay Jeffers, and now includes an outdoor pool, a fitness center, and a restaurant helmed by Michelin-starred chef Jesse Mallgren (who will be sourcing ingredients from the property’s garden).Want more Thrillist? Follow us on InstagramTwitterPinterestYouTubeTikTok, and Snapchat.

Lauren Sloss is a San Francisco-based travel, food, and music writer who has done stints in Philadelphia, New York, London, Istanbul, and aboard a 32-foot sailboat. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter.

San Francisco

How to Celebrate Black History Month in San Francisco

Support and celebrate SF's Black community.

Courtesy of Black Joy Parade
Courtesy of Black Joy Parade
Courtesy of Black Joy Parade

Though it’s something we need to be doing every day of every month of every year, Black History Month encourages us to pay tribute to the struggles and oppression generations of Black Americans have faced, as well as their often-neglected triumphs and achievements that have helped shape this county and make it better. It’s a time to reflect on how we can do better to confront racism and oppression, which this year’s theme, “Black Resistance,” echoes. This is especially important in a town like San Francisco, where the Fillmore District was known as “the Harlem of the West” before the city displaced a vast portion of the neighbourhood’s Black community in the ’60s and ’70s. This displacement continues today, as the Black population is the only racial group that has declined in every census since 1970.

If you’re looking for ways to celebrate Black History Month, there are lots to do. Whether you want to educate yourself by attending films, performances, or conversations, share the joy at a parade or dance party, or do a little bit of it all at a drag show, here are just a few ways you can get involved and have a lot of fun while doing so:

Visit San Francisco Public Library branches for workshops, films, performances, and more

February (and throughout the year)
Library branches and online
SFPL’s “More Than a Month” celebration focuses on the theme of resistance this year. Family-friendly and adult events include film screenings, musical performances, book clubs, workshops, and more.
Cost: Free

Museum of African Diaspora
Museum of African Diaspora
Museum of African Diaspora

See art, poetry, films, talks, and more at MoAD

February (and throughout the year)
SoMa
Right now, at the Museum of African Diaspora, you can see the first and only West Coast exhibition of “The New Black Vanguard: Photography Between Art and Fashion,” which highlights the work of 15 contemporary fashion designers “whose images present radically new perspectives on the medium of photography and art, race and beauty, and gender and power.” The museum, which has a robust year-round program and event calendar, has a slew of events to attend, including youth poetry readings, film screenings, open mic nights, book clubs, artist talks, and more.
Cost: Event prices vary; GA to visit the museum is $12 but free every second Saturday of the month

Check out films, art, reading, talks, and more at BAMPFA

February (and throughout the year)
Berkeley
There is always something interesting to discover at the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA). During Black History Month, you can see films by Pratibha Parmar, “Felwine Sarr: Music, Freedom, Africa,” a conversation through music with the Senegalese writer, scholar, composer, musician, and more.
Cost: Varies

Old Skool Cafe
Old Skool Cafe
Old Skool Cafe

Enjoy menu specials honoring Black community members at Old Skool Cafe

February (and throughout the year)
Bayview
For Black History Month, Old Skool Cafe is adding the favourite meals of notable Black community members to the menu each weekend. The nonprofit, youth-run supper club helps at-risk, formerly incarcerated, and foster care youth ages 16-22 gain the skills and experience they need to succeed in various front and back-of-house restaurant roles. Bayview hero/community advocate Mrs. Dorris Vincent is first up, followed by Judge Trina Thompson, Delroy Lindo, and Mayor London Breed.

Yerba Buena Gardens
Yerba Buena Gardens
Yerba Buena Gardens

Walk beneath the Marting Luther King, Jr. Memorial waterfall

February (and ongoing)
Yerba Buena Gardens
Did you know that Yerba Buena Gardens is home to the country’s second-largest memorial to Dr. King? Visit the sculptural waterfall featuring glass panels inscribed with his inspiring words at 750 Howard Street.
Cost: Free

Attend the Commonwealth’s “Dreaming Forward: A Celebration of Black Joy, Power, and Excellence” conference

Thursday, February 9
Embarcadero
On behalf of Dr. Sheryl Evans Davis and the San Francisco Human Rights Commission, the Commonwealth Club is hosting its second annual Dream Keeper Initiative, a day-long conference/celebration/call-to-action featuring special guests, including April Ryan of TheGrio and CNN.
Cost: Free

Courtesy of Oakland First Fridays
Courtesy of Oakland First Fridays
Courtesy of Oakland First Fridays

Celebrate Black Love at Oakland First Fridays

Friday, February 10
Telegraph Avenue from West Grand to 27th Street
Telegraph Avenue transforms into a dining, shopping, and art-appreciating party on Friday, February 10, from 5 pm to 9 pm. There will be food, artist, and retail vendors and a host of Black artists, authors, and entertainment. Please note: This event was rescheduled from February 3 because of potential rain.
Cost: Free

Have a ball at an all-Black drag show at Oasis

Friday, February 10
SoMa
“Reparations with Latrice Royale” is an all-Black drag show hosted by Latrice Royale, the beloved Drag Race star who also happens to be celebrating her birthday.
Cost: $15 to $60

Dance all night and shop all day at the Afro Soca Love carnival and marketplace

Friday, February 10 – Saturday, February 11
341 13th Street, Oakland
Afro Soca Love creates experiences that act as a “gateway to building bonds and strengthen relationships-between communities, individuals, and Africa and its diaspora.” See for yourself at the all-ages marketplace (Saturday), where you’ll find food and drink, fashion, beauty and wellness, home decor, and more. But before the shopping comes the dancing at the 21+ Friday Night Carnival, a culturally immersive music experience with music from all over the world.
Cost: The marketplace is free; tickets to the Friday Night Carnival start at $20

See a live performance of “Words That Made the Difference: Brown vs. the Board of Education”

Saturday, February 11
Unity Palo Alto
See a live theatrical performance based on the true events that occurred in the fight to end school segregation. The script draws from trial transcripts of the five cases brought together in front of the Supreme Court and Chief Justice Earl Warren’s memoirs, and the play is set in the courtrooms where it all happened. There will be a Q&A with the playwright before the performance and the cast afterward.
Cost: Free

Courtesy of San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Company
Courtesy of San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Company
Courtesy of San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Company

Go to the I, Too, Sing America album release party

Saturday, February 11
Mission
Head to the Brava Theater Center to celebrate the San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Company’s album release of the music created for I, Too, Sing America, a soulful and uplifting performance that moved audiences when it debuted last year. The night includes an album-listening and sing-along party, DJs, dancing, an open bar, and more.
Cost: $40

Go on the Black Liberation Walking Tour of West Oakland

Saturday, February 18
West Oakland
Take a walk with David Peters, founder of the West Oakland Cultural Action Network, and Gene Anderson, the author of Legendary Locals of Oakland, to learn about resident voices and document sites of cultural and historical significance in the neighbourhood. Peters is a local native, and Anderson is an Oakland historian whose family has historical roots in West Oakland.
Cost: $50 ($30 for West Oakland residents)

See a screening of The Black Kung Fu Experience followed by in-person demonstrations

Sunday, February 19
Great Star Theater, Chinatown
The Chinese Historical Society of America is celebrating Black History Month and social unity with a screening of this film about how a group of African American pioneers became respected in a subculture dominated by Chinese and white men. Afterward, there will be demonstrations and talks with Sifu Donald Hamby and Sifu Troy Dunwood, who “will speak about their success as internationally recognized martial arts masters, their Chinese Kung Fu teachers, and what this practice means in relation to diversity, race and inclusion issues.”
Cost: $15

Sip wine made by Black winemakers at a free tasting event at STEM Kitchen + Garden

Thursday, February 23
Dogpatch
STEM Kitchen + Garden is hosting an afternoon wine tasting celebrating Black-owned wineries in its gorgeous indoor/outdoor space, and best of all, and it’s free to the public!
Cost: Free

Bayview Opera House
Bayview Opera House
Bayview Opera House

Attend the San Francisco African American Arts & Cultural District Gala Fundraiser

Saturday, February 25
Bayview Opera House
Enjoy an evening of talent, fashion, and community inspiration at SFAAACD’s 1st Annual Gala Fundraiser. Carla Duke, Television News Director at CBS-KPIX Chanel 5, will host the event, which includes inspiring words from keynote speaker Aniyia Williams, an artist, tech creator, and system-preneur.
Cost: $100

Attend a Black History Month & Chinese New Year Poetry Reading on Angel Island

Saturday, February 25
Angel Island
There is so much history in poetry at the Angel Island Detention Barracks Museum, which makes it a fitting location for poets Chun Yu and Michael Warr. The co-founders of Two Languages/One Community will share their poems and stories in English and Chinese, accompanied by projected images of text and photographs.
Cost: $10 to $21

Courtesy of Black Joy Parade
Courtesy of Black Joy Parade
Courtesy of Black Joy Parade

Feel the joy at the Black Joy Parade

Sunday, February 26
Downtown Oakland
This parade and festival celebrate the “Black experience past, present, and future.” Be prepared to experience “more Black joy than you ever imagined,” starting with the parade (beginning at 14th and Franklin) at 12:30 pm. The family-friendly festival follows (main entrance is at 19th and Franklin) will include 200-plus Black-owned small businesses selling food, drinks, clothing, art, and more. There will also be two stages with Black performers, including The Black Joy Choir.
Cost: Free

Take a sound bath at Grace Cathedral in honor of Black History Month

Monday, February 27
Nob Hill
Take an immersive sound bath featuring Fractals of Sound, a collective of top Bay Area musicians Egemen Sanli, Phoenix Song, and Sam Jackson, with special guest Destiny Muhammad. Together, they will create a “soundscape deeply rooted in world music,” allowing you to take a meditative journey in one of the most beautiful places in San Francisco.
Cost: $25 to $75

See Tsitsi Dangarembga and Angela Davis at City Arts & Lectures

Tuesday, February 28
Civic Center
Co-presented with MoAd, City Arts & Lectures is hosting novelist Tsitsi Dangarembga and scholar and activist Angela Davis for what’s sure to be a riveting conversation.
Cost: $36

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Daisy Barringer is an SF-based freelance writer who spent many childhood days wandering around the Exploratorium. Follow her on Instagram to see what she’s up to now.

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