Erika Mailman

The allure of a castle is almost tangible: the chilled stones, the shade cast by its upthrusting towers and the light refracting off mullioned windows. You probably have this image of European castles dotting the craggy hillsides above rivers and seas or tucked away inside dark forests. And while you’d be hard pressed to find those sorts of medieval castles in the U.S., you can pay an admission ticket to climb grand staircases, peer out from towers and wander lavish grounds in the closest things this country has to castles. Maybe we’ll fantasize for a few hours that this grandeur could be ours—or maybe we’ll disdain the trappings of heartless wealth (this writer remembers visiting Hearst Castle with a friend who was very angry when she heard Hearst was not philanthropic and spent all his money on himself). It’s a lifestyle few are fortunate enough to experience—but for a short visit, we can storm the castle. These are the 23 best castles to visit in the U.S. RECOMMENDED: The most beautiful train stations in the U.S.The most famous buildings and monuments in the U.S.

There’s a long (and we mean really long) list of reasons why one might choose to visit old New York—the food, the theatre, the bars and the art galleries, to name a few—but up there with the best things about this city is, without a doubt, its skyline. And while heading up to Top of the Rock or the One World Observatory are worthy ways to soak it up, your hotel room could be, too. So, that’s why we’ve compiled a round up of the best hotels in NYC with proper, show-stopping views. Sit back and enjoy. 📍 Discover our ultimate guide to the best hotels in New York City How we curate our hotel lists Our team of writers and travel experts review hotels all over the world—new openings, old classics and everything in between—to bring you fresh, honest recommendations, all year round. We have reviewed many of the hotels featured below, but we may not have stayed at every single one. Any we haven’t stayed in have been selected by experts based on their amenities, features, pricing and more. By the way, this article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 🛏 Check out the best Airbnbs in New York City

Every good vacation should include a trip to an art museum. Contemporary art grabs our attention with groundbreaking ideas and new uses of materials, and there’s true pleasure to be had in contemplating the old masters and mistresses, particularly if it’s a work we recognize from popular culture or the cover of our art history textbook. Most art museums today offer immersive exhibits that engage you more than a two-dimensional painting: soundgardens, digital art that responds to your touch or presence, VR worlds you don goggles to enter. And while we don’t have the Mona Lisa, the U.S. has incredible world-class institutions that pull visitors from all over the world. Here are our top 43 art museums in the country. Note: prices listed are for adults; most institutions offer discounts for seniors, students, children, visitors with disabilities and residents of the city/state. Most have a monthly free day or two, and many add a surcharge for visiting temporary exhibitions—check each museum’s website for details. RECOMMENDED: The weirdest museums in the U.S.10 immersive experiences in the U.S.

With a coastline that stretches the entire length of the state—plus acres of forests literally holding the biggest trees on the planet—California is a nature lover’s paradise. If you’re not yet comfortable in that paradise, try camping out under the stars when you can see the Milky Way and you’ll be an instant convert. California’s beauty is in its fields, its wildflowers, its creatures, its dramatic mountain ranges and its ability to shift gears in a hot second. Ever kayaked in warm waters on the same day you went skiing, with just a few hours’ drive in between? That’s the case here, where deserts unfold in the same state as fog-drenched seacliffs—and where 40 percent of the land is used for agriculture, whether it’s rows of crops, grazing land or gorgeous orchards. Here to help you decide exactly where to set up your tent is our list of the 18 best camping spots in California. RECOMMENDED:📍 The best things to do in California🍽️ The best restaurants in California💧 The best hot springs in California🌲 The best places to see California redwoods🏖️ The best beaches in California This guide was updated by California writer Erika Mailman. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. 

Picture a Saturday morning with a light breeze off the bay while you—coffee in hand—circulate through booths filled with treasure: That’s the beauty of a flea market. You can take your time picking through the offerings, appreciating that yesterday’s furniture was better made than today, that fashion follows cycles that always come around again and you may come across a toy or an item of decor that you once owned—and you’ll have a poignant reunion. The flea market is the most sustainable of markets and lets us recycle objects that still have a lot of life in them. You might come home with a fabulous vintage outfit, a midcentury modern coffee table that completely revives your space or an oil painting of a landscape you adore… the best part is, you can’t predict what you’ll find. Here’s our pick of the best flea markets in San Francisco and environs. RECOMMENDED:🛍️ The best shopping in San Francisco📍 The best things to do in San Francisco🍴 The best restaurants in San Francisco

All across San Francisco, amazing restaurants beckon. In every neighborhood, small eateries abound, while larger places dotted over the city expertly handle crowds. Because of California’s orchards, farms and seacoast, a variety of ultrafresh ingredients find their way to menus and to your plate. Besides the restaurants that have earned Michelin stars, a larger number do their magic of making diners appreciate the three times a day that we pause to fuel our bodies and delight our senses. Dishes can be plated so beautifully that “the camera eats first,” or they can be served no-nonsense–style to diners who ply their forks immediately. This list includes restaurants we’ve tried all across the city and of varied cuisines: American, Japanese, Mexican, Mediterranean, vegetarian, Italian, Indian, seafood, French, Argentinian and Chinese, among others. As for your culinary journey across San Francisco: Try new places, continue to patronize your favorites and incorporate restaurant visits into your weekly routine, if you can. By supporting our hardworking chefs and servers, we’ll ensure that they continue to thrive and keep making San Francisco a foodie’s paradise. July 2025: Time Out has reformatted its food and beverage features, so back in April we started our once-lengthy San Francisco list over afresh with 11 spots—and now we’re adding five more. Unfortunately, one restaurant fell off our list: Luce, inside the InterContinental Hotel, has closed after 17 years. We’re now also as

Few water features strike the perfect balance between thrill and chill like a lazy river. What's more, cruising down one is among the most satisfying ways to unwind—no agenda, no hurry, just a slow drift through calm waters, often paired with spectacular scenery like waterfalls or lush landscaping.  From rooftop rivers in bustling cities to winding streams tucked into mountain resorts, lazy rivers have become beloved centerpieces at hotels, resorts and water parks across the U.S. Some are designed for pure chill; others throw in fun twists like wave sections or swim-up bars. Ahead, our favorite lazy rivers in the USA that are worth the ride. RECOMMENDED: The best indoor water parks in the U.S. to slide all year long

This vibrant neighborhood is full of busy shopkeepers, produce markets, bustling restaurants and plenty of visitors aiming cameras at beautifully Instagrammable architectural features—the most iconic being the green-roofed Dragon’s Gate. You’ll also find red lanterns and flags draped across streets, and dramatic paint colors used for signs and structures. San Franciso’s Chinatown is the nation’s oldest and largest Chinatown, settled by immigrants lured by the Gold Rush’s siren call. Although much of it burned during the 1906 earthquake and fire, the neighborhood was rebuilt. Today its 30 blocks draw locals and visitors alike to enjoy this spirited Chinese culture. RECOMMENDED:🥟 The best dim sum in San Francisco🍽️ The best restaurants in San Francisco👗 The best thrift stores in San Francisco📍 The best things to do in San Francisco🍳 The best brunch in San Francisco

Rainy day or not, a visit to one of San Francisco’s museums yields happy results because the places where you find art and artifacts can be zany or serious, depending on your mood. San Francisco has several world-class art museums as well as some smaller collections that do a deep dive on fascinating and specific topics. For instance, we have one of only two museums devoted to Walt Disney the man (the other is in his hometown of Marceline, Missouri). Our Cable Car Museum lets you actually see the huge circulating mechanisms that drive the cable cars. Right by the waterfront, the Musée Mécanique has a warehouse full of turn of the century dioramas, which you can animate by feeding them a quarter, while the Beat Museum provides an insider’s look at a literary movement. Want to get hands-on and feel your way through some science? There are several places to do that, including the Academy of Sciences at Golden Gate Park and the Exploratorium along the Embarcadero. Now that most kids are out of school, some of these museums offer summer camps for kids—we especially have our eye on the Cartoon Art Museum’s selections. Here’s our list of the finest museums in San Francisco. Prices given below are for general admission; special exhibitions usually involve a separate charge. Many are free or discounted for San Francisco residents, and many have monthly free days or pay-what-you-can days. We totally recommend looking into NARM membership; some of these sites belong. RECOMMENDED:📍 The

A city unlike any other and immediately recognizable in photographs, San Francisco reigns supreme as a fun metropolis with offbeat choices of how to spend your time. If you’re an outdoor person, you have scads of hiking trails and water activities to pick from—and just walking our famously steep streets is an adventure in itself. If you trend towards quieter times indoors, you’ll love a contemplative afternoon exploring the many museums we offer. If a tipsy ramble through the city appeals, we have tons of great bars, including ones perched on rooftops for those exquisite city views. When you get hungry, there are a ridiculous amount of incredible restaurants (we picked out our 11 favorites last month, and there are 28 Michelin starred ones as well). There’s a fantastic zoo, some wild architecture, a park far larger than New York’s Central Park packed with tons of great things to do, iconic hotels and neighborhoods like Nob Hill, Chinatown and the Haight that each convey their own personality. Wherever your explorations take you, you're bound to have a memorable time with these things to do in San Francisco. June 2025: This month we’ve added a symphonic production of David Bowie’s album Blackstar, two hilarious dating shows and an immersive yoga experience. Plus: We hardly have to say it, but this month is Pride in our beautiful city with all the epic celebrations you expect and a magnificent, gigantic parade! And don’t miss the free drag shows every Friday this month with the

Zoos provide an amazing chance to connect with wildlife and develop empathy. Who can’t be moved to protect wildlife after watching newborn lemurs energetically play with each other? Or after seeing the placid stare of a tiger or pop-up nature of the prairie dogs? Zoos let us see animals that we otherwise wouldn’t be able to see without traveling across the world, and most zoos do their best to provide habitats that give animals humane treatment and a safe place to roam with as much space as possible. Often, the funds raised by zoos can pay for captive breeding programs that protect endangered species. There are even some species that are extinct in the wild but still living within zoos, such as the Przewalski's horse (can be found in the San Francisco Zoo, among others), Père David's deer (can be found in the Bronx Zoo and others) and the Guam kingfisher (can be found in the St. Louis Zoo and others). Here are the best zoos in the U.S. RECOMMENDED: ⛰️ The best outdoor adventures in the U.S.🌍 The best camping in the U.S.

Often, a train takes you where the freeway doesn’t, giving you spectacular views you can’t see otherwise. You roll through the countryside where herds of elk graze or go through back regions of national parks with a vantage point all your own. While the train lets you doze off, read a book or scroll your phone (so long as Wi-Fi works) because someone else is at the wheel, odds are you’ll instead be glued to the window, unwilling to miss a single picturesque thing that floats by. But not all trains are created equal. While some traverse uninteresting corridors, others earn the title of a “scenic” railway. We’re most interested in those, and the chance to make the journey just as enjoyable as the destination...or maybe the train ride really is the destination. That’s especially the case with trains that focus on luxury. Here’s our list of the most scenic train rides across the United States. (Unless otherwise stated, prices below are for one-way travel).

What is it: A hotel brand so iconic it even has a song in its honor—"Puttin’ on the Ritz," if you remember the 1980s hit. Why we love it: The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park, provides a stay that feels like you’ve checked something off your bucket list. From the moment you enter, you’re aware of the history and elegance of this Forbes five star and AAA five diamond hotel, starting with its brick facade stretching 22 stories high and the entry with a formal vintage canopy. Inside, the hallways are a bright gloss white with coffered ceilings holding glass chandeliers and marble tables with bright orchids. It even looks a bit like the interior of the first class passageways on the Titanic...and in fact, I had been so excited to stay here thinking that this is where Margaret “Molly” Brown stayed upon landing in New York after the ship sank. However, that turned out to be another Ritz-Carlton located on Madison and 46th, opened in 1911 as the first Ritz-Carlton in the U.S. It was demolished in 1951 to build an office building, so I’ll never have the chance! This hotel dates to 1929 and became a Ritz-Carlton in 1999. One of its best aspects is the fact that Central Park is across the street. With my sister, I stayed in a Park View Room that overlooked the park, and we had fun sitting on the generously sized windowsills for people-watching out the window. There’s also a telescope in each room. With such a fantastic home base, we took several rambles through the park, entering by

What is it? A Mediterranean restaurant housed in a former army barracks in the Presidio. Why we love it: Billed as “modern Eastern” rather than “Middle Eastern,” Dalida comes from husband-and-wife chef team Laura and Sayat Ozyilmaz. The flavors here stretched our palates and made our eyebrows rise—even the hummus had some extra zing sitting under the Cypriot lamb chops wrapped in ground lamb and caul fat. Our family’s favorite was the Breaking Bread dish with round tins of spreads accompanied by chubby pita (baked in-house every five minutes). The cocktails were a highlight, served in fun vessels like a miniature silver tankard or with tall, glass-height ice cubes ordered by mail. Stay for dessert and you may catch some Top Chef magic with pistachio three-ways baklava and the sour cherry Maraş ice cream that chef Laura made for one of the show’s challenges. The interior’s muted lighting comes from rice paper chandeliers, and there’s a beautiful mural of trees in bloom. The historic building’s high ceilings really open up the interior, but that does mean the acoustics are rough for conversation.  Time Out tip: If you want to make a night of it, book a room at the Lodge at the Presidio, just a four-minute walk away. Address: 101 Montgomery St, San Francisco, 94129 Opening hours: Tue–Fri 11:30am–2pm, 5–9pm; Sat, Sun 11am–2:30pm, 5–9pm Expect to pay: The chef’s menu is $85. Otherwise, you can expect to pay about $100 per person for appetizers, entrée, a vegetable dish and a few c

What is it? A two Michelin-starred Indian restaurant in the Fillmore, helmed by chef Srijith Gopinathan. Why we love it: The food here is exquisite with many moments that’ll leave you closing your eyes to exult. Among every beautiful thing we ate, our favorite was the rasam poori with passionfruit, mint, sprouted chickpea and radish: It’s a delicate fried puri sphere into which you spoon a bit of soup and eat in one frisson-filled mouthful. For cocktails, the winner was the turmeric spritz with marigold amaro that was so light and fruity it provided perfect accompaniment. As far as a bit of refreshment, don’t fear that the dishes will be too spicy; everything was perfectly spiced to make lips tingle but not overwhelm the tongue. Plus, the interior is insanely pretty with macrame lighting features, two rooms delineated by changes in flooring (blonde wood to button tile) and an indoor gazebo marked by twining ivy. Muted brick, a two-story wall of cubbies holding amphoras and wicker furnishings lend an air of museum-like elegance. Time Out tip: Ask your server to identify which menu items are unique to Copra (or at least the most innovative) and order those. Address: 1700 Fillmore St, San Francisco, 94115 Opening hours: Mon–Sun 5–10pm; brunch Sat, Sun 11:30am–2pm Expect to pay: Brunch is surprisingly affordable for a spot carrying two Michelin stars. If you order several “littles” and a main with a few cocktails, you’ll walk out paying around $90.

What is it? A contemporary American restaurant carrying one Michelin star in the Fillmore. Why we love it: On a quiet street near the edge of Japantown, 7 Adams bustles with attentive waitstaff, crazy-skilled chefs and blissed out diners. Behind the chef’s counter, there’s gorgeous backlit mod-shaped embedded wall compartments holding plants, stemware, candles and a miniature statue of the Michelin man petting a dog. Chef owners Serena Chow Fisher and David Fisher have created a space where the vibe is relaxed and down to earth, even though the exquisite food could easily deserve a snooty air. We especially loved the starter of hokkaido scallop crudo with koji kosho, pepita and pixie mandarin and all the mains, and lost our minds over the winter citrus dessert (pistachio cake, lemon curd and blood orange ice cream—intensely succulent and vibrant) and the salted malted s’more with chicory pastry cream. Time Out tip: A 20 percent service charge is automatically added to the bill, so you can relax about tipping. Address: 1963 Sutter St, San Francisco, CA 94115 Opening hours: Mon–Thur 5:30–9pm; Fri, Sat 5–10pm; Sun 5–9pm Expect to pay: The five-course tasting menu is $87 per person, while the chef’s counter (six people only) is 8 to 10 courses for $157 per person.

What is it? A French bistro with bright vibes at the Embarcadero. Why we love it: Everything’s at bar level here, so you feel elevated and light while you indulge in French favorites “from Paris with love,” as the menu says—a nod to charming owner Kais Bouzidi’s Parisian roots. Plants are embedded in the mesh liquor cabinet that hovers above the bar, which itself is a beautiful wooden statement piece with carved out embeds for your knees. The croque monsieur was a fantastic confection of layers of thin ham, pickle and béchamel sauce: It was a “fondue with bread” in one gooey unit. We also loved the madeleines plate with anglaise and chocolate sauce. For a refreshing drink that’s adorably photogenic, try the citron pressé: fresh lemon juice and a separate cute vessel of housemade lemon cordial. Time Out tip: Absolutely make reservations in advance; the walk-in party ahead of us was turned away. Address: Pier 3, the Embarcadero, San Francisco, 94105 Opening hours: Mon–Fri 11:30am–2pm, 3–10pm; Sat 11:30am–3:30pm, 5–10pm; Sun 11:30am–3pm Expect to pay: If your brunch includes an hors d’oeuvre, a main, a beverage and dessert, it will run about $60.

What is it? An American restaurant inside the Beacon Grand hotel in Union Square Why we love it: Want bountiful proof of why the food scene in San Francisco is so great? Look no further than the California market salad, with mixed greens in a citrus vinaigrette we adored, along with Point Reyes blue cheese, candied pecans and tender slivers of tangerine. Other dishes we loved were the wild king salmon with thinly shaved fennel, radish and cucumber in a dill vinaigrette, as well as the hand-rolled spinach and mushroom canelloni dotted with morels. Make your lunch truly inspiring by pairing it with the Spring Sour mocktail—bright and fresh enough to power through the day. Here for business? The prix-fixe “executive lunch” is only $28 Monday through Friday. Time Out tip: Venture into the side chamber and look up: The painted ceiling and ornate grillwork on either side of the pedimented door are impressive. Want to fully appreciate the opulent architecture and décor of this 1928 beauty? Elect to spend the night (you should). Address: 450 Powell St, San Francisco, 94102 Opening hours: Daily breakfast 7–11am, lunch 11:30am–1:30pm, dinner 4–10pm Expect to pay: For brunch with a salad, salmon and mocktail, close to $70.

What is it? A seafood restaurant on the second story of Pier 39. Why we love it: You can count on 100 percent sustainable seafood at this busy waterfront spot with floor-to-ceiling windows that showcase the bay. The clam chowder literally has “award-winning” in its name, and you can order it (as one does here) in a fresh house-baked sourdough bowl. We tried the dual lobster tails (oven roasted with seasonal vegetables), the Petrale sole (pan seared with a pesto cream sauce) and fried scallops, served with roasted jalapeno aioli. The cocktail game is wonderful here with drinks named for local landmarks, like the Alcatraz Escape and the Spicy Mission Margarita. For land-favoring folks just “along for the ride,” there are also sandwiches, steaks and pasta. Time Out tip: Try to sit at the farthest end of the restaurant, where you’ll be able to catch the best view of the sea lions pushing each other off the docks. And if you love flowers, TulipMania is at Pier 39 throughout April with 20,000 tulips in bloom. Address: Pier 39, San Francisco, 94133 Opening hours: Daily 11am–9pm Expect to pay: Seafood mains run $29 to $56, while the clam chowder in sourdough is $16. House specialties include cioppino at $42 and a whole Dungeness crab for $64. Cocktails are $14 to $17.

What is it? A seafood restaurant on the second story of Pier 39. Why we love it: You can count on 100 percent sustainable seafood at this busy waterfront spot with floor-to-ceiling windows that showcase the bay. The clam chowder literally has “award-winning” in its name, and you can order it (as one does here) in a fresh house-baked sourdough bowl. We tried the dual lobster tails (oven roasted with seasonal vegetables), the Petrale sole (pan seared with a pesto cream sauce) and fried scallops, served with roasted jalapeno aioli. The cocktail game is wonderful here with drinks named for local landmarks, like the Alcatraz Escape and the Spicy Mission Margarita. For land-favoring folks just “along for the ride,” there are also sandwiches, steaks and pasta. Time Out tip: Try to sit at the farthest end of the restaurant, where you’ll be able to catch the best view of the sea lions pushing each other off the docks. And if you love flowers, TulipMania is at Pier 39 throughout April with 20,000 tulips in bloom. Address: Pier 39, San Francisco, 94133 Opening hours: Daily 11am–9pm Expect to pay: Seafood mains run $29 to $56, while the clam chowder in sourdough is $16. House specialties include cioppino at $42 and a whole Dungeness crab for $64. Cocktails are $14 to $17.

What is it? A Chinese dim sum house in Ghirardelli Square, halfway between Fisherman’s Wharf and Fort Mason. Why we love it: Aesthetics rule the day here. The “palette” of the name refers to the plate you receive, shaped like an artist’s palette with five wells to hold differently colored sauces. One of the standout dishes, a xiaolongbao sampler, also evokes admiration with five soup dumplings arranged beautifully with their dough colored red (beets), green (spinach), yellow (turmeric), black (squid ink) and white, with various fillings. The taro puff black swan with a delicate cracker neck “floats” on an edible flower strewn plate, while the hot and sour soup is classically delicious. I indulged in an espresso martini and the Portuguese egg tart, while also stealing bites of my daughter’s mango pudding supreme with popping boba, coconut and fresh mango. Above you, large red lanterns glow with Chinese characters for the names of the food, including BBQ pork bao and pork soup dumpling. General manager and part owner Dennis Leung has created a beautiful space, where large red lanterns above you glow with Chinese characters that correspond to the names of the dishes. Make sure to make a pit stop at the bathroom, too, so you don’t miss the beautiful mosaic tiles in the hallway. Time Out tip: It’s housed in the same square as the iconic Gold Rush chocolatier Ghirardelli, and we’d also recommend a pre- or post-meal walk down the hill to the free, ship-shaped Maritime National Histo

What is it? An Italian eatery in the Russian Hill neighborhood with a parklet out front Why we love it: The menu is so full of great options I had pasta twice (and I’m glad I did, because the agnolotti was a true standout, and I wouldn’t have wanted to miss the fettuccine blackened by squid ink and accompanied by generous lumps of Dungeness crab). Even though we were stuffed, the delightful server—chef Anthony Florian has assembled an amazing team with great wine guidance—wouldn’t let us go without trying the chocolate budino served in a mason jar: We’re glad we relented to the peer pressure. Time Out tip: Request a seat in the back dining area if you would like a quieter space for conversation. Address: 1896 Hyde St, San Francisco, 94109 Opening hours: Sun–Thu 5–9pm; Fri, Sat 5–9:30pm Expect to pay: About $140 per person if you indulge in antipasti, salad, pasta and secondi with a few glasses of wine.

What is it? A contemporary Mediterranean-inspired restaurant in the SoMa neighborhood, housed in the Intercontinental Hotel. Why we love it: Everything on chef Dennis Efthymiou’s spring tasting menu was geared to surprise visually and tastewise. Each course arrives in a unique vessel: a duck foot stand for the quail Scotch egg amuse bouche, or a “meteorite” (as the server termed it) that held beautifully plated dessert components. Our favorite dish was startlingly realistic-looking strawberry sculpted out of white chocolate and stuffed with truffle mousse, served with elderflower and basil ice cream and a Kalamata olive shortcake. I started with a passionfruit margarita and switched to a suggested Riesling to pair with the Spring Awakening course, which was a literal miniature garden with tiny spears of white and green asparagus “planted” alongside tendrils of pea appearing like plants meeting the sun. Time Out tip: The tasting menu consists of 11 courses, many of which have multiple components. Come with an appetite—like “I haven’t eaten in months” levels of hunger. If you book a room at the Intercontinental, you’ll have an easy elevator ride up to a spectacular panoramic city view as your digestive system works on the issue at hand. Address: 888 Howard St, San Francisco, 94103 Opening hours: Thu–Sat 5:30–9pm Expect to pay: The spring tasting menu is $175 per person with a $115 wine pairing.

What is it? A vegan eatery in Cow Hollow with a parklet on Union Street. Why we love it: In a world trying to adopt more sustainable practices, a vegan restaurant so great that omnivores won’t miss meat deserves notice. The interior at Wildseed has bright white walls adorned with modern art. When you open the completely plant-based menu, the first thing you’ll see is a list of what fruits and vegetables are in season that month. That’s not just something worth appreciating on paper: The chilaquiles with vegan “just egg” and coconut queso were gobble-quality, and the Wildseed burger made with a mushroom and spinach patty, vegan chipotle aioli and tomato chutney (and added-on tempeh bacon) was a fortifying delight. Time Out tip: The grapefruit mimosa comes in a pretty vessel and makes brunch happier. Address: 2000 Union St, San Francisco, 94123 Opening hours: Mon–Thu 11:30am–9:30pm, Fri 11:30am–10:30pm, Sat 11am–10:30pm, Sun 11am–9:30pm Expect to pay: About $70 per person if you have a small salad, brunch item, dessert and a few mimosas.

"Is the plane supposed to make that noise? Why does it seem like we’re banking so steeply? And, oh dear God, is this normal turbulence or do I need to start making my last phone calls?" These are the kind of questions that can plague an anxious flyer. And in case you’re curious where these anxiety-ridden passengers board their flights, a new study from travel guide LocalsInsider.com ranks America’s top 10 cities in terms of most anxious flyers. To gather the data, 1,100 U.S. travelers were polled about the state of their nerves in 30 major metropolitan areas. As for the place where nails are bitten to the quick and foreheads are the most furrowed? It’s Miami. That may be chalked up to crowded terminals, language barriers in this international airport or just plain (plane? ha) stress. RECOMMENDED: These two NYC airports were just ranked worst in the U.S. based on delayed flights In second place of the list no one wants to be at the top of: Philadelphia, PA, where respondents have a tough time sleeping the night before a flight. Third place belongs to Nashville, TN, which sees increased airport usage as the city grows its tourism. It goes without saying that news reports of plane accidents and near-misses are on most people’s minds. The study found that 57-percent of Americans say that these recent safety-related events make them feel more anxious. Other general takeaways? Nearly 60-percent of Americans say they struggle to sleep the night before a flight, 75-percent feel some

It may seem early to be thinking about Christmas but on the other hand, when you start looking at these photos of two viral pop-up bars, you will immediately want to be dusting silver glitter onto miniature evergreen trees, hoisting up holly and garlands and easing your body into sleek red velvet tops (or, conversely, ugly Christmas sweaters). Miracle and Sippin’ Santa, two incredibly festive pop-up bars, are returning in 2025 with more than 200 locations worldwide. Photograph: Michelle Hom Miracle offers Christmas drinks in a kitschy setting with the kind of décor you are used to seeing at Grandma’s (there’s also a Hanukkah area, yay!), with cocktails like the Christmapolitan, the Blitzen Barrel and the Run Run Reindeer. If you order the Naughty Shot or the Nice Shot, it comes in a keepsake Miracle glass you can take home. There are also nonalcoholic options including a Snow Day Sipper and a Silent Night. Miracle will open in November at close to 150 locations worldwide. Each location comes with the name of the address tacked on to sound like Miracle on 34th Street, such as Miami’s Miracle on 8th Street or Denver’s Miracle on Highway 16. Photograph: Randy Schmidt Sippin’ Santa carries a tropical theme into the holidays: think Santa meets tiki. The beverages trend towards coconut and pineapple, like the Coco Ho Ho Ho served in a porcelain coconut or the Nui Nui New Year, a multi-person drink with Santa and a friend lounging in a porcelain hot tub with a lime and orchid ga

There’s an incredible exhibit at SFMOMA right now, “Amy Sherald: American Sublime.” If you haven’t seen this collection of almost 50 large-scale portraits of Black Americans in an array of thoughtful conversation-sparking paintings—including the famous, official portrait of former First Lady Michelle Obama—it’s time to go: The show closes March 9. Particularly in the middle of Black History Month, it’s important to call attention to two important exhibitions at SFMOMA that showcase the work of two contemporary Black women artists; Kara Walker’s installation with a fortune-telling automaton is in the free part of the museum through spring 2026, and when I popped down to see it again on this visit, children were enthralled before it, waiting for the slips of paper to issue from its mouth. Look closely and you’ll find a connection between the two artists, too. In one room of Sherald’s show, there’s a to-scale photograph of her bookshelves and I scanned the spines with interest to see that a big book on Kara Walker was included (as was one on San Francisco figurative painter Joan Brown). Contemporaries in their 50s, both Walker (back in 1997) and now Sherald have had solo shows at SFMOMA. In this room, a video plays in which we see Sherald visiting her childhood home in Georgia. In the video, Sherald references artists Edward Hopper and Andrew Wyeth and says, “I want my work to join a larger conversation” of being “an American realist,” and later, “it just so happens that paintin

Welcome to a new form of currency: trip cash. It's rolling out now from Tripadvisor, and you'll keep it in a digital wallet in their app.  Tripadvisor has long been a place to share reviews of restaurants, hotels and attractions in a way that helps travelers benefit from each other’s experience. Now comes the next stage of the travel guidance platform: a new loyalty program. This free app-based program called Tripadvisor Rewards will give you, essentially, cash back when you use it for bookings. Now, you won't get cold hard cash, but you will get, uh, warm soft cash that you can use in the app to book more trips, as if it was real money. RECOMMENDED: These are the best U.S. destinations to visit this year, according to Tripadvisor Right now to encourage you to join in the app, Tripadvisor will give you $30 off booking a “things to do.” And thereafter, you’ll get five percent in trip cash for every eligible hotel and experience booking you make, which Tripadvisor promises is “redeemable dollar-for-dollar with no blackout dates, no confusing tiers, and no hidden rules.” For instance, if you spend $100 on a booking, you’ll earn 5 trip cash units, which is $5 you can apply to a future booking. And even better: it’s not just the people booking trips who earn the rewards; it’s also reviewers, planners and researchers. You’ll get bonus trip cash for planning trips, uploading photos, engaging with others on the forums and writing reviews. Tripadvisor will be rolling out special chall

You may recall the dowager countess on Downton Abbey inquiring, mystified, “What’s a weekend?” That’s because a part of our week that we rely on to relax and recharge didn’t always exist. In fact, it took a lot of activism to ensure workers get two days off in a row—and the home of the woman Americans have to thank for that, Frances Perkins, just became a National Monument. Opened in July, the Frances Perkins National Monument is one of the country’s newest national monuments, and it would be very fitting to visit it on Labor Day, since Perkins herself was a labor activist. Get yourself to Newcastle, Maine—about an hour north of Portland—to honor the woman who made our lives significantly better. Photograph: Courtesy Frances Perkins Center Before the establishment of a 40-hour workday, people would work six days a week, often for 10-12 hours a day. And during the Industrial Revolution, the number of hours could be even higher, like 12-14 hours. If you currently feel your life is nothing but work, imagine how it was for your ancestors. Thankfully, Perkins was instrumental, with others including the Ford Motor Company, in establishing the Fair Labor Standards Act (which originally created a 44-hour workweek, reduced to 40 hours in 1940). That naturally led to the two-day weekend. Thank you, Frances Perkins! Let’s lift a pint to her on Labor Day. A suffragist, Perkins also helped create the concept of the minimum wage and battled for child labor laws (some of the people workin

You’re young (under 30), you’re thinking about changing jobs and moving somewhere for a fresh start—but where is that? Where will you find people who like the same things you do (going out for the evening, catching culture, dining like kings and queens, quaffing that ridiculously intense cocktail), in a city that’s fun, safe and rewards healthy things, too, like parks and nature? Helpfully, Time Out has come out with its inaugural list of the Best Cities for Gen Z, a global ranking created by Gen Z, for Gen Z. It results from Time Out’s Best Cities survey, but we kicked out all the responses from anyone older than 30 (we're not resentful at all), to create a spiffy look at where you should live. And on this list of 20 international cities, two hail from our very own United States—but first, let's look at which locale claimed the top spot this year. That would be Bangkok: Of the respondents who already live in Thailand’s capital, 84-percent of Gen Z say that they’re happy there. It’s also an affordable city and has an incredible street life—including bars and dance clubs and street food to fawn over—plus colorful and sacred temples and statues, floating markets in the canals, and a safe and welcoming vibe. Next up are two fellow international destinations, Melbourne, Australia and Cape Town, South Africa, which take the No. 2 and No. 3 spot, respectively. And in fourth place, we hit the first U.S. city on the list: New York City. A foodie haven for those with abundance and not

You’re restless, can’t sleep, wander out to the living room in the dark—and suddenly you feel like you’re being watched… by eight eyes. That’s cool, tarantulas aren’t a big deal. They’re furry and friendly and, well, misunderstood. They’re coming in full force to Greater Los Angeles, according to the L.A. Times, so you might want to be fully prepared with your night vision goggles for your mere two eyes, and learn more about them so you can embrace them (not literally, of course) and live through their march through town. Do they bite? Yes. Is the bite venomous? Yes. Will you die? Nah. And you can avoid being bitten by paying attention to the tarantula’s threat pose where it lifts its two front legs into the air, kind of like Ralph Macchio in The Karate Kid about to do the crane kick. Just back off, and you and the tarantula can still be friends. The tarantula you’re most likely to see is the five-inch Steindachner’s ebony tarantula. This handsome, non-aggressive spider is actually just swiping right on Tinder, trying to find a mate—hence its parade of lust, which can last as long as 20 miles. They’re nothing if not determined. You might see them in Griffith Park, Runyon Canyon, Malibu Creek State Park, the Backbone Trail in the Santa Monica Mountains, Leo Carrillo State Park and Topanga Canyon, says the Times. Or you might discover one in your own backyard pool (if you fish it out and it looks dead, it might reanimate, just so you know, according to LAist). If you venture ou

The state of California boasts many fantastic wine-growing regions, and one of them has just been named the best one in the country. And no, it’s not the one that has gained epic status as the equivalent of France’s wine appellations—you know, the one just north of San Francisco that starts with the letter N. It’s a little southeast of that, lying between San Francisco and Sacramento: Suisun Valley. (In case you’re wondering, it’s pronounced "Suh-soon’". Underrated for too long, it’s been named the best wine region by USA Today. RECOMMENDED: The best wine bars in Los Angeles Just like its more famous neighbor, Suisun Valley has warm days and cool nights, perfect conditions for growing a number of different varietals. Nearby San Pablo Bay and Suisun Bay bring winds from early summer through the fall, and there’s little frost danger. It’s bordered on the east and west by mountains. Reasons to visit the include rustic landscapes, fewer crowds than some more well-known wine areas, a variety of different tasting rooms (a Victorian mansion, a mid-century modern spot and a 90-year-old ivy-covered tasting room, to name a few) and, most importantly, affordable wines. Suisun Valley is called the "Petite Sirah Capital of the World," although it grows more than two dozen other varietals. Other strong wines the area is known for are cabernet sauvignon, zinfandel, grenache and chardonnay. The Suisun Valley AVA (that is American Viticultural Area) is located in Solano County, a 6.5-hour dri

Sandwiches are a natural summer food: prepared cold, picnic- and beach-ready and not requiring any silverware to devour. It’s easy enough to throw together something at home, but a deli-made sandwich elevates the practice and lets you deliciously support a local business—we’re talking muffalettas, po’boys, cheesesteaks and more. And according to a new Yelp ranking, Los Angeles is home to some of the best sammies in the whole country. RECOMMENDED: The best sandwiches in Los Angeles for all your between-bread cravings In fact, with 14 stunning sandwiches, California as a whole had more than any other entries on Yelp's list of top 100 sandwich shops in the U.S., which relies on reviews from customers to highlight the spots whose bread and fillings made hearts soar. (Second-place state Texas came close with 11.) And one of L.A.'s own snagged a coveted spot in the sandwich top ten.  Coming in at number five is Huntington Park showstopper WoodsDeli. Owner Robert Valdez opened it three years ago and, at the time, it was the only deli within four miles that served “clean and full of flavor” food, he told Yelp. In this food desert, Valdez serves specialty sandwiches like the Saucy Turkey Pretzel (turkey, avocado and house-made chipotle sauce on a locally made soft pretzel bun) and the Italian Stallion (four kinds of meat, spicy pickled onion and a red bell pepper sauce). On the deli’s website, Valdez mentions being inspired by Dagwood Bumstead, the sandwich-loving character in the car

It’s summer, and depending on where you live, you may be cranky, hot and tired of hefty A.C.-related electric bills. It’s time to head to where the land naturally cools you, with breezes off the water and plenty of grass and trees to provide shade. Helpfully, the vacation-loving folks over at Airbnb have created a list of the top 10 trending places to relax and beat the heat. This international list contains four U.S. places, so it should be easy to book a space and turn your summer around. Photograph: Courtesy AirbnbNew Shoreham One of the U.S. locations is New Shoreham, Rhode Island, also called Block Island. Here, you have an entire ocean to cool off with two manmade harbors, as well as more than 300 freshwater ponds. Dramatic cliffs have a staircase leading down to the beach at Mohegan Bluffs—and there are even rose bushes by the beach. Can we add in cute New England stone walls? Photograph: Courtesy AirbnbBig Bear Lake Another is Big Bear Lake in California. Here there are mild temperatures (dropping into the 40s at night!), a seven-mile lake with forest trails around it, an alpine golf course and a museum, zoo and discovery center. Port Aransas in Texas is another stateside Airbnb choice for summer coolness. Check out beaches, nightlife, seashell gathering and a comfortable water temperature for swimming: it’s all here. Photograph: Courtesy AirbnbPortland, Maine In Maine, the license plates read “Vacationland,” and in Portland, that’s especially true. In summer, t

Long ago, hotel restaurants had the reputation of being meh “here’s breakfast” and maybe “here’s another meal” spots. But that changed; today, you can find award-winning restaurants that let you indulge in a fantastic meal and then head to the elevator without worrying about transportation. And if you’re not a hotel guest, outside visitors and locals are still welcome to come enjoy these incredible steakhouses, seafood eateries, casual lounges—with a beautiful lobby to meet up with your dinner date. OpenTable and Kayak teamed up to create a list of the 100 best hotel restaurants this year. It’s a long list organized by state and not ranked: just a happy collection of great places to dine and stay. And although The Pines Modern Steakhouse in Yaamava’ Resort & Casino, just outside Los Angeles, doesn't appear on this list, we personally adored this spot, which was the No. 1 casino restaurant on USA Today’s 2024 Reader’s Choice Awards. Pairing a gorgeous steak and lobster tail dish with incredible tableside cocktails in a beautiful setting, followed by Stevie Nicks' performance in the in-house theater (whose acoustics Stevie Wonder has praised), made for a great experience. Here for your happy perusal (and for your hopefully instantaneous room and dinner booking!): The best 100 hotel restaurants in the U.S. Different Pointe of View: Phoenix, Arizona J&G Steakhouse Scottsdale at The Phoenician: Scottsdale, Arizona Addison by William Bradley: San Diego, California Calabra at Santa

Fans, get ready: a One Piece cafe will be opening this Saturday, August 2, in the Little Tokyo district of Los Angeles. This is only the second U.S. cafe themed around the manga series by Eiichiro Oda, which became an anime TV series and, most recently, a live-action series on Netflix. Plus: 15 feature films, video games and trading cards. All versions of One Piece have a fervent fan base who adore the worldbuilding and get emotionally involved in following the characters on their quest to find one piece… of gold. The first One Piece cafe opened in Las Vegas in May 2024, and now Los Angeles gets its turn to share the love of a pirate and his crew trying to find treasure, while eating awesome themed food in an immersive setting. Photograph: Courtesy One Piece Cafe Los Angeles Already, the One Piece Cafe Los Angeles has been making alert fans happy through its soft opening over the last few weeks—and now the grand opening happens in just a few days with tons of giveaways of merch and limited-edition collectibles. The first 100 people in line will receive the following valuable goodies: the first 10 guests get a free One Piece Cafe tote bag with $100 worth of themed merchandise inside; the nxt 50 guests receive a free tote bag with $50 worth of merch; and the next 40 guests receive a free tote bag. That sounds to us like an incentive to bring a sleeping bag and stake your place in line if you’re a rabid fan. The doors open at 11am at 241 S. San Pedro Street in Los Angeles, the