Kate’s travelogue

Specs

Dimly lit, borderline dirty and cheap (inexpensive if you must), Specs is one of the world's great dive bars.

Specs (aka Specs Twelve Adler Museum Cafe)
12 William Saroyan Place
415/421-4112

Savoy Tivoli

Once a "beatnik" hangout, later a great place to catch punk bands including The Ramones and Jim Carroll, Savoy Tivoli was also the first home for the cast of Beach Blanket Babylon. Today, Savoy Tivoli is a quiet streetside bar with patio seating and an interior bar featuring pool tables as well as gorgeous Art Deco light fixtures.

La Boulange de Hayes

La Boulange de Hayes
500 Hayes St
San Francisco, CA 94102
415/863-3376

www.baybread.com

Cafe Claude

Café Claude's curving zinc bar is straight out of Paris, as is the wait staff -- and if you speak the language, you can order your coq au vin in French.

Hidden on tiny Claude Lane between Union Square and the financial district, this atmospheric restaurant and bar is perfect for lunch, a quick glass of Cote du Rhone or a relaxing weekend jazz brunch.

I Dream of Cake

I Dream of Cake's cake-makers have backgrounds in the visual arts -- so it isn't surprising the shop's works of art can be seen, not eaten, by most city dwellers.

Open by appointment only (and quite pricey), I Dream of Cake is still worth a peek through the windows at fantasy cakes in shapes including Louis Vuitton handbags, Jabba The Hut and a buttercream-frosted Eiffel Tower.

Joe Dimaggio's Italian Chophouse

Red Bridge Cooking School

There are many places that offered Vietnamese cooking lessons but the Red Bridge Cooking School had received rave reviews - now I know why. The $18 class included a wet market tour, a 25-minute boat ride on the Hoi An River to the river-side school, leaning how to prepare a complete meal including food decorations...

Lynn's Paradise Cafe

Lynn's Paradise Cafe offers the tastiest "down home" cooking, the wackiest decor, and genuine southern hospitality.

Ferry Building Marketplace & Farmers Market

The Ferry Building Marketplace is located within the historic transportation hub at the foot of Market Street (open all week; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day).

The Ferry Plaza Farmers Market is a California certified farmers market open at the same location on Tuesday and Saturday.

Bob's Clam Hut