My cousin recently got married in Berkeley, CA, where he and his beautiful bride fell in love, the whole fam wasn’t able to get away, but I managed to take a day off work and have a whirlwind weekend in a part of Cali I’d never visited.
San Francisco has been on my list for years (preferably as a combo with Napa or Sonoma), so I was excited for the opportunity to explore. It was a very short weekend, and much of it was filled with wedding stuff so I definitely need to go back for the full experience, but a taste is better than nothing!
Friday, September 19, 2025
I landed at SFO just before 10:30 and navigated myself to the airport’s BART station – I live in NYC, public transportation is my jam! I didn’t have a plan, but I had about 4 hours before I needed to head to Oakland to check into my hotel and get ready for the rehearsal dinner. I decided to make my way toward Golden Gate Park. I was thinking I could get a snack and stare at the iconic Golden Gate Bridge with my book. Turns out, that’s not actually a great viewing spot so I didn’t even go in, but I found plenty of other great spots along the way.
Just outside the park, I saw a bustling cafe called Tartine. The displayed cookbooks lend me to believe they’re sourdough pioneers of sorts and I loooove sourdough – and getting to eat sourdough in San Fran is a culinary bucket list item. Honestly, everything there looked good – like the avocado toast, all the tarts, the grilled cheese, and the salads. In the end, because there were other spots to hit up, I just got a huge hunk of sourdough with some gorgeous butter. It was PERFECT.
I left and walked directly across the street to Green Apple Books. I hadn’t realized it yet (don’t worry, I’d very quickly learn), but this area has soooo many amazing bookstores, most of which have large used sections. Many of them also participate in the Prisoners Literature Project, which is a wonderful program that nurtures reading and critical thinking to incarcerated people to set them up to reenter society. Turns out, the Bay Area is a bookworm’s heaven and this was just the start of it. I snagged something for Finn and browsed for quite a while. This bookstore, by the way, had a particularly impressive children’s section.
I made my way to Pineapple King Bakery for my next snack. I got three different versions: the original, salted egg, and guava butter. They were all incredible pillows of joy. The buns are reasonable priced for their size, warranting the lines that often snake from their window.
I walked/bussed to another neighborhood (dreaming about all the gingerbread houses I passed – I live the Victorian architecture!), stopping at Beluna Cafe for some caffeine and to charge my phone. This family-run spot feels open but still charming, making it a great place to get work done. I took the opportunity to check my emails and I was far from the only one.
From there I made the millennial pilgrimage to the two most important San Francisco monuments: the Full House house and the Mrs. Doubtfire house. It was everything I dreamed and more. While on the bus between the two houses, I realized the street I was on (Fillmore), was packed with great shops. I hopped off and stopped in every cute spot along the way, from bookstores to antique shops.
I had fun perusing Browser Books, Warren Estate Sale, and Ministry of Scent. This is an ideal shopping district, but my favorite was Nest. They had such a perfect collection of new and old. I walked away with a vintage ash tray from Paris that now holds some earrings.
At this point, my bags were feeling heavy, and I need to get to the hotel. I made my way to the BART and then the hotel, where I checked in, showered, changed, and went to the rehearsal dinner at A16 Rockridge. Everything was delicious and I was so happy to finally see my parents and begin celebrating the couple. I didn’t really know anyone at the wedding and my parents were staying at a different hotel so it was a lowkey evening for me once we left the restaurant. Fine by me – I woke up super early and was fielding stressful work emails so I didn’t mind heading to bed.
Saturday, September 20, 2025
I woke up and got in a quick workout before meeting my parents, aunt, and uncles at a farmers market a friend had told me about. I snacked on a gorgeous pluot and then ubered back to Berkeley with my parents where we wandered the Telegraph Ave., hitting up Moe’s Books and Amoeba Records (the Berkeley location of the absolutely iconic store) before strolling the Berkeley campus.
We realized we were close to Normandy Village so I convinced them to walk a little further until we reached a petite neighborhood that made us believe we were in Beauty and the Beast. This is such a gem of an enclave!
I went back toward my hotel, popping out for a taco. The place looked promising, but it was just ok. No substitute for a mission burrito like I was craving – I guess we can’t cross off all culinary bucket list items. After that, I went to Cord & Company, a great vintage store right by my hotel, where I got a pair of shoes and a porcelain board I intend to use for cheese. I also checked out Bathers Library next door that describes itself as “a community-supported art book library, work/performance space, shop, and weirdo art school.” It was as Bay Area as it gets.
The wedding started at 4 so it was time to get ready. It was a beautiful event in the middle of the Berkeley campus. Our family crew was small so we didn’t stay and rage, but it was lovely to get dressed up and be together – and to have another chance to see my cousin and his now-wife together in their element. They really are so perfect for each other.
Sunday, September 21, 2025
I was flying out of Oakland so I didn’t have to leave too early. I picked an area to stroll (Rockridge seemed like a good bet) and started with coffee at Ain’t Normal. Great coffee and nice looking food menu – and they sell wine and tinned fish?! This place has everything and could pretty much make me happy from morning to night. I walked up College Avenue and went into a few stores (Mercy Vintage was great and had tons of jeans), lingering in Pegasus Books, naturally. I grabbed a sandwich from the Market and made my way to the airport, which was so close.
Overall, this area is packed with as much amazingness as I’d expected. I only got a small taste, but this very quick trip confirmed I need to one day plan a longer visit, one where I tack on wine country, of course.
Bay Area Details
- Accommodations:
- Moxy: Because the wedding events were in Oakland/Berkeley, I wanted to stay on this side rather than San Francisco proper. I’ve stayed at a Moxy before and they’re always fun and reasonably priced.
- Berkeley City Club: For more of a splurge, go for this 1930 hotel that was designed by the same architect who did Hearst Castle. That’s why it is affectionately known as Little Castle, and the Moorish and Gothic influences are dreamy.
- Food & Drink:
- Chinatown: Dishes like bao (dim sum in general) or noodles with crab are iconic. We have a thriving Chinatown in NYC, but the one in San Fran is the mold.
- Sourdough: Yes, sourdough is better here. In the cold months, get a bread bowl filled with chowder.
- Mission burritos: I’m not exactly sure what makes this style of burrito so special, but I know they’re supposed to be amazing. Bummed I didn’t get one.
- Activities:
- So many bookstores! Visit as many as possible.
- Just look at homes. The architecture here is so lovely. I really enjoyed just staring at the houses.
- Alcatraz: This former federal prison once held some of the most infamous criminals. It’s a very unique tourist attraction that’s probably worth your time.
- Japanese Tea Garden: Originally constructed for the World’s Fair, this area in Golden Gate Park is the oldest of its kind in the US.
- Tips:
- The BART can be great but it’s got a lot of blind spots. I recommend picking a distinct neighborhood and plan out the stores and restaurants you want to visit but don’t expect there to be a BART station every few blocks so it’s harder to hop around unless you don’t mind the bus.
- San Franciscans seem to really like the outdoors – lean into it.
- Don’t expect sterile or pristine – this whole area feels more worn and almost 1960s/1970s in a way. That is DEFINITELY part of the charm.
Peaches to Apples 