San Francisco’s Booklover’s Tour

A favorite spot of Dame Edna.

Address:
261 Columbus Ave.
San Francisco, California
United States

Phone:
(415) 362-8193

The restaurant has the feel of a neighborhood place. Brave the continuous, relatively short line for a peek at the always-attractive wait staff.

Address:
1152 Taylor St.
San Francisco, California
United States

Phone:
(415) 776-6500

After divorcing Wolfgang Puck in 2009, this New American restaurant in the downtown Prescott hotel shifted its focus to the 50-seat, Art Nouveau-inspired café and bar area. The main dining room, located down a sweeping grand staircase, and the Chihuly-adorned Patio Room are now open only for breakfast and private events. Perfect for a quick bite after shopping in nearby Union Square, the café menu includes small plates like macaroni and cheese with prosciutto and larger plates such as the lobster club sandwich. Wood-fired pizzas and a comprehensive wine list round out the offerings.

Address:
545 Post St., The Prescott Hotel
San Francisco, California
United States

Phone:
(415) 776-7825

They say the third time’s the charm, and so it is for the third branch of this top-notch local temple to neo-Vietnamese cuisine. The location is superb: the vast, stylishly industrial space, filled with varnished cypress tables, sits at the back of the restored Ferry Building (window-side diners can watch ships going by). And chef Charles Phan’s menu more than lives up to the view; his fresh, clean flavors infuse dishes ranging from a perfect (if familiar) green papaya salad with chopped peanuts and herbs to creative concoctions like a chicken clay pot with caramel sauce, chiles, and fresh ginger.

Address:
1 Ferry Bldg. #3, Ferry Building Marketplace
San Francisco, California
United States

Phone:
(415) 861-8032

The shop has a large collection of Edith Wharton editions.

Address:
5 3rd St., Suite 530
San Francisco, California
United States

Phone:
(415) 292-4698