Enjoying yourself San Francisco
Timetable San Francisco
Restaurants close very early in the evening, especially in this post-Covid period. So plan to have dinner from 5 or 6 pm (!) because you might be pushed towards the exit at 8 pm, or even 9 pm if you are lucky...
Budget & Tips San Francisco
As long as you are not in a Mexican taqueria , count at least fifty dollars for an honest restaurant, and often much more.
What costs extra San Francisco
The waiters are paid by tip, so you will have to pay 10 to 20% of the bill on top. Not to mention the taxes (8.875%) which are not included either... The bill climbs quickly. The water in carafe is free.
The local way San Francisco
Beware, classic restaurant owners often overcook their meat and bathe their seafood in butter, one would almost want to wring them out. It is better to warn the cook beforehand.
To be avoided San Francisco
The water is good in San Francisco, so you don't risk anything with ice cubes. If you want your meal to end well, just don't forget the tip...
Kids San Francisco
Children are welcome just about everywhere, as are dogs, which enjoy a very privileged status in California.
Smokers San Francisco
Smoking is strictly forbidden in public buildings but also on terraces. At home, it is also very badly seen.
Take a break San Francisco
Timetable San Francisco
Most bars are open from noon, but the more upscale places rarely open before 4pm on weekdays. In the small neighborhood bars, closing time is between 10pm and 1am. As for coffee shops and other juice bars, which are numerous in San Francisco, they generally open at 7 or 8 am and close before 8 pm
Budget & Tips San Francisco
It is best to go out with a well-stocked wallet, as the prices quoted do not include the local tax, which is 8.875%, or the tip. It is customary to leave between 10 and 20% of the bill. The highest prices are probably found in rooftops and speakeasies, where cocktails can cost up to US$20. Regardless of where you go out, beer remains the most affordable alcoholic drink, and there are local and artisanal brands that are really worth it! On the contrary, wine is atrociously expensive, especially for those who come from France... In bars and restaurants, the price of a glass of wine varies between 8 and 15 US$. Finally, in cafés and tea rooms, a hot drink usually costs between 3 and 4 US$. The solution: go out duringhappy hour, which usually takes place on weekdays, between 5 and 7 pm, sometimes earlier. Alcoholic drinks are then half price. In some bars, the reduced prices are also for food, usually appetizers or plates to share
Age restrictions San Francisco
In the United States, drinking is subject to very strict rules. The minimum legal age to order alcohol and drink in public is 21. At the entrance of the bars, even if you are a 30-year-old on the verge of 40, a doorman will systematically ask you for your ID card. Anyone under the legal age will be turned away. In some places, at specific times, young people over 18 are allowed to enter but are not allowed to buy or consume alcohol once inside. A word of advice: don't try to break the alcohol laws, Americans are not amused by this, as they have inherited certain puritanical reflexes
What's very local San Francisco
Every bar and restaurant in the city serves cocktails, and even in the less-than-stellar places, the bartender will be able to whip up a killer Cosmopolitan with a shaker. Americans are also big fans of beer, especially of IPA, a very bitter beer with a high hoppiness. And of course, wine country obliges, Californians know how to appreciate wine, and you will find good bottles from the Napa or Sonoma valleys in most establishments. As for non-alcoholic drinks, Americans are big coffee drinkers: cappuccino, iced coffee when it's hot, matcha latte for the trendiest, and black coffee for the purists.
Kids San Francisco
There is no law against taking a child to a bar, as long as the child is accompanied by a responsible adult and as long as the place serves food
Smokers San Francisco
The legislation on tobacco is very dissuasive. As in France, smoking is obviously forbidden inside stores and cafés, the few cigar bars in the city being the only exception to this rule. This also applies to electronic cigarettes. When there are tables outside, you will sometimes see the non-smoking sign. But be aware that even when the sign is missing, smoking on the patio of a café or bar is not allowed in the United States. If you try to light a cigarette, you will be asked to move away
