SAN FRANCISCO may be right in our backyard but approaching
the “City by the Bay” with fresh eyes yields its own rewards.
August/September 2018 71
FROM TOP: COURTESY OF SWEETWATER MUSIC HALL: COURTESY OF CHINA LIVE; OPPOSITE: SCOTT MATTOON/FLICKR
ment options. The Sweetwater Music Hall (19 Corte Madera
Ave.) presents an eclectic slate of musical acts, from local favorites
to superstars such as Carlos Santana. Outfitted with a sophisticated
sound system and retro velvet banquettes, the upscale bar
also offers light bites to satisfy cravings without missing a beat.
Dine: Piazza D’Angelo, Mill Valley, piazzadangelo.com;
Guaymas Restaurant, Tiburon, guaymasrestaurant.com. Brothers
Domenico and Paolo Petrone departed
their southern Italian homeland
in the early ’80s for Marin and
opened trattoria Piazza D’Angelo
(22 Miller Ave.), which quickly became
a Mill Valley mainstay. The
menu changes daily and moves with
the seasons, but some dishes, such as
the tagliatelle Bolognese, house-made
egg noodles and meat ragu, and pizza
margherita with tomato and basil are
stellar staples.
To get up close and personal with
breathtaking Bay views, margarita a
mano, head to Guaymas Restaurant
(5 Main St.) in the posh hamlet of Tiburon.
Guaymas’ authentic Mexican
dining experience is set in a Sonoran
style adobe interior with white stucco
walls, exposed beam ceilings, bright
and bold color accents, warm woods,
stone fireplaces, woven furniture and
panoramic bay views.
4
AROUND THE CITY
Embarcadero & Ferry Building Marketplace
SAN FRANCISCO MAY be right in our backyard,
but approaching the “City by the Bay” with
fresh eyes yields its own rewards. Tap into your
tourist tendencies while bypassing the trodden
paths; leave Fisherman’s Wharf to the firsttimers.
Instead, opt for the sophisticated side of
the waterfront—the Embarcadero.
The crown jewel of the San Francisco silhouette
along the Embarcadero, the century-old
Ferry Building boasts comeback star status. The
bustling beacon is home to landmark restaurants
such as the Vietnamese hot spot the Slanted
Door, as well as locavore kiosks that shuck and
hock oysters, sell sweets and peddle incredible
delicacies. On weekends, its high-end farmers’
market draws crowds who peruse the bounty of
harvested and handcrafted goodies and hone culinary skills in
hands-on cooking demonstrations and tasting sessions. Top chefs
can be seen foraging for ingredients at the market, as can locals
with discerning palates.
Stay: Hotel Vitale, jdvhotels.com. Set adjacent to the waterfront
Embarcadero roadway, the sleek Hotel Vitale is a true oasis
of calm: With a palette rich in subtle earth tones, the interiors are
SWEETWATER
MUSIC HALL
GEORGE
CHEN AT
CHINA LIVE
A D V E N T U R E
